D/S Hjalmar Wessel - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945

Please compare the above voyages with Arnold Hague's Voyage Record below.

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

(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 some voyages are missing.

	Departure	From	To	Arrival	Convoy	Remarks
1940	Febr. 9	Methil	Norwegian Waters	Febr. 12	ON 11	–
	Febr. 22	Norwegian Waters	Methil	Febr. 26	HN 14	–
	Febr. 28	Methil	Tyne	Febr. 28	MT 20	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	Febr. 29	Tyne	Blyth	Febr. 29	FS 109	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	March 3	Blyth	Methil	March 4	FN 109	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	March 7	Methil	Norwegian Waters	March 10	ON 18	–
	March 22	Norwegian Waters	Methil	March 25	HN 21	–
	March 25	Methil	Blyth	March 26	FS 129	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Apr. 1	Blyth	Methil	Apr. 2	FN 134	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Apr. 5	Methil	Kirkwall	Apr. 9	ON 25	–
	Apr. 10	Kirkwall	Methil	Apr. 11	–	See also Page 1
	Apr. 29	Methil	Tyne	Apr. 30	–	–
	May 1	Tyne	Southend	May 3	FS 160	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	May 3	Southend	–	–	OA 141	A. Hague says: For Bayonne. Dispersed May 6. Convoy available at OA 141 (external link)
	May 6	Dispersed from OA 141	Bayonne	May 8	Independent	Again, compare w/Page 1
	May 13	Bayonne	Port Talbot	May 18	Independent	–
	May 25	Port Talbot	Rouen	–	Independent	–
	May 30	Rouen	Downs	May 31	Independent	–
	June 1	Downs	Blyth	June 3	FN 186	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	June 17	Blyth	Southend	June 18	FS 197	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	July 8	Southend	Tyne	July 9	FN 217	See also Page 1. Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	July 22	Tyne	Methil	July 22	FN 227	Convoy available at link above
	July 26	Methil	–	–	OA 190	For Halifax. Dispersed July 29. Convoy available at OA 190 (external link)
	July 29	Dispersed from OA 190	Halifax	Aug. 10	Independent	–
	Aug. 20	Halifax	Methil Roads	Sept. 5	HX 67	Missing voyages, Page 1
	Sept. 28	Methil	–	–	OA 221	Dispersed Oct. 2. Convoy available at OA 221 (external link)
	Oct. 2	Dispersed from OA 221	Sydney, C.B.	Oct. 12	Independent	–
	Oct. 14	Sydney, C.B.	Walton, N.S.	Oct. 16	Independent	–
	Oct. 18	Walton	Parrsboro	Oct. 19	Independent	–
	Oct. 25	Parrsboro	Halifax	Oct. 26	Independent	–
	Oct. 28	Halifax	–	–	HX 84	Dispersed Nov. 5
	Nov. 5	Dispersed from HX 84	Oban	Nov. 11	Independent	–
	Nov. 13	Oban	Methil	Nov. 16	WN 37	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	Nov. 18	Methil	Great Yarmouth Roads	Nov. 20	FS 338	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link) Arrived Great Yarmouth Nov. 21 (Page 2).
	Dec. 4	Great Yarmouth Roads	Hull	Dec. 6	–	–
	Dec. 16	Hull	Methil	Dec. 18	FN 360	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Dec. 19	Methil	Oban	Dec. 22	EN 43/1	Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	Dec. 24	Oban	–	–	OB 263	For Freetown. Dispersed Dec. 27. Convoy available at OB 263 (external link)
	Dec. 27	Dispersed from OB 263	Freetown	Jan. 12-1941	Independent	–
1941	Jan. 13	Freetown	Takoradi	Jan. 17	Independent	–
	Jan. 20	Takoradi	Lagos	Jan. 21	Independent	–
	Jan. 31	Lagos	Freetown	Febr. 7	Independent	–
	Febr. 18	Freetown	Loch Ewe	March 13	SL 66	Convoy available at SL 66 (external link)
	March 16	Loch Ewe	Methil	March 18	WN 99	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	March 20	Methil Roads	Hull	March 21	–	–
	Apr. 12	Hull	Oban	Apr. 17	EC 6	Convoy available at EC convoys (external link)
