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D/S Berto
Updated Jan. 20-2013

To Berto on the "Ships starting with B" page.

Survivors / Casualties List

Owner: Skibs-A/S Berto.
Manager: Tom Jentoft Berge, Oslo
Tonnage:
1493 gt, 2350 tdwt.
Call Sign: LCRO.

Built at Bergen mek. Verksted in 1918. According to this posting by Rolf Kristensen on my Ship Forum, she had the former names Botnia and Medemi.
This external page says she was delivered as Modemi in Oct.-1918 to A/S Ivar An. Christensens Rederi III, Kristiania. Owned from 1920 by A/S Ivarans Rederi (Ivar An Christensen) Kristiania, no name change. From 1922, A/S Correct (Ivar An Christensen) Kristiania, same name. From March-1924, sailed as Botnia for D/S A/S Øvre (William Hansen) Bergen. From 1935, A/S D/S Tramfart (M. Johansen), Bergen. Sold in Sept.-1937 to Skibs A/S Berto (Tom Jentoft Berge), Oslo and renamed Berto.

Captain: Paul Moe

In Admiralty service.

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


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

Voyage Record
From March-1940 to Nov.-1942:

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

Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each (please be aware that some of the listings are incomplete).

Errors may exist, and several voyages are missing.

Departure From To Arrival Convoy Remarks
1940 March 27 Norwegian Waters Methil March 30 HN 22
Apr. 3 Methil Shields Apr. 4 MT 43 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Apr. 6 Shields Southend Apr. 8 FS 139 Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
Apr. 9 Southend Rouen Apr. 9 OA 126 For Rouen.
Convoy available at OA 126
(external link)
Missing voyages, Page 1
Aug. 4 Milford Haven OB 193 For Sydney C.B.
Dispersed Aug. 7.
Convoy available at OB 193
(external link)
Aug. 7 Dispersed from OB 193 Sydney, C.B. Aug. 18 Independent
Aug. 19 Sydney, C.B. Quebec Aug. 21 Independent
Aug. 28 Quebec Sydney, C.B. Aug. 31 Independent
Sept. 10 Sydney, C.B. Clyde Sept. 26 SC 4 See also narrative below
Sept. 29 Clyde Methil Oct. 2 WN 19 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
Oct. 4 Methil Boston, Lincs. Oct. 7 FS 300 Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
Oct. 16 Boston, Lincs. Hull Oct. 16 FN 309 Convoy available at FN convoys
(external link)
Left Hull Oct. 23
(Page 1).
Oct. 25 Spurn Head Methil Oct. 27 FN 318 Convoy available at link above
Oct. 30 Methil Oban Nov. 2 EN 15 Convoy available at EN convoys
(external link)
Nov. 9 Oban OB 240 Dispersed Nov. 13.
Convoy available at OB 240
(external link)
Nov. 13 Dispersed from OB 240 Sydney, C.B. Nov. 30 Independent Missing voyages, Page 1
1941 Jan. 2 Halifax St. John's, N.F. Jan. 6 SC 18 Returned - see narrative below
March 22 St. John's, N.F. Halifax March 26 Independent
March 30 Halifax Belfast Lough Apr. 19 SC 27
Apr. 20 Belfast Lough Barry Apr. 22 BB 9 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
Missing movements, Page 1
May 4 Milford Haven OG 61 Detached May 8 (date estimated).
For Halifax.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in OG convoys
Approx. May 8 Detached from OG 61 Halifax May 21 Independent Missing voyage, Page 2
July 1 Sydney, C.B. St. John's, N.F. July 4 SC 36 Returned to port.
Convoy will be added
See ships in SC convoys
July 8 St. John's, N.F. Sydney, C.B. July 11 Independent
July 12 Sydney, C.B. Loch Ewe July 27 SC 37 See link above
July 25(?) Loch Ewe Methil July 30 WN 158 Departure should be July 27.
Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
July 30 Methil Southend Aug. 1 FS 555 Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
See also Page 2
Aug. 17 Southend Tyne Aug. 18 FN 506 Convoy available at FN convoys
(external link)
Aug. 20 Tyne Methil Aug. 21 FN 507 Convoy available at link above
Aug. 23 Methil Loch Ewe Aug. 25 EC 63 Convoy available at EC convoys
(external link)
Aug. 29 Loch Ewe ON 10 Dispersed Sept. 11
Sept. 11 Dispersed from ON 10 New York City Sept. 16 Independent
Sept. 24 New York City Sydney, C.B. Sept. 29 Independent
Sept. 29 Sydney, C.B. Belfast Lough Oct. 18 SC 47 Convoy will be added
See ships in SC convoys
Oct. 18 Belfast Lough Cardiff Oct. 20 BB 90 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
