Site Map | Search Warsailors.com |Merchant Fleet Main Page | Warsailors.com Home 

M/S Titanian
Updated Sept. 19-2012

To Titanian on the "Ships starting with T" page.


Source: Roger W. Jordan collection (sent to me for inclusion on this website).
See also this external page (click in the pictures to enlarge).


This one was received from (and painted by) Jan Goedhart, Holland.

Owner: A/S Rederiet Titanian
Manager: Hilmar Reksten, Bergen
Tonnage:
4880 gt.
Dimensions: 400.6' x 53.5' x 25.7'.

Delivered in May-1924 as Iossifoglu from Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Newcastle (1217) to S.H., London. Sold in 1925 to Ionian Marine & Land Investment Co., London. Sold in 1927 to Moorgate Investment & Agency Co., Ltd., Newcastle. Renamed Titanian in 1929 - Moorgate Investment & Agency Co. Ltd. (W.A. Souter & Co.), Newcastle. Sold in 1936 to Swan Hunter & W. Richardson (W.A. Souter & Co.), Newcastle. Sold in Dec.-1936 to A/S Rederiet Titanian (Hilmar Reksten), Bergen, no name change.

Related items on this website:
Odd's ships - My father served on this ship after the war, and was on board when she struck a mine - see Post War details below.
Odd's letters - Letter No. 4 refers to the loss of Titanian. In my father's papers I've found a recommendation written by Captain Bernt Breivik, dated Rotterdam, May 3-1947. I'm wondering if he's identical to the captain who served on Hadrian, which was interned in Dakar during the war, and who took part in the incredible escape with Lidvard? Follow the links for more details. If anyone could confirm this, I would appreciate it - my contact address has been provided at the bottom of this page.
Guestbook message from someone whose father served on this ship in 1935. He also mentions a near miss with an iceberg on Apr. 23-1935.
A thread on my Ship Forum started by the daughter of Ordinary Seaman Reed. He also served on Galatea, Bur and Torvanger.

Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6


Please compare the above voyages with Arnold Hague's Voyage Record below.

  Voyage Record
From Apr.-1940 to Jan.-1946:  

(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 some voyages may be missing.

