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M/T Thorhild To Thorhild on the "Ships starting with T" page. Manager: O. T. Tønnevold & Co. A/S, Grimstad Built in Gothenburg in 1935. Captains: Jørgen Tellefsen was captain from the time the ship was new, and up until the summer of 1941 (1942?). Later captains during the war were Olaf Dock and Olaf T. Larssen (the latter from the torpedoed Thelma). Chief Engineer was Erling Jørgensen, and Mate Odd Tønnevold was on board all through the war. Petter Birkeland (also from Thelma) also served on this ship for a while, and then became her captain in 1947. He had also served on Thordis as mate. Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives: Please compare the above voyages with Arnold Hague's Voyage Record below.
(Received from Don Kindell - His source: The late Arnold Hague's database). Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each. Errors may exist and, as can be seen, several voyages are missing.
Thorhild was on Japanese charter, in service between Japan and the west coast of the U.S. As will be seen when going to Page 1 of the archive documents, she was in Yokohama when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. From the fall of 1941(?) until the end of the war she was in service in the Atlantic. Her 1941 voyages are also shown on this document, and it'll be noticed that she spent quite a long time in Los Angeles that year. She had arrived there from Yokohama on Apr. 17 and departure is given as June 9. There's also a long gap in her voyages later on, from Sept. 13-1941, when she arrived Baltimore, to Dec. 27, when she left Baltimore for Curacao, with arrival Jan. 3-1942. From Curacao, she later headed to Halifax in order to join Convoy HX 171 to the U.K. on Jan. 20-1942, for which Acanthus and Rose served as escorts for a while. Together with Belinda, Eidanger (sunk - follow link for details), Finnanger, Glittre, Hamlet (from Iceland), Idefjord, Nueva Andalucia, Sama (sunk), Skandinavia and Strinda, she subsequently joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 67*, which left Liverpool on Febr. 14 and arrived Halifax March 1; Thorhild, however, was bound for Curacao, where she arrived March 8 (Page 1), having been detached from the convoy on Febr. 26, according to A. Hague. With a cargo of whale oil, she headed back to the U.K. again on Apr. 2 in Convoy HX 183 from Halifax, which arrived Liverpool on Apr. 15, and on the 22nd of that month, she joined convoy OS 26 (Lise was sunk, follow the link for more info). Thorhild was bound for Curacao in ballast (station 95), arriving her destination on May 11, proceeding to Freetown on May 26, according to Page 2 (convoy info in Voyage Record above). In June she can be found in station 82 of Convoy SL 113, departing Freetown on June 15. The webmaster of the site about the OS convoys and the SL convoys that I've linked to within the Voyage Record above has told me that when she left Curacao she had a cargo 14 256 tons whale oil in bulk, 1390 drums sperm oil and whale oil, bound for Bromborough. The archive document gives arrival Liverpool July 5. The Norwegian Fagerfjell, Thorshavet and Vanja are also named, but the latter did not sail. Follow the links provided for more convoy information. Thorhild now joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 113*, departing Liverpool on July 17-1942, arriving Halifax July 31, but Thorhild was bound for New York, where she arrived Aug. 2. Abraham Lincoln, Evita, Harpefjell, Norsol, Pan Aruba, Salamis, Solsten and Vav are also listed in this convoy, which lost 3 ships - ref. external link at the end of this page. Rick Pitz, a visitor to my website, has informed me via this Gustbook message that Thorhild was part of Convoy HK 106 Subsidiary, leaving Pilottown, LA on Sept. 27-1942, to join the main body of Convoy HK 106 (left Bolivar Roads on Sept. 25). This convoy, which is available via the link provided in the table above, sailed to Key West, Florida, arriving Sept. 29 (B.P. Newton and Sommerstad are also included). Thorhild continued to New York that same day (convoy info in Voyage Record above) in order to join Convoy HX 211 to the U.K. on Oct. 8, but she lost touch in a gale during the night of Oct. 17/18 and did not rejoin (see the Commodore's notes on my page about this convoy); she arrived Holyhead on Oct. 22, proceeding to Liverpool 2 days later (Page 2). The following month, we find her in Convoy ON 145, together with the Norwegian Mosli, Skaraas, Ørnefjell, Askepot (both joined from Halifax) and Brant County (the latter ship had also been in HX 211). Thorhild acted as the Vice Commodore's ship for this convoy, which according to "The Allied Convoy System" by Arnold Hague left Liverpool on Nov. 9 with 35 ships and arrived New York on Nov. 25. Several ships were torpedoed; follow the link for details. The rest of her 1942 voyages are shown on Page 2, convoy information can be found in A. Hague's Voyage Record. She returned to the U.K. again in Jan.