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

M/S Fernmoor Updated Aug. 12-2011

To Fernmoor on the "Ships starting with F" page.

All the pictures on this page were kindly received from Historical Department, MAN B&W Diesel, Copenhagen.
Their representative says that their museum (external link) has models of some ships.
(Size and quality of the pictures have been reduced to save space).
Another picture is available on this external page (click in it to make it larger).

Manager: Fearnley & Eger, Oslo
Tonnage: 4268 gt

Built by Burmeister & Wains Maskin- og Skipsbyggeri, Copenhagen in 1928.

Captain: Konrad Gjørtz-Hansen.

Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
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 June-1941 to Oct.-1945:

(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.

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 more details; the Commodore's notes and/or narrative are also available for some of them and several Norwegian ships took part.

As can be seen when going to Page 1 of the archive documents, Fernmoor was in Calcutta when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940; she had arrived there from Rangoon on Apr. 4. Her 1941 voyages also start on this document and continue on Page 2.

Fernmoor (station 52, carrying 3 bombers and crated aircraft) was in Convoy HX 146 from Halifax to the U.K. in Aug.-1941, returning across the Atlantic with the westbound Convoy ON 20, which left Liverpool on Sept. 25. She had station 105 of the convoy and arrived Halifax on Oct. 11, the convoy having been dispersed on the 9th. According to Arnold Hague, she headed back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 157* from Halifax on Oct. 28, arriving Liverpool Nov. 15. Dagfred, Egda and Tankexpress are also listed. With Arthur W. Sewall, Charles Racine (in collision, returned), Egda, Evita, Finnanger (returned), Rio Novo, Slemdal, Storanger, Tai Shan and Velox (to Clyde only), Fernmoor subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 40*, departing Liverpool on Nov. 25. She arrived New York independently on Dec. 14, the convoy having been dispersed Dec. 4.

In Jan.-1942, we find her in Convoy HX 168 from Halifax, together with the Norwegian N. T. Nielsen Alonso, Tai Shan, Triton and G. C. Brøvig (Brimanger was also scheduled, but did not sail). The following month, she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 63*, which left Liverpool on Febr. 2 and dispersed on the 13th, Fernmoor arriving Cristobal Febr. 22. Abraham Lincoln, Atlantic, Hardanger, N.T. Nielsen Alonso (the latter 2 are said to have returned), Sandanger and Thorshov are also listed. Fernmoor's subsequent voyages are shown on Page 2. She did not head back to the U.K. again until May 31, when she joined Convoy HX 192 from Halifax, arriving Liverpool on June 11, and later that month, she's listed, along with Garonne, Glittre, Havkong, Rio Novo, Polartank and Samuel Bakke, in Convoy ON 107*, departing Liverpool on June 26, dispersed July 9, Fernmoor arriving New York the next day. On July 27, we find her in Convoy HX 200, together with Norfjell, Morgenen, Gallia and Samuel Bakke. Acanthus, Montbretia and Potentila are named among the escorts. Fernmoor arrived Cardiff, via Belfast Lough, on Aug. 10, according to the archive document, later returning to the U.S. with Convoy ON 123 (station 102), which originated in Liverpool on Aug. 21. Fernmoor sailed from Milford Haven on Aug. 20 and arrived New York on Sept. 6.

On the 17th of that month, she joined Convoy HX 208 in order to go back to the U.K.; it'll be noticed, when following the link, that she has been included in the Advance Sailing Telegram for the Halifax portion, but according to Page 3, she did join from New York. The Commodore's report is also available for this convoy. She arrived Liverpool on Oct. 2, and later joined the westbound Convoy ON 139* on Oct. 16, but went into Belfast Lough, subsequently joining ON 141* from there on Oct. 24, arriving New York Nov. 10. Both these convoys had other Norwegian ships, namely Idefjord, Norsktank, Reinholt (returned), Trondheim (returned) and Tungsha, as well as the Panamanian Vestfold (Norwegian managers) in ON 139, and Albert L. Ellsworth, Anna Odland, Aun, Fagerfjell, Fernwood, Gallia, Herbrand, Jenny (returned), Pan Aruba, Reinholt, Salamis, Samuel Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Skiensfjord, Trondheim and Ørnefjell in ON 141. A little over a week later, she was one of several Norwegian ships joining Convoy HX 216 from New York, general cargo and explosives for Liverpool, station 75. Her last Trans-Atlantic convoy voyage that year was made in the westbound Convoy ON 155, departing Liverpool on Dec. 19, arriving New York Jan. 6-1943. Acanthus is again named among the escorts, as is Eglantine. See also the Commodore's narrative (Fernmoor is mentioned under Dec. 31).

She now joined Convoy HX 224 from New York on Jan. 22-1943 (general and explosives for Swansea, station 133, arriving Swansea Febr. 7 - again, see Page 3), then in March she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 170, which originated in Liverpool on March 3, arrived New York on the 20th and had a total of 12 Norwegian ships - follow the link for their names. On Apr. 13, while in port in New York, there was a fatal accident on board, when 3rd Engineer Leif Løckra died in an explosion. Captain at that time was Konrad Gjørtz-Hansen, 1st Engineer Olaus Andersen, assistant Per Thoresen. She left New York on Apr. 18 in Convoy HX 235, which arrived Liverpool on May. 5, returning to New York with Convoy ON 184* on May 15, with arrival May 31. Chr. Th. Boe, Emma Bakke, Idefjord, Mosli, Petter, Salamis, Samuel Bakke (Commodore Vessel) and Slemmestad are also listed. The following month, she can be found in Convoy HX 244, leaving New York on June 15, general cargo for Liverpool, station 23 (Vice Commodore in Samuel Bakke). She subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 194*, which departed Liverpool on July 24 and arrived New York Aug. 7, and also had Anna Odland, Belinda, Brimanger, Dagrun, G. C. Brøvig, Germa, Heimvard, Kaia Knudsen, Lista, Morgenen, Noreg, Norheim and Skandinavia in its ranks, while Acanthus, Potentilla and Rose were among the escorts for a while (see ON convoy escorts).

