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M/S Belnor To Belnor on the "Ships starting with B" page.
Manager: Christen Smith, Oslo Delivered from Armstrong Whitworth & Co. Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne (1006) in Jan.-1926 as Belnor to Rederiet Belnor A/S (Christen Smith & Co.), Oslo. 309' x 46.2' x 20.7', 4 cyl. 2T single acting Sultzer DM (Armstrong Whitworth), 1350 bhp - sistership of Belray. Taken over by Skibs-A/S Belships Co. Ltd., Oslo in Oct.-1935. Belnor was capable of carrying heavy loads like locomotives etc. and was much sought after in the Mediterranean (please follow the link to Belray above for info on how this came about).
(Received from Don Kindell - His source: The late Arnold Hague's database). Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each. Or go to this external page, click on "Ship Search", then type "Belnor" in the search field; direct links to each convoy will come up. Please be aware that some of these convoys may be incomplete - compare A. Hague's numbers to TDS numbers (TDS = number of ships according to Trade Division Signal). Errors may exist, and some voyages may be missing.
Belnor was scheduled for the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 24 towards the end of Febr.-1941, but did not sail, nor did she get away with Convoy SC 26, SC 28, or SC 31, for which she was scheduled, but finally sailed in Convoy SC 33 in June, cargo of nitrates, destination Clyde. Belnor is listed as bound for Bathurst and Takoradi with general cargo in station 36 of Convoy OS 12, which left Liverpool on Nov. 18-1941. In March.-1942, she can be found in Convoy SL 102, cargo of manganese for Workington. This convoy left Freetown on March 4-1942 and arrived Liverpool on the 26th. She also sailed in Convoy OS 27 in May-1942, voyaging from Clyde to Bathurst/Freetown/Takoradi in station 43. Additionally, she's listed in Convoy SL 114, which departed Freetown on June 25-1942 and arrived Liverpool on July 17. Belnor 's station is given as 82, cargo of manganese ore, destination Workington. The Norwegian Vanja, Norholm, Solfonn and Villanger are also included in SL 114, as is Norbris (Panamanian flag). In Aug.-1942 we find her in station 32 of Convoy OS 37, on a voyage from Clyde to Freetown (arr. Aug. 29), Bathurst and Takoradi. In Oct. that same year she shows up in Convoy SL 125 (in which Alaska was torpedoed and damaged). This convoy originated in Freetown on Oct. 16-1942 and arrived Liverpool on Nov. 9; according to Arnold Hague Belnor joined at sea from Bathurs on Oct. 19 and arrived Barrow on Nov. 6. Towards the end of the following month I have her in Convoy KMS 6, in which Akabahra was sunk; the Norwegian President de Vogue and Athos also took part. Follow the links for more info. In Apr.-1943 she's listed in station 43 of Convoy OS 46/KMS 13, voyage Clyde-Gibraltar with coal and small craft, arriving Gibraltar on Apr. 26 with the KMS portion. The following month she can be found in Convoy SL 129/ MKS 13 which arrived Liverpool on June 1. Belnor, in ballast for Mersey, had joined at Gibraltar on May 23 with MKS 13 which had joined up with SL 129 from Freetown on the 24th. The Norwegian Fernhill, Heimvard and Vest are also listed. The Gibraltar portions of these convoys, KMS 13 and MKS 13, will be added to my own site in due course - in the meantime, follow the external links provided at the end of this page and within the above table for further dates and info on them - several Norwegian ships took part. What follows is from an article in "Tilbakeblikk", written by Gunner Arne Thommessen, who later paid off while in Glasgow and joined Topdalsfjord on Febr. 3-1944. (Some of the dates don't quite match up with what is found in the above Voyage Record). On July 28-1943 Belnor left Glasgow for Oban to join a convoy for Gibraltar (Convoy KMS 22). Gunners for this voyage were: Ingolf A. Rosendahl, Gunnar Solås, Helge Nolum Hansen, Ellias C. Kvamsøe, Sigvald P. Knutsen and Arne K. Thommessen (previously of Bosphorus and Kong Haakon VII). Her armament consisted of a 4" QF American gun and four 20 mm Oerlikons, as well as rifles. She had a general cargo in addition to 2 tugs and 4 barges on deck. Though there were several reports of possible enemy presence, the convoy arrived Gibraltar without incidents on Aug. 9. Most of the ships in the convoy continued to ports in the Mediterranean (see the second table on my page for KMS 22), while Belnor remained at Gibraltar awaiting a convoy for Malta. By that time several ships had been sunk by limpet mines, among them Thorshøvdi, which was clearly visible to them, so the gunners were equipped with rifles and depth charges and all on board were told to keep a look-out for suspicious movements in the water around them while at anchor in Gibraltar.
