M/S Torrens
Updated Jan. 14-2011

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


Source: Bjørn Pedersen's collection.

The Australian War Memorial also has a picture of this ship (external links).
More pictures are available on this external page (click in them to enlarge).

Manager: Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Tønsberg
Tonnage: 6713 (6692?) gt, 4090 net, 10 300 dwt.
Dimensions: 479.1 x 62.3 x 28.8 ft.
Machinery: 2 x 7-cylinder 2 SCDA oil engines totalling 11 600 ihp by shipbuilders, driving twin screws.
Service Speed: 17 knots.
Passenger cap.: 12.

820 cu. ft. of refrigerated cargo space.

Launched at Kockums Mekaniska Verkstads A/B, Malmö (Yard No. 209) on Apr. 5-1939, completed May 31.

Captain: Thor Bruu.

Torrens served as troopship between 1942 and 1946 (U.S.A.T. 25), operating on behalf of the United States War Shipping Administration by Barber Steamship Lines and the American West African Line. Torrens transported about 58 000 American troops to various areas of the Pacific, distributed on 20 voyages from the west coast of the US. On each voyage she had about 4000 tons of cargo, mainly war materials and equipment for the troops.

Since I get so many questions from relatives of crew members of all nationalities, I can mention that Max L. O'Starr (American) served on this ship from June-1943 until Sept. 1944, having made 4 round trips to the South Pacific (Australia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Hebrides and Hawaii). He then briefly joined a Liberty Ship, but rejoined Torrens in May-1945, went with her to Panama and France, then paid off in July-1945. Note that he also appears in the crew list for Sept. 6-1944 further down on this page.

Related items on this website:
Guestbook message with regard to Normann Anker Nilsen Aasheim, who served on Torrens in 1944 (included in crew list for Sept. 6-1944 below).
Guestbook message from someone whose grandfather Alonzo P. Kephart was a member of the 33rd Special Navy Construction Batt. during WWII. According to A. Hague's Voyage Record below, Torrens was on her way from Pt Hueneme to Milne Bay on the date mentioned in this message, Nov. 4-1944.
Another Guestbook message
Guestbook message

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

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

Voyage Record From June-1942 to Aug.-1945:

Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each.

Errors may exist, and as can be seen, several voyages are missing.