-1943 in Convoy HX 222 from New York (Vestfold was sunk, follow the link for more info), heading back across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 164 on Febr. 1, arriving New York Febr. 19. As can be seen when going back to Page 2 above, she now remained in New York for quite some time; departure is given as Apr. 1. I have a little snippet of information saying she was fitted out with an extra deck to enable her to carry aircraft in early 1943, and equipment for supplying escorts with oil and depth charges at sea was also installed - perhaps this was done in New York in this time period(?). She often acted as escort oiler in the convoys. A. Hague has her returning to the U.K. in Convoy HX 232*, departing New York on Apr. 1, arriving Liverpool Apr. 16. He has also included Belinda, California Express, Heranger, Skandinavia, Thorshøvdi, Tigre, Tungsha and Ørnefjell in this convoy, which lost 4 ships - ref. external link at the end of this page. A week later we find her, along with Belinda, California Express, Norsktank, Norsol, Reinholt (Commodore Vessel), Skandinavia, Skjelbred and Velma, in Convoy ON 180*, which left Liverpool on Apr. 24 and arrived New York May 14 (according to A. Hague, she carried 60 depth charges), and on May 19, she can be found among the ships leaving New York in Convoy HX 240. Her destination is given as Avonmouth, and she had station 61 of the convoy, arriving her destination, via Belfast Lough, on June 6 - again, see Page 2. She subsequently joined Convoy ON 188*, which left Liverpool on June 10 and arrived New York on the 26th (Thorhild sailed from Milford Haven June 9). She had again been in the company of several other Norwegian ships, namely Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Bajamar, Bañaderos, Belinda, Duala, Evita, G. C. Brøvig, Gylfe, Kaia Knudsen, Kaldfonn, Montevideo, Mosdale, Skandinavia, Strinda, Vav and Velma. Already on June 30, she's listed in Convoy HX 246 from New York, bound for Clyde, station 105, arriving July 13. As will be seen when following the link to this convoy, Acanthus, Rose and Potentilla are named among the escorts. Together with Bralanta, Chr. Th. Boe, Fagerfjell, Fernwood, Geisha, Harpefjell, Herbrand, Hiram, Idefjord, Maud, Meline, Norlom, O. B. Sørensen, Para, Samuel Bakke, Sandviken, Santos, Skaraas, Skjelbred, Stiklestad, Thorshov and Tungsha, as well as the Panamanian Norlys (Norwegian managers), she returned across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 193* (from Liverpool July 16, to New York July 31 - Thorhild, which again carried 60 depth charges, joined from Clyde). With a cargo of gas oil for Swansea, she left New York again with Convoy HX 251 on Aug. 7, station 53, arriving her destination, again via Belfast Lough, on Aug. 24, according to Page 3. The Norwegian Laurits Swenson acted as Commodore Vessel for this convoy, and Acanthus, Potentilla and Rose are named among the escorts (see HX convoy escorts). Thorhild returned to the U.S. the following month with Convoy ON 202 (ONS 18), serving as Escort Oiler. Her destination is given as Wilmington; the archive document gives arrival Philadelphia on Oct. 1, and she had started out from Londonderry Sept. 16. This convoy lost several ships, including Oregon Express and Skjelbred - follow the links for further details. See also the Commodore's report and misc. other reports. A. Hague has now included her, along with Buenos Aires, Heranger, Ivaran and Laurits Swenson, in Convoy HX 260*, which sailed from New York on Oct. 5-1943 and arrived Liverpool Oct. 20 - Thorhild arrived Heysham, via Belfast Lough, that day, having served as Escort Oiler, also carrying 60 depth charges. Just a few days later she appears, with Emma Bakke and Reinholt (Commodore Vessel), in Convoy ON 208* (departure Liverpool Oct. 24, arrival New York Nov. 7 - Thorhild again served as Escort Oiler), returning with Convoy HX 266*, leaving New York on Nov. 13, arriving Liverpool Nov. 27. Brimanger (Commodore Vessel), Fernwood, Idefjord, Morgenen and Mosli are also listed. Thorhild had served as Escort Oiler again, and also carried 60 depth charges. Her last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year was made in Convoy ON 214*, together with Geisha, Kristianiafjord, Montevideo, Morgenen and Sørvard. The convoy departed Liverpool on Dec. 2 and arrived New York Dec. 20, so Thorhild's crew got to experience a New York Christmas. It looks like they got to experience a New York spring as well, because according to Page 3, she did not leave New York again until March-1944. On March 21-1944 we find her in Convoy HX 284 from New York to the U.K., for which Abraham Lincoln acted as Commodore Vessel. Thorhild's destination is given as Avonmouth, where she arrived Apr. 7, having served as Escort Oiler. With Atlantic, Elg, Ferncliff, Kaia Knudsen, Norsktank, Olaf Bergh and Slemmestad, she later joined Convoy ON 233*, originating in Liverpool Apr. 20, arriving New York May 8 - Thorhild had joined this convoy from Belfast Lough. She headed back to the U.K. again on May 19 in Convoy HX 292, arriving Clyde June 