M/S Abraham Lincoln - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945 (original) (raw)

M/S Abraham Lincoln Updated Febr. 13-2011

To Abraham Lincoln on the "Ships starting with A" page.

Source: John Clarkson (w/permission via Roger W. Jordan).
Another picture is available on this external page (click in it to enlarge).

Owner: A/S Ganger Rolf
Manager: Fred. Olsen & Co., Oslo
Tonnage: 5740 gt

Delivered from Odense Staalskibsværft, Odense, Denmark (32) in Apr.-1929 as Abraham Lincoln to A/S Ganger Rolf (Fred. Olsen & Co.), Oslo, 5740 gt, 3501 net, 9500 tdwt, 435.9' x 56.2' x 27.7', two 8 cyl. 4T single acting DM (B & W, Copenhagen), 951 nhp.

Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
(unfortunately, some information is missing in the margin of some scans)
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5

Please compare the above voyages with Arnold Hague's Voyage Record below.

Voyage Record From March-1940 to June-1945:

(Received from Don Kindell - His source: The late Arnold Hague's database).

Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each - please be aware that some of the listings are incomplete.

Errors may exist and some voyages may be missing.

For info on voyages made in between those discussed here, please refer to the voyage record. Follow the convoy links provided for more information; some also include the Commodore's notes and various reports, and several Norwegian ships took part.

With a general cargo for Liverpool, Abraham Lincoln is listed among the ships in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 40 in May-1940 (having been cancelled from the previous convoy, HX 39). Later that month she shows up in Convoy OB 158, departing Liverpool on May 30. This convoy joined up with Convoy OA 158 on June 2, the combined convoy forming the Gibraltar bound convoy OG 32, which arrived there on June 7. Abraham Lincoln, however, was bound for Cristobal, and arrived there on June 18, having detached from the convoy on June 5, according to A. Hague. The Norwegian Buesten, Kosmos II and Thorshavn are also included. The external website that I've linked to in the Voyage Record has more info on the OB convoys - see also ships in all OG convoys (OG 32 will later be added to its own individual page). From Cristobal, she later proceeded to Vancouver, via various other ports - see Page 1 of the archive documents.

Towards the end of Aug.-1940, she joined the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 68. Her destination was Liverpool, cargo of lead and lumber. The following month she appears, with no voyage information, in Convoy OB 219, which left Liverpool on Sept. 25 and dispersed on the 30th - again, ref. link in the Voyage Record. Going back to the archive document, we see that she arrived New York on Oct. 9. Christmas and New Years Eve of 1940 were celebrated while in Convoy (B)HX 99, en route to Liverpool with a general cargo, as well as aircraft and acetone. She again joined the convoy from Bermuda, and is said to have been cancelled from the previous convoy, HX 98*. The Commodore's report is also available for HX 99 (Abraham Lincoln is mentioned twice under the heading "Commodore's narrative of voyage").

In Febr.-1941, she's listed as bound for Vancouver (via Cristobal) in Convoy OB 285, which left Liverpool on Febr. 11 and dispersed on the 17th, Abraham Lincoln arriving Cristobal on March 5, Vancouver on March 22 (via Los Angeles and New Westminster; again, see Page 1). In May, she joined Convoy HX 125A from Halifax, bound for Liverpool with pulp in station 74 - see also the cruising order/Commodore's notes. In June, we find her in Convoy OB 335, which left Liverpool on June 16 and arrived Halifax on July 2. Abraham Lincoln, however, was bound for Panama on that occasion. Again, follow the external link provided in the table above. According to Page 2, she arrived Cristobal on July 10, later proceeding to Los Angeles and Vancouver. She later returned to the U.K. in Convoy HX 149, leaving Halifax on Sept. 10, arriving Liverpool on the 25th, then joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 24*, in order to return to Vancouver (departure Liverpool on Oct. 8, dispersed Oct. 15). She arrived Vancouver, via Cristobal and Los Angeles, on Nov. 12. That year was rounded off by sailing to the U.K. in Convoy HX 167, which left Halifax on Dec. 27-1941 and arrived Liverpool on Jan. 11-1942.

