D/S Cetus
Updated Aug. 2-2008

To Cetus on the "Ships starting with C" page.


Picture received from Lillesand Sjømannsforening
(from Arne Gundersen's collection).

Related items on this website:
Guestbook message from someone who served on this ship as well as D/S Ragnhild during the war (Jack Myers). He's looking for a Canadian shipmate, Ronald Bacon. If anyone can help, please contact me via the address provided at the bottom of this page.
Warsailor Stories - Edward Driscoll's story (he served on Cetus during the war).

Voyage Record From Febr.-1940 to May-1945:

Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each (please be aware that many of them are incomplete).

Errors may exist, and some voyages are missing.

Compare Arnold Hague's records with these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
(includes voyages missing from A. Hague's records)
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8

	Departure	From	To	Arrival	Convoy	Remarks
1940	Febr. 22	Norwegian Waters	Bergen	Febr. 22	HN 14	Put back
	Febr. 28	Norwegian Waters	Methil	March 1	HN 15	–
	March 3	Methil	Blyth	March 3	FS 111	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	March 7	Blyth	Methil	March 8	FN 114	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	March 11	Methil	Norwegian Waters	March 14	ON 19	–
	March 18	Norwegian Waters	Methil	March 22	HN 20	–
	March 22	Methil Roads	Blyth	March 23	–	–
	May 8	Blyth	Downs	May 10	FS 166	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	May 10	Downs	Rouen	May 11	Independent	–
	May 18	Rouen	Southend	May 19	Independent	–
	May 20	Southend	Methil	May 22	FN 176	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	June 5	Methil	Downs	June 7	FS 188	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	June 7	Downs	Nantes	June 10	–	–
	June 18	Nantes	Downs	June 20	–	Notional sailing date.
	June 22	Southend	Tyne	June 23	FN 202	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	July 20	Tyne	Methil	July 21	FN 226	See FN 226 at link above
	July 22	Methil	–	–	OA 188	For Sydney C. B. Dispersed July 23. Convoy available at OA convoys (external link) See also narrative below
	July 23	Dispersed from OA 188	Sydney, C.B.	Aug. 3	Independent	–
	Aug. 5	Sydney, C.B.	Caraquet	Aug. 7	Independent	–
	Aug. 11	Caraquet	Sydney, C.B.	Aug. 12	Independent	–
	Aug. 12	Sydney, C.B.	Methil	Sept. 1	HX 65	Possibly after joining WN 11 (see WN convoys - external link)
	Sept. 2	Methil	Tyne	Sept. 3	FS 270	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Sept. 29	Tyne	Methil	Oct. 1	FN 294	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Oct. 2	Methil	–	–	OA 223	For Bridgewater, N.S. Dispersed Oct. 5. Convoy available at OA convoys (external link) See also narrative below
	Oct. 28	Halifax	–	–	HX 84	Dispersed Nov. 5
	Nov. 5	Dispersed from HX 84	Oban	Nov. 11	Independent	–
	Nov. 14	Oban	Methil	Nov. 17	WN 38	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	Nov. 18	Methil	Hull	Nov. 20	FS 338	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Dec. 17	Hull	Methil	Dec. 18	FN 360	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
*	Dec. 19	Methil	Oban	Dec. 23	EN 43 (1)	Did not sail. Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
*	Dec. 20	Methil	Oban	(Dec. 24)	EN 44 (1)	Did not sail. See link above
*	Dec. 22	Methil	Oban	Dec. 26	EN 45 (1)	Did not sail. See link above
	Dec. 24	Methil	Oban	Dec. 27	EN 46 (1)	See link above
	* Checking Page 2 of the docs received from the Norwegian archives, we see that Cetus left Methil Roads on Dec. 24 and arrived Oban on the 27th, so it it looks like she did not sail in any of the first 3 EN convoys, but in EN 46 on Dec. 24. The document adds that she left Oban again on the 29th, but returned that same day, leaving again on Dec. 31 for Sydney, C.B.