On Aug. 27, we find her Convoy HX 254, general cargo for Cardiff, station 105, arriving her destination on Sept. 12. Together with Fjordaas, Minerva, Montevideo, Salamis, Solør, Tungsha, Villanger and Viva, she now joined the westbound Convoy ON 204*, originating in Liverpool on Sept. 28, arriving New York Oct. 15, and according to A. Hague, she headed back in the other direction with Convoy HX 265*, which left New York on Nov. 6 and arrived Liverpool on the 20th. As usual, she had been in the company of other Norwegian ships, namely Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Høyanger (put back), Skiensfjord and South America. She had time for one more Trans-Atlantic voyage before that year was over, and this was made in the westbound Convoy ON 215*, which sailed from Liverpool on Dec. 9 and arrived New York on the 28th (Page 3). Abraham Lincoln again served as the Commodore Vessel, and other Norwegian ships were Idefjord, Mosli, Samuel Bakke and Tungsha.

On Jan. 13-1944, she joined Convoy HX 275 from New York, bound for Liverpool with general cargo (Samuel Bakke served as Vice Commodore Ship), then returned to the U.S. with Convoy ON 224, which left Liverpool on Febr. 14 and arrived New York on March 2. The Norwegian Samuel Bakke, Molda, Pan Scandia, Skaraas and Vanja are also listed (A. Hague has also included Bralanta, which returned to port following a collision, folow the link for details). Some of these ships, including Fernmoor, went back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 284 on March 21 (Commodore in Abraham Lincoln). Fernmoor's destination is given as Hull, where she arrived on Apr. 10 and later that month, she's listed in Convoy ON 234*, which originated in Liverpool on Apr. 26 and arrived New York May 12 and also included Abraham Lincoln, Estrella, Fagerfjell, Garonne, Geisha, Kaldfonn, Leiv Eiriksson, Lista, Molda, Petter, Romulus, Samuel Bakke, Skiensfjord, Solfonn, Strinda and Vinland, as well as the Panamanian Norlys (Norwegian managers). Fernmoor's voyages in this period are shown on Page 4. With a general cargo for Liverpool, she now joined Convoy HX 293 on May 27 (Commodore in Samuel Bakke), and in June she's listed, together with Ferncliff, Fjordheim, 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* (departure Liverpool June 25, arrival New York July 11).

In Aug.-1944, she's listed as sailing in Convoy HX 302 from New York, general cargo for London, returning to the U.S. the following month with Convoy ON 252*, originating in Liverpool on Sept. 7, arriving New York on the 22nd; Fernmoor arrived Portland, Maine that day, having started out from Loch Ewe Sept. 7. Atlantic, Dageid, Geisha (Commodore Vessel), Kaldfonn, Petter, Skotaas, Spinanger, Troubadour and Vardefjell are also listed, while Acanthus, Rose and Tunsberg Castle are named among the escorts (as is Buttercup, which was transferred to the Norwegian flag following the loss of Tunsberg Castle later that year) - see ON convoy escorts. Fernmoor was scheduled for Convoy HX 311 (Boston section) at the end of that month, but instead joined the next convoy, HX 312, general cargo for Tyne, where she arrived Oct. 23, having left Boston Oct. 6. With Fagerfjell, G. C. Brøvig, Katy and Vivi, she subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 266* (from Southend Nov. 12, to New York Dec. 3), and that year was rounded off by sailing back across the Atlantic in Convoy HX 328, bound for Liverpool with general cargo, arriving there on Jan. 9-1945; Commodore was in Brimanger (Fernmoor had been scheduled for Convoy HX 327, but did not sail).

Later that month, she joined Convoy ON 280*, departing Liverpool on Jan. 23-1945, arriving New York Febr. 9 (Emma Bakke is also named, but returned to port), heading back in the other direction on Febr. 28 in Convoy HX 341*, along with Belinda, Egda, Fosna and Gefion. Fernmoor arrived Hull on March 18, and her last convoy voyage was made in the westbound Convoy ON 295*, which left Liverpool on Apr. 7 and arrived New York on the 26th. Kaia Knudsen, Skiensfjord and Solfonn are also listed. By the time she left New York again on June 16, the war in Europe was over, and she could sail to Liverpool without a convoy (the reason for this long stay in New York is not known). Fernmoor's voyages at this time are shown on Page 5 (to Apr.-1946). As can be seen, she went home to Norway in Oct.-1945.

* All the ON convoys are available and 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 entire HX series will also be updated and completed, including the already existing convoys (some have already been updated) but for now, please see ships in all HX convoys.

For more information on all the Norwegian ships mentioned on this page, please see the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index.

Sold in 1954 to Sameiet Varangskip, (manager A/S Malmfart) Norway, and renamed Varangmalm. In 1955 managers became A/S Malmfart and Fearnley & Eger's Befragtningforretning, Oslo. During the night of Jan. 23/24-1960, she ran aground off Bodø, when on a voyage from Hartlepool to Narvik, and later refloated. Found not worth repairing and sold to Netherlands breakers. Arrived in the New Waterway in tow on March 4-1960 on way to yard of Utrechtse Ijzerhandel.

Back to Fernmoor on the "Ships starting with F" page.