M/V Weser (ship)

German, 9,472 gross ton cargo passenger ship. Originally built in Germany for Norwegian owners, M/V Weser was acquired by the North German Lloyd Company in 1931, lengthened and re-engined in 1934, and then operated on their Europe-Northwest coast service. When war came in 1939, Weser took refuge in Manzanillo, Mexico but was captured by HMCS Prince Robert on 25 September 1940 and taken to Esquimalt where she was refitted by Yarrows and renamed Vancouver Island. Under the Canadian flag, M/V Vancouver Island was operated by Canadian National Steamships in the Atlantic. Because of her speed, she was routed independently across the Atlantic instead of in convoy and made several passages carrying war supplies from Montreal. On 15 October she was torpedoed from the unusually long range of 2,000 meters by U-558 west of Ireland. Vancouver Island sank; all on board, 64 crew, 8 gunners and 32 passengers including RAF officers trained in Canada, were lost.