2, returning with Convoy ON 240*, which also had Dageid, Fagerfjell, Heranger, Høyanger (Vice Commodore), Para, Petter, Strinda, Vanja, Villanger and Østhav in its ranks (from Liverpool June 10, to New York June 28 - Thorhild joined from Clyde, serving as Escort Oiler; her arrival New York is given as June 30 - see Page 3). On July 3 she can be found in Convoy HX 298 from New York (Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges), with destination Heysham and Barrow, arriving the former on July 18, the latter on the 21st. A few days later we find her in Convoy ON 246* (Escort Oiler), which left Liverpool on July 25 and arrived New York Aug. 9, and included Abraham Lincoln, Alaska, Atlantic, Brimanger (Commodore Vessel), Dageid, Dalfonn, Danio, Fernwood, Ivaran, James Hawson, Kaldfonn, Leiv Eiriksson, Petter, Skotaas, Strinda, Tiradentes, Toronto, Vardefjell, Velox and Ørnefjell. Already on Aug. 11, she shows up in Convoy HX 303 with 16 other Norwegian ships, namely Romulus, Dalfonn, Noravind, Atlantic, Sommerstad, Skotaas, Geisha (Vice Commodore), Tanafjord, Petter, Stirlingville, Rena, Para, Titanian, Mui Hock, Fjordaas and Norse Lady. Thorhild served as Escort Oiler again and arrived Liverpool Aug. 26. With Bernhard, Elg, Evanger, Ferncliff (returned), Fjordheim (sunk - follow link for details), Germa, Grey County, Heimgar, Henrik Ibsen, Rutenfjell, Snar, Tungsha (Commodore Vessel), Veni and Vera, as well as the Panamanian Norbris (Norwegian managers), she subsequently joined Convoy ON 251* (Escort Oiler), originating in Liverpool on Sept. 1, arriving New York Sept. 19. On Sept. 28, she can be found among the ships in Convoy HX 311 from New York (Escort Oiler). She was bound for Avonmouth, where she arrived Oct. 13, and just a few days later, she joined Convoy ON 260* (Escort Oiler). Høyanger (Commodore Vessel), Molda, Skiensfjord (returned) and Strinda are also named in this convoy, which left Southend on Oct. 15 and arrived Halifax Oct. 30; Thorhild, however, was bound for New York, where she arrived Nov. 2, having started out from Milford Haven Oct. 17 - her voyages in this period are shown on Page 4. The escorting Rose was sunk - see also Buttercup and Tunsberg Castle. With destination Avonmouth, she now joined Convoy HX 318 from New York a few days later (Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges), arriving her destination on Nov. 20, and at the end of that month, she's listed in Convoy ON 269* (Escort Oiler), along with Fernwood, Heranger, Orwell, Polartank, Skaraas, Slemmestad and Sørvard (departure Liverpool Nov. 29, arrival New York Dec. 15 - Thorhild started out from Milford Haven Nov. 30). She was scheduled for Convoy HX 327 on Dec. 19, but did not sail, nor did she get away in HX 328 or HX 329, but is listed as bound for Avonmouth in Convoy HX 331 on Jan. 8-1945 and arrived Avonmouth on Jan. 22. The Commodore was in Montevideo (it'll be noticed when following the links to the other 3 convoys, that they all had Norwegian Commodore Vessels). About a week later, she joined Convoy ON 281*, together with Brasil, Cypria, Havprins, Tai Shan and the Panamanian Norlys. The convoy sailed from Liverpool on Jan. 26-1945 and arrived New York Febr. 12 (Thorhild had started out from Milford Haven Jan. 28). She headed back to the U.K. on Febr. 18 with Convoy HX 339 (Escort Oiler) and in March, she's listed in Convoy ON 290*, which left Southend on March 11 and arrived New York March 29. Glarona and Kaldfonn are also listed. From New York, she now headed to Augusta and Bari. Convoy information for this voyage and for her return voyage can be found in the Voyage Record above. See also Page 4 and Page 5 (to Apr.-1946).
On Charter to British Tankers Co. Ltd. for 2 years from 1946. Sold in 1954 to Einar Rasmussen and renamed Polyrover. Broken up by Norsk Skibsopphugnings Co., Grimstad in 1959 (1960?). See also this external page. Related external links: Back to Thorhild on the "Ships starting with T" page. Other ships by this name: O. Tønnevold had previously had another Thorhild, delivered in Apr.-1921. Sold to Denmark? After the war they had several more ships by this name. One was built at Rosenberg mekaniske Verksted and delivered Jan. 19-1956, 10 394 gt. Collided with a French ship near Hamburg in 1959 and damaged, but repaired. In May-1973 the company took over M/T Harry Borthen and named her Thorhild. Sold in 1974 to Fekete & Co., Tønsberg. The company's 5th Thorhild was the ex. Wilh. Wilhelmsen ship Tiberius, launched in Gothenburg on Sept. 13-1965, completed Jan. 14-1966, 43 572 gt, sold in March-1976 to Tønnevolds Tankrederi A/S (Olaf Tønnevold & Sønner A/S, managers) and renamed Thorhild. Broken up at Kaohsiung in Oct.-1978. See also list below. O. T. Tønnevold A/S sent me and E-mail with the following details (much appreciated, thank you!): The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Olaf Tønnevold & Sønner 1878-1978", Birger Dannevig and misc. as mentioned within above text (ref. My sources).
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