M/T G. C. Brøvig - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945 (original) (raw)

M/T G. C. Brøvig Updated Sept. 8-2011

Manager: Th. Brøvig, Farsund
Tonnage: 9718 gt

Delivered from A/B Götaverken, Gothenburg, Sweden (437) in Oct.-1930 as G. C. Brøvig to Th. Brøvig, Farsund. 9718gt, 5860 net, 14 660 tdwt, 475.6' x 64.2' x 37.8', two 8 cyl. 4T single acting DM (builders).

Captain: Gunnar Gauslaa (this external page lists his other ships). I believe he's identical to the Gunnar Gauslå who escaped from Norway with M/B Fiskaren in Sept.-1941 - follow the link for details.

Barton Mentz Olsen served on this ship from Apr. 10-1943 to July 24-1945, 6 months of which as 2nd mate, the rest as 3rd mate. He had also served on Taurus (awarded the MBE for his part in taking Taurus out from Gothenburg in 1941) and on Romulus.

Related item on this website: Warsailor Stories has the personal story of someone who was on board G. C. Brøvig - the first story on that page (there's also a link to the original, Norwegian version of the story). He also served on General Ruge, and had a brother who served on Germa, another on Bonneville. It's the story of 5 brothers and a sister who all served outside of Norway during the war; the brothers on 17 different ships altogether. Another sister was involved in "illegal" activities in Norway, as was the father.

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 Apr.-1940 to Jan.-1946:

(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.

Misc. Convoy Voyages – 1940-1945:

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 - other Norwegian ships also took part. G. C. Brøvig often served as Escort Oiler.

As will be seen when going to Page 1 of the archive documents, G. C. Brøvig was on her way from Curacao to Buenos Aires when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. The following month, she's listed among the ships in the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 46, cargo of fuel oil. With Arosa, Gudrun, Snar and Varanger, she later joined Convoy OB 190, which originated in Liverpool on July 27 and dispersed on the 31st, G. C.Brøvig arriving Capetown on Aug. 27. A direct link to this convoy has been provided within the Voyage Record above.

Later that year, we find her in Convoy SL 55, which left Freetown on Nov. 12 and arrived Liverpool on Dec. 2, but G. C. Brøvig stopped at Gibraltar on Nov. 27, proceeding to Curacao a few days later, arriving Dec. 16. The Norwegian Orwell and Vav are also listed in SL 55 (again, ref. link within the table above).

From Curacao, she sailed to Bermuda on Jan. 12-1941 in order to join Convoy BHX 104 to the U.K. on Jan. 21, cargo of fuel oil for Clyde, where she arrived Febr. 8. Later that month she was in Convoy OB 289 (link in table above), which was attacked in the early morning hours of Febr. 24 with the loss of 3 British ships (British Gunner, Jonathan Holt and Mansepool). Idefjord, Geisha and Sveve (returned) are also listed in this convoy (originated in Liverpool on Febr. 20). G. C. Brøvig was struck by a torpedo from U-97 (Heilmann) in 61 04N 14 24W and damaged, but made it in to Stornoway where she was temporarily repaired. According to A. Hague, HMS Petunia escorted her. She later proceeded to Falmouth, remaining there for 3 months while being repaired - again, see Page 1. (For info, U-97 was also responsible for the attack on Hørda a month later - follow the link for details).

In July that year, she joined Convoy OS 1, originating in Liverpool on July 24-1941, arriving Freetown Aug. 10 (link in Voyage Record - Anna Knudsen, Emma Bakke, Erviken and Jernfjeld are also named, the latter to Clyde only). G. C. Brøvig, however, was bound for Curacao, where she arrived Aug. 11, having detached from the convoy on Aug. 1. From Curacao, she sailed to Halifax a couple of days later, and from there she joined Convoy HX 147 on Aug. 29, along with the Norwegian Nueva Granada (station 104), Bello (114), Solør (54), Sandanger (103, which means she was the 3rd ship in the 10th column, right behind Bralanta and in front of Nueva Granada), Slemmestad (95), Strinda (63), Bralanta (102) and O. A. Knudsen (112). G. C. Brøvig's voyages in this period are shown on Page 2. She subsequently joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 18, originating in Liverpool on Sept. 19. Her destination is given as Halifax, but as can be seen when going back to the archive document, as well as Hague's Voyage Record, she arrived Curacao on Oct. 12, the convoy having been dispersed Oct. 2.

Having made voyages to Freetown and Trinidad, she headed to Halifax, and was scheduled to return to the U.K. with Convoy HX 165 on Dec. 15, but did not sail (she did not arrive Halifax from Trinidad until Dec. 16). She was also cancelled from the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 61, but eventually got away with Convoy HX 168 on Jan. 2-1942 and arrived Reykjavik on Jan. 14, proceeding to Hvalfjord that same day. From Iceland, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 65* (convoy had sailed from Liverpool on Febr. 8), and arrived Trinidad on March 3, the convoy having been dispersed on Febr. 19. Arthur W. Sewall, Bralanta, Cetus, Egda, Hardanger, Kaldfonn, Kollbjørg, Mirlo, N. T. Nielsen Alonso, Nueva Granada, Stiklestad, Tankexpress, Troubadour and Vav are also included in this convoy. G. C. Brøvig was scheduled for Convoy SC 75 from Halifax on March 18, as well as for SC 76 on the 24th, but joined SC 77 on March 30, arriving Hvalfjord on Apr. 14, Reykjavik the next day. At the end of that month, I have her in Convoy RU 21 from Reykjavik to the U.K., together with Bollsta and Vinga.

She now made another voyage to Trinidad, having joined Convoy OS 29, which originated in Liverpool on May 22-1942 and arrived Freetown June 11 and also included Arosa, Fernbank, Hallanger, Havsten, James Hawson, Meline and Tanafjord, see the link provided in the table above. Page 2 gives her arrival Trinidad as June 14; according to A. Hague, she had been detached from the convoy on May 29. From Trinidad, she later made a voyage to Curacao before proceeding to Freetown, then returned to the U.K. with a cargo of fuel oil in Convoy SL 116, leaving Freetown on July 15, arriving Liverpool on Aug. 4; G. C. Brøvig stopped at Loch Ewe that day, continuing to Scapa Flow. The Norwegian Astrell is also listed - again, see the link provided in the Voyage Record. A month later, she joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 127, bound for New York, where she arrived Sept. 21. Several Norwegian ships were torpedoed, namely Hindanger, Sveve, Daghild, Marit II and Fjordaas - follow the links for more details.

G. C. Brøvig subsequently made a voyage to Curacao, then returned to New York, with arrival Oct. 24-1942 (convoy info in Voyage Record). She's mentioned in connection with Convoy HX 213 (New York-U.K.) on Oct. 26, but is crossed out with a notation saying "not for U.K." She was one of the many Norwegian ships taking part in the Torch operations, carrying about 14 000 tons oil for the war ships (Athos has a list of Norwegian ships taking part in these operations). Instead of sailing to the U.K. in HX 213, she joined Convoy UGS 2, which left Hampton Roads on Nov. 13 and arrived Casablanca on Dec. 1; G. C. Brøvig arrived Oran Dec. 3, according to A. Hague - see also Page 2 (it'll be noticed, that even this document indicates she was originally intended for the U.K., because following her voyage from Guantanamo to New York on Oct. 15/Oct. 24, there's a handwritten note saying "for N.Y. & U.K.", then the next entry says she was in port at Oran on Dec. 4). A week later, she shows up in a convoy referred to by A. Hague as Convoy MKS 3Y, voyage Oran-Gibraltar. Other Norwegian ships in this portion were Bosphorus (just released from internment in Algiers), Brisk and Kong Sverre, while Troubadour and Selvik are listed in what is referred to as MKS 3X. From Page 3 of the archive documents, it looks like G. C. Brøvig proceeded to Casablanca, before heading back to the U.S. again, arriving New York on Jan. 10-1943.

