SS Birka (1937)

History
Name	Birka
Owner	Mathies Reederei (1937–40) Kriegsmarine (1940–43)
Port of registry	Hamburg, Germany (1937–40)  Kriegsmarine (1940–43)
Builder	Flensburger Schiffbauw-Gesellschaft
Launched	23 June 1937
Commissioned	5 September 1940
Out of service	1 June 1943
Identification	Code Letters DJUF Kriegsmarine designation "Schiff 8" (1940–43)
Fate	Struck a mine and sank
General characteristics
Class and type	Passenger ship (1937–40) Hospital ship (1940–43)
Tonnage	1,000 GRT, 508 NRT
Length	73.23 metres (240 ft 3 in)
Beam	10.39 metres (34 ft 1 in)
Depth	3.71 metres (12 ft 2 in)
Installed power	Compound steam engine, 184nhp
Propulsion	Single screw propeller

Birka was a German passenger ship built in 1937. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War for use as a hospital ship. She struck a mine and sank in 1943.

Description

The ship was 73.23 metres (240 ft 3 in) long, with a beam of 10.39 metres (34 ft 1 in) and a depth of 3.71 metres (12 ft 2 in). She was powered by a 4-cylinder compound steam engine, which had 2 cylinders each of 37 centimetres (14+9⁄16 in) and 2 cylinders each of 80 centimetres (31+1⁄2 in) diameter by 80 centimetres (31+1⁄2 in) stroke. The engine was built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany. It was rated at 184nhp and drove a single screw propeller. She was assessed at 1,000 GRT, 508 NRT.[1]

History

Birka was built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft for Mathies Reederei KG, Hamburg, Germany.[1] She was launched on 23 June 1937.[2] Her port of registry was Hamburrg and the Code Letters DJUF were allocated.[1] On 24 November 1937, she ran aground off the coast of Sweden and was severely damaged.[3] She was refloated the next day and taken in to Stockholm for repairs.[4]

On 5 September 1940, Birka was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a hospital ship.[5] Allocated to 5 Vorpostengruppe and designated as "Schiff 8",[6] she served in Norwegian waters. On 1 June 1943, she struck a mine and sank in the Altafjord with the loss of 115 lives.[5] The mine had been laid on 6 May by the Soviet submarine L-22.[7] The Stockholms-Tidningen claimed that Birka had been used to carry troops and munitions from Trondheim to Kirkenes in violation of her status as a hospital ship.[8]

References

1. "Birka (70911)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Navires à Vapeur et à Moteurs. BIN-BIR (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1938–1939. Retrieved 18 January 2023 – via Southampton City Council.
2. "KRIEGSMARINE HOSPITAL SHIPS (Lazarettschiffe)". Kbismark. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
3. "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 47851. London. 25 November 1937. col E, p. 26.
4. "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 47852. London. 26 November 1937. col E, p. 28.
5. "Lazarettschiffe Birka". Feldgrau. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
6. "Vorpostenflottillen 1939 – 1945" (in German). Württembergische Landesbibliothek. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
7. Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1943, Mai". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 18 January 2023.
8. "400 German Soldiers Drowned". The Times. No. 49579. London. 23 June 1943. col C, p. 3.