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D/S Annavore To Annavore on the "Ships starting with A" page. Owner: A/S Vore Built by Murdoch & Murray Ltd, Port Glasgow in 1921. Captain: Gerhard Reichelt, previously of Karlander. Captain Reichelt's son Erik was among those involved in the tragic loss of Brattholm I - follow link for details. He also had another son, Borti, who was involved in illegal activities in Norway and was shot by the Germans in Oct.-1944. A book has been written about this family - ISBN number is available in this Norwegian Guestbook message from the captain's grandson. Related items on this website:
Compare Arnold Hague's records with these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Annavore, having cancelled from Convoy HX 46, is listed in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 47 in June-1940 (in which the Norwegian Italia was sunk). Her destination is given as St. Nazaire, general cargo and copper, station 97. She was attacked by German aircraft 7 n. miles southwest of Lefour on June 17-1940, but was undamaged and reached British port. As can be seen, there's no mention of St. Nazaire in her Voyage Record, where she's said to have arrived Clyde on June 27. The following month she joined Convoy OB 186, which departed Liverpool on July 20 and dispersed July 22, Annavore arriving Quebec on Aug. 2. The Norwegian Augvald and Heranger are also listed in this convoy - see the external site that I've linked to within the table above. Annavore returned to the U.K. with Convoy HX 68, which left Halifax on Aug. 24-1940 and arrived Liverpool on Sept. 8. Annavore, however, joined from Sydney, C.B. and arrived Cardiff on Sept. 10. The Bermuda portion only is available on my own page about this convoy, and therefore Annavore is not mentioned, but follow the external link provided. In Oct. that year she shows up, together with Borgland and Helle, in Convoy OB 227, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 11 and dispersed on the 15th. Her destination on that occasion is given as Rimouski/St. Vincent, station 23. Again, see the link provided. Annavore went back to the U.K. the following month in Convoy HX 89, destination is given as London, station 12. At the beginning of 1941 she's listed in Convoy OB 269, which left Liverpool on Jan. 3 and dispersed on the 6th. (Other Norwegian ships in this convoy were Bianca, Drammensfjord, and Estrella). As indicated in her Voyage Record, she arrived Louisburg independently on Jan. 21. Towards the end of Febr. she joined Convoy HX 111, but returned to Halifax; reason not given. At the time she had a cargo of lumber for Sharpness, and joined the slow Convoy SC 24 instead. In Apr. that same year she's listed as bound for Pernambuco in Convoy OB 316, which departed Liverpool on Apr. 28-1941, dispersed May 5, Annavore arriving her destination independently on May 28. Danio, Sydhav and Taranger are also named as sailing in this convoy. In Aug.-1941 we find her in station 122 of Convoy HX 145, together with the Norwegian Maridal (station 83), Høyanger (station 95, 3 bombers on deck), Leikanger (station 64, lumber), Vav (station 114), Charles Racine, Kaia Knudsen (station 73), Slemdal, all listed on this website. In Oct.-1941 Annavore is listed in station 24 of Convoy OS 9, on a voyage from Oban to Cadiz with coke. Other Norwegian ships in this convoy were Fagersten, Fjord, and Varanger. Please see the alphabet index at the end of this page for more information on the other Norwegian ships mentioned here.
Annavore was 1 of 5 Norwegian ships in Convoy HG 76 which left Gibraltar on December 14-1941. She had a cargo of 4800 tons iron ore from Huelva for Aberdeen via Oban for orders. Due to some aggressive attacks on previous Gibraltar convoys, HG 76 had been held back until the escort could be reinforced, with the result that a large number of destroyers and corvettes were attached to this convoy, plus the British aircraft carrier HMS Audacity with 4 American Martlet aircraft, which had been stationed in Gibraltar for the protection of important convoys. Escort chief, embarked in the sloop Stork, was commander F. J. Walker, known as the best escort chief in the Royal Navy during the war. Several encounters with U-boats occurred on this voyage; the destroyer Stanley was sunk on Dec. 19 as was the British Ruckinge - then on the 21st Audacity was torpedoed by U-751 (Bigalk) and went down with all her aircraft, while U-567 (Endrass) hit Annavore in 43 55N 19 50W - she sank almost immediately. Only 4 survived, 34 died. After these events, the battle of HG 76 continued fiercly with the escort holding several U-boats at bay. U-567 was sunk with her entire crew. The enemy eventually withdrew after having pursued and attacked the convoy for 9 days. (I'll refrain from adding more details on this convoy battle, because there's plenty of info at the HG 76 related links listed below, especially the first one). By then the convoy had also reached the protection zone of the British airplanes, and celebrated Christmas at sea without any further disturbances, reaching its destination (Liverpool) on Dec. 30. This battle had shown that, given sufficient protection a convoy could get through with its valuable cargoes without heavy losses. In this case two merchant ships were lost, whereas several U-boats had gone down. On December 30-1941 it was decided to pull the U-boats out of the Gibraltar area and use them in areas where the convoy protection was weaker.
The maritime hearings were held in London on Jan. 6-1942 with Able Seaman Leonard Karlsen, Able Seaman Knut Johannessen, and Trimmer Torleif Værøy appearing.
Survivors & Casualties
* I believe Kåre Seines is identical to the Kåre Seines who had previously escaped from Norway with M/B Solveig.
External links related to the text on this page: HG 76 - December 1941 - A long detailed article on the battle. Captain F. Johnnie Walker, RN 1896 - 1944 - (Uboat.net) Operations Information for U-567 - The U-boat that sank Annavore. Back to Annavore on the "Ships starting with A" page. An earlier Annavore: Norway also had a ship by the name Annavore in the early 1900's, originally delivered in Sept.-1883 as Wally for F. Gordon & Co., London, 1855 gt. From 1910 as Annavore for Lundegaard & Stray, Farsund. Sold in 1915 to Andreas Simonsen, Haugesund, then in 1916 to D/S A/S Vard, Christiania. Collided with Spanish D/S Espana IV and sank near Bonanza, Spain on a voyage Sevilla-Amsterdam. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Norwegian Maritime Museum, Volume I, and misc. others for cross checking details - ref My sources.
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