	Dec. 31	Oban	–	–	OB 267	Dispersed in 53 30N 18 10W, Jan. 2-1941. Convoy available at OB convoys (external link) See also narrative below
1941	Jan. 2	Dispersed from OB 267	Sydney, C.B.	Jan. 14	Independent	–
	Jan. 18	Sydney, C.B.	Digby	Jan. 21	Independent	Notional sailing date
	Febr. 3	Port Wade	Halifax	Febr. 5	Independent	–
	Febr. 19	Halifax	Loch Ewe	March 9	HX 110	See also HX 110 (external link - more complete info)
	March 9	Loch Ewe	Methil	March 11	WN 96	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	March 12	Methil	Tyne	March 13	FS 434	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Apr. 5	Tyne	Middlesbrough	Apr. 5	FS 456	See FS 456 at link above
	Apr. 11	Middlesbrough	Loch Ewe	Apr. 14	EC 5	Convoy available at EC convoys (external link)
	Apr. 16	Loch Ewe	Reykjavik	Apr. 19	OB 311	Probably this convoy. Available at OB convoys (external link)
	May 3	Reykjavik	Halifax	May 12	Independent	–
	June 6	Halifax	Parrsboro	June 8	Independent	–
	June 19	Parrsboro	Halifax	June 21	Independent	–
	June 26	Halifax	Oban	July 11	HX 135	–
	July 13	Oban	Methil	July 15	WN 152	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	July 16	Methil	Southend	July 18	FS 543	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	July 27	Southend	Tyne	July 28	FN 498	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Aug. 4	Tyne	Loch Ewe	Aug. 6	EC 54	Convoy available at EC convoys (external link)
	Aug. 8	Loch Ewe	–	–	ON 5	Dispersed in 53 29N 37 35W, Aug. 14. For Sydney, C.B.
	Aug. 14	Dispersed from ON 5	Sydney, C.B.	Aug. 19	Independent	–
	Aug. 21	Sydney, C.B.	Rimouski	Aug. 22	Independent	–
	Sept. 4	Rimouski	Sydney, C.B.	Sept. 6	Independent	–
	Sept. 11	Sydney, C.B.	Reykjavik	Sept. 23	SC 44	Detached to Iceland Sept. 22. See SC 44 (external link)
	Sept. 27	Reykjavik	Loch Ewe	Oct. 1	Independent	–
	Oct. 4	Loch Ewe	Methil	Oct. 6	WN 188	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	Oct. 7	Methil	Southend	Oct. 11	FS 614	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Nov. 7	Southend	Tyne	Nov. 9	FN 546	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Nov. 12	Tyne	Methil	Nov. 13	FN 549	See FN 549 at link above
	Nov. 15	Methil	Loch Ewe	Nov. 17	EN 6	Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	Nov. 17	Loch Ewe	–	–	ON 37	For St. John's, N.F. Dispersed in 59 10N 20W, Nov. 30
	Nov. 30	Dispersed from ON 37	St. John's, N.F.	Dec. 2	Independent	–
	Dec. 12	St. John's, N.F.	St. John, N.B.	Dec. 17	Independent	–
	Dec. 23	St. John, N.B.	Halifax	Dec. 24	Independent	–
	Dec. 27	Halifax	Loch Ewe	Jan. 10-1942	HX 167	–
1942	Jan. 10	Loch Ewe	Methil	Jan. 12	WN 229	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	Jan. 15	Methil	Southend	Jan. 17	FS 700	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Jan. 28	Southend	Tyne	Jan. 30	FN 617	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Jan. 31	Tyne	Methil	Febr. 1	FN 618	See FN 618 at link above
	Febr. 3	Methil	Loch Ewe	Febr. 5	EN 41	Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	Febr. 8	Loch Ewe	–	–	ON 65	Dispersed in 43 50N 47 45W, Febr. 19. Convoy will be added. See ships in ON convoys
	Febr. 19	Dispersed from ON 65	Halifax	Febr. 24	Independent	–
	March 1	Halifax	St. John, N.B.	March 2	Independent	–
	March 22	St. John, N.B.	Sheet Harbour	March 26	Independent	–
	March 29	Sheet Harbour	Halifax	March 29	Independent	–
	Apr. 5	Halifax	Belfast Lough	Apr. 22	SC 78	–
	Apr. 24	Belfast Lough	Swansea	Apr. 26	BB 166	Convoy available at BB convoys (external link)
	Apr. 28	Swansea	Southampton	May 1	WP 148	Convoy available at WP convoys (external link)
	May 5	Solent	Newport	May 7	PW 151	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	May 17	Newport	Barry Roads	–	Independent	–
	May 20	Barry Roads	Milford Haven	May 20	Independent	–
