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M/T Noreg To Noreg on the "Ships starting with N" page. Manager: H. M. Wrangell & Co. A/S, Haugesund Delivered in July-1931 from Burmeister & Wain's Skibs- & Maskinbyggeri, Copenhagen (586) as Noreg to Skibs-A/S Corona (H. M. Wrangell & Co. A/S), Haugesund. Captain: Andreas Høviskeland all through the war. Noreg served as oiler for the convoy escorts (Admiralty service). Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Noreg, with fuel oil for Clyde, is listed in the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 3, from which the Norwegian Lotos was sunk in Sept.-1940, and which had a large number of Norwegian ships. However, there's a note in one of the documents for this convoy saying that she was "not traced" - I'm not sure whether this means she did not sail, or perhaps it simply means she lost touch with the convoy. This voyage is not noted on Page 1 above, though the document tells us that she was in Clyde on Oct. 13. In fact, she's listed, with destination New York, in Convoy OB 228, originating in Liverpool on Oct. 13, dispersed Oct. 17, Noreg arriving New York Nov. 3 (Dokka was sunk). The ships sailing in this convoy are named at the external website that I've linked to at the end of this page, while some reports are available on my own website on this page. Having made a voyage to Curacao and Bermuda, she was scheduled for the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 94 in Dec.-1940, but instead joined HX 96 (Bermuda portion), destination Clyde, where she arrived Dec. 29.
In Febr.-1941 she's listed in station 45 of Convoy OB 286, joining from Clyde, her destination being Port of Spain. She arrived Trinidad on March 6, the convoy having been dispersed on Febr. 17. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 116 from Halifax to the U.K., but instead joined the next convoy on March 27, HX 117. She was damaged by an incendiary bomb when the outward bound convoy in which she sailed was attacked by aircraft on May 12-1941, but damages were minor. In June she appears in Convoy OB 330, which originated in Liverpool on June 2-1941 and dispersed on the 7th - ref. external link at the end of this page. Her destination is given as Curacao, where she arrived June 22 - see Page 1. She returned to the U.K. in July with Convoy HX 137, bound for Clyde with Admiralty fuel in station 45 of the convoy, which also had several other Norwegian ships - Noreg again joined with the Bermuda portion. She now joined the westbound Convoy ON 3, originating in Liverpool on July 31-1941. Noreg's destination is again given as Curacao, where she arrived on Aug. 22, having started out from Clyde Aug. 1. From Curacao, she travelled to Gibraltar and back, before returning to the U.K. in Oct.-1941 in Convoy HX 154, together with the Norwegian Hilda Knudsen, Kaia Knudsen, Ranja, Tai Shan, Samuel Bakke, Emma Bakke, Polarsol, Skiensfjord, Toronto, N. T. Nielsen-Alonso and Svenør. Some of these ships, including Noreg, subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 32 the following month. Noreg's destination is given as Trinidad, and she had station 44 of the convoy, which left Liverpool on Nov. 1-1941. She arrived Trinidad on Nov. 23, having started out from Milford Haven Oct. 31 - see Page 2. Her last eastbound convoy voyage that year was made with Convoy HX 167, which left Halifax on Dec. 27-1941, again with several Norwegian ships. Noreg stopped at Reykjavik on Jan. 9-1942, later making a voyage to Russia, as will be seen in the next paragraph.
