Name Herstein Yard number 644 Length 129 m | Port of registry Oslo, Norway Identification Call sign LKGE Draft 8.02 m | |
Operator Sigurd Herlofsen & Co. A/S, Oslo Builder Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen | ||
MV Herstein was a 5100 gross ton freighter launched in 1939 at Copenhagen. She was involved in the unsuccessful search for survivors from HMAS Sydney in November 1941. She was sunk at Rabaul in 1942.
Herstein was utilised during World War II for transporting freight and took part in a number of convoys. After transporting troops and equipment to Port Moresby, she proceeded to Rabaul to load copra, however she was attacked by three dive bombers on 20 January 1942 with three bombs hitting amidships, one exploded in the engine room, resulting in a fire that quickly spread throughout the ship and the second exploded in the bridge area. She was abandoned and she drifted afloat ablaze until becoming beached in Rabaul Harbour. One crew member was killed as a result of the bombing.