M/S Dagrun
Updated Aug. 17-2008

To Dagrun on the "Ships starting with D" page.

From N-Goran Jonsson Sweden collection (Potographer unknown).


I've also received this picture from Sverre Johansen (postcard collection), but I've now been told that it shows an earlier Dagrun, a steamship built in 1905 - can anyone confirm?

1940:

(Some of the dates here do not match up with A. Hague's Voyage Record information. Source for this report is given at the end of this page - I've chosen to leave the dates "as is").

When Norway was invaded on Apr. 9-1940, Dagrun was on a voyage from Durban to Baltimore with ore, arriving Apr. 11. After having unloaded her cargo she had to wait until Apr. 26 before receiving new orders, first for Norfolk for coal with departure Apr. 29 for Buenos Aires where the cargo was discharged. Taken over by Ministry of War Transport (time charter) then departed Buenos Aires on May 29 for Bahia Blanca, arriving June 2. With a cargo of grain she headed to Freetown, then on to Belfast for the installation of degaussing (she's listed in station 44 of Convoy SL 38, which departed Freetown on July 1-1940 and arrived Liverpool on the 20th. See the external website that I've linked to in the table above - this convoy will also be added to my own website). She subsequently continued to Clyde to join a convoy which departed on July 31-1940 (I'm assuming the captain is talking about Convoy WN 4, which left Methil on Aug. 1, and in which Sofie Bakke was lost following a collison). On Aug. 3 the convoy was attacked by aircraft, but though bombs fell quite close and a ship in front of her was hit and set on fire, Dagrun was unharmed. However, she collided with a small vessel when the latter had to perform evasive maneuvers in order to steer clear of the bombed vessel, but received only minor damages and could continue her voyage.

Jan-Olof, Sweden has told me that this vessel was the Swedish Johanna (Captain Axel Winberg) and the location was 20' WSW Cape Wrath. He has sent me a copy of a report in which the captains of the 2 ships blame each other, the captain of Johanna saying that the indirect cause of the collision was the air attack which caused confusion in the convoy, but the direct cause was Dagrun's attempt to get out of the convoy. The Swedish captain says he believed Dagrun had originally had station 26, and had sailed on Johanna's starboard side, but had passed the Swedish ship after the aircraft attack and disappeared out of sight in the dark for a while, then appeared again on her starboard side, striking Johanna in her starboard bow with great force, causing serious damages. However, Johanna was also able to continue and was later repaired in Grangemouth where she arrived on Aug. 8 (demanded 4000 pounds in security from Dagrun's company).

Dagrun was accused of "not keeping lookout, not keeping her station in the convoy, of having changed her course towards Johanna, of not having stopped or backed up, of having broken the rules for behaviour at sea and of "bad station keeping", while Dagrun accused Johanna of the same things, adding that Johanna had gone to starboard without signalling. Dagrun's side of the story says she was on a voyage from Bahia Blanca for Hull with 7420 tons of wheat and frozen meat, and was about 10 miles off the coast of The Minch between Ru Stoer(?) and Cape Wrath when the collision occured shortly after 01:00 on Aug. 3. Johanna was No. 8 in the same column as Dagrun, which would mean Johanna was sailing behind her (if the Swedish captain's statement saying Dagrun was in station 26 is correct), but the Swedish ship was way out of her position, being 2 ship lengths away from Dagrun's port beam when the aircraft attack occurred. According to this report it was Dagrun who had to steer clear of a burning ship in front of her, then shortly afterwards Johanna's starboard bow hit her port bow. The report adds that Dagrun was on British time charter from May 20 until Aug. 19-1940.

As mentioned, the owners of Johanna claimed damages from the owners of Dagrun, while the owners of Dagrun counterclaimed against the owners of the Swedish ship, but a judge put an end to this dispute when he delivered his judgement in May-1941 that neither vessel was to blame for the collision. "He held there was no negligence on either side and he dismissed both claim and counterclaim, making no order as to costs" (from a newspaper clipping dated May 7-1941, also received from Jan-Olof).

