Danmark: Inganess Bay, Orkney, North Sea

HY41SE 8001 4915 1150

N58 58.8 W2 53.0833

NLO: Inganess Bay [name centred HY 487 102]

Shapinsay [name centred HY 52 19]

Shapinsay Sound [name centred HY 517 133]

Kirkwall [name: HY 449 111].

The Danish motor tanker Danmark (10517 tons) was torpedoed while at anchor (awaiting Contraband Control clearance) in Inganess Bay [name centred HY 487 102] on 12 Jnauary 1940. A huge hole was sunk in her side and her back broken but she did not sink until 22 January 1940. 1924 tons of her cargo of kerosene was salvaged in July 1940, and in March 1941 the forward portion broke away, and was refloated. This was towed away for reuse as a storage hulk.

Ridley cites the location of the original attack as 1 mile SW of Yinstay Head [name: HY 509 113].

D M Ferguson 1988; G Ridley 1992.

Quality of fix = CR

Horizontal Datum = OGB

General water depth = 11

Circumstances of Loss Details

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The motor tanker DANMARK was built in 1931 and was torpedoed by German submarine U23 on 12 January 1940 in Inganess Bay. The vessel sank 9 days later. It was owned at time of loss by Det Danske Petroleums A/S, and she was en-route from Aruba to Nyborg with 8,200 tons of petrol and 5,760 tons of kerosene. The fore-part was refloated and taken to Inverkeithing to be used as a storage hulk.

Sources: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea, World War II Shipping Loses, Axis Submarine Successes, Lloyd's World War II Loses.

Surveying Details

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6 February 1940. The wreck's position is given as 58 58 48N, 002 53 05W, or bearing 164.5 degrees, 2.34 miles from Hellier light.

Report by Naval Officer in Charge, Kirkwall. Notice to Mariners 329/40 issued.

27 July 1940. Confirmation of the stranded wreck is received from the Admiralty.

28 June 1945. A buoy has been laid on a bearing 043.5 degrees and 121 metres from the wreck.

Report by Northern Lighthouse Board, Notice to Mariners 10/46 issued.

2 December 1957. The wreck dries to reveal 1 metres.

Report taken from Diver Report 1957 Docket 28 Augst 1957.

18 August 1961. The wreck has been totally dispersed to seabed level and the buoy has been removed. The position is considered to be foul.

Report by Northern Lighthouse Board.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

(Classified as steel motor tanker: no cargo specified, but date of loss cited as 8 September 1941). Danmark: fore part only. Date is that of salvage from the original position.

Registration: Copenhagen. Built 1931. 10517grt. Length: 149m. Beam: 20m.

(Location of loss cited as N58 57.85 W2 54.67).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The Danish motor tanker Danmark (10517 tons) was torpedoed while at anchor (awaiting Contraband Control clearance) in Inganess Bay [name centred HY 487 102] on 12 Jnauary 1940. A huge hole was sunk in her side and her back broken but she did not sink until 22 January 1940. 1924 tons of her cargo of kerosene was salvaged in July 1940, and in March 1941 the forward portion broke away, and was refloated. This was towed away for reuse as a storage hulk.

Ridley cites the location of the original attack as 1 mile SW of Yinstay Head [name: HY 509 113].

This vessel is in two parts. The ship was torpedoed on 12 January 1940 in position N58 58.8 W2 53.08 [HY 491 106], 2.3 miles SW of Hellier [Helliar] Holm light. The fore part only was salvaged from the original position on 8 September 1941; the location of this portion is cited as N58 57.85 W2 54.67.

The operation of a submarine in such shallow and confined waters as is indicated by the recorded location of the torpedo attack is highly unusual.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 19 November 2002.

D M Ferguson 1988; G Ridley 1992; I G Whittaker 1998 (illus.).