	Apr. 17	Oban	–	–	OG 59	Detached Apr. 28. Convoy will be added. See ships in OG convoys
	Apr. 28	Detached from OG 59	Seville	May 3	Independent	–
	May 13	Seville	Gibraltar	May 14	Independent	–
	May 14	Gibraltar	Liverpool	May 31	HG 62	Missing movements, Page 2
	June 10	Liverpool	–	–	OB 333	For Port Alfred. Dispersed 40 20N 34 40W, June 21. Convoy available at OB 333 (external link)
	June 21	Dispersed from OB 333	St. John, N.B.	June 29	Independent	–
	July 4	St. John, N.B.	Halifax	July 5	Independent	–
	July 6	Halifax	Sydney, C.B.	July 13	HX 137	Returned
	July 17	Sydney, C.B.	Clyde	July 31	HX 139	Again, see also Page 2
	Aug. 12	Clyde	–	–	ON 6	For Sydney, C.B. Dispersed Aug. 24.
	Aug. 24	Dispersed from ON 6	Sydney, C.B.	Aug. 26	Independent	–
	Aug. 26	Sydney, C.B.	Pugwash	Aug. 27	Independent	–
	Sept. 6	Pugwash	Sydney, C.B.	Sept. 7	Independent	–
	Sept. 11	Sydney, C.B.	Loch Ewe	Sept. 27	SC 44	Convoy will be added. See ships in SC convoys
	Sept. 28	Loch Ewe	Methil	Sept. 30	WN 186	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	Oct. 1	Methil	Grimsby	Oct. 2	FS 609	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Oct. 9	Grimsby	Seaham	Oct. 10	–	–
	Oct. 14	Seaham	Sunderland	Oct. 14	–	–
	Oct. 16	Sunderland	Southend	Oct. 17	FS 621	Convoy available at link above. See also Page 3
	Oct. 25	Southend	Methil	Oct. 27	EC 90	Convoy available at EC convoys (external link)
	Oct. 30	Methil	Belfast	Nov. 2	EC 91	Convoy available at link above. Again, see also Page 3
	Nov. 9	Belfast Lough	Barry	Nov. 11	BB 98	Convoy available at BB convoys (external link)
	Nov. 13	Barry	Milford Haven	Nov. 14	Independent	–
	Nov. 15	Milford Haven	Belfast Lough	Nov. 16	MH 43	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	Nov. 23	Belfast	Workington	Nov. 28	Independent	A. Hague says: Probably via S Wales
	Nov. 30	Workington	Holyhead	Dec. 1	Independent	–
	Dec. 5	Holyhead	Milford Haven	Dec. 6	BB 108	Convoy available at BB convoys (external link)
	Dec. 8	Milford Haven	Plymouth	Dec. 9	WP 78	Convoy available at WP convoys (external link)
	Dec. 17	Plymouth	Falmouth	Dec. 17	Independent	–
	Dec. 18	Falmouth	Cardiff	Dec. 19	PW 82	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	Dec. 23	Cardiff	Milford Haven	Dec. 24	Independent	–
	Dec. 25	Milford Haven	Oban	Dec. 27	–	–
	Dec. 28	Oban	Scapa Flow	Dec. 29	WN 224	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	Dec. 30	Scapa Flow	Skaalefjord	Dec. 31	–	–
1942	Jan. 18	Faroes	Faroes	Jan. 20	Independent	Put back
	Jan. 25	Faroes	Kirkwall	Jan. 26	Independent	–
	Febr. 4	Kirkwall	Methil	Febr. 5	WN 240	Convoy available at link above
	Febr. 10	Methil	Kirkwall	Febr. 12	EN 45	A. Hague says: For Thorshavn. Convoy available at EN convoys (external link) See also Page 4
	March 1	Kirkwall	Methil	March 2	WN 251	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	March 10	Methil	Scapa Flow	March 11	EN 57	Did not sail. Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	Apr. 4	Lyness	Methil	Apr. 5	WN 265	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link) Compare w/Page 4
	Apr. 8	Methil	Kirkwall	Apr. 8	EN 68	Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	Apr. 10	Kirkwall	Kirkwall	Apr. 20	–	A. Hague says: Voyage data unknown, possibly to Faroes (Page 4 agrees).
	Apr. 21	Kirkwall	Methil	Apr. 22	WN 272	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link) Missing movements, Page 4.
	May 11	Methil	Scapa Flow	May 13	EN 83	Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	May 18	Scapa Flow	Kirkwall	May 18	–	–
	May 19	Kirkwall	Kirkwall	May 29	–	A. Hague says: Voyage data unknown, possibly to Faroes (Page 4 agrees).
