M/T Kaia Knudsen
Updated Nov. 20-2011

To Kaia Knudsen on the "Ships starting with K" page.


Picture of this ship when she was named Nyhall (see Post War details at the end of this page).
From Roger W. Jordan collection - sent to me for inclusion on this website.
The Australian War Memorial has another picture. The caption says: "Aerial starboard side view of the Norwegian tanker Kaia Knudsen. Note the 4.7 inch gun aft". The copy right has expired, public domain (both links are external).

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; the Commodore's notes are also available for the majority of them, and several Norwegian ships took part.

In Febr.-1940, Kaia Knudsen rescued 13 men from the British Sea Rambler in a raging snow storm in the North Atlantic. Mosdale had rescued another 12.

From Page 1 of the archive documents, we learn that she was on her way from Curacao to Oslo and Bergen, Norway when war broke out there on Apr. 9-1940, but was diverted to Hamble. She stopped at Hampton Roads on Apr. 14, then proceeded to Halifax, joining Convoy HX 38 on Apr. 26, cargo of gasoline, station 65; she arrived Hamble on May 12. About a week later, she's listed, together with Bjerka, Bruse, Ferncourt and Hadrian, in Convoy OA 150, which started out from Southend on May 18 and joined up with OB 150 the next day, the combined convoy forming Convoy OG 30. This was a Gibraltar bound convoy, but Kaia Knudsen was bound for Corpus Christi, so she parted company on May 22 to proceed to that destination, with arrival June 10. OA 150 is available via the external link provided in the Voyage Record. OG 30 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. Unless some voyages are missing from her record, she now appears to have spent a long time at Corpus Christi; departure is given as Sept. 15, when she proceeded to Galveston and from there to Kingston, Jamaica.

In Oct.-1940, she was in Convoy HX 80, joining from Bermuda, and the following month she's listed as bound for Curacao in station 43 of Convoy OB 250, which originated in Liverpool on Nov. 26 and was dispersed on the 29th - again, see the external link in the table above; Hilda Knudsen and Rinda are also named. Kaia Knudsen arrived Curacao on Dec. 16, having started out from Clyde on Nov. 26 (Page 1). The next day, she proceeded to Bermuda in order to join the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 100 on Dec. 30, bound for Clyde with fuel oil. A Report of Proceedings for the Bermuda portion is also available.

We now find her, along with Bjørkhaug, Ringhorn, Ringstad, Sandar and Vanja, in Convoy OB 280, originating in Liverpool on Jan. 31-1941, dispersed Febr. 3, Kaia Knudsen arriving Curacao on Febr. 26 - she had started out from Clyde on Febr. 1 (link in Voyage Record). From Curacao, she headed to Bermuda on March 1, joining the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 114 on March 9, bound for Milford Haven and Devonport with fuel oil. She was one of 7 tankers under air attack on April 1 (described under Hidlefjord, which was sunk in the attack). She was badly damaged amidships by two bombs; 3rd Mate Olav Gerhard Skogseid* was fatally injured (died at a hospital in Milford Haven on Apr. 2 and is buried there) and several others seriously wounded. She made it to Milford Haven, was repaired and returned to service.

*A visitor to my site, George Monk, has told me that the following received British awards (his source: Seedies List of awards to the British Merchant Navy which includes awards to Allied merchant seamen). My guess is that this was for rescuing the survivors from Sea Rambler in 1940, rather than having anything to do with the above attack:
Chif Engineer Sverre Kristian Olsen - HonOBE(Civ)
Captain John Fagerland - Commendation
3rd Mate Olav Skogseid - Commendation. (See also the external link to the Stavern Memorial at the end of this page).

The following month she shows up, with destination New York, in Convoy OB 319, which originated in Liverpool on May 7-1941 and dispersed on the 13th. Egda, Grey County, Nova, Polartank and the Panamanian Norvinn (Norwegian managers) are also listed (link in Voyage Record). Kaia Knudsen arrived her destination on May 25, having started out from Milford Haven on the 6th. It'll be noticed, when going back to Page 1, that she now appears to have remained in New York for quite some time; departure is given as Aug. 8, when she proceeded to Halifax in order to join Convoy HX 145 on Aug. 16. She subsequently returned across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 15, which originated in Liverpool on Sept. 11 and dispersed on the 16th, Kaia Knudsen arriving Curacao on Sept. 29, having joined from Clyde (see Page 2). She headed back to the U.K. in Convoy HX 154 from Halifax on Oct. 10, later joining the westbound Convoy ON 34, which originated in Liverpool on Nov. 7 and dispersed on the 21st. Kaia Knudsen, in station 51, joined from Clyde and arrived New York on Nov. 25. As will be seen when reading the Commodore's notes on my page for ON 34, he was very happy with her performance in this convoy (Acanthus is named among the esecorts). On Dec. 8 she can be found in Convoy HX 164 from Halifax to the U.K., together with Polarsol, Norsktank, Gallia, Hilda Knudsen and Leiesten. At the end of that year, Kaia Knudsen joined the westbound Convoy ON 52*, which originated in Liverpool on Dec. 31 and dispersed Jan. 11-1942, Kaia Knudsen arriving Trinidad on Jan. 26 (she had again joined from Clyde) - Montbretia and Rose are named among the escorts, see ON convoy escorts.

