View source for MS Hans Hedtoft

{{short description|20th-century Danish ship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} 
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=MS Hans Hedtoft.jpg
|Ship caption=MS ''Hans Hedtoft''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= 
|Ship country=Denmark
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Denmark|government}}
|Ship name=''Hans Hedtoft''
|Ship namesake=[[Hans Hedtoft]]
|Ship owner=Royal Greenland Trading Company
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry=
|Ship homeport={{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Copenhagen]]
|Ship route=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=Frederikshavns Værft, Frederikshavn
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=226
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=13 August 1958
|Ship completed=17 December 1958
|Ship christened=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship maiden voyage=7 January 1959
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=30 January 1959
|Ship identification=*[[Maritime call sign|call sign]] OXKA
*[[Image:ICS Oscar.svg|15px|border]] [[Image:ICS X-ray.svg|15px|border]] [[Image:ICS Kilo.svg|15px|border]] [[Image:ICS Alfa.svg|15px|border]]
|Ship fate=Sank, all hands lost
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship tonnage=*{{GRT|2,857}}
*{{NRT|1,368}}
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length={{convert|271|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|Ship beam={{convert|46|ft|6|in|m|2|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught=
|Ship draft=
|Ship depth={{convert|21|ft|1|in|m|2|abbr=on|order=flip}}
|Ship decks=
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship ramps=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship power=
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|Ship capacity= 60 passengers
|Ship crew=40 crew
|Ship armament= 3 × 40&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft guns
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
''' MS ''Hans Hedtoft''''' was a [[Denmark|Danish]] [[cargo liner|cargo passenger liner]] that struck an [[iceberg]] and [[List of ships sunk by icebergs|sank]] on 30 January 1959 on her maiden voyage off the coast of Western [[Greenland]].<ref name=Time/> The only piece of the wreckage ever found was a lifebelt.

==Description==
''Hans Hedtoft'' was {{convert|271|ft|2|in|m|2|order=flip}} long, with a beam of {{convert|46|ft|6|in|m|2|order=flip}} and a depth of {{convert|21|ft|1|in|m|2|order=flip}}. She was assessed at {{GRT|2875}}, {{NRT|1,368}}.<ref name=Sbib>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbib.dk/documents/Skibslister/1959.pdf |title=Danmarks Skibsliste 1959 |trans-title=List of Danish Ships 1959 |publisher=Sjøfartens Bibliotek |language=Danish |accessdate=30 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318005148/http://www.sbib.dk/documents/Skibslister/1959.pdf |archivedate=18 March 2012 }}</ref>

''Hans Hedtoft'' was built by Frederikshavns Værft at [[Frederikshavn]] in northern [[Denmark]]. She was yard number 226, launched on 13 August 1958 and completed on 17 December.<ref name=Miramar>{{csr|register=MSI|id=5613846 |accessdate=4 November 2009}}</ref> She had a double bottom and seven watertight compartments and an armoured bow and stern. She was designed to provide a year-round service between Denmark and [[Greenland]]. ''Hans Hedtoft'' had a [[rivet]]ed hull, a feature which was criticised by Knud Lauritzen, a shipowner. Lauritzen claimed that a riveted hull was not as resistant to ice pressure as a welded hull.<ref name=Time>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,892163,00.html |title=Little Titanic (1 of 2) |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |accessdate=29 April 2020| date=9 February 1959|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228182146/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,892163,00.html|archive-date=28 February 2017}} {{subscription required}}</ref> ''Hans Hedtoft'' had the [[code letters]] and [[Maritime call sign|radio call sign]] OXKA.<ref name=Callsign>{{cite web |url=http://www.seefunknetz.de/oxka.htm |title=Der Untergang der "Hans Hedtoft" / OXKA (I) |trans-title=The sinking of the "Hans Hedtoft" |publisher=seefunknetz.de |language=German |accessdate=12 December 2008}}</ref> The ship was named after a [[Hans Hedtoft|former prime minister of Denmark]].

