Ca
Name of Ship	Shipping Company	Tonnage
C. A. Larsen	Jørgen Krag, Oslo	13 246 gt
Built in Sunderland, England 1913. Previous name: San Gregorio until 1926. Converted to whale factory vessel in 1926. Pre war: Delivered in July-1913 from Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend (923) as steam tanker San Gregorio to Eagle Oil Transport Co., London, 12 093 gt, 9075 net, 12 936 tdwt, 527.2' x 66.6' x 33.9', 4 cylinder Q. Exp. (by builders), 787 nhp. Sold in Febr.-1926 to Hvalfanger-A/S Rosshavet (Johan Rasmussen & Magnus Konow), Sandefjord and renamed C.A. Larsen. Converted to floating factory at Fredrikstad mek. Verksted. Sold in Sept.-1936 to Hvalfangerselskapet Blaahval A/S Sandefjord, which was controlled since 1936 by Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH (Germany). WW II: Seized by the Kriegsmarine in May-1940 (after the invasion of Norway in April of that year) and used as a tanker depot ship in Norway from Aug. until the end of the war. Reported at Tromsø in July-1944, and at Lofjord during May-June 1945. POST WAR: Returned to Norway in June-1945, purchased by Hvalfangerselskapet Antarctic A/S, Tønsberg and renamed Antarctic, whaling in the Antarctic. Converted to steam tanker at Kiel in Sept.-1952. Sold in July-1954 to Eisen & Metall KG, Lehr & Co., Hamburg for breaking up, arriving Hamburg on Aug. 7-1954. There was also a ship by this name after the war, delivered in 1950 to Cia. Argentina de Pesca S/A, Argentina, 438 gt. Sold in 1963 to Albion Star (South Georgia) Ltd.
M/S Canis	Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen	934 gt
Built at Port Glasgow 1888. Previous names: Barque Andrew Welch until 1916, barque Olga until 1919, Sophus Magdalon until 1922. Pre war history: Delivered in Sept.-1888 from Russel & Co., Port Glasgow, UK as cargo vessel Andrew Welch to C. Brewer & Co. (Welch & co.), Honolulu, Hawaii. Steel hull, clipper bow barque (3 masts), 185.6’ x 36.1’ x 18.5’, 885 gt. In 1898 - C. Brewer & Co./Welch & co., Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 1901 - Welch & Co., San Francisco, USA. Sold in 1907 to Matson Navigation Co., San Francisco. Sold in 1916 to Rederi-AB Quarta (I. Lignell), Gothenburg, Sweden, renamed Olga. Ran aground and heavily damaged at unknown location in 1918. Sold "as is" in 1918? to Skibs-A/S Motorskib Sophus Magdalon (Sophus Kahrs), Bergen. Extensively rebuilt in 1919 at Haugesund Mek. Verksted A/S, Haugesund (3), 188.8’ x 36.1’ x 17.5’, 934 gt, 1450 tdwt, 4cyl 2t Atlas dm 500bhp, 7 knots. Delivered in Nov.-1919 as cargo vessel Sophus Magdalon. Sold in May-1922 to Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen, renamed Canis and used in the company's cargo service between the south and north of Norway. Hit a rock and sank in 1923, salvaged. Picture of Canis - In Bergen in the 1930's. From Bjørn Milde's postcard collection. Another picture - Source: Bjørn Pedersen's collection. WW II: In 1941 she was in cargo service between western Norway, northern Norway and eastern Finnmark together with the company's Kora and Edna (other companies that had vessels in coastal service to eastern Finnmark found the risk of Russian aircraft attacks too great and cancelled all their sailings to this area). The Germans demanded that these sailings should take place in German convoys, so there was a lot of waiting involved, causing delays. Canis arrived Kirkenes on her first voyage in this run on Dec. 29-1941. In 1942 Canis and Edna made 2 voyages each, while Kora made 3, in 1943 Canis made 1 voyage, Kora and Edna 3 each, and in 1944 all three vessels made 1 voyage each, with Canis making the last one. These sailings were extremely important to the people living in this area. In May-1945 Canis was among the first ships to take on board supplies in Oslo for the north of Norway after the liberation. NOTE: According to R. W. Jordan's records she was also in Norway-Germany trade during the war(?). POST WAR: Sold in May-1948 to Skibs-AS Einvik (Bjarne Tetlie), Trondheim, renamed Einvika. Sold in Jan.-1950 to Ingv. Christianslund, Fredrikstad. Ran aground in Raufarhafn, Iceland on Nov. 15-1950, voyage Siglufjord-Helsinki with herring. (Info from T. Eriksen, Norway - His sources: Articles about BDS in "Skipet" 1-2.88 by Dag Bakka Jr. and "Norges eldste Linjerederi, BDS 1851-1951" by Wilhelm Keilhau). This company had previously had another ship by the name Canis, delivered as John Knudsen (1) in Jan.-1911 to John Aug. Knudsen, Haugesund, 526 gt, sold in Jan.-1915 to Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen and renmed Canis - torpedoed and sunk by U-60 on July 30-1917 on voyage Newcastle-Bergen with coal, loss of 2 men.