	May 21	Milford Haven	Halifax	June 5	ON 97	For Sydney, C.B. Convoy will be added. See ships in ON convoys
	June 5	Halifax	Sydney, C.B.	June 7	HS 10	Convoy available at HS convoys (external link)
	June 12	Sydney, C.B.	Chatham, N.B.	June 14	Independent	–
	June 22	Chatham, N.B.	Sydney, C.B.	June 23	Independent	–
	June 26	Sydney, C.B.	Belfast Lough	July 10	SC 89	–
	July 11	Belfast Lough	Sharpness	July 13	BB 197	Convoy available at BB convoys (external link)
	July 18	Sharpness	Swansea	July 19	Independent	–
	July 22	Swansea	Milford Haven	July 23	Independent	–
	July 24	Milford Haven	Halifax	Aug. 10	ON 116	Convoy will be added. See ships in ON convoys
	Aug. 14	Halifax	Seal Isl.	Aug. 16	Independent	–
	Aug. 27	Yarmouth, N.S.	Halifax	Aug. 29	BX 35F	Convoy available at BX convoys (external link)
	Sept. 19	Halifax	Loch Ewe	Oct. 4	SC 101	–
	Oct. 6	Loch Ewe	Methil	Oct. 8	WN 345	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	Oct. 8	Methil	Southend	Oct. 10	FS 928	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Oct. 18	Southend	Tyne	Oct. 19	FN 842	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Oct. 30	Tyne	Methil	Oct. 31	FN 852	See FN 852 at link above
	Nov. 1	Methil	Oban	Nov. 4	EN 157	Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	Nov. 8	Oban	New York City	Nov. 29	ON 144	Convoy will be added. See ships in ON convoys
	Dec. 6	New York City	Gitmo	Dec. 13	NG 327	Convoy available at NG convoys (external link)
	Dec. 14	Gitmo	Puerto Plata	Dec. 20	Independent	Notional sailing date
	Dec. 20	Puerto Plata	Ciudad Trujillo	Dec. 22	Independent	–
	Dec. 25	Ciudad Trujillo	Macoris	Dec. 25	Independent	–
	Dec. 29	Macoris	New York City	Jan. 9-1943	Independent	–
1943	Jan. 24	New York City	Clyde	Febr. 11	SC 118	See SC 118 (external link)
	March 16	Clyde	Halifax	Apr. 1	ONS 1	Convoy will be added. See ships in ONS convoys
	Apr. 24	Halifax	Sheet Harbour	Apr. 24	HJ 48	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	May 1	Sheet Harbour	Halifax	May 2	Independent	Notional sailing date
	May 11	Halifax	Clyde	May 26	SC 130	–
	June 8	Clyde	Halifax	June 28	ONS 10	Convoy will be added. See ships in ONS convoys
	Aug. 3	Halifax	Sheet Harbour	Aug. 5	–	–
	Aug. 11	Sheet Harbour	Halifax	Aug. 12	–	–
	Aug. 21	Halifax	Loch Ewe	Sept. 4	SC 140	–
	Sept. 4	Loch Ewe	Methil	Sept. 6	WN 475A	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	Sept. 6	Methil	Grimsby	Sept. 8	FS 1214	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Sept. 30	Grimsby	Methil	Oct. 2	FN 1140	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Oct. 6	Methil	Oban	Oct. 9	EN 291	Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	Oct. 10	Oban	Sheet Harbour	Oct. 26	ONS 20	Convoy will be added. See ships in ONS convoys
	Nov. 7	Sheet Harbour	Halifax	Nov. 8	–	–
	Nov. 19	Halifax	Loch Ewe	Dec. 4	SC 147	–
	Dec. 6	Loch Ewe	Methil Roads	Dec. 7	–	–
	Dec. 8	Methil	Southend	Dec. 10	FS 1294	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Dec. 25	Southend	Hull	Dec. 26	FN 1216	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
1944	Febr. 7	Hull	Methil	Febr. 9	FN 1260	See FN 1260 at link above
	Febr. 10	Methil Roads	Loch Ewe	Febr. 12	–	–
	Febr. 13	Loch Ewe	–	–	OS 68/KMS 42	For Lisbon. Convoy split Febr. 24. See OS 68/KMS 42 and this page (external links)
	Febr. 24	Convoy split	Lisbon	Febr. 25	KMS 42	Convoy will be added. See ships in KMS convoys
	March 18	Lisbon	Gibraltar	March 20	Independent	–
	March 22	Gibraltar	–	–	MKS 43	Rendezvoused with SL 152, March 23 Convoy will be added. See ships in MKS convoys
	March 23	SL 152 & MKS 43 joined up	Liverpool	Apr. 4	SL 152/MKS 43	See SL 152/MKS 43 and this page (external links)
	Apr. 4	Liverpool	Loch Ewe	Apr. 6	Independent	–
	Apr. 7	Loch Ewe	Methil	Apr. 9	–	–