In Febr.-1942, she's listed as bound for New York in Convoy ON 63*, departing Liverpool on Febr. 2, dispersed Febr. 13, Abraham Lincoln arriving her destination on the 17th. In Apr.-1942, she can be found among the ships in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 184, subsequently returning to New York with Convoy ON 95*, departing Liverpool May 15. She arrived New York on May 30 (Page 2), and in June she's listed in Convoy HX 195 from Halifax. She now headed back to New York again, having joined Convoy ON 113*, which left Liverpool on July 17 and arrived Halifax July 31; Abraham Lincoln arrived New York on Aug. 2 - her voyages in this period are shown on Page 3. She returned across the Atlantic later that month in Convoy HX 204 from Halifax, and the following month we find her, again with destination New York (serving as Commodore Vessel), in the westbound Convoy ON 131*, departing Liverpool Sept. 18, arriving New York Oct. 4.

On the 18th of that month, she joined Convoy HX 212 from New York, in which Kosmos II was sunk; follow the link for details. Abraham Lincoln's cargo is given as food, explosives and barges, and she was bound for Liverpool, station 93, serving as Vice Commodore ship. The Commodore's report on passage is also available for this convoy. She subsequently served as Commodore Vessel for the westbound Convoy ON 147*, which left Liverpool on Nov. 17 and arrived New York, Abraham Lincoln's destination, on Dec. 4 (Page 3 gives her arrival as Dec. 6). She was scheduled to return with Convoy HX 220 from New York on Dec. 21, but instead joined the next convoy on Dec. 29, HX 221, serving as Commodore Vessel, general cargo for Glasgow, station 71, arriving her destination on Jan. 14-1943. Commodore B. B. Grant says in his notes, "Captain Holmsen of Abrahaman Lincoln, an experienced shipmaster, very keen and most helpful to Commodore, his ship is very well run and equipped, strongly recommended as Commodore's ship". See also Narrative of Voyage.

Abraham Lincoln left Clyde on Febr. 2-1943, joining the westbound Convoy ON 164, arriving New York on Febr. 19. The following month, she was witness to what has been dubbed the worst North Atlantic convoy battle of the war. Two eastbound convoys, SC 122 and HX 229 were involved, and Abraham Lincoln was Commodore Vessel for the latter, which left New York on March 8. She had a cargo of meat, general and explosives, and had station 61 of the convoy (until it was reorganized on March 20, at which point she was moved to 51). The battle lasted for 5 days and when it was over on March 20, 22 merchant ships had been sunk, with HX 229 being the hardest hit, while only one U-boat was sunk by aircraft on March 19 (U-384). Gudvor, Askepot and Polarland had started out from New York in Convoy SC 122 on March 5, but only Askepot was still present when the attacks started, the other 2 having lost touch with the convoy in a storm and returned to port. Please follow the links to my pages about these convoys for more information; cruising orders and charts and an analysis of attacks are also available (Elin K was one of the ships sunk). See also the external links at the end of this page.

A report by Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Mate Sven Johannesen says that the British Southern Express exploded right next to them (he probably means Southern Princess, which was sailing in the next column in the position behind them, station 72 - sunk March 17), the force of the explosion knocking him over, and the heat of the flames taking their breath away. He adds that he saw a raft with survivors from the British Nariva being flung by a wave into a big hole in her side, but fortunately the same wave threw them back out and they were subsequently rescued. Abraham Lincoln arrived Belfast Lough on March 22, proceeding to Cardiff the next day, with arrival March 24, leaving again for Milford Haven on Apr. 4. She now returned to New York, acting as Commodore Vessel for Convoy ON 177*, which left Liverpool on Apr. 6 and arrived New York on the 23rd (Abraham Lincoln sailed from Milford Haven on Apr. 4, according to Page 3). With a general cargo for Liverpool, she was scheduled to head back in Convoy HX 238 from New York on May 7, but instead joined the next convoy on May 13, HX 239, subsequently returning with Convoy ON 188* (departure Liverpool June 10, arrival New York June 26 - she again served as Commodore Vessel).