D/S Capella * raised	Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen	877 gt
Built in Bergen 1885. Pre war history: Delivered in Aug.-1885 from Martens, Olsen & Co., Laksevåg, Bergen (16) as Capella to Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen. Steel hull, 191.9’ x 28.8’ x 20.3’, 877 gt, 790 tdwt., 2cyl Compound (M,O&Co) 800ihp, 11.5 knots. In regularly scheduled cargo service between the south and north of Norway most of the year. In the summertime she was painted and spruced up for use in tourist trade Trondheim-Nordkapp together with other BDS vessels and Nordenfjeldske D/S ships. When new she was among the most luxurious ships on the coast and the company received a number of "thank you" telegrams from well-to-do tourists who had travelled with her. In 1924 a Tripple Expansion (Lobnitz & Co. Ltd., Renfrew) 69nhp, (1919) engine was installed (8.5 knots). At some point she was altered for use in cargo service only. As per the summer of 1939 she was in the company's cargo routes between the south and north of Norway. WW II: Arrived Kristiansund N on Apr. 10-1940 (the day after the German invasion) when southbound in the Kirkenes-Oslo cargo route. Norwegian authorities gave orders for her (general?) cargo to be discharged in order to prevent it from ending up in German hands. Unloading was completed by Apr. 26 and she proceeded into Tingvollfjorden, Nordmøre, probably to await the course of events. Spotted by a German aircraft, bombed and sunk on Apr. 28 (26?)-1940, crew saved. Raised, then sold "as is" in 1943? to Anders & Gabriel Andersen, Stavanger, repaired and rebuilt, then re-entered service as cargo vessel Hillevaag in July-1943. Picture of Capella - From Bjørn Milde's postcard collection (I'm assuming this is the older Capella, and not the one listed below?) POST WAR: Sold in 1951 to Thv. Schjølberg Knudsen, Kristiansand. Sold in 1951 to Skibs-A/S Songdal (Johan Gerrard), Kristiansand. Sold to Belgium in Jan.-1952 for breaking up. (From T. Eriksen, Norway - his source: Articles by Dag Bakka Jr. about Bergenske D/S in the Norwegian magazine "Skipet" 1-2.88, and "Norges eldste Linjerederi, BDS 1851-1951" by Wilhelm Keilhau). Other ships by this name: Norway had earlier had an iron barque named Capella (built 1875, 948 gt) which lost 15 men when she was wrecked off Bovbjerg, Jutland on Nov. 22-1903, on a voyage to Table Bay with timber. Another D/S Capella was built in Germany in 1872, 262 gt - a seal catcher. Swedish owners until 1901, later Thor Dahl, Sandefjord. Destroyed by fire on the herding grounds in 1902, no casualties. A Capella I (whale factory) was lost to WW I, in Sept.-1917 - built Glasgow 1899, 3929 gt, ex Den of Ogil., sold to Norway in 1911, Peder Bogen (according to "Damp - Dampskipets æra i Vestfold).