Departure From To Arrival Convoy Remarks
1940 Apr. 5 New Orleans Halifax Independent Page 1 gives arrival Apr. 14.
Apr. 18 Halifax HX 36 Straggled Apr. 19.
Apr. 19 Straggled from HX 36 Liverpool May 2 Independent
May 20 Liverpool OB 151 For Botwood.
Dispersed May 22.
Convoy available at OB 151
(external link)
May 22 Dispersed from OB 151 Botwood June 1 Independent
June 5 Botwood Cristobal June 21 Independent
June 22 Balboa Los Angeles July 6 Independent
July 6 Los Angeles Tacoma July 13 Independent
July 20 Tacoma New Westminster July 21 Independent
July 22 New Westminster Vancouver July 23 Independent
July 26 Vancouver Chemainus July 26 Independent
July 28 Chemainus Los Angeles Aug. 3 Independent
Aug. 3 Los Angeles Balboa Aug. 18 Independent
Aug. 22 Cristobal Bermuda Aug. 31 Independent
Sept. 4 Bermuda BHX 71
Sept. 9 Bermuda portion joined main convoy Methil Roads Sept. 23 HX 71 Convoy will be added.
See ships in all HX convoys
Missing movements, Page 1
Oct. 24 Methil Tyne Oct. 25 FS 319 Via Sunderland
(Page 1).
Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
Dec. 4 Tyne Methil Dec. 5 FN 349 Convoy available at FN convoys
(external link)
Dec. 6 Methil Oban Dec. 10 EN 37/1 Convoy available at EN convoys
(external link)
Dec. 11 Oban OB 257 For Bermuda.
Dispersed Dec. 13.
Convoy available at OB 257
(external link)
Dec. 13 Dispersed from OB 257 Bermuda Dec. 31 Independent
1941 Jan. 8 Bermuda Kingston Jan. 13 Independent
Jan. 14 Kingston Cristobal Jan. 17 Independent
Jan. 19 Balboa Los Angeles Febr. 1 Independent
Febr. 1 Los Angeles Victoria, BC Febr. 6 Independent
Febr. 6 Victoria, BC Vancouver Febr. 7 Independent
Febr. 19 Vancouver New Westminster Febr. 19 Independent
Febr. 21 New Westminster Englewood Febr. 22 Independent
Febr. 24 Englewood Vancouver Febr. 25 Independent
Febr. 28 Vancouver Victoria, BC March 1 Independent
March 1 Victoria, BC Port Alberni March 2 Independent
March 4 Port Alberni Los Angeles March 9 Independent
March 9 Los Angeles Balboa Independent Page 2 gives arrival March 24
March 25 Cristobal Halifax Apr. 8 Independent See also narrative below
Apr. 19 Halifax Loch Ewe May 8 SC 29
May 10 Loch Ewe Methil May 12 WN 125 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
May 13 Methil Southend May 15 FS 488 Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
See also Page 2
June 1 Southend Tyne June 2 FN 474 Convoy available at FN convoys
(external link)
June 11 Tyne Oban June 14 EC 31 Via Methil Roads
(Page 2).
Convoy available at EC convoys
(external link)
June 15 Oban OG 65 Detached June 25.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in OG convoys
June 25 Detached from OG 65 Bathurst July 2 Independent
July 5 Bathurst Freetown July 7 Independent
July 10 Freetown Takoradi July 14 Independent
July 17 Takoradi Cape Coast July 17 Independent
July 19 Cape Coast Winneba July 20 Independent
July 20 Winneba Accra July 21 Independent
July 28 Accra Keta July 30 Independent
July 30 Keta Lagos July 31 Independent A. Hague says:
Arrived with damaged propeller
Sept. 15 Lagos Forcados Sept. 16 Independent
Sept. 20 Forcados Calabar Sept. 22 Independent
Sept. 27 Calabar Port Harcourt Sept. 28 Independent
Sept. 30 Port Harcourt Lagos Oct. 2 Independent
Oct. 6 Lagos Accra Oct. 8 Independent
Oct. 8 Accra Takoradi Oct. 9 Independent
Oct. 12 Takoradi Freetown Oct. 17 Independent
Oct. 27 Freetown SL 91 Convoy available at SL 91
(external link)
Formed SL 91G1 Nov. 8.
Nov. 8 Formed at sea SL 91G1 Convoy split Nov. 12.
Available at SL 91G1
(external link)
Nov. 12 Convoy split Liverpool Nov. 21 SL 91GS Convoy available at SL 91GS
(external link)
Dec. 21 Liverpool ON 49 Dispersed Jan. 5-1942.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
1942 Jan. 5 Dispersed from ON 49 Halifax Jan. 7 Independent
Jan. 30 Halifax Loch Ewe Febr. 13 SC 67
Febr. 16 Loch Ewe Methil Febr. 18 WN 246 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
Missing movements, Page 2
March 3 Methil Loch Ewe March 5 EN 54 Convoy available at EN convoys
(external link)
March 9 Loch Ewe Halifax March 25 ON 74 For Halifax.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
March 27 Halifax St. John, N.B. March 29 XB 5 For St John, N.B.
Convoy available at XB convoys
(external link)
Apr. 3 St. John, N.B. Halifax Apr. 5
Apr. 11 Halifax Liverpool Apr. 26 SC 79 See also narrative below
May 6 Liverpool Halifax May 21 ON 92 For Father Point.
May 24 Halifax Sydney, C.B. May 26 HS 5 Convoy available at HS convoys
(external link)
May 26 Sydney, C.B. Father Point May 30 SQ 4 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
See also Page 3
June 7 Father Point Sydney, C.B. June 10 QS 7 From Quebec June 6
(Page 3).
Convoy available via link above
June 12 Sydney, C.B. Belfast Lough June 25 SC 87
June 26 Belfast Lough Barry June 27 BB 191 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
July 11 Barry Milford Haven July 12 Independent
July 12 Milford Haven Belfast Lough July 15 ON 112 A. Hague says:
Returned with defects.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
July 19 Belfast Lough Halifax Aug. 3 ON 114 For NYC.
Convoy will be added.
See link above
Aug. 9 Halifax Cape Cod Canal Aug. 11 XB 33 Convoy available at XB convoys
(external link)
Aug. 11 Cape Cod Canal New York City Aug. 12 Independent
Aug. 25 New York City Halifax Aug. 29 BX 35 Convoy available at BX convoys
(external link)
Aug. 29 Halifax Belfast Lough Sept. 12 SC 98
Sept. 13 Belfast Lough Milford Haven Sept. 14 BB 220 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
Sept. 16 Milford Haven Southampton Sept. 19 WP 219 Via Dartmouth
(Page 3).
Convoy available at WP convoys
(external link)
Left Southampton Sept. 30
(Page 3)
Oct. 1 Yarmouth Roads Newport Oct. 4 PW 226 Via Plymouth
