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

M/T Solfonn Updated July 9-2012

To Solfonn on the "Ships starting with S" page.

A picture is available on this external page (sometimes slow to load - click in it to enlarge).

Owner: Skibs-A/S Dalfonn
Manager: Sigval Bergesen d. y., Stavanger
Tonnage: 9925 gt

Built by Deutsche Werft AG, Betrieb Finkenwärder, Hamburg, Germany in 1939. ("Nortraships flåte" says she was built in 1919, printing error?).
According to the external page that I've linked to above, she was contracted in 1938 by Deutsche Ölmühlen GmbH, Berlin, contract sold in Dec.-1938 to Westfal-Larsen & Co., Bergen, then sold again in Jan.-1939 to Skibs-A/S Dalfonn. Delivered as Solfonn on March 16-1939 from Deutsche Werft. AG., Hamburg to Skips A/S Dalfonn (Sigval Bergesen), Stavanger.

Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6

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

Voyage Record
From Febr.-1940 to Aug.-1945:

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

Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each (some listings may be incomplete).

Errors may exist, and some voyages are missing.

For information on voyages made in between those noted below, please see the documents received from the National Archives of Norway and A. Hague's Voyage Record above. Follow the links provided for more convoy information; the Commodore's notes 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, Solfonn was en route from Curacao to Buenos Aires when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. In May, we find her among the ships in the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 46 to the U.K. She arrived Liverpool on June 11, Bowling on June 15, and a week later, she's listed as bound for Aruba in Convoy OB 172, which originated in Liverpool on June 22 and dispersed on the 26th, Solfonn arriving Kingston, Jamaica on July 9, Aruba on July 14. Already that same day, she proceeded to Bermuda in order to join the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 60 back to the U.K. on July 22, cargo of fuel and diesel oil for Clyde. She's later listed as bound for Aruba in station 53 of Convoy OB 221, which left Liverpool on Sept. 29 and dispersed Oct. 3, Solfonn arriving her destination on Oct. 16 (Gallia and Torvanger are also included - see external links provided within the Voyage Record for more on the OB convoys mentioned here).

From Aruba, Solfonn proceeded to Bermuda again the next day, joining the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 84, escorted by the well known Jervis Bay, captain Fegen. This convoy, which had originated in Halifax on Oct. 28, was attacked by Admiral Scheer (Krancke) on Nov. 5-1940 - the battle is described at the link to Jervis Bay at the end of this page. Jervis Bay ordered the convoy to disperse, and Solfonn made it to safety, as did the other Norwegian ships, Hjalmar Wessel, Varøy and Cetus. Solfonn and Hjalmar Wessel had both seen an unknown motor vessel passing in front of the convoy from the south to the north earlier that day; this turned out to be the British Mopan which sailed independently, and which encountered Admiral Sheer and was sunk before she could send a radio warning to the convoy about the imminent danger. Solfonn arrived Clyde on Nov. 10, Bowling Nov. 12. ("Nortraships flåte" claims that Sommerstad was also in Convoy HX 84, however, she's not listed, as can be seen when following the link to my page about this convoy. See also my page about Sommerstad and this message in my Guestbook).

According to "The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague, the British Beaverford (cargo 8425 tons food and general) lost 77 people when sunk, Fresno City (8129 tons Maize) lost 1, Kenbane Head (general) 23 dead, Maidan (general and MT) 91 dead and Trewellard (7800 tons steel, 12 aircraft) lost 16. Again, my page about HX 84 has the names of all the ships sailing in this convoy.

Solfonn, bound for Aruba, was scheduled for Convoy OB 246 (left Liverpool on Nov. 20-1940 - ref. external link at the end of this page), but she did not sail. She shows up again in Convoy OB 249, which originated in Liverpool on Nov. 24 and dispersed on the 28th. Her destination is now given as Cape Town, where she arrived on Dec. 23, according to Page 1.

