M/T Anna Knudsen - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945 (original) (raw)

M/T Anna Knudsen Updated Nov. 26-2012

To Anna Knudsen on the "Ships starting with A" page.

From Roger W. Jordan collection, sent to me for inclusion on this website.

Uboat.net also has a picture of this ship (external link).

Manager: Knut Knudsen O.A.S., Haugesund
Tonnage: 9057 gt, 5533 net, 14 240 tdw.
Dimensions: 489.6 x 64.4 x 35.5 ft.
Machinery: Two 6 cyl. 4 tev Götaverken-B&W, 3400 bhp.
Service Speed: 11 knots (2 prop.).

Delivered from A/B Götaverken, Gothenburg in Dec.-1931 as Anna Knudsen to D/S A/S Jeanette Skinner, Haugesund.

Captain: ?
2nd Mate: Kristian Eliassen. Like so many other seamen, he stayed on board all through the war, having joined the ship as 3rd mate/radio operator in Oct.-1939, paying off to go home in Sept.-1945.

Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4

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

Voyage Record From June-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 them.

For information on voyages made in between those mentioned here, please see the documents received from the National Archives of Norway and A. Hague's Voyage Record above. Follow the convoy links provided for further details; the Commodore's notes are also available for some of them and several Norwegian ships took part.

Unless some voyages are missing from Page 1 of the archive documents, it looks like Anna Knudsen spent a long time in Trinidad in the fall of 1940. She was scheduled for the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 85 on Oct. 28, but did not sail; according to the archive document, she did not arrive Bermuda from Trinidad until Oct. 29, later proceeding to Halifax, where she arrived Nov. 2. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 91 from there on Nov. 25, but again cancelled, then got away with Convoy HX 92 on Nov. 29 - see also escort's report, where she's mentioned under Dec. 2 and Dec. 5.

In Jan.-1941, she's mentioned among the ships in Convoy OB 273, which departed Liverpool on Jan. 12 and dispersed on the 16th. There's a note saying "probably in this convoy" - see the external link provided within the Voyage Record; other Norwegian ships are also named. Anna Knudsen arrived New York on Jan. 29, having started out from Clyde on the 12th. She subsequently made a voyage to Trinidad, then proceeded to Bermuda, and was scheduled for the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 113 early in March but is crossed out on the convoy form. From Page 1, we learn that she instead sailed to Halifax on March 4, and was also cancelled from HX 114 from there on March 11 (Hidlefjord was sunk and Kaia Knudsen damaged - follow the links for details), as well as from HX 115 on March 17, then joined HX 116 on March 21. She arrived Milford Haven on Apr. 10. At the end of that month, she's listed as bound for Curacao in Convoy OB 317, originating in Liverpool on Apr. 30, dispersed on May 6 - again, ref. external link in the Voyage Record. She arrived her destination on May 20, proceeding to Halifax 2 days later in order to join a convoy back to the U.K. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 130 on June 1, but did not sail. She was also cancelled from HX 131 a few days later, and is crossed out from the document for HX 135 as well (June 26), but finally got away with the next convoy on June 30, HX 136. Her voyages in this period are shown on Page 2.

She subsequently made another voyage to Curacao, having joined Convoy OS 1 (link in Voyage Record - Kos IX is named among the escorts), from which she was detached and arrived Curacao on Aug. 10, continuing to Halifax the next day, where she joined Convoy HX 146 back to the U.K. on Aug. 21. We later find her in the westbound Convoy ON 15, again bound for Curacao, where she arrived Sept. 29, the convoy having been dispersed on the 16th. On Oct. 22, she joined Convoy HX 156 from Halifax to the U.K. Eglantine and Montbretia were among the escorts for a while. In Dec.-1941, she's listed as bound for Trinidad in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 44*, which originated in Liverpool on Dec. 7 and dispersed on the 15th, Anna Knudsen arriving Trinidad on Dec. 30 (Montbretia is again named among the escorts, as is Rose - see ON convoy escorts).

2nd Mate Kristian Eliassen mentions an incident which took place off the southwest coast of England in 1941 (see sources at the bottom of this page), when they were attacked by German aircraft, with 2 bombs falling 5-6 meters behind her. The explosion caused some damages which were apparently repaired on the spot by crew. Exact date unknown.