(see Page 3).
Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Oct. 9 Newport Barry Oct. 10 Independent
Oct. 27 Barry Swansea Oct. 27 Independent
Nov. 4 Swansea Milford Haven Independent Page 3 gives arrival Nov. 5.
Nov. 6 Milford Haven Halifax Nov. 25 ON 144 For St. John, N.B.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Dec. 1 Halifax St. John, N.B. Dec. 3 HF 18 Convoy available at HF convoys
(external link)
Dec. 12 St. John, N.B. Halifax Dec. 14 FH 21 Convoy available at FH convoys
(external link)
Dec. 16 Halifax Loch Ewe Jan. 1-1943 SC 113 Convoy will be added.
See ships in SC convoys
1943 Jan. 2 Loch Ewe Methil Jan. 5 WN 379 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
Jan. 6 Methil Hull Jan. 8 FS 1005 Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
Jan. 22 Hull Tyne Jan. 22 FN 924 Convoy available at FN convoys
(external link)
See also narrative below
June 4 Tyne Methil June 5 FN 1038 Convoy available at link above
June 6 Methil Oban June 8 EN 239 Convoy available at EN convoys
(external link)
Stop at Oban not mentioned, Page 4
June 9 Oban Halifax June 28 ONS 10 For Halifax.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ONS convoys
July 8 Halifax Belfast Lough July 22 SC 136
July 22 Belfast Lough Avonmouth July 25 BB 312 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
July 29 Avonmouth Swansea July 30 Independent
Aug. 4 Swansea Milford Haven Aug. 4 Independent
Aug. 5 Milford Haven Halifax Aug. 21 ONS 15 For St. John, N.B.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ONS convoys
Aug. 22 Halifax St. John, N.B. Aug. 24 HF 72 Convoy available at HF convoys
(external link)
Sept. 1 St. John, N.B. Halifax Sept. 2 FH 74 Convoy available at FH convoys
(external link)
Sept. 3 Halifax Belfast Lough Sept. 16 SC 141
Sept. 26 Belfast Lough Sydney, C.B. Oct. 13 ONS 19 For Sydney, C.B.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ONS convoys
Oct. 13 Sydney, C.B. Montreal Oct. 16 Independent To Quebec Nov. 1
(Page 4).
Nov. 2 Red Islet Sydney, C.B. Nov. 6 QS 70 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Nov. 7 Sydney, C.B. Loch Ewe Nov. 22 SC 146
Nov. 23 Loch Ewe Methil Nov. 24 WN 508A Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
Nov. 25 Methil Southend Nov. 27 FS 1282 Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
Again, see also Page 4.
1944 Jan. 20 Southend Methil Jan. 22 FN 1242 Convoy available at FN convoys
(external link)
Jan. 23 Methil Oban Jan. 25 EN 337 Convoy available at EN convoys
(external link)
Jan. 29 Oban ONS 28 For NYC.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ONS convoys
Febr. 14 From ONS 28 Cape Cod Canal Febr. 17 XB 96 Convoy available at XB convoys
(external link)
Febr. 17 Cape Cod Canal New York City Febr. 18 Independent
March 8 New York City Boston Independent
March 10 Boston Halifax March 12 BX 99 Convoy available at BX convoys
(external link)
March 14 Halifax Milford Haven March 29 SC 155
March 31 Milford Haven Southampton Apr. 2 WP SP 26 Convoy available at WP convoys
(external link)
Left Southampton Apr. 16
(Page 5).
Apr. 17 Cowes Roads Newport Apr. 19 PW 508 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
May 8 Newport Belfast Lough May 9
May 12 Belfast Lough Boston May 26 ON 236 For Boston.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
July 3 Boston West Bay, NB July 5 Independent
July 22 Parrsboro Halifax July 24 Independent
Aug. 13 Halifax Loch Ewe Aug. 27 HX 303
Aug. 28 Loch Ewe Methil Aug. 30 WN 626 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
Aug. 30 Methil Southend Sept. 1 FS 1560 Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
See also Page 5
Sept. 16 Southend Methil* Sept. 18 FN 1482 *Arrived Grangemouth
(Page 5).
Convoy available at FN convoys
(external link)
Sept. 26 Methil Loch Ewe Sept. 29 EN 440 Convoy available at EN convoys
(external link)
Sept. 29 Loch Ewe ONS 33 For NYC.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ONS convoys
Oct. 13 From ONS 33 Cape Cod Canal Oct. 15 XB 129A Convoy available at XB convoys
(external link)
Oct. 15 Cape Cod Canal New York City Oct. 16 Independent
Oct. 17 New York City Philadelphia Oct. 18 Independent
Oct. 31 New York City* New York City Nov. 1 Independent *From Philadelphia
Nov. 2 New York City Boston Independent Page 5 gives arrival Nov. 3
Nov. 7 Boston Halifax Nov. 9 BX 132 Convoy available at BX convoys
(external link)
Nov. 17 Halifax Barry Dec. 5 SC 161
1945 Jan. 30 Belfast Lough ONS 41 Missing movements, Page 5 above.
For Boston
(Page 5 gives arrival New York Febr. 7, but probably error).
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ONS convoys
Febr. 21 From ONS 41 Boston Febr. 23 XB 147 Convoy available at XB convoys
(external link)
March 8 Boston Halifax March 10 BX 149 Convoy available at BX convoys
(external link)
March 17 Halifax Mumbles March 31 SC 170 Convoy will be added.
See ships in SC convoys
Apr. 2 Milford Haven Southend Apr. 5 BTC 116 Convoy available at BTC convoys
(external link)
See also Page 6
Apr. 22 Southend Milford Haven Apr. 25 TBC 136 Convoy available at TBC convoys
(external link)
Apr. 25 Milford Haven Clyde* Apr. 27 MH 94/2 *For Belfast Lough
(Page 6).
Convoy available via this page
(external link)
May 21 Belfast Lough Halifax June 4 ONS 51 For Halifax.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ONS convoys
June 9 Halifax West Bay, NB June 11 Independent
July 9 Parrsboro Liverpool* July 24 Independent *Arrived Garston, July 25
(Page 6)
Aug. 21 Liverpool Montreal Sept. 4 Independent
Oct. 23 Montreal Antwerp Nov. 8 Independent (Via Downs - Page 6).
Nov. 23 Antwerp Bergen Nov. 27 Independent
Dec. 14 Bergen St. John, N.B. Jan. 3-1946 Independent Further voyages, Page 6