	May 31	Kirkwall	Methil	June 1	–	–
	June 6	Methil	Scapa Flow	June 8	EN 94	Convoy available at link above
	July 2	Lyness	Clyde*	July 5	EN 105	Convoy available at link above. *Page 4 gives arrival Ardrossan, July 5, Clyde July 9.
	July 10	Clyde	Belfast Lough	July 11	ON 111	Returned. Convoy will be added. See ships in ON convoys
	July 14	Belfast Lough	Halifax	July 28	ON 112	For St. John, N.B. Convoy will be added. See link above
	Aug. 2	Halifax	St. John, N.B.	Aug. 4	XB 32	Convoy available at XB convoys (external link)
	Aug. 13	St. John, N.B.	Halifax	Aug. 14	BX 33F	Convoy available at BX convoys (external link)
	Aug. 22	Halifax	–	–	SC 97	Joined BB 217 Sept. 6
	Sept. 6	From SC 97	Sharpness	Sept. 8	BB 217	Convoy available at BB convoys (external link)
	Sept. 15	Sharpness	Swansea	Sept. 15	Independent	–
	Sept. 22	Swansea	Milford Haven	Sept. 23	Independent	–
	Sept. 25	Milford Haven	Halifax	Oct. 14	ON 134	Via Belfast Lough (Page 5). Convoy will be added. See ships in ON convoys
	Oct. 20	Halifax	Chatham, N.B.	Oct. 24	HS 61	Convoy available at HS convoys (external link)
	Oct. 31	Douglastown, N.B.	Sydney, C.B.	Nov. 5	Independent	–
	Nov. 13	Sydney, C.B.	Belfast Lough	Nov. 29	SC 109	Convoy will be added. See ships in SC convoys
	Dec. 7	Belfast Lough	Holyhead	Dec. 8	Independent	–
	Dec. 8	Holyhead	Swansea	Dec. 11	HM 79	Convoy available via this page (external link)
1943	Jan. 2	Swansea	Newport	Jan. 3	Independent	–
	Jan. 7	Newport	Barry	Jan. 7	Independent	–
	Jan. 10	Barry Roads	Yarmouth Roads	Jan. 13	WP 277	Convoy available at WP convoys (external link) Arrived Southampton Jan. 15 (Page 5).
	Jan. 24	St Helens Roads	Southend	Jan. 25	CE 149	Convoy available at CE convoys (external link)
	Jan. 25	Southend	Sunderland	Jan. 26	FN 927	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link) Again, see also Page 5
	Jan. 30	Sunderland	Southend	Febr. 1	FS 1026	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link) See also Page 5.
	Febr. 6	Southend	Tyne	Febr. 8	FN 937	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Febr. 12	Tyne	Southend	Febr. 14	FS 1037	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	Febr. 14	Southend	St Helens Roads	Febr. 15	CW 156	Convoy available at CW convoys (external link) Also, Page 5
	Febr. 16	Cowes Roads	Plymouth	Febr. 17	PW 295	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	Febr. 21	Plymouth	Barry Roads	Febr. 22	PW 297	Convoy available via link above
	Febr. 25	Barry	Solent	Febr. 27	WP 300	Convoy available at WP convoys (external link) See also Page 6
	Febr. 27	St Helens Roads	Southend	Febr. 28	CE 157	Convoy available at CE convoys (external link) Again, see Page 6.
	March 14	Southend	Tyne	March 15	FN 968	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	March 19	Tyne	Southend	March 21	FS 1067	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	March 24	Southend	St Helens Roads	March 25	CW 165	Convoy available at CW convoys (external link)
	March 26	Portsmouth	Plymouth	March 27	PW 314	Convoy available via this page (external link) See also Page 6
	March 30	Plymouth	Falmouth	March 30	Independent	–
	Apr. 2	Falmouth	Swansea	Apr. 3	PW 317	Convoy available via link above
	Apr. 11	Swansea	Milford Haven	Apr. 11	Independent	–
	Apr. 12	Milford Haven	Halifax	May 4	ONS 4	Convoy will be added. See ships in ONS convoys
	May 9	Halifax	Yarmouth, N.S.*	May 11	HF 53	Convoy available at HF convoys (external link) Windsor, N.S. (Page 6*)
	May 21	Windsor, N.S.	St. John, N.B.	May 22	Independent	–
	May 23	St. John, N.B.	Halifax	May 25	FH 56	Convoy available at FH convoys (external link)
