M/T Aristophanes
Updated Febr. 19-2011
To Aristophanes on the "Ships starting with A" page.
Source: Bjørn Milde's postcard collection.
Another picture is available on on this external page (click in it to enlarge).
See also this external page. This site also has pictures and information on several other Jahre ships; here's a list, and here's the main page. Text is in Norwegian.
Owner: A/S Jaris
Manager: Anders Jahre, Sandefjord
Tonnage: 10 224 gt, 15 400 tdwt.
Built by Götaverken A/B, Gothenburg, Sweden in 1939, delivered in Jan.-1940.
Captain: Alf Møller Mathiesen.
This ship was built for Aristoteles S. Onassis. Sold to Norway while she was being built, or rather "transferred" to Norway. According to Book 1 (Atle Thowsen) of "Handelsflåten i krig" Onassis, together with the Swedish Gustav Sandström and Gunnar Carlsson (well known shipowner) had established the company A/S Onassis Gothenburg Ltd. In June-1938 their new ship M/T Ariston was finished and went on her maiden voyage, doing extremely well in the year to come. Aristophanes was almost ready when the war broke out in Sept.-1939, and with it Sweden prohibited the export of, among other things, ships, including foreign owned ships built at Swedish shipyards. It so happened that Onassis was at the time engaged to the daughter of shipowner Ingvald Bryde. She established contact between her fiancé and Anders Jahre, Sandefjord in the late fall of 1939 with the result that Jahre Skibs A/S created the company Jaris (combination of Jahre and Onassis), which took over the ship. In Jan.-1940, Aristophanes was placed under the Norwegian flag, a "pro forma" arrangement as Onassis was still the true owner.
A French visitor to my website has told me that Aristophanes was stopped for examination in the Caribbean sea (23 58N 39 15W) by the French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc on Apr. 16-1940 (shortly after the German invasion of Norway). Ordered to Fort de France (French West Indies). Released Apr. 23 provided complying with orders from London-based operating office. These details fit in with what can be found on Page 1 of the archive documents, which says she was en route from Gibraltar to Leghorn for Curacao at the time, having departed Gibraltar on Apr. 10-1940, adding she arrived Fort de France on Apr. 21, leaving again on the 24th.
When Nortraship was established, the arrangement with Onassis proved to be quite a problem, as he wasn't about to give up his ship without getting something in return. He played his hand to the last card and Nortraship ended up losing a lot of money on the deal. Here's what happened:
Aristophanes was requisitioned while at Martinique in the spring of 1940. On Aug. 3-1940, Onassis had her "arrested" in Rio de Janeiro, requesting (or rather, demanding) to take over the ship or have his US $ 800,000 bond payed. The former was impossible for Nortraship to fulfill; her formal owner, Anders Jahre was in Norway, and Nortraship had only requisitioned the "right to use" the ship. Following negotiations with Onassis, Nortraship not only payed his bond, but also 6% interest from Dec. 27-1939, plus the expenses Onassis had incurred for lawyers, in U.S.A. as well as in Argentina. Additionally, Onassis got to keep the profit from the voyage Aristophanes was about to make for Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co., while he for the next 5 voyages would get a refund of US $ 1 per ton oil transported. The deal was signed on Aug. 15-1940.
Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives: (unfortunately, some of the scans have information missing in the margin) Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4
Please compare the above voyages with Arnold Hague's Voyage Record below.
Voyage Record
From May-1940 to Oct.-1945:
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(R eceived from Don Kindell - His source: The late Arnold Hague's database).
Please follow the convoy links provided for more details on them.
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Departure
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From
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To
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Arrival
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Convoy
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Remarks
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1940
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May 13
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Trinidad
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Curacao
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May 15
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Independent
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|
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May 19
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Curacao
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Buenos Aires
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June 10
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Independent
|
|
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June 16
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Buenos Aires
|
Curacao
|
July 1
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Independent
|
|
|
July 4
|
Curacao
|
Montevideo
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July 23
|
Independent
|
|
|
July 24
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Montevideo
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Buenos Aires
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July 24
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Independent
|
|
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July 29
|
Buenos Aires
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Rio
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Aug. 2
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Independent
|
|
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Aug. 14
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Rio
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Curacao
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Aug. 25
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Independent
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Via Montevideo?
