M/S Balla
Updated July 19-2008

To Balla on the "Ships starting with B" page.


Source: Roger W. Jordan collection.

Further to the above – 1940-1944:

Balla is listed in station 83 of the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 50 in June-1940 (having previously been cancelled from HX 49). She had a cargo of copper and sugar and destination is given as St. Nazaire. Several Norwegian ships took part in this convoy, as will be seen when following the link.

At the beginning of Aug.-1940 she's listed in Convoy OB 194 (departure Liverpool Aug. 6, dispersed Aug. 10). The Norwegian Beth, Fernbrook, Granli, and Madrono are also listed - see the external link provided in the above table. No destination is given for Balla, but she crossed the Atlantic again, arriving Wabana on Aug. 15, returning to the U.K. later that month in the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 2, in which the Norwegian Gro was sunk. Balla had a cargo of iron ore for Middlesbrough, and is said to have been cancelled from Convoy HX 68.

In Oct.-1940 she shows up in Convoy OB 223, which left Liverpool on Oct. 3 and dispersed on the 8th. Her destination is given as Hampton Roads, station 91. Again, see the external link provided (the Norwegian Polarsol and possibly Solstad also sailed in this convoy).

That same year she was put into service around the U.S. due to continuous problems with her engines, which made her unfit for the Atlantic crossings (she was equipped with two German motors from 1930, a type meant for U-boats). They continued to cause problems and on one occasion, while on a voyage from Balboa (where she had gone in for repairs) to Houston, the captain had to put his crew to the task of sewing sails, which helped them get safely through the Gulf of Mexico and into Galveston. But these problems caused her to be laid up for a while, though at the very end of 1942 it was decided to put her into service again with new engineers who knew their profession. These engineers came from the torpedoed Andrea Brøvig.

She's listed in Convoy NG 383, which left New York on Aug. 30-1943 and arrived Guantanamo on Sept. 6. She's said to have proceeded independently to her destination from off Guantanamo, and arrived Sanchez on Sept. 7. In Oct.-1943 she appears in Convoy NG 392, leaving New York on Oct. 15, arriving Guantanamo on the 21st; however, according to her Voyage Record, Balla was bound for Charleston, S.C., where she arrived on the 19th. The Norwegian Elise and General Ruge are also included in this convoy. Balla is also listed, together with the Norwegian Notos, in Convoy KG 666, which left Key West on Oct. 26-1943 and arrived Guantanamo on the 29th. This time her destination was San Juan, where she arrived on Nov. 1.

In June-1944 we find her (with the Norwegian Pollux and Primo) in Convoy KG 711, leaving Key West on June 7 (arrival Guantanamo on the 10th), Balla arriving Nuevitas on June 9. A couple of months later she shows up in Convoy NK 631, which departed New York for Key West on Aug. 9. Balla was again bound for Charleston, S.C., where she arrived on the 12th.

For more information on all the other Norwegian ships mentioned on this page, please see the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index.

POST WAR:

Sold in 1961 to Transportacion Maritima Mexicana, Vera Cruz and renamed Guadalajara. Sold for breaking up in 1968.

Related external links:
OB (& OA) convoys - Convoy OB 223 is included. Solstad is listed as Swedish here, while another section of the same site lists the Solstad in OB 223 as Norwegian.

Here is a chronological list of
OA & OB convoys

Back to Balla on the "Ships starting with B" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, E-mails from Roger W. Jordan - and misc.