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Owner: Skibs-A/S Trolla Delivered in March-1923 from Laxevaag Maskin & Jernskibsbyggeri, Bergen (134) as cargo vessel Ringaas to A/S D/S Ringaas (Stephansen & Torgersen), Oslo. Steel hull, 245.9’ x 37.9’ x 15.7’, 1597 gt, 2400 tdwt, Triple Expansion (Laxevaag) 167nhp, 9 knots. Sold in July-1928 to Skibs-A/S Trolla (Karl Torkildsen), Trondheim, renamed Trolla, Captain Torleif Mauritz Torkildsen (owner's son). In North Sea service, typically with wood pulp, lumber, ore and minerals from Norway to the continent and UK, carrying coal on her return voyages. Occasional voyages to the Mediterranean, or with lumber from Canada to the UK. In June-1936 Leif Thorbjørnsen (Torleif M. Torkildsen's brother-in-law) took over as captain. Captain (at time of loss): Ole Grande.
Trolla, bound for Grimsby with pulp, is listed as sailing in Convoy HN 21 from Norway to the U.K. towards the end of March-1940. About 3 months later, we find her in Convoy OA 172, leaving Southend on June 21, dispersed 4 days later. Trolla's destination is given as Belfast, cargo of coal, station 54. This convoy was composed of 2 parts, OA 172(1) and OA 172(2), Trolla being in Part 1, as were the Norwegian Bonde and Vestland, while the Norwegian Evviva was in Part 2. There's a note in connection with this convoy (Part 1) stating that Bonde and Trolla were left behind as they could not maintain 5 knots in the fresh wind and sea. (See the external links provided below). At the beginning of Sept.-1940 she was in the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 3, from which the Norwegian Lotos was sunk, among others - follow the link for more details. Trolla had a cargo of pit props for Belfast and Immingham on that occasion. Note that this convoy had a large number of Norwegian ships. Early in Jan.-1941 she sailed in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 18, cargo of pit props for West Hartlepool. She was scheduled for Convoy SC 29, in Apr. that year (cargo of bauxite for Burntisland) but instead joined the next convoy, SC 30. According to the Commodore's notes she was running short on fuel and had to be sent in to Iceland. In Aug. that same year we find her in station 33 of the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 7; her destination is given as Quebec. In May-1942 she shows up in Convoy SC 84, then in the middle of July she's listed in Convoy SC 92, cargo of lumber. Follow the links for further details; again, several Norwegian ships took part. Her return voyage proved to be her last, as will be seen from the next paragraph. Related external links:
Departed Liverpool in ballast in Convoy ON 122 on Aug. 15-1942 bound for Sydney, C.B. Torpedoed (fireroom) on Aug. 24*-1942 by U-438 (Franzius), 48 55N 35 10W. Other ships had already been torpedoed, so all on board had been called out and told to be prepared for attack. She sank by the stern within a minute. 5 died, including the captain, who had been seen running to the radio room, presumably to get the ship's papers. The other 4 on the bridge ran to the port lifeboat as did 6 of the crew and by the time they had all gotten in, the ship had sunk enough that all they had to do was cut the boat loose and float away. 4 men on the poop deck were thrown overboard, 3 saved themselves on a raft from amidships, and were all picked up by the lifeboat. They rowed around the area in the hopes of finding the missing men, but no one was found.
17 had survived and were picked up 3 hours later by the Norwegian corvette Potentilla (Christian Monsen) which was one of the escorts. Chief Engineer Oskar Næss had been severely injured, and despite the efforts of a Norwegian and British doctor, who amputated one of his legs and gave him continuous blood transfusions, he later died at a hospital in St. Johns on Aug. 28 and was buried the next day. Able Seaman Enger, Ordinary Seaman Nenningsland and Trimmer Johnsen had broken legs, and 2nd Engineer Henriksen, Donkeyman Akselsen, Cook Evensen, Ordinary Seaman Olafsen and Gunner Skitt were also injured, but not seriously. On arrival St. John's on the 27th they were all taken to a hospital. The maritime inquiry was held there on Aug. 31 with the 1st mate, the 2nd engineer, and Ordinary Seaman/Gunner Knutsen attending. Other escorts were the Norwegian corvettes Montbretia, Eglantine and Acanthus, as well as the British destroyer Viscount. Other ships lost were British Empire Breeze 1 died, Katvaldis 3 died and Sheaf Mount 31 died. Follow the convoy link provided above for more information, including the Commodore's report on the attacks. (Charles Hocking adds Trolla was on a voyage from Garston to Sydney, N. S. when she was torpedoed about 800 miles east/northeast of Cape Race). Crew List:
Related external links: Back to Trolla on the "Ships starting with T" page. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume II (Norwegian Maritime Museum), and misc. (ref. My sources). Pre war history was received from T. Eriksen, Norway - his source: Article about Torkildsen's Rederi in "Skipet" 2.2003 by Dag Bakka Jr.
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