D/S Star
Updated July 25-2012

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

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

Misc. Convoy Voyages:

For information on voyages made in between those mentioned here, please see the documents received from the National Archives of Norway and A. Hague's Voyage Record above. Follow the links provided for more convoy information; escorts' reports and/or the Commodore's notes are also available for some of them and several Norwegian ships took part.

With a general cargo for Bristol, Star is listed in the original document for Convoy HN 17 from Norway to the U.K. early in March-1940. Strangely, the external website that I've linked to at the end of this page has her in Convoy SL 25 towards the end of that month (this convoy left Freetown on March 22 and arrived Liverpool on Apr. 8), but since she was in HN 17 in Norwegian waters, I believe this must be an error - it looks like it should be the Norwegian Snar. In fact, A. Hague has included Star in the U.K. to Norway Convoy ON 25, which left Methil on Apr. 5. Due to the German invasion of Norway on Apr. 9, 17 ships in this convoy turned back for Kirkwall, and Star was among them, arriving Kirkwall that same day, Apr. 9. According to Page 1 of the archive documents, she had sailed from Kirkwall on Apr. 5 and was bound for Odda, Norway but was diverted to Rouen, where she eventually arrived on May 4.

About a month later she's listed, together with the Norwegian Malmanger and Mammy, in Convoy 63 X (ref. link in Voyage Record), departing Verdon on June 6, arriving Casablanca June 13 (the archive document says she arrived Gibraltar that day). A French visitor to my website has told me that she sailed from Gibraltar on June 14 in an un-numbered convoy (ships had been evacuated in emergency from Brest) under French escort, and was at Oran on June 15 (not noted on Page 1). On June 24 we find her in the Gibraltar-U.K. Convoy HG Z. Her destination on that occasion is given as Sydney, C.B., where she arrived July 9, having been detached from the convoy on June 26 (according to A. Hague). Having made voyages to Carlton and Newcastle, N.B., she returned to Sydney, C.B. in order to join the Sydney portion of Convoy HX 62 on July 31, cargo of lumber for Boston, Lincs.

In Sept.-1940, A. Hague has included her, together with Bjørkhaug, Tordenskjold and Ørnefjell in Convoy OA 220, which left Methil on Sept. 26 and dispersed Sept. 28 (link provided in Voyage Record); no voyage information is given for Star, and this voyage is not mentioned on Page 1. It'll be noticed, however, that she made a voyage from Reykjavik to Sydney, C.B. and Pugwash the following month, and with a cargo of lumber for London, she headed back to the U.K. on Nov. 9 in the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 11, in which Bruse and Salonica and several others were sunk - follow the links for details. Star stopped at Clyde on Nov. 25 (while the main convoy arrived Liverpool on Nov. 26).

She went back to Halifax again in Jan.-1941, remaining there for about a month (see Page 2). On Febr. 28 we find her, with a cargo of lumber for Belfast, in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 24. She arrived Belfast Lough on March 20, later proceeding to Ardrossan, and the following month she's listed in Convoy OG 58*, which originated in Liverpool on Apr. 6 (Polyana was sunk - follow link for details). This was a Gibraltar bound convoy, but Star was bound for Halifax, where she arrived on Apr. 22, continuing to St. John, N.B. that same day (having started out from Greenock on the 7th), so she must have left this convoy at some point in order to proceed to her destination. With lumber for London, she headed back to the U.K. on May 9 in the slow Convoy SC 31 from Halifax, stopping at Loch Ewe on May 28. Along with Arosa, Evviva, Fanefjeld, Ferncourt (bombed - follow link for details), Grado, Henrik Ibsen, Idefjord, Måkefjell, Nesttun, Slemdal, Spurt, Suderholm and Taborfjell, she later shows up, with destination Montreal, in Convoy OB 343 (again, ref. link in Voyage Record), originating in Liverpool on July 6. Star joined from Loch Ewe and arrived Montreal on July 23; according to A. Hague, she had been detached from the convoy on the 18th.

