Site Map | Search Warsailors.com |Merchant Fleet Main Page | Warsailors.com Home 

M/T Chr. Th. Boe
Updated July 27-2008

To Chr. Th. Boe on the "Ships starting with C" page.


Picture received from A. Wilhelmsen, Norway.

Owner: Skibs-A/S Truma
Manager: Olaf Boe & Co., Arendal
Tonnage: 6192 gt

Built by Götaverken A/B, Gothenburg in 1930.

Captain: Valdemar Jensen all through the war.

Other officers were 1st Mate Johan Terjesen, 2nd Mate Harald Hermansen and 3rd Mate Sverre Aursland.

Admiralty oiler, North Atlantic service as well as The Indian Ocean and coast of Africa.

Chr. Th. Boe became well known after an American reporter made a voyage on her across the Atlantic in convoy and later wrote a number of articles in "The New Yorker". He also wrote a book about the voyage under the name A. J. Liebling, entitled "The Road Back to Paradise". He later (after the war) travelled to Arendal, Norway to interview several of the ship's complement about their war experiences.

I came across a story on Barbara Mumford's and J. Gordon Mumford's website (about Convoy ON 154). They have a separate section on misc. Merchant Navy Radio Officers, and one of the stories (external link) is about Robert Cobb, who was the radio operator on the Norwegian South America when she was torpedoed in Apr.-1944. He also served on other Norwegian ships, namely Torborg and Chr. Th. Boe.

Related item on this website:
Tormund Gjertsen's Story - Norwegian text. T. Gjertsen rescued a crew member who had fallen overboard when the ship was in Curacao; details are available in Norwegian by going to his story. (Chr. Th. Boe also rescued an American pilot from the sea, date and location unknown).

T. Gjertsen, who served on this ship from May-1943 till Nov.-1944, has given me the names of others who served as gunners on this ship at various times during the war, as follows:
Olav V. Dahl, Harald A. B. Pettersen, Eilert G. Hansen, John L. Stensen (see crew list for Hallanger), Otto A. Heen, Magnus Naug, Leif Grun, Rolf S. Gjeltsen (also from Hallanger), Johan Johansen, Anton T. Antonsen, Oliver Olsen, Reidar S. Olsen, Willy J. Moberg, Paul J. Eriksen, Rolf E. Døvik, Thorbjørn Kristiansen, Reidar O. Kibsgård, Lauritz O. Andersen, Tønnes Sjøem and Erik H. Bengtsson.


 Chr. Th. Boe's Voyages
From March-1940 to Apr.-1946: 
(Transcribed from a document received from Petter Hermansen, the son of 2nd Mate Harald Hermansen).

Follow the links provided to available convoys for more information on each.

