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M/T Thorsholm To Thorsholm on the "Ships starting with T" page. Another picture is available on this external website. Owner: Skibs-A/S Thorsholm Built by Deutsche Werft AG, Betrieb Finkenwärder, Hamburg in 1937. Thorsholm often acted as Escort Oiler, also carrying depth charges on board. 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.
As will be seen when going to Page 1 of the archive documents, Thorsholm was on her way from Los Angeles to Yokohama when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. Her 1941 voyages also start on this document (convoy information in the Voyage Record above) She was scheduled for the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 31 on May 9-1941, but instead joined the next convoy on May 19, SC 32. Her destination is given as Scapa, where she arrived (via Oban) on June 11. A. Hague later has her in a convoy with the designation OB 341A, which origianted in Liverpool on July 2. However, it'll be noticed when following the link to this convoy provided within the Voyage Record above that escorts only are listed. Instead, she's included in Convoy OB 341, departing Liverpool on June 30. It looks like all the ships in these 2 convoys have been combined on one and the same page - as can be seen, there are too many ships. Brisk, Evanger, Fana, Leikanger, Novasli, Nueva Granada, Nyholt, Polartank, Ringstad, Sommerstad, Thorøy, Thorshavn and Vigsnes are also named, but it's difficult to tell which of the 2 convoys these ships sailed in. Thorsholm's destination is given as Baltimore, where she arrived July 23, having started out from Loch Ewe on July 4, according to Page 1. A. Hague says she had been detached from the convoy on July 18 (the date OB 341A arrived Halifax). She subsequently remained in Baltimore for over a month before proceeding to New York on Aug. 27, continuing to Halifax a week later in order to join Convoy HX 149 back to the U.K. on Sept. 10. The following month we find her, together with Bello, Bernhard, Daghild, Gefion, Helgøy, James Hawson, Kollbjørg, Lise, Nueva Granada, Orwell, Slemmestad, Solstad and Vivi, in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 22*, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 2 and dispersed on the 15th, Thorsholm arriving Curacao on Oct. 22 (she had joined from Clyde and according to A. Hague, she had become a straggler on Oct. 12, before the convoy was dispersed). Eglantine is named among the escorts - see ON convoy escorts. From Curacao, Thorsholm continued to Halifax already the next day, joining Convoy HX 158 back to the U.K. on Nov. 3. Her last voyage that year was made in Convoy OS 14. The Norwegian Bur and Chr. Th. Boe are also mentioned but they both returned. This convoy left Liverpool on Dec. 13 and arrived Freetown on Jan. 3-1942, but Thorsholm was again bound for Curacao, and arrived there on Jan. 4-1942, having sailed from Clyde on Dec. 15 - her voyages in this period are shown on Page 2. A. Hague says she had been detached from the convoy on Dec. 23. More information on OS 14 is available via the link provided in the table above. (Another section of the same site has also included Spinanger and L. A. Christensen, and adds that Estrella and Sveve were scheduled, but did not sail. It looks like the other 2 didn't sail either; L.A. Christensen is listed in OS 16 in Jan.-1945 while Spinanger was on her way to New York in Convoy ON 45 when OS 14 sailed). From Curacao, Thorsholm proceeded to Halifax already on Jan. 5-1942, remaining there for quite a long time before she on Febr. 7 joined Convoy HX 174, together with James Hawson (returned), Athos, Fernwood, Vanja, Høegh Giant, Beth and Anderson (lost, follow the link for details), as well as the Panamanian Norvinn (Norwegian managers - also returned, following a collision). Acanthus and Rose are named among the escorts. Thorsholm stopped at Reykjavik on Febr. 19, and from there, she later joined the westbound Convoy ON 74* on March 14. This convoy, which also included Arosa, Beth, Borgfred, Elg, Sirehei, Titanian, Tortugas and Tungsha, had originated in Liverpool on March 9 and arrived Halifax on March 25; no destination is given for Thorsholm, but from Page 2, we learn that she arrived Curacao on March 31, having been detached on March 23, according to A. Hague. From Curacao, she headed to Gibraltar 2 days later. Convoy information for some of her subsequent voyages can be found in the Voyage Record above. Skipping now to Aug. 29-1942, when she's listed in Convoy SC 98 from Halifax (having been cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 97, in which Bronxville was sunk; follow the links for more details. The Vice Commodore was in Bonneville). Thorsholm arrived Clyde on Sept. 11/12, and at the beginning of the following month, she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 135* (departure Liverpool Oct. 2, arrival New York Oct. 21 - Thorsholm joined from Clyde). Fagerfjell (returned), Glarona (from St. John's, N.F.), Lynghaug, Ragnhild and Villanger are also named in this convoy. Page 2 has her subsequent movements, with convoy info in the table above. Shortly after Christmas that year (Dec. 29-1942) she was scheduled for Convoy HX 221 from New York to the U.K. (Commodore in Abraham Lincoln - Commodore's narrative is also available), but instead headed to Oran in Jan.-1943 (Convoy UGS 4 - link in the table above). Her 1943 voyages are listed on Page 3, again with convoy information in the Voyage Record. She subsequently took part in the Torch operations, which had commenced in Nov.-1942, in fact, several of the Norwegian ships sailing in Convoy SC 98 took part in these operations - see also Athos.