 Some 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 - several Norwegian ships took part.

As will be seen when going to Page 1 of the archive documents, Titanian was on her way from New Orleans to Liverpool when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. She stopped in Halifax on Apr. 14, joining Convoy HX 36 to the U.K. on Apr. 18, cargo of cotton and lumber, station 33. She lost touch with the convoy the next day, but reached Liverpool safely on May 2, later joining Convoy OB 151 (station 22), which departed Liverpool on May 19 and dispersed May 22. Her destination is given as Botwood, where she arrived June 1. Alaska, Stigstad and Fana are also listed (ref. external link provided within the Voyage Record above). In Sept.-1940, we find her in the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 71, general cargo for Avonmouth. A. Hague has also included Polartank, while Gallia and Laurits Swenson joined with the Halifax portion*. The archive document gives her destination as London; she arrived Methil Roads on Sept. 23, continuing to Grangemouth a few days later, where she spent over 2 weeks, before proceeding to Leith. It'll also be noticed that she later spent a long time at Tyne, where she had arrived from Sunderland on Oct. 25. Departure is given as Dec. 4, when she proceeded to Methil Roads and Oban and from there, she subsequently joined Convoy OB 257, originating in Liverpool on Dec. 10, dispersed Dec. 13, Titanian arriving Bermuda Dec. 31 (having started out from Oban Dec. 11). Dagrun, Storaas and Topdalsfjord are also listed - again, see the external link in the table above (another section of the same site also has Suderholm in this convoy, while A. Hague has included this ship in OB 258).

