Site Map | Search Warsailors.com | Merchant Fleet Main Page | Warsailors.com Home |
|
M/T Brasil To Brasil on the "Ships starting with B" page. Manager: The Texas Company (Norway) A/S, Oslo. This company was controlled by The Texas Co., US, and its ships managed by Haakon Chr. Mathiesen, Oslo. Delivered from Nakskov Skibsværft, Nakskov, Denmark (64) on May 7-1935 as Brasil to The Texas Company (Norway) A/S, Oslo. Captain: Lauritz Bigseth. Related item on this website: Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives: Please compare the above voyages with Arnold Hague's Voyage Record below.
(Received from Don Kindell - His source: The late Arnold Hague's database). Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each. Errors may exist, and some voyages are missing.
According to Page 1 of the archive documents, Brasil was on her way from Malmö to New York when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. Later that month, she's listed in Convoy HX 38, which left Halifax on Apr. 26. According to Arnold Hague, she became a straggler 2 days after departure, but arrived Verdon safely on May 13. It'll also be noticed that she had a long stay in New York that summer, and again in Oct.-1940. In Nov.-1940 we find her in the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 91 (having been cancelled from the Bermuda section of the previous convoy, HX 90). See also the cruising order/Commodore's notes. She was bound for Dublin, where she arrived on Dec. 9. She's later listed in Convoy OB 263, originating in Liverpool on Dec. 23, dispersed on the 27th. Her destination is given as Bahrein, but there's no mention in the Voyage Record of her arriving there. As will be seen when following the link provided in the table above, A. Hague has also included the Norwegian Garonne, Hjalmar Wessel, Leikanger and Primero in this convoy, while another section of the same site also has Cetus (but does not mention Leikanger), adding that Karlander, Egda and Sneland I were scheduled, but did not sail. Going back to Page 1, we see that she was in Galveston in Febr.-1941. From there, she proceeded to Port Arthur then on to Bermuda, where she joined Convoy BHX 110 on Febr. 17, bound for Clyde with petroleum products. On Febr. 23, the convoy joined up with the main convoy from Halifax, HX 110, which had sailed from Halifax on Febr. 19 (will be added - see ships in all HX convoys). Other Norwegian ships were Cetus, Charles Racine, Drammensfjord, Ferncourt, Leiv Eiriksson, Skiensfjord, Stigstad and Torvanger, some of which joined with the Bermuda portion. On Apr. 4-1941, Brasil reported being attacked by a U-boat in 56 15N 27 50W, when en route from Avonmouth via Milford Haven to New York, having departed Avonmouth in ballast on March 27, Milford Haven on March 29 (Page 1). In fact, she's listed, together with Astra, Mathilda and O. A. Knudsen, in Convoy OB 304, which originated in Liverpool on March 30 and dispersed Apr. 4. At the time she had a crew of 32, 29 of whom were Norwegian, 1 Canadian, 1 Polish and 1 Danish. Her radio message was acknowledged by Valentia Radio. The torpedo was seen breaking the surface between two waves on the ship's port quarters. She was swung 90 degrees to starboard and proceeded at utmost speed. The torpedo allegedly passed astern by 10 feet. There's no German report of such an attack, perhaps they had mistaken a wave for a torpedo? (O. A. Knudsen and the Dutch Tiba were seen about 8 miles to the southeast of her, then changed course to port and steered away). Brasil arrived New York independently on Apr. 13, remaining there till May 8, when she proceeded to Halifax. At the time of this incident she had 2 Hotchkiss machine guns on board, and a 3 in. gun was installed in Halifax before she again headed east with Convoy HX 127 on May 16. According to Page 2, she arrived Avonmouth on June 2. She now shows up in Convoy OG 65, which originated in Liverpool on June 14-1941. This convoy will be added to my Convoys section; in the meantime, please go to OG 65 on the page listing ships in all OG convoys - Kos I, Lysaker V, Selbo, Titanian and Trolla are also included. OG 65 was a Gibraltar bound convoy, arriving there on June 28; Brasil, however, was bound for Port Arthur, where she arrived independently on July 7, having detached from the convoy