From Trinidad, Anna Knudsen had proceeded to Halifax on Jan. 2-1942 (Page 2), and A. Hague now has her in Convoy HX 170 from there on the 13th, detaching for Iceland on Jan. 22. According to the archive document, she arrived Hvalfjord on Jan. 24. On Febr. 7, she departed Seydisfjord, Iceland for Loch Ewe, escorted by the armed trawlers HMS Paynter and HMS Thirlmere. 2 days later (Febr. 9) she was torpedoed by U-586 (Esch) in 59 50N 09 40W (59 46N 09 22W?), but stayed afloat. The detonation of the torpedo, which had come in from behind them, resulted in a large hole in her after part and the water gushed into the engine room, but the 3rd engineer and the mechanic on duty there were able to get to safety (this happened on the 12-04:00 watch).

Assistance was requested for them by the escort and the rescue tug Freebooter, which arrived from Stornoway, started towing in position 59 27N 09 45W on the 10th, but on the 12th the tow parted and assistance from a second tug was required. Tenacity arrived the following day, and Anna Knudsen arrived Rothesey on the 14th, escorted by the 2 trawlers.

Extensive repairs were undertaken at Elderslie Dock, Scoutstoun, Glasgow, and they were not ready to resume service until Aug.-1942 (Page 2).

Related external link:
U-586

Some more voyages – 1942-1943:

After repairs had been made, she left Clyde on Aug. 21-1942, joining Convoy OS 38, bound for Gibraltar in ballast (station 33), arriving Gibraltar on Sept. 1. Further dates and information on this convoy are available via the link provided in the Voyage Record. She headed back to Clyde on Sept. 12, then joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 133*, which originated in Liverpool on Sept. 25 and arrived New York, her destination at the time, on Oct. 11. She now made a voyage to Trinidad; Rick Pitz, a visitor to my website, has informed me via this message in my Guestbook that Anna Knudsen was in Convoy GAT 16, which left Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Trinidad on Oct. 22 with 24 ships, among them several Norwegian (named in the Guestbook message - see also link in Voyage Record). Anna Knudsen's destination is given as Pt. Forte; according to Page 2, she arrived Trinidad on Oct. 28. Page 3 and the Voyage Record show her subsequent voyages.

She returned to the U.K. again in Convoy HX 216, which left New York City on Nov. 19 and arrived Liverpool on Dec. 6. Anna Knudsen, sailing in station 51 of the convoy with a cargo of Admiralty fuel, was bound for Clyde, where she arrived on Dec. 4. A week later, we find her in Convoy KMS 5, leaving Clyde for Gibraltar and North Africa on Dec. 11 (see also Vardefjell). Anna Knudsen is said to have detached for Gibraltar on Dec. 24, and she remained there for quite a long time. Again, see Page 3 for info on some of her subsequent voyages - convoy details can be found in the Voyage Record. As will be seen, she also had a long stay in New York later on.

In the spring of 1943 she travelled to Algiers from New York, with American aircraft on deck in addition to a cargo of oil. According to A. Hague, this voyage was made in Convoy UGS 7, which originated in Hampton Roads on Apr. 1. Anna Knudsen arrived Algiers on Apr. 21, having sailed from New York Apr. 2 - direct link to more convoy information can be found within the the table above.

Having spent about 3 weeks in Gibralter, she headed back to New York in May (Convoy GUS 7A), then joined Convoy HX 244 on June 15 (Vice Commodore in Samuel Bakke). Her destination is given as Scapa, cargo of petroleum, station 31. She subsequently returned to New York with Convoy ON 192*, which originated in Liverpool on July 9 and arrived New York on the 22nd (Commodore in Laurits Swenson). Anna Knudsen remained in New York for about 3 weeks.

From the U.S., she now made a voyage to Bizerta and Palermo (Page 3), later travelling to Aden, where she arrived on Sept. 30-1943. She left Aden again in ballast for Abadan on Oct. 3, Convoy AP 47 (link in the table above). At 5 in the morning of October 5 she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-10 (Tonozuka) in 14 30N 50 57E, Gulf of Aden. The torpedo hit in the starboard side forward cargo hold and deep tank, leaving a large hole in her side. The captain sent the crew to the boats as Anna Knudsen appeared to be settling forward. He and some others stayed on board to trim the ship, then recalled the boats and again they managed to take her to port, returning to Aden at 8 knots, arriving there on Oct. 7. At the time she had a crew of 39 (31 Norwegians, 7 British, 1 Swedish) and 6 Gunners, 2 of whom were British, the rest Norwegian.

