M/T Strix - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945

In Collision - 1941:

Departed Freetown on March 13-1941 with a cargo of about 9000 tons aviation fuel, in convoy SL 68 consisting of 58 ships (according to Arnold Hague, "The Allied Convoy System"). On the evening of the 17th Able Seaman Hans Kr. Hov was on his way aft when he noticed the convoy was about to alter course to port. Suddenly, to his horror he saw the British ship, Clan Macnab on their port side (built 1920; 6076 gt., Captain P. G. de Gruchy) altering course to starboard instead. Several ships in the convoy had already been torpedoed by this time and some of the men had retired for a rest, but as the 2 ships turned together with great force they all came running up on deck, then dashed up to the boatdeck to lower the boats, thinking Strix had received a torpedo, though they soon saw the vessel bumping up against her and realized what had happened.

Upon examination Strix was found to be damaged, but could continue, while Clan Macnab sank the following day. Log of the lifeboat voyage kept by survivors of Clan Macnab after their collision with Strix is available on Page 2. The external link provided below has a casualty list. According to Charles Hocking ("Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam 1824-1962") the collision took place in the neighbourhood of the Cape Verde Islands, 14 died, 1 injured - number varies according to source. Captain de Gruchy was among the survivors. "The World's Merchant Fleets" (R. W. Jordan) gives the position as 17 13N 21 22W.

When the convoy was dispersed the captain of Strix decided to head for Halifax where she was temporarily repaired before joining another convoy for England. She had been scheduled for Convoy HX 120, which departed Halifax on Apr. 10-1941, but instead joined Convoy HX 122 later that month, in the company of several other Norwegian ships. Her destination is given as Avonmouth, cargo of benzine, station 82.

In Aug.-1941, Strix was in Convoy HX 146, along with the Norwegian Skaraas (station 74, behind Gallia), Høegh Scout (possibly station 63?), Gallia (station 73), Anna Knudsen (station 35), and Fernmoor (station 52, carrying 3 bombers and crated aircraft). She returned across the ocean in the middle of the following month with the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 17.

In the middle of Nov.-1944 we find her, with destination Liverpool, in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 161.

At the end of Jan.-1945 she shows up in the slow Convoy SC 166, bound for Barton.

Dave Napier, England came across a gravestone for a Norwegian seaman named Trygve Borgen. He took this picture of it and sent it to me.

I looked the name up in "Våre Falne" ("Our Fallen"), a series of 4 books listing all Norwegian casualties during WW II, and found that Trygve Borgen from Sandefjord served as able seaman on Strix when he became ill and died of Meningitis on May 15-1941, in other words, about a week after Strix had arrived her destination when in Convoy HX 122. He's buried in Arno's Vale Cemetery, Bristol.

If a relative sees this and would like a larger, better quality picture, I'd be glad to pass it on, just contact me via the following address: