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D/S Fjordheim To Fjordheim on the "Ships starting with F" page. Manager: Niels Røgenæs, Haugesund Delivered in Oct.-1930 from Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Sunderland as Fjordheim to D/S A/S Theologos (N. Røgenæs), Haugesund. Tonnage as above, 324.8' x 51.5' x 23.7', triple exp. & LT turbin (N. East. Mar. Eng.) Captain: Arthur Jansen Related item on this website: 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. Errors may exist, and several voyages are missing.
As will be seen when going to Page 1 of the archive documents, Fjordheim was on her way from Cristobal to Savannah when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. Her 1941 voyages also start on this document and continue on Page 2. In Apr.-1941, British aircraft were stationed in Iceland. The Norwegian 330th Squadron was also placed there and in May that year Fjordheim successfully transported 18 Northrop (N-3-PB) aircraft, spare parts, ammunition and depth charges from Canada to Reykjavik, having sailed in Convoy HX 125 A, unloading on May 22. Cruising order/Commodore's narrative are also available for this convoy, which had left Halifax on May 6 - Fjordheim is said to have parted company for Iceland with the escort Ascania at 12:30 on May 18, in 62N 26 1/4W; she arrived Reykjavik the next day. From there, she made an independent voyage back across the Atlantic the following month, arriving St. John's, N.F. on June 10, proceeding to Montreal a few days later - see Page 2. With a general cargo and trucks for Avonmouth, she headed in the other direction at the end of June in the Sydney, C.B. portion of Convoy HX 136, arriving her destination on July 21. She subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 5, which left Liverpool on Aug. 6. Her destination is given as Montreal, where she arrived on Aug. 21, having started out from Milford Haven on Aug. 5. On Sept. 5-1941, she's listed, together with Astrell, Atle Jarl, Bernhard, Bjørkhaug, Bonde (returned), Erica, Fjord, Galatea, Ingerfem, Solstad, Torfinn Jarl and Vigsnes, in Convoy SC 43* from Sydney, C.B. Fjordheim arrived Avonmouth, via Belfast Lough, on Sept. 22, later joining the westbound Convoy ON 25*, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 10 and dispersed on the 24th, Fjordheim arriving Montreal on Oct. 30. Ingerfem, Storaas and Ørnefjell are also listed. On Nov. 16, we find her in the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 55, general cargo for Manchester, where she arrived Dec. 7/8 (Page 2). Later that month, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 50*, leaving Liverpool on Christmas Eve, but she returned to port (Oban), subsequently joining ON 51*, which had originated in Liverpool on Dec. 27. Fjordheim arrived St. John, N.B. independently on Jan. 17-1942, the convoy having been dispersed Jan. 11. Both these convoys also had other Norwegian ships, namely Charles Racine, Fagerfjell, Fernwood, Høegh Giant, Innerøy, Sama, Skandinavia, Strinda and Taborfjell in ON 50, and Beth, Carrier (returned), Far, Ingerfire and Sirehei in ON 51. On Febr. 4-1942, she started on her voyage back to the U.K. in the slow Convoy SC 68 from Halifax (having been cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 67 in which the Norwegian Heina was sunk). She had a general cargo for Avonmouth, where she arrived, via Belfast Lough, on Febr. 23/24. Together with Askeladden, Iron Baron and Solitaire, she later joined the westbound Convoy ON 78*, originating in Liverpool on March 21, arriving Halifax Apr. 9. Fjordheim, carrying aircraft(? This seems strange), had station 42 and was bound for St. John, N.B., where she arrived Apr. 8, having started out from Milford Haven March 20. Her voyages in this period are shown on Page 3. On Apr. 23, she left Halifax in Convoy SC 81 (having been cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 80), and arrived Avonmouth on May 13. Later that month, she be found among the ships in the westbound Convoy ON 98*, which also included Fana and Måkefjell. This convoy originated in Liverpool on May 26 and arrived New York June 12; Fjordheim, however (carrying china clay, station 13), started out from Milford Haven on May 25 and was bound for Montreal, where she arrived, via Halifax and Sydney, C.B., on June 19. The following month, she's listed in Convoy SC 91 from Sydney, C.B., general cargo for Avonmouth, with arrival there on July 25. With Aun, Borgfred, Måkefjell, Solitaire and Suderøy, she now joined the westbound Convoy ON 120*, originating in Liverpool on Aug. 8-1942, dispersed Aug. 27, Fjordheim arriving Halifax that same day, proceeding to St. John, N.B. 3 days later, with arrival Sept. 1. Along with Aun, Aragon (to Halifax only), Bestik, Borgfred, Nea (returned), Norvarg, Orwell, Solitaire (returned) and Solsten, A. Hague now has her in Convoy SC 102*, which started out in New York on Sept. 19 and arrived Liverpool Oct. 6; Fjordheim joined this convoy