on June 23, according to A. Hague. From Port Arthur, she proceeded to Halifax 2 days later in order to join Convoy HX 140 on July 22, bound for Belfast with petroleum products. She arrived Belfast Lough on Aug. 5, later continuing to Dublin. On Aug. 17 we find her, with destination New York, in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 8. Going back to Page 2, we see that she joined from Belfast Lough; she arrived New York independently on Sept. 1, the convoy having dispersed on Aug. 25. With a cargo of petrol, she headed back to the U.K. on Sept. 10 with Convoy HX 149 from Halifax (station 83), along with Abraham Lincoln (station 97), Aristophanes (43), Daghild (63), Thorsholm (33), Innerøy (35), Thorshov (64), Somerville (66?), Glittre (24), Lise (44), Harpefjell (86), Norvik (Panamanian flag, Norwegian managers, in station 84, behind Brasil), Brant County (87), Kollbjørg (73), President de Vogue (46) and Ringstad (93). Brasil arrived Swansea on Sept. 26. Many of the above mentioned ships, including Brasil (destination New York), subsequently headed back across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 24*, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 8 and dispersed on the 15th, Brasil arriving her destination independently on Oct. 25. Abraham Lincoln, Aristophanes, Glittre, Grey County, Herbrand, Idefjord, Innerøy, Petter, Solfonn, Thorshavet, Thorshov, Topdalsfjord and Norvik are listed. From New York, Brasil now went to Philadelphia, then back to New York and on to Halifax (Page 2), and according to A. Hague, she returned to the U.K. with a cargo of lub. oil in Convoy HX 161 on Nov. 21. She arrived Loch Ewe on Dec. 6, and at the end of that month he has included her in the westbound Convoy ON 52*, which originated in Liverpool on Dec. 31 and dispersed on Jan. 11-1942, Brasil arriving Baytown independently on Jan. 26. She had again been in the company of several other Norwegian ships, namely Bello, Kaia Knudsen, Katy, Morgenen, Mosli, Nyholt, Solsten, Stigstad, Thorshøvdi, Tungsha and Vanja. Montbretia and Rose were among the escorts for a while - see ON convoy escorts. She again reported having seen a U-boat in the Hatteras area on Febr. 5-1942, but was not attacked. According to Page 2 she was en route from Baytown to Halifax on that date, joining Convoy HX 175 on the 13th. She arrived Liverpool on Febr. 26, later proceeding to Stanlow and Manchester, before returning across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 75*, which left Liverpool on March 10, dispersed on the 19th and included Brand, Evita, Norfjell and Vanja. Brasil's destination is given as Houston, where she arrived on Apr. 1. From Houston she's said to have made an independent voyage to Freetown. A. Hague gives her arrival there as Apr. 30, while Page 3 gives the date as Apr. 28, adding that her final destination was the U.K. This corresponds with the fact that she's listed in Convoy SL 109, which departed Freetown on May 4. Her destination is given as Clyde, cargo of 11 290 tons lub. oil, station 52; voyage information is given as Houston (Apr. 5) - Birkenhead, then Manchester Ship Canal, then Clyde for onward voyage. According to A. Hague, she detached to the fast section (SLF) on May 19 and arrived Liverpool on May 26, agreeing with the archive document, which adds that she later arrived Manchester on May 30. The external website that I've linked to within the table above has more details on this convoy; Ingria and Jenny also took part (Thorshavet was present for a couple of days only).A few days later she's listed as bound for Boston, together with Egda, in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 101*, departing Liverpool on June 5-1942, arriving Boston on the 18th. Montbretia and Rose are again named among the escorts, as are Acanthus and Potentilla. Brasil continued to New York that same day; her subsequent voyages are shown on Page 3, with convoy information for some of them in the table above. On Aug. 16 we find her in Convoy HX 203 from Halifax, cargo of lub. oil for Manchester, where she arrived Aug. 30. The following month, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 131*, departing Liverpool Sept. 18, arriving New York, Brasil's destination, on Oct. 4. Other Norwegian ships in this convoy were Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Biscaya (from Halifax), Ferncourt, Helgøy, Høegh Scout, Katy, Thorshøvdi and Vardefjell. Having made some voyages around the U.S. (see Page 3 - convoy details in the Voyage Record above), Brasil headed back to the U.K. again on Nov. 11, when she joined Convoy HX 215 from New York City. She arrived Liverpool on Nov. 26, Stanlow the next day, later returning with Convoy ON 151*, which left Liverpool on Dec. 3 and arrived New York City on the 23rd; Brasil, however, arrived Corpus Christi independently on Dec. 30, having detached from the convoy on Dec. 15 (according to A. Hague). Atlantic, Brimanger, Gefion, Geisha (Commodore Vessel), Kaia Knudsen, Molda, Skandinavia, Stigstad and Thorshov are also named in this convoy. She went back to the U.K. again in Jan.-1943 in Convoy HX 223 (from New York), in which Kollbjørg and Nortind were lost (follow the links for details - the Norwegian Villanger, Brimanger and Egda also took part), then returned the following month with Convoy ON 166, in which several ships were sunk, including the Norwegian Stigstad, Ingria, N. T. Nielsen-Alonso and Glittre (again, follow the links for more info). Other Norwegian ships sailing in this convoy were Molda, Skandinavia, Tropic Star and Tai Shan. ON 166 arrived New York on March 3, and Brasil now remained there for about a month before joining Convoy HX 233 on Apr. 6. She arrived Swansea, via Belfast Lough, on Apr. 22, then went back to New York with Convoy ON 181 at the end of that month, station 34, arriving New York on May 17 - see Page 4. The Commodore's narrative and escort's report are also available for this convoy. She now made a voyage from the U.S. to North Africa; again, please see the archive document referred to above as well as A. Hague's Voyage Record. She arrived Oran on June 17, having sailed in Convoy KMS 16 for one day (according to A. Hague, she had joined this convoy directly from Convoy UGS 9, in which she had sailed from New York). She's also mentioned in Convoy KMS 17 at the beginning of July - scroll down to the second table on that page. She was bound from Oran to Philippeville, with arrival July 3 (for info, though Brasil was not present, this convoy had started out from Liverpool on June 16 as the combined Convoy OS 50/KMS 17, but split up on June 27, KMS 17 ships heading to Gibraltar, while the OS convoy continued to Freetown - KMS 17 ships then proceeded to their various destinations in the area, others, including Brasil, having joined on the way). In Aug.-1943 she made a voyage from Alexandria to Malta with Convoy MKS 22 (again, scroll down to the second table on the page), arriving Malta on Aug. 20, having sailed from Alexandria on the 15th. She's also listed in Convoy KMS 29 in Oct.-1943, voyage from Bizerta (where she had spent several weeks) to Alexandria, with arrival Oct. 30. KMS 16 and KMS 29 will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section; in the meantime, see this list of ships in all KMS convoys. Please refer to Page 4 and A. Hague's record above for information on the rest of her 1943 voyages and early 1944 voyages. As can be seen, she was back in New York again on Febr. 25-1944, subsequently remaining there for a long time. The reason for this long stay is unknown, but it'll be noticed that A. Hague mentions her serving as Escort Oiler for several subsequent convoys, also carrying depth charges on board - perhaps she was being fitted out for such service in New York in this period? She was scheduled for Convoy HX 292 from New York on May 19-1944, but instead joined the next convoy on May 27, HX 293, bound for Londonderry, where she arrived on June 8, having served as Escort Oiler (Commodore was in Samuel Bakke). Together with Drammensfjord, Egda, Evita, Fosna, Lista, Minerva, Solfonn and Spinanger, as well as the Panamanian Norbris and Norlys (both had Norwegian managers), she later joined the westbound Convoy ON 241*, again serving as Escort Oiler, also carrying 60 spare depth charges (convoy originated in Liverpool June 18, arrived New York July 2), returning to the U.K. with Convoy HX 299 (Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges), which left New York on July 11 (Commodore in Laurits Swenson, Vice Commodore in Høyanger) - see also Page 4. At the beginning of the following