The ship was armed with three 40&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft guns, on the orders of the Danish [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD). The armament was not part of the original plans, and the ship was strengthened in three places to take the guns. An ammunition room was built into the bow of the ship. The MoD provided the anti-aircraft guns free of charge. Although fitted during tests, the guns were dismounted and carried aboard ''Hans Hedtoft'' at the time of her sinking. An order had been issued that the guns were to be removed from the ship immediately after she arrived back in Copenhagen. It was claimed that the arming of ''Hans Hedtoft'' resulted in a warship being constructed without the approval of the [[Folketing]].<ref name=Qaqortoq/>

==Sinking==
''Hans Hedtoft'' sailed from [[Copenhagen]] on her maiden voyage on 7 January 1959. Her voyage to [[Julianehaab]], [[Greenland]], was made in record time. ''Hans Hedtoft'' called at [[Nuuk]], [[Sisimiut]] and [[Maniitsoq]] before returning to Julianehaab.<ref name=Qaqortoq/>

[[File:USCGC Campbell.JPG|thumb|left|USCGC ''Campbell'']]
On 29 January, she began her return journey.<ref name=Sea/> The ship had 40 crew, 55 passengers and a cargo of frozen fish on board<ref name=Time/> and in addition to that 3.25 tons of archives concerning Greenlandic history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/groenlands-arkiver-sank-sammen-med-hans-hedtoft |title=Grønlands arkiver sank sammen med "Hans Hedtoft" |date=29 January 2019 |trans-title=Greenland's archives sank with "Hans Hedtoft" |publisher=kristeligt-dagblad.dk|accessdate=31 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hanshedtoft.dk/04%20Diverse/Arkiv/Lastmanifest_Godthaab.pdf |title=Lastmanifest of 6th February 1959: Vedr. Godthåbslastens placering i m/s "Hans Hedtoft" |trans-title=Last manifest of 6th February 1959: Vedr. Anticipated(?) location of the load in m / s "Hans Hedtoft" |work=www.hanshedtoft.dk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://politiken.dk/bagsiden/art7005289/%E2%80%99Hans-Hedtoft%E2%80%99s-forlis-var-en-katastrofe-for-Gr%C3%B8nlands-kulturarv |title=Hans Hedtoft's forlis var en katastrofe for Grønlands kulturarv |date=30 January 2019 |trans-title=Hans Hedtoft's shipwreck was a disaster for Greenland's cultural heritage |publisher=politiken.dk|accessdate=31 January 2019}}</ref> One of her passengers was the Danish parliament ([[Folketing]]) member [[Augo Lynge]].<ref name=Qaqortoq/> The next day, ''Hans Hedtoft'' collided with an [[iceberg]] about {{convert|35|nmi|km}} south of [[Cape Farewell, Greenland|Cape Farewell]], the southernmost point of Greenland.<ref name=Sea>{{cite book | first =Keith | last =Eastlake | year =1998 | title =Sea Disasters | pages =24 | publisher =Greenwich Editions | location =London | isbn = 0-86288-149-8}}</ref> A distress call was given at 13:56 (local time) stating that the ship had hit an iceberg at {{coord|59|30|N|43|00|W}}.<ref name=Qaqortoq/> The call was answered by [[USCGC Campbell (WPG-32)|USCGC ''Campbell'']], the [[West Germany|West German]] trawler ''Johannes Krüss''<ref name=Time/> of [[Bremerhaven]]<ref name=Qaqortoq/> and another West German trawler. Within an hour, another message was sent stating that the engine room was flooded.<ref name=Time/> At 15:12, it was announced that the ship was sinking. A final message was sent at 17:41 stating the ship was slowly sinking and requesting immediate assistance.<ref name=Qaqortoq/> Aircraft in [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] were grounded by the weather and unable to assist in the search for ''Hans Hedtoft''.<ref name=Time/> The beginning of an [[SOS]] was received by ''Johannes Krüss'' at 18:06 after which communication with ''Hans Hedtoft'' was lost.<ref name=Qaqortoq/> 

''Johannes Krüss'', and U.S. Coast Guard cutter ''Campbell'' both were in the area near ''Hans Hedtoft'' and immediately turned toward Hans Hedtoft's position after the initial distress call. However, due to the high sea, floating ice, dwindling daylight and generally bad visibility they were unable to reach the position provided by ''Hans Hedtoft'' before she sank later that afternoon. ''Johannes Krüss'', commanded by Kapitän Albert Sierck, after a dangerous voyage in the ice-filled stormy waters, is believed to have made it to the position of ''Hans Hedtoft'' only few minutes after her sinking, but was unable to find any survivors under the extremely difficult conditions. <ref>{{Cite web |title=climate4you ClimateAndHistory 1950-1999 |url=https://www.climate4you.com/ClimateAndHistory%201950-1999.htm#1959:%20Hans%20Hedtoft%20is%20lost%20on%20her%20maiden%20voyage |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=www.climate4you.com}}</ref>