	Departure	From	To	Arrival	Convoy	Remarks
1942	June 23	San Francisco	Brisbane	July 15	PW 2095	Earlier voyages: Page 1 & Page 2 Convoy available at PW 2095 (external link) Missing voyages, Page 3
	Sept. 3	San Francisco	Suva	Sept. 20	PW 2132	Convoy available at PW 2132 (external link) Missing 1942 voyages: Page 3.
1943	July 22	Townsville	Milne Bay	July 24	TN 120	Earlier 1943 voyages: Page 3 Convoy available at TN 120 (external link) Missing voyages, Page 3.
	Aug. 18	Townsville	Fall River	Aug. 21	TN 139	Convoy available at TN 139 (external link)
	Aug. 26	Milne Bay	Townsville	Aug. 28	FT 21	Convoy available at FT 21 (external link) On to San Francisco, Sept. 1, left for Noumea Oct. 8 (Page 3).
	The rest of these 1943 entries are not included on Page 3 and, therefore, comparison cannot be made and accuracy confirmed. Also, no 1944 voyages and very few 1945 voyages are shown, other than a handwritten note saying "New Zealand July/44".
	Nov. 11	Noumea	Auckland	Nov. 13	–	–
	Nov. 16	Auckland	Wellington	Nov. 18	–	–
	Nov. 29	Wellington	Honolulu		–	–
	Dec. 14	Hilo	San Francisco	Dec. 19	–	–
	Dec. 24	San Francisco	Los Angeles	Dec. 24	–	–
1944	Febr. 11	Los Angeles	San Francisco	Febr. 12	Independent	–
	Febr. 19	San Francisco	Espiritu Santo	–	Independent	–
	March 14	Guadalcanal	Auckland	March 19	Independent	–
	March 20	Auckland	San Francisco	Apr. 4	Independent	–
	Apr. 24	San Francisco	Milne Bay	–	Independent	–
	May 18	Milne Bay	Langemak Bay	May 20	Independent	–
	May 31	Langemak Bay	Milne Bay	June 1	Independent	–
	June 4	Milne Bay	Oro Bay	June 4	Independent	–
	June 5	Oro Bay	Lae	June 6	Independent	–
	June 7	Lae	Humboldt	June 9	Independent	–
	June 18	Humboldt	Langemak Bay	June 21	Independent	–
	June 21	Langemak Bay	Milne Bay	June 22	Independent	–
	June 24	Milne Bay	Auckland	June 30	Independent	Notional sailing date
	July 7	Auckland	Morobe	July 13	Independent	–
	July 14	Morobe	Langemak Bay	July 14	Independent	–
	July 15	Langemak Bay	Aitape	July 16	BG 1/A	Convoy available at BG 1A (external link)
	July 31	Aitape	Langemak Bay	–	Independent	–
	Aug. 7	Milne Bay	Noumea	Aug. 12	Independent	–
	Aug. 14	Noumea	Auckland	Aug. 16	Independent	–
	Aug. 19	Auckland	Torrens(?)	Aug. 21	Independent	–
	Aug. 23	Havannah Passage	San Francisco	Sept. 6	Independent	See also narrative below
	Oct. 20	San Francisco	Pt Hueneme	Oct. 21	Independent	–
	Oct. 26	Pt Hueneme	Milne Bay	Nov. 10	Independent	–
	Nov. 16	Milne Bay	Hollandia	Nov. 18	Independent	See also narrative
	Dec. 30	Hollandia	Biak	–	Independent	–
1945	Jan. 2	Biak	Lae	Jan. 4	Independent	–
	Jan. 4	Lae	San Francisco	Jan. 21	Independent	–
	Again, these next entries are not included on the archive documents. Page 3 agrees with arrival San Francisco on Jan. 21-1945, but the next entry on Page 4 is for departure New York on July 23 (perhaps there's a page missing?).
	Febr. 16	San Francisco	Langemak Bay	–	Independent	–
	March 4	Langemak Bay	Hollandia	March 5	Independent	–
	March 9	Hollandia	Leyte	March 16	GI 15	Convoy available at GI 15 (external link)
	Apr. 11	Manila	Leyte	Apr. 12	IKO 202	Convoy available at IKO 202 (external link)
	Apr. 18	Leyte	Kossol Rds	Apr. 20	IKO 203	Convoy available at IKO 203 (external link)
	Apr. 23	Kossol Rds	Manus	Apr. 25	Independent	–
	Apr. 26	Manus	Espiritu Santo	Apr. 30	Independent	–
	May 1	Espiritu Santo	San Francisco	May 14	Independent	–
	June 15	San Francisco	Balboa	June 23	Independent	–
	June 24	Cristobal	Havre	July 5	Independent	–
	July 8	Havre	New York City	–	Independent	–
	July 23	New York City	Naples	Aug. 3	Independent	Subsequent voyages: Page 4

I've received this picture from Hans Jacob Herholdt, whose grandfather, Jacob Henrik Sørensen, served as steward on Torrens all through the war (shown at x on the photo). He has the following questions regarding this picture:
1 - Does it show Torrens' crew?
2 - Is there a place where he can get help identifying the people in the picture?
3 - Is Captain Thor Bruu present?
4 - Are the men in uniform in the front row the gunners on Torrens? (Another visitor to my site has told me that yes, they probably are, because his uncle, Kristian Modulv Tollefsen is pictured as No. 2 from the right in the first row, and he was a gunner on Torrens).
If anyone can help him, please contact me via the address provided at the bottom of this page.
Hans has also told me that East Carolina University appears to have information on one of Torrens' voyages - scroll down to "Description" on this external page for more details (it's a collection consisting of a pictorial log of the 33rd [Special] U.S. Naval Construction Battalion [the Seabees], voyaging to the Pacific aboard Torrens - see also narrative below).

Misc. War Voyages:

For information on voyages made in between those noted in this narrative, please see the documents received from the National Archives of Norway and A. Hague's Voyage Record above. All the convoys mentioned here are available via the external links provided within the Voyage Record.