After the collision, Dagrun arrived Hull on Aug. 6 where her cargo was unloaded, whereupon she went to dry dock. At the same time she received a 4" gun and a machine gun. She departed Hull on Aug. 25-1940, arrived Montreal via Sydney, C.B. on Sept. 13. (She had started out from the U.K. in Convoy OA 206, which left Methil on Aug. 29-1940 and dispersed on Sept. 2. Libra is also listed, while Victo was scheduled but did not sail - again, see the link in the table above). A cargo of iron and lumber was loaded before departing Montreal again on Sept. 26 for the U.K., via Sydney, C.B. for convoy, departing Sydney on Oct. 1. After the convoy had been attacked on Oct. 11 and several ships sunk (this was HX 77 in which Davanger and Brandanger were sunk*), it was dispersed, and Dagrun continued alone until Oct. 13 at which time a torpedo from U-138 (Lüth) barely missed her and detonated about 30-50 meters from the side of the ship. This took place between the northern point of Ireland and the Hebrides. The gunners fired back with the 4" gun. During the next hour they saw a periscope several times, but nothing further happened. After Dagrun had sent out a radio signal at 14:39 about being attacked, the destroyer Witherington proceeded at full speed to her position, while at the same time the destroyer Weston was also sent to investigate. At 17:50, HMS Shikari established contact with Dagrun, which reported that a torpedo had detonated close by and that the U-boat had last been seen at 15:30. With regard to Dagrun on this date Rohwer says that the name Dagrun was quoted by the xB-Dienst (U-138), but that there's no report of damage by enemy action in allied documents. Dagrun was now escorted by a destroyer until they reached the coast of England, then continued to Manchester where they arrived Oct. 25. This latter voyage is not mentioned in the Voyage Record, but see Page 1 of the documents received from the National Archives of Norway.

* According to Arnold Hague, this convoy originated in Halifax on Sept. 30-1940 with 39 ships, arriving Liverpool Oct. 15. He lists 6 ships lost, namely Pacific Ranger (no casualties), Port Gisborne (26 dead), St. Malo (28 dead) and Stangrant (9 dead) in addition to the 2 Norwegian ones. Other Norwegian ships, in addition to Brandanger and Davanger already mentioned, were Emma Bakke, Heina, and Samnanger.

Unloading of cargo in Manchester was completed on Dec. 5, whereupon Dagrun went to St. John, N. B., with arrival Dec. 28. She is, in fact, listed in Convoy OB 257, which left Liverpool on Dec. 10-1940 and dispersed on the 13th - ref. external link provided in the table above for the names of other ships in this convoy, among which were the Norwegian Suderholm, Titanian and Topdalsfjord. Erviken, Horda and Taranger were also scheduled, but did not sail.

1941 & 1942:

(Again, please note that some of the dates in this report do not match up with A. Hague's Voyage Record information).

Follow the convoy links provided for more details on them.

A cargo of wheat was now loaded at St. John, with departure on Jan. 1-1941 for the U.K. via Halifax for convoy. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 101, but instead joined the next convoy, HX 102, which left Halifax on Jan. 11. She arrived Clyde on Jan. 30, unloaded her cargo in Glasgow, Scotland, departed again for St. John on Febr. 9 (Convoy OB 284, which also included Acasta, [did not sail?], Borgholm, and Sildra - ref external link within table above), arrived Febr. 23 for another cargo of wheat, departed Febr. 28 for Avonmouth via Halifax (cancelled from Convoy HX 112, sailed in HX 113), with arrival Avonmouth on March 22. Cargo was unloaded and 1000 tons ballast taken on, before she left for New York on Apr. 5 with independent arrival Apr. 24, having started out from the U.K. in Convoy OB 307, which had been dispersed on Apr. 13; Brønnøy, Chr. Th. Boe, Drammensfjord, Petter and Thorshavet are also listed. Dagrun subsequently went into dry dock for various repairs. Departed New York on June 6 for La Romana, Haiti to pick up raw sugar for the U.K. via Bermuda and Halifax, arriving Greenock on July 27-1941 (she had been scheduled for Convoy HX 136, Bermuda section, but did not sail. Also cancelled from the next convoy, HX 137, but finally got away with Convoy HX 138 on July 11).