A. Hague's voyage information has been added to this page

See also these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7

Departure
From
To
Arrival
Convoy
Remarks
(Heading "Convoy" and most of the remarks are my own additions)
I'm assuming Pd.=Proceeded
1940
March 28
Aden
Abadan
–
–
–
–
Abadan
Aden
Apr. 13
–
–
Apr. 16
Aden
Bahrein
Apr. 24
–
–
Apr. 24
Bahrein
–
–
–
–
Apr. 27
Abadan
Suez
May 11
–
–
May 14
Suez
Abadan
May 26
–
–
May 27
Abadan
Table Bay
June 22
–
–
June 29
Table Bay
Abadan
July 22
–
–
July 24
Abadan
Table Bay
Aug. 21
–
–
Aug. 25
Table Bay
Abadan
Sept. 19
–
–
Sept. 20
Abadan
Colombo
Sept. 30
–
–
Oct. 3
Colombo
Bombay
Oct. 7
–
–
Nov. 16
Bombay
Abadan
Nov. 22
–
May have been in dock in Bombay(?)
Nov. 24
Abadan
Colombo
Dec. 5
–
–
Dec. 8
Colombo
Abadan
Dec. 17
–
–
Dec. 19
Abadan
Table Bay
Jan. 12-1941
–
–
1941
Jan. 15
Table Bay
Freetown
Jan. 29
–
–
Jan. 30
Freetown
Milford Haven
Febr. 22
SL 64
For Clyde.
Convoy is available on this external page
–
–
Swansea
March 2
–
–
Apr. 6
Milford Haven
Curacao
Apr. 30
OB 307
Convoy is available on this external page
May 6
Curacao
Las Piedras
May 7
–
For Bermuda
May 7
Las Piedras
Bermuda
May 13
–
For U.K., via Bermuda
May 14
Bermuda
Liverpool
June 1
For Manchester
June 2(?)
Liverpool
Manchester
June 2
–
–
–
–
Stanlow
June 2
–
–
June 5
Manchester
–
–
–
–
June 5
Eastham
–
–
–
For Aruba
June 11
River Mersey
Aruba
July 4
OB 334
(detached)
Convoy is available on this external page
July 6
Aruba
Bermuda
July 12
–
For Bermuda & U.K.
July 12
Bermuda
Halifax
July 15
–
–
July 16
Halifax
Reykjavik
July 28
HX 139, transferred to HX 140
For Loch Ewe.
–
–
Loch Ewe
Aug. 6
Aug. 7
Loch Ewe
–
–
WN 163
For London. Convoy is available on this external page
Aug. 8
Pd. Dunnet Hd.
Aug. 9
Methil Roads
"
–
Aug. 9
Methil Roads
–
–
–
–
–
–
Grangemouth
Aug. 9
–
–
Aug. 12
Grangemouth
Methil Roads
Aug. 13
–
–
Aug. 16
Methil
Methil Roads (put back)
Aug. 16
EC 60
Convoy is available on this external page
Aug. 27
Methil Roads
–
–
EC 65
For New York.
Convoy is available on this external page
Aug. 28
Pd. west Dunnet Hd.
Aug. 29
Loch Ewe
"
–
Sept. 1
Loch Ewe
New York
Sept. 16
–
Oct. 7
New York
Corpus Christie
Oct. 15
–
–
Oct. 18
Corpus Christie
Halifax
Oct. 29
–
–
Nov. 3
Halifax
Loch Ewe
Nov. 17
–
Nov. 19
Loch Ewe
–
–
WN 207
Convoy is available on this external page
Nov. 20
Pd. east Dunnet Hd.
Methil Roads
Nov. 21
"
–
Nov. 23
Methil Roads
–
–
FS 655
For Coryton.
Convoy is available on this external page
Nov. 23
Pd. Southend
–
–
–
–
Dec. 2
Pd. down Southend
Methil Roads
Dec. 5
FN 568
Convoy is available on this external page
Dec. 6
Methil Roads
–
–
EN 16
For Houston
Convoy is available on this external page
Dec. 8
Pd. Dunnet Hd.
Oban
Dec. 9
"
–
Dec. 15
Oban
Oban (put back)
Dec. 15
OS 14
Convoy is available on this external page
(see also this page)
Dec. 20
Oban
New Orleans
Jan. 12-1942
For Baton Rouge.
See also narrative below
1942
Jan. 12
New Orleans
Curacao
Jan. 19
–
–
Jan. 20
Curacao
Table Bay
Febr. 21
–
–
Febr. 24
Table Bay
Abadan
March 19
–
–
March 20
Abadan
Bombay
March 27
–
–
Apr. 3
Bombay
Abadan
Apr. 9
–
–
Apr. 12
Abadan
Karachi
Apr. 17
–
–
Apr. 20
Karachi
Abadan
Apr. 25
–
–
Apr. 27
Abadan
Karachi
May 2
–
–
May 6
Karachi
Abadan
May 11
–
–
May 14
Abadan
Karachi
May 20
–
–
May 22
Karachi
Abadan
May 27
–
–
May 29
Abadan
Karachi
June 4
–
–
June 6
Karachi
Abadan
June 11
–
–
June 13
Abadan
Karachi
June 19
–
–
June 22
Karachi
Abadan
June 27
–
–
June 30
Abadan
Aden
July 12
–
–
July 14
Aden
Suez
July 21
–
–
Aug. 14
Suez
Massowah
Aug. 19
–
–
Aug. 29
Massowah
Abadan
Sept. 7
–
–
Sept. 8
Abadan
Bandar Abbas
–
–
–
Sept. 13
Bandar Abbas
Table Bay
Oct. 7
PA 2
Convoy is available on this external page
Oct. 14
Table Bay
Walvis Bay
Oct. 17
–
–
Oct. 18
Walvis Bay
Lagos