Oct. 28 Cardiff Southampton Oct. 21(?*) WP 58 *Should be Oct. 31.
Convoy available at WP convoys
(external link)
See also Page 2
? Oct. 29 Milford Haven Yarmouth Roads Oct. 31 WP 58 See link above
Nov. 5 Yarmouth Roads Cardiff Nov. 7 PW 61 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Left Cardiff Nov. 12
(Page 2)
* Nov. 13 Barry Roads Yarmouth Roads Nov. 15 WP 65 Convoy available at WP convoys
(external link)
*Compare w/Page 2
Nov. 21 Yarmouth Roads Newport Nov. 25 PW 69 A. Hague says:
Called at Falmouth & Mumbles en route
(Page 2).
Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Nov. 30 Milford Haven Southampton Dec. 2 WP 74 See also Page 3
Convoy available at WP convoys
(external link)
Dec. 7 Southampton Cardiff Dec. 9 PW 77 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Dec. 14 Cardiff Plymouth Dec. 16 WP 81 Convoy available at WP convoys
(external link)
See also Page 3
Dec. 21 Plymouth Cardiff Dec. 23 PW 84 Again, see Page 3.
Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Dec. 26 Cardiff Belfast Lough Dec. 28 ONM 51 Via Milford Haven.
See Page 3
I'm guessing ONM 51 is A. Hague's way of saying she was in the Milford Haven to Belfast Lough portion of Convoy ON 51(?). See ONM convoys at this external link, as well as ships in ON convoys
1942 Jan. 7 Holyhead Milford Haven Jan. 8 BB 121 Missing movements, Page 3
Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
Jan. 9 Milford Haven Dartmouth Jan. 11 WP 94 Convoy available at WP convoys
(external link)
On to Falmouth Jan. 18
(Page 3).
Jan. 19 Falmouth Barry Jan. 20 PW 98 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Missing movements, Page 3
Jan. 26 Milford Haven Holyhead* Jan. 27 MH 65 Convoy available via link above
*See also Page 3
Febr. 15 Holyhead Milford Haven Febr. 16 HM 4 Compare w/Page 4
(also, missing movements).
Convoy available via link above
Febr. 23 Milford Haven Holyhead Febr. 24 MH 75 Convoy available via link above
Compare w/Page 4
(also, missing movements).
March 9 Holyhead Swansea March 11 BB 147 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
Missing movements, Page 4
March 24 Milford Haven Holyhead March 25 MH 85 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Again, compare w/Page 4
(also, more missing movemens)
Apr. 10 Loch Ewe Methil Apr. 13 WN 268 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
Apr. 15 Methil Southend Apr. 17 FS 777 Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
See also Page 4
May 6 Southend Tyne May 7 FN 701 Convoy available at FN convoys
(external link)
May 10 Tyne Methil May 11 FN 703 Convoy available at link above
May 11 Tyne* Loch Ewe May 13 EN 83 *From Methil Roads
Convoy available at EN convoys
(external link)
May 19 Loch Ewe Sydney, C.B. June 4 ON 96 For Pictou.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
June 7 Sydney, C.B. Pictou June 8 SH 11 Convoy available at SH convoys
(external link)
Left Pictou June 17
See Page 4 & Page 5
June 19 Sydney, C.B. Belfast Lough July 2 SC 88
July 2 Belfast Lough Milford Haven* July 3 BB 194 *Arrived Swansea
(Page 5).
Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
July 5 Swansea Southampton July 7 WP 182 Convoy available at WP convoys
(external link)
July 12 Southampton Newport July 14 PW 185 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Left Newport July 15
(Page 5)
July 17 Milford Haven Halifax Aug. 3 ON 114 Via Belfast Lough
(Page 5).
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Aug. 22 Halifax Loch Ewe Sept. 6 SC 97
Sept. 7 Loch Ewe Methil Sept. 8 WN 333 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
Sept. 9 Methil Boston, Lincs Sept. 10 FS 903 Convoy available at FS convoys
(external link)
Missing movemens, Page 5
Sept. 28 Spurn Head Methil* Sept. 30 FN 824 Convoy available at FN convoys
(external link)
*Arrived Burntisland Sept. 29
(Page 5 - Also, missing movemens)
Oct. 17 Methil Silloth Oct. 20 EN 151 Convoy available at EN convoys
(external link)
On to Clyde Oct. 24
(Page 5)
Oct. 30 Clyde Gibraltar Nov. 10 KX 5 Convoy available at KX convoys
(external link)
Nov. 11 Gibraltar Algiers Nov. 14 TE 3 Convoy available via this page
(external link)
Compare w/Page 5
?? Nov. 18 Gibraltar Algiers Nov. 21 TE 5 Convoy available via link above.
Sunk at Algiers Dec. 12.
See "Final Fate" below.