As will be seen when going to Page 1 of the archive documents, Torrens was in New York when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940, having arrived there from Manila on Apr. 6. Her 1941 voyages also start on this document, while the rest are listed on Page 2, which also shows some 1942 voyages (unfortunately, this document is cropped a bit close, but it should be possible to get an idea of the departure dates). It looks like she spent a long time in Los Angeles, where she had arrived from Balboa on Dec. 4-1941, leaving again for Brisbane on Febr. 7-1942.

As already mentioned, she served as troopship between 1942 and 1946 (U.S.A.T. 25), operating on behalf of the United States War Shipping Administration by Barber Steamship Lines and the American West African Line, able to carry up to 1702 passengers (others say over 2000 troops), fitted out at Betlehem Steel in San Francisco, complete with a "hospital" and operating room. She was heavily armed; at first she had American gunners, but later also Norwegian ones. She became known as "The Ship of Good Cheer". Her first voyage as troopship took place in the summer of 1942 from San Francisco to Brisbane - again, see the end of Page 2, where we learn that she had arrived San Francisco on May 7-1942, spending several weeks there before leaving again for Brisbane on June 22, with arrival Brisbane on July 15. Arnold Hague has included her in Convoy PW 2095 for this voyage. According to Page 3, she headed back to California on July 25, arriving Los Angeles on Aug. 12, San Francisco Aug. 17, leaving again for Suva on Sept. 2, with arrival Sept. 19. For this voyage, A. Hague has her in Convoy PW 2132. From Suva, she sailed to Lautoka, then back to San Francisco, where she arrived Oct. 17, and on the 27th she headed for Suva again, but arrival there is not given on the archive document and this voyage is not included in A. Hague's record. She left Suva on Nov. 18, arriving Townsville Nov. 25, and from there she headed back to San Francisco again on Dec. 2.

In the first 6 months of 1943 she made 3 voyages between San Francisco and Noumea, New Guinea. Convoy information for some of her subsequent voyages can be found in the Voyage Record. For instance, she's listed in Convoy TN 120 from Townsville in July that year. According to Page 3, she left Townsville on July 23 and arrived Fall River the next day. She subsequently returned to Townsville, and having made a voyage to Brisbane and back to Townsville, she appears in Convoy TN 139 on Aug. 18, arriving Milne Bay on Aug. 21. A. Hague also has her in Convoy FT 21 from Milne Bay to Townsville on Aug. 26/28, which agrees with the details found on the archive document. She subsequently returned to San Francisco, where she arrived Sept. 18, remaining there for 3 weeks, before making another voyage to Noumea.

Unfortunately, all of her 1944 voyages are missing from the document (Page 3) - as mentioned, she had made another voyage from San Francisco to Noumea in Oct.-1943, leaving Noumea again for New Zealand on Nov. 11, and that's the last voyage listed until Jan. 21-1945, when she arrived San Francisco. Note, however, that some information on these missing voyages can be found in A. Hague's Voyage Record (she appears in just one convoy in this period, namely BG 1A from Langemak Bay on July 15-1944; A. Hague says she arrived Aitape the next day). As will be seen from his record, she later arrived San Francisco from Auckland on Sept. 6-1944, and from Dan Craw (who posted this Guestbook message), I've received a crew and passenger list upon her arrival California that day, as follows:

