SS Balto (1916)

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History
Name
  • United Kingdom Himera (1902-1914)
  • Norway Balto (1914-1916)
OwnerStolt-Nielsen B. & Sønner A/S
Port of registryNorway Haugesund, Norway
BuilderRussell & Co. Ltd.
Yard number499
Launched1902
CompletedAugust 1902
AcquiredAugust 1902
Maiden voyageAugust 1902
In serviceAugust 1902
Out of service9 November 1916
Identification MKJD
FateScuttled
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage3,538 GRT
Length103.4 metres (339 ft 3 in)
Beam14 metres (45 ft 11 in)
Depth7.9 metres (25 ft 11 in)
Installed power1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine
PropulsionScrew propeller
Sail planNew York and Bilbao, Spain - Cadiz, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal
Crew25
Notescaptain Bernt Ellingsen

SS Balto was a Norwegian Cargo ship that the German Submarine SM U-49 scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) north east of Cape Villano, Spain on 9 November 1916 after having been used as a depot ship when she was seized by U-49 on 6 November while she had been travelling from Bilbao, Spain to Cadiz, Spain with a stopover at Lisbon, Portugal while carrying general cargo.[1]

Construction

Balto was built at the Russell & Co. Ltd. shipyard in Greenock, Scotland, United Kingdom in 1902. Where she was launched and completed that same year. The ship was 103.4 metres (339 ft 3 in) long, had a beam of 14 metres (45 ft 11 in) and had a depth of 7.9 metres (25 ft 11 in). She was assessed at 3,538 GRT and had 1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine driving a screw propeller. The ship could generate 298 n.h.p.[2]

Sinking

Balto was travelling from Bilbao, Spain to Cadiz, Spain with a stopover at Lisbon, Portugal while carrying general cargo when on 6 November 1916 they were stopped by the German Submarine SM U-49 in the Gulf of Biscay and was forced to follow U-49 as a depot ship. She would soon proof her usefulness when the U-49 stopped the American cargo ship SS Columbian on 8 November 1916 and forced all 109 crew to board Balto before sinking Columbian with explosive charges 50 nautical miles (93 km) north west of Cape Ortegal, Spain. Soon Balto would meet the same fate as at 8 am on 9 November her crew as well as the 109 prisoners from Columbian were ordered to abandon the ship and instead board the Swedish cargo ship SS Väring which had also been assigned the same role as Balto before her.[3]

At 13.00 pm Balto was scuttled in the same manner as Columbian 70 nautical miles (130 km) north east of Cape Villano, Spain. The survivors of Balto and Columbian were joined later that evening with the crew of the Norwegian cargo ship SS Fordalen which had also been scuttled by U-49 50 nautical miles (93 km) north west of Cape Villano, Spain. The captured survivors were ultimately all brought to shore at A Coruña, Spain on 14 November 1916 as the food supplies onboard Väring were dwindling and released.[3]

Wreck

The wreck of Balto lies at (43°00′N 9°00′W / 43.000°N 9.000°W / 43.000; -9.000), but the current condition of the wreck is unknown.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Balto". uboat.net. 1995. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  2. ^ "D/S Balto". sjohistorie.no. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b "SS Balto (+1916)". wrecksite.eu. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
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