On Febr. 22-1942, she can be found among the ships in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 71; her destination is given as Hvalfjord, Iceland, where she arrived on March 7 (the Advance Sailing Telegram for this convoy indicates that she had originally been scheduled for Convoy HX 176 a few days earlier). According to A. Hague, she left Hvalfjord again on Apr. 3, joining the westbound Convoy ON 82*, which had started out in Liverpool on Apr. 2 and arrived Halifax on the 18th; Kaia Knudsen, however, was bound for New York, arriving there on Apr. 20. In May that year, she sailed in Convoy HX 190 from Halifax, and in June, she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 103*, originating in Liverpool on June 12 (Commodore in Kong Haakon VII). Kaia Knudsen sailed from Milford Haven on June 11 and arrived New York June 27. Having made voyages to Trinidad and Curacao etc. (again, see Page 2 as well as Voyage Record above), she returned to New York, then proceeded to Halifax and with diesel oil for Clyde, she's subsequently listed in the original document for Convoy HX 206 back to the U.K. on Sept. 6, but either did not join, or joined and returned to Halifax. She's also mentioned in the next convoy a week later, HX 207, but eventually got away with the Halifax portion of Convoy HX 208 on Sept. 20. This convoy had started out in New York on Sept. 17. Her destination is now given as Rosyth, where she arrived on Oct. 6, according to Page 3. The Commodore's report is also available for this convoy.

She later took part in the Torch operations (invasion of North Africa) which commenced on Nov. 8-1942. My page about Athos has a list of other Norwegian ships taking part in these operations. Arnold Hague suggests that Kaia Knudsen may have been in Convoy KMS 1*, which left Clyde on Oct. 22-1942 and arrived Algiers Nov. 8. Algiers is not mentioned among her voyages on Page 3 of the archive documents, which says she arrived Gibraltar on Nov. 10, having left Loch Ewe on Oct. 25. She left Gibraltar again on Nov. 21, arriving Clyde on the 29th, and for this voyage I have her in Convoy MKS 1Y. She now appears in another westbound North Atlantic convoy, namely ON 151*, which originated in Liverpool on Dec. 3 (Kaia Knudsen joined from Clyde) and arrived New York Dec. 23 (Commodore in Geisha).

Having made a voyage to Curacao and back to New York, she headed back to the U.K. on Jan. 22-1943 in Convoy HX 224, which lost several ships, as will be seen when following the link. She later joined the fast Convoy UC 1* in order to sail to Curacao, where she arrived on March 6 - this convoy also lost several ships, ref. link at the end of this page. Having returned to New York (Page 3), Kaia Knudsen proceeded to Baltimore, with arrival March 28, remaining there for quite a long time (she later served as Escort Oiler for several Trans-Atlantic convoys - perhaps this long stay was due to her being fitted out as such in Baltimore?). Departure is given as May 18 when she sailed to Hampton Roads, then on to New York and from there, she joined Convoy HX 241 on May 25. Her destination is given as Londonderry, where she arrived June 9, and she had station 52 of the convoy, having served as Escort Oiler. She left Londonderry again 2 days later, joining the westbound Convoy ON 188*, which had sailed from Liverpool on June 10 and arrived New York on the 26th (Commodore in Abraham Lincoln), and already on June 30, she was ready to leave with Convoy HX 246, bound for Devonport with Admiralty fuel, station 75 (acting as Escort Oiler). Acanthus, Rose and Potentilla are named among the escorts for this convoy. Kaia Knudsen (Escort Oiler) subsequently went bak in the other direction with Convoy ON 194*, which originated in Liverpool on July 24 and arrived New York Aug. 7 - Acanthus, Potentilla and Rose are again named among the escorts (see ON convoy escorts). Kaia Knudsen left New York again on Aug. 10 in order to sail to Curacao. Page 4 shows the rest of her 1943 voyages, with convoy information in the Voyage Record above.

