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M/T Fagerfjell To Fagerfjell on the "Ships starting with F" page. Manager: Olsen & Ugelstad, Oslo Built in Malmö, Sweden in 1935. Captain: ? Kristensen Related items on this website: Axel G. Axelson, Sweden (nickname Boras), who served on Fagerfjell until Oct.-1941, has sent me the following: We had a couple of sailors who had been on ships who was sunken but the crew was saved and they did not like to go below deck when we had such messages, who can blame them. I am sending a couple of pictures and on one of them are Peter Rosberg (wearing a hat) and I in Montevideo febr. 18-41. He left the ship there and so did 7 more. He asked me to go too, but I did not like to go that way. Captain Christensen was plenty mad and said we are leaving now even if I have to steer the boat myself. Of course he depended on Axel to do that, as he always said, Axel is the only one who can keep a straight course, as he is always sober. Well for a Swede I got along well with everybody, but when the Germans invaded Norway some of them said; The Swedes should help Norway. I guess they helped them in other ways".
Axel says the following names are written on the back of the picture on the right: Axel would very much like to find out what happened to his friend Peter Rosberg*, and has left several messages on my "Find Old Shipmates" Forum, one of which can be found here (written in Swedish), another one here, one here, one here, and yet another one here, and one on this page. He says Peter was from Ålesund, and left Norway after the German occupation, went to Petsamo and got a Swedish ship there, bound for New York. Axel never heard from Peter again after he paid off in Montevideo, but heard in 1953 that he had settled in Seattle and was the owner of a fishing boat there. They were both able seamen on board Fagerfjell. I have Axel's E-mail address if anyone can help him, my contact address is at the bottom of this page.
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 (where the "Convoy" column is left blank, it means that convoy is not known). Errors may exist, and several voyages are missing.
Judging from the information found on Page 1 of the archive documents, Fagerfjell was on her way from Providence to Caripito and New York when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. Her 1941 voyages also start on this document and continue on Page 2. In Nov.-1941, she was in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 160. Montbretia is named among the escorts. Fagerfjell arrived Lamlash on Nov. 30, having left Halifax on the 15th. The following month, she joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 50*, originating in Liverpool on Christmas Eve, dispersed Jan. 3-1942. Fagerfjell arrived Aruba independently on Jan. 11, having joined from Clyde. Charles Racine, Fernwood, Fjordheim (returned), Høegh Giant, Innerøy, Sama, Skandinavia, Strinda and Taborfjell are also listed. She headed back to the U.K. again at the beginning of Febr.-1942 with Convoy HX 173 from Halifax, subsequently joining the westbound Convoy ON 71*, departing Liverpool on Febr. 26, dispersed March 8, Fagerfjell arriving Curacao independently on March 19. Athos, Fjordaas, Gallia, Garonne, Høegh Giant, John Bakke, Malmanger, Skaraas, Solfonn and Velma are also named in this convoy, as is the Panamanian Norvik, which had Norwegian managers and is included under the N's on this website. Fagerfjell's subsequent voyages are shown on Page 2 and Page 3, and in A. Hague's record above. In the summer of 1942 she's listed in station 62 of Convoy SL 113, which left Freetown on June 15 and arrived Liverpool on July 7 - see link provided within the Voyage Record, the Norwegian Thorhild and Thorshavet are also named. Mike Holdoway, the webmaster of the site, has told me that she had left Curacao on May 26 with a cargo of 11 612 tons of topped crude oil and 112 drums of oil residues, bound for Stanlow. She arrived Ardrossen on July 5, Stanlow the next day - again, see also Page 3, where Ardrossan is pencilled in, but no date is given. It'll also be noticed that she appears to have spent a long time in Manchester, where she had arrived from Stanlow on July 10/11; departure is given as Sept. 30, when she proceeded to Liverpool in order to join a convoy to Curacao. She joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 135* on Oct. 2, but returned to port (Clyde), later joining ON 141*, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 24 and arrived New York on Nov. 10 (Fagerfjell joined from Clyde, final destination Curacao, as mentioned). Both these convoys had other Norwegian ships, namely Glarona (from St. John's), Lynghaug, Ragnhild, Thorsholm and Villanger in ON 135, while Albert L. Ellsworth, Anna