In the spring of 1941 she's listed in Convoy SL 67, departing Freetown on March 1, arriving Liverpool on the 26th (having lost several ships) - Solfonn arrived Swansea on the 27th. She subsequently joined Convoy OB 310, originating in Liverpool on Apr. 13, dispersed on the 18th. Her destination is given as Aruba, where she arrived May 5 (continuing to Curacao the next day), having started out from Milford Haven on Apr. 12. She headed back to the U.K. later that month in Convoy HX 127, again joining with the Bermuda section of the convoy, which had quite a few Norwegian ships. The A 1 form gives Solfonn's destination as Scapa, cargo of fuel oil, while the Advance Sailing Telegram gives her destination as Clyde, and she arrived there on May 31, proceeding to Bowling, where she arrived June 2. About a week later she's listed as bound for New York in Convoy OB 331, which originated in Liverpool on June 8 and dispersed June 19, Solfonn arriving New York June 23. Again, ref external links provided in the table above for more on these OB convoys (and the SL convoy); other Norwegian ships also took part.

In July that same year she can be found among the ships in Convoy HX 138 from Halifax, bound for Mersey, returning across the ocean the following month with the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 5; her destination was again New York, where she arrived Aug. 21-1941, the convoy having been dispersed on Aug. 14 - her voyages in this period are shown on Page 2. On Sept. 16 she headed back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 150 from Halifax (station 44) along with the Norwegian Fenris , Heina, Havkong , Garonne , Thorshavet , Topdalsfjord , Varanger and Braganza. A. Hague has also included Boreas in this convoy. Some of these ships, including Solfonn, now joined the westbound Convoy ON 24* (originated in Liverpool Oct. 8, dispersed 15th). Solfonn arrived New York Oct. 25, and about a month later, she joined Convoy HX 161 from Halifax, together with the Norwegian Havprins, Havkong, Vav, Nueva Andalucia, and several others. Christmas that year was celebrated while in the westbound Convoy ON 48*, which originated Liverpool on Dec. 19 and dispersed on the 31st; Solfonn's destination is given as Houston on that occasion, and she arrived there on Jan. 10-1942.

On Jan. 26-1942, she's named among the ships leaving Halifax to form Convoy HX 172. (There's a notation on the form saying "leaves convoy north of tower"). Towards the end of the following month she's listed, with destination Aruba, in the westbound Convoy ON 71*, which originated in Liverpool on Febr. 26 and dispersed March 8, Solfonn arriving Aruba March 18. On Apr. 2 that year I have her in Convoy HX 183 from Halifax, and in May she's listed, again with destination Aruba, in the westbound Convoy ON 93*, originating in Liverpool on May 8, dispersed May 17. See also Page 3.

That summer she sailed in Convoy SL 114, which departed Freetown on June 25-1942 and arrived Liverpool on July 17. Solfonn had station 83, cargo of diesel oil, bound for Belfast. The Norwegian Belnor, Norholm, Vanja and Villanger also took part, as did Norbris (Panamanian flag). Sveve was scheduled but did not join (sailed in the next convoy). More details on this convoy are available via the external link in the table above. About a week after arrival, Solfonn joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 115*, which originated in Liverpool on July 24 (a few ships were torpedoed - ref. external link at the end of this page). Her destination is given as Aruba; according to the archive document mentioned above, she arrived Halifax on Aug. 6, later proceeding to Curacao, Cristobal and Table Bay.

Her subsequent voyages are listed on Page 3; convoy information for some of these can be found in the Voyage Record above. A. Hague indicates that she had run aground at some point, saying she had to undergo repairs for serious grounding damages while at Port Elizabeth from Jan. 15 to Febr. 20-1943. I have no further info on this, but the grounding may have happened when whe was on her way from Cape Town to Durban - according to the archive document, she "put in" at Port Elizabeth on Jan 15. It'll also be noticed that she spent a long time in Simonstown that spring, and again in Baltimore later that year. She had arrived there from New York on July 15-1943; departure is given as Febr. 9-1944. A. Hague says "after completion of extensive repairs".

On Febr. 20-1944, I have her in Convoy HX 280 from New York, diesel oil for Clyde, where she arrived March 9, having served as Escort Oiler (according to A. Hague), then returned across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 228* (originated in Liverpool March 15, arrived New York Apr. 1 - Commodore in Laurits Swenson). Already on Apr. 5, she's listed as bound for Clyde in Convoy HX 286 (Escort Oiler), which was escorted by Acanthus and Eglantine - see HX convoy escorts. Solfonn subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 234*, which originated in Liverpool Apr. 26 and arrived New York May 12. She was scheduled to head back to the U.K. in Convoy HX 292 on May 19, but instead joined the next convoy on May 27, HX 293, for which the Norwegian Samuel Bakke acted as Commodore Vessel. Solfonn served as Escort Oiler again and this time, she was bound for Swansea, where she arrived on June 10, returning to New York with Convoy ON 241*, which originated in Liverpool on June 18 and arrived New York on July 2 - Solfonn joined this convoy from Belfast Lough, see Page 4.