month, we find her in Convoy ON 247*, which originated in Liverpool on Aug. 2 and arrived New York on the 15th and also had Belinda, Fosna, Heranger, Høegh Scout, Slemmestad, Spinanger, Vanja and Vinga in its ranks. Brasil headed back to the U.K. again just 2 days later in Convoy HX 304 (Escort Oiler, spare depth charges - Vice Commodore in Emma Bakke). Brasil's destination is given as Thameshaven, and she arrived there on Sept. 5, according to Page 5.On Sept. 16, she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 254* (Escort Oiler), which arrived New York on Oct. 5 - Emma Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Ferncliff, James Hawson, Norefjord, Norse Lady, Sommerstad and Stirlingville are also listed. A few days later, Brasil can be found among the ships in Convoy HX 313 from New York (Escort Oiler - Commodore in Troubadour). She arrived her destination Stanlow on Oct. 26, later joining Convoy ON 264* (Escort Oiler), together with Egerø, Ferncourt, Kronprinsessen, Lista, Nueva Granada, Solfonn, Stiklestad and Thorsholm (left Liverpool Nov. 4, arrived New York Nov. 21). Her last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year commenced on Dec. 4 in Convoy HX 324 from New York, bound for Mersey and Manchester (Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges). Other Norwegian ships were Fagerfjell, Lista, Solør and California Express. According to the Memorial for Seamen in Stavern, Norway (ref. link at the end of this page), Brasil lost a crew member at the end of that year. Motorman Peder Heimdal is listed as having died in an accident while at sea on Dec. 31-1944. From Page 5, we learn that Brasil left Ellesmere Port for Eastham on that date. Lillesand Sjømannsforening (external link) says he had previously served on Egerø and Granville. She now joined Convoy ON 281*, leaving Liverpool on Jan. 27-1945, arriving New York on Febr. 12. This time, Cypria, Havprins, Tai Shan and Thorhild had been in company, as had the Panamanian Norlys. On Febr. 18 Brasil is listed, with destination Manchester, in the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 339 (fuel oil, aircraft and 60 depth charges), and in March we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 289* (Escort Oiler), with Dalfonn, Havprins, Høyanger, John Bakke, Molda and Polarsol, and again the Panamanian Norlys, as well as Norvinn. (Brasil had left Liverpool on March 8 and arrived Delaware Capes on the 26th, proceeding to New York the next day - again, see Page 5). According to A. Hague, she subsequently joined Convoy HX 347 (Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges), which left New York on March 29 and arrived Liverpool on Apr. 14 - this convoy is not yet available among the HX convoys included on my site, but will be added - the ships sailing in it are named at ships in all HX convoys; Buenos Aires, Dalfonn, Fenris, Lektor Garbo, Marit II, Roald Amundsen, Sophocles (Commodore Vessel), Sverre Helmersen and Thorsholm are also listed, as is the Panamanian Norlys. Already on Apr. 17, Brasil shows up in the westbound Convoy ON 297* (Escort Oiler), which arrived New York on May 2 and included Abraham Lincoln, Brimanger, Emma Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Fernwood, Geisha, Norsktank and Topdalsfjord. Brasil subsequently remained in New York for over a month. The rest of her 1945 voyages are shown on Page 5 and Page 6 (to Apr.-1946).
Sold in Jan.-1952 to Falkland Shipowners Ltd. (Hvalfangerselskapet Antarctic A/S, Tønsberg), London and renamed Antarctic Tanker. Broken up in 1954(?) Related external link: Back to Brasil on the "Ships starting with B" page. This company also had another Brasil post war, delivered as such in Aug.-1952, renamed Texaco Brasil in 1960. Later names: Texaco Veraguas (Panama) 1971, Grand Alliance (Panama) 1974, sold for breaking up around 1977. Norway (Fred. Olsen & Co., Oslo) had also had a ship named Brazil (spelt with the z), delivered in 1915, 2366 gt. Later names: Rio from 1929, Brazil again from 1933 (for owners in Buenos Aires), sank following a collision with Am. Middlesex in Apr.-1942, voyage Baltimore-Buenos Aires. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, and misc., including A. Hague's convoy database (ref. My sources).
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||