	May 26	Halifax	Loch Ewe	June 11	SC 132	–
	June 12	Loch Ewe	Methil	June 14	WN 440	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	June 14	Methil	Boston, Lincs	June 16	FS 1142	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link)
	June 23	Boston, Lincs	Immingham	June 23	Independent	–
	June 26	Immingham	Methil	June 28	FN 1057	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	June 29	Methil	Oban	July 1	EN 249	Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	July 4	Oban	Halifax	July 18	ONS 12	Convoy will be added. See ships in ONS convoys
	July 23	Halifax	Sheet Harbour	July 24	–	–
	Aug. 6	Sheet Harbour	Halifax	Aug. 7	–	–
	Aug. 9	Halifax	Loch Ewe	Aug. 25	SC 139	–
	Aug. 25	Loch Ewe	Methil	Aug. 27	WN 471	Convoy available at WN convoys (external link)
	Aug. 27	Methil	Ipswich	Aug. 29	FS 1205	Convoy available at FS convoys (external link) On to Harwich Sept. 7 (Page 7).
	Sept. 7	Harwich	Southend	Sept. 8	FS 1214	Convoy available at link above
	Oct. 30	Southend	Methil	Nov. 1	FN 1165	Convoy available at FN convoys (external link)
	Nov. 2	Methil	Methil	Nov. 4	EN 301	Put back. Convoy available at EN convoys (external link)
	Nov. 4	Methil	Loch Ewe	Nov. 6	EN 302	Convoy available at link above
	Nov. 6	Loch Ewe	–	–	OS 58/KMS 32	For Algiers. Convoy split Nov. 18. Available at OS 58/KMS 32 (external link)
	Nov. 18	Convoy split	Passed Gibraltar	Nov. 19	KMS 32G	For Algiers. Convoy will be added. See ships in KMS convoys
	Nov. 19	Passed Gibraltar	Algiers	Nov. 21	KMS 32	Convoy will be added. See link above
	Dec. 11	Algiers	Augusta	Dec. 15	KMS 34	Algiers to Augusta. Convoy will be added. See link above
	Dec. 17	Augusta	Barletta	Dec. 19	AH 13	Convoy available at AH convoys (external link)
	Dec. 24	Bari	Augusta	Dec. 26	HA 14	Convoy available at HA convoys (external link)
	Dec. 27	Augusta	Augusta	Jan. 4-1944	–	A. Hague says: Voyage data unknown. Page 7 indicates Girgenti.
1944	Jan. 8	Augusta	Bari	Jan. 10	AH 17	Convoy available at AH convoys (external link)
	Jan. 14	Bari	Augusta	Jan. 16	HA 18	Convoy available at HA convoys (external link)
	Jan. 16	Augusta	Bizerta	Jan. 18	–	–
	Jan. 22	Bizerta	Philippeville	Jan. 23	GUS 28	Bizerta to Philippeville. Convoy available at GUS convoys (external link)
	Jan. 31	Philippeville	Augusta	–	–	Arrived Bizerta Febr. 1, on to Augusta (Page 7).
	Febr. 4	Augusta	Naples	Febr. 6	VN 19	Convoy available at VN convoys (external link) Again, see Page 7
	Febr. 18	Naples	Augusta	Febr. 19	NV 21	Convoy available at NV convoys (external link)
	Febr. 19	Augusta	Philippeville	Febr. 22	GUS 31	Augusta to Philipeville. Convoy available at GUS convoys (external link)
	Febr. 28	Philippeville	Augusta	March 2	KMS 42	Philipville to Augusta. Convoy will be added. See ships in KMS convoys
	March 10	Augusta	Algiers	March 15	GUS 33	Augusta to Algiers
	March 29	Algiers	Augusta	Apr. 2	KMS 45	Algiers to Augusta. Convoy will be added. See link above
	Apr. 2	Augusta	Torre Annunzio	Apr. 5	VN 31	Convoy available at VN convoys (external link)
	Apr. 7	Torre Annunziata	Naples	–	–	–
	Apr. 12	Naples	Augusta	Apr. 13	NV 32	Convoy available at NV convoys (external link)
	Apr. 14	Augusta	Algiers	Apr. 19	MKS 46	Augusta to Algiers. Convoy will be added. See ships in MKS convoys
	Apr. 27	Algiers	Augusta	May 1	KMS 48	Algiers to Augusta. Convoy will be added. See ships in KMS convoys
	May 2	Augusta	Torre Annunzio	May 3	VN 37	Convoy available at VN convoys (external link)
	May 5	Torre Annunziato	Naples	–	–	–
	May 7	Naples	Augusta	May 8	NV 37	Convoy available at NV convoys (external link)