M/S Capella	Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen	939 gt
Completed in Bergen June-1945. Launched on March 3-1943 at Bergens Mek. Verksteder, Bergen (377). When it became clear that the German Navy had plans of seizing this ship, the managing director of the shipyard, Reidar Kaarbø and the shipowners decided in several confidential meetings to arrange for a delay in completion. Their solution was to pretend a very important part (pertaining to the steering mechanism) had gone missing and a new one could not be found, so the ship was laid up nearly finished in Sørfjord, near Bergen in 1943*. The missing part "miraculously" appeared when the war was over, and Capella was the first new ship to be delivered in Norway after the war. *According to T. Eriksens sources the unfinished Capella was towed to Mostraumen near Bergen in July-1944 and laid up there while awaiting the "missing" part. Towed back to Bergen in May-1945 in order to be completed. (Roger W. Jordan says she was taken over by the German navy; first voyaging on the Norwegian coast in 1943-'44, and was laid up at Østerfjorden early 1945. I suspect that the "voyaging on the coast in 1943-'44" may in fact be a misinterpretation in "foreign" sources of the act of her being towed out and laid up). POST WAR: Delivered on June 27-1945 as Capella to Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen. Steel hull, 224.1’ x 35.2’ x 13.5’, 938 gt, 1260 tdwt, 6cyl 2tev Sulzer dm 1100bhp 12.5 knots. Used in the company's coastal cargo route Oslo-Kirkenes. Ran aground on Nov. 1-1962 at Kløvningsbåen near Tjøme on a voyage from Kirkenes to Oslo. Crew of 23 saved. Slipped off and sank at a depth of ca. 20 meters on Nov. 15 (some pictures are available on this external page). (Misc. sources incl. "Hjemmeflåten - Mellom venn og fiende" Lauritz Pettersen, and info received from T. Eriksen, Norway - His sources: Articles by Dag Bakka Jr. about Bergenske D/S in the Norwegian magazine "Skipet" 1-2.88, and "Norges eldste Linjerederi, BDS 1851-1951" by Wilhelm Keilhau). Related external link: Capella - details on her final fate in 1962 (includes picture). Sweden had a motor vessel by the name Capella (built 1930, 9720 gt), renamed Grisslehamn in 1942, Atalanta in 1946.
M/S Castleville	A. F. Klaveness & Co. A/S, Oslo	6184 gt
Built in Sandefjord, contracted to be delivered 1940. Seized by the Germans, along with a new sistership, in the summer of 1941 while building, and launched in Nov. that same year as Darss for Norddeutsche Lloyd, Bremen, but was not completed until late 1944, possibly early 1945. These vessels were intended delivered in 1940 and 1941 respectively, but work on them was intentionally proceeding in a slow tempo. Castleville (Darss) was found in France at the end of the war, and according to a message left in my Norwegian Guestbook she sailed for Klaveness & Co. for many years after the war (US-Far East). The sistership, whish is named as M/S Francisville in the Guestbook message, was never put into service while the war lasted, but also sailed for the company for several years after the war, in the same type of service as Castleville.
D/S Castor	Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen	1683 gt
Built in Elsinore 1920. Previous name: Rødfaxe until 1922. Please continue to a separate page about D/S Castor (w/picture).
