D/S Selvik
Updated March 1-2010

To Selvik on the "Ships starting with S" page.

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

Manager: Einar Wahlstrøm, Oslo
Tonnage: 1557 (1574?) gt.

On this page in a war time diary for the northeast of England, I found the following (external site by Roy Ripley and Brian Pears):
"Friday, 18th/Saturday, 19th April, 1941 - Co Durham. An enemy bomber attacked shipping off Seaham Docks. As a result of the attack a Norwegian seaman was wounded in the left arm. He was brought ashore at Seaham Harbour and conveyed to Sunderland Infirmary. He was from the 'SS Selvic' which had been lying off Seaham Harbour awaiting entry to the docks with other three ships. There was no damage to the ships".
In this time period, Selvik is listed as taking part in Convoy EC 8 (also external page), in which Profit was lost, follow the link for details. The convoy, which had several Norwegian ships, had left Southend on Apr. 17 and had Clyde as its final destination, but Selvik had arrived Seaham on Apr. 18 (Page 2).

In July that same year, we find her in Convoy OB 345. Belita, Bello, Geisha, Havprins, James Hawson, Marit, Ørnefjell, Salamis, Solsten, Tanafjord and Vigsnes are also listed in this convoy, which originated in Liverpool on July 11 and arrived Halifax on the 26th - again, ref. link provided in the Voyage Record. Selvik's destination is not given, but from Page 3, we learn that she arrived Sydney, C.B. on July 26, having started out from Loch Ewe on the 13th. Having made a voyage to Pugwash and back to Sydney, C.B., she returned to the U.K. with a cargo of lumber in Convoy SC 40 according to A. Hague, together with Henrik Ibsen, Ingerfire, Nesttun, Novasli, Brisk, Spurt and Suderholm (see ships in all SC convoys - will later be added to its own individual page). This convoy departed Sydney, C.B. on Aug. 10 and arrived Liverpool Aug. 29; Selvik stopped at Oban that day, later proceeding to Hull, with arrival Sept. 8. Later that month, she joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 19, but was only bound for Iceland, station 26. She arrived Reykjavik on Sept. 28, having started out from Loch Ewe on the 23rd.

In Dec.-1941 she shows up in the westbound Convoy ON 43, bound for Iceland with coal, arriving Reykjavik Dec. 11 - her voyages in this period are shown on Page 4. This convoy, which started out in Liverpool on Dec. 3 (Selvik joined from Loch Ewe), will be added to my Convoys section, in the meantime, see the section listing ships in all ON convoys.

Reported to have sunk a U-boat, but did she?

Captain Johs. Pedersen Nesholt had joined Selvik in Sept.-1941; he had commanded D/S Altair when she was torpedoed the year before. In "Menn uten medaljer" he tells a story which I've seen in a couple of other Norwegian sources as well. He says they were in Cardiff in Apr.-1942 when they were told to go to Canada for a cargo of lumber, carrying coal on the way over. The captain refused to undertake the trip across the Atlantic without proper armament (they were mostly in service around the U.K.), but Commander Robert of Naval Control in Cardiff felt Selvik wasn't sturdy enough for a gun to be installed. The captain kept pushing until he finally got his way, and several guns were installed so that in the end Selvik looked like "an angry warship", whereupon they departed Glasgow on May 10(?)-1942 to join a convoy. He says that by the 2nd night, 7 ships had already been lost to U-boats. Selvik lost the convoy and found herself alone on the ocean in the morning. That evening a U-boat was spotted and they proceeded to fire with their newly installed guns, getting a couple of direct hits (according to the captain's story). At that time, one of the convoy escorts joined them, and Selvik kept going in order to try to catch up with the convoy, which she managed to do around midnight.

On arrival Halifax congratulations on their success awaited them, and they found out that 28 survivors had been picked up from the U-boat; whether she was sunk or damaged is not clear from this story. In fact, I've been unable to find a record of this incident. Uboat.net lists U-352 as sunk that month (external link), but date is given as May 9, south-west of Cape Hatteras, by US Coast Guard cutter USS Icarus, 15 died, 33 survived, and as far as I can see that's the only U-boat sunk that month. However, my guess that Selvik was in Convoy ON 92 at the time has since been confirmed, though it would appear she did not sink a U-boat. This convoy originated in Liverpool on May 6-1942; Selvik had sailed from Milford Haven on May 5 and arrived Halifax May 21 (Page 5). The dates are a little off in Captain Pedersen's story, but such details could easily be remembered wrong so many years after the war. Convoy ON 92 lost 5 ships to U-boats on May 12, namely Cocle, Cristales, Empire Dell, Llanover and Mount Parnes, and 2 on May 13 when Batna and Tolken were sunk. Follow the link to my page about this convoy for more details (see also the external link further down on this page).