List or manifest of aliens employed on the vessel as members of crew From New Zealand ports via Noumea, New Caledonia (dated San Francisco, Sept. 6-1944)
*Denotes those who were members of crew on last voyage to the U.S., the others were not.
Captain Thor Bruu*	38 years at sea, Norwegian, age 54, signed on in Oslo Dec. 5-1939
Chief Officer Frank Mikelis Alex Schelte*	29 years at sea, Latvian, age 50, signed on i Oslo Dec. 5-1939.
2nd Officer Kristinius Vatne*	14 years at sea, Norwegian, age 33, signed on in New York June 19-1943
2nd Officer Carl Gustav Fredrik Kaltenborn Lütken*	10 years at sea, Norwegian, age 28, signed on in San Francisco Sept. 22-1943
2nd Officer Monrad Bjarne Eikeberg*	13 years at sea, Norwegian, age 35, signed on in San Francisco on June 29-1943
4th Officer Harvey Lyngaas*	6 years at sea, Norwegian, age 25, signed on in Oslo on Dec. 5-1939
Radio Operator Kaare Myhr*	8 years at sea, Norwegian, age 34, signed on in Oslo on Dec. 5-1939
Carpenter Oskar Didrik Larsen*	18 years at sea, Norwegian, age 42, signed on in Oslo on Dec. 5-1939
Boatswain Leif Andreas Dahlø*	15 years at sea, Norwegian, age 32, signed on in San Francisco May 10-1943
Able Seaman Johan Ramsli Width*	15 years at sea, Norwegian, age 35, signed on in San Francisco Sept. 22-1943 - to be discharged Sept. 7-1944 to reship?*
Able Seaman Karl Martin Pedersen*	7 years at sea, Norwegian, age 25, signed on in San Francisco Sept. 22-1943 - to be discharged Sept. 7-1944 to reship?*
Able Seaman Ragnar Møyland*	7 years at sea, Norwegian, age 23, signed on in San Francisco Dec. 21-1943 - to be discharged Sept. 9-1944 to reship?*
Able Seaman Karsten Johan Pettersen*	9 years at sea, Norwegian, age 30, signed on in San Francisco Febr. 15-1944
Able Seaman Reidar William Knudtsen	9 years at sea, Norwegian, age 26, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 22-1944 - to be discharged Sept. 7-1944 to reship?*
Able Seaman Geoffrey Davis Newlands*	2 years at sea, English/New Zeland, age 18, signed on in San Francisco May 6-1943 - to be discharged Sept. 7-1944 to reship?*
Able Seaman Svend Børre Nielsen*	6 years at sea, Danish, age 24, signed on in San Francisco Febr. 17-1944 - to be discharged Sept. 7-1944 to reship?*
Ordinary Seaman Erik Gunner Carlsen*	5 years at sea, Danish, age 22, signed on in San Francisco Dec. 20-1943 - to be discharged Sept. 7-1944 to reship?*
Ordinary Seaman George Harold Paulson*	1 year at sea, English/Canadian, age 18, signed on in San Francisco June 26-1943
Ordinary Seaman David John Hague-Smith	1 year at sea, English/New Zealand, age 20, signed on in Auckland, N.Z. July 5-1944
Ordinary Seaman Roland Barry Parsons	4 months at sea, American, age 16, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 20-1944
Chief Engineer Trygve Gotfred Olsen*	34 years at sea, Norwegian, age 56, signed on in New York Sept. 21-1943
2nd Engineer Arthur Sverre Hansen*	23 years at sea, Norwegian, age 47
3rd Engineer Elias Dahl Hagevik*	21 years at sea, Norwegian, age 40, signed on in San Francisco Sept. 28-1943
4th Engineer Harald Fritjof Henriksen*	9 years at sea, Norwegian, age 38, signed on in New York Sept. 30-1940
Assistant Engineer Normann Aasheim	10 years at sea, Norwegian, age 37, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 12-1944 (again, see this Guestbook message)
Electrician Harald Magnus Barth*	21 years at sea, Norwegian, age 47, signed on in Oslo Dec. 5-1939
Electrician Harald Kristoffersen	4 years at sea, Norwegian, age 26, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 12-1944
Motorman Waldemar Johansen*	9 years at sea, Norwegian, age 54, signed on in Oslo Dec. 5-1939 - to be discharged Sept. 7-1944 to reship?*
Motorman Johan Torbjørn Isaksen*	9 years at sea, Norwegian, age 32, signed on in New York Nov. 10-1941
Motorman Johan Justiniussen Kind*	9 years at sea, Norwgeian, age 37, signed on in San Francisco June 12-1942
Motorman Kristen Wilhelmsen*	7 years at sea, Norwegian, age 34, signed on in San Francisco Jan. 6-1943
Motorman Johan Bertil Blomquist*	5 years at sea, Norwegian, age 26, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 30-1943 - to be discharged Oct. 3-1944 to reship?*
Motorman Kristian Martinius Valstad*	6 years at sea, Norwegian, age 23, signed on in San Francisco Oct. 1-1943 - to be discharged Sept. 7-1944 to reship?*
Motorman Olaf Marius Karstensen*	17 years at sea, Norwegian, age 35, signed on in San Francisco Dec. 21-1943
Motorman Brynjulf Havnaas Helgesen	7 years at sea, Norwegian, age 22, signed on in San Pedro Apr. 13-1944
Motorman Carl Malte Mauritz Johansson	20 years at sea, Swedish, age 40, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 18-1944
Oiler William Edward Desmond O'Sullivan	9 years at sea, English/New Zealand, age 30, signed on in Auckland, N.Z. July 5-1944
Steward Jakob Hendrik Sørensen*	34 years at sea, Norwegian, age 53, signed on in San Francisco June 18-1942
Steward Einar Bang*	10 years at sea, Norwegian, age 26, signed on in New York July 9-1941
