Draft:Merchant ship Kaunas

History
Launched in January 1931 as Norwegian Dixie for A/S Frank (Chr. J. Reim), Porsgrunn. Completed in July 1931 as Vardefjell for A/S Valberg (Olsen & Ugelstad), Oslo. In January 1938 sold to Lithuania and renamed Kaunas.

Sinking
At 20.15 hours on 17 Nov 1939 the unescorted and neutral Kaunas was hit amidships by one G7e torpedo from U-57 and sank by the stern after seven minutes 6.5 miles west-northwest of the Noord Hinder light vessel. The ship was attacked without warning because no nationality markings were visible. The survivors, one of them injured, abandoned ship in two lifeboats and were saved.