(Page 1)
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Aug. 27
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Curacao
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Buenos Aires Roads
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Sept. 14
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Independent
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To La Plata, Sept. 18
(Page 1)
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Sept. 20
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La Plata
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Curacao
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Oct. 4
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Independent
|
|
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Oct. 5
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Curacao
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Buenos Aires
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Oct. 22
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Independent
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|
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Oct. 26
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Buenos Aires
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Curacao
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Nov. 10
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Independent
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|
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Nov. 13
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Curacao
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Buenos Aires
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Nov. 30
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Independent
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|
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Dec. 6
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Buenos Aires
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Curacao
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Dec. 20
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Independent
|
|
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Dec. 23
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Curacao
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Buenos Aires
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Jan. 10-1941
|
Independent
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|
1941
|
Jan. 13
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Buenos Aires
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Curacao
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Jan. 28
|
Independent
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|
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Jan. 29
|
Curacao
|
Curacao
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Jan. 31
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Independent
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|
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Febr. 5
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Curacao
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Buenos Aires
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Febr. 22
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Independent
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|
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March 9
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Buenos Aires
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Curacao
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March 23
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Independent
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|
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March 26
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Curacao
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Buenos Aires
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Apr. 15
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Independent
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Via Montevideo
(Page 1).
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Apr. 18
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Buenos Aires
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Rio
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Apr. 22
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Independent
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|
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Apr. 27
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Rio
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Curacao
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May 7
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Independent
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|
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May 11
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Curacao
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New York City
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May 17
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Independent
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|
|
May 21
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New York City
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Aruba
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May 26
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Independent
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|
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May 27
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Aruba
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New York City
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June 4
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Independent
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|
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June 6
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New York City
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Curacao
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June 12
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Independent
|
|
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June 14
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Curacao
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New York City
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June 20
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Independent
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|
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July 7
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New York City
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Curacao
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July 13
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Independent
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|
|
July 14
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Curacao
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New York City
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July 21
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Independent
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|
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Sept. 2
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New York City
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Halifax
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Sept. 5
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Independent
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|
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Sept. 10
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Halifax
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Liverpool
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Sept. 25
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|
|
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Oct. 8
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Liverpool
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|
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ON 24
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|
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Oct. 15
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Dispersed from ON 24
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New York City
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Oct. 23
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Independent
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|
|
Nov. 7
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New York City
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Aruba
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Nov. 12
|
Independent
|
|
|
Nov. 14
|
Aruba
|
Halifax
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Nov. 22
|
Independent
|
|
|
Nov. 24
|
Halifax
|
New York City
|
Nov. 26
|
Independent
|
|
|
Nov. 29
|
New York City
|
Aruba
|
Dec. 5
|
Independent
|
|
|
Dec. 6
|
Aruba
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Halifax
|
Dec. 14
|
Independent
|
|
|
Dec. 17
|
Halfiax
|
New York City
|
Dec. 19
|
Independent
|
|
1942
|
Jan. 18
|
New York City
|
Aruba
|
Jan. 24
|
Independent
|
|
|
Jan. 25
|
Aruba
|
Halifax
|
Febr. 3
|
Independent
|
|
|
Febr. 15
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Halifax
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Curacao
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Febr. 22
|
Independent
|
|
|
Febr. 28
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Curacao
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Aruba
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Febr. 28
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Independent
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|
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March 1
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Aruba
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New York City
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March 8
|
Independent
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|
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March 8(?*)
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New York City
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Hampton Roads
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|
Independent
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|
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Apr. 3
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Hampton Roads
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Aruba
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Apr. 13
|
Independent
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|
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Apr. 26
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Aruba
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Cristobal
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Apr. 28
|
Independent
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|
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Apr. 29
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Balboa
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Talara
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May 2
|
Independent
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|
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May 4
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Talara
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Auckland
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May 31
|
Independent
|
|
|
June 1
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Auckland
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Nelson
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June 3
|
Independent
|
|
|
June 5
|
Nelson
|
Lyttleton
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June 6
|
Independent
|
|
|
June 16
|
Lyttleton
|
Los Angeles
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July 7
|
Independent
|
|
|
July 19
|
Los Angeles
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Suva
|
Aug. 7
|
Independent
|
|
|
Aug. 13
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Suva
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Sydney, N.S.W.