Her 1941 voyages also start on Page 1 and continue on Page 2. With a cargo of lead, zinc and lumber for London, she was scheduled for the slow Convoy SC 28 from Halifax to the U.K. on Apr. 9-1941, but instead joined the next convoy on Apr. 19, SC 29. The escorts' reports are also available for this convoy. In June, she's listed in Convoy OG 65, originating in Liverpool on June 14, arriving Gibraltar June 28; her destination is not given, but from the archive document, we learn that she arrived Bathurst on July 2 (having started out from Oban June 15); accordng to A. Hague, she had been detached from the convoy on June 25 in order to proceed to that destination. OG 65 will be added to an individual page in my Convoys section in due course; in the meantime, the ships sailing in it are named on the page listing ships in all OG convoys. Brasil, Kos I, Lysaker V, Selbo and Trolla are also included.

As will be seen, when going back to Page 2, Titanian later had a long stay in Lagos, where she had arrived from Keta on July 31-1941. Departure is given as Sept. 15, when she proceeded to Forcados. A. Hague says she had arrived Lagos with a damaged propeller, so the long stay was probably due to repairs being necessary. The following month, he has included her, together with Tortugas, in Convoy SL 91, which left Freetown on Oct. 27 - ref. external links in the table above. She arrived Liverpool on Nov. 21, remaining there for a month, before joining the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 49*, which left Liverpool on Dec. 21, dispersed Jan. 5-1942 and also included Blink, Bur, Ravnefjell and Veni. Again, no destination is given for Titanian, but she arrived Halifax on Jan. 7, according to the archive document.

With a cargo of grain for Leith, she headed back to the U.K. on Jan. 30-1942 in Convoy SC 67 from Halifax, in which the Norwegian Heina was sunk - follow the links for details. Titanian arrived Leith, via Loch Ewe and Methil Roads, on Febr. 18 (Page 2), and with Arosa, Beth, Borgfred, Elg, Sirehei, Thorsholm, Tortugas and Tungsha, she later returned across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 74*, originating in Liverpool on March 9, arriving Halifax March 25. Her voyages in this period are shown on Page 3. On Apr. 11, she joined Convoy SC 79 from Halifax (having been cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 78), cargo of grain for Manchester, and the following month, we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 92, arriving Halifax on May 21. As will be seen when following the link, this convoy lost several ships, but none of them were Norwegian (see also the external link further down on this page). Having made a voyage to Quebec and on to Sydney, C.B., Titanian went back to the U.K. with the slow Convoy SC 87 on June 12, bound for Barry Dock, cargo of grain and trucks.

She now joined the westbound Convoy ON 112* (from Liverpool July 13-1942), but is said to have had some sort of defect forcing her to go into Belfast Lough, and from there, she later joined Convoy ON 114*, which had originated in Liverpool on July 19 and dispersed Aug. 4; Titanian stopped at Halifax Aug. 3, proceeding to New York on Aug. 9, with arrival Aug. 12. Both these convoys had several Norwegian ships, namely Albert L. Ellsworth, Bjørkhaug, Borgholm, Bruse Jarl, Evviva, Facto, Fidelio, Gezina, Hjalmar Wessel, Ingerfem, Lisbeth, Loke, Norjerv, Ragnhild and Selvik in ON 112, while Astrid, Berto, Bonneville (Commodore Vessel), Ingertre, Marga, Marie Bakke, Norhauk and Torfinn Jarl are listed in ON 114. At the end of that month, some of these ships, including Titanian, can be found in Convoy SC 98 from Halifax. She had a cargo of steel and lumber for Milford Haven and Southampton - again, see Page 3.

Later that year we find her, along with Bencas (from Halifax), Bestik, Borgfred, Cetus, Ingertre, Minister Wedel, Norlom, Orwell and Suderøy, in Convoy ON 144*, which originated in Liverpool on Nov. 7-1942 and arrived New York Nov. 27; Titanian, however, was bound for St. John, N.B., where she arrived (via Halifax) on Dec. 3 (having started out from Milford Haven on Nov. 6). Eglantine, Montbretia (sunk), Potentilla and Rose are named among the escorts - see ON convoy escorts. Please go to my page about Monbretia for more details on the passage of this convoy, which lost several ships (see also the external link further down on this page). According to Arnold Hague, Titanian headed back to the U.K. again on Dec. 16 in the Halifax portion of the slow convoy SC 113*, which had originated in New York on Dec. 12-1942 and arrived Liverpool Jan. 2-1943; Titanian stopped at Loch Ewe on Jan. 1, proceeding to Methil Roads and Hull the next day, with arrival Hull Jan. 8 - see Page 4. Askot (from Halifax to St. John's), Hallanger, Henrik Ibsen, Kirsten B (to St. John's only), Lisbeth, Norvarg, O. B. Sørensen, Rio Verde and Ruth I are also named in this convoy.