Oct. 26
–
–
Oct. 28
Lagos
Takoradi
Oct. 30
–
–
Nov. 8
Takoradi
Pernambuco
Nov. 17
–
–
Nov. 29
Pernambuco
Trinidad
Dec. 10
–
–
Dec. 16
Trinidad
Guantanamo Bay
Dec. 20
TAG 29
For New York & U.K.
Convoy is available on this external page
Dec. 24
Guantanamo Bay
New York
Jan. 1-1943
GN 30
Convoy is available on this external page
1943
Jan. 4
New York
Clyde
Jan. 28
SC 116
For Mersey.
Convoy is available on this external page
The headings on the form have now changed, to read as follows (headings "Convoy" and "Remarks" are my own additions):
Arrived
Port
Sailed
Destination
Convoy
Remarks
Jan. 29
Bowling
–
–
Greenock
Jan. 31/Febr. 1
–
–
Jan. 31
Clyde Anchorage
–
–
–
–
–
Ph. Tail of Bank
Febr. 6
–
–
–
–
Greenock
 Looks like she spent a long time here - next date is not until Apr. 19, then there's another gap until May 10.
Apr. 19
Anch. River Clyde
–
–
–
–
–
Pd. out Tail of Bank
May 10
–
–
–
May 11
River Clyde Anchorage
May 15
For New York
Convoy will be added to individual page
May 31
New York
June 5
For U.K. via Boston
–
–
–
Boston
June 12
For U.K.
BX 57 to Halifax
Convoy is available on this external page
June 14
Halifax
June 16
For Clyde
–
June 30
Loch Ewe
July 1
For Saltend
WN 449
Convoy is available on this external page
July 3
Methil Roads
July 3
–
–
–
–
Pd. Sth. St. Abbs Hd.
July 3
–
FS 1158
Convoy is available on this external page
–
Pd. in Spurn Hd.
July 4
–
–
–
–
Hull
July 7
–
FN 1067
Convoy is available on this external page
–
Pd. out Spurn Hd.
July 8
–
–
–
–
Pd. St. Abbs Hd.
July 9
–
–
–
July 9
Methil Roads
July 9
(Had arrived Methil w/Convoy FN 1067)
Left with EN 253
Convoy is available on this external page
–
Pd. west Dunnet Hd.
July 10
–
"
–
July 11
Loch Ewe
July 12
For Clyde
–
–
July 12
Clyde Anchorage
–
–
–
–
–
Greenock
July 16/17
–
–
–
–
Clyde Anchorage
July 16
For New York
–
July 30
New York
Aug. 3
For U.K.
–
–
–
Boston
Aug. 5
For U.K.
BX 67 to Halifax
Convoy is available on this external page
Aug. 7
Halifax
Aug. 9
For Mersey
–
Aug. 25
Liverpool
Sept. 8
–
–
–
–
Mersey
Sept. 9
For New York
–
Sept. 24
New York
Sept. 25
For Curacao
NG 388
Convoy is available on this external page
Oct. 1
Guantanamo Bay
Oct. 1
For Curacao
GAT 90
Convoy is available on this external page
Oct. 5
Curacao
Oct. 8
For New York
TAG 89
Convoy is available on this external page
Oct. 11
Guantanamo Bay
Oct. 11
For New York & U.K.
GN 89
Convoy is available on this external page
Oct. 20
Boston
Oct. 20
For U.K.
BX 79 to Halifax
Convoy is available on this external page
Oct. 22
Halifax
Oct. 24
For Loch Ewe
–
Nov. 7
Loch Ewe
–
–
WN 503A to Methil
Convoy is available on this external page
(incomplete)
Nov. 10
Methil Roads
Nov. 11
For Shellhaven
FS 1270
Convoy is available on this external page
Nov. 17
Anch. Southend
Nov. 18
For New York
FN 1182 (Southend-Methil)
Convoy is available on this external page
Nov. 20
Methil Roads
Nov. 22
–
EN 309
Convoy is available on this external page
Nov. 24
Loch Ewe
Nov. 24
–
–
–
Nov. 25
Oban
Nov. 29
–
–
Nov. 30
Londonderry
Dec. 1
–
–
Dec. 19
Cape Cod Canal
–
–
From ONS 24, had joined XB 88 Dec. 18
Convoy is available on this external page
Dec. 20
New York
Jan. 15-1944
For Philadelphia
–
–
1944
Jan. 15
Philadelphia
Jan. 18
For Boston
–
–
–
New York
Jan. 20
–
–
–
–
Boston
Jan. 25
For Halifax
BX 93
Convoy is available on this external page
Jan. 27
Halifax
Jan. 29
For Clyde
–
Febr. 15
Milford Haven
–
–
WP 479
(Milford Haven-Portsmouth)
Convoy is available on this external page
(incomplete)
–
Pd. in Needles
Febr. 20
–
"
–
Febr. 21/22
Portsmouth
Febr. 26
–
–
–
Febr. 26
Southampton
Febr. 28
For Falmouth
–
–
–
Pd. out Needles
Febr. 29
–
PW 484
Convoy is available on this external page
(incomplete)
March 1
Falmouth
March 22
For Swansea
PW 494
Convoy is available on this external page