Her next voyage took her to Philiadelphia (westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 6, which left Liverpool on Aug. 11-1941), where iron was loaded, then on to Norfolk for more iron. She's said to have departed Norfolk on Aug. 15, again for the U.K., but this date must be an error - I believe it should be Sept. 15 (since she had been in the westbound ON 6 leaving the U.K. on Aug. 11). She's listed among the ships leaving Halifax in Convoy HX 151 on Sept. 22 (station 54) along with the Norwegian Sama (85), San Andres (105), Meline (43), Morgenen (93), Belinda, Thorshøvdi (53), Sophocles, Tigre (44), Hardanger (94), Leiv Eiriksson (24), and Laurits Swenson. Dagrun arrived Manchester on Oct. 8 (via Liverpool Oct. 6, and Eastham Oct. 7). After the cargo had been unloaded she took on board a general cargo at Birkenhead for Dar Es Salaam and Mombasa, via Freetown and Cape Town, having sailed from the U.K. in Convoy OS 11, which departed Liverpool on Nov. 7-1941 and arrived Freetown on the 28th. This convoy also included Danio, Elg, Fana, and Tigre - see the external link in the table above.

New cargo was loaded at Mombasa, Dar Es Salaam and Beira, departing the latter on Jan. 23-1942 for Manchester with arrival there on March 18, via Cape Town, Freetown, Liverpool and Eastham - see Page 2. She had arrived the U.K. from Freetown in Convoy SL 101, together with Drammensfjord, Elin K, Tabor and Tanafjord - again, see external link provided, where Dagrun is listed in station 95 of that convoy - cargo is given as copper and sugar. Having unloaded the cargo she had to go into dry dock again, then headed for New York on Apr. 10, arriving independently on the 24th, having sailed from the U.K. in the westbound Convoy ON 85*, together with Harpefjell (returned), Idefjord, Skiensfjord and Troubadour. From New York she went on another, longer journey, namely with ammunition and general to Suez. At this time Captain A. Amundsen had command (May 1). Departure New York took place on May 21-1942. A few days later, on May 26, Dagrun rescued 17 men from the British M/T Darina (near Bermuda), which had been torpedoed by U-158 a week earlier, and landed them at Cape Town. (The Norwegian Norland was sunk from the same convoy, ON 93*). She continued her voyage to Suez, then on to Safaga in The Red Sea where cargo of phosphates was loaded for Durban, from there to Georgetown and took on board a cargo of bauxite for New York with arrival Nov. 19-1942 (A. Hague gives arrival date as Nov. 10, agreeing with Page 3).

Captain Amundsen now had to take a leave of absence due to illness, and I'm not sure who took over meanwhile. Again war stores and landing barges (for Sicily) were loaded in New York, and this time she unloaded them at Alexandria, having travelled around Cape Horn.

On Apr. 25-1942 Dagrun's captain had written to Nortraship, recommending the following men for Krigsmedaljen (the War Medal):
Chief Engineer Haldor A. Pedersen, who came on board in 1928 and was still there.
2nd Engineer Asbjørn Karlsen, who came on board in 1937.
Mate Adolf Berg, who had been on board since 1936, became 1st Mate in Nov.-1940 when 1st Mate K. Leif Johnsen paid off in Manchester.
2nd Mate John T. Knudsen had been on board since 1938.
Boatswain John Stensvik, since 1939.
Steward Thomas A. Nilsen, since 1937.
Cook Harry Alexandersen had been on board since 1939.

1943 & 1944:

By the time she arrived Alexandria, it was March-1943. She continued to Mauritius where a somewhat more peaceful cargo was taken on board, namely sugar for the U.K., where she arrived with Convoy SL 131/MKS 15, ref. external link in the table above for details on the combined convoy. The Norwegian Anna Odland, Hallfried, Karmt and Norheim also took part in this convoy, the SL portion of which had departed Freetown on June 13-1943, joined up with the MKS portion from Gibraltar on June 24, the combined convoy arriving Liverpool on July 4. Dagrun's cargo is given as sugar and mail, voyage Mauritius to Mersey, which fits in with the captain's statements. She also carried 3 passengers on this voyage.

From the U.K. she headed back across the Atlantic in ballast, having joined the westbound Convoy ON 194*, which left Liverpool on July 24-1943 and also included Anna Odland, Belinda, Brimanger, Fernmoor, G. C. Brøvig, Germa, Heimvard, Kaia Knudsen, Lista, Morgenen, Noreg, Norheim, and Skandinavia, the Norwegian corvettes Acanthus, Potentilla and Rose being among the escorts. A. Amundsen now came back on board in St. John, where she had arrived on Aug. 12 (via Halifax), and Dagrun proceeded to load iron and lumber for Hull, with arrival there on Oct. 16, having crossed the ocean with Convoy SC 143, which had left Halifax on Sept. 28-1943 (the captain gives arrival Hull as Sept. 12, but this must be an error - see also Page 4), unloading until Nov. 6, later proceeding in ballast with the westbound Convoy ONS 23*, via New York to Tampa, Florida. This convoy had originated in Liverpool on Nov. 17 and also had the Norwegian Grey County in its ranks. In Tampa, where she had arrived on Dec. 15, a cargo of phosphates was loaded for Melbourne, Australia, departing Tampa on Jan. 3-1944 (the captain says Jan. 1) with arrival Melbourne Febr. 25.

