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M/S Triton To Triton on the "Ships starting with T" page.
Another picture is available on this external page (click in it to make it larger). 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: 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, Triton was on her way from Gibraltar to Greenock when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940 (it looks like her original destination had been Norway). She arrived Greenock on Apr. 15 and appears to have spent over 2 months there; departure is given as June 24. According to Arnold Hague, she later joined Convoy OB 179, which originated in Liverpool on July 5 and dispersed July 9 - ref. external link provided within the Voyage Record; Marstenen and Braga are also listed. Triton's destination is given as Panama; going back to the archive document, we see that 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 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 acccording 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 (with O. A. Knudsen) in Convoy OB 246, originating in Liverpool on Nov. 20, dispersed Nov. 24. Her destination is not given, but from Page 1, we learn that she arrived New York on Dec. 3. Again, see the external link in the table above. (Another section of the same site, which has not included Triton in this convoy, says that Dagfred, Rinda, Salamis and Solfonn were scheduled, but did not sail and also has Bayard in this convoy, but this does not agree with her Voyage Record for this period - A. Hague suggests this was the British Bayano). Triton's 1941 voyages start on Page 1 and continue on Page 2. It'll be noticed that she appears to have spent a long time at Port Said that spring, and again that fall. This document also shows a few 1942 voyages. Skipping now to Jan. 2-1942, when she can be found among the ships in Convoy HX 168 from Halifax to the U.K. According to A. Hague, she had a cargo of zinc, wool and 334 mails. She arrived Swansea (via Belfast Lough) on Jan. 19, remaining there until Febr. 7, when she proceeded to Barry and a week later to Milford Haven (Page 2), then on to Liverpool (Page 3). On March 4, she joined Convoy OS 21, voyaging from Liverpool to Bermuda/Panama/Australia with stores in station 21. Fana, Kollskegg and Petter are also listed, again, ref. external link provided in the Voyage Record (see also my narratives for Brand and Evita). This was a Freetown bound convoy, but as indicated, Triton's first stop was Bermuda, where she arrived on March 23, continuing that same day to Cristobal and Melbourne. A. Hague says she had been detached from the convoy on March 14. More information on the other Norwegian ships mentioned here can be found via the alphabet index at the end of this page, or go to the Master Ship Index Related external link:
Triton departed Freetown on Aug. 4-1942, joining Convoy SL 118 (station 21 - link in Voyage Record), 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 sailed from Sydney on May 25, from 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 already 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 with the captain and the 1st and 3rd mates attending, all of whom had been on the bridge when the attack occurred. Convoy SL 118 also lost 3 other ships, while one of the escorts was damaged - see the external link at the end of this page.
Crew List - No casualties:
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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