In Febr.-1944, she made a voyage from Alexandria to Malta, having sailed in Convoy MKS 41*. From Malta, where she had arrived Febr. 25, she proceeded to the U.S. on March 1, arriving New York on March 23 and on March 28, she joined Convoy HX 285 from there, bound for Scapa, where she arrived on Apr. 13, again having served as Escort Oiler. Later that month, we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 233*, which originated in Liverpool on Apr. 20 and arrived New York May 8. Having spent about a month in New York (Page 4), she returned in Convoy HX 295 on June 10, again serving as Escort Oiler, and also carrying 59 depth charges, according to A. Hague. Elisabeth Bakke acted as Commodore Vessel for this convoy. Kaia Knudsen arrived Scapa Flow on June 27, then went back across the Atlantic in Convoy ON 243*, which originated in Liverpool on July 3 (she sailed from Clyde that day) and arrived New York July 18 (Commodore in Reinholt). A week later, she can be found in Convoy HX 301 from New York (Escort Oiler); Reinholt again served as Commodore Vessel, while the Vice Commodore was in Samuel Bakke.

Kaia Knudsen later served as Escort Oiler for Convoy ON 249*, which started out from Liverpool on Aug. 18 (she sailed from Clyde that day) and arrived New York Sept. 2 (Vice Commodore in Norma), and already on Sept. 6, she's listed in Convoy HX 307, along with Buenos Aires, Fagerfjell, Frontenac, Idefjord, John Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Thorsholm and Stiklestad. Kaia Knudsen again served as Escort Oiler, also carrying 60 depth charges (Page 4 and Voyage Record above show her arrival dates). The following month, she served as Escort Oiler for Convoy ON 257* back to New York, with arrival Oct. 18, returning 2 days later in Convoy HX 315, bound for Devonport, serving as Escort Oiler and also had 60 depth charges on board - Commodore was in Ivaran. Kaia Knudsen subsequently went back to New York in Convoy ON 265* (from Southend Nov. 8, to New York Nov. 23), returning to the U.K. on Nov. 29 in Convoy HX 323, with destination Portsmouth, where she arrived Dec. 14 (her voyages in this period are shown on Page 5). This time, the Commodore was in Samuel Bakke, while Laurits Swenson served as the Vice Commodore's ship. Her last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year was made in the westbound Convoy ON 273*, which originated at Southend on Dec. 18 and arrived New York Jan. 4-1945. Kaia Knudsen had served as Escort Oiler for all 3 convoys.

She was scheduled for the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 331 on Jan. 8-1945 (Commodore in Montevideo), but instead joined HX 333 on the 18th. The following month, she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 283*, which originated at Southend on Febr. 5 and arrived New York Febr. 27 (Commodore in Emma Bakke). According to Arnold Hague, she returned to the U.K. in Convoy HX 345*, which left New York on March 19 and arrived Liverpool on Apr. 2; Kaia Knudsen arrived Clyde on the 3rd. The Commodore was again in a Norwegian ship, namely Abraham Lincoln. A few days later, Kaia Knudsen headed back to New York with Convoy ON 295* arriving her destination on Apr. 25, and at the end of that month, A. Hague has her in Convoy HX 353* (Commodore in Samuel Bakke), departing New York on Apr. 29, arriving Liverpool May 15; Kaia Knudsen arrived Sheerness that day, in other words, VE Day was celebrated at sea. Her last convoy voyage was made in the westbound Convoy ON 304*, departing Southend on May 21, arriving New York June 6. According to A. Hague, she had served as Escort Oiler for all these convoys. From New York, she now proceeded to Naples; again, see Page 5.

Page 6 shows her voyages up to and including March-1946.

* The ON convoys will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course, with more information on each. In the meantime, the ships sailing in them (and escorts) are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys. As will be seen, they all had several Norwegian ships. The entire HX series will also be updated and completed, but for now, see ships in all HX convoys. Additionally, the KMS and MKS series will be completed - see ships in all KMS convoys for the names of other ships in KMS 1, and ships in all MKS convoys for more on MKS 41. Ships sailing in Convoy UC 1 are named on the page listing ships in all UC convoys.

More details on all the other Norwegian ships named on this page can be found via the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index.

POST WAR:

From Febr.-1954 until July-1954 a British able seaman by the name Thomas Patrick Shaw served on this ship - my page about Hallfried has a picture and more details on him, including some of his WW II and other post war ships. If anyone remembers this man, please contact me via the address provided at the end of this page.

The ship and company (Skibs-A/S Samuel Bakke) were transferred to Christian Haaland, Haugesund in 1947. (This transfer may have had something to do with the fact that Knut Knutsen died in 1946 and Chr. Haaland, his son in law, inherited some of Knutsen's companies and ships). Renamed Nyhall in 1954. Sold in May-1956 to Cia. Rhea Maritima S.A, Panama and renamed Ekaterini Alexandra. Departed Kobe on her last voyage on Sept. 1-1959 and delivered for breaking up at Osaka.

Back to Kaia Knudsen on the "Ships starting with K" page.

This company later had another ship by the name Kaia Knudsen (1983-1985), previously Norse Queen.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Våre motorskip", Leif M. Bjørkelund and E. H. Kongshavn, and misc. other.