D/S Cate B *	Th. Brøvig, Farsund	4285 gt
Built in Sunderland 1920. Previous name Unden until 1938. Pre war: Delivered in Aug.-1920 as Unden from J. Priestman & Co., Sunderland (268) to Rederi A/B Transatlantic, Gothenburg, Sweden, originally having been ordered in Oct.-1917 for Torp & Wiese, Bergen, but sold to the Swedish company in Nov.-1919. 4285 gt, 2573 net, 8007 tdwt, 365.9' x 51.6' x 25.2', Tripple exp. (George Clark Ltd., Sunderland), 372 nhp. Sold in June-1938 to Th. Brøvig, Farsund and renamed Cate B. WW II: Captain Birger Larsson-Fedde. Arrived Norway at the end of March-1940 with cargo of 8000 tons grain from Buenos Aires, unloaded in Stavanger and Bergen, then proceeded to Narvik on Apr. 8. Rescued 16 men from the armoured ship Norge during the attack on Narvik, Norway. On April 13* she herself ended up in the firing line from British forces and was hit by several shells as well as a torpedo. One of her lifeboats was blown to pieces but the crew, several of whom were injured managed to take off in another boat before the ship was hit by another torpedo, and were able to row away from danger and reach land. (Cate B had been hit by a torpedo from one of the British destroyers, and also by one from Hans Lündemann and sank after 12 hours). 3rd mate was Karl Reisvaag. 1st Mate Tolli Tollisen (who had several bullet wounds) later volunteered to take D/S Deneb from Harstad to Skånland (between Harstad and Narvik) with a cargo of aviation fuel. Others from Cate B also came along, but Deneb was hit by a bomb which set the fuel on fire. She sank very quickly and the 2 from Cate B were killed, while the rest survived. Tollisen, and some others later managed to get across to England. He briefly served on Ørnefjell, then became captain of Mari, Rask and Røsten and was on board the latter when she was sunk in July 1942, follow link for details. *Lauritz Pettersen ("Hjemmeflåten - Mellom venn og fiende") says Cate B was sunk on Apr. 18. POST WAR: Salvaged in two parts in 1955 by Norsk Bjergningskompagni A/S. Broken up in Stavanger, Norway in 1955. Related external links: The Norwegian armed forces - Includes info on the Norwegian Navy, ships, submarines etc. etc. (and Norge). Weserübung - the German Invasion of Norway to top of page
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D/S Christiania	Det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskab, Stavanger	727 gt
Built at Helsingør, Denmark 1895. Pre war history: Delivered in July-1895 from Helsingørs Jernskibs- & Maskinbyggeri, Helsingør, Denmark as Christiania (54) to Christiania Kyst-Dampskibsselskab (Bertrand Heyerdahl), Oslo. Steel hull, 180,5’ x 27,3’ x 19,7’, 646 gt, 2 funnels. Engine: Tripple Expansion (Helsingørs), 153nhp, 800ihp, 13 knots. Ran aground and badly damaged near Åna Sira on Aug. 28-1898 but managed to get to Åna Sira where she was beached. Condemned and taken over by insurers in Oslo. Sold "as is" in 1899 to Det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskab, Stavanger, raised and towed to Nylands Værksted, Oslo, repaired and rebuilt (1 of the funnels removed), 653 gt. Placed in coastal service Stavanger-Oslo. Ran aground and sank on Febr. 17-1926 off Jomfruland (Telemark), later raised and taken to Stavanger where she was repaired and modernized at Stavangerske's own yard at Klaseskjæret, 727 gt. Back in coastal service in Apr.-1927. WW II: At Oslo when the war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940, back in Service in May. Attacked by allied bombers off Egersund on Febr. 21-1941, minor shrapnel damages. Placed in Hurtigruten service Bergen-North Norway in Apr.-1944 (replacing Kong Haakon after that ship had been damaged during the explosion in Bergen on Apr. 20 that year). Damaged by magnetic mine in Åramsundet, Sunnmøre on Oct.19-1944 and laid up in Hjørundfjord near Ålesund for the rest of the war. Boatswain Erling Olsen Rimmereide died on Apr. 2-1942 (following illness). POST WAR: Repaired in 1945 and back in service that summer, Hurtigruten Bergen-North Norway. Taken out of this service in May the following year after Kong Haakon had been repaired. Sold to England in Nov.-1952 for breaking up. (Received from T. Eriksen, Norway - his sources: Articles about Stavangerske in the Norwegian magazine "Skipet" 2.90 and 1.91 by Alf Johan Kristiansen and "Skipene som bandt kysten sammen, hurtigruten 1893-1980", Dag Bakka Jr. for Bergens Tidende 1980). Norway had previously had another steamship by this name, built in Christiania, delivered in Apr.-1871 for D/S A/S Norden (Winge & Co.), Christiania, 353 gt. From 1898 A. O. Haneborg, Christiania. Sold to Chr. Valentinsen, Haugesund in 1900, lost Dec. 18 the following year.