	Apr. 10	Methil	Southend	Apr. 12	FS 1418	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Apr. 20	Southend	Hull	Apr. 21	FN 1333	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Apr. 27	Hull	Methil	Apr. 29	FN 1340	See FN 1340 at link above
	Apr. 29	Methil	Loch Ewe	May 1	EN 377	Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	May 2	Loch Ewe	–	–	OS 76/KMS 50	For Tunis. Convoy split, May 13. See OS 76/KMS 50 and this page (external links)
	May 13	Convoy split	Passed Gibraltar	May 15	KMS 50	For Oran. Convoy will be added. See ships in KMS convoys
	May 15	Passed Gibraltar	Oran	May 16	KMS 50	See link above
	May 24	Oran	Gibraltar	May 25	GUS 40	Oran to Gibraltar only. Convoy available at GUS convoys (external link)
	June 1	Gibraltar	Cadiz	June 2	Independent	–
	June 6	Cadiz	Seville	June 6	Independent	–
	June 14	Seville	Gibraltar	–	Independent	–
	June 20	Gibraltar	–	–	MKS 52	Rendezvoused with SL 161, June 22 Convoy will be added. See ships in MKS convoys
	June 22	SL 161 & MKS 52 joined up	Bristol	July 3	SL 161/MKS 52	See SL 161/MKS 52 and this page (external links)
	July 30	Bristol	Cardiff	July 30	Independent	–
	Aug. 5	Cardiff	Belfast Lough	Aug. 7	Independent	–
	Aug. 11	Belfast Lough	–	–	OS 86/KMS 60	For Lisbon. See OS 86/KMS 60 and this page (external links)
	Aug. 21	Convoy split	Lisbon	Aug. 22	KMS 60	Convoy will be added. See ships in KMS convoys
	Aug. 28	Lisbon	Huelva	Aug. 29	Independent	–
	Sept. 3	Huelva	Gibraltar	Sept. 3	Independent	–
	Sept. 9	Gibraltar	–	–	MKS 60	Rendezvoused with SL 169, Sept. 10 Convoy will be added. See ships in MKS convoys
	Sept. 10	SL 169 & MKS 60 joined up	Bristol	Sept. 16	SL 169/MKS 60	See SL 169/MKS 60 and this page (external links)
	Sept. 22	Bristol	Cardiff	Sept. 22	Independent	–
	Sept. 27	Cardiff	Belfast Lough	Sept. 28	Independent	–
	Sept. 29	Belfast Lough	Sydney, C.B.	Oct. 12	ONS 33	Convoy will be added. See ships in ONS convoys
	Oct. 15	Sydney, C.B.	Chatham, N.B.	Oct. 17	Independent	–
	Oct. 31	Chatham, N.B.	Sydney, C.B.	Nov. 2	Independent	–
	Nov. 3	Sydney, C.B.	Sharpness	Nov. 19	SC 160	–
	Nov. 30	Sharpness	Cardiff	Nov. 30	Independent	–
	Dec. 22	Cardiff	Belfast Lough	Dec. 24	Independent	–
	Dec. 28	Belfast Lough	Halifax	Jan. 13-1945	ONS 39	For St John, N.B. Convoy will be added. See ships in ONS convoys
1945	Jan. 20	Halifax	St. John, N.B.	Jan. 22	HF 153	Convoy available at HF convoys (external link)
	Febr. 1	St. John, N.B.	Halifax	Febr. 3	FH 157	Convoy available at FH convoys (external link)
	Febr. 16	Halifax	Portishead	March 3	SC 167	–
	Apr. 1	Portishead	Cardiff	Apr. 1	Independent	–
	Apr. 2	Cardiff	Barry	Apr. 2	Independent	–
	Apr. 3	Barry	Liverpool	Apr. 4	Independent	–
	Apr. 9	Liverpool	–	–	BB 79 (2)	Convoy available at BB convoys (external link)
	Apr. 12	From BB 79, joined BTC 126	St. Helens Roads	Apr. 15	BTC 126	Convoy available at BTC convoys (external link)
	Apr. 16	St. Helens Roads	Dieppe	Apr. 17	WVC 124	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	Apr. 23	Dieppe	St. Helens Roads	Apr. 24	VWC 135	Convoy available at link above
	Apr. 24	St. Helens Roads	Milford Haven	Apr. 26	TBC 137	Convoy available at TBC convoys (external link)
	Apr. 26	Milford Haven	Liverpool	Apr. 27	MH 95 (2)	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	May 6	Liverpool	Milford Haven	May 8	BB 105 (2)	Convoy available at BB convoys (external link)
	May 8	Milford Haven	St. Helens Roads	May 10	BTC 152	Convoy available at BTC convoys (external link)
	May 11	St. Helens Roads	Dieppe	May 12	WVC 148	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	May 21	Dieppe	Southend	May 22	BTC 163	Joined at sea in Channel. Convoy available at BTC convoys (external link)
	May 24	Southend	Hull	May 25	FN 1717	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)