I found 2 pictures of Titanian on The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich website (external link). They have an extensive collection of ships' photographs and I found several of my father's ships here. They're quite expensive and I only mention this because of the info provided in the text for each picture. The caption for the first picture of Titanian says: "1942-1943, lying at quayside on the River Tyne. Negative dated 24 Feb. 1943." The text for the second one says: "1942-1943, lying at quayside on the River Tyne. Negative dated 14 Apr. 1943. NB: The Titanian arrived on the Tyne, from Hull, on 22 Jan. 1943 and sailed on 4 Jun. 1943 for Halifax N S." This matches up with the details found on Page 4 of the archive documents. It would be interesting to know why she was at Tyne for such a long time.

She's now listed, together with Acasta, Cetus, Fjordheim, Grey County, James Hawson, Mathilda, Novasli, Ravnefjell and Sirehei, in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ONS 10*, originating in Liverpool on June 8-1943, arriving Halifax June 27. The following month, she can be found among the ships in Convoy SC 136 from Halifax; in fact, she served as Commodore Vessel on this occasion. She arrived Avonmouth, via Belfast Lough, on July 25, later joining Convoy ONS 15*, which also had Ragnhild, Veni and Vinland in its ranks (convoy originated in Liverpool Aug. 6, arrived Halifax Aug. 21 - Titanian proceeded to St. John, N.B., with arrival Aug. 24). On Sept. 3, she's listed as bound for Belfast Dock with grain and general in Convoy SC 141 - again, see Page 4. With Acasta, Astrid, Bernhard, Hiram, Norse Lady, Novasli and Rena (Commodore Vessel), she later headed in the other direction again with Convoy ONS 19*, which originated in Liverpool on Sept. 26 and arrived Halifax Oct. 14; Titanian joined from Belfast Lough and was bound for Montreal, where she arrived, via Sydney, C.B., on Oct. 16, according to A. Hague (date not visible on archive document). Having made a voyage to Quebec, she returned to Sydney, C.B. in order to join the Sydney portion of Convoy SC 146, cargo of steel and lumber for London (convoy had started out in Halifax on Nov. 6, Titanian sailed from Sydney, C.B. Nov. 7). Commodore was again in Rena. It'll be noticed, when going back to the archive document, that Titanian later spent a long time at Gravesend.

At the end of Jan.-1944, we find her in the westbound Convoy ONS 28*, originating in Liverpool an Jan. 28, arriving Halifax Febr. 15; this time she was bound for New York, where she arrived Febr. 18, having sailed from Oban Jan. 29, according to Page 5. Arosa, Solstad and Velox are also listed in this convoy. From New York, she later headed to Boston, then on to Halifax in order to join Convoy SC 155 on March 14, cargo of lumber for Milford Haven and Southampton, arriving the former on March 29, the latter on Apr. 2. In May, she went in the other direction again, having joined Convoy ON 236*, which also included Buenos Aires, Fjordaas, Montevideo, Norholm, Norvarg, Rena, Solsten, Sommerstad, Thorshov and Vera. The convoy departed Liverpool on May 11 and arrived New York May 27; Titanian joined from Belfast Lough and arrived Boston on the 26th, remaining there for a long time; the archive document gives departure as July 3.

With a cargo of iron and lumber for Methil and London, she later shows up in the Halifax portion of Convoy HX 303, which had originated in New York on Aug. 11. This convoy had 16 other Norwegian ships, namely Romulus, Dalfonn, Noravind, Atlantic, Sommerstad, Skotaas, Geisha (Vice Commodore), Thorhild, Petter, Stirlingville, Rena, Para, Tanafjord, Mui Hock, Fjordaas and Norse Lady. Some of them, including Titanian, subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ONS 33*, originating in Liverpool on Sept. 29, arriving Halifax Oct. 14; Titanian joined from Loch Ewe and arrived New York Oct. 16 (Page 5). Cetus, Chr. Th. Boe, Dagrun (returned), Drammensfjord, Mui Hock, Para, Peik, Rena and Romulus are listed. Titanian's last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year was made in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 161 (Nov. 17), carrying steel and lumber, destination Barry Dock, arriving Barry Dec. 5 (departure is given as Jan. 24-1945).