Gunners on Selvik in this period were John Emanuel Johnsen, Kyrre Johan Jensen and Edgar Olsen, though it appears the latter was not on board during this particular voyage. The other 2 were awarded Krigsmedaljen for their actions in the fight against the U-boat. I've also seen an eye witness account by someone who was on board Lisbeth at the time (which would indicate that Selvik was not alone on the ocean as claimed in the captain's story - Lisbeth is also listed in Convoy ON 92). This account clearly states that the men from the U-boat were seen coming out and a corvette picking them up (this is also recorded in Selvik's log). There's also a June 23-1942 report from Nortraship who, through the Dept. of Foreign Affairs had received a statement from Montreal saying that the U-boat was hit at close range by 3 shells, and that 28 survivors had been handed over to Canadian authorities. Did Selvik hit a U-boat at all during this passage, and if so, which one could it have been? If anyone has records of such an attack, please tell me. I can be reached via my Guestbook or through the contact address at the bottom of this page.

George Monk, England has told me that Captain Pedersen Nesholt received a British "Commendation", but I'm not sure if this was in any way connected to the above incident? (his source: Seedies List of awards to the British Merchant Navy which includes awards to Allied merchant seamen).

Selvik headed back to the U.K. on June 12-1942 with the slow Convoy SC 87 from Sydney, C.B., and in July she joined the westbound Convoy ON 112, bound for Halifax, where she arrived July 28 (convoy originated in Liverpool July 13; Selvik sailed from Milford Haven July 12 - will be added to my Convoys section, in the meantime, please go to ON 112 on this page). She went back across the Atlantic the following month with Convoy SC 96 from Halifax, cargo of lumber for Mersey. Again, see also Page 5.

Related external link:
Ships hit from Convoy ON 92

To Africa - Nov.-1942:

Captain Ulve? Selvik served as ammunition and supply ship for the Torch operations, which commenced in Nov.-1942. She had arrived Gibraltar from the U.K. on Nov. 17 with Convoy KX 6, joining Convoy TE 5 from there the next day, in order to sail to Oran, where she arrived Nov. 20 (both these links are external). She's later listed as making a voyage from Oran to Gibraltar with Convoy MKS 3X on Dec. 7. From Gibraltar, she proceeded to Bone a few days later (Page 5) and was still there on Dec. 26 when several aircraft attacked (note that A. Hague says she had also made a stop at Algiers before continuing to Bone - see Voyage Record). Most of the bombs went in the water due to the effective fire from the 2 Norwegian and a British ship close by, but one bomb hit the British ship, which had a cargo of petrol, and it was immediately engulfed in flames. Selvik's crew could hear the screams and saw the gunnery crew fighting for life. On Selvik, a fire had developed in Hatch No. 3 and the captain ordered the crew to head for shore in the lifeboats. Shortly thereafter 1st Mate Gunnar Feiring asked for volunteers to go back on board, whereupon he and 9 others were able to save the ship. The attacks continued all through the day, and because of the constant explosions they were again ordered to the lifeboats, but again volunteers went back on board to save the ship.

Selvik was also attacked by aircraft at Bone several times from Jan 2-1943 and through Jan. 17 but escaped without damage. She left Bone on Jan. 23 - Page 6 shows her subsequent voyages, see also Voyage Record.

All her gunners were Norwegian; these are named in "Tilbakeblikk" as follows:
Rolf Gunnar Caspersen, Odd Asbjørn Olsen, Johs. Kornelius Larsen, Knut E. Ross Bendiksen, Kristoffer A. Pedersen, Kristian K. Moldenæs, O. Storm Bogen, Kåre Henry Ek, A. Einarson Husabø, Selmer R. Olsen, Jørgen W. Moberg, Andreas O. Johansen, and John Johnsen was also still on board.

In March-1943, we find her mentioned in Convoy MKS 9, voyage Philippeville-Algiers - scroll down in the table on my page for that convoy. Selvik arrived Algiers on March 6. She was in Philippeville again on Apr. 21(?) when another air attack occurred (A. Hague says she had left Philippeville on the 20th; this could simply have to do with different time zones used in the records). This time a FAM mine (Fixed Aerial Mine) was used in her defence when a single aircraft was seen heading straight for her, and when swinging away to avoid it the aircraft ended up dropping its bombs in the sea, where they detonated without doing any harm. Just a week later, Selvik was again in Bone when that port was attacked by aircraft in the evening of Apr. 27. In May, A. Hague has included in her in Convoy MKS 13*, voyage Algiers-Oran. From Oran, she proceeded to Gibraltar in order to join a convoy back to the U.K. Again, see Page 6 for more details on her voyages in this period.