Noreg was the only Haugesund ship to take part in the Murmansk convoys during the war. She was in the combined Convoy PQ 9 / PQ 10 consisting of 10 merchant ships, leaving Reykjavik on Febr. 1-1942, arriving Murmansk safely on the 10th. The other ships were the British Atlantic, Empire Selwyn and Trevorian, the Russian Ijora, Revolutsioner, Friedrich Engels and Tbilisi, the American West Nohno and the Panamanian El Lago, (and possibly the Russian Kiev). The Norwegian armed whalers Hav and Shika were part of the escort group for this convoy. Noreg returned with Convoy QP 8, which left Murmansk on March 1-1942 and consisted of 15 merchant ships; namely all the ones listed above except Trevorian, and with the addition of British Workman, British Pride, Elona, Explorer (all British), the American Larranga, and the Panamanian Cold Harbor. Due to bad weather the convoy was scattered on March 4 and during this time the Russian Ijora was sunk by the German destroyer Friedrich Ihn (Tirpitz was out with 3 destroyers searching for PQ 12, in fact Convoy QP 8 met this convoy on the 7th). Larranga was also seperated from the convoy in the south westerly gale on March 4 but arrived Iceland safely. QP 8 split up on March 9, with 5 of the ships arriving Hvalfjord on the 11th and the rest of the ships, including Noreg, heading for Akureyri - arrived March 10. On March 23-1942 Convoy RU 16 left Reykjavik for the U.K. and Noreg is listed among the ships, but with a note saying "not for U.K.". She was bound for the U.S. at the time, and on March 25 she joined the westbound Convoy ON 79*, which had originated in Liverpool on March 23-1942 and arrived Halifax Apr. 7; Noreg arrived New York on the 8th, according to Page 2. In May she's listed as bound for Iceland in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 84, and arrived Reykjavik May 29, leaving again on June 4 for Loch Ewe in Convoy RU 26. From Loch Ewe, she took her place in the westbound Convoy ON 103*, which had originated in Liverpool on June 12. She arrived New York on June 27, and after having made voyages to Key West and Trinidad, she headed back to the U.K. on Sept. 6-1942 in Convoy HX 206 from Halifax (having been cancelled from the previous convoy, HX 205). She subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 133* (originated in Liverpool Sept. 25, arrived New York Oct. 11), then (after having made voyages to Curacao and Guantanamo) returned to the U.K. on Nov. 27 in Convoy HX 217 from New York, cargo of fuel for Clyde. This convoy was attacked and 2 ships were sunk (follow the link for more information - the Commodore's narrative is also available). Towards the end of Dec.-1942 she joined the westbound Convoy ON 157 in order to head back to New York, where she arrived Jan. 15-1943 (having returned to port when in ON 155 on Dec. 19). Noreg is said to have taken part in the operations in Africa, but I'm inclided to think this is a mix-up with Norelg, which shows up in Convoy KMS 5, leaving Clyde for Gibraltar and North Africa on Dec. 11-1942, also including the Norwegian Anna Knudsen, Vardefjell and Topdalsfjord. (Athos has a list of other Norwegian ships involved in the Torch operations, which had commenced in Nov.-1942).
Noreg returned with Convoy HX 225 from New York to the U.K. at the end of Jan.-1943. Her destination is given as Scapa, where she arrived (via Loch Ewe) on Febr. 16; see Page 3. She headed to the U.S. again with the westbound Convoy ON 170, which originated in Liverpool on March 3-1943 and arrived New York on the 20th, returning to the U.K. with Convoy HX 235 the following month (having made another voyage to Curacao and Guantanamo), her destination being Invergordon, arriving there May 5. She now went straight back to the U.S., Convoy ON 183* (left Liverpool May 10, arrived New York May 25), and at the end of May she's listed as sailing in Convoy HX 242, which left New York on May 31 and arrived Liverpool on June 15; Noreg was again bound for Scapa, where she arrived June 16. In July, she's listed in Convoy ON 194*, originating in Liverpool July 24, arriving New York Aug. 7. In Sept.-1943 she was at Bizerta, Italy, having arrived there from the U.S. on Sept. 6 in Convoy UGS 15, and experienced air attacks there, but escaped unharmed. From Bizerta she later joined Convoy GUS 16, which left Alexandria on Sept. 19 and arrived Hampton Roads Oct. 15; Noreg arrived New York that same day, having sailed from Bizerta on Sept. 24 - ref. external links at the end of this page for more convoy details. Arnold Hague has also included her in Convoy HX 269, which left New York on Dec. 2-1943 and arrived Liverpool on the 16th; Noreg arrived Scapa on Dec. 17, according to the archive document mentioned above. This convoy is not available among the HX convoys listed on my own website, but I've linked directly to Hague's listing at the end of this page.
