The Varanger Shipwreck
New York and New Jersey's (Wreck Valley)
Historical and current New York and New Jersey Shipwreck Information and
images for scuba divers and fisherman.
VARANGER
Also known under the name 28 Mile Wreck, the Varanger, was a 9,305
ton Norwegian Tanker. She was built in Amsterdam in 1925 and was
owned by Westfal, Larsen & Company.
On January 25, 1942,under the command of Captain Karl Horne, while
bound from Curacao to New York, carrying a cargo of 12,750 tons of
fuel oil picked up in the West Indies, the ship was struck amidships
on her port side by a German torpedo fired from the U-130. The first
explosion knocked out the radio room, making it impossible to send a
May Day. Within 15 minutes, two more torpedoes struck the Varanger,
ripping her into three sections and sending her to the bottom. It
is still unbelievable that the entire crew was able to escape on two
life boats without a single fatality. All were picked up by a
fishing boat a few miles away.
The Varanger, which was the sixth vessel sunk in U.S. waters by
U-boats, rests in 145 feet of water along the 29 fathom curve. The
wreck is sitting upright in good condition considering the number of
explosions that sank her. In season, the water around her abounds
with giant bluefish, cod, bonito, skipjack, shark and on occasion,
even marlin have be seen. As mentioned earlier this wreck has been
nicknamed 28 Mile Wreck due to her approximate distance from
Brigantine, Great Egg and Absecon Inlets.
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Also known under the name 28 Mile Wreck, the Varanger, was a 9,305
ton Norwegian Tanker. She was built in Amsterdam in 1925 and was
owned by Westfal, Larsen & Company.
The Varanger, which was the sixth vessel sunk in U.S. waters by
U-boats, rests in 145 feet of water along the 29 fathom curve. The
wreck is sitting upright in good condition considering the number of
explosions that sank her. In season, the water around her abounds
with giant bluefish, cod, bonito, skipjack, shark and on occasion,
even marlin have be seen. As mentioned earlier this wreck has been
nicknamed 28 Mile Wreck due to her approximate distance from
Brigantine, Great Egg and Absecon Inlets.