He later has her returning to the U.K. with Convoy SC 39*, which left Sydney, C.B. on Aug. 1 and arrived Liverpool on the 19th and also had Corvus (joined from HX 142), Hallfried, Lysaker V and Solitaire in its ranks - Star, cargo of flour, stopped at Loch Ewe Aug. 17. A. Hague has now included her in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 12, which departed Liverpool on Sept. 1. According to Page 3 of the archive documents, she sailed from Loch Ewe on Sept. 5 and arrived Montreal Sept. 22, heading back across the Atlantic on Oct. 5 in the slow Sydney, C.B.-U.K. Convoy SC 48 in which the Norwegian Erviken, Ila, Rym and Barfonn were sunk (again, follow the links for more details). Star's destination is given as Glasgow (arrived Oct. 21), cargo of flour, station 63, and as will be seen when going to the cruising order for SC 48, the ship on either side of her was torpedoed, as were 2 ships behind her, but she escaped harm.

She subsequently made voyages mostly around the U.K. - again, see Page 3 as well as Page 4 and A. Hague's Voyage Record.

Her next Trans-Atlantic voyage was made in Apr.-1942, when she joined the westbound Convoy ON 88*, originating in Liverpool Apr. 21. Her destination was Halifax, where she arrived May 6, having sailed from Clyde Apr. 22. Akabahra, Brisk, Bruse Jarl, Don, Evviva, Gezina, Henrik Ibsen, Inger Lise, Marga, Senta and Spurt are also listed. From Halifax, Star proceeded to Pugwash 2 days later, then headed to Sydney, C.B. in order to join Convoy SC 85 on May 29, cargo of lumber for Liverpool, with arrival June 12 (it'll be noticed, when following the link, that many of the other Norwegian ships from ON 88 also took part). She went back in the other direction again at the end of that month with Convoy ON 108*, which left Liverpool on June 30 and also included Don, Far, Grado, Inger Lise, Iron Baron, Lido, Ramø, Selbo, Senta and Sneland I. According to Page 5, Star arrived Halifax on July 15, Sydney, C.B. on the 19th, later making another voyage to Montreal. On Aug. 22, she's listed in station 33 of Convoy SC 97 from Halifax to the U.K., in which the Norwegian Bronxville was sunk (follow link for more info) - Vice Commodore was in Bonneville.

Star now started making voyages in another part of the world, commencing in Oct.-1942, when she's listed in Convoy KX 4A to Gibraltar (link in the table above - from Clyde Oct. 22, to Gibraltar Nov. 4). Brisk and Dux are also listed.

In Dec.-1942 the Allies established a firm grip on the military situation in North Africa. The Germans were well aware of the importance of the allied convoys to the area, and they were the subject of intense attacks (see Albert L. Ellsworth and M/T Minister Wedel). U-boats gathered off Gibraltar, while the ports in North Africa were constantly attacked from the air, Bone bearing the brunt of these attacks. Many ships were sunk in the harbour, while others went down on the way there, or on their return voyages. On Jan. 2-1943, 10 Ju 87's approached the harbour. 2 British merchant ships* and a war ship were destroyed, and among the ships damaged was D/S Star, with a cargo of ammunition - from Page 5, we learn that she had arrived Bone from Philippeville on Dec. 23-1942. Her engine was damaged from the detonations nearby, and she was close to a British tanker that had caught on fire, but with the help of a tug the captain was able to move Star away from the flames. She left Bone for Oran on Jan. 6-1943. See also D/S Selvik. (D/S Akabahra was also affected by the situation in this area in Jan.-1943).

* This was probably Empire Metal and St. Merriel - ref. my Notes for Convoy KMS 5.

George Monk, England has told me that Captain Begby received the British "HonMBE(Civ)" (=Member of the British Empire) - possibly for the above incident? His source: Seedies List of awards to the British Merchant Navy which includes awards to Allied merchant seamen.

Star is mentioned in connection with Convoy KMS 10, which had left Clyde for Gibraltar and North Africa on Febr. 26-1943. Note that she was not present from the U.K., but is said to have joined on March 11, together with Bjørkhaug - see narrative for that date on my page about KMS 10. According to Page 5, Star had left Philippeville that day and stopped at Bone, before continuing to Bougie on March 18 (Page 6).