	May 11	Augusta	Port Said	May 16	KMS 49	Augusta to Port Said. Convoy will be added. See ships in KMS convoys
	May 18	Port Said	Beirut	May 19	–	–
	May 20	Beirut	Tripoli, Syria	May 20	Independent	–
	May 24	Tripoli, Syria	Haifa	May 25	Independent	–
	May 25	Haifa	Port Said	May 26	Independent	–
	May 29	Port Said	Augusta	June 4	MKS 51	Convoy will be added. See ships in MKS convoys
	June 8	Augusta	Naples	June 9	VN 45	Convoy available at VN convoys (external link)
	June 20	Naples	Augusta	June 21	NV 46A	Convoy available at NV convoys (external link)
	June 23	Augusta	Bizerta	June 25	MKS 53	Augusta to Bizerta. Convoy will be added. See ships in MKS convoys
	June 30	Bizerta	Augusta	July 3	UGS 45	Bizerta to Augusta See also Page 8
	July 5	Augusta	Barletta	July 7	AH 53	Convoy available at AH convoys (external link)
	July 10	Barletta	Brindisi	–	–	–
	July 12	Brindisi	Augusta	July 15	HA 54	Convoy available at HA convoys (external link)
	July 17	Augusta	Bizerta	July 19	–	–
	July 19	Bizerta	Bone	July 20	–	See also narrative below
	July 30	Bone	Augusta	Aug. 1	–	–
	Aug. 4	Augusta	Bari	Aug. 6	AH 59	Convoy available at AH convoys (external link)
	Aug. 6	Bari	Ancona	Aug. 7	Escorted	–
	Aug. 12	Ancona	Brindisi	Aug. 13	Escorted	–
	Aug. 17	Brindisi	Augusta	Aug. 19	HA 61	Convoy available at HA convoys (external link)
	Aug. 22	Augusta	Algiers	Aug. 26	MKS 59	Augusta to Algiers. Convoy will be added. See ships in MKS convoys
	Sept. 10	Algiers	Naples	Sept. 26	–	A. Hague says: Voyage data unknown.
?*	Sept. 23	S France	Naples	Sept. 26	SRM 13A	See note below
	*Hjalmar Wessel has been included in Convoy SRM 13A (external link), but I'm not sure this is correct(?)
	Oct. 1	Naples	Palermo	Oct. 2	Independent	–
	Oct. 7	Palermo	Naples	Oct. 8	–	Notional sailing date.
	Oct. 16	Naples	Toulon	Oct. 19	SM 15	Convoy available via this page (external link) Missing voyages, Page 8
	Oct. 31	Marseilles	Naples	Nov. 3	–	–
	Nov. 5	Naples	Augusta	Nov. 6	Independent	–
	Nov. 7	Augusta	Alexandria	Nov. 11	KMS 67	Augusta to Alexandria. Convoy will be added. See ships in KMS convoys
	Nov. 17	Alexandria	Augusta	Nov. 22	Independent	–
	Nov. 24	Augusta	Brindisi	Nov. 26	AH 81	Convoy available at AH convoys (external link) Left Brindisi Dec. 1 (Page 8).
	Dec. 3	Taranto	Patras	Dec. 4	HP 10	Convoy available via this page (external link)
	Dec. 16	Patras	Taranto	Dec. 27*	–	*Page 8 gives arrival Dec. 17
	Dec. 27	Taranto	Piraeus	Dec. 31	HP 16	Convoy available via link above
1945	Jan. 15	Piraeus	Alexandria	Jan. 19	Independent	–
	Jan. 27	Alexandria	Augusta	Febr. 1	Independent	–
	Febr. 1	Augusta	Brindisi	Febr. 3	Independent	–
	Febr. 14	Brindisi	Split	Febr. 15	Escorted	–
	Febr. 18	Split	Brindisi	Febr. 19	Escorted	–
	March 4	Brindisi	Ancona	March 5	AH 16/2	Convoy available at AH convoys (external link)
	March 8	Ancona	Brindisi	March 9	HA 18/2	Convoy available at HA convoys (external link)
	March 18	Brindisi	Zara	March 19	Escorted	–
	March 26	Zara	Brindisi	March 27	–	Notional sailing port and date. Later arrived Piraeus Apr. 4 (Page 9).
	Apr. 5	Piraeus	Volo	Apr. 6	Independent	–
	Apr. 10	Volo	Piraeus	Apr. 11	Independent	–
	Apr. 12	Piraeus	Alexandria	Apr. 14	Independent	–
	Apr. 23	Alexandria	Naples	Apr. 29	Independent	–
	Apr. 30	Naples	Leghorn	May 2	VN 130	Convoy available at VN convoys (external link)
	May 7	Leghorn	Naples	May 8	Escorted	–
	May 17	Naples	Leghorn	May 19	–	–
	May 19	Leghorn	Genoa	May 20	Independent	–
	June 1	Genoa	Naples	June 3	Escorted	–
	June 11	Naples	Leghorn	June 13	Independent	–
	June 14	Leghorn	Genoa	June 14	Independent	Subsequent voyages: Page 9 & Page 10

