MS Rigel

Rigel and escort under attack
Rigel (left) and an escort (right) under attack
History
Norway
NameMS Rigel
NamesakeThe star Rigel
OwnerBergen Steamship Company
BuilderBurmeister & Wain, Copenhagen[1]
Yard number326[1]
AcquiredAugust 1924[2]
FateSunk by aircraft, 27 November 1944[2]
General characteristics
TypeCargo steamer
Tonnage
Length367 ft 6 in (112.01 m)[2]
Beam51 ft 6 in (15.70 m)[2]
Depth22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)[2]
Propulsion2 × 6-cylinder B&W diesel engines, 2,076 ihp (1,548 kW)[2]
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)[2]

MS Rigel was a Norwegian vessel built in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1924. The ship was used as a German prisoner of war (POW) transport during World War II, and was sunk by British Fleet Air Arm aircraft off Norway on 27 November 1944 with more than 2,500 dead, mostly POWs.

  1. ^ a b c "B&W ships list" (PDF). maritime-museum.dk (in Danish). 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Lawson, Siri Holm (2012). "M/S Rigel". warsailors.com. Retrieved 27 August 2012.