 Misc. Convoy Voyages: 
For information on voyages made in between those mentioned here, please see the documents received from the National Archives of Norway and A. Hague's Voyage Record above. Follow the convoy links provided for more details on them, several Norwegian ships took part.

Berto saved the crew from the neutral Nidarholm on Febr. 12-1940, torpedoed and sunk that same day by U-26 (follow the link for details). Berto was en route from Torrevieja for Bergen via Gibraltar and Kirkwall at the time. She also rescued the 5 survivors from the Danish Martin Goldschmidt 2 days later, 15 were lost from this ship, which according to J. Rohwer was torpedoed and sunk by U-53 on Febr. 14 - ref. external link provided further down on this page.

At the end of March-1940, shortly before the German invasion of Norway (Apr. 9), Berto, with a cargo of paper and pig iron for Rouen, is listed as sailing in Convoy HN 22 from Norway to the U.K. According to A. Hague, she later joined Convoy OA 126, in order to proceed to her final destination, arriving Rouen on Apr. 9, remaining there for several weeks - see Page 1 of the archive documents, which also shows her subsequent movements. It'll be noticed that she also had a long stay in Cardiff that summer.

That fall, she's listed in Convoy OB 193, which originated in Liverpool on Aug. 4-1940 and dispersed on the 7th, Berto arriving Sydney, C.B. independently on Aug. 18. The Norwegian Corvus, Ingertre, Loke, Ringhorn, Thermopylæ and Vilja are also listed. With a cargo of lumber for Boston, Lincs., she was scheduled for the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 3 at the beginning of the following month (Lotos and others were sunk, follow the links for details), but instead joined the next convoy on Sept. 10, SC 4, and arrived Boston on Oct. 7.

In Nov.-1940 she shows up, together with the Norwegian Eastern Star, Erica, Evviva, Granfoss, Iron Baron, Regin, Stargard and Trolla, in Convoy OB 240, which originated in Liverpool on Nov. 8 and dispersed on the 13th. Berto was again bound for Sydney, C.B., where she arrived independently on Nov. 30, having started out from Oban on Nov. 9 (more details on the OA and OB convoys mentioned here can be found via the links provided within the Voyage Record above). Page 1 lists her subsequent movements.

