D/S Odin was built in 1928 at Nordseewerke GmbH in Emden, Germany, building number 141, and delivered to Seerederei Frigga / Frigga AG in Hamburg. She was a large cargo ship/ore ship built for the transport of heavy bulk cargo.
On 9 May 1944, the ship was loaded with iron ore and was to leave Narvik for Germany.
The situation at Narvik was then completely different from the spring of 1940. The harbor entrance and the strategically important sea lanes were protected by extensive German defenses. Among these were minefields intended to prevent enemy ships and submarines from approaching the harbor and the ore facilities.
In the evening, the Odin left Narvik.
Shortly after setting sail, a powerful explosion occurred.
Historical information places the incident at around 19:18–19:30 on 9 May 1944. The Odin was then just outside the entrance to Narvik’s harbor.
The ship had probably entered or come too close to a German defensive minefield.
The explosion caused catastrophic damage and the fully loaded ore ship immediately began to sink. The course of events was extremely rapid. According to contemporary accounts and later compilations, the approximately 131-meter-long ship sank in about two minutes.
The people on board therefore had very little time to get out of the ship or launch life-saving equipment.
32 people died
Type: Cargo ship
Built: 1928 by Nordseewerke GmbH, Emden (#141)
Dimensions: 131.38 x 17.97 x 10.45 meters
Tonnage: 5,806 GRT, 9,296 DVT
Propulsion: Compound steam engine, 252 nHK, 14.5 knots
Date of sinking: 9 May 1944
Cause: Minesweeper
Location: Outside the entrance to Narvik harbor, approx. 500 meters from shore
Depth: 60–80 meters
Cargo: Iron ore from the mines in Kiruna
Route: Narvik – Germany
Shipping company: Frigga AG (Seerederei Frigga), Hamburg