German ship Doggerbank

History
United Kingdom
NameSpeybank
OwnerAndrew Weir & Co
Operator Bank Line
Port of registryGlasgow
BuilderHarland & Wolff, Govan
Yard number686
Launched25 February 1926
Completed20 April 1926
RenamedDoggerbank, 1941
Identification
FateCaptured, 31 January 1941
Germany
NameDoggerbank
NamesakeDogger Bank
In service1941
FateSunk by torpedoes, 3 March 1943
General characteristics
Class & typeInverbank-class cargo ship
Tonnage5,154 GRT, 3,154 NRT
Length420.3 ft (128.1 m)
Beam53.9 ft (16.4 m)
Draught29 ft 2 in (8.9 m)
Depth26.5 ft (8.1 m)
Installed power717 NHP
Propulsion
Speed12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement108 (1943)

The German ship Doggerbank (Schiff 53) was a British cargo ship that was built in Scotland in 1926, captured by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) in 1941, renamed Doggerbank and converted into an auxiliary minelayer and blockade runner. The German U-43 sank her by mistake in 1943, leading to the deaths of all but one of her 257 passengers and 108 crew.

Doggerbank was built in Scotland in 1926 as Speybank, one of 18 Inverbank-class motor ships for Andrew Weir & Co's Bank Line. She was the first of three Bank Line ships that were called Speybank. The second was built in England in 1962 and sold in 1978. The third was built in 1983 as Okha, bought in 1995 and renamed Speybank, and was still in service in 2009.