With pit props for Blyth, she was scheduled to return to the U.K. with the slow Convoy SC 17 from Halifax on Dec. 23, but instead joined the next convoy on Jan. 2-1941, SC 18. However, she had to put into St. John's with weather damage, remaining there until March 22 when she proceeded to Halifax in order to join Convoy SC 27 on March 30 - escort's report is also available for this convoy (Favorit was sunk, follow link for details). Berto had station 82, destination is now given as Barry Docks. She arrived Barry via Belfast Lough on Apr. 22.

In May that same year she's listed in the U.K.-Gibraltar Convoy OG 61, departing Liverpool on May 5-1941, arriving Gibraltar on the 19th; Berto, however, was bound for Halifax and detached from the convoy in order to proceed to her destination, where she arrived on May 21, having started out from Milford Haven on May 4 (Page 2 shows her voyages in this period). This convoy, which also included Bonde, Gard, Leka and Vestland, will be added to its own, individual page in my Convoys section; in the meantime, the ships sailing in it are named on the page listing ships in all OG convoys. Berto now remained in Halifax for over a month before proceeding to Sydney, C.B. on June 26, and according to Arnold Hague, she joined the slow Convoy SC 36* from there on July 1, but she put back to St. John's, N.F., later returning to Sydney, C.B., joining Convoy SC 37* on July 12. She had a cargo of lumber and sailed in station 15; the archive document gives her destination as London. Both these convoys had several Norwegian ships, namely Bjerka, Bollsta, Chr. Knudsen, Don, Einvik, Loke, N. T. Nielsen Alonso, Rena and Rym in SC 36, while Acasta, Borgholm, Ingerfem, Ingertre, Mathilda, Sneland I and Veni are listed in SC 37.

Berto headed back across the Atlantic the following month with the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 10 (station 114), originating in Liverpool on Aug. 27-1941, dispersed Sept. 11, Berto arriving New York independently on Sept. 16. At the end of that month, Arnold Hague has her returning to the U.K. in Convoy SC 47*, which left Sydney, C.B. on Sept. 29, again with a number of Norwegian ships in company (Bestik, Danio, Don, Fido, Heimgar, Ingertre, Marit II, Petter II [returned to port], Spes, Veni and Victo). Berto had a general cargo and sailed in station 125 of the convoy, for which Eglantine served as escort for a while (see SC convoy escorts). Berto stopped at Belfast Lough on Oct. 18 before proceeding to Cardiff, where she arrived Oct. 20, subsequently making some voyages around the U.K. - see Page 2 and Page 3, as well as A. Hague's Voyage Record above.

At the end of that year she made a voyage from Cardiff to Belfast Lough in a convoy which A. Hague has given the designation ONM 51. My guess is that this simply refers to the Milford Haven to Belfast portion of the westbound Norh Atlantic Convoy ON 51*(?) - the dates fit (convoy originated in Liverpool on Dec. 27-1941), but note that she did not go any further than Belfast Lough, where she arrived Dec. 28. Page 3 and Page 4 show her subsequent movemens.

Skipping now to May-1942, when we find her, along with Bollsta, Carmelfjell, Fagersten, Granfoss, Ingerfem, Norelg, Norfalk and Rolf Jarl, in the westbound Convoy ON 96*. Berto's destination is given as Pictou, and she had station 83 of the convoy, which originated in Liverpool on May 19 and arrived Halifax June 7. Berto, however, joined from Loch Ewe and stopped at Sydney, C.B. on June 4, later joining an SH convoy from there to Pictou, where she arrived on June 9, according to Page 4 (see link provided within the table above). From Pictou, she went back to Sydney, C.B. on June 17 in order to join the slow Convoy SC 88 from there on June 19, cargo of lumber for Swansea, where she arrived July 3 (Page 5). Acanthus, Montbretia, Potentilla and Rose were among the escorts for a while (again, see SC convoy escorts). With Astrid, Bonneville (Commodore Vessel), Ingertre, Marga, Marie Bakke, Norhauk, Titanian and Torfinn Jarl, Berto now went back in the other direction again with Convoy ON 114*, which originated in Liverpool on July 19; Berto sailed from Belfast Lough on July 20 and arrived Halifax Aug. 3, heading back to the U.K. on Aug. 22 with Convoy SC 97, in which the Norwegian Bronxville was sunk (follow the link for more info - Vice Commodore was in Bonneville). Berto, cargo of lumber, stopped at Loch Ewe on Sept. 6, before proceeding to her destination Boston, Lincs., where she arrived Sept. 10.