Christian Radich	Oslo Skoleskip	676 gt
Built in Sandefjord 1937. Auxiliary schooner (training ship). Under German control and requisitioned by German navy 1940, used as submarine mothership. Reported at Skojomen in Aug. 1943, at Horten in May-1944 and at Flensburg in June-1945, returned to Norway. The website that I've linked to below has her history up until today. Picture of Christian Radich - Roger W. Jordan collection. POST WAR: See website below. (Main source: R. W. Jordan). Related external links: Christian Radich - History and pictures, the vessel's official website - text in English and Norwegian. Christian Radich - More information on her history (in Norwegian).
M/S Cito *	Kristiansund	123 gt
Built in Opsanger 1904. Struck a mine (German) and sank in Sognefjord on Aug. 11-1941. (There's also a vessel by this name mentioned in "Damp - Dampskipets æra i Vestfold" (listed in my sources on the books page). This was a bottlenose and seal catcher of 182 gt [a barque], built in Stavanger in 1873, belonging to Herlofsen & Knutsen, Larvik - sold to Sandefjord in 1886, sold again in 1913). to top of page
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D/S Columba	Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen	1118 gt
Built in Bergen 1929. Pre war history: Delivered in Nov.-1929 from Bergens Mek. Værksted, Bergen (210) as liner Columba to Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen. Steel hull, 223.8’ x 34.2’ x 14.1’, 1118 gt, 1550 tdwt, Tripple Expansion (BMV) 180nhp, 10.5 knots. As per the summer of 1939 she was in cargo service Trondheim-Bergen-Antwerp together with her sistership Vela. (joint sailings once a week along with a vessel from DDG Neptun). WW II: Columba is listed in the Norway-U.K. HN 12 in Febr.-1940. Not much war history available, other than the fact that she was in the Homefleet. A posting to my Ship Forum states she was under German control from Oct. 7-1941 (requisitioned). Returned to owner on Dec. 12-1941. In Febr.-1944 she was in the German convoy in which Anna Sofie ran aground (Convoy Be-146-St). Columba was in ballast at the time. Follow link to Anna Sofie for more details. POST WAR: In May-1945 Columba was among the first ships to load supplies in Oslo for the North of Norway after the capitulation. Returned to Trondheim-Bergen-Antwerp service in 1946, together with the company's Cygnus and Neptun. In 1948-1949 this line was taken over by the company's newly built Leo and Lynx, while Columba was placed in the Trondheim-Bergen-Hamburg service along with Neptun and Centaurus. Continued in this route in 1951 along with Nordenfjeldske D/S's Orm Jarl (ex Hauknes, ex Empire Consumer, ex Haga) and Ottar Jarl (the latter went all the way from Kirkenes and via Kristiansund N. This must be Ottar Jarl III, ex Northland, ex W. B. Foshay). On Dec. 31-1951 she drifted off in a storm in Vibrandsøysund, Haugesund harbour. She had arrived from Hamburg and was about to go around the Garpeskjær quay in order to go into Smedasundet when she lost her steering and got stuck between Skagen and "Staalehuset" at Hasseløy. Refloated by the salvage vessel Olav Østensjø Jr. and the tug Tor and towed to Indre Kai in Smedasundet. Inspected by a diver who found damages to her propeller. Repaired by Haugesund Slip A/S, Haugesund, returning to service on Jan. 2-1952. That year she was used in Den Norsk-Tyske Hamburglinje, in a joint sailing with the German companies Ernst Russ and A. Kirsten, BDS using Columba and Neptun. At the same time Columba alternated in the Trondheim-Bergen-Amsterdam-Rotterdam run, along with Arcturus, Delfinus and Diana. In 1954 the latter ship and Columba were replaced by Centaurus and Draco in the Rotterdam-Amsterdan route, and in 1955 Diana, Sirius and Deneb took over the service to Hamburg (from Neptun). Columba was sold in Aug.