D/T Marit II
Updated Febr. 9-2012

To Marit II on the "Ships starting with M" page.

A picture is available on this external page (click in it to enlarge).

Her 1940 and 1941 voyages are shown on Page 1 and Page 2 of the archive documents.

According to Arnold Hague, Marit II took part in Convoy SC 47*. Berto, Bestik, Danio, Don, Fido, Heimgar, Ingertre, Petter II (returned), Spes, Veni and Victo are also listed in this convoy, which departed Sydney, C.B. on Sept. 29-1941 and arrived Liverpool Oct. 20; Marit II stopped at Belfast Lough Oct. 18 (Eglantine is named among the escorts, but I'm not sure if she was under the Norwegian flag yet - see SC convoy escorts). A month later Marit II is mentioned, together with Belnor and Santos, in Convoy OS 12, which left Liverpool for Freetown on Nov. 18 (ref. external link provided within the Voyage Record). She was on a voyage Milford-Aruba in ballast and had station 96 of the convoy, however, she returned to port (Belfast Lough), subsequently joining the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 38*, which originated in Liverpool on Nov. 19 and dispersed on the 30th, Marit II arriving Aruba on Dec. 13 (Page 2). Other Norwegian ships in this convoy were Atlantic, Fjordaas, Geisha, Hada County, O. A. Knudsen, Sandanger, Skaraas, Stiklestad and Troubadour.

On Febr. 19-1942 we find her in Convoy HX 176 from Halifax to the U.K., and in March she's listed (along with Norsktank, San Andres and Thorshavet) in Convoy OS 23, which left Liverpool for Freetown on March 24. Marit II was bound for Aruba again, arriving there on Apr. 14, having started out from Milford Haven on March 23 - see Page 3. She later proceeded to Trinidad, then returned to the U.K. from there on Apr. 30, arriving Belfast Lough on May 21/22, Liverpool May 23. The following month, she's included, together with Norsol, Polarsol, Sandanger, Skandinavia and Velma, in the westbound Convoy ON 105*, departing Liverpool June 19, arriving Halifax June 30. Having made voyages to Curacao, Las Piedras, then back to Curacao again and on to Halifax, Marit II, with a cargo of fuel oil, headed back to the U.K. on Aug. 9 in Convoy HX 202. She arrived Loch Ewe on Aug. 21, then proceeded to Methil Roads and Shellhaven, before returning to Loch Ewe.

Torpedoed - 1942:

Marit II left Loch Ewe on Sept. 4, joining the westbound Convoy ON 127 in order to return across the Atlantic, voyage London-New York-Curacao. This convoy, which also had several Norwegian ships (many of which had also previously arrived U.K. with HX 202), was heavily attacked and the Norwegian Hindanger and Sveve were sunk in the course of the battle, while Daghild and Fjordaas were damaged. Follow the links for more details; see also the external link at the end of this page.

On Sept. 11, U-404* (von Bülow) sent off two torpedoes, and at the same time U-608 (Struckmeier) attacked. Both reported having hit Marit II, but only one torpedo had struck her. She was sailing at a speed of 8 knots on course 240° at the time, not zig-zagging, radio silent, 5 lookouts on watch (2 aft and 3 on the bridge), in fine weather with a calm sea and very good visibility, wind southwest force 3. The U-boat was never seen, but the captain saw the track of the torpedo just before it hit, coming 45° on the starboard quarter, however, there was no time for any evasive action, and she was struck on the starboard side in tank No. 8. Her engine was stopped and the crew ordered to their lifeboat stations - no one had been injured.

Upon inspection, tanks No. 6, 7, 8, and 9 as well as the pumproom were found to be extensively damaged. The deck was broken up and the foremast and both aerials destroyed but as there was no damage to the engine and steering gear, the captain decided to continue at utmost speed about half an hour later, steering different courses during the night in an attempt to avoid further attacks. They caught up with the convoy on Sept. 12** and reached port on the 16th (St. John's for examination, later routed to Sydney, C.B. for orders, arriving Sept. 22). She was repaired in New York, where she had arrived (via Halifax) on Oct. 7, and went back to service in Febr.-1943.

