History
Iceland
Name	Godafoss
Owner	Eimskipafelag Hf.
Port of registry	Reykjavík, Iceland
Builder	Frederikshavns Vaerft & Flydedok A/S
Completed	1921
Maiden voyage	1921
In service	1921
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk 10 November 1944
General characteristics
Type	Cargo ship
Tonnage	1,542 GRT
Length	72.2 m (236 ft 11 in)
Beam	11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Depth	6.4 m (21 ft 0 in)
Installed power	Compound expansion engine
Propulsion	Screw propeller
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Capacity	44 passengers and crew

SS Godafoss was an Icelandic cargo ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-300 just off Reykjanes 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) northwest of Gardur, Iceland (64°08′N 22°45′W / 64.133°N 22.750°W / 64.133; -22.750), while she was travelling from New York, United States to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Construction

Godafoss was constructed in 1921 at the Frederikshavns Vaerft & Flydedok A/S shipyard in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Godafoss served in the Eimskipafelagid fleet from July 1921 until her demise in November 1944. The ship was 72.2 metres (236 ft 11 in) long, with a beam of 11 metres (36 ft 1 in) and a depth of 6.4 metres (21 ft 0 in). The ship was assessed at 1,564 gross register tons (GRT). She had a Compound expansion engine driving a single screw propeller and the engine was rated at 124 nhp.

Sinking

On 10 November 1944, Godafoss was on a voyage in Convoy UR 142 from New York, United States to Reykjavík, Iceland with a general cargo of 1,240 tons. The convoy in which Godafoss was the lead ship had broken up during the night due to foul weather. Godafoss had stopped to help rescue survivors from the burning vessel Shirvan when she was torpedoed with an LUT torpedo from the German submarine U-300. The vessel sank within seven minutes; 14 crew members, one convoy signalman and ten passengers were lost.^[1][2]

Wreck

The wreck lies at 64°08′N 22°45′W / 64.133°N 22.750°W / 64.133; -22.750.

References