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M/T Fagerfjell
Updated June 4-2009

To Fagerfjell on the "Ships starting with F" page.


From Sverre Johansen's collection.

Manager: Olsen & Ugelstad, Oslo
Tonnage:
8072 gt

Built in Malmö, Sweden in 1935.

Captain: ? Kristensen

Related items on this website:
Forum message - from someone whose father, Thorleif Karlsen, was 1st mate on Fagerfjell during the war.
Another forum message - from someone whose father, Lars Karlo Birkeland, sailed on Fagerfjell in 1943.

Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6


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

Voyage Record
From Nov.-1941 to Nov.-1945:

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

Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each.

Errors may exist, and some voyages are missing (see archive documents above).

Departure From To Arrival Convoy Remarks
1941 Nov. 15 Halifax Lamlash Nov. 30 HX 160 Previously traded E coast America
Dec. 1 Lamlash Ardrossan Dec. 2 Independent
Dec. 8 Ardrossan Clyde Dec. 8 Independent
Dec. 24 Clyde ON 50 For Curacao.
Dispersed Jan. 3-1942.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
1942 Jan. 3 Dispersed from ON 50 Aruba Jan. 11 Independent
Jan. 14 Aruba Bermuda Jan. 20 Independent
Jan. 21 Bermuda Halifax Jan. 24 Independent
Febr. 1 Halifax Liverpool Febr. 14 HX 173
Febr. 26 Liverpool ON 71 For Curacao.
Dispersed March 8.
Convoy will be added.
See link above
March 8 Dispersed from ON 71 Curacao March 19 Independent
March 20 Curacao Puerto la Cruz Independent
March 23 Puerto la Cruz Curacao March 24 Independent
March 29 Curacao Puerto la Cruz Independent
Apr. 1 Puerto la Cruz Curacao Apr. 2 Independent
Apr. 8 Curacao Freetown Apr. 23 Independent
Apr. 29 Freetown Trinidad May 12 Independent
May 13 Trinidad Puerto la Cruz May 14 Independent
May 15 Puerto la Cruz Curacao May 16 Independent
May 22 Curacao Las Piedras May 22 Independent
May 23 Las Piedras Curacao May 24 Independent
May 26 Curacao OT 3 Detached May 30.
Convoy available via this page
(external link)
May 30 Detached from OT 3 Freetown June 11 Independent
June 15 Freetown Liverpool July 5 SL 113 Convoy available at SL/MKS convoys
(external link)
See also Page 3 (missing voyages)
Oct. 2 Liverpool Clyde Oct. 7 ON 135 Returned.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Oct. 24 Clyde New York City Nov. 10 ON 141 Convoy will be added.
See link above
Nov. 12 New York City Gitmo Nov. 19 NG 321 For Curacao.
Convoy available at NG convoys
(external link)
Nov. 19 Gitmo Curacao Nov. 22 GAT 23 Gitmo to Curacao.
Convoy available at GAT convoys
(external link)
Nov. 22 Trinidad(?) Gitmo Nov. 27 TAG 23 Did not sail.
Convoy available at TAG convoys
(external link)
Nov. 28 Curacao Gitmo Dec. 1 TAG 24 Curacao to Gitmo.
Convoy available at link above
Dec. 1 Gitmo New York City Dec. 8 GN 24 Convoy available at GN convoys
(external link)
Dec. 13 New York City Belfast Lough Dec. 28 HX 219
Dec. 28 Belfast Lough Avonmouth Dec. 30 BB 249 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
1943 Jan. 10 Avonmouth Milford Haven Jan. 11 Independent
Jan. 11 Milford Haven ON 161 Detached Jan. 26.
Hague says date notional - Should, in fact, be Jan. 28 acc. to Commodore's notes for ON 161
Jan. 28 Detached from ON 161 Joined NG 340 Jan. 30 Independent
Jan. 30 Joined from ON 161 Gitmo Febr. 4 NG 340 Notional joining date.
Convoy available at NG convoys
(external link)
Febr. 4 Gitmo Curacao Febr. 8 GAT 42 Gitmo to Curacao.
Convoy available at GAT convoys
(external link)
Febr. 15 Curacao Gitmo Febr. 18 TAG 42 Curacao to Gitmo.
Convoy available at TAG convoys
(external link)
Febr. 18 Gitmo New York City Febr. 26 GN 42 Convoy available at GN convoys
(external link)
Febr. 28 New York City Liverpool March 16 HX 228 See also narrative below & Page 3
March 21 Liverpool New York City Apr. 8 ON 174 Escort Oiler, 60 depth charges.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Apr. 18 New York City Clyde May 5 HX 235 Escort Oiler
(See also Page 4)
June 1 Clyde New York City June 15 ON 187 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See link above
June 23 New York City Loch Ewe July 6 HX 245 Escort Oiler
July 7 Loch Ewe Scapa Flow July 8 WN 451 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
July 12 Lyness Loch Ewe July 13 EN 254 Convoy available at EN convoys
(external link)
July 16 Loch Ewe New York City July 30 ON 193 Escort Oiler, 60 spare depth charges.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Aug. 7 New York City Belfast Lough Aug. 22 HX 251 Escort Oiler
Aug. 22 Belfast Lough Milford Haven Aug. 23 BB 317 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
Aug. 24 Milford Haven Devonport Aug. 25 WP 390 Convoy available at WP convoys
(external link)
Aug. 27 Devonport Milford Haven Aug. 28
Sept. 2 Milford Haven Philadelphia Sept. 19 ON 200 Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Oct. 16 Philadelphia New York City Oct. 17 Independent
Oct. 31 New York City Loch Ewe Nov. 17 HX 264 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in HX convoys
Nov. 17 Loch Ewe Scapa Flow Nov. 18 WN 506 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
Nov. 22 Scapa Flow Clyde Nov. 24
Dec. 16 Clyde Clyde Dec. 17 ON 216 Put back.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Dec. 24 Clyde New York City Jan. 10-1944 ON 217 Convoy will be added.
See link above
1944 Jan. 13 New York City Londonderry Jan. 28 HX 275 Escort Oiler
Febr. 1 Londonderry Belfast Lough Febr. 2