from Halifax, and stopped at Belfast Lough on Oct. 5. On the 29th of that month she left Milford Haven in order to head back to Halifax, joining Convoy ON 142*. Bestik (returned), Carmelfjell, Jenny, Kirsten B (joined from Halifax), Norvarg, Primo (from Halifax), Rio Verde, Sevilla (from Halifax), Solitaire, Temeraire and Vinland are also named in this convoy, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 30 and arrived New York Nov. 21; Fjordheim arrived Halifax on Nov. 18, continuing to St. John, N.B. the next day - see Page 4. Her last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year was made in Convoy SC 112*, which again started out in New York (Dec. 4), but Fjordheim joined from Halifax, and arrived Avonmouth on Dec. 26. As usual, she had been in the company of several other Norwegian ships, namely Acasta, Aragon (to St. John's only), Borgholm, Dageid, Garnes (to St. John's), Harpefjell, Heimgar, Norjerv, Primo (to Halifax), Sir James Clark Ross, Solitaire and Tropic Star (returned). In Jan.-1943, we find her, with Brush, Askepot (both joined from St. John's) and Sevilla in the westbound Convoy ON 163*, which departed Liverpool on Jan. 24 and arrived New York Febr. 16; Fjordheim again joined from Milford Haven and stopped at Halifax on Febr. 13, proceeding to St. John, N.B. the next day. With Carrier, Gudvor and Para, she went back in the other direction in March in Convoy SC 123*, again joining with the Halifax portion, and arrived Avonmouth on Apr. 4 (convoy originated in New York on March 14 and arrived Liverpool Apr. 3). According to A. Hague, she was involved in a collision in Barry Roads on Apr. 4 and was drydocked for repairs - I have no further details on this incident. In June, she's listed among the ships in the westbound Convoy ONS 10*, originating in Liverpool on June 8, arriving Halifax June 27. Fjordheim arrived St. John, N.B. June 28/29 (Page 4). Acasta, Cetus, Grey County, James Hawson, Mathilda, Novasli, Ravnefjell, Sirehei and Titanian are also listed. In July, she shows up in Convoy SC 137 from Halifax, again bound for Avonmouth with general cargo, arriving there on Aug. 3/4. Later that month, she joined the westbound Convoy ONS 16*, with Ferncliff, Heimgar, Henrik Ibsen, Lago, Ravnefjell and Sommerstad (from Liverpool Aug. 19, to Halifax Sept. 1 - Fjordheim started out from Milford Haven), and having made another voyage to St. John, N.B. and back to Halifax, she headed back across the ocean on Sept. 28 in Convoy SC 143, this time bound for Swansea, where she arrived on Oct. 13. Early the following month, she joined the westbound Convoy ONS 22*, which originated in Liverpool on Nov. 4 and arrived Halifax on the 22nd; Fjordheim sailed from Milford Haven on Nov. 3 and her arrival Halifax is given as Nov. 21 on Page 5 of the archive documents (this could simply be a matter of a different time zone used in the record - no other Norwegian ship is named in this convoy). She had time for one more Trans-Atlantic voyage before that year was over, and this was made in Convoy SC 149 from Halifax on Dec. 15. She was again bound for Swansea, where she arrived Dec. 31. A couple of weeks later, we find her, along with Ferncliff, Iron Baron (returned), Maud, Norse Lady, Orwell, Petter II, Stirlingville, Suderøy (Commodore Vessel - returned) and Vinland, in the westbound Convoy ONS 27*, originating in Liverpool on Jan. 13-1944, arriving Halifax on the 31st; Fjordheim joined from Milford Haven. Her destination is given as New York, but arrival there is not mentioned in her Voyage Record, which says she was detached on the 31st and arrived St. John, N.B. on Febr. 1, agreeing with the archive document mentioned above. Having proceeded to Halifax, she joined Convoy SC 154 from there on Febr. 28, arriving Liverpool March 15, later returning to St. John in Convoy ONS 32*, which departed Liverpool on March 28 and also had Alaska, Chr. Th. Boe, Minerva, Ragnhild, Stirlingville, Tropic Star and Tungsha in its ranks. Fjordheim arrived St. John, N.B. on Apr. 19 - again, see Page 5. In May that year, she sailed in the Sydney, C.B. portion of Convoy HX 291 (Vice Commodore in Høyanger), arriving her destination Swansea on May 28, and in June she can be found, together with Ferncliff, Fernmoor, Havkong, Marit II, Molda, Peik, Samuel Bakke (Vice Commodore's Ship), Skiensfjord, Solstad, Solsten, Stirlingville, Tercero, Thorshov and Vera, in the westbound Convoy ON 242*, originating in Liverpool on June 25, arriving New York July 11; Fjordheim, however, sailed from Belfast Lough on June 26 and stopped at Halifax on July 9, continuing to St. John, N.B. that same day, with arrival July 11. Having returned to Halifax, she left that port on July 27, joining the large Convoy HX 301, which had started out in New York on July 25. The Norwegian Reinholt served as Commodore Vessel for this convoy, while the Vice Commodore was in Samuel Bakke again. Fjordheim was bound for Avonmouth with general cargo and arrived there on Aug. 10.