March 22
Swansea
March 22
For New York
–
–
–
Pd. out Mumbles
March 22
–
–
–
March 23
Belfast Lough
March 29
For New York
From ONS 32, joined XB 104 Apr. 17 (18th?)
(external link)
Apr. 20
New York
May 1
For Curacao
NG 432
Convoy is available on this external page
May 7
Guantanamo Bay
May 7
"
GAT 134
Convoy is available on this external page
May 10
Curacao
May 15
For New York
TAG 133
Convoy is available on this external page
May 18
Guantanamo Bay
May 18
For New York & U.K.
GN 133
Convoy is available on this external page
May 25
New York
June 2
For Loch Ewe
–
–
Loch Ewe
June 20
For Shellhaven
WN 597
Convoy is available on this external page
–
Pd. Dunnet Hd. east
June 20
–
"
–
June 21
Methil Roads
June 22
–
FS 1491
Convoy is available on this external page
–
Pd. Sth. Flamboro Head
June 23
–
–
–
–
Pd. up Southend
June 24
–
–
–
June 27
Shellhaven
–
–
–
–
June 27
Anch. Southend
June 28
–
FN 1402
Convoy is available on this external page
June 30
Leith
July 7
–
–
–
July 7
Methil Roads
July 14
–
EN 408
Convoy is available on this external page
–
Pd. Dunnet Hd.
July 15
–
–
–
July 16
Loch Ewe
July 18
For New York
–
Aug. 9
Curacao
–
–
–
–
Aug. 15
Curacao
Aug. 15
For Portland, Me
–
–
Aug. 23
New York
Aug. 31
For Loch Ewe
–
Sept. 16
Pd. East Lizard
–
–
–
–
–
Pd. up Southend
Sept. 18
–
–
–
Sept. 18
Shellhaven
–
–
–
–
–
Pd. Southend down
Sept. 24
–
–
–
–
Pd. inwards Horsesand Pt.
Sept. 25
–
FBC 93
Convoy is available on this external page
(incomplete)
–
Pd. Needles outwards
Sept. 25
–
–
–
–
Pd. Lizard westwards
Sept. 26
–
–
–
Sept. 28
Belfast Lough
Sept. 29
For New York
From ONS 33, joined XB 129A Oct. 13
(external link)
Oct. 16
New York
Oct. 19
For Curacao
–
–
Oct. 28
Curacao
Nov. 1
For New York
–
–
Nov. 9
New York
Nov. 11
For Boston, Halifax & U.K.
–
–
Nov. 12
Boston
Nov. 13
For U.K.
BX 133 to Halifax
Convoy is available on this external page
Nov. 15
Halifax
Nov. 17
For Loch Ewe
–
Dec. 5
Loch Ewe
Dec. 5
For Shellhaven
WN 659
Convoy is available on this external page
–
Pd. Dunnet Hd.
Dec. 6
–
"
–
Dec. 7
Methil Roads
Dec. 7
–
FS 1659
Convoy is available on this external page
–
Pd. Sth. Flamboro Head
Dec. 8
–
"
–
–
Pd. up Southend
Dec. 9
–
"
–
Dec. 11
Shellhaven
Dec. 11
For New York
–
–
–
Pd. Southend
Dec. 14
–
TBC 7
Convoy is available on this external page
–
Pd. West Dover
Dec. 14
–
–
–
Dec. 17
Anch. off Mumbles
–
–
–
–
–
Pd. in Mumbles
Dec. 17
For Swansea
–
–
Dec. 17
Swansea
Dec. 22
–
–
–
Dec. 24
Bowling
Jan. 19-1945
–
–
–
1945
–
Pd. out Tail of Bnk.
Jan. 19
–
–
–
–
Greenock
Jan. 20
–
–
–
Jan. 22
Plymouth
Jan. 26*
–
–
–
Febr. 17
Curacao
Febr. 20
For New York & U.K.
–
–
* Arnold Hague suggests she may have started out in the westbound Convoy ON 281 for this voyage, until detached - see this page. (This convoy will be added, ref. ships in ON convoys).
March 3
New York
March 5
For Boston
–
–
March 6
Boston
March 8
For U.K.
BX 149 to Halifax
Convoy is available on this external page
March 10
Halifax
March 17
For U.K.
SC 170
Convoy is available on this external page
Apr. 2
Anch. off Mumbles
Apr. 2
–
BTC 116
Convoy is available on this external page
(incomplete)
–
Pd. Prawle Pt.
Apr. 3
–
–
–
Apr. 5
The Downs
Apr. 5
–
–
–
–
Pd. up Southend
Apr. 5
–
–
–
Apr. 7
Anch. Southend
Apr. 8
–
TBC 122
Convoy is available on this external page
(incomplete)
–
Pd. West Dover
Apr. 8
–
–
–
Apr. 10
Falmouth
Apr. 16
For Belfast
TBC 129
Convoy is available on this external page
(incomplete)
–
Pd. Lizard
Apr. 17
–
–
–
Apr. 18
Milford Haven
Apr. 18
For Belfast
MH 87 (2)
Convoy is available on this external page
(incomplete)
Apr. 19
Belfast Lough
Apr. 21
For New York
From ONS 48, joined XB 162 May 5
(external link)
May 7
New York
May 8
For Boston, Halifax & U.K.
–
–
May 12(?)
Boston
May 12
For U.K.
B