The naval authorities at Aden had sent a tug out to assist (whose captain turned out to be Norwegian), and on arrival Aden they were ordered to Port Tewfik near the outlet of the Suez Canal on the Red Sea side. According to British records she left Aden again on Oct. 14 for repairs in dry dock in Suez, arriving there on Oct. 21. The 2nd mate's report indicates they remained anchored there for a month before they went in for temporary repairs at a yard. 40 ft of her keel was missing from under her bows. As can be seen in the Voyage Record, A. Hague says she was repaired on arrival Port Said on Oct. 26-1943, remaining there until March 29-1944, when she proceeded to Haifa, then back to Port Said and on to Gibraltar. She now continued to the U.K., joining Convoy MKS 46* from Gibraltar. This convoy joined up with Convoy SL 55 from Freetown on Apr. 23, Anna Knudsen arriving Clyde May 3, later proceeding independently from there to Liverpool, with arrival May 17 - again, ref. link in the Voyage Record. She was further repaired at Birkenhead (Liverpool), where she remained until Oct. 25-1944 (Page 3).

Further voyages, following repairs – 1944-1945:

She's listed in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 262*, leaving Liverpool on Oct. 25-1944. Anna Knudsen, which had served as Escort Oiler for the convoy, arrived Hampton Roads on Nov. 10, continuing to New York on the 12th. She headed back to the U.K. already on Nov. 14 in Convoy HX 320 from New York, and arrived Clyde on Dec. 1, again having served as Escort Oiler, also carrying 70 depth charges. A few days later, we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 270 (Escort Oiler), which arrived New York on Dec. 22. Again, she had a very quick turnaround, because only 2 days after arrival New York, she started her voyage back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 328 (Escort Oiler, 56 depth charges), for which Brimanger served as Commodore Vessel. Anna Knudsen arrived Milford Haven on Jan. 8-1945, Pembroke Dock that same day, having departed New York on Christmas Eve. Her voyages in this period are shown on Page 4.

She left Milford Haven again on Jan. 14-1945, joining the westbound Convoy ON 278 (in station 62), again serving as Escort Oiler. The Norwegian Fagerfjell (82), Vivi (42) and Lista (12) were also in this convoy, which arrived New York on Jan. 31, having originated in Liverpool on the 12th. (Arnold Hague says this convoy had 47 ships, while Arthur Moore's book, "A Careless Word, A Needless Sinking" gives the names of 49). Just 2 days later she shows up, with destination Londonderry, in the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 336 (Escort Oiler, 70 depth charges), for which John Bakke acted as Commodore Vessel. Anna Knudsen arrived Londonderry on Febr. 16, and later that month she joined the westbound Convoy ON 286* (Escort Oiler, convoy originated in Liverpool Febr. 21, arrived New York March 9).

A. Hague now has her returning to the U.K. with Convoy HX 344* (Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges - Commodore in Topdalsfjord), which left New York on March 14 and arrived Liverpool on the 28th - Anna Knudsen arrived Londonderry that day. She subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 294* at the beginning of the following month; she left Londonderry on Apr. 2 and arrived New York Apr. 20 (Acanthus is named among the escorts). Already on Apr. 23, she joined Convoy HX 352* from New York (Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges), and arrived Plymouth on May 7, according to Page 4.

When in her next westbound convoy, ON 303*, which originated in Liverpool on May 17 and arrived New York on June 2 (Escort Oiler) she narrowly avoided a collision, when the Commodore (in a Westfal-Larsen ship, namely Villanger) ordered a "double emergency turn" in thick fog, after one of the escorts had sighted icebergs ahead of the convoy. Having misunderstood this order, several ships (including Villanger) collided when making a 45° turn instead of the "double" 90° ordered. See also Skotaas.

Page 4 shows her voyages to March-1946 (it'll be noticed that she had a long stay in Baltimore in the summer of 1945) - as can be seen, she arrived Sandefjord, Norway on March 27 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. The MKS convoys will also be added; see ships in all MKS 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. Several Norwegian ships are listed.

In service mainly from Aruba and Curaçao to northwest Europe and Norway, with occasional voyages from the Persian Gulf, then from 1947 till 1959 she was in service for the factory ship Suderøy's whaling expeditions in the Antarctic. Sold in Febr.-1960 to British Iron & Steel Corp. for breaking up and delivered to Thos. W. Ward Ltd., Inverkeithing on March 21.

This company later had another tanker by the name Anna Knudsen, built in 1965, 41 442 gt - sold to China in Nov.-1975 and renamed Zhen Hu, then Da Qing 252 in 1978. There was also a ship named Anna Knutsen, spelt with a t, built 1987, 69 313 gt (still in service?).

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: An article written by 2nd Mate Kristian Eliassenin "Krigsseileren", Issue No. 1 for 1982, "Våre motorskip", Leif M. Bjørkelund and E. H. Kongshavn, info received from a visitor to my website (from British records), "Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two", Jürgen Rohwer, "The World's Merchant Fleets 1939", R. W. Jordan, "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, Convoy information received from Ted Agar, England, and A. Hague's Voyage Record received from Don Kindell.