Misc. Convoy Voyages:

For information on voyages made in between those mentioned here, please see the documents received from the Norwegian archives and A. Hague's Voyage Record above. Follow the convoy links provided for more details on them; several Norwegian ships took part.

A. Hague has included Hjalmar Wessel in the U.K.-Norway Convoy ON 11 in Febr.-1940. Later that month, he has her in Convoy HN 14 from Norway to the U.K., saying she returned to Norway early in March with Convoy ON 18. On March 22, she's listed in the original Advance Sailing Telegram for Convoy HN 21, bound for Blyth in ballast, and according to A. Hague, she joined Convoy ON 25 on Apr. 5. From Page 1 of the archive documents, we learn that she had started out from Blyth on Apr. 1 and was bound for Sarpsborg, Norway, but due to the German invasion on Apr. 9, this convoy was ordered to turn around before arrival Norway, Hjalmar Wessel arriving Kirkwall on Apr. 9 - follow the link to ON 25 for more details.

Together with Balder, A. Hague later has her in Convoy OA 141, which departed Southend on May 3-1940 and dispersed on the 6th. Her destination is given as Bayonne; going back to the archive document mentioned above we see that she she arrived Weymouth Bay on May 8. In July, she's listed as bound for Halifax in ballast in Convoy OA 190, which also included Bonde, Galatea, Jernland, Kul, Siak and Tai Ping Yang. The convoy left Methil on July 26 and dispersed on the 29th, Hjalmar Wessel arriving Halifax on Aug. 10. She headed back to the U.K. on Aug. 20 in Convoy HX 67 from Halifax, later joining Convoy OA 221, departing Methil Sept. 28, dispersed Oct. 2, Hjalmar Wessel arriving Sydney, C.B. Oct. 12 (Para is also listed). See the external links provided within the table above for more on these OA convoys.