In July, she sailed in the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 247, general cargo for Liverpool, then joined the westbound Convoy ON 195* at the end of that month in order to head back to New York (Commodore Vessel - departure Liverpool July 31, arrival New York Aug. 13). On Sept. 2, she joined Convoy HX 255, acting as Commodore Vessel again, general cargo for Avonmouth, where she arrived Sept. 18. She now served as the Vice Commodore's ship for the westbound Convoy ON 205*, which left Liverpool on Oct. 5 and arrived New York on the 23rd - according to Page 4, she started out from Milford Haven on Oct. 5. Convoy HX 265* (departure New York Nov. 6-1943, arrival Liverpool Nov. 21), for which she again served as Commodore Vessel, is not yet included in my Convoys section, but will be added. Christmas that year was celebrated at sea while in the westbound Convoy ON 215*, which had departed Liverpool on Dec. 9 and arrived New York on the 28th. Abraham Lincoln had served as Commodore Vessel for this convoy as well, and subsequently remained in New York for over 3 weeks.

In Jan.-1944, she's listed in Convoy HX 276, which left New York on Jan. 21 (Jan. 22?) with Abraham Lincoln as Commodore Vessel. The following month, she was Commodore Vessel for the westbound Convoy ON 225*, leaving Liverpool on Febr. 22, arriving New York on March 8, heading back to the U.K. on March 21 in Convoy HX 284 from New York, again acting as the Commodore's ship, general cargo for Avonmouth. She subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 234* (departure Liverpool Apr. 26, arrival New York May 12 - Abraham Lincoln joined from Belfast Lough). She now had another long stay in New York, then in June she's said to have been the Commodore's ship for Convoy HX 294 from New York (another Norwegian ship, Geisha, was Vice Commodore ship). However, there's some confusion here in that this is shown as being the American Abraham Lincoln in the original Advance Sailing Telegram for the convoy (Liberty Ship - 7191gt), while in a document I have naming all the Commodores for the various HX convoys, she's listed as the Norwegian Abraham Lincoln. This is also supported by the info in her Voyage Record (and Page 4). It'll also be noticed that she had a 3 weeks' stay at Tyne.

Towards the end of July that same year, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 246*, which originated in Liverpool on July 25 and arrived New York on Aug. 9 (Commodore was in Brimanger). Later that month, she served as Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 305 from New York, bound for Liverpool with general cargo, then joined the westbound Convoy ON 256*, which left Liverpool on Sept. 28 and arrived New York on Oct. 12 (Commodore was again in Abraham Lincoln). A couple of weeks later, she can be found in Convoy HX 316, bound for Hull with general cargo, yet again serving as Commodore Vessel, with Brimanger as Vice Commodore ship. Her last Trans-Atlantic voyage of 1944 was made in the westbound Convoy ON 270 (station 103), which arrived New York on Dec. 22. Abraham Lincoln now had another long stay there.

In Jan.-1945, she served as Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 332 from New York (Solør was torpedoed; follow the link for more info), then served as Commodore Vessel for the westbound Convoy ON 284*, leaving Liverpool on Febr. 11, arriving New York March 1. She was also Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 345* (Commodore N.L.P. Cox, R.N.R.). This convoy departed New York March 19 and arrived Liverpool Apr. 2 - Abraham Lincoln arrived Newport that day, and later that month we find her listed in the westbound Convoy ON 297* (Commodore in Emma Bakke), leaving Liverpool on Apr. 17, arriving New York May 2; Abraham Lincoln had sailed from Newport on Apr. 17 - see Page 5. On her return voyage she was again chosen to serve as the Commodore's ship, this time for Convoy HX 357* (Commodore Rear Admiral Sir A. T. Tillard). Page 5 shows her voyages to Apr.-1946. It looks like she got to go home to Norway at the beginnig of that year.

* The ON convoys will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course, along with further details on each. In the meantime, the ships sailing in them (and escorts) are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys. Additionally, the entire HX series will be updated and completed (including the already existing convoys - some have already been updated), but for now, see ships in all HX convoys. As will be seen, they all had several Norwegian ships.

More details on the other Norwegian ships mentioned on this page can be found with the help of the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index.

Sold to Kouran Laiva O/Y (Vaasen Laiva O/Y, Helsinki, Finland) in 1952 (or 1953?) and renamed Korsholma. Sold to Japanese breakers and arrived at Mihara on March 30-1962 to be broken up.

Related external links:
OA and OB convoys 1940 - Chonological list.

HX 229, 16-19 March | SC 122, 17 -19 March - uboat net has 37 ships in HX 229 and 50 in SC 122, and a total of 22 ships sunk.

More on this battle - Scroll down to "Greatest Convoy Battle of All Time" (the USMM website).

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, E-mails from Roger W. Jordan - and misc. other as named within the above text.