Further voyages are listed on Page 3 and Page 4; convoy information for some of these can be found in the Voyage Record.

*Jürgen Rohwer states in his "Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two" that Marit II was hit by U-404 at 00:16 German time on Sept. 11, position 51 16N 29 08W. In a footnote he adds that U-404 observed hits after 3 min 12 sec and 3 min 32 sec, with columns of water erupting. U-608 observed one hit after 28 sec. Rohwer goes on to say that it's probable that only one torpedo from U-404 had hit Marit II.

**A summary of survivors' statements (memorandum dated Oct. 20-1942 to Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, signed Lieutenant H. V. Stebbins, USNR) gives the position of attack as 51 15N 28 40W at 22:20 GMT on Sept. 10, adding that the convoy was sighted again about 10 miles ahead at daylight on the 11th and rejoined at 17:30 that same day.

For info, U-404 had also been responsible for the attack on Moldanger in June that year.

Further Convoy Voyages:

Skipping now to Sept.-1943, when Arnold Hague has her, together with Kaldfonn, Nueva Granada, Skiensfjord, Spinanger and Stiklestad, in Convoy HX 257*, departing New York on Sept. 16, arriving Liverpool Sept. 30 - Marit II stopped at Clyde that day, according to Page 4. Rose and Potentilla are named among the escorts (see HX escorts). With California Express (Commodore Vessel), Buenos Aires, Duala, Gallia, Heranger, Pan Scandia and Vinga, she later went back in the other direction in Convoy ON 210*, which originated in Liverpool Nov. 6 and arrived New York on the 23rd. From the U.S., Marit II subsequently headed to Algiers, but was back in New York on Jan. 16-1944 (again, see Voyage Record for convoy details).

A few days later, she joined Convoy HX 276 from New York; destination London (Commodore was in Abraham Lincoln), returning with Convoy ON 225* (originated in Liverpool Febr. 22, arrived New York March 8). Abraham Lincoln was again in company (serving as Commodore Vessel), as were Ferncourt, Haakon Hauan, Lista, Montevideo, Skiensfjord and Thorsholm and the Panamanian Norlys - Norwegian managers and included under the N's of this website. (The corvette Buttercup, which was later transferred to the Norwegian flag after the loss of Tunsberg Castle, is listed among the escorts - see ON escorts). Marit II's subsequent voyages are shown on Page 5, with convoy info in the table above. On Apr. 12, we find her in Convoy HX 287 from New York. Her destination is given as Ardrossan, where she arrived (via Clyde) on Apr. 27. With Gallia, Germa, Ivaran, Katy and Reinholt (Commodore Vessel), she subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 235*, which originated in Liverpool on May 4 (Marit II joined from Clyde) and arrived New York May 18, heading back to the U.K. on May 27 with Convoy HX 293, for which Samuel Bakke served as Commodore Vessel. Marit II was bound for Shellhaven, where she arrived, via Loch Ewe and Methil, on June 13/14.

We now find her, along with Ferncliff, Fernmoor, Fjordheim, Havkong, Molda, Peik, Samuel Bakke (Vice Commodore), Skiensfjord, Solstad, Solsten, Stirlingville, Tercero, Thorshov and Vera, in the westbound Convoy ON 242*, originating in Liverpool June 25; Marit II sailed from Loch Ewe that day and arrived Baltimore on July 13. Having spent a little over a month there (Page 5), she went to New York, joining Convoy HX 305 on Aug. 25 (Abraham Lincoln again acted as Commodore Vessel). Marit II was bound for Clyde and Ardrossan, arriving the latter on Sept. 10. Just a few days later, she returned across the ocean with Convoy ON 253*, which originated in Liverpool on Sept. 13 and arrived New York on the 28th; according to A. Hague, she served as Escort Oiler on that occasion; perhaps she had been fitted out for such service while in Baltimore? Other Norwegian ships in this convoy were Dalfonn, Fosna, Kronprinsessen and Tanafjord.

Early the following month, she shows up, with destination Swansea and London (Shellhaven), in Convoy HX 312, again serving as Escort Oiler, also carrying spare depth charges. She arrived Swansea on Oct. 19 (Page 5), Shellhaven on the 24th (Page 6). A month later, she's listed in Convoy ON 268* (Escort Oiler), with departure Southend Nov. 23, arrival New York Dec. 10. This convoy also included Brimanger (Commodore Vessel), Emma Bakke, Montevideo, Strinda and Topdalsfjord. From the original Advance Sailing Telegram for Convoy HX 326, it looks like Marit II was scheduled to join this convoy from New York on Dec. 14 (see also Acanthus), but according to the archive document, she had left New York for Boston on Dec. 11, then proceeded to Halifax, departing again on Dec. 16, so it looks like she joined with the Halifax portion. However, she was later sent to join the slower Convoy SC 163, transferring to this convoy at sea (SC 163 had sailed from Halifax on Dec. 17). Her destination is given as Ardrossan, where she arrived on Dec. 31. A. Hague, who says she served as Escort Oiler for HX 326 and also carried 60 depth charges, does not mention the fact that she was transferred to the slower convoy - I'm not sure whether she would have served in the same capacity for this convoy as well.

With G. C. Brøvig, John Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Noreg, Solfonn and Strinda, she now joined the westbound Convoy ON 276* at the beginning of Jan.-1945 (from Southend Jan. 2, to New York Jan. 18 - Marit II joined from Clyde), returning later that month in Convoy HX 334 (Commodore in Samuel Bakke), again acting as Escort Oiler, also carrying 60 depth charges, bound for Clyde and Ardrossan (arrived Febr. 9 - Page 6). Acanthus is named among the escorts. Marit II subsequently joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ONS 42* (Escort Oiler), which originated in Liverpool Febr. 13 and arrived Halifax March 5. Marit II, however, was bound for New York, where she arrived on March 7, having started out from Clyde on Febr. 14. Grey County, Henrik Ibsen, Minerva, Norelg, Sandviken and Veni are also listed. A. Hague now has her as Escort Oiler for Convoy HX 347*, which left New York on March 29 and arrived Liverpool Apr. 14; Marit II arrived Southampton that day, Shellhaven 3 days later. A. Hague has also included Brasil, Buenos Aires, Dalfonn, Fenris, Lektor Garbo, Roald Amundsen, Sophocles (Commodore Vessel), Sverre Helmersen and Thorsholm, as well as the Panamnian Norlys.

On VE Day she was back in New York, having arrived on May 7-1945 with Convoy ON 298*, which had left Southend on Apr. 21. Dalfonn, Fenris, Morgenen, Reinholt (Commodore Vessel) and Thorsholm also took part, as did the Panamanian Norlys. More voyages are shown on Page 6 and Page 7 (up to and including Apr.-1946).

* The ON and ONS convoys will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section; in the meantime, the ships sailing in them (and escorts) are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys and on the page for ships in all ONS convoys. Note also that the entire SC series and the HX series will eventually be updated and completed, including the already existing convoys (some have already been updated); but for now, see ships in all SC convoys and ships in all HX convoys.

More details on the other Norwegian ships mentioned on this page can be found with the help of the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index.

POST WAR:

She was on a voyage with a cargo of oil from Curacao to New York when she on Sept. 13-1946 was caught in a hurricane, broke in 2 and sank in 35 09N 73 34W. 18 survivors were picked up by the tanker Pan Amoco and another 6 by the tanker Gulfhawk, but the captain, his wife and 10 crew were lost.

Related external links:
Stavern Memorial commemorations - Deckboy Reidar Hansen and Steward Mikal Isaksen are commemorated at this Memorial for Seamen in Stavern, Norway - their ship is given as Marit II. There are no details as to how or when they died and I cannot find them in "Våre falne".

ON-127, 9-14 Sept 1942
U-404 | Otto von Bülow
U-608

Back to Marit II on the "Ships starting with M" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: Misc. sources, including E-mail from Roger W. Jordan, England and from T. Cooper, England (the latter also sent me the summary of statements by survivors) - and others as named within the above text.