hendelseseierincident

The Hendelseier Incident refers to a significant maritime event that occurred on August 27, 1942, during World War II. It involved the Norwegian merchant ship *Hendelseier*, which was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic Ocean. The attack took place approximately 300 nautical miles southwest of Iceland, in an area known as the Denmark Strait.

The *Hendelseier* was a Norwegian tanker owned by the Norwegian government and operated by the Norwegian merchant fleet, which had been mobilized to support the Allied war effort. The ship was carrying a cargo of aviation fuel when it was struck by a torpedo fired from *U-132*, a German Type VIIC U-boat commanded by *Kapitänleutnant* Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock. The attack resulted in the loss of all 39 crew members aboard the vessel.

The sinking of the *Hendelseier* was part of a broader pattern of U-boat attacks against Allied shipping in the North Atlantic, which played a crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of merchant convoys to submarine warfare and contributed to the Allied push for improved anti-submarine measures, including increased escort coverage and the development of more effective detection technologies.

The *Hendelseier* was one of many Norwegian merchant ships lost during the war, reflecting the significant role Norway played in the Allied supply chain. The sinking remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of maritime warfare and the challenges faced by merchant sailors during World War II. The exact circumstances of the attack have been documented in naval histories and archives, providing insight into the tactics and strategies employed by both Allied and Axis forces in the North Atlantic theater.