Further voyages, up to and including Apr.-1946, are listed on Page 7 and Page 8 of the documents received from the National Archives of Norway.

Further to the above:

(Note that only a few of her voyages are discussed here).

Cetus, in ballast for Blyth, is listed as sailing in Convoy HN 15 from Norway to the U.K. in Febr.-1940 (she had initially started out in Convoy HN 14, but returned to port). In the middle of March we find her in the U.K.-Norway Convoy ON 19, returning to the U.K. later that month with Convoy HN 20, again in ballast for Blyth - follow links for more info, several Norwegian ships took part.

The external website that I've linked to at the end of this page has Cetus in Convoy OA 184, which departed Methil on July 14-1940 and dispersed on the 18th. Her destination is given as Sydney, C.B. (Cape Breton), station 44. The Norwegian Grado is also listed - additionally, Brisk and Eva sailed in this convoy. Please note, however, that according to A. Hague, Cetus did not sail in this convoy, but in Convoy OA 188, departing Methil on July 22-1940, dispersed July 23, Cetus arriving Sydney, C.B. independently on Aug. 3 - ref. link provided in the table above. Athene, Dux, and Stirlingville are also included. The dates for the latter convoy fit better with the information found on Page 1 of the documents received from the Norwegian archives. Cetus returned to the U.K. later that month in the Sydney, C.B. portion of Convoy HX 65, bound for Tyne with a cargo of pit props.

