D/S Askeladden
Updated July 12-2008

To Askeladden on the "Ships starting with A" page.

Compare Arnold Hague's records with these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
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As mentioned above, Askeladden (having been cancelled from Convoy HX 46) sailed in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 47 in June-1940, in which the Norwegian Italia was sunk. Several Norwegian ships took part. Askeladden was bound for Sunderland, cargo of pit props, station 73. According to her Voyage Record she stopped at Portland for degaussing before proceeding to Sunderland at the beginning of July. Later that month she joined Convoy OA 182, which left Methil on July 10 and dispersed on the 14th - see the external link provided within the Voyage Record. She was scheduled to return to the U.K. in the Sydney (C.B.) portion of Convoy HX 66, but instead joined the first, slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 1, which left Sydney on Aug. 15, and in which the Norwegian Eva was sunk. Askeladden was later scheduled for Convoy OB 221 (ref. external link at the end of this page), which left Liverpool on Sept. 29-1940, but she did not sail. Her destination is given as Panama. In Oct. that same year she's listed in the U.K.-Gibraltar Convoy OG 44*, leaving Liverpool on Oct. 11, arriving Gibraltar on the 24th (Askeladden was bound for Lisbon, where she arrived on the 23rd). The following month she's listed as bound for Tyne with a cargo of pit props in Convoy HG 47 from Gibraltar to the U.K.

In the summer of 1941 we find her in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 1, leaving Liverpool on July 26-1941; Askeladden, however, joined from Iceland (together with the Norwegian Måkefjell). She returned at the end of the following month with Convoy SC 42 which lost several ships (including Stargard); cargo of pulpwood, station 55. Follow the link for more info. In Oct. she's listed as bound for Sydney, C.B. in the westbound Convoy ON 27*, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 16, dispersed Nov. 2. The Norwegian Fanefjeld, Harpefjell, Heina, Inger Elisabeth, Rolf Jarl, and Torfinn Jarl are also listed. Askeladden was scheduled to head back to the U.K. in Convoy SC 55 later that month, but instead joined the next convoy, SC 56, cargo of aluminium and pulp for Tyne.

At the beginning of 1942 she appears in the U.K.-Gibraltar Convoy OG 78*, which left Milford Haven on Jan. 9 and arrived Gibraltar on the 24th. As can be seen in her Voyage Record, there seems to be some confusion over this, in that she's said to have been in Loch Ewe on that date, joining a convoy for Methil, but I believe that particular entry might be an error, because at the beginning of Febr. she's listed in the Gibraltar-U.K. Convoy HG 78, bound for Hull with iron pyrites. She later joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 78*, which originated in Liverpool on March 21 and arrived Halifax on Apr. 9; Askeladden is said to have arrived New York City on that date. (Other Norwegian ships in this convoy were Fjordheim, Iron Baron, and Solitaire). In May that year she sailed in station 113 of Convoy SC 83 from Halifax to the U.K., and the following month we find her listed as bound for St. John, N.B. in the westbound Convoy ON 104*, which originated in Liverpool on June 16. The Norwegian Bonde, Ruth I, and Veni are also listed in this convoy. Early in Aug. Askeladden joined Convoy SC 95, cargo of lumber for Immingham, returning with the westbound Convoy ON 132*, which left Liverpool on Sept. 19 and arrived New York on Oct. 8; Askeladden, however, was bound for Halifax on that occasion, but she later joined Convoy ON 134* from there to New York (this convoy had originated in Liverpool on Sept. 26 and arrived New York on Oct. 17). Both these convoys had several other Norwegian ships, namely Borgholm, Gezina, Loke, Pollux, Ravnefjell, and Snar in ON 132 (some of these joined from Halifax), and Bonneville, Glarona, Grado, Granfoss, Hallfried, Hjalmar Wessel, Loke, Mathilda, Maud, Sir James Clark Ross and Veni in ON 134. The Panamanian Nortun, which had Norwegian managers and is, therefore, listed under the N's on this website, also took part in the latter.

As can be seen in her Voyage Record she now made several voyages to Trinidad, and did not go back to the U.K. again until Sept.-1943, at which time I have her in station 115 of Convoy SC 141, bound for Garston with a cargo of lumber, again sailing in the company of several other Norwegian ships - follow the link for more details. The following month she made a voyage to Algiers, joining Convoy OS 57 / KMS 31, which departed Liverpool on Oct. 27-1943. Askeladden, on a voyage from Liverpool to Algiers in station 91, was in the KMS portion*, which arrived Gibraltar on Nov. 10, the convoy having split up the day before. See the link provided in the Voyage Record for more details on the combined convoy. That Christmas she lost a crew member when 1st Engineer Sverre Andersen drowned at Catania on Dec. 24-1943. He had previously served on D/S Ringulv with my father - see the crew list for Ringulv.

In Febr.-1944 she made a voyage from Augusta to Philippeville in Convoy MKS 40* (originated in Port Said o