Comments by "Ben Wilson" (@benwilson6145) on "MV San Demetrio - Guide 323" video.

  1. San Demetrio had an interesting voyage immediately pre war. Rotterdam 6/8, Pernis 11/8. Brunsbuttel12/8. Hammershus 13/8. Helsinki 17/8. Tallinn 18/8. Riga.18.8. Tallinn 21//8. Riga 23/8.Falmouth 28/8. Tampico 17/9
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  2. IIs far from unusual that a tanker didn't explode, many tanker were shelled and torpedoed and many many more were in collisions and did not sink. The sailors on bulk carriers full of ore or steel went straight to the bottom.
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  3. Those same men when there vessel was captured or sunk were then off pay.
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  4. Yo u wwould be interested in the "Shetland Bus" Norwegians escaping Norway and running agents back from Shetland to Norway.
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  5. There were pretty much no cranes on Merchant ships at that time, Cargo ships had derricks.
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  6. Thank you I found it.
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  7. People interested in this story may be interested in the MV Ondina a Royal Dutch Tanker. The ship had been damaged in an action with two Japanese Merchant Cruisers the Aikoku Maru and Hokoku Maru. The MV Ondina with assistance from the HMIS Bengal had sunk the Hokoku Maru was hit by a 4 inch shell from the MV Ondina causing the Long Lance Torpedo's to explode and eventually sink the ship. The Aikoku Maru shelled the MV Ondina causing fires to break out, The crew abandoned the tanker in lifeboats and were machine gunned by the Japanese. The HMIS Bengal having used all its shells sailed off. Aikoku Maru rescued the crew from the sunk sister Hokoku Maru and also sailed away. The survivors from the MV Ondina reboarded the tanker, put out the fires and sailed to Fremantle.
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  8. Not docked, they were off pay.
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  9.  @genericpersonx333  The reason for diesel will also be economic, diesel is cheaper than petroleum. Graf Spee had less capable diesel engines apparently.
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