At the beginning of Oct.-1940 A. Hague has her in Convoy OA 223, with destination Bridgewater, N.S. This convoy dispersed on Oct. 5, and going back to Page 1 mentioned above, we see that she arrived Bridgewater on Oct 19, departing again for Halifax on Oct. 25, with arrival Halifax the next day (this is not noted in the Voyage Record). 2 days later she joined Convoy HX 84, which left Halifax for the U.K. on Oct. 28, and in which Jervis Bay was sunk when attacked by Admiral Scheer (Krancke) on Nov. 5-1940. Jervis Bay ordered the convoy to disperse, and Cetus, with a cargo of pit props for Hull, made it to safety, as did the other Norwegian ships, Hjalmar Wessel, Solfonn, and Varøy. Follow the link to HX 84 for cruising order; there's also a report on San Demetrio's incredible story. These events are also described in detail under the external link to "Jervis Bay" at the end of this page. Solfonn and Hjalmar Wessel had both seen an unknown motor vessel passing in front of the convoy from the south to the north earlier that day; this turned out to be the British M/S Mopan which sailed independently, and which encountered Admiral Sheer and was sunk before she could pass on a radio warning to the convoy about the imminent danger. According to "The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague, the British Beaverford (cargo of 8425 tons food and general) lost 77 people when sunk, Fresno City (8129 tons Maize) lost 1, Kenbane Head (general) 23 dead, Maidan (general and MT) 91 dead and Trewellard (7800 tons steel, 12 aircraft) lost 16.

Going back to the external link at the end of this page, we find Cetus listed, with destination Sydney, C.B., in Convoy OB 263, leaving Liverpool on Dec. 23-1940, dispersed on the 27th (Brasil, Garonne, Hjalmar Wessel and Primero are also listed, while Egda, Karlander and Sneland I were scheduled but did not sail). However, A. Hague disagrees again; he has her in Convoy OB 267 instead - ref. link in the table above. This convoy, which also included Charles Racine, Danio and Thode Fagelund, originated in Liverpool on Dec. 30-1940 and dispersed on Jan. 2-1941, Cetus arriving Sydney, C.B. independently on Jan. 14. Again, these dates fit better with the information from the Norwegian archives - see Page 2.

She's said to have returned to the U.K. the following month in Convoy HX 110, departing Halifax on Febr. 19-1941. As will be seen when clicking on the link to my page about this convoy, only the Bermuda portion is available there, but follow the link within the table above for more complete details; other Norwegian ships were Brasil, Charles Racine, Drammensfjord, Ferncourt, Leiv Eiriksson, Skiensfjord, Stigstad and Torvanger, some of which joined with the Bermuda portion. Cetus had a cargo of pit props, sailing in station 12.

In Apr.-1941 she made a voyage from Loch Ewe to Reykjavik, having joined Convoy OB 311, though A. Hague has attached a note saying "probably this convoy". OB 311 originated in Liverpool on Apr. 16-1941 and dispersed on the 25th, and also included Fido (also bound for Iceland), Innerøy and Norefjord. From Reykjavik, where she had arrived on Apr. 19, Cetus is said to have made an independent voyage to Halifax in May, then headed back to the U.K. at the end of June in Convoy HX 135, bound for London with lumber in station 11, again in the company of several other Norwegian ships - follow the link for their names. In Aug.-1941 we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 5, originating in Liverpool on Aug. 6, dispersed on the 14th, Cetus arriving Sydney, C.B. independently on Aug. 19. The following month she travelled to Reykjavik in the slow Convoy SC 44, in which Barbro was sunk. Ada, Bollsta, Borgfred, Carrier, Gudvin, Hjalmar Wessel, Iron Baron, Lago, Marita, Rolf Jarl, Sirehei, Sneland I, South Africa and Spero are also listed in this convoy, which left Sydney, C.B. on Sept. 11-1941 and arrived Liverpool on Sept. 30; Cetus, however (cargo of lumber, station 13), had detached to Iceland on Sept. 22. In Nov.-1941 she joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 37, which originated in Liverpool on Nov. 15 (Cetus joined from Aultbea, taking station 85) and dispersed on Nov. 30, Cetus arriving St. John's, N.F. independently on Dec. 2. The Commodore's narrative is also available for this convoy. That year was rounded off by sailing back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 167, departing Halifax on Dec. 27.

