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M/T Anna Knudsen To Anna Knudsen on the "Ships starting with A" page. Manager: Knut Knudsen O.A.S., Haugesund Delivered from A/B Götaverken, Gothenburg in Dec.-1931as Anna Knudsen to D/S A/S Jeanette Skinner, Haugesund. Captain: ?
Compare Arnold Hague's records with these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Anna Knudsen appears to have been scheduled for Convoy HX 85 in Nov.-1940, but did not sail. She was also scheduled for HX 91, but again cancelled, then eventually got away with Convoy HX 92 at the end of that month. In Jan.-1941 she's mentioned among the ships in Convoy OB 273, which departed Liverpool on Jan. 12 and dispersed on the 16th. However, this does not seem certain, as there's a note saying "probably in this convoy" - see the external link provided within the Voyage Record. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 113 in March 1941 but is crossed out on the convoy form. She was also cancelled from HX 114 and HX 115, then sailed in HX 116. At the end of the following month she's listed as bound for Curacao in Convoy OB 317, departing Liverpool on Apr. 30, dispersed on May 6 - again, ref. external link in the Voyage Record. In June that same year she was scheduled for Convoy HX 130, but did not sail. She was also cancelled from HX 131, and is crossed out from the documents for HX 135, but sailed in the next convoy, HX 136 at the end of June. Several other Norwegian ships took part in these convoys, as will be seen by following the links. She subsequently made another voyage to Curacao (see OS 1 in Voyage Record), returning to the U.K. the following month (Aug.-1941) with Convoy HX 146, together with the Norwegian Skaraas (station 74, behind Gallia), Høegh Scout (possibly station 63?), Gallia (station 73), Strix, and Fernmoor (station 52, carrying 3 bombers and crated aircraft). All these ships are discussed on this website. Anna Knudsen subsequently headed back to Curacao on Sept. 11-1941 with the westbound Convoy ON 15, which also had 7 other Norwegian ships. Towards the end of the following month she was one of several Norwegian ships in Convoy HX 156 from Halifax to the U.K. In Dec. that year she's listed as bound for Trinidad in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 44*, which left Liverpool on Dec. 7 and dispersed on the 15th. 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.
According to her Voyage Record she joined Convoy HX 170 in Jan.-1942. As can be seen when following the link, she's not mentioned on my own page about this convoy, but my information is incomplete - follow the external link provided within the record for more information. Anna Knudsen detached for Iceland on Jan. 22. 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 afterpart 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 (Voyage Record gives date as Febr. 11), 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. that year. At the end of that month she can be found in Convoy OS 38, voyaging from Clyde to Gibraltar in ballast (station 33), arriving Gibraltar on Sept. 1. Further dates and information on this convoy are available via the link to OS 38 provided in the Voyage Record. She returned to Clyde a couple of weeks later, then joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 133*, which left Liverpool on Sept. 25-1942 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 in Oct.-1942 Anna Knudsen was in Convoy GAT 16, which left Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Trinidad on Oct. 22-1942 with 24 ships, among them several Norwegian (named in the Guestbook message). Anna Knudsen's destination is given as Pt. Forte. Please go back to the Voyage Record for details on her subsequent voyages. She returned to the U.K. again in Convoy HX 216, which left New York City on Nov. 19-1942 and arrived Liverpool on Dec. 6. Anna Knudsen, sailing in station 51 of the convoy, was bound for Clyde, where she arrived on Dec. 4 with a cargo of Admiralty fuel. A week later we find her in Convoy KMS 5, leaving Clyde for Gibraltar and North Africa on Dec. 11-1942. Anna Knudsen is said to have detached for Gibraltar on Dec. 24. Again, see the Voyage Record above for info on some of her subsequent voyages. In the spring of 1943 she travelled to Algiers from New York with American aircraft on deck in addition to a cargo of oil. This voyage took place in Convoy UGS 7, which originated in Hampton Roads on Apr. 1 that year. Anna Knudsen arrived Algiers on Apr. 21, from New York, as already mentioned - direct link to more convoy information has been provided within the Voyage Record. She headed back to New York the following month (Convoy GUS 7A), then joined Convoy HX 244, which left New York City on June 15 and arrived Liverpool on the 30th. Her destination is given as Scapa, cargo of petroleum, station 3. She subsequently returned to New York with the westbound Convoy ON 192*, which originated in Liverpool on July 9 and arrived New York on the 22nd.
As can be seen in her Voyage Record she now made a voyage from the U.S. to Bizerta the following month, subsequently travelling from there to Aden, where she arrived on Sept. 30-1943. She left Aden again in ballast for Abadan on Oct. 3, Convoy AP 47. 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 (Voyage Record says Oct. 8).
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 (Voyage Record says Oct. 23). 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. She was further repaired at Birkenhead (Liverpool). This probably took place from May-1944 and onwards, because her Voyage Record indicates she was in Liverpool from May 17 to Oct. 25-1944. (She had been in Convoy MKS 46* from Gibraltar to the U.K. in Apr. that year, and arrived Clyde on May 3, proceeding independently from there to Liverpool, with arrival May 17).
She's listed in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 262*, leaving Liverpool on Oct. 25-1944, arriving her destination New York on Nov. 10. She headed back to the U.K. just a few days later in Convoy HX 320 from New York, and arrived Clyde on Nov. 30. Only 2 other Norwegian ships are listed in this convoy, namely Gefion and Dalfonn. It looks like all 3 returned to the U.S. with the westbound Convoy ON 270 at the beginning of the following month; Anna Knudsen was escort oiler, as she was for several of the other convoys mentioned here. Again she had a very quick turnaround, because only 2 days after arrival New York, she headed back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 328, which arrived Liverpool on Jan. 8-1945, having departed New York on Christmas Eve. Already on Jan. 14-1945 we find her in 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 47 ships were in this convoy, while Arthur Moore's book, "A Careless Word, A Needless Sinking" gives the names of 49). Anna Knudsen was on a voyage from Milford Haven to New York. Only 2 days later she shows up in the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 336, and towards the end of Febr. she joined the westbound Convoy ON 286* (departure Liverpool Febr. 21, arrival New York March 9). According to her Voyage Record she returned to the U.K. with Convoy HX 344, which left New York on March 14-1945 and arrived Liverpool on the 28th - Anna Knudsen's destination was Londonderry. She subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 294* at the beginning of the following month; she left Londonderry on Apr. 2, arrived New York Apr. 20. Just 3 days later she joined Convoy HX 352 from New York, and arrived Devonport on May 7. These 2 HX convoys are not available on my own site, but I've linked directly to more info on them within the Voyage Record. In her next westbound convoy (ON 303*, which originated in Liverpool on May 17-1945 and arrived New York on June 2) she narrowly avoided a collision, when the Commodore (in a Westfal-Larsen ship) 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 collided when making a 45° turn instead of the "double" 90° ordered.
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., Inverleithing on March 21. Related external link: Back to Anna Knudsen on the "Ships starting with A" page. 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 Eliassen in "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 WW II", Jürgen Rohwer, "The World's Merchant Fleets", R. W. Jordan, "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland and Convoy information received from Ted Agar, England.
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