With a cargo of lumber for Great Yarmouth, she joined Convoy HX 84 from Halifax on Oct. 28, escorted by the well known Jervis Bay, captain Fegen. Follow the link for more info on HX 84, which was ordered by Jervis Bay to disperse following an attack by Admiral Scheer (Krancke) on Nov. 5. Hjalmar Wessel made it to safety, as did the other Norwegian ships, M/T Solfonn, D/S Varøy and D/S Cetus. The events are described in detail under the link "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 but was sunk before she could send a radio warning to the convoy about the imminent danger. See also San Demetrio's report.

The following month, we find her, with destination Freetown, in Convoy OB 263, originating in Liverpool on Dec. 23, dispersed on the 27th - again, ref. external link provided in the Voyage Record; Brasil, Garonne, Leikanger and Primero are also named. Page 2 of the archive documents states she arrived Freetown on Jan. 12-1941, having started out from Oban. The next day, she proceeded to Takoradi then on to Lagos, and from there back to Freetown, where she joined Convoy SL 66 to the U.K. on Febr. 18 (link in voyage record - Marita, O. A. Knudsen, Petter, Salamis and Ørnefjell are also listed).

She's also listed in the Gibraltar bound Convoy OG 59, which originated in Liverpool on Apr. 15-1941 and arrived Gibraltar on the 28th; Hjalmar Wessel left the convoy that day and arrived Seville on May 3, having started out from Oban Apr. 17. This convoy will be added to an individual page in my Convoys section, but for now, the ships sailing in it are named on the page listing ships in all OG convoys. She headed back to the U.K. again on May 14 with Convoy HG 62 from Gibraltar (escort's report is also available for this convoy). She was bound for Runcorn with minerals, arriving there June 1, and later that month she's listed, along with Ingertre and Velma, in Convoy OB 333, departing Liverpool on June 10, dispersed June 21, Hjalmar Wessel arriving St. John, N.B. on June 29. On July 6, she joined Convoy HX 137 from Halifax, but lost touch in fog and put back to Sydney, C.B. on July 13, later joining Convoy HX 139 from there - the Commodore's narrative is also available. She had a cargo of pulp for Glasgow, where she arrived on July 31. The following month, we find her in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 6, which originated in Liverpool on Aug. 11 and dispersed Aug. 24. Hjalmar Wessel started out from Clyde on the 12th and arrived Sydney, C.B. on Aug. 26, proceeding to Pugwash that same day (Page 2). A. Hague has also included her in Convoy SC 44*, in which the Norwegian Barbro was sunk; follow link for details. This convoy departed Sydney, C.B. on Sept. 11 and arrived Liverpool on the 30th - Hjalmar Wessel stopped at Loch Ewe on the 27th. Her subsequent voyages are shown on Page 3, convoy info for some of them can be found in the table above.

Skipping now to July-1942, when she joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 111* (Acanthus, Montbretia and Potentilla are named among the escorts - see ON convoy escorts), originating in Liverpool on July 10, but she returned to port (Belfast Lough), later joining the next convoy, ON 112*. Her destination is given as St. John, N.B., where she arrived, via Halifax, on Aug. 4 - see also Page 4. With a cargo of lumber for Sharpness, she returned across the Atlantic later that month with the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 97, and arrived her destination on Sept. 8 (the Norwegian Bronxville was sunk - follow link for details. Bonneville served as Vice Commodore Ship). She subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 134*, bound for Halifax with coal (convoy originated in Liverpool on Sept. 26 and arrived New York Oct. 17). Hjalmar Wessel arrived Halifax (via Belfast Lough) on Oct. 14, having sailed from Milford Haven on Sept. 25, according to Page 5. A. Hague has her returning with Convoy SC 109*, which originated in New York on Nov. 9 and arrived Liverpool on the 30th; Hjalmar Wessel is said to have joined this convoy from Halifax, taking station 85 (cargo of lumber), but going back to the archive document, we learn that she sailed from Sydney, C.B. on Nov. 13 and stopped at Belfast on the 30th.