1st Cook Johan Bernhard Hansen*	25 years at sea, Norwegian, age 50, signed on in San Francisco Sept. 28-1943
Cook Fredrik Hansen	14 years at sea, Norwegian, age 31, signed on in San Pedro Apr. 13-1944
3rd Cook Paulo Dias	26 years at sea, East Indian/Portuguese, age 43, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 22-1944
Galleyboy Rhodes William Peterson	1 year at sea, Pacific Islander/New Zealand, age 18, signed on in Augckland, N.Z. July 6-1944 - to be discharged Sept. 8-1944 to reship?*
Messboy Charles Louis Garland*	15 years at sea, British, age 53, signed on in San Francisco Sept. 22-1943
The following is crossed out:
Messboy Meicor August**	4 months at sea, American, age 21, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 12-1944 - paid off at Noumea Aug. 13-1944
Messboy Achilles Joseph Daws	9 months at sea, English/New Zealand, age 16, signed on in Auckland, N.Z. July 6-1944 - to be discharged Sept. 19-1944 to reship?*
Cabinboy Olav Larsen Kobbeltvedt*	5 years at sea, Norwegian, age 29, signed on in San Francisco Oct. 2-1943
Cabinboy Max Lester Patrick O'Starr*	1 year at sea, American, age 23, signed on in San Francisco June 22-1943
The next 2 are crossed out:
Cabinboy Manuel Loza Martinez***	7 months at sea, Mexican, age 22, signed on in San Pedro Jan. 14-1944 - paid off at Noumea Aug. 13-1944
Cabinboy Ragnar Andreas Kristiansen	15 years at sea, Norwegian, age 29, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 23-1944 - reported as deserted at Auckland, Aug. 19-1944
Lt. Armament Officer Edvard Fylkesnes*	18 years at sea, Norwegian, age 36, signed on in New York Sept. 21-1943
Armament Chief P.O. Johan Kolbjørn Vidnes*	8 years at sea, Norwegian, age 32, signed on in San Francisco Oct. 23-1942
Able Seaman/Gunner Modulv Kristian Marinius Tollefsen*	4 years at sea, Norwegian, age 23, signed on in San Francisco May 10-1943
Able Seaman/Gunner Erling Torvanger*	2 years at sea, Norwegian, age 30, signed on in San Francisco Oct. 25-1942
Able Seaman/Gunner Nils Josef Karlsen*	30 years at sea, Norwegian, age 50, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943 - to be discharged Sept. 9-1944 to reship?*
Able Seaman/Gunner Leif Haugen*	10 years at sea, Norwegian, age 36, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943
Able Seaman/Gunner Angell Lingaard Kristoffersen*	6 years at sea, Norwegian, age 27, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943
Able Seaman/Gunner Ole Anton Tobiassen*	5 years at sea, Norwegian, age 26, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943
Able Seaman/Gunner Kristoffer Anders Naustdal*	4 years at sea, Norwegian, age 24, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943
Able Seaman/Gunner Ingolv Lid*	6 years at sea, Norwegian, age 23, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943
Able Seaman/Gunner Arthur Johan Pedersen*	4 years at sea, Norwegian, age 23, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943 - to be discharged Sept. 28-1944 to reship
Able Seaman/Gunner Harald Witzøe Haugvik*	3 years at sea, Norwegian, age 23, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943
Able Seaman/Gunner Hans Eriksen*	5 years at sea, Norwegian, age 22, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943
Able Seaman/Gunner Jan Gerhard Ovidth*	5 years at sea, Norwegian, age 21, signed on in New York Nov. 26-1943
Able Seaman/Gunner Gunnar Henry Gulliksen*	7 years at sea, Norwegian, age 24, signed on in San Pedro Febr. 1-1944
Able Seaman/Gunner Thorvald Tobiassen*	5 years at sea, Norwegian, age 21, signed on in San Pedero Febr. 4-1944
Able Seaman/Gunner Holger Olai Johansen*	6 years at sea, Norwegian, age 23, signed on in San Pedro Febr. 9-1944
Able Seaman/Gunner Erling Leofred Solstad*	6 years at sea, Norwegian, age 26, signed on in San Francisco Febr. 17-1944
Able Seaman/Gunner Reidulv Borge Flaatten*	6 years at sea, Norwegian, age 21, signed on in San Francisco Febr. 17-1944 - to be discharged Sept. 9-1944 to reship?*
Able Seaman/Gunner Sigurd Wilhelm Knutsen	16 years at sea, Norwegian, age 29 (if he had indeed already served 16 years at sea, he must have been very young when he started - or, one of the numbers could be an error), signed on in San Francisco Apr. 21-1944
Able Seaman/Gunner Svenn Bech Lindøe	6 years at sea, Norwegian, age 23, signed on in San Francisco Apr. 21-1944
Chief Steward for troops Richard Reddington O'Brien*	6 years at sea, American, age 40, signed on in San Francisco Febr. 10-1944
Steward/Store Keeper for troops Laurel W. Bennett*	3 years at sea, American, age 24, signed on in San Francisco Febr. 13-1944
The next 3 names are handwritten on a separate document, and text is hard to decipher, hence my question marks.
Messboy Leslie Harold Inwood	No sea experience, British/New Zealand, age 18, signed on in Auckland Aug. 18?-1944. To be discharged Sept. 11-1944 to reship?*
There's a note for Leslie Harold Inwood saying that he was ordered detained on board on account of no valid identification document, but this was cancelled Sept. 7 after he had presented the necessary document issued by the British Consul.
