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M/T Norsol To Norsol on the "Ships starting with N" page. Manager: Nortraship From Barbara Mumford I've received the following (her source: Mitchell & Sawyer's "Empire Ships"): Norsol was one of 19 ships transferred to Nortraship in 1942. See Empire Ships on my page "Ship Statistics & Misc." for the names of the other 18. Norsol was taken over at Newport on March 30-1942. She had arrived from Halifax earlier that month as Empire Diamond in Convoy HX 177. Related items 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 some voyages are missing.
As mentioned further up on this page, Norsol was taken over by Nortraship in Newport on March 30-1942, having previously arrived from Halifax earlier that month as Empire Diamond in Convoy HX 177. Just a few days later, we find her in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 83*, which originated in Liverpool on Apr. 4 and arrived Halifax on the 17th. However, Norsol returned to port (Belfast Lough), later joining Convoy ON 87*, which had started out in Liverpool on Apr. 16 and dispersed on the 26th, Norsol arriving Beaumont on May 6. See also Page 1 of the archive documents. Both these convoys had several Norwegian ships, namely Emma Bakke, Katy (returned to port), Kong Haakon VII, Lynghaug, Norheim (returned), Olaf Bergh, Polartank (returned), Siljestad and Tabor in ON 83, and Albert L. Ellsworth, Atlantic, Bralanta, Glittre, Havprins, Herbrand, Katy, Norheim, Polartank, Skandinavia, Stiklestad and Vav in ON 87. On May 14 (May 15?)-1942, she rescued 2 survivors from the American freighter David McKelvy*, torpedoed by U-506 - ref. external links at the end of this page for more info. 1 of the survivors was Finnish, the other American. At the time, Norsol was on her way from Beaumont to Halifax to join a convoy back to the U.K. (cargo of aviation fuel) and was sailing alone when smoke was spotted on the horizon on the port side. They decided to investigate, though regulations said to move away as quickly as possible, in case such sightings originated from a U-boat trying to lure a lone ship close enough for attack. When they approached, they saw 2 men in the stern of the smoldering ship. After the torpedo had hit the American ship it had erupted in flames, and the 2 survivors, the chief engineer and pumpman, had sought refuge in the fresh water tank overnight until the fire subsided somewhat. The sea was still burning here and there around them, but the rescuers were able to get a line on board for the men to tie around their waists, whereupon the 2 jumped into the water and were pulled into Norsol's lifeboat. Her radio operator got in touch with the pilot station at Key West and a Coast Guard vessel came out to take the 2 ashore. Norsol then continued to Halifax where she joined Convoy HX 192 for the U.K. on May 31, arriving Swansea (via Belfast Lough), on June 12.
Later that month, Norsol is listed, together with Marit II, Polarsol, Sandanger, Skandinavia and Velma, in the westbound Convoy ON 105*, originating in Liverpool on June 19, arriving Halifax June 30. This is not mentioned, but it looks like she returned to port; according to Page 1 of the archive documents she was bound for New York, and had sailed from Milford Haven on June 18, arrived Belfast Lough on June 19, Belfast on June 23. She shows up again, with destination New York, in Convoy ON 113*, which had originated in Liverpool on July 17 and arrived Halifax on the 31st (having lost 3 ships - ref. external link at the end of this page); Norsol arrived New York Aug. 2, having sailed from Belfast Lough July 17/18. Abraham Lincoln, Evita, Harpefjell, Pan Aruba, Salamis, Solsten, Thorhild and Vav are also listed in this convoy. Having made some voyages around the U.S., she joined Convoy HX 208 from New York on Sept. 17 (the Commodore's report is also available - Norsol is mentioned under Oct. 1, among the ships noted for good station keeping and signalling). Her destination is given as Swansea and she arrived there on Oct. 3, subsequently joining the westbound Convoy ON 137*, along with Corneville, Iris (joined from Halifax), Norholm, President de Vogue, Stiklestad, Tai Shan, Velma and the Panamanian Norvinn (Norwegian managers). This convoy originated in Liverpool on Oct. 9 and arrived New York Oct. 29; Norsol had left Milford Haven for Belfast Lough on Oct. 8 and it looks like she joined the convoy from there. Having made a voyage to Curacao and back to New York (convoy details in Voyage Record above), she returned to the U.K. again in Nov.-1942 in Convoy HX 217, cargo of aviation fuel (see also the Commodore's narrative). Eglantine, Potentilla and Rose are named among the escorts. Norsol 's last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year was made with the westbound Convoy ON 155 (from Liverpool Dec. 19). Eglantine is again named among the escorts as is Acanthus (again, see also the Commodore's narrative - Norsol is mentined twice under Jan. 1). This convoy arrived New York on Jan. 6-1943, but Norsol is said to have parted company for Guantanamo in the evening Jan. 1. From Page 2 of the archive documents, we learn that she arrived Curacao (via Guantanamo Bay) on Jan. 15, continuing to Trinidad 2 days later. In Apr.