Odland, Aun, Fernmoor, Fernwood, Gallia, Herbrand, Jenny (returned), Pan Aruba, Reinholt, Salamis, Samuel Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Skiensfjord, Trondheim and Ørnefjell sailed in ON 141. Having made her voyage to Curacao (convoy information in Voyage Record above), Fagerfjell returned to New York, where she arrived Dec. 8. She had been scheduled for Convoy HX 218 on Dec. 5, but instead joined the next convoy on Dec. 13, HX 219, bound for Avonmouth with fuel oil in station 43, arriving her destination on Dec. 29/30 (via Belfast Lough). At the beginning of the new year we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 161, which originated in Liverpool on Jan. 12-1943 and arrived New York on the 31st. Fagerfjell sailed from Belfast Lough on Jan. 13 and was bound for Curacao again; according to the Commodore's notes for this convoy, she detached for Guantanamo at 22:00 on Jan. 28 in 42 45N 62 30W, as did the Norwegian Vav (again, see also Page 3 and A. Hague's record above). They both show up again in Convoy HX 228 from New York on Febr. 28, in which Brant County was sunk; follow the links for more information. A cruising order and the Commodore's notes are also available for this convoy, along with misc. reports and analysis of attacks. Fagerfjell's destination is given as Stanlow, where she arrived March 17. Just a few days later, she joined Convoy ON 174*, departing Liverpool on March 20, arriving New York Apr. 8. She had station 52, serving as escort oiler, and also carried 60 depth charges, according to A. Hague, who has also included Norbryn, Nueva Granada, Trondheim and Troubadour in this convoy. Later that month, we find her in Convoy HX 235 from New York, and at the beginning of June she joined Convoy ON 187*, together with Annik, Athos, Braga, Bralanta, Elisabeth Bakke, Frontenac, Helgøy, Kronprinsen, Lista, Morgenen, Norbryn, Norefjord, O. B. Sørensen, President de Vogue, Toledo and Vanja, as well as the Panamanian Norvinn. ON 187 originated in Liverpool on June 1 (Fagerfjell sailed from Clyde that day) and arrived New York on the 15th. Her voyages in this period are shown on Page 4. With a cargo of Admiralty fuel for Scapa, she headed in the other direction again on June 23 in Convoy HX 245, station 62, arriving Scapa (via Loch Ewe) on July 7/8. She subsequently joined Convoy ON 193* back to New York, where she arrived July 30, having left Loch Ewe on the 16th. As usual, several Norwegian ships took part, namely Bralanta, Chr. Th. Boe, Fernwood, Geisha, Harpefjell, Herbrand, Hiram, Idefjord, Maud, Meline, Norlom, O. B. Sørensen, Para, Samuel Bakke, Sandviken, Santos, Skaraas, Skjelbred, Stiklestad, Thorhild, Thorshov and Tungsha, as well as the Panamanian Norlys, which had Norwegian managers and is, therefore, included under the N's of this website. On Aug. 7, Fagerfjell left New York with Convoy HX 251, bound for Milford Haven and Devonport with a cargo of Admiralty fuel, station 52. Commodore was in Laurits Swenson, and Acanthus, Potentilla and Rose were among the escorts for a while - see HX convoy escorts. Via Belfast Lough, she arrived Milford Haven on Aug. 23, Devonport 2 days later. With Biscaya, Bralanta, Buenos Aires, Emma Bakke, Haakon Hauan, Herbrand, Ivaran, Laurits Swenson, Norden, Norheim, O. B. Sørensen, Reinholt and the Panamanian Norbris, she returned across the Atlantic in Convoy ON 200*, which originated in Liverpool on Sept. 2 and arrived New York on the 18th; Fagerfjell arrived Philadelphia that day, having started out from Milford Haven on Sept. 2 - see Page 4. A. Hague now has her returning at the end of the following month with Convoy HX 264*. Dageid, Kaldfonn, Lista, Montevideo, Samuel Bakke (Vice Commodore's ship), Skaraas, Spinanger and Tungsha are also listed in this convoy, which left New York on Oct. 31. Fagerfjell arrived Loch Ewe on Nov. 17, continuing to Scapa, with arrival there the next day. About a month later, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 216* (originated in Liverpool Dec. 16), but she returned to port, later joining ON 217*. Both had other Norwegian ships - Ferncourt, Fernwood, Molda and Skiensfjord are listed in ON 216, and Brimanger, Duala, John Bakke, Norheim, Pan Scandia and Reinholt are named in ON 217, wich originated in Liverpool on Christmas Eve (Fagerfjell joined from Clyde on both occasions) and arrived New York on Jan. 10-1944. Already on Jan. 13-1944, we find her in Convoy HX 275 from New York, bound for Londonderry, where she arrived on the 28th - Page 5 shows her voyages in this period (Samuel Bakke had again served as Vice Commodore Ship). Together with Duala, Frithjof Nansen, Idefjord, Norheim and Tigre, she later joined the westbound Convoy ON 223*, which originated in Liverpool on Febr. 7 (Fagerfjell joined from Belfast Lough) and arrived New York on the 24th. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 281 a few days later, but instead joined the next convoy on March 6, HX 282, heading back across the Atlantic the following month in Convoy ON 234*, with Abraham Lincoln, Estrella, Fernmoor, Garonne, Geisha, Kaldfonn, Leiv Eiriksson, Lista, Molda, Petter, Romulus, Samuel Bakke, Skiensfjord, Solfonn, Strinda, Vinland and the Panamanian Norlys. According to the archive document, she arrived New York on May 11, and on the 19th of that month, she's listed in Convoy HX 292, destination Scapa. She can now be found in Convoy ON 240*, which also included Dageid, Heranger, Høyanger (Vice Commodore's ship), Para, Petter, Strinda, Thorhild, Vanja, Villanger and Østhav. ON 240 left Liverpool on June 10 (Fagerfjell left Loch Ewe that day) and arrived New York on the 28th. Fagerfjell now remained in New York for a long time. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 298 on July 3, but did not sail, and does not show up again until Convoy HX 307 on Sept. 6, along with Buenos Aires, Frontenac, Idefjord, John Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Kaia Knudsen, Thorsholm and Stiklestad. Fagerfjell's destination is given as Stanlow in the Advance Sailing Telegram, and she carried fuel, navy spec. and 70 depth charges, sailing in station 64. According to Page 5, she arrived Stanlow on Sept. 22/23, and a few days later she's listed in Convoy ON 256*, arriving New York on Oct. 13. Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Egerø, Ferncourt, Katy, Montevideo, Norsktank, Olaf Bergh, Sørvard and Thorsholm are also included. On Oct. 20, she can be found in Convoy HX 315 from New York (Commodore in Ivaran), this time bound for Portsmouth, with arrival there on Nov. 4, and later that month she's listed in Convoy ON 266*, with Fernmoor, G. C. Brøvig, Katy and Vivi. This convoy arrived New York on Dec. 3, and already the next day she's listed in Convoy HX 324, which arrived Liverpool on Dec. 21 (Fagerfjell's destination was Clyde on that occasion). She subsequently returned to New York with Convoy ON 278 in Jan.-1945 (station 82). Other Norwegian ships were Anna Knudsen (62), Vivi (42) and Lista (12). This convoy departed Southend on Jan. 12 and arrived New York on Jan. 31; according to Page 6, Fagerfjell had sailed from Clyde on Jan. 13 and her arrival New York is given as Febr. 1. ("The Allied Convoy System" by Arnold Hague says 47 ships were in this convoy, while Arthur Moore's book "A Careless Word - A Needless Sinking" gives the names of 49 - follow the convoy link for more details). Fagerfjell was scheduled to head back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 336 on Febr. 2, but did not sail, and was also cancelled from HX 337 and HX 339, but eventually got away with Convoy HX 340*, which left New York on Febr. 23 and arrived Liverpool March 10; Fagerfjell continued to Stanlow, arriving March 11. Other Norwegian ships were California Express, Ferncourt, Fjordaas, Gefion (returned), Ivaran, Kaldfonn and Tungsha (Commodore Vessel). About a week after arrival U.K., Fagerfjell joined the westbound Convoy ON 291*, which also had Ferncourt and Laurits Swenson in its ranks. She arrived New York on Apr. 5-1945, and just 3 days later, she joined Convoy HX 349*, which arrived Liverpool on Apr. 23 and included Harald Torsvik, Høyanger and John Bakke (Commodore Vessel). Fagerfjell again proceeded to Stanlow, arriving that same day. VE Day was celebrated at sea, while in the westbound Convoy ON 299*, which had left Liverpool on Apr. 27, arrived New York May 12, and included Buenos Aires, Glarona, Kaldfonn, Lektor Garbo and Sophocles. Fagerfjell's last Trans-Atlantic convoy voyage was made in Convoy HX 357*, departing New York on May 19. Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Brimanger, Jotunfjell, Kaldfonn, Montevideo, Thorshavn, Tungsha (returned) and Østhav had also been in company. Fagerfjell arrived Liverpool on June 5, Stanlow that same day. As can be seen in A. Hague's Voyage Record above, Fagerfjell often served as Escort Oiler, and also carried extra depth charges for the escorts. Her subsequent voyages, up to and including Apr.-1946, are listed on Page 6. She got to go home to Norway in Nov.-1945.
Sold in 1951 to Soc. Sudamericana de Transports, Panama, renamed Valiant. Sold again in 1953 to Cia. De Navigation Sappho, Panama, renamed Industrious. Sold in 1954 to Patagonia Cia, Panama. Laid up in Kynossoura, Greece in Aug.-1959, broken up in Trieste, Italy in 1961 (received from Per Ove Kittelsen, Norway, source unknown). Back to Fagerfjell on the "Ships starting with F" page. This company later had another Fagerfjell - ref. this posting to my Ship Forum. See also this external page.
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