At the end of Jan.-1945, she joined the westbound Convoy ONS 41*, together with Atlantic, Evanger, Gausdal, Geisha, Maud, Sommerstad, Veni and Vinland (from Liverpool Jan. 29, to Halifax Febr. 20). Titanian sailed from Belfast Lough on Jan. 30 and arrived Boston on Febr. 23, according to A. Hague (date not visible on Page 6). With Askepot, Biscaya, Brush, Brønnøy, Chr. Th. Boe, Frontenac, Geisha (Commodore Vessel), Romulus and Tercero, he now has her returning to the U.K. in Convoy SC 170*, departing Halifax on March 17, arriving Liverpool March 31 - Titanian anchored off Mumbles. On VE Day she was in Belfast, according to the archive document, and the last North Atlantic convoy she took part in was ONS 51*, which left Liverpool on May 21 (Titanian sailed from Belfast Lough that day) and arrived Halifax June 4. Annik, Minerva (Vice Commodore), Vera and Vest are also listed.

From Page 6 we learn that she went home to Norway in Nov.-1945, and again in March-1946 (the document also shows some long stays in port in the course of 1945).

* The ON and ONS convoys will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course, along with further details on each. In the meantime, the ships sailing in them (and escorts) are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys and on the page for ships in all ONS convoys. Additionally, the entire HX series and the SC series will be updated and completed (including the already existing convoys - some have already been updated), but for now, please see ships in all HX convoys and ships in all SC convoys.

More info on the other Norwegian ships mentioned here is available via the alphabet index at the end of this page, or go to the Master Ship Index.

Related external links:
Ships hit from convoy ON(S) 92

Ships hit from convoy ON(S) 144

 POST WAR: 

On March 30-1947, when on a voyage from Antwerp to Oslo in ballast, she struck a mine in 53 35N 04 35E (40 miles west of Texel Island) and was badly damaged. According to a contemporary newspaper article, 13 men from Titanian were picked up by the fishing vessel Katwijk 5, after the tug Volharding had heard the SOS, presumably sent by my father, who was the radio operator on board when this happened. The rest of her crew must have remained on board. Titanian was later assisted by these 2 vessels as well as Blankenburg and Maas. She was listing heavily and was towed into port, arriving Nieuwe Waterweg on Apr.-1, then Rotterdam on Apr. 3. Found to be beyond economical repair. Declared a constructive total loss on Nov. 6-1947, and sold to Stavanger Skipsopphugning (breakers) in Apr.-1948 where demolition began in June-1948. For insurance purposes the loss was settled as a war loss.

My father talks about this incident in his Letter No. 4 (can be reached via Odd's letters) in which he says "For the seamen the war was not over on the 8th of May, 1945. On the M/S Titanian, which I signed on in the fall of 1946 I got proof of just that. We went straight into a magnetic mine field. The ship broke almost in two, but after 3 days we managed to get ashore, after having been picked up by a Dutch trawler. This happened on Palm Sunday, 1947".


Picture received from Jan Goedhart, Holland, who in turn obtained it from Nationaal Sleepvaart Museum, Maassluis
(used here with permission from the museum).
Lillesand Sjømannsforening also has a picture of a ship which is said to be Titanian, presumably after she hit the mine (external link).

Back to Titanian on the "Ships starting with T" page.

Hilmar Reksten later had another ship named Titanian. This ship sailed as Morgenen during the war (see the Post War details for that ship).

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, E-mails from Roger W. Jordan (author of "The World's Merchant Fleets 1939"), a Dutch newspaper article received from Jan Goedhart, Holland, "Tramp" by Dag Bakka Jr. via Jan Goedhart, and misc. - ref. My sources).

   Be   
C
   D   
E
F
G
   He   
I
J
   K   
L
M
N
O
   PQ   
R
   So   
   To   
U
V
W
   Ø   

 Site Map | Search Warsailors.com |Merchant Fleet Main Page | Warsailors.com Home