Vardaas

Requisitioned Auxiliary - Vardaas

Built by: Deutsche Werk, Kiel    Completed: 1931

Tonnage: 4869 nett, 8176 dwt

Length: 459.2 feet

Beam: 59.5 feet

Draught: 35.2 feet

Machinery: 16 cylinder diesel by builder

In Admiralty Service (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) from 1940

The ship departed Cape Town on the 7 August 1942, on passage to Trinidad in ballast.  On the 30 August at 00:12 hrs, she was torpedoed by U 564.  The torpedo struck the ship in No1 wing tank which flooded and caused a heavy list to Starboard.  The fuel in the tank was set alight and oil started to leak into the engine room.

The crew abandoned ship in 2 lifeboats and were clear of the ship at around 00:25.  By 00:45 the survivors could see the ship being shelled by the U boat, which continued until about 03:00 hrs.  At dawn all that they could see was a large cloud of smoke where the ship had been.

There were no casualties amongst the 20 Norwegian, 16 Chinese, 2 Danish, 2 British and 1 Belgian seamen.