About Revisions Varanger (28 Mile Wreck) NJ More Info Max Depth: 131-140ft/40-43m Entry Type: Boat Aquatic Life: Plenty To See 6/22/2012 1:42 PM

Also known under the name 28 Mile Wreck, the Varanger, was a 9,305 ton Norwegian Tanker. She was built in Amsterdam in 1925 and was owned by Westfal, Larsen & Company. On January 25, 1942,under the command of Captain Karl Horne, while bound from Curacao to New York, carrying a cargo of 12,750 tons of fuel oil picked up in the West Indies, the ship was struck amidships on her port side by a German torpedo fired from the U-130. The first explosion knocked out the radio room, making it impossible to send a May Day. Within 15 minutes, two more torpedoes struck the Varanger, ripping her into three sections and sending her to the bottom. It is still unbelievable that the entire crew was able to escape on two life boats without a single fatality. All were picked up by a fishing boat a few miles away. The Varanger, which was the sixth vessel sunk in U.S. waters by U-boats, rests in 145 feet of water along the 29 fathom curve. The wreck is sitting upright in good condition considering the number of explosions that sank her. In season, the water around her abounds with giant bluefish, cod, bonito, skipjack, shark and on occasion, even marlin have be seen. As mentioned earlier this wreck has been nicknamed 28 Mile Wreck due to her approximate distance from Brigantine, Great Egg and Absecon Inlets.jersey