Davanger was a steam cargo ship built in 1915–1916 by the Union Iron Works of San Francisco for James Rolph Jr.

The vessel operated between the East Coast of the United States and Europe during her short career and was sunk on her third trip in March 1917 by the German submarine UB-27.

With Germany conducting unrestricted submarine warfare in early parts of 1915, European ship-owners suffered considerable shipping losses.

As a result, the prices for new and existing ships and freight fees skyrocketed prompting some entrepreneurs to enter the highly speculative shipbuilding business.

Encouraged by the success of his speculative play, Rolph placed another order with Union Iron Works to build an identical vessel in October 1915.

[3] Barely a month into construction, in January 1916, Rolph sold the vessel to Theodore B. Wilcox, wealthy Portland mill-owner for approximately $900,000−1,000,000.

[12] The freighter was chartered for the highest freight rate ever charged up to that moment for grain shipment from San Francisco and proceeded to load approximately 7,800 tons of her cargo.

[20] The vessel loaded almost 8,000 tons of barley consigned to Nederlandsche Gist- en Spiritusfabriek and left New York on January 22, bound for Rotterdam.

The next day a pilot arrived but didn't come on board and guided the ship to Black Deep where she dropped her anchor and spent a night.

In the morning of March 12 the ship was allowed to sail and proceeded as far as the Sunk lightship where the pilot left the vessel, but soon after unexpectedly was ordered to return to Black Deep and anchor there until further notice.

On March 14 the freighter was again released and departed in the morning passing by Outer Gabbard lightship and then setting course directly to Hook of Holland.