M/T Astrell
Updated Dec. 15-2012

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

Crew List


Picture received from Lillesand Sjømannsforening, Norway (original source: Risør Sjømannsforening).

(Received from Don Kindell - His source: The late Arnold Hague's database).

Related external link:
SL / SL/MKS convoys - Astrell is mentioned in SL 115 (but sailed in the next convoy instead).

Final Fate - 1942:

Astrell was torpedoed by U-129 (Witt) on November 5-1942, position 12 21N 69 21W while in Convoy TAG 18 (external link). She had departed Curaçao the day before and was bound for the U.K. via New York with a cargo of 10 500 tons fuel oil. The torpedo hit on the starboard* side behind midships, causing her to break in 2 and she was immediately set on fire, so the captain gave orders to abandon ship, whereupon 3 lifeboats and 1 raft were launched. The ship in front of her had just been torpedoed**, so the 3rd mate had sounded the alarm and, therefore, all on board, except for those on duty in the engine room were on deck when Astrell was hit.

While the starboard boat was being launched the captain, who had picked up the ship's papers on his way out, fell overboard and all the papers were lost (confidential papers went down with the ship). Some of the survivors jumped overboard and were later picked up by the lifeboats. The British gunner John Showler, who had last been seen in the starboard pillbox on the bridge immediately before the explosion was never seen again, while the remaining 42 had survived (some sources say 44, another 45) and were picked up 3 hours later by C.G.C.-475 and a Dutch MTB and taken to Aruba and Curaçao the same day.

Astrell burned for 10-12 hours until she was eventually sunk by a Dutch vessel.

*A report presented at the subsequent maritime hearings states that the torpedo hit on the starboard side behind midships, about 15 n. miles off North Point, Curaçao, while a report based on the survivors' statements says she was hit amidships on the port side; position is given as 12 24N 69 32W and time as 08:40 in the latter report, which adds she was sailing in the outboard column on the starboard side, next to the lead ship. She was not zig-zagging at the time, had 5 lookouts; 4 on the bridge, 1 on the gun platform aft. The radio was not used. The survivors never saw a periscope, but this was later seen twice by the captain of another ship in the convoy, Esso Caracas, who believed the U-boat had been destroyed after a corvette had dropped 3-5 depth charges in two attacks. The U-boat's bow surfaced after the 2nd attack, submerged and was not seen again (the U-boat was not sunk).

** This must have been the American Meton, which according to J. Rohwer was hit about 4 minutes before Astrell. In a footnote he adds: "U-129 observed hits from bow shots, one after 1 min 27 sec and two after 1 min 29 sec. All the torpedoes hit the Meton. Two stern shots hit the Astrell after running times of 1 min 4 sec and 1 min 9 sec".

Jan Visser, a visitor to my website has told me the following:
"The Dutch sloop van Kinsbergen, although not part of the escort, arrived at the scene where U-129 had struck with deadly force. With her main armament, she sank a ship which is not identified in my sources, but which is described as an abandoned, burning tanker. The data on your site stating that she was sunk by an escort seems to confirm it was indeed Astrell (although with some reservation, I don't know the circumstances regarding the American tanker Meton, also sunk in TAG 18). In addition, the Dutch MTB TM-23 picked up a total of 69 men from the sea, apparently from both ships. Since the crew of Meton numbered 49 men, it would lead to the conclusion that the remainder were from the Astrell. My source doesn't make clear if the other MTB, TM-24, also picked up survivors, but since there were 42 survivors of Astrell, this is likely to be the case"

Another site visitor adds:
"The tanker sunk by the Dutch sloop was the Astrell, because the Meton was not burning and sank herself 10 hours after the attack. The crew of the Meton numbered 50, but one died in the attack. 49 survivors from Meton were picked up by TM-23 and it seems also 20 from Astrell".

Crew List:
Norwegian, unless otherwise noted
*See also the crew list for Gyda. The 2nd mate had also served on Cate B when that ship was sunk. Additionally, he served on G.C. Brøvig, Nidarnes and Sverre Helmersen. Part of his diary (re. Cate B. etc.) is available on this external page (Norwegian text).
** Christian Michelsen also had a Fredrik Lundberg. (See this Guestbook message from a relative).
The boatswain later joined Baalbek, Ada and Fernglen.
Assistant T. Johnsen later joined Samuel Bakke.
Stoker Skajå also served on Skjelbred

Survivors:
Captain Nils Chr. Taraldsen	1st Mate Arne K. Andreassen	2nd Mate* Arne Langeland	3rd Mate Karl Johansen	Radio Operator Håkon Samuelsen	Carpenter Olav Thoreson
Boatswain Alf Karlsen	Able Seaman** Fredrik Lundberg	Able Seaman Bjarne Bekstrøm	Able Seaman Alf Omholt	Able Seaman Paul Feuer (Russian)	Able Seaman Knut Absalonsen
Able Seaman Sverre Helgesen	Able Seaman Arthur Sandnes	Able Seaman Sverre Bakken	Able Seaman Johan Vasli	Ordinary Seaman Torleif Andersen	Ordinary Seaman Einar Henriksen
Ordinary Seaman Bjarne Kristoffersen	1st Engineer Johan Mundal	2nd Engineer Nils Madsen	3rd Engineer Knut Larsen	Assistant Toralf Johnson	Mechanic Torstein Eriksen
Mechanic Hans Gran	Mechanic Albert Risa	Mechanic Eivind Simonsen	Pump Man Otto Karlson	Stoker Rolf Olsen	Stoker Norman Skajå
Stoker Leif Horn Hansen	Oiler Harry Halvorsen	Oiler John Harkestad	Oiler Peter Myhre	Engine Boy Norman Stephens (British)	Steward Aage Andreassen
Cook Einar Hansen	Galley Boy Cyril Salter (British)	Messboy Francis Bridle (British)	Saloon Boy Dennis Hedges (British)	Gunner Trygve Pedersen	Gunner Olaf Anderson
Casualty:
		† Gunner John Showler* (British)

Related external links:
Operations Information for U-129

U-129 | Hans-Ludwig Witt | Ships hit from TAG 18

Back to Astrell on the "Ships starting with A" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Norwegian Maritime Museum, Volume I, and misc. others for cross checking info - ref My sources.