In Febr.-1942 she joined Convoy ON 65*, together with Arthur W. Sewall, Bralanta, Egda, G. C. Brøvig, Hardanger, Kaldfonn, Kollbjørg, Mirlo, N. T. Nielsen Alonso, Nueva Granada, Stiklestad, Tankexpress, Troubadour, and Vav. This convoy originated in Liverpool on Febr. 8 and dispersed on the 19th, Cetus arriving Halifax independently on Febr. 24. She returned across the ocean at the beginning of Apr.-1942 in the slow Convoy SC 78 from Halifax, cargo of steel and pulp for Swansea, where she arrived, via Belfast Lough and a BB convoy, on Apr. 26. She later headed back to Halifax with the westbound Convoy ON 97*, which had originated in Liverpool on May 22-1942 and arrived Halifax on June 5. She had again been in the company of several Norwegian ships, namely B. P. Newton, Brant County, Brimanger, Gallia, Norfjell, and Nortind, as well as the Panamanian Norvik, which is listed under the N's of this website because she had Norwegian managers. At the end of that month she joined Convoy SC 89 from Sydney, C. B., cargo of lumber for Sharpness, heading back to Halifax at the end of July in the westbound Convoy ON 116*. This convoy had originated in Liverpool on July 25, and also had Bollsta, Bur, Ledaal, Snar and Vanja in its ranks, as well as Norvik. Cetus returned to the U.K. again in Sept.-1942 in Convoy SC 101 from Halifax, later joining the westbound Convoy ON 144* in order to travel to New York. This convoy originated in Liverpool on Nov. 7 and included Bencas (joined from Halifax), Bestik, Borgfred, Cetus, Ingertre, Minister Wedel, Norlom, Orwell, Suderøy, and Titanian, while Eglantine, Potentilla, Montbretia and Rose are named among the escorts.

Cetus returned to the U.K. again in the slow convoy SC 118, which left New York on Jan. 24-1943, and also included Annik, Daghild, (sunk), Bestik, Glarona, Grey County, Maud, Norbryn, Petter II, and Sommerstad. In March-1943 she's listed as bound for Halifax in station 93 of the first convoy in the ONS series, Convoy ONS 1*, which originated in Liverpool on March 15-1943. Bestik and Grey County were again in company, as were Gausdal, Grado, Mathilda and Petter II, and Eglantine, Potentilla and Rose are again named among the escorts. Cetus was scheduled to return in Convoy SC 129 from Halifax (in which Grado was sunk), but instead joined the next convoy, SC 130 on May 11, returning to Halifax the following month with Convoy ONS 10*, station 112. Other Norwegian ships in this convoy, which originated in Liverpool on June 8, were Acasta, Fjordheim, Grey County, James Hawson, Mathilda, Novasli, Ravnefjell, Sirehei and Titanian. In Aug.-1943 she can be found in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 140, cargo of pulp for Grimsby, sailing in station 64 (next to the Norwegian Norvarg), and in Oct.-1943 she again crossed the Atlantic, this time in the westbound Convoy ONS 20* which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 9 and also included Arosa, Bestik, Elg, Iron Baron, Snar, Solstad, Tercero, Tropic Star, and Vinland. The following month she's listed, with wood pulp for London, in Convoy SC 147 from Halifax (having been cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 146). As will be seen, this was her last Trans-Atlantic voyage for a while.

According to the external website that I've linked to below, Cetus was scheduled for Convoy OS 66/KMS 40 in Jan.-1944, but instead joined OS 68/KMS 42 the following month, voyaging from Aultbea to Lisbon in station 25. This convoy, in which Lisbeth, Novasli, Ragnhild and Snar also took part, left Liverpool on Febr. 12, split up on the 24th, the Gibraltar portion (KMS 42*, in which Cetus sailed) arriving there on the 25th, while the OS portion continued to Freetown with arrival March 5. As already mentioned, Cetus was bound for Lisbon, where she arrived on Febr. 25. In March she sailed back to the U.K. in Convoy SL 152/MKS 43, voyage Lisbon for Mersey with sardines, cork and Wolfram, joining with the MKS portion*. SL 152 had started out in Freetown on March 13, joined up with the Gibraltar portion (MKS convoy) on March 23, the convoy arriving Liverpool on Apr. 4. Astrid, Lisbeth, Rena, Slemmestad and Snar are also listed. In May-1944 Cetus joined Convoy OS 76/KMS 50, voyage Altbea-Tunis with coal in station 44, sailing right in front of the Norwegian Boreas. Snar was again in company. This convoy left Liverpool on May 2-1944, split up on May 13, the KMS portion* arriving Gibraltar on May 15, while the OS portion continued to Freetown with arrival there on the 22nd. Cetus was in the KMS convoy and arrived Oran on May 16.