Skipping now to May 1-1943, when she can be found in Convoy HX 237 from New York to the U.K. (see also Sandanger and Brand), returning with Convoy ON 188*, which originated in Liverpool on June 10 and arrived New York on the 26th and also had Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Bajamar, Bañaderos, Belinda, Duala, Evita, Gylfe, Kaia Knudsen, Kaldfonn, Montevideo, Mosdale, Skandinavia, Strinda, Thorhild, Vav and Velma in its ranks. With Admiralty fuel for Scapa Flow, she headed back to the U.K. a few days later with Convoy HX 246, station 23. As will be seen when following the link, Acanthus, Potentilla and Rose are named among the escorts. G. C. Brøvig arrived her destination on July 15, and we later find her, together with Anna Odland, Belinda, Brimanger, Dagrun, Fernmoor, Germa, Heimvard, Kaia Knudsen, Lista, Morgenen, Noreg, Norheim and Skandinavia, in Convoy ON 194*. She arrived New York Aug. 7, having sailed from Loch Ewe on July 24. Acanthus, Potentilla and Rose are again mentioned among the escorts - see ON convoy escorts.

Her subsequent voyages are shown on Page 3, with convoy info for some of them in the Voyage Record above.

In May-1944 she's listed in Convoy MKS 51*, voyage Port Said to Bizerta. Astra, Hjalmar Wessel, Loke, Norelg and Skagerak are also included in this convoy, but please note they had different destinations. She arrived Bizerta on June 5, then proceeded to New York. See Page 4.

S. Inselseth, who later went on to become the captain of one of my mother's ships (see M/S Mogen), served on G. C. Brøvig as a gunner in this period, from Aug.-1942, until June 30-1944. It looks like he must have paid off in New York, where G. C. Brøvig had arrived from Bizerta on June 29.

From New York, she subsequently joined Convoy HX 298 on July 3, destination is given as Milford Haven and Devonport. Going back to the archive document referred to above, it'll be noticed that she later spent quite a long time in the Clyde area, before she at the beginning of Oct.-1944, joined the westbound Convoy ON 257*, along with Buenos Aires, Frontenac, Heranger, Kaia Knudsen and Norbryn (convoy originated in Liverpool Oct. 2, arrived New York Oct. 18). G. C. Brøvig was scheduled for Convoy HX 315 on Oct. 20 (Commodore in Ivaran), but instead joined the next convoy on Oct. 25, HX 316, for which Abraham Lincoln served as Commodore Vessel, while Brimanger acted as the Vice Commodore's ship. In the middle of the following month, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 266*, together with Fagerfjell, Fernmoor, Katy and Vivi (from Southend Nov. 12, to New York Dec. 3). She was scheduled to go back across the Atlantic with HX 324 on Dec. 4, but joined Convoy HX 325 a few days later (again, see also Page 4). She was bound for Scapa Flow, and arrived there on Dec. 28 (Page 5).

At the beginning of Jan.-1945, she's listed, with John Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Marit II, Noreg, Solfonn and Strinda, in the westbound Convoy ON 276*, arriving New York Jan. 18. She was scheduled to return to the U.K. on Jan. 28 with Convoy HX 335, but did not sail. She was also cancelled from HX 336 (Commodore in John Bakke), but eventually got away with HX 337 on Febr. 7, for which Laurits Swenson served as Commodore Vessel. G. C. Brøvig arrived Bowling on Febr. 21, according to Page 5. The following month, we find her in the westbound convoy ON 288*, together with Villanger, Viggo Hansteen, Tanafjord, Slemmestad, Dageid, Polartank, Heranger and Harald Torsvik (according to "Nortraships flåte", Høyanger also took part, but this ship is listed in the next convoy, ON 289*). ON 288 departed Southend on March 2 and arrived New York on March 19; G. C. Brøvig joined from Clyde. The Norwegian commodore, R. G. Bruusgaard was in the British Port Fremantle.