-1955 to D/S A/S Henry & Vangs Rederi A/S (Eigil Krogh & Arne Lyngholm), Haugesund and renamed Henry Vang. Captain for many years was H. Lokna, later Captain Enerstvedt. In general tramping in the North Sea, but mostly in lumber trade from The White Sea to European ports, occasionally in cargo service in connection with fishing around Iceland, carrying empty barrels and salt, though often laid up in the wintertime in Smedasundet, Haugesund. Ran aground on Oct. 20-1955 near Tyven north of Helgelandsflæsa when southbound from The White Sea with lumber in her holds and on deck. Refloated on Oct. 22 by Draugen, after some of the lumber had been discharged. Minor leakage. Laid up in Smedasundet through 1958 together with Varegg, but reentered service in the spring of 1959, lumber service from The White Sea. Hired out in Nov.-1959 to Det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskab, Stavanger (time charter) for a voyage in that company's cargo line, and for the occasion her funnel was painted with Stavangerske's colours (3 red rings on a black background). From June 1-1960 in lumber trade from The White Sea. Ran aground on Oct. 12-1960 near Brattholmen Light when homeward bound from Iceland with 4000 barrels of herring, developed leakage. From 1961 she was on a 3 year TC to Norsk Hydro, transporting fertilizer from that company's factories in Glomfjord and on Herøy to various Scandinavian ports. From 1963 owner's name was Vangs Rederi A/S (Eigil Krogh & Arne Lyngholm), Haugesund. Laid up in Smedasundet, Haugesund again at some point in the 1960's, later moved to Ballastkaien in connection with sale. Sold in Jan.-1965 to Maralianza Cia. Naviera SA, Panama (Dutch interests?), renamed Ismini. Ran aground on Sept. 22-1965 off Point-a-Pitre, Gouadaloupe (16 10N 61 33W). A fire erupted on board and she was completely burnt out. Condemned, but remained on the spot. (Received from T. Eriksen, Norway - His sources: A story about the companies Krogh & Lyngholm in the Norwegian magazine "Skipet" 4.96 by Jahn Breivik, article about Bergenske in "Skipet" 1-2.88 by Dag Bakka Jr., article about lumber trade in "Skipet" 3.88 by Dag Bakka Jr. and "Våre Gamle Skip" by Leif M. Bjørklund & E. H. Kongshavn 1996).
M/S Cometa	Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen	5125 gt
Built in Helsingör, Denmark ca. 1941. Built by Helsingörs Jernskibs- & Maskinbyggeri, Helsingör (263), 5125 gt, 2962 net, 7580 dwt, 460.3' x 57.3' x 24', two 7 cyl. 2T DM (B & W, Copenhagen), 7400 bhp. Ordered in Nov.-1938 for Den norske Syd-Amerika Linje, which was owned by Det Bergenske Dampkibsselskab, A/S J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, and Fred. Olsen & Co. Seized by the Germans on July 17-1941 while building (not renamed). Commissioned for Kriegsmarine on Jan. 1-1942, target ship. Reported in Baltic in June-1943, Copenhagen in Sept.-1944. Picture of Cometa - When German. Sent to me by a visitor to my website, who adds that the plan was to use her as a supply ship for Atlantic operations, but this was cancelled after the sinking of Bismarck. Source: "Handelsschiffe im Kriegseinsatz", Herbert Baasch (b.1920-d.1997); photo by Herbert Baasch. (Posted here with permission of the new owner of Baasch's photo collection). Another picture - Received from, and painted by, Jan Goedhart, Holland. Cometa post war - Same source as a bove. POST WAR: Reported at Kiel May/June-1945. Returned to Norway June 13-1945. Arrived Malmö for repairs on Sept. 17-1945, delivered Jan. 17-1946. Sold in July-1970 to Thome & Co. Ltd., Singapore and renamed Timur Endeavour. Broken up in 1974. (Source: R. W. Jordan's "The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", and "Bergenske, byen og selskapet, Dag Bakka Jr.). (Det Bergenske D/S had lost a ship by this name on March 26-1940 - see M/S Cometa for further details). The company had another Cometa later on (Ro-Ro/Container) built 1981, 1996 gt, sold to Haugesund in 1991, later back to previous owners 1996 and reg. in Trondheim.
M/S Concordia * later raised	O. A. T. Skjelbred, Kristiansand	5154 gt
Built in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1940. Please continue to M/S Concordia for more information, incl. pictures.