-1943 she can be found in Convoy HX 233 from New York, again with a cargo of aviation fuel, returning with Convoy ON 180*, which left Liverpool on Apr. 24 and arrived New York on May 14 and also had Belinda, California Express, Norsktank, Reinholt (Commodore Vessel), Skandinavia, Skjelbred, Thorhild and Velma in its ranks. At the end of that month she's listed in station 104 of Convoy HX 242. On this occasion her destination is given as Avonmouth, where she arrived June 16. About a week later we find her, along with Brajara, California Express, Dageid, Fjordaas, Gefion, Høyanger, Lynghaug, Mosli, Norefjord, Orwell, Polartank, Skiensfjord and Tarifa, in the westbound Convoy ON 190*, which originated in Liverpool on June 24 and arrived New York July 9. According to A. Hague, she was involved in a collision with the American Joseph Leidy while in this convoy on July 2 - I have no further details on this (Polartank was also involved in a collision). Norsol may have required repairs, because she remained in New York for several weeks (Page 2), before she on Aug. 27 joined Convoy HX 254, bound for Bowling and Ardrossan, station 52. She arrived Bowling on Sept. 12, Ardrossan the next day, then joined the westbound Convoy ON 202 (ONS 18) a couple of days later, in which Oregon Express and Skjelbred were sunk. Follow the links for much more info on this convoy battle, including the Commodore's narrative and several reports. Norsol arrived Philadelphia safely on Oct. 1. With a cargo of petrol and aviation gas, Arnold Hague now has her in station 82 of Convoy HX 261*, togther with Bajamar, Duala, Elisabeth Bakke, Pan Scandia, Tai Shan and Vav (returned). This convoy left New York on Oct. 11-1943 and arrived Liverpool on the 26th (again, see also this Guestbook message). Just a few days later she joined the westbound Convoy ON 209*, which also included Cypria, Haakon Hauan, Ivaran and Laurits Swenson, the latter serving as Commodore Vessel (convoy left Liverpool Oct. 31, arrived New York Nov. 17). From New York, Norsol proceeded to Hampton Roads, and from there she joined Convoy UGS 25 on Nov. 24 in order sail to Augusta, arriving there on Dec. 17. On Dec. 22 she headed to Taranto, with arrival Christmas Eve, leaving again on Jan. 5-1944, arriving Augusta Jan. 7, departing Jan. 10 for New York, where she arrived Febr. 4, having made this voyage in Convoy GUS 27. Ref. external links provided in the Voyage Record for more info on these 2 convoys and other convoys she sailed in during this period - other Norwegian ships are also named in them. Also, see Page 2 and Page 3. As can be seen, she subsequently went back to Augusta. In March-1944, she made a voyage from Augusta to Algiers, having joined Convoy MKS 44*,which also included Boreas, Europe, Lidvard, Star and Toulouse. The convoy originated in Port Said on March 20; Norsol had left Augusta on March 25 and arrived Algiers on the 29th, heading back to the U.S. from there on Apr. 4, arriving New York on Apr. 22 - convoy information for this voyage and subsequent voyages listed on Page 3 of the archive documents can be found in the table above. A. Hague has also included her in Convoy GUS 44 to the U.S. in July-1944, joining from Praia Bay, arriving Philadelphia July 18 (see also Page 3) - she's not mentioned on the document I have for this convoy, but this does not necessarily mean she did not take part. Shortly thereafter, she made a voyage to Casablanca and in Aug.-1944, I have her in Convoy GUS 48; she arrived Philadelphia on Aug. 28, having sailed from Casablanca on Aug. 10, according to the archive document. She subsequently returned to Algiers, and later made a voyage from Algiers to Oran in Convoy MKS 62*, which had started out in Port Said on Sept. 16; Norsol sailed from Algiers on Sept. 25, but arrival Oran is not given on Page 3 (A. Hague says she arrived on Sept. 26 - Norelg and Regin are also named in this convoy). Norsol left Oran again on Oct. 1 in order to head back to the U.S., arriving New York on Oct. 17, returning to Augusta a few days later, and did not go back to the U.S. again until the beginning of 1945 (arrived New York from Oran on Jan. 10-1945). On Jan. 23-1945 she joined the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 334, for which Samuel Bakke served as the Commodore Vessel. Acanthus is named among the escorts. Norsol was bound for Stanlow, where she arrived on Febr. 7, and with Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Fernwood, Noreg, Sverre Helmersen, Toronto, Troubadour and Velma, she returned across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 284*, departing Liverpool on Febr. 11, arriving New York March 1 (Troubadour is said to have joined from Convoy OS 110 on Febr. 12 and detached from the convoy on the 19th). Already on March 4, she's listed, along with Egerø, Havfru and President de Vogue, in Convoy HX 342*, which arrived Liverpool on the 19th. Her last North Atlantic convoy voyage of the war was made in Convoy ON 292*, departing Southend on March 22, arriving New York Apr. 8; Norsol arrived Hampton Roads the next day, according to Page 4. As usual she had been in the company of several Norwegian ships, namely Egerø, Fjordaas, Fosna, Gefion, Havfru, Ivaran (Commodore Vessel), Lista and President de Vogue. From the U.S., she now headed to Augusta again. Page 5 shows her voyages to Apr.-1946.
Sold in 1946, renamed Kollbjørg, A/S Kollbjørg (O. Berg), Oslo. Sold in 1956 to Rederi Norland (Odmark & Andersson), Sweden, and renamed Storo (Storö?). Sold in 1959 to Skjelbreds Rederi A/S, Norway, resold to O. Kees & Co (Hong Kong) Ltd. and arrived Hong Kong Nov. 20-1959 to be broken up. Related external Links: Hyperwar - The rescue is mentioned under the entry for May 14-1942 (The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II by Robert J. Cressman). Havprins' rescue of survivors from Esso Houston is also mentioned. The attack on David McKelvy (Uboat.net). Back to Norsol on the "Ships starting with N" page. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, and misc. as named within the text - (ref. My sources).
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