Messboy Maxwell Andrew McLuchie(?)	12 years at sea, British, age 30, signed on in Auckland Aug. 18?-1944 - to be discharged Sept. 12-1944 to reship?*
Cabinboy Thomas Glenn	7 months at sea, British, age 18, signed on in Auckland Aug. 18-1944.
All of the above were granted shore leave while vessel was in port but "not for period to exceed 29 days". *It's difficult to determine whether the notations re discharge applies to the persons noted above, or if each notation should be moved down one line. **Meicor August and Manuel Loza Martinez (who are crossed out above) are mentioned again on a separate document, which has a note saying "Closed with two additional members in the crew for a total of fifty-two (52) members in the crew including the Master".
Passengers
From Auckland, N.Z. (Aug. 19-1944) * Denotes those who were admitted for permanent residence. ** = Admitted as U.S. citizens (Lines 1 through 7, 9 through 13, 15 through 17, 19 through 21, and lines No. 24, 26 and 27 were also admitted for permanent residence under a specific status, but I'm unable to determine what that status was).
Beauty Operator Muriel Louisa Davey	Age 21, single, British, born New Zealand/Oamaru
Typist Gloria Amber Fellows	Age 23, single, British, born New Zealand/Wellington
Housewife Kathleen Laurel Biesecker	Age 24, married, British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Elizabeth Emily Brown	Age 22, married, British, born New Zealand/Te Aroha
Housewife Norma Joyce Bertram Brown	Age 26, married, British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Berthan Louisa Caliegari	Age 36, married, British, born New Zealand/Islington
Housewife Joan Elizabeth Carpenter	Age 20, married, British, born New Zealand/Gisborne
Child Virginia Lee Carpenter**	Age 7 months, U.S.A./British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Alma Beryl Carter	Age 22, married, British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Daphne Edith Dossey	Age 20, married, British, born New Zealand/Waihi
Child Joan Edith Turnbull	Age 2 years, 10 months, daughter of above by previous marriage, British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Jean Barbara Echols	Age 22, married, British, born New Zealand/Nelson
Housewife Catherine Louisa Esch	Age 21, married, British, born New Zealand/North Palmerston
Child Catherine Julia Esch**	Age 4 months, U.S.A./British, born New Zealand/Masterton
Housewife Marie Hultgren	Age 32, married, British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Child Russel Leonard Hultgren	Age 10 months, son of above by legal adoption, British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Mabel Charlotte Lee	Age 20, married, British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Child Marjorie Anna Lee**	Age 5 months, U.S.A./British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Helen Dorothy Mabee	Age 28, married, British, born New Zealand/Westport
Housewife Joan Mason	Age 24, married, British, born New Zealand/Wellington
Housewife Gwen Barbara Moore	Age 19, married, British, born New Zealand/Masterton
Housewife Frances Philomena Mosby*	Age 26, married, British, born New Zealand/Wellington
Housewife Helen Ruth Motley*	Age 18, married, British, born New Zealand/Hawera
Housewife Mary Gladys Muller	Age 28, married, British, born New Zealand/Helensville
Housewife Joyce Rosina Pape*	Age 22, married, British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Joyce Ellen Racette	Age 23, married, British, born New Zealand/Wyndham
Housewife Gloria Servoin Rasmussen	Age 21, married, British, born New Zealand/Wellington
Housewife Margaret Audrey Schade*	Age 23, married, British, born Canada/Ontario
Housewife Valeska Marjorie Shiell*	Age 21, married, British, born New Zealand/Wellington
Housewife Florence Angela Skaggs*	Age 17, married, British, born Bournemouth
Housewife Gwen Stines*	Age 21, married, British, born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Sarah Ellen Walk*	Age 26, married, British, born England/Liverpool
Official Secretary for the High Commissioner for Canada in N.Z. Kathleen Muriel Greenwood	Age 31, single (reads English, French and German), British - born Canada/Orillia, diplomatic visa
Branch Manager Rudolph William Christensen	Age 43, married, British - born New Zealand/Collingwood
Company Manager James Noel Doull	Age 36, married, British/Scotch - born New Zealand/Auckland
Housewife Nita Euphemia Nairn	Age 20, married, British - born New Zealand/Taihape
Housewife Margaret Edith Pike	Age 42, divorced, British - born U.S.A./California
From Noumea, New Caledonia (date given as Aug. 23-1944)
Merchant Marine Seaman (cook) Melvin David Johnson	Age 24, single, negro, Spanish/Honduras, born Honduras/La Ceiba
Shipped out on S/S San Bruno Dec. 26-1943. Hospitalized at Havanna Harbor, New Hebrides. Returned to U.S. by U.S. Navy. Released from U.S. Marine Hospital Sept. 22-1944.