D/S Cygnus *	Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen	1334 gt
Built Papendrecht, Holland 1920/1921. Previous name: Ocean Nr 5 1921. Pre war history: Completed in Jan.-1921 at Scheepsbouwwerft’Huis de Merwede H. te Velthuis, Papendrecht, Holland (28) as cargo ship Ocean Nr. 5. Steel hull, 238.9’ x 36.4’ x 16’, 1334 gt, Tripple Expansion (NV Machienefabriek Bolnes, Bolnes) 165nhp, 9 knots. Sold in Febr.-1921 to Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen, renamed Cygnus and used in the company's cargo lines. As per 1939 she was in cargo service Trondheim-Bergen-London together with the company's Corvus. Picture of Cygnus - Source: Bjørn Milde's postcard collection. WW II: She's listed in Convoy HN 8 from Norway to the U.K. at the end of Jan.-1940. About a month later Cygnus, with a general cargo for Manchester, can be found in Convoy HN 15 to the U.K., and in March she's listed in Convoy ON 21 to Norway - follow links for more info, several Norwegian ships took part. According to "Skip og Menn", Birger Dannevig, she rescued the crew from the Norwegian Svinta (also in Convoy ON 21) - see also Tora Elise. Cygnus was still in cargo service Trondheim-Bergen-London, but had not gotten out of Norway by the time the Germans invaded on Apr. 9, so ended up in the Homefleet. In June-1940 she was on a voyage Trondheim-Bergen-Ålvik (Hardanger)-Hamburg. She had picked up a cargo of lumber in Trondheim, 537 tons aluminium in Bergen, and 450 tons ferrochrome and ferrocilisium in Ålvik, with arrival Stavanger on June 28, departure early in the morning (06:15) of July 3 in a German convoy with German escorts. Torpedoed and sunk at 18:02 that afternoon west of Hådyret (south of Eigerøy) by the British submarine HMS Snapper (King), position 58 13N 05 06E. No casualties. The convoy had also been attacked at 15:53 that afternoon, when west of Varhaug, and according to the commander of the 11th Vp flotilla, 4 torpedoes had been observed, but no hits. (Misc. sources, including "Senkninger og forlis - Fra Åna Sira til Haugesund 1939-1945" [Ship losses between Åna Sira and Haugesund 1939-1945] by Øistein Thomas Berge, 1997, "Allied Submarine Attacks of Worl War Two" by Jürgen Rohwer, and info received from T. Eriksen, Norway - His sources: Articles about BDS in "Skipet" 1-2.88 by Dag Bakka Jr. and "Norges eldste Linjerederi, BDS 1851-1951" by Wilhelm Keilhau).
D/S Cygnus	Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen	1349 gt
Built in Langesund 1940. Previous name: Galicia 1940. Launched in 1940 from Langesund Mek. Verksted, Langesund (16) for Fearnley & Eger, Oslo as Galicia, but sold before delivery. Delivered in Nov.-1940 as cargo vessel Cygnus to Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen. Steel hull, 251.2’ x 41.7’ x 14.8’, 1349 gt, 2500 tdwt, 2cyl Compound + low pressure turbine (LMV) 197nhp, 11 knots. Damaged in aircraft attack by Banff Strike Force (12 Mosquito’s from 143th, 235th and 248th Squadrons) in Leirvik harbour (Stord) on Dec. 26-1944. Engineer Oddmar Jens Klepp was killed. Cygnus was later repaired. POST WAR: In 1945 (46?) she entered the company's cargo service Trondheim-Bergen-Antwerp together with Neptun and Columba (listed further up on this page). Used as reserve 1949? Sold in Aug.-1952 to Lykkes Rederi AS, Trondheim. Renamed Ila in Dec.-1953. Sold in June-1960 to Skips-AS Karlander (Egil Paulsen), Fredrikstad, renamed Sling. Sold in June-1963 to Dartone Hong Kee Engineering Works, Panama, renamed Cattle. Broken up in Singapore in 1971. (From T. Eriksen, Norway - His sources: Articles about BDS in "Skipet" 1-2.88 by Dag Bakka Jr. and "Norges eldste Linjerederi, BDS 1851-1951" by Wilhelm Keilhau). Related external links: More on the one who was killed - this is Engineer Oddmar Jens Klepp mentioned above. Tonnage is given as 650 tdw. Sorties Flown by Banff Strike Wing - scroll down to Dec. 26-1944 on the page for details about the air attack.
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