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Aug. 19
|
Independent
|
|
|
Sept. 8
|
Sydney, N.S.W.
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Los Angeles
|
Sept. 30
|
Independent
|
|
|
Oct. 7
|
Los Angeles
|
Lyttleton
|
Oct. 30
|
Independent
|
|
|
Nov. 2
|
Lyttleton
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Dunedin
|
Nov. 3
|
Independent
|
|
|
Nov. 6
|
Dunedin
|
Los Angeles
|
Nov. 26
|
Independent
|
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1943
|
Jan. 1
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Los Angeles
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Sydney, N.S.W.
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Jan. 24
|
Independent
|
|
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Jan. 29
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Sydney, N.S.W.
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Brisbane
|
Febr. 1
|
Independent
|
|
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Febr. 3
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Brisbane
|
Los Angeles
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Febr. 25
|
Independent
|
|
|
March 7
|
Los Angeles
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Brisbane
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March 30
|
Independent
|
|
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Apr. 3
|
Brisbane
|
Townsville
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Apr. 6
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BT 50
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Convoy available at BT 50
(external link)
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Apr. 8
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Townsville
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Cairns
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Apr. 8
|
Independent
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|
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Apr. 11
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Cairns
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Los Angeles
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May 3
|
Independent
|
|
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May 11
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Los Angeles
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Melbourne
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June 9
|
Independent
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|
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June 17
|
Melbourne
|
Los Angeles
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July 14
|
Independent
|
|
|
July 30
|
Los Angeles
|
Auckland
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Aug. 20
|
Independent
|
|
|
Aug. 27
|
Auckland
|
Talara
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Sept. 16
|
Independent
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|
|
Sept. 19
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Talara
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Valparaiso
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Sept. 26
|
Independent
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|
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Sept. 30
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Valparaiso
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San Antonio, Chile
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Sept. 30
|
Independent
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|
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Oct. 2
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San Antonio, Chile
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Talara
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Oct. 7
|
Independent
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|
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Oct. 10
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Talara
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Wellington
|
|
Independent
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|
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Nov. 6
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Wellington
|
Nelson
|
Nov. 6
|
Independent
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|
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Nov. 9
|
Nelson
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Los Angeles
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Nov. 29
|
Independent
|
|
|
Dec. 22
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Los Angeles
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Sydney, N.S.W.
|
Jan. 16-1944
|
Independent
|
|
1944
|
Jan. 20
|
Sydney, N.S.W.
|
Townsville
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Jan. 24
|
Independent
|
|
|
Jan. 31
|
Townsville
|
Los Angeles
|
Febr. 24
|
Independent
|
|
|
Febr. 28
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El Segundo
|
San Francisco
|
Febr. 29
|
Independent
|
|
|
Apr. 10
|
San Francisco
|
Sydney, N.S.W.
|
May 5
|
Independent
|
|
|
May 9
|
Sydney, N.S.W.
|
Townsville
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May 12
|
Independent
|
|
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May 16
|
Townsville
|
Gladstone
|
|
Independent
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|
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May 17
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Gladstone
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Talara
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June 10
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Independent
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|
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June 15
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Talara
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Sydney, N.S.W.
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July 10
|
Independent
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|
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July 12
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Sydney, N.S.W.