She did not make another Trans-Atlantic voyage until the following spring, when we find her in station 91 of the westbound Convoy ONS 4*, which originated in Liverpool on Apr. 13-1943 and arrived Halifax May 5 (see also Page 6). Later that month, she was 1 of several Norwegian ships in Convoy SC 132 from Halifax to the U.K., returning with Convoy ONS 12*, which originated in Liverpool on July 3 and arrived Halifax on the 18th. With lumber for Ipswich, she headed back in the other direction again on Aug. 9 in Convoy SC 139 from Halifax, arriving her destination on Aug. 29/30.

In Nov.-1943, she made a voyage to Algiers; for this voyage, she's listed in Convoy OS 58/KMS 32, and arrived Algiers on Nov. 21 (KMS 32*), the convoy having split up on Nov. 18. Far, Ledaal, Ragnhild and Roald Amundsen are also named in this convoy. Follow the link in the Voyage Record for more info. On Dec. 11, she sailed from Algiers to Augusta, having joined Convoy KMS 34*, and arrived Augusta on Dec. 15. Her subsequent voyages are listed on Page 7, with convoy info for some of them in the table above.

In Febr.-1944, she made a voyage from Philippeville to Augusta, having sailed in Convoy KMS 42*. She arrived Augusta on March 2, and about a week later, we find her in Convoy GUS 33, which departed Port Said on March 5 and arrived Hampton Roads on Apr. 4, but many ships had other destinations and left the convoy, while others joined along the way. In fact, Hjalmar Wessel joined from Augusta on March 11 and parted company for Algiers on the 14th. She left Algiers again for Augusta on March 29, joining Convoy KMS 45*, and the following month, she's listed in Convoy MKS 46*, voyage Augusta to Algiers, heading back to Augusta later that month in Convoy KMS 48*. In May, she sailed from Augusta to Port Said, having joined Convoy KMS 49*, and at the end of May, she was back in Port Said, joining Convoy MKS 51* in order to sail to Augusta. In June that year, we find her in Convoy MKS 53*, voyage Augusta-Bizerta, arriving her destination on June 25. Please see the Voyage Record above and/or Page 7 and Page 8 of the archive documents for further dates for these voyages, as well as for info on other voyages made in this period.

She's also listed in Convoy UGS 45 in July-1944, as are Norholm, Norheim and Roald Amundsen. As will be seen when following the link to this convoy she's not mentioned on the A 1 form listing the ships sailing from Hampton Roads on June 12; this is because she joined the convoy at Bizerta, then left again at Augusta. She's also mentioned in connection with Convoy GUS 46, and is said to have left Bizerta for Bone on July 20, but I'm not sure if she actually joined this convoy (which had originated in Port Said on July 14). Here is A. Hague's listing for GUS 46 (external link), and as can be seen, Hjalmar Wessel is not included, but this does not necessarily mean she did not sail (Page 8 says she left Bizerta on July 19 and arrived Bone the next day). The following month, she made a voyage from Augusta to Algiers in Convoy MKS 59*, and in Nov.-1944, she's listed in Convoy KMS 67*, voyaging from Augusta to Alexandria.

As will be seen when going to Page 9 of the archive documents, she made a voyage home to Norway in Dec.-1945, and again in Jan.-1946 (Page 10).

*The ON convoys and ONS convoys will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course, along with further details on each. In the meantime, the ships sailing in them, many of which were Norwegian, are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys and on the page for ships in all ONS convoys, along with escorts. Also, the entire SC series will be updated and completed - please see ships in all SC convoys. Additionally, all the KMS convoys and MKS convoys will eventually be added, but for now, 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:

According to the Riversea International website (which I can no longer find) she was badly damaged by engine room fire on Jan 21-1962, off the north coast of the Netherlands when on a voyage Oslo-Rotterdam (still owned by Borregaard). Converted to a barge in Sweden in late 1962.

Related external links:
HMS Jervis Bay

Caithness Archives, HX 84
Casualty list - Jervis Bay

More on Admiral Scheer - on the Jervis Bay website.

Ships built at Framnes mek. Verksted - The site also has a picture of Hjalmar Wessel.