On 31 January, USCGC ''Campbell'' reported that conditions were  worse than anything the ship had seen while on transatlantic convoy duty during World War II, and there was no sign of ''Hans Hedtoft'' or her passengers and crew.<ref name="Time2">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,892163-2,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126091835/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,892163-2,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 January 2009 |title=Little Titanic (2 of 2) |publisher=Time |accessdate=12 December 2008 | date=9 February 1959}}</ref> The search was called off on 7 February.<ref name="Sea" /> The only piece of wreckage ever recovered was a lifebuoy which washed ashore on Iceland and was discovered on 7 October 1959, some nine months after the ship sank.<ref name="Qaqortoq" /> The ship sank with [[parish register]]s from [[parish]]es of Greenland, which were meant to be deposited in archives in Denmark, causing a major loss for Greenlandic [[genealogy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkiv.gl/Forsiden/tabid/36/language/en-US/language/da-DK/Default.aspx|title=Home|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516001806/http://www.arkiv.gl/Forsiden/tabid/36/language/en-US/language/da-DK/Default.aspx|archivedate=16 May 2016}}</ref>

As a result of the sinking, the airfield at [[Bluie West One|Narsarsuaq]], Greenland, which had closed in November 1958, was reopened.<ref name=Reopen>{{cite web|url=http://iserit.greennet.gl/bgbw/contact.html |title=History. |publisher=iserit.greennet.gl |accessdate=12 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212164111/http://iserit.greennet.gl/bgbw/contact.html |archivedate=12 December 2008 }}</ref> An appeal fund for the relatives of the victims was opened. [[Danish Krone|Kr40,000]] (then [[Pound Sterling|£2,000]]) was raised amongst ten countries in two months.<ref name=Times230359>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Telegrams in Brief |date=23 March 1959 |page=9 |issue=54416 |column=G }}</ref> Compensation for the relatives amounted to Kr1,184,936 (then £59,000).<ref name=Times021259>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Telegrams in Brief |date=2 December 1959 |page=11 |issue=54633 |column=D }}</ref> Much like RMS ''Titanic'' 47 years earlier, ''Hans Hedtoft'' was said to be the safest ship afloat,<ref name=Time/> being described as "unsinkable" by some.<ref name=Qaqortoq>{{cite web|url=http://www.qaqortoq.gl/jbl/english/hedtoftforlis.html |title=The ship – lost on its maiden voyage |publisher=qaqortoq.gl|accessdate=12 December 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211081803/http://www.qaqortoq.gl/jbl/english/hedtoftforlis.html|archivedate=11 February 2009}}</ref>{{dubious|date=January 2022}}

==Legacy==

On 30 January 2005, [[Margrethe II of Denmark|Queen Margrethe]] unveiled a monument at North Atlantic Wharf, [[Copenhagen]], to the 95 people lost on ''Hans Hedtoft''.<ref name=Memorial>{{cite web|url=http://www.cphpost.dk/print.jsp?o_id=85522 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070810190935/http://www.cphpost.dk/print.jsp?o_id=85522 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 August 2007 |title=Memorial to Hans Hedtoft victims |publisher=Copenhagen Post|accessdate=12 December 2008}}</ref>

The shipwreck is the theme of the 2014 song "All Hope Abandon" by the Greenlandic band [[Small Time Giants]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Mats |last=Bjerde |date=8 May 2017 |url=https://gaffa.dk/anmeldelse/117249/en-gedigen-gang-gronland |title=En gedigen gang Grønland |work=Gaffa.dk |access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Denmark|Transport}}
* [http://www.hanshedtoft.dk/ Projekt Hans Hedtoft 1959–2009] {{in lang|da}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050404050613/http://home9.inet.tele.dk/svhh/Hanshedtoft.htm Overview and pictures] {{in lang|da}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=30UEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49 LIFE Magazine Feb. 16, 1959]

{{Maiden voyage sinkings}}
{{1959 shipwrecks}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hans Hedtoft}}
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1959]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of Denmark]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:1958 ships]]
[[Category:1959 in Denmark]]
[[Category:Ships lost with all hands]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by icebergs]]
[[Category:Ships built in Denmark]]
[[Category:January 1959 events in North America]]
[[Category:1959 disasters in Denmark]]