Tonnage: 6698 gt, 3891 net, 12 120 tdwt.
Delivered in Apr.-1930 from Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co., Ltd, Jarrow and Hebburn-on-Tyne? (995) as Selje to Skibs-A/S Selje (Rederiet Odfjell A/S), Bergen. 448.3' x 59.2' x 27.7', Tripple exp. (yard), 576 nhp. Sold in 1932 to Tenax Steamship Co. Ltd., London (same manager), then sold back to Skibs-A/S Selje in 1935 (same manager).
In German control from 1940 and used in the ore transport from the north of Norway.
Captain Karl Johan Karlsen. Selje had been at a yard in Rotterdam for about 2 months for installation of extra armament, then departed on May 15-1942 with a cargo of coal for Norway, and a crew of 40 Norwegians(?), as well as 22 German Navy personnel on board. She was in a convoy with 3 other ships (2 Swedish, 1 Danish) and 8 German escort vessels. Bombed by allied aircraft that same day and sunk off Frisian Islands. 11 aircraft attacked the convoy in two waves. In the first attack she was hit by 3 bombs in her side, but nobody was hurt in that attack. The lifeboats were made ready for launching, but a second attack occurred and this time Selje was hit by several bombs amidships and on the boatdeck, where 3 of the lifeboats were destroyed. After the attack was over 4 men were found killed and 9 wounded, while 5 men were not to be found; they had been blown overboard by the explosion on deck. Selje stayed afloat and while she was taken in tow by one of the vorposten vessels, the 4 most seriously wounded were moved to a cabin to be taken care of there, but as the ship took on a heavy list to starboard the decision was made to transfer the crew to one of the German ships that came to assist. While the captain and steward were in the cabin in order to help the 4 wounded out of there, Selje suddenly capsized and sank, taking all 6 down with her. Those who were on deck jumped overboard and were picked up by German escorts.
"Minner og minnesmerker fra 1940-1945" by Øistein Wiik names the following casualties in addition to the captain (in alphabetical order):
Deck Boy Frank Malvin Andersen, Stoker Eugen Kristoffer Bjerke, Mate Olav Bremnes, Engineer Tor Engø, Donkeyman Adolf Robert Hansen, Able Seaman Karl Kumle, Stoker Alf Malvin Larsen, Stoker Norvald Larsen, Engineer Harald Kornelius Lillebø, Jr. Ordinary Seaman Oddvar Henning Ommundsen, Cook William Solheim, Mess Boy Karel Andreas Thomassen, Stoker Trygve Tørrisen, Steward Ragnvald Otelius Weddegjerde.
Related external link:
The 15 who died - The Norwegian text here says that American Wellington aircraft attacked in 2 waves Northeast of Terschelling and Selje was hit, as were 3 of her 4 lifeboats. She was taken in tow but started listing more and more, until she capsized and sank on May 16 off the island Ameland in North Holland. 15 Norwegians were killed, 2 of whom were trapped in a cabin, 5 died during the sudden capsizing. No German casualties. She's referred to as a motor vessel on this site.
(Main Source: "Handelsflåten i krig", book 5: "Hjemmeflåten - mellom venn og fiende" by Lauritz Pettersen).
Other ships by this name: This company had previously lost another steamship by this name, originally built as Dutch Kinderdijk in 1900, 2180 gt, becoming Norwegian Selje in 1915. Sank following a collision with Norwegian barque Stifinder on May 24-1917, voyage Baltimore-Callao (Peru) with coal. Another Selje, originally built in 1921 as Hallgrim for P. Kleppes Rederi, Bergen, and later renamed Selje for Rederiet Odfjell, Bergen in 1927 (6598 gt), sank following a collision with S/S Kaituna (2042 gt) on March 29-1929, 120 miles off Port Phillip, on a voyage from Melbourne to England with cargo of grain. Another Selje had originally been delivered as Utvær in 1943 to the Kriegsmarine, 922 gt. This ship was taken over by the Norwegian State as a war reparation after the war, renamed Slotterøy 1945. Renamed Selje for Rederiet Odfjell in 1956. Later names: Thuntank VI 1960 (Swedish), Skodvik 1962 (Oslo owners), Laura Terkol 1965 (Danish), Fjordoil 1972 (Fredrikstad, Norway) and Fjordtank in 1974 - broken up 1983. Yet another Selje was delivered in 1963, 5855 gt. Later names: Sulfo 1973, French Petro Soulac 1975, Nigerian Amanda C 1992, Asa Eze 1993.
