Aura II (formerly known as SS Halland, Bore II, SS Seagull and SS Aura) was a Finnish escort vessel, and a former presidential yacht, operated by the Finnish Navy between 1939 and 1940. The ship participated in the Winter War.
The ship was originally constructed as the passenger vessel SS Halland by the Swedish shipyard Lindholmens. She was renamed Bore II during a sejour with another shipping company. She was bought in 1930 by the Finnish businessman Hans von Rettig, who rebuilt the ship into a luxurious yacht, and renamed her SS Seagull. He donated the ship to the Finnish state in 1936, to be used as a presidential yacht. She was then given the name SS Aura. She was taken over by the Finnish Navy when the Winter War erupted in 1939, and since the name Aura already was taken by another vessel, she was given a new name, SS Aura II.
The last missionedit
On 13 January 1940, Aura II was escorting a convoy across the Sea of Åland. The small convoy consisted of the cargo vessels SS Anneberg, SS Hebe and the passenger vessel SS Bore I. When they passed Märket Island, the escort vessel Tursas noticed torpedo tracks in the water. Soon thereafter a submarine surfaced 300 m on the port side. Tursas sounded the alarm and tried to ram the Soviet submarine. Aura II followed and dropped three depth charges, and soon an oil slick was seen on the water surface. It was the Soviet submarine ShCh-324, which had been trying to sink the largest of the transport vessels Anneberg.[1] However, the torpedo went between Anneberg and Hebe. Seeing the oil slick, Aura II decided to finish off the submarine. Two more depth charges were fired, but a third depth charge exploded in its thrower.[2] The 135 kg trotyl charge completely tearing the wooden ship apart. 26 men died and 15 were saved. The ship's commander, Lieutenant Esra Terä, was mortally wounded, but managed to utter some last words: "Let us sing, boys". The Soviet submarine managed to return to its home base.
The wreck of Aura II is located at the Finnish-Swedish border, north of Märket Island, at 60° 23' N, 19° 10' E.
^Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1972). Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939-1945. Vol. 2: 1939-1942. London: Allan. p. 15. ISBN978-0-7110-0277-7.
^Bertke, Donald A.; Smith, Gordon; Kindell, Don (2009). World War II Sea War. Vol. 1: The Nazis Strike First. Day-to-day naval actions from August 1939 through March 1940. Dayton, OH: Bertke Publications. p. 335. ISBN978-0-578-02941-2.
November 16, 2023
finnish, escort, aura, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, octo. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Finnish escort Aura II news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Aura II formerly known as SS Halland Bore II SS Seagull and SS Aura was a Finnish escort vessel and a former presidential yacht operated by the Finnish Navy between 1939 and 1940 The ship participated in the Winter War HistoryFinlandNameAura IIBuilderMotala Verkstad Lindholmens Verkstads AB GothenburgIn service1884 1939 Finnish Navy FateSunk by own depth charge on 13 January 1940General characteristicsDisplacement466 tonsLength51 50 m 169 0 ft Beam7 80 m 25 6 ft Draught3 20 m 10 5 ft PropulsionTwo twin cylinder compound steam enginesSpeed12Complement41 officers and menArmament1 75 mm 1 20 mm Madsen 1 machine gun depth charge throwersAura IIclass notpageimage The location of the wreck The ship was originally constructed as the passenger vessel SS Halland by the Swedish shipyard Lindholmens She was renamed Bore II during a sejour with another shipping company She was bought in 1930 by the Finnish businessman Hans von Rettig who rebuilt the ship into a luxurious yacht and renamed her SS Seagull He donated the ship to the Finnish state in 1936 to be used as a presidential yacht She was then given the name SS Aura She was taken over by the Finnish Navy when the Winter War erupted in 1939 and since the name Aura already was taken by another vessel she was given a new name SS Aura II The last mission editOn 13 January 1940 Aura II was escorting a convoy across the Sea of Aland The small convoy consisted of the cargo vessels SS Anneberg SS Hebe and the passenger vessel SS Bore I When they passed Market Island the escort vessel Tursas noticed torpedo tracks in the water Soon thereafter a submarine surfaced 300 m on the port side Tursas sounded the alarm and tried to ram the Soviet submarine Aura II followed and dropped three depth charges and soon an oil slick was seen on the water surface It was the Soviet submarine ShCh 324 which had been trying to sink the largest of the transport vessels Anneberg 1 However the torpedo went between Anneberg and Hebe Seeing the oil slick Aura II decided to finish off the submarine Two more depth charges were fired but a third depth charge exploded in its thrower 2 The 135 kg trotyl charge completely tearing the wooden ship apart 26 men died and 15 were saved The ship s commander Lieutenant Esra Tera was mortally wounded but managed to utter some last words Let us sing boys The Soviet submarine managed to return to its home base The wreck of Aura II is located at the Finnish Swedish border north of Market Island at 60 23 N 19 10 E 60 23 N 19 10 E 60 383 N 19 167 E 60 383 19 167References edit Rohwer Jurgen Hummelchen Gerhard 1972 Chronology of the War at Sea 1939 1945 Vol 2 1939 1942 London Allan p 15 ISBN 978 0 7110 0277 7 Bertke Donald A Smith Gordon Kindell Don 2009 World War II Sea War Vol 1 The Nazis Strike First Day to day naval actions from August 1939 through March 1940 Dayton OH Bertke Publications p 335 ISBN 978 0 578 02941 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Finnish escort Aura II amp oldid 1167055152, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