According to a personal story I've found in the Norwegian magazine "Krigsseileren" (written by a crew member, Thor Lund), Thorsholm was in service between the U.K. and the U.S. in the early part of 1943. As already mentioned, she had arrived New York from Oran on March 12-1943, and may have repaired the mine damages while there? She left New York again on Apr. 6, joining Convoy HX 233 to the U.K., later heading back to the U.S. with Convoy ON 181 at the end of that month. The Commodore's narrative and escort's report are also available for this convoy. She was now sent to Algiers and Bizerta - again, see Page 3 and Voyage Record above. In fact, she's listed as bound for Algiers in Convoy KMS 16*, which had left Gibraltar on June 16; Thorsholm arrived Algiers on June 18, and according to A. Hague she had joined KMS 16 directly from Convoy UGS 9, with which she had sailed from New York earlier. The following month, we find her in Convoy KMS 17, voyage Algiers to Bizerta, departing Algiers July 2, arriving Bizerta July 5 - scroll down to the second table on the page. Thor Lund says that in addition to her cargo of oil she had 60 depth charges on deck. He adds that she was then used as supply ship for the invasion of Sicily (which commenced on July 9-1943), replenishing the war ships at sea (these voyages are not detailed on the archive document, so I cannot confirm), subsequently continuing in Mediterranean service for a while - further convoy information can be found in the Voyage Record. In Dec.-1943, she's listed in Convoy KMS 34*, voyaging from Algiers to Augusta; she had left Algiers on Dec. 11 and arrived Augusta Dec. 15. Later that month, she made a voyage from Augusta to Bizerta, having joined Convoy MKS 35 (again, scroll down to the 2nd table on that page); she left Augusta on Dec. 26 and arrived Bizerta on the 28th, returning to New York from there in Jan.-1944 (Page 3 - convoy info in Voyage Record above). Thor Lund says that on one of her voyages back to the U.S. for new supplies she was torpedoed just outside Gibraltar but was able to continue at reduced speed, and there was no loss of life. I've never seen this episode mentioned for this time period before, and I'm inclinded to think that there's a mix up of dates here; perhaps he is, in fact, referring to the mining episode of Febr.-1943? Afterall, the article was written 50 years later, so a memory confusion could very easily (and understandably) have occurred. He adds she went to New York for repairs after that, which fits in with my information further up on this page. As mentioned above, Thorsholm sailed from Bizerta to New York in Jan.-1944. She arrived New York on Jan. 24 and on Jan. 28, we find her in Convoy HX 277, bound for Mersey and Stanlow. According to A. Hague, she served as Escort Oiler for this convoy; Buttercup, which came under the Norwegian flag following the loss of Tunsberg Castle later that year is named among the escorts (see HX convoy escorts). Thorsholm arrived Liverpool on Febr. 13, Stanlow Febr. 15/16 (Page 3), and about a week later she joined Convoy ON 225*, which left Liverpool on Febr. 22 and arrived New York on March 8 and also included Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Bralanta, Ferncourt, Haakon Hauan, Lista, Marit II, Montevideo and Skiensfjord, as well as the Panamanian Norlys (Norwegian managers). Buttercup was again among the escorts (see ON convoy escorts). Thorsholm headed back to the U.K. on March 13 in Convoy HX 283, again serving as Escort Oiler, also carrying 60 depth charges, and the following month, she joined the large Convoy ON 231* (Escort Oiler) together with 14 other Norwegian ships, namely Østhav, Ferncourt, Haakon Hauan, Spinanger, Vav, Solstad, Idefjord, President de Vogue, Heranger, Bernhard, Kong Haakon VII, Skaraas, Høyanger and Nordanger. This convoy originated in Liverpool on Apr. 7 and arrived New York on the 24th. Thorsholm was scheduled to go back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 289 a few days later, but instead joined the next convoy on May 5, HX 290 (Escort Oiler), then went back in the other direction with Convoy ON 238*, with Bralanta (Commodore Vessel), Fernwood, Jotunfjell, Morgenen and Skotaas (departure Liverpool May 26, arrival New York June 9 - Thorsholm joined from Clyde and again served as Escort Oiler). On June 19, we find her in Convoy HX 