* The SC series will be updated and completed, including the already existing convoys (some have already been updated) - see ships in all SC convoys. The ON convoys mentioned here will also be added to individual pages in my Convoys section; in the meantime, the ships sailing in them (and escorts) are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys.

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

Related external link:
The attack on Martin Goldschmidt

 Final Fate - 1942: 

Berto was used as ammunition and supply ship for the Torch operations (the invasion of North Africa, which commenced on Nov. 8-1942 - please see my page about Athos for a list of Norwegian ships taking part). She arrived Bone in the middle of Nov.-1940 and shortly after arrival an air attack took place. No sooner was the first attack over than a formation of Ju 88's was observed approaching. "Nortraships flåte" indicates that Berto's gunners may have shot down 2 aircraft on this occasion. The harbour was under almost continuous attack for the next 3 days (gunners Johannes Hansen and Martin Brønnum are given a special mention).

Berto was ready to sail with a general cargo (destination was unknown) and was at anchor just off Algiers (36 48N 03 04E) when a powerful explosion occurred on the starboard side near No. 3 hatch at about 06:15 in the morning of December 12-1942. Frogmen Guido Arena and Ferdinando Cocchi from the Italian submarine Ambra (Arillo) had attached explosives, so called limpets, underneath her and several other ships the night before. Berto sank within five minutes in about 16 fathoms of water. The other ships, the British Empire Centaur, Harmattan and Ocean Vanquisher were damaged.

All on board survived, except for a British soldier who had been a passenger, and who was never found. The lifeboats were launched, and Berto's crew were landed in Algiers by a corvette at 08:30 that same morning where they were given accommodations on a British transport. They were later taken to the Army Depot were they were given some clothes. With the assistance of Nortraship's representative Captain Jahnsen and the Norwegian Consulate, arrangements were made for them to travel to the U.K.

The maritime hearings were held in Glasgow on Dec. 30-1942 with Captain Moe, the 1st mate, and the 1st engineer appearing.

Crew List:

* Bjarne Gjævran had previously survived the loss of M/T Sildra.

Survivors
Captain
Paul Moe
1st Mate
Ole Sivertsen
2nd Mate
Howard Schive
Radio Operator
Philip Treleaven
(British)
Able Seaman
Odd Nilsen Vataker
Able Seaman
Reidar Refsnes
Able Seaman
Roy Vaz
(British)
Able S./Gunner
Johannes Hansen
Ordinary Seaman
Bjarne Gjævran*
Ordinary Seaman
Martin Kristiansen
Ord. Seaman/Gunner
Martin Brønnum
1st Engineer
John Lars Larsen
2nd Engineer
Herman Lossius
3rd Engineer
Jesper Johansen
Donkeyman
Johannes Andersen
Stoker
Mathias Sandstø
Stoker
Emil Ulseth
Stoker
Robert Hermansen
Stoker
Werner Hansen
Steward
Erling Pedersen
Cook
Viktor Hagstrøm
(Danish)
Galley Boy
George Marshall
(British)
Galley Boy
Roy McQuaigue
(British)
Gunner
Arthur Muir
(British)
Gunner
John Cooper
(British)
Gunner
Robert Taylor
(British)
Gunner
Thomas Whalin
(British)
Casualty:

A British passenger, name unknown (soldier, perhaps a gunner?)


Related external links:
Ambra
Slow moving torpedo - (Chariot)

Back to Berto on the "Ships starting with B" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume I (Norwegian Maritime Museum), and misc. others for cross checking info. - ref My sources.

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