In Jan 1944 she was again back in the Murmansk convoys as escort oiler; leaving Loch Ewe on Jan. 12 as the only Norwegian ship in the eastbound Convoy JW 56A, reaching the Kola inlet on Jan. 28. In the book "Sjøfolk i krig" by Leif M. Bjørkelund I found a personal story told by Able Seaman Johan Byrkja describing the passage of Convoy JW 56A. Byrkja had previously served on another Haugesund ship, M/S Geisha, as well as on M/T Thorshavet. As mentioned above, Noreg had recently arrived from New York with a cargo of fuel oil, and anchored at Greenock where some extra supplies started to show up; things like sheep skin coats, boots, wool underclothes, mittens etc., as well as 6 Oerlikons, so it didn't take long for the crew to figure out where they were headed next. Noreg was also given the addition of an extra storm bridge on the starboard side where a hose was placed (for replenishing the escorts) and depth charges were also brought on board (also for the escorts). I wonder if he has gotten the convoys mixed up when telling his story, afterall this book is based on interviews with seamen 50 years after the war was over, so it's quite possible. I say this because he lists King George V and Victorious as 2 of the escorts, none of these ships are mentioned by Bob Ruegg/Arnold Hague in connection with this convoy ("Convoys to Russia"). When approaching Iceland a hurricane hit them with full force. A distress call was received from a Liberty ship which was about to go down, and shortly thereafter another vessel went down (again, this is not mentioned by Ruegg/Hague at all). Due to the horrendous weather the convoy was ordered to Siglufjord, Iceland, and according to Byrkja' story Noreg was one of the few ships arriving without bad damages or lifeboats destroyed. He says the convoy had consisted of 25 ships but only 12 were able to continue the journey (according to Ruegg/Hague, 5 of the original 20 ships did not proceed beyond Iceland, or returned to Loch Ewe. The convoy sought shelter at Akureyri, Iceland from Jan. 18-1944 until the 21st). 2 American and 1 British merchant were sunk during this passage, and a British destroyer damaged (this would be the Penelope Barker, Andrew G. Curtin and Fort Bellingham and the British destroyer Obdurate, my page for JW56 A has the details). Byrkja says that being as they were the supply ship they had a radio and a speaker on board so that they could be contacted by the escorts day and night, and they were under a "Blue Warning", meaning all guns had to be armed continuously. Noreg had 9 of them, a 4 inch aft, 2 -3 inch and the rest 20 inch Oerlikons. 5 British soldiers manned the largest, while the crew manned the rest when they weren't on their regular sea duty; in other words, they were on some sort of duty 24 hours a day. He says they caught what sleep they could, while fastened to the guns. If they set the gun at the right height and locked it, it was possible to sleep with their arms on the gun. Byrkja says that one night the attacks got really bad. He was at the helm and had the speaker right over his head, getting increasingly annoyed at having to listen to all the jibberish (it was all in code), when suddenly a voice came on saying "This is the Commanding officer of the convoy - admiral..", he can't remember the name. Then the voice continued politely "are we going to get a ship through to Russia or not?". Then a brief pause - "If so, then see the hell to it that we do!". A number was then called out and ordered to rescue survivors of a torpedoed ship, then another number was called and ordered to beat the enemy down on that side, and "see to it that it gets done". Byrkja says it was obvious the man was furious, and the results were amazing to watch; depth charges exploding, guns firing etc. Noreg returned with Convoy RA 56 along with 38 other ships, departing Febr. 3-1944 (this was a combination of the ships that had been in eastbound convoys JW 56A and JW 56B), arriving Loch Ewe without incident on Febr. 11. The Panamanian Norlys (Norwegian managers) was also escort oiler for this convoy. Back to Russia in Convoy JW 58, a large convoy which left Loch Ewe on March 27-1944, arriving Kola Inlet on Apr. 4. No merchant ships were lost on this passage, but 4 U-boats were sunk. The return voyage for Noreg started on Apr. 28 in Convoy RA 59 and she was again the only Norwegian ship. She had a number of British seamen as passengers on board as did all the other vessels, including the escorts (some also had Russian personnel as passengers). The rest of the convoy consisted of 33 American and 7 British ships and was also attacked by U-boats resulting in the loss of the American William S Thayer and 43 crew and passengers on Apr. 30, 192 were rescued. 