In the evening of 6 March 1940, the Vecht left Rotterdam in ballast to Lobito. The ship was going to fetch grain for the government, ter
strengthening the strategic food supply.
The ship was lost shortly after departure. It was not until long after the war that it became known that on 7 March 1940, shortly after midnight on the North Sea near the Steenbank, she had been torpedoed by the German submarine U 14 (Oblt. Wohlfarht).

The torpedo had hit about 30 meters behind the center of the VECHT target and the ship had disappeared into the waves in about 20 minutes.
No survivors.

Type: Steam merchantman
Name: Graakallen 1917-18, Vecht v.a. 1918
Built: A. Vuyk & Zonen, Capelle aan den IJssel, ZH, 1917
Owner: N.V. Houtvaart, Rotterdam

Complement:
Pieter Smit. Kapitein
M.J. Regoord. 1e Stuurman
A.G. van Heulen. 2e Stuurman
M.J.A. Bontekoe. 1e Machinist
W. de Munnik. 2e Machinist
J.H. v.d. Berg. 3e Machinist
W.K. van Driel. Assistent-machinist.
L.W.J. Snelders. Kok.
Opschoor. Hofmeester.
P.A. Barbier. Messroom-bediende
H.A. Dreesmna. Mat.-lampenist
J. Boelhouwers. Matroos
H. v.d. Polder. Matroos
H. Tap. Matroos
P. v.d. Linden. Matroos.
K. van Seters. Matroos.
 G. v.d. Linden. Donkeyman.
 A.J. Siebel. Stoker.
L. Klijn. Stoker.
C. Hoogstad. Stoker.,
A. Varekamp. Tremmer.
J. Voets. Tremmer.

• Stichting Maritiem Historische Databank.
  Vecht.
• Uboat.net.
  U 14.
• Bezemer, K.W.L. (1986).
  Geschiedenis van de Nederlandse Koopvaardij in de Tweede Wereldoorlo.
  Elsevier, Amsterdam/Brussel.