The Americans had landed at Leyte Gulf on the Philippines on Oct. 19-1944. From day one Japanese aircraft attacked the landing forces and the accompanying convoys in the gulf. The first Kamikaze suicide attack occurred on Oct. 21, with the Australian cruiser Australia its victim. (Also, see what General Fleischer endured at Leyte). Torrens had left San Francisco on Oct. 20-1944, arriving Milne Bay, New Guinea Nov. 11, then continued to Hollandia on the 17th, where she waited for orders for 10 days (the difference in dates here, versus dates given by A. Hague in the above record, could simply be due to different time zones used in reports). On Nov. 29, she joined a convoy of 40 ships bound for the Philippines. She had 1600 soldiers and equipment on board. The convoy was attacked several times en route, a couple of Liberty ships were hit during the first attack on Dec. 5 and many were killed*. An aircraft was shot down by Torrens, thereby saving another Liberty ship. The attacks lasted from early morning until dark, the gunners sleeping near their guns when they were off duty.

*The identities of these ships are not given, but this may have been the incident in which the following Liberty Ships were damaged by aircraft in that area on Dec. 5-1944: Antoine Saugrain, John Evans and Marcus Daly. See also this external page.

The convoy arrived Leyte in the morning of Dec. 6, suffering air raids several times that day. The airport was bombed, and parachute troops set some ammunition and petrol stores on fire. Torrens was there until the 9th, then moved 30 n. miles further north to land all the troops she had on board (this may have been one of the bridgeheads, Dulag or Tacloban?), where they stayed until Dec. 19 attempting to unload their cargo, an operation which was made very difficult due to the continuous air attacks, day and night. Finally, they departed for Leyte to wait for a convoy, and again escaped being hit by attacking Japanese aircraft that evening. She left Leyte on Dec. 22 for Hollandia, a peaceful voyage. At Biak they took on board about 1000 Seabees* of the 55th Battalion and some pilots who were going home on vacation, then at Lae, New Guinea 300 wounded came on board, before the ship departed for San Francisco on Jan. 5-1945. According to Page 3 of the archive documents, Torrens arrived San Francisco on Jan. 21.