Finally, on Aug. 18 they left Gibraltar for Malta in a large convoy (this was Convoy KMS 23, which will be added to my Convoys section as soon as I can). Several of the ships had Oran, Algiers, Bone and Bizerta as their destinations. The convoy was attacked by aircraft off Bizerta on the 4th day and again the following day, but Belnor arrived Malta unharmed on Aug. 24. The tugs and barges were unloaded and she was ready to leave Valetta again on Aug. 29 in a convoy for Bone. Shortly after departure Belnor experienced problems with her main engine and had to stop for a few hours, then returned to Valetta to get the problem properly seen to - note that she's mentioned in connection with Convoy MKS 23 (scroll down to the second table on that page), with a note saying "returned to Malta". En route a formation of aircraft was spotted and all guns manned but to their huge relief they turned out to be British. They also experienced another nerve racking sighting as they approached Valetta, namely a group of warships. These later proved to be part of the Italian fleet which had surrendered and were headed for Valetta. After her engine had been fixed a few hours later Belnor again departed Valetta, this time in the company of 3 other vessels. On Sept. 1, when the convoy was off Bizerta they were ordered to go in to await further orders. Several other Norwegian ships were also there, which proved advantageous for Belnor in that her food supplies were running low. These Norwegian ships had come from the U.S. and therefore had more supplies, so Belnor's steward was able to supplement his own stock. Finally, on Sept. 17 they could leave Bizerta and arrived Bone on the 19th, where they started to load ore with the help of Italian POW's. She also took on board some damaged war stores, leading them to suspect that they were headed back to the UK, which they did not mind at all. While at Bone they also met some British soldiers from the 8th Army, waiting for orders (possibly for Italy) who happily accepted an invitation for dinner on board Belnor. Having taken part in the advances through Libya and to Tunisia, they greatly appreciated the efforts and skills of the Norwegian cook. After 3 weeks in Bone Belnor sailed for Bizerta, arriving Oct. 15. Landing barges were loaded for 3 days (these were going back to the UK for overhaul). They all had a feeling that an air attack might be imminent; the harbour was full of ships waiting to be escorted to the Italian front, loaded with war stores, ammunition etc. Others, like Belnor, had orders for Gibraltar, while others still - several Norwegian - were in service on the North African coast and to the Italian front. All of Belnor's guns were overhauled while they prepared for the attack they knew would come and when it did, Belnor took part in the defence for 2 nights in a row, receiving slight damages. On Oct. 18 she was ordered to head out and meet a convoy of about 25 ships en route from Italy with destination Gibraltar. As they passed Oran on Oct. 22, 4 Liberty ships joined the convoy, and no sooner had they taken their place than the convoy was attacked by torpedo aircraft, 4 of which were shot down, with Belnor's gunners responsible for the destruction of one of them. The convoy arrived Gibraltar on Oct. 24-1943 (this was Convoy MKS 28, in which she's listed as bound from Bizerta to Gibraltar - scroll down to the second table on that page). She departed Gibraltar again on Nov. 3, but again some engine problems occurred and she had to stop, but it was fixed within half an hour and she was able to rejoin the convoy. U-boat reports were given twice on this passage, but nothing further happened. Before arrival North Channel the convoy split up, with some ships heading north, while Belnor and some others headed for the Clyde, her destination being Glasgow, arriving there on Nov. 18, having been gone for almost 4 months. The latter voyage was with Convoy MKS 29, in which she's listed, together with the Norwegian Sirehei and Norvarg. Some of the gunners paid off and new ones came on board for yet another Mediterranean voyage, departing Dec. 25, joining a large convoy on the 26th, but again Belnor experienced engine problems and had to return to Clyde after the engine crew had worked through the night to get her going (this was Convoy OS 63/KMS 37 - the website that I've linked to below says she was scheduled for this convoy but did not sail). She arrived Greenock on Dec. 29, and on Jan. 16-1944 they arrived a yard in Glasgow for repairs. Please refer to her Voyage Record for information on some of her 1944 voyages. In Sept.-1944 we find her in Convoy SL 170 / MKS 61. The SL portion of this convoy left Freetown on Sept. 8-1944, then joined up with the MKS portion from Gibraltar, with which Belnor joined, on Sept. 18, the combined convoy arriving Liverpool on Sept. 26. Her voyage information is given as Bona-Manchester, carrying Churchill tanks. Novasli, Somerville and Sophocles also took part in this convoy, having started out in the SL portion from Freetown. In Febr.-1945 Belnor was scheduled for Convoy OS 112/KMS 86, but did not sail. She was also cancelled from the next convoy, OS 113/KMS 87, as well as OS 114/KMS 88 and OS 115/KMS 89. She's listed as sailing in Convoy OS 119/KMS 93, which departed Liverpool on March 28-1945. She was on a voyage from Clyde to Port Said, Bombay and Calcutta with vehicles, station 43 (KMS 93), and it looks like she was the only Norwegian ship taking part. Again, please go back to the Voyage Record for information on the rest of her 1945 voyages.
Sold to Denmark in May-1956, renamed Lise for D/S A/S Nautic (Aage Vollmond), Copenhagen (a 6 cyl. motor had been installed in 1947, 1350 bhp). Sold in June-1959 to Ioanna Cia. Nav. S/A, Piræus and renamed Ioanna. Sold in 1966 to Alma Horn Shipping Co. SA/Syros Shipping Co. S/A (L. M. Valmas & Son Ltd.), Piræus. Had an engine explosion on Sept. 20-1966, on fire, capsized and sank off Arzew on the 22nd. External website related to the text on this page: To Belnor on the "Ships starting with B" page. Other ships by this name: This company has since used the name Belnor for several of their ships. One was delivered as such in May-1959, 10 527 gt, later sailed as Dora for owners in Monrovia from 1968, before she ran aground on Aug. 23-1971. Another was delivered to the company in Sept.-1971, 22 488 gt, sold to China in 1977 and renamed Lui Lin Hai. Another had originally been delivered in March-1977 as Melsomvik for the management of Simonsen & Astrup, Oslo, 22 960 gt. Sold and renamed Nordbulk in 1979, becoming Belnor in 1983. Later names: Stove Campbell 1986, Western Bell 1987 (Philippines), Alara 1987 (Turkey), Constantinople 1992 (Valetta), Constantinople Naparano same year, Al Waaliyu 1994 (Panama). Additionally, another Belnor was delivered in 1996, 26 449 gt, still in service. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: Misc. sources, including article mentioned above; info from the book in question is used with permission - ref My sources.
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