M/T Varanger - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945

Some War Voyages:

(More will be added).

Varanger, with a cargo of fuel oil for Liverpool, is listed in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 28 in March/Apr.-1940, together with several other Norwegian ships. In May/June that year we find her in the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 45, bound for Avonmouth with fuel oil, again in the company of several other Norwegian ships.

In Jan.-1941 she's listed in the slow Halifax-U.K Convoy SC 19, bound for Clyde with fuel oil in station 54 of the convoy, getting praise for her station keeping (see Commodore's notes for SC 19). The following month she's mentioned in station 55 of Convoy OB 286, with destination New York.

She was scheduled for Convoy HX 137 in July-1941, but instead joined the next convoy, HX 138, then returned across the ocean already on July 31 with the westbound Convoy ON 3. Her destintion is given as New York on that occasion. She headed for the U.K. again in Sept.-1941 with Convoy HX 150 (in station 66?) along with the Norwegian Fenris (83), Solfonn (44), Havkong (84), Garonne (62), Thorshavet (33), Topdalsfjord (34), Heina (64) and Braganza (66?).

Cruising orders and further dates for all these convoys are available by following the links provided. More details on the other Norwegian ships mentioned here can be found with the help of the alphabet index at the bottom of this page.

According to the external website that I've linked to below, Varanger subsequently joined Convoy OS 9 which left Liverpool on Oct. 13-1941. She was on a voyage from Clyde to Curacao in ballast, station 85. (The Norwegian Annavore, Fagersten, and Fjord are also included). However, there's something strange here, because Varanger is also listed as bound for Curacao with Convoy ON 32, leaving Liverpool on Nov. 1-1941- it seems to me she would not have had time to travel to Curacao in OS 9, then back to the U.K. in time to join ON 32 on Nov. 1(?). Perhaps she did not sail in OS 9 afterall(?).

Related external link:
OS and OS/KMS Convoys - As can be seen, Varanger is listed in Convoy OS 9.

Final Fate - 1942:

Varanger departed Curaçao for New York with 12 750 tons fuel oil on Jan. 16-1942. On Jan. 25 (at 03:00 according to a journal excerpt) she was torpedoed by U-130 (Kals), 38 58N 74 06W* (about 28 n. miles southeast of Atlantic City, N. J.). She was hit by 3 torpedoes and broke in three. The 1st torpedo struck on the port side between the foremast and the bridge where 2nd mate Wilhelmsen, the helmsman, Ordinary Seaman Brevik and the lookout, Able Seaman Karlsen were on duty. The explosion destroyed the port amidships lifeboat and rendered the radio useless. Her engine was stopped and all secret code books thrown overboard. The starboard amidships lifeboat and the aft starboard motorboat were ordered launched, and the former was on the water but the latter was only lowered half way when about 5 minutes after the 1st torpedo had struck a 2nd torpedo hit between the aft mast and the poop. A couple of minutes later, after everyone had gotten off and behind the ship, which at that time had started to sink, a 3rd torpedo set her on fire. The front part stayed above water (the attack happened close to land in about 140 ft. of water), while the other 2 parts sank.

* Roger W. Jordan's "The World's Merchant Fleets" says Varanger was torpedoed in the position given above but sank in 39 10N 73 45W. According to Lloyd's War Losses Vol. 1 this was the position of the bow which remained above water.

All 40 (2 of whom were American citizens) survived and as the U-boat surfaced they started to row westwards. The motorboat later took the lifeboat in tow. After about 6 hours they encountered 2 fishing vessels which towed the lifeboats to the Coast Guard Station at Sea Island Inlet, N.J. with arrival there at 12:45.

A report from Lieutenant Gilbert L. Countryman, U.S.N.R. to Commandant Fourth Naval District, via Commander Inshore Patrol dated Jan. 25-1942 (based on survivors' statements) says that Varanger had departed Coco Solo on Jan. 16, and was about 30 miles offshore on a course toward Barnegat (38 58N 74 06W) when the first torpedo hit amidships on the port side at 03:10, destroying the radio equipment, closing hatches, blowing in plates, rendering the 4" gun inoperative and destroying 2 of the 4 lifeboats. As Varanger began to list and sink the crew crawled through holes blown in the plates to get out. The 2 remaining boats were launched and the men in the water were picked up. Each member of the crew wore an "Easco" lifejacket light (electric, waterproof) which enabled the boats to sight them easily in the water. The 2nd torpedo, from another U-boat(? as far as I can determine, this is incorrect) hit on the port side at 03:17 and destroyed the engine room; all men were off the ship by then. At 03:22 a U-boat surfaced about 1 mile to shore while another came in close and fired a torpedo which hit forward on the port side, whereupon the ship sank rapidly. At that time the 2 lifeboats were headed toward Ocean City. A plane was heard in the air but not seen. Fishing vessels towed them to shore, and the men were taken to Townsend Inlet. No-one was seriously injured, though they all suffered from shock and exposure, some had minor lacerations and bruises. 1st Mate Arnfinn Krokeide had possible fractured ribs from having been thrown to the deck in the first explosion, though a civilian doctor in attendance was of the opinion that it was a severe bruise and not a fracture (excerpt from the ship's journal states he was admitted to a hospital in Philadelphia on Jan. 26).

The report adds that requests of civilians to talk to crew members and take photographs were denied. The Red Cross were supplying necessary clothing and shoes, and immigration officials were enroute from Philadelphia. 1 crew member left the building by a cellar door but was returned by Coast Guard personnel.

The maritime hearings were held in New York on Jan. 29-1942 with Captain Horne, the 2nd mate, Able Seaman Karlsen, and Ordinary Seaman Brevik appearing (position here is given as 30N 74 7W).

I've received an E-mail from Joe Milligan who says that Varanger's history has been greatly detailed in several books published in the U.S. about shipwrecks. It appears to be a popular target for divers and many artifacts have been recovered. Varanger's bell was originally discovered on the wreck by a diver named Tom McElwee in 1978. He recovered the ship's helm during the late 1970's, while Joe Milligan recovered the bell in 1982 with his dive partner George Hughes.

Joe also recovered the porthole, and he has framed a picture of Varanger inside it. (The picture was taken on Jan. 26-1942, the day after the sinking and shows her bow out of the water).

Joe says, "She lies in 140 feet of water completely upright. The wreck has collapsed quite a bit over the past 10 years, however, it is still one of the best ship wreck dives on the east coast of the US".

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. others for cross checking details - (ref. My sources). The report from Lieutenant Gilbert L. Countryman was received from a visitor to my website.