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D/S Corvus To Corvus on the "Ships starting with C" page. Manager: Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen Delivered in Jan.-1921 from Københavns Flydedok & Skibsværft, Copenhagen, Denmark (141), having been ordered by Bergenske D/S in 1916. 241.4' x 36.2' x 16.2', Triple exp. 525 ihp, 9 knots. Captain: Alexander Wallace.
Corvus is listed in the Norway-U.K. Convoy HN 7 in Jan.-1940. The following month we find her in Convoy ON 12, which left Methil for Norway on Febr. 13-1940, and in March she sailed in Convoy HN 16 from Norway, general cargo for London. In Apr. she joined Convoy HN 25, which left Norway on Apr. 7-1940, so she got out of Norway just before the German invasion (Apr. 9). As can be seen when clicking on the links, several Norwegian ships took part in these convoys. That summer, she's listed in Convoy OA 159, leaving Southend on June 1-1940. She was only bound for Liverpool at the time. The Norwegian Bello is also included, bound for New York. The external websites that I've linked to at the end of this text have more on the OA convoys. She was in station 92 of Convoy HX 70 in Sept.-1940, bound for Newport with a cargo of lumber. The following month she appears among the ships in Convoy OB 224, which left Liverpool on Oct. 5-1940 and dispersed on the 12th. Her destination on that occasion was St. Stephens, station 33. This convoy had several Norwegian ships, as will be seen by following the first link to the OA and OB convoys provided below. In Nov. that year, she was scheduled for the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 91, but did not sail, and instead joined the next convoy, Convoy HX 92, cargo of lumber for Kings Lynn, station 21. Going back to the external website below we find her scheduled for station 44 of Convoy SL 73, which left Freetown on Apr. 27-1941 and arrived Liverpool on May 25, but cancelled, and instead joined the next convoy, SL 74, which departed Freetown on May 10. Follow the link for names of other Norwegian ships taking part. Tony, a visitor to my website has told me that Corvus was scheduled for Convoy HX 142 in Aug.-1941 (together with the Norwegian Nyholt, Siljestad, Kristianiafjord and Morgenen), but was sent to SC 39 because she was too slow for HX 142. According to Arnold Hague, "The Allied Convoy System", SC 39 departed Sydney C. B. on Aug. 1-1941 (29 ships) and arrived Liverpool on the 19th (this does not necessarily mean that Corvus was going to Liverpool, many ships would have had other destinations once they reached UK waters). According to Tony's information 63 ships sailed from Halifax in convoy HX 142, 8 from Sydney. Kirkpool and Scottish Musician had engine defects and were sent back to Halifax. Like Corvus, Hercules (Dutch?) was also sent to join SC 39 because of her slow speed. Rotterdam, Murena, Hjelmaren and Narragansett went missing in the fog (from HX 142). Empire Sailor did not join HX 142 till Aug. 6. Perth was the rescue ship for HX 142 The following is from the Commodore's notes: Corvus later joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 12, which left Liverpool on Sept. 1-1941, and the following month we find her in the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 51, bound for Preston with general cargo. Related external links: See also this
Corvus departed Garston on Febr. 23-1945 for Plymouth with a cargo of 1800 tons of coal, via Mumbles to change convoy. Left Mumbles Head in the morning of Febr. 26 and joined convoy BTC 81 near Scarwater Lightship (station in the rear of starbord column). Torpedoed at 10:15 BST on Febr. 27-1945 by U-1018 (Burmeister), about 7. miles 253° from the Lizzard (49 55N 05 22W). Her starboard side was ripped open, she developed a heavy list and sank within a couple of minutes. Out of a crew of 22 and 3 gunners, 6 crew and 2 gunners were killed or drowned. Some had been able to launch a raft, while others had to jump overboard. Most of the survivors were picked up by the British D/S Baronscourt (registered in Belfast), 1 survivor by the Swedish D/S Wallonia and landed in Falmouth. On the Norwegian version of my Warsailor Stories section I've included the story of someone who was on board Corvus at the time, 3rd. engineer Sverre Skjæveland, formerly of D/S Hundvaag and D/S Hallfried. He had joined Corvus on May 26-1943, and says they departed London in convoy for Oban the following day, then joined a very large convoy for the Mediterranean - consisting of 90 ships and escorted by 20 war ships. For about 10 months Corvus now travelled between North Africa, Sicily and Italy, then in Febr.-1944 she departed Gibraltar for England, arriving Liverpool March 3, then headed to Manchester for repairs which took 4 months. They were subsequently placed in service between a small town north of Liverpool by the name of Workington and Plymouth. On her last fateful voyage she had departed Garston with coal for Teymouth (Teignmouth?). Skjæveland says they were outside London (can this be right?) before noon on that Tuesday, Febr. 27-1945 and he was asleep in his bed when the torpedo hit in No. 2 Hold, starboard side, just a few meters from his cabin, causing his cabin to cave in around him and he was hit in the head by something. He was unable to open the door but managed to knock out the lower panel in it and ran up on deck. They couldn't get any lifeboats launched because Corvus capsized, but they got a raft out. 8 men were lost, 4 were taken to a hospital. The survivors were sent to London a few days later. The maritime hearings were held in London on March 12-1945 with the captain, the 1st mate, the 2nd engineer, Able Seaman O. M. Kongestøl (helmsman) and Able Seaman N. P. Østerberg (lookout) appearing. The latter stated that he was injured by depth charges which were dropped by the escort shortly afterwards, and indicates that some of the other survivors who were in the water might have drowned as a result. Less than 2 hours after Corvus had been torpedoed, U-1018 was sunk by the convoy escort and two survivors were taken prisoners.
Related external links: Back to Corvus on the "Ships starting with C" page. Bergenske D/S had previously had another Corvus which was also wrecked on the Lizard, on Stag Rocks, on March 22-1918. Originally built in Fredrikstad as Königsberg for Vestlandske Lloyd (Erik Rusten), Bergen in 1902, 534 gt. Renamed Corvus for Bergenske D/S in 1911, having been purchased by that company in Febr.-1908. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Bergenske, byen og selskapet", Dag Bakka Jr., "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume I (Norwegian Maritime Museum), and misc. others as named within the text above for cross checking info. - ref My sources.
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