With a cargo of zinc concentrates, she now joined Convoy XK 8, which departed Gibraltar on June 1-1943 and dispersed on the 10th (link in Voyage Record), Selvik arriving Avonmouth, via Belfast Lough, on June 12. About a week later, she continued to Cardiff, then on to Penarth, where she spent several weeks, before heading to Clyde in order to join Convoy OS 53/KMS 23, bound for Gibraltar in station 46 - follow the link in the table above for convoy details; other Norwegian ships are also included. This convoy originated in Liverpool on Aug. 8 and split up on the 17th, the KMS convoy*, in which Selvik took part, arriving Gibraltar on Aug. 18, while the OS convoy continued to Freetown. Early the following month, she's listed in Convoy KMS 24*, which left Gibraltar on Aug. 30 and arrived Port Said Sept. 10; Selvik, however, started out from Bone on Sept. 2 and was bound for Sousse, where she arrived Sept. 7. She later made a voyage from Bizerta to Oran with Convoy MKS 25 - scroll down to the second table on that page. She arrived Oran on Sept. 23, having sailed from Bizerta Sept. 20.

On Oct. 4-1943, Selvik was 1 of 4* ships damaged* by German aircraft in the eastbound Convoy UGS 18. She went out of the convoy, but when the damages proved to be minor she joined up again. This convoy had started out from Hampton Roads on Sept. 15-1943 and arrived Port Said Oct. 13, but Selvik was on a voyage from Oran to Malta at the time, having left Oran on Oct. 4; she arrived Malta Oct. 9. The following month, she again made a voyage from Oran to Malta, having joined Convoy KMS 30*, which sailed from Gibraltar Oct. 31; Selvik left Oran on Nov. 2 and arrived Malta Nov. 6. Again, see Page 6 for info on her other voyages in this time period; convoy information for some of them is available in the Voyage Record.

*According to A. Hague, the British Fort Fitzgerald was sunk, while the American Hiram S Maxim and the British Samite were damaged (he does not mention the damage to Selvik - here is his listing for Convoy UGS 18, external link).

At the beginning of 1944, she made a voyage from Algiers to Malta, having sailed in Convoy KMS 39*, which left Gibraltar on Jan. 28 and arrived Port Said Febr. 7; Selvik, however, left Algiers on Jan. 30 and arrived Malta Febr. 2 - see Page 7. She's also listed in Convoy MKS 43*, voyage Algiers to Gibraltar (left Algiers March 19, arrived Gibraltar March 22). From Gibraltar, she subsequently headed back to the U.K., having joined Convoy XK 15, which departed Gibraltar on Apr. 2 and arrived Liverpool Apr. 12; Selvik arrived Workington Apr. 13 (Lysaker V, Måkefjell and Sneland I are also listed - link in Voyage Record). The rest of her 1944 voyages are listed on the archive document mentioned above, as well as on Page 8. The latter document also shows some of her early 1945 voyages.

Selvik picked up survivors from D/S Sneland I on May 7-1945, follow the link for details on what had happened to this ship. Both ships are listed, together with Rolf Jarl, in Convoy EN 491 at the time - link in Voyage Record. Selvik had left Methil Roads that same day for Belfast, but returned to Methil Roads, arriving May 8. She made her voyage to Belfast a few days later, having joined Convoy EN 492 - Page 9 gives her arrival Belfast as May 17. It'll also be noticed, that she subsequently appears to have spent quite a long time in Liverpool, where she had arrived from Belfast on May 20; departure is given as Aug. 4.

From Page 10, we learn that she got to go home to Norway in Dec.-1945, making a couple more voyages home early in 1946. The document shows her voyages to Apr.-1946.

* The KMS and MKS convoys mentioned here will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course - in the meantime, the ships sailing in them (and escorts) are named in the section listing ships in all KMS convoys and ships in all MKS convoys.

For more details on the other Norwegian ships named on this page, please see the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index

POST WAR:

Sailed as Marg for A/S Wilhelms Rederi, Fredrikstad from 1947. Purchased in 1954 by A/S Raagan (Thorleif Lea), Haugesund and renamed Gatt. Beached near Hoek van Holland having sprung a leak in strong winds and heavy snow on Jan. 12-1955, voyage Rotterdam-Dunston. Refloated in July-1955, condemned and broken up.

Back to Selvik on the "Ships starting with S" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Våre gamle skip", Leif M. Bjørkelund & E. H. Kongshavn, "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Menn uten medaljer", A. H. Rasmussen, "Tilbakeblikk", and misc. - (see My sources for further info on these books).

Aa–Al	An–Ar	As–Av	Ba	Be	Bi–Bl	Bo	Br–Bu	C	D
E	F	G	Ha	He	Hi–Hy	Hø	I	J	K
L	M	N	O	PQ	R	Sa–Sc	Se–Sj	Sk–Sn	So
Sp–St	Su–Sø	Ta–Te	Th–Ti	To	Tr–Tø	U	V	W	Ø