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Brisbane
|
July 14
|
Independent
|
|
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July 20
|
Brisbane
|
Los Angeles
|
Aug. 10
|
Independent
|
|
|
Aug. 19
|
Los Angeles
|
Langemak Bay
|
Sept. 12
|
Independent
|
|
|
Sept. 12
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Langemak Bay
|
Hollandia
|
|
Independent
|
|
|
Sept. 24
|
Hollandia
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Langemak Bay
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Sept. 25
|
Independent
|
|
|
Sept. 28
|
Langemak Bay
|
Talara
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Oct. 24
|
Independent
|
|
|
Oct. 27
|
Talara
|
Wellington
|
Nov. 20
|
Independent
|
|
|
Nov. 23
|
Wellington
|
Lyttleton
|
|
Independent
|
|
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Nov. 26
|
Lyttleton
|
Wellington
|
Nov. 27
|
Independent
|
|
|
Dec. 10
|
Wellington
|
Talara
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Dec. 29
|
Independent
|
|
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Dec. 31
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Talara
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Sydney, N.S.W.
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Jan. 25-1945
|
Independent
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1945
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Jan. 26
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Sydney, N.S.W.
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Brisbane
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Jan. 28
|
Independent
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|
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Febr. 3
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Brisbane
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Talara
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Febr. 28
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Independent
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|
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March 3
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Talara
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Valparaiso
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March 9
|
Independent
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|
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March. 12
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Valparaiso
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San Antonio, Chile
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|
Independent
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Page 3 gives arrival same day
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March 15
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San Antonio, Chile
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Talara
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March 20
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Independent
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|
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March 22
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Talara
|
Wellington
|
Apr. 14
|
Independent
|
|
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Apr. 20
|
Wellington
|
Talara
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May 12
|
Independent
|
|
|
May 14
|
Talara
|
Callao
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May 18
|
Independent
|
Notional sailing date
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June 1
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Callao
|
Talara
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June 2
|
Independent
|
|
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June 3
|
Talara
|
Valparaiso
|
June 12
|
Independent
|
Notional sailing date
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June 14
|
Valparaiso
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Balboa
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June 25
|
Independent
|
|
|
June 26
|
Cristobal
|
Curacao
|
June 29
|
Independent
|
|
|
July 1
|
Curacao
|
Cristobal
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July 5
|
Independent
|
|
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July 6
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Balboa
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Sydney, N.S.W.
|
Aug. 4
|
Independent
|
|
|
Aug. 7
|
Sydney, N.S.W.
|
Brisbane
|
Aug. 9
|
Independent
|
|
|
Aug. 22
|
Brisbane
|
Gladstone
|
Aug. 24
|
Independent
|
|
|
Aug. 24
|
Gladstone
|
Balboa
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Sept. 20
|
Independent
|
|
|
Sept. 24
|
Cristobal
|
Curacao
|
Sept. 26
|
Independent
|
|
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Oct. 7
|
Curacao
|
Southend
|
Oct. 22
|
Independent
|
|
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Oct. 29
|
Southend
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Amsterdam
|
Oct. 30
|
Independent
|
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As can be seen from the above, Aristophanes hardly ever sailed in convoys. When in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 149 in Sept.-1941 she had station 43 of the convoy, in which several Norwegian ships took part; follow the link for more info. According to A. Hague, she returned across the Atlantic the following month with Convoy ON 24, which left Liverpool on Oct. 8 and dispersed on the 15th. Her destination is given as New York, station 53. According to Page 2, she arrived her destination on Oct. 23. She had again been in the company of several other Norwegian ships - see ships in all ON convoys.
It'll be noticed, when going to the various archive documents, that she occasionally had long stays in port.
As per info found at Lillesand Sjømannsforening (no name change):
1948: Skibs A/S Jaris (Anders Jahre & Co. A/S) Sandefjord
1952: Soc.Maritime Miraflores Ltd., Puerto Cortes, Honduras
1958: Soc.Maritime Miraflores Ltd., Monrovia
1963: Soc.Maritime Miraflores Ltd., Piræus
4/1968: Sold to Spain for breaking up, arriving Castellon on Apr. 13.
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