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M/S Triton To Triton on the "Ships starting with T" page.
Manager: Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Tønsberg Launched by Kockums Mekaniska Verkstads A/B, Malmö (Yard No. 164) on March 26-1930, completed June 19. Captain: Einar Tholvsen Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
As will be seen when going to Page 1 above, Triton was on her way from Gibraltar to Greenock when Norway was invaded by the Germans on Apr. 9-1940 (it looks like her original destination had been Norway). She arrived Greeock on Apr. 15, and appears to have spent over 2 months there; her departure date is given as June 24. According to Arnold Hague, she later joined Convoy OB 179, which originated in Liverpool on July 5-1940 and dispersed July 9 - ref. external link below. Her destination is given as Panama; according to Page 1 of the archive documents, she arrived Curacao on July 20, leaving again that same day for Panama and Sydney, Australia. In Oct.-1940, she was 1 of 7 Norwegian ships in Convoy HX 79. The others were Benwood, Sandanger, Egda, Thyra, Høyanger and Ravnefjell. Triton had joined from Bermuda in station 51 of the feeder convoy BHX 79 (along with Høyanger), and took station 56 of the main convoy, which had departed Halifax on Oct. 8 and arrived Liverpool on Oct 23 with the loss of 12 ships. Follow the convoy link above for more information on ships sunk. See also the external link further down on this page. Triton had a cargo of wheat, wool, and steel for Liverpool, and cccording to "Nortraships flåte", she was attacked while in this convoy and was reported missing from Oct. 21 until the 23rd when she arrived Clyde (no such attack is mentioned by J. Rohwer). About a month later, we find her in Convoy OB 246, originating in Liverpool on Nov. 20-1940, dispersed Nov. 24. Her destination is not given (again, see external link below), but from Page 1, we learn that she arrived New York on Dec. 3. Skipping now to Jan. 2-1942, when she joined Convoy HX 168 from Halifax to the U.K. See also Page 2. On March 4, she joined Convoy OS 21, voyaging from Liverpool to Bermuda/Panama/Australia in station 21. Several other Norwegian ships also took part, again, see the external link provided below for more convoy details. This was a Freetown bound convoy, but as mentioned, Triton's first stop was Bermuda, where she arrived on March 23, according to Page 3, later proceeding to Cristobal and Australia. Related external links: OS/KMS Convoys - There's also has a section on the SL/MKS convoys. As can be seen, Triton is listed in Convoy OS 21 in March-1942, and was in SL 118 when sunk in Aug. that year. Another section of the site (based on Arnold Hague's database) has Triton in OB 179 and OB 246, both mentioned above.
Triton departed Freetown on Aug. 4-1942, joining Convoy SL 118 (also available at the external website above), and was on a voyage from Sydney, N.S.W. and Freetown to Belfast Lough and Avonmouth with 9500 tons cargo* of wool, wheat, zinc concentrate and 867 bags of mail. She had started out in Sydney on May 25, Fremantle on June 16, arrived Cape Town for bunkers on July 8, took on board 358 bags of mail, departed July 14**, arrived Freetown July 25, then left again on Aug. 4, as mentioned - again, see also Page 3. On Aug. 17, she was hit by 2 torpedoes in the aft cargo holds and sunk by U-566 (Remus), northeast of the Azores in position 39 31N 22 43W (39 30N 23 00W?). The 2 port lifeboats were damaged and could not be used, but the crew took to the starboard boats. The aft starboard raft was also launched, manned by 10-15 men who were later picked up by the lifeboats. All 43 had survived and were picked up half an hour later by the British Baron Dunmore (also in Convoy SL 118). 4 had been injured and were transferred to one of the escorts for treatment. They were landed in Loch Ewe on Aug. 26 where they were transferred to the hospital ship St. Andrew, before being sent to Glasgow on Aug. 27, arriving the same day. The maritime inquiry was held there on Aug. 31-1942 with the captain, and the 1st and 3rd mates attending, all of whom had been on the bridge when the attack occurred.
Crew List - No casualties:
Related external links: Back to Triton on the "Ships starting with T" page. Other ships by this name: Wilh. Wilhelmsen later had another ship named Triton 1948-1969. Holland lost a steamship by this name in WW II, built 1928, 2078 gt - torpedoed, shelled and sunk by U-558 on June 2-1942, on a voyage from Demerara to Chesapeake Bay. (Holland had also lost a steamer by this name in 1923). Also, there was a Greek submarine by the name Triton in WW II. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: Wilh. Wilhelmsen fleet list, "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "German Raiders of World War II", August Karl Muggenthaler, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume II, Norwegian Maritime Museum, and misc. (ref. My sources).
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