296 from New York, bound for Heysham and Mersey (again, see Page 3 - Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges), returning with Convoy ON 244*, which left Liverpool July 10 and arrived New York on the 23rd - Thorsholm arrived Baltimore July 25, according to Page 4. Buenos Aires, Herbrand and Morgenen are also listed in this convoy. Thorsholm now remained in Baltimore for about a month before proceeding to Philadelphia on Aug. 28, then continued to New York, where she joined Convoy HX 307 on Sept. 6, cargo of diesel and tanks. This convoy also included Buenos Aires, Fagerfjell, Frontenac, Idefjord, John Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Kaia Knudsen and Stiklestad. Thorsholm's destination is given as Avonmouth, where she arrived on Sept. 20, having again served as Escort Oiler, also carrying 60 depth charges. She had initially been scheduled for the previous convoy, HX 306, but as will be seen when going back to the archive document, she had arrived New York too late to join. Together with Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Egerø, Fagerfjell, Ferncourt, Katy, Montevideo, Norsktank, Olaf Bergh and Sørvard, we now find her in Convoy ON 256*, which originated in Liverpool on Sept. 28 and arrived New York on Oct. 12 (Thorsholm had started out from Milford Haven Sept. 29 - Page 4), and already on Oct. 15, she joined Convoy HX 314 from New York, bound for Clyde, with arrival there on Oct. 29 (Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges) - Commodore was in Emma Bakke. Wasting no time, Thorsholm then joined the westbound Convoy ON 264* (Escort Oiler), along with Brasil, Egerø, Ferncourt, Kronprinsessen, Lista, Nueva Granada, Solfonn and Stiklestad (departure Liverpool Nov. 4, arrival New York Nov. 21; Thorsholm joined from Clyde). Having made a voyage to Curacao, she returned to New York, and 1944 was rounded off by heading back to the U.K. in Convoy HX 326 on Dec. 14 (60 depth charges), again in the company of several other Norwegian ships, as will be seen when following the link. Acanthus is named among the escorts - see HX convoy escorts. Early in Jan.-1945 she returned to the U.S. with Convoy ON 277, station 43 - Acanthus was again among the escorts for a while. The convoy arrived New York on Jan. 23, and on the 28th she's listed as bound for Heysham in the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 335 (Escort Oiler, 38 depth charges). She arrived her destination on Febr. 11, subsequently heading in the other direction with Convoy ON 285* on Febr. 17, arriving New York March 5. Kronprinsessen, Montevideo, Skaraas and Sørvard are also included, while Acanthus and Buttercup were among the escorts for a while (see ON convoy escorts). According to Arnold Hague, she returned to the U.K. in Convoy HX 347* (Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges), leaving New York on March 29, arriving Liverpool on Apr. 14 - Thorsholm stopped at Downs that day; Page 4 gives her destination as Purfleet. She had again been in the company of several other Norwegian ships, namely Brasil, Buenos Aires, Dalfonn, Fenris, Lektor Garbo, Marit II, Roald Amundsen, Sophocles (Commodore Vessel) and Sverre Helmersen, as well as the Panamanian Norlys. VE Day was celebrated in New York, where she had arrived on May 7 in Convoy ON 298*, together with Dalfonn, Fenris, Marit II, Morgenen, Reinholt (Commodore Vessel) and the Panamanian Norlys. From Page 4, we learn that she went home to Norway in Aug.-1945. The rest of her voyages (to Apr.-1946) are shown on Page 5.
Sold on Nov. 26-1952 to Monrovia Shipping Co., renamed Angy. Back to Thorsholm on the "Ships starting with T" page. Other ships by this name: Thor Dahl had previously had another tanker by this name, built 1930, sold 1936, see this external page (this was Teddy, captured by Atlantis, more info can be found on this page). The company also had two Thorsholm's later, one built 1954 (pictured on this external page), sold to Piræus 1969 (Efthycosta I), and the other built 1973 (pictured here) The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, the Norwegian magazine "Krigsseileren", "The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague, "Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer and misc. other for cross checking info (see my books page)
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