From Australia she proceeded to Taltal, Chile to pick up salpeter for Suez, from there on Aug. 2 to Casablanca Aug. 14. Note that several voyages are missing in this account; again see Page 4 as well as the Voyage Record for in between voyages. Among these is a voyage from St. Michaels to Alexandria on July 7-1944, Convoy OS 82/KMS 56 (originated in Liverpool July 1; Dagrun joined July 9 and was not present from the U.K.). Arrival Alexandria is not given, but she arrived Port Said on July 23 in KMS 56*, the convoy having split up on July 11. Arosa and Topdalsfjord are also listed. Dagrun proceeded to Suez that same day (July 23), arriving July 24, then left again on Aug. 2 as already mentioned, arriving Casablanca on Aug. 14, via Port Said (Aug. 3). The external site that I've linked to at the end of this page lists her as scheduled for Convoy SL 167 from Freetown on Aug. 9-1944, but she did not sail - she is, however, listed in my own Convoys section, with destination Casablanca, in Convoy GUS 48, which departed Port Said on Aug. 3-1944.

She now loaded phosphates again, this time for Aberdeen. She had left Casablanca on Aug. 18, joining Convoy SL 167/MKS 58. The SL portion of this convoy had started out in Freetown on Aug. 9-1944 and joined up with the MKS* convoy from Gibraltar on the 19th; Astrid and Boreas are also included. Dagrun arrived Aberdeen on Sept. 10. The following month she headed back to the U.S. to pick up more lumber and iron for the U.K. With Cetus, Chr. Th. Boe, Drammensfjord, Mui Hock, Para, Peik, Rena, Romulus, and Titanian, she had started out in the westbound Convoy ONS 33* at the end of Sept., but returned to port with defects, later joining the next convoy, ONS 34* a couple of weeks later (convoy originated in Liverpool Oct. 14). Danio and Lago also took part. At the beginning of Dec.-1944 she joined the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 162 in order to return to the U.K., arriving Manchester on Dec. 20, via Liverpool and Eastham.

1945:

After having unloaded the cargo she went to a yard for misc. work, and did not leave again until March 20-1945. She subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ONS 45*, which originated in Liverpool on March 22-1945 and included Norse Lady, Peik and Vera. This time, Dagrun's destination was Williams Head, British Columbia (via New York) for further orders, arriving May 12-1945 with the knowledge that Europe was again at peace. On VE Day they had been off San Pedro, Calfornia. But daily routines still had to be carried on and she proceeded from Williams Head to New Westminster to pick up a cargo, arriving May 16, then loaded cargo at Port Alberni and Vancouver Island, then back to Liverpool with arrival July 6. Departed for Buenos Aires on July 24, then took on board wheat, coffee and general at various Brazilian ports. It's hard to imagine what the atmosphere must have been like on board, because this time the cargo was meant for Oslo, Norway! She arrived there on Oct. 9-1945, and by this time Japan had also capitulated so the world was truly at peace, and coming home after so many years of sailing in dangerous waters, and of desperate longing and concern for their country and family, must have been quite an experience.

POST WAR:

Sold in 1950 to Unterweser Reederei GmbH, Bremen, renamed Griesheim. Arrived Hamburg on June 8-1966 for breaking up.

External link related to the text on this page:
SL Convoys - Mentions Dagrun in Convoy SL 167 - did not sail.

Back to Dagrun on the "Ships starting with D" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "The Allied Convoy System", Arnold Hague, "19 Oslo-skips historie under verdenskrigen, fra April 1940 til krigens slutt i 1945" ("The Story of 19 Oslo ships during the World War, from April 1940 until the End of the War in 1945") Harald Nicolaisen - based on the ship's logs and diaries, as well as the captain's and 1st mate's reports - ref. My sources.