3 U-boats were subsequently sunk; the convoy dispersed and arrived Loch Ewe and Clyde May 6 and 7 respectively. Noreg now headed across the Atlantic again, having joined the westbound Convoy ON 237*, which left Liverpool May 19 (she joined from Clyde) and arrived New York June 3, returning later that month with the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 295. Early in July we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 243* (originated in Liverpool July 3, arrived New York July 18), heading back to the U.K. on July 25 in Convoy HX 301 from New York - see also Page 4. She later joined Convoy JW 60 from Loch Ewe on Sept. 15-1944, arriving Kola Inlet on Sept. 23, then departed Kola Inlet on Sept. 28 in Convoy RA 60 for the return trip together with 31 other ships. These voyages are not mentioned on the above archive document. Edward H Crockett, with a cargo of 1659 tons chrome ore and Samsuva, cargo of pitprops, were sunk by U-310 on Sept. 29, with the loss of 1 man from the American ship and 3 from Samsuva. (For info, Edward H. Crockett can also be found in HX 301). Noreg can again be found in the next convoy to Murmansk, JW 61 on Oct. 20-1944, arriving the Kola Inlet without losses on Oct. 28. The Norwegian Marathon is also listed in this convoy, but there's some disagreement in my sources; follow link to Marathon for explanation. 6 Russian SC boats also sailed in this convoy. For her return voyage from Murmansk on Nov. 2 Noreg was part of Convoy RA 61. No ships were lost, though the frigate Mounsey was torpedoed (by U-295) and had to return to Kola. Before the next convoy headed east, the battle ship Tirpitz had been sunk and a serious threat to the Arctic convoys was thereby eliminated, though the U-boats remained a threat, as the thermal layers of the Arctic made the spotting of them by Asdic almost impossible.
A visitor to my site (Philippe van Wersch) has told me that on Jan. 28-1945 Noreg, together with Dagmar Bratt, arrived at Delfzijl in the Dutch province of Groningen with a total 3600 tons of food for the starving Dutch. However, this date does not quite fit with the fact that Noreg is listed in Convoy ON 276*, which departed Southend Jan. 2 and arrived New York Jan. 18. She headed back across the ocean on Jan. 23 with the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 334, arrived Belfast Febr. 7, subsequently joining the westbound Convoy ON 284* (departure Southend Febr. 10, arrival New York March 1) - again, see Page 4. According to A. Hague, she returned to the U.K. with Convoy HX 343, departing New York on March 9, arriving Liverpool on the 24th. The following month we find her in Convoy ON 296*, which left Liverpool Apr. 12 and arrived New York on the 30th, and A. Hague now has her in Convoy HX 354, which left New York May 3 and arrived Liverpool May 18 - see the external links provided below for more on these 2 HX convoys. Going back to Page 4, we see that Noreg arrived Sheerness on May 20. Her last westbound North Atlantic convoy voyage took place in Convoy ON 305*, departing Southend on May 26-1945; Noreg arrived Hampton Roads on June 12. Page 5 shows some of her voyages at the end of 1945, as well as some 1946 voyages.
Laid up at Bøvågen in July-1958. Sold in Dec. that year to I/S Geron (Per Lodding), Oslo and renamed Geron. At Oslo Sept. 19-1959, in use as a depot ship. Delivered to Norsk Skipsopphugging (breakers), Christiania Spigerverk, Grimstad in Aug.-1960. Related external links: Stavern Memorial commemoration - This page says that Able Seaman Abraham A. Haugen died in an accident at sea on Oct. 28-1942. Russian Convoy Series | Russian Convoys 1941-1945 An Authobiography - At the end of this page there's an interesting personal account of the passage of JW 61. Back to Noreg on the "Ships starting with N" page. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Våre motorskip" by Leif M. Bjørkelund and E. H. Kongshavn, "Convoys to Russia 1941-1945" by Bob Ruegg and Arnold Hague, "Sjøfolk i krig", Leif M. Bjørkelund - ref. Sources/Books.
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