D/S Isbjørn
Updated Sept. 21-2009

To Isbjørn on the "Ships starting with I" page.

Crew List

She was later mostly in service around the U.K. - please see the documents received from the Norwegian archives for information on her various voyages.

Isbjørn was used as supply ship for the Normandie invasion in June-1944 (Operation Neptune), arriving Omaha on June 12, departing again on June 18, according to "Nortraships flåte".

Final Fate -1944:

In Dec.-1944, Isbjørn was at the Prince of Wales Dock, Swansea, undergoing extensive repairs and overhaul. She departed Swansea at 18:00 on Dec. 14 with a cargo of about 650 tons Anthracite coal for Poole (Goole?) and joined a convoy the following morning. The next day a storm was encountered and at 00:30 on Dec. 17, a heavy sea swept over her, causing her cargo to shift to port, and she immediately developed a list. The captain gave orders to heave to and to start filling the starboard No. 2 ballast tank, which seemed to stabilize the ship and decrease the list somewhat. However, the winds increased to hurricane force, and at about 04:30 the electricity to the navigation lights and compass broke down. The paraffin oil lamps were lit, the compass being lit up by an electric torch. It now became more and more difficult to keep Isbjørn under control, and she suddenly started to move off course, with the wind and sea coming in from aft while she listed more and more to port (every effort had been made to keep the wind and sea on the port bow prior to this). They attempted to get the ship up against the wind again, but to no avail. With the situation now being critical, orders were given to stand by the lifeboat; the motorboat had already been lost when the forward davit gave way. An SOS signal was sent to a nearby ship by Aldis lamp, and a number of rockets were also sent up, but in the poor visibility it was believed their signals were not seen.

Two heavy seas now washed over the after deck, and in a matter of seconds Isbjørn capsized and sank by the stern (the hatches were believed to have been broken in). Because of the list they had not been able to launch the lifeboat, but as the ship went down, the boat unhooked itself with 1 man in it who picked up another man from the water. Later, another 6 were picked up by this boat, including the captain, who had gotten his foot jammed and was pulled down with the suction, but had managed to get himself free and to the surface. The lifeboat was badly damaged and was full of water.

6 hours later, they were spotted by the Dutch M/S Osterhaven (position 50 27N 03 00W). In spite of the bad weather Captain H. A. A. Breent managed to maneuver his ship close to the lifeboat and take the men on board. However, during this transfer, the steward fell overboard and disappeared. Upon being told there might be more survivors the Dutch vessel went to the place where Isbjørn had gone down and found 4 men on 2 rafts, but no more survivors could be found, so they left the scene.

Great admiration was expressed for the way the Dutch captain handled his ship; with a less able and determined man in command it was considered doubtful that any of Isbjørn's crew would have been saved. The survivors were landed in Darthmouth on Dec. 18, where they were taken care of by the Norwegian Consulate. The captain and the 1st Mate were admitted to the Royal Navy Sick Quarters, Townstal House with minor injuries.

I've been told by a visitor to my site that "Shipwreck Guide to Lyme Bay" states that Isbjørn is in 50 22 70N 03 04 06W today and is upright and intact.

Crew List:

Survivors
Captain Axel Wadel	1st Mate Lars Knutsvik	2nd Mate Olaf A. Karlsen	Able Seaman Olav Eikrem	Able Seaman Sverre J. Melnes	Able Seaman Hugo Odvar Prytz
Stoker Arvid Martinussen	Cook Anders Olaf Nordin (Swedish)	Gunner Michael Spearing (British)	Gunner Cyril Bacon (British)*	Gunner Alfred W. Bailey (British)
* There's a question re. Cyril Bacon in my Guestbook.
Casualties:
† Able Seaman Harry Hansen	† 1st Engineer Karlberg Andersen	† 2nd Engineer Herman Alrik Lossius	† Donkeyman Henry Olsen	† Stoker Einar Enoksen	† Trimmer Ludvig K. Kinn
† Steward Berner Sæløen	† Mess Boy Leon Phillips* (British)

* Billy McGee, England has told me that Leon Phillips was from Cardiff and was only 18 years old. His death was recorded in the Deaths at Sea Register for January 1945 (page 409), but he does not appear to be commemorated anywhere.

Related external links:
Stavern Memorial commemorations - 10 are commemorated at this memorial. Trimmer Ludvig K. Kinn is listed as Ludvik Kristoffer Ludviksen from Kinn. In addition to the 7 Norwegians named above there's a Mate Ole Andersen, a Chief Engineer Karl Trygve Karlsen, and a Steward Johannes Rønnestad. It's possible they had died in other incidents - there's indication that the chief engineer had drowned in 1941, having fallen off the quay while in port - the others may, in fact, have been casualties of the ice breaker Isbjørn (?)

Omaha Beachhead

Omaha Beach - includes several Maps

Smedvig ASA today

Back to Isbjørn on the "Ships starting with I" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Norwegian Maritime Museum, Volume I, and misc. (ref. My sources).