She returned to the U.K. in June with Convoy SL 161/MKS 52, again joining with the MKS portion*, bound for Barry, station 112. The SL portion (in which Karmt took part) had started out in Freetown on June 11, joined up with the MKS convoy from Gibraltar on June 22, the combined convoy arriving Liverpool on July 2. Tunsberg Castle is named among the escorts. In Aug.-1944 we find Cetus in station 14 of Convoy OS 86/KMS 60, which originated in Liverpool on Aug. 10, split up on Aug. 21, the Gibraltar portion arriving there on the 23rd, the OS portion arriving Freetown on Aug. 30. She was on a voyage Belfast-Lisbon with coal and sailed in the KMS portion*. In Sept.-1944 she's listed in Convoy SL 169/MKS 60, the SL portion of which had started out from Freetown on Aug. 29, joined up with the MKS convoy (in which Cetus sailed, voyage Huelva-Avonmouth with a cargo of potash) on Sept. 10 and arrived Liverpool on the 17th. Tigre is also included in the MKS portion, while Norbryn sailed in the SL convoy. Follow the links provided within the Voyage Record for further dates and information on these convoys.

Trans-Atlantic voyages were resumed later that month, when she joined the westbound Convoy ONS 33*, which originated in Liverpool on Sept. 29-1944 and included Chr. Th. Boe, Dagrun (returned), Drammensfjord, Mui Hock, Para, Peik, Rena, Romulus and Titanian. Early in Nov.-1944 she shows up in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 160, bound for Sharpness with lumber, joining with the Sydney, C. B. portion together with the Norwegian Olaf Bergh, the convoy having started out in Halifax on Nov. 2. She headed back across the ocean with Convoy ONS 39*, which originated in Liverpool on Dec. 28-1944 and arrived Halifax on Jan. 13-1945. As usual, she had been in the company of other Norwegian ships, namely Annik, Ferncliff, Germa, Mui Hock, Novasli and Tercero.

In the middle of Febr.-1945 she joined the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 167, bound for Bristol with pulp and paper.

The rest of her voyages (and voyages in between those discussed above) are noted in the Voyage Record and the documents received from the Norwegian archives.

* All the ON and ONS convoys mentioned here will be added to my Convoys section in due course, in the meantime, the ships sailing in them are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys and the page listing ships in all ONS convoys. The KMS and MKS convoys will also be added, but for now, please see ships in all KMS convoys and ships in all MKS convoys.

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:

Became the Danish Lise in the early 1950's, then German J. C. Ertel, Gyda, Gyda C. Broken up in 1979.

Related external links:
OB (& OA) convoys and OS and OS/KMS Convoys - As will be be seen, Cetus is listed in OA 184 and OB 263 (but probably did not sail in either), and is mentioned in OS 66/KMS 40. See also the links provided within the Voyage Record.

OA & OB convoys - In chronological order.

HMS Jervis Bay

Caithness Archives, HX 84
Casualty list - Jervis Bay

More on Admiral Scheer - on the Jervis Bay website.

The story of Beaverford

Back to Cetus on the "Ships starting with C" page.

There was an American vessel by the name Cetus during the war (943 gt), scuttled at Aparri, Cagayan River on Dec. 10-1941; believed to be renamed Hokuhi Maru (U. S. Merchant Vessel War Casualties of World War II, Robert M. Browning Jr.).

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, E-mail from R. W. Jordan and misc. - (ref. My sources).