What follows are some of her subsequent voyages, some post war, from the personal diary of O. A. Henjum, received from his daughter. He joined G. C. Brøvig while she was still in New York on March 23-1945, having previously served on Thorshov (at the same time as my own father, so the 2 must have known each other). He had also served as Able Seaman on Sandar when that ship was sunk.

Please compare this with the details found in her Voyage Record above, as well as Page 5 of the archive documents.
Left New York on March 24 with Convoy HX 346* (Dageid, Polartank, Reinholt (Commodore Vessel), Strinda and Thorshavn are also named in this convoy), bound for Portsmouth and Plymouth, arrived Plymouth Apr. 7. Left Plymouth Apr. 14 (joined Convoy ON 296*, again with Dageid, Polartank, Strinda and Thorshavn, as well as Montevideo, Noreg and Tai Shan), arrived New York Apr. 30, leaving again on May 3 in Convoy HX 354*; in other words, VE Day was celebrated at sea.** Carl Oftedal, Noreg, Salamis, Strinda and Washington Express are also listed. G. C. Brøvig almost collided with another ship in heavy fog on this voyage. Arrived Plymouth May 18, left for Cardiff on the 22nd with arrival May 24. At a yard for repairs until Aug. 4, then departed for the Persian Gulf, passing Gibraltar in the evening of Aug. 9, and Algiers the next day, arriving Port Said on Aug. 16 (went through the Suez Canal at night, taking 12-13 hours). Passed Aden on Aug. 20 and arrived Abadan on the 30th. After having loaded a cargo there they departed for Trincomalee on Sept. 1, leaving the latter on the 14th (having arrived on the 12th). Back to Abadan to pick up a cargo for Trincomalee (arr. Abadan Sept. 25, left next day), arrived Trincomalee on Oct. 7, then left on the 10th for Abadan where they arrived on Oct. 20. After having loaded a cargo they left early in the morning of the 21st for Capetown, arriving Nov. 12, anchoring up the next morning. Armament and pill boxes were now taken ashore, aft gun platform still on board. Left Capetown on Nov. 19 - arrived Abadan on Dec. 10, then left on Dec. 12 with a cargo for Australia. While still at sea they were ordered into Fremantle for bunkers, where they arrived on Jan. 6-1946 (or, it's possible they went there in order to supply the British HMS Anson; the text here re. bunkers is a little unclear). Departed for Sydney on Jan. 8, arrived on the 17th, at which time the gunners were demobilized. Left for the Persian Gulf on Jan. 23, arriving Rasat Tanurah on Febr. 22.

* 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 HX series will also be completed, but for now, see ships in all HX convoys. For the names of other ships in MKS 51, please scroll down to this convoy on this page.

** Fritjof Remø, who was on board at this time, says the following with regard to this voyage (see his story in the Warsailor Stories section - there's also a Norwegian version):
"During my last trip from USA to England with M/T G. C. Brøvig all those who were able to were asked to meet on the boatdeck on May 8-1945, and the captain told us that the war was over. He thanked us on behalf of the King and Government for our contribution through 5 long years, and gave us a shot of Cognac. Some of us had tears in our eyes there and then, looking out across the Atlantic where so many ships had gone down, and where so many of our peers had been left behind in the waves. Our gaze turned towards the east where we knew our country was behind the horizon. Now we were going home! But those who had a wife and children were allowed to go home first, the rest of us who were younger couldn't go home for another year".

More information on all the other Norwegian ships mentioned here is available via the alphabet index at the end of this page, or go to the Master Ship Index.

Sold in 1951 to Reederei Eugen Friedrich, Hamburg, and renamed Emmy Friedrich. Arrived Hamburg Nov. 14-1960 to be broken up by Walter Ritscher. (Compare with the history given on this external page).

Related external link:
U-97

Th. Brøvig later had another tanker by this name, built in Port Glasgow in 1951. The Clydebuilt Ships website has some more details on this ship, as does this external page. From 1980 she sailed as Norwegian Andina, broken up in 1981.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, E-mails from R. W. Jordan and misc. (ref. My sources).