Skipping now to July that year, when she can be found in Convoy SL 133 / MKS 18, joining from Gibraltar with the MKS portion on July 26, voyage Algiers/Gibraltar-Belfast with general cargo, station 52; Cypria and Norma are also named. This convoy arrived Liverpool on Aug. 5 but Star, carrying empty petrol drums for Newport, stopped at Belfast Lough on the 4th, arrived Newport on the 6th (remaining there for several weeks). She later went in the other direction with Convoy OS 56 / KMS 29*, which left Liverpool on Oct. 7 and split up on Oct. 18. Bosphorus, Norelg and Vest are also listed. Star was bound for Seville with general cargo in station 27. The KMS portion, in which she sailed, arrived Gibraltar on Oct. 20 (while the the OS convoy continued to Freetown, with arrival there on Oct. 29). Follow the links provided within the Voyage Record for further details on the combined convoys mentioned here. Going back to Page 6 of the archive docs, we learn that she later arrived Seville on Oct. 25.

She subsequently appears in Convoy UGS 23, which had originated in Hampton Roads on Nov. 4 (arrived Port Said Dec. 1), however, Star joined this convoy from Bone and was bound for Augusta. Later that month she's listed, with no voyage information, in Convoy VN 10A, which left Augusta on Nov. 28 and arrived Naples on Nov. 30. The following month she's listed as bound from Bizerta to Bone only in Convoy GUS 24 (convoy had started out in Port Said on Dec. 6, with final destination Hampton Roads, arriving there on Jan. 3-1944). Again, ref. links in the table above. She also made a voyage from Bone to Augusta in Convoy KMS 35* (convoy sailed from Gibraltar Dec. 22, arrived Port Said Jan. 1-1944). Again, compare these dates and ports to the voyages listed on Page 6.

In Jan.-1944, we find her in Convoy MKS 37, voyage from Augusta to Bougie (scroll down to the second table on my page for this convoy), and she subsequently made a voyage from Bougie to Augusta in Convoy KMS 39*, which departed Gibraltar on Jan. 28 (to Port Said Febr. 7). She's also included, voyaging from Augusta to Philippeville, in Convoy MKS 41* - her voyages in this period are shown on Page 7 (convoy had left Port Said on Febr. 19, to Gibraltar March 2), and later in Convoy KMS 43* (from Gibraltar March 6, to Port Said March 16) - voyage Philippeville to Augusta. She later made a voyage from Augusta to Algiers in Convoy MKS 44* (from Port Said March 20, to Gibraltar Apr. 1). She's also listed in Convoy KMS 51* (from Gibraltar May 28, to Port Said June 9) - voyage Algiers to Malta. Again, compare with the voyages listed on Page 7, which also shows voyages made in between and after those mentioned here - see also A. Hague's Voyage Record.

Star took part in the allied invasion of the coast between Cannes and Toulon on Aug. 15-1944. (Roald Amundsen, Elise [fleet oiler] and Audun also took part). Close to 900 ships participated in this operation.

Her 1945 voyages also start on Page 7 and continue on Page 8 and Page 9 (convoy information in Voyage Record). Page 9 also shows that she arrived Norway just before Christmas-1945.

* The OG convoys will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section - the page listing ships in all OG convoys has the names of other ships in OG 58. The entire SC series will also be updated and completed (including the already existing convoys - some have already been updated), but for now, see ships in all SC convoys. Additionally, the ON convoys will be added, please see the section listing ships in all ON convoys. Also, see ships in all KMS convoys and ships in all MKS convoys.

More information on the other Norwegian ships mentioned here can be found via the alphabet index at the bottom of this page, or go to the Master Ship Index.

POST WAR:

Sold in 1950 and renamed Süllberg (this external page says she was owned by Aug. Bolten,Wm. Miller's Nchfl., Hamburg at the time). Sold in 1954 to Kyrtatis Bros & Co, Andros, Greece, and renamed Leonidas A. Kyrtatis (Greek flag). Sold in 1959 to Jugometal, Yugoslavia, and renamed Zlatibor. Sold to Brodospas, Split, where she arrived on Nov. 8-1959 to be broken up.

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

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, E-mails from Roger W. Jordan - and misc.