M/S Crux - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945

M/S Crux

To Crux on the "Ships starting with C" page.

Crew List

Manager: Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen
Tonnage: 3828 gt, 2298 net, 6850 tdwt.
Call Sign: LDRF.

Ordered by Bergenske D/S in 1915, delivered in July-1923 from Burmeister & Wains Maskin- og Skibsbyggeri, Copenhagen, Denmark (325), 367.5' x 51.5' x 23.2', 2 x 6 cyl. B & W diesel 1900 bhp, 10.5 knots.

Operated on Den norske Syd-Amerika Linje service, which was owned by Det Bergenske Dampkibsselskab, A/S J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, and Fred. Olsen & Co.

Captain: Einar Hansen

Final Fate - 1940:

Crux is listed as bound for Cardiff in Convoy OB 159, leaving Liverpool on June 1-1940. Vestfold is also included, with destination Aruba. The external websites that I've linked to at the end of this page have more on the OB convoys. Crux departed Cardiff with a cargo of 6300 tons patent fuel in the afternoon of June 18-1940 for Rio de Janeiro, via Milford Haven for convoy. Left the latter in convoy in the afternoon of June 20 and remained with the convoy until the morning of June 25 at which time she continued alone, while the convoy headed south to Gibraltar. Torpedoed at 23:45 that same date by U-A (Cohausz, a Turkish sub in German service) in 36 52N 14 00W. The torpedo struck on the starboard side, abaft the engine room near No. 4 hatch, causing her to list heavily to port and immediately started to sink. The starboard lifeboat was destroyed in the explosion, but the port lifeboat and motorboat were launched, and 7 men who had had to jump overboard (incl. the captain) were picked up by this boat. About 3 minutes later, Crux went down by the bow.

U-A came up to ask the usual questions about ship and cargo, then promised to try to send help, before taking off again. A southbound ship passed by very close about 20 minutes later, but thinking the U-boat might still be in the vicinity, they did not use their flashes to make themselves known, and thereby rescued, for fear of putting that ship in danger as well, so the vessel passed by without having seen them.

The Norwegians remained at the scene until dawn to see if they could find the rafts in order to get some more supplies from them in case they had to stay in the lifeboats for a long time, the nearest land being about 300 n miles away (Cape St. Vincent). Shortly after they had replenished their suppplies from 2 rafts at about 04:30 they spotted a ship which saw their signals and came over to pick them up. This was the British D/S Brutus (Captain Hopper), which landed them in Plymouth on July 1. The maritime hearings were held there on July 4-1940 with the captain, the 3rd Mate, the 1st engineer, Able Seaman J. Storheim (helmsman), and Jr. Ordinary Seaman J. Olsen (lookout) appearing.

UA continued on south to the Cape Verde Islands and her next Norwegian victim was D/T Sarita.

Crew List - No casualties:

Captain Einar Hansen	1st Mate Finn Wetteland	2nd Mate Per Stinessen	3rd Mate Birger Bjørkhaug	Carpenter Olai Guttormsen	Boatswain Petter Kolstad
Able Seaman Johannes Storheim	Able Seaman Åge Kongsro	Able Seaman Thorleif Helmers	Able Seaman Arnt Bjørkelund	Ordinary Seaman Sverre Olsen	Ordinary Seaman Magnus Ulverud
Jr. Ordinary Seaman Just Olsen	Deck Boy Ivar Flaten	1st Engineer Oliver Seim	2nd Engineer Konrad Jamne	3rd Engineer Johan Fjeldstad	Electrician Fritz Stavem
Mechanic Johannes Karlsen	Mechanic Johan Stenberg (Finnish)	Mechanic Leif Jørgensen	Oiler Harry Todal	Oiler Håken Espeland	Oiler Arild Stenberg
Engine Boy Odd Knudsen	Steward Arne Hammer	Cook Aksel Ragnvaldsen	Galley Boy Elias Langøen	Mess Boy Peder Leksnes	Saloon Boy Anton Vedaa

Related external links:
OB convoys

Operations information for U-A

U-A

Back to Crux on the "Ships starting with C" page.

Other ships by this name: Bergenske D/S also had a ship named Crux after the war, delivered from Pennsylvania Shipyards Inc., Beaumont, Texas in Apr.-1944 for the United States War Shipping Administration, New York under the name Cape Faro, 5231 gt. Sold to Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab in Dec.-1946 and renamed Crux for use in Den norske Syd-Amerika Linje. Sold in June 1951 to Det Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskap, no name change, on a 3 years time charter. Later had 4 more owners, and various names: Grey Master, Siredal, Sunfalcon, Concordia Falcon, Sol Tulla, Scandia Falcon. Eventually sold to Taiwan in 1972. Departed Hong Kong on Jan. 16-1973 in tow for Kaohsiung, presumably for breaking up. Another Crux was delivered to Bergenske D/S in Sept.-1956. Renamed Sunrise in 1964, Crux in 1967, Concordia Crusader in 1968, Crux again that same year. Sold in 1969 to owners in Piræus and renamed Pacific Klif. Sold in 1978, renamed Agios Gerassimos. Broken up in 1982. In May-1958 a ship named Cap Domingo was delivered to German owners. This ship was purchased by Bergenske D/S in March-1970 and renamed Crux. Sold to Yugoslavia in 1973, renamed Marko Polo. Broken up in 1985.

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 for cross checking info. - ref My sources.