On July 11, we find her in Convoy HX 299 from New York (Escort Oiler - Commodore in Laurits Swenson, Vice Commodore in Høyanger), and early the following month, she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 248F* (from Liverpool on Aug. 6; Solfonn sailed from Loch Ewe that day). Via Delaware Capes, she arrived New York on Aug. 23, and already on Aug. 25 she headed back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 305 (Escort Oiler). Again, a Norwegian ship served as Commodore Vessel, namely Abraham Lincoln. Solfonn's destination is given as Thameshaven, where she arrived (via various other ports) on Sept. 14 (Page 4), later joining the westbound Convoy ON 255* (Escort Oiler - departure Liverpool Sept. 22, arrival New York Oct. 9; Commodore in Brimanger - Solfonn again joined from Loch Ewe, see Page 5). On Oct. 15, she can be found in Convoy HX 314 (Escort Oiler), bound for Swansea and Avonmouth, arriving Swansea on Oct. 29, Avonmouth Oct. 30. Commodore was in the Norwegian Emma Bakke. Early in Nov.-1944, Solfonn is listed in the westbound Convoy ON 264*, which left Southend on Nov. 3 and arrived New York on the 21st; Solfonn started out from Milford Haven on Nov. 5 and arrived Baltimore Nov. 22. She proceeded to New York on Dec. 7 and from there she joined Convoy HX 326 on Dec. 14 (Escort Oiler), bound for Clyde, with arrival Dec. 28. Acanthus is named among the escorts.

At the beginning of Jan.-1945, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 276*, which departed Southend on Jan. 2 and arrived New York on the 18th (Solfonn joined from Clyde - Commodore was in John Bakke), heading back to the U.K. on Jan. 23 with Convoy HX 334 (Escort Oiler), bound for Southampton and Swansea (Commodore was in Samuel Bakke; Acanthus is again named among the escorts). Solfonn arrived Southampton on Febr. 6, Swansea on Febr. 12 (Page 5), then headed in the other direction again with Convoy ON 287* (convoy left Southend Febr. 25, arrived New York March 14). According to Arnold Hague, she returned with Convoy HX 345*, which left New York on March 19 and arrived Liverpool on Apr. 2 (Solfonn, carrying dieso and aircraft, stopped at Clyde that day - Commodore was in Abraham Lincoln), and a few days later, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 295* (originated in Liverpool Apr. 7, arrived New York on the 26th). A. Hague now has her, with a cargo of pool oil, in station 62 of Convoy HX 353*, leaving New York on Apr. 29 (Commodore in Samuel Bakke). According to the archive document, Solfonn was bound for London; A. Hague says she had served as Escort Oiler for all these convoys. Her last convoy voyage was made in ON 304*, which departed Southend on May 21 and arrived New York June 5; Solfonn arrived Philadelphia June 6. When she returned to the U.K. a few days later, no convoy was necessary.

Her voyages to Apr.-1946 are shown on Page 6.

* 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. Note also that the entire HX series will be updated and completed (including the already existing convoys - some have already been updated), but for now, other ships sailing in HX 345 and HX 353 are named in the section listing ships in all HX convoys. As will be seen, they all had several Norwegian ships.

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

Sold in 1951, renamed Bardal. Sold in 1956 to Lovisa Angfartygs A/B, Lovisa, Finland, renamed Angela. Sold to Japanese breakers and on Dec. 11-1963 sailed from Yokohama for Yokosuka to be broken up.

Related external links:
OB (& OA) convoys - Solfonn is mentioned in OB 246 (but did not sail).

See also this chronological list of
OA & OB convoys 1940

HMS Jervis Bay
More on Admiral Scheer - on the Jervis Bay website.
Ships in Convoy HX 84 - 37 ships are listed in 9 columns (some are spelt incorrectly - see also my own page for HX 84).

Caithness Archives, HX 84 Casualty list for Jervis Bay

Back to Solfonn on the "Ships starting with S" page.