As mentioned above, Fjordheim had arrived Avonmouth from Halifax on Aug. 10-1944. On Aug. 20, she proceeded to Swansea, with arrival Aug. 21, departing on Aug. 29 for Belfast Lough, where she arrived the next day (see Page 5). She left again on Sept. 1, joining the westbound Convoy ON 251, in order to return to Halifax. Fjordheim, cargo of 4000 tons anthracite, took station 165 of the convoy, which originated in Liverpool on Sept. 1 and arrived New York on the 19th. The Norwegian Bernhard, Elg, Evanger, Ferncliff (returned), Germa, Grey County, Heimgar, Henrik Ibsen, Rutenfjell, Snar, Thorhild, Tungsha (Commodore Vessel), Veni and Vera are also listed in this convoy, as is the Panamanian Norbris, which had Norwegian managers and is included under the N's on this website. The fact that Fjordheim had station 165 shows us that this was a very large convoy with (at least) 16 columns. ON 251 will be added to an individual page in my Convoys section, with more information on it; in the meantime, the ships sailing in it are named on this page, while the names of the escorts can be found on this page. At 23:40 ship's time on Sept. 2, Fjordheim was torpedoed by U-482 (Matuschka), the torpedo hitting on the starboard side aft, between hatches No.'s 4 and 5, blowing the hatches to pieces and filling the deck with water and coal. She immediately started to sink by the stern; all 4 lifeboats were manned and launched and had gotten away from the side of the ship when, 6 minutes after the torpedo had struck, the boilers exploded and she sank in position 55 20N 09 58W*. 32 men were in the boats, 1 more was picked up from the water. 5 were still missing, but 2 were found by the British Empire Mallory** which had launched a boat to help in the search. The 33 in the lifeboats were picked up soon afterwards by the escorting Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal (K-319) and transferred on Sept. 7 to the convoy rescue ship, the British S/S Fastnet. The 2 picked up by Empire Mallory were transferred to the rescue ship on Sept. 13. The 35 survivors were landed at Halifax on Sept. 17, where the maritime hearings were held on Sept. 18-1944 with the captain, the 1st and 2nd mates, the 1st and 2nd engineers, Donkeyman Nilsen, the boatswain and Able Seaman Larsson appearing. The latter had been on lookout duty at the time of the attack, the 2nd mate was on duty on the bridge, while Able Seaman Charley Strøm was at the helm, and the 2nd engineer was on duty in the engine room along with the donkeyman.
In the Norwegian magazine "Krigsseileren, Issue No. 1 for 1975, I came across a letter written by Edward Driscoll, who served as ordinary seaman on Fjordheim (see crew list below) and was looking for old shipmates. Additionally, he sailed on 7 other Norwegian ships, namely Frode, Sola(? I believe this must have been Solør), Daghild, Bosphorus, Skotaas, California Express and Cetus. Ian Wilson in Ireland, who saw my note about Ed Driscoll has since been able to locate him. Ian says: Ian has also sent me Marcus' and Edward's memories of the sinking as follows: Marcus Myhre's memories: Ed Driscoll's memories:
If any old shipmates sees this and would like to get in touch with Edward, I'd be happy to pass on his contact information. My address has been provided at the bottom of this page. Crew List:
Related external links: Operations information for U-482 U-482 - Note the info here that U-482's previously established fate has recently been altered. To add to this, Ian Wilson has told me: Picture of HMCS Montreal - On the Naval Museum of Manitoba website. River Class Frigates - On the WW II Canadian ships website. Back to Fjordheim on the "Ships starting with F" page. Norway had previously had another steam ship by this name, delivered in Oct.-1904 as Fjordheim for A/S Hekla (Mail & Holby), Christiania, 2363 gt. Purchased by A/S D/S Dicto (B. Stolt-Nielsen), Haugesund in June-1915 and renamed Dicto. Sunk on Apr. 5-1917 by UB-39 southeast of Arment Rock on a voyage Agulias-Maryport with 3560 tons iron ore. 1 died. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Våre gamle skip", Leif M. Bjørkelund & E. H. Kongshavn, "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Norwegian Maritime Museum, Volume I, and misc. for cross checking info - ref. My sources.
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