*As mentioned further up on this page, East Carolina University appears to have information on one of Torrens' voyages - scroll down to "Description" on this external page for more details (it's a collection consisting of a pictorial log of the 33rd [Special] U.S. Naval Construction Battalion [the Seabees], voyaging to the Pacific aboard Torrens.

In San Francisco, the captain handed over some money to the Consulate, to be given to the Norwegian Destroyer Foundation. This money had been collected among the American soldiers on board on Dec. 6, as a gift to the gunners "in appreciation of their excellent performance shooting down the Jap dive bomber yesterday"; $ 370 from the 33rd Special Naval Construction Battalion (Lt. Commander J. P. Piepgrass Jr.), and $ 170 from the 5th Special Naval Construction Battalion (Lt. Commander F. L. Holland). One of the officers added "this is indeed not an attempt to compensate them for service in the line of duty but rather a token to express our admiration of their cool action and accurate marksmanship under fire. Congratulations and good wishes to you and your crew".

Captain Bruu became well known for establishing a fund for the children of seamen who had been killed in the war, collecting considerable amounts of money for the purpose. "Captain Bruu's Children's Fund" existed for many years after the war, until such time as those children were adults and no longer in need of financial support.

Gunners on Torrens at the time were: Erling Torvanger, Kristoffer Nausdal, Nils K. Fjærå, A. L. Kristoffersen, Jan. G. Ovidt, Gunnar H. Gulliksen, Holger O. Johansen, Reidulf B. Flaatten, Ingolf A. B. Larsen, Berge A. Andersen (see also this external page), Johan Vidnes, Kristian Tollefsen, Hans Eriksen (previously Thelma and Egerø), Harald Haugvik, Ingolv Lid, Ole A. Tobiassen (see also this external page), Thorvald Tobiassen (other ships named on this external page), Erling L. Solstad, Svein B. Lindøe, Gunnar Gunnarsen Lia (other ships named on this external page), and Fritz Ingebriktsen. Gunnery Officer was Edvard Fylkesnes.

There's now another big gap in the voyage information for Torrens, from arrival San Francisco on Jan. 21-1945, as mentioned, to the first voyage listed on Page 4, which has her leaving New York for Naples on July 23-1945 - again, see the Voyage Record above for Arnold Hague's listing of her voyages in the interim period - he has included her in 3 convoys, namely GI 15 from Hollandia to Leyte in March, in IKO 202 from Manila the following month (he states she arrived Leyte on Apr. 12), and in IKO 203 from Leyte on Apr. 18, adding she arrived Kossol Roads on Apr. 20. The archive document also shows some early 1946 voyages.

POST WAR:

Sold on June 3-1966 to Dimitra Cia. Nav. S.A. (Michail A. Karageorgis, and latterly E.T. Kolintzas, manager), Greece and renamed Georgios M. Sold to H. Si Chiao El Le Kou, Peking for scrapping. Delivered at Hsinkang to Chinese shipbreakers on Apr. 13-1970.

Related external link:
The Battle of Leyte Gulf

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

Wilh. Wilhelmsen later had two other ships by this name.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, Wilh. Wilhelmsen's fleet list, "Tilbakeblikk" and misc. (ref. My sources).

Aa–Al	An–Ar	As–Av	Ba	Be	Bi–Bl	Bo	Br–Bu	C	D
E	F	G	Ha	He	Hi–Hy	Hø	I	J	K
L	M	N	O	PQ	R	Sa–Sc	Se–Sj	Sk–Sn	So
Sp–St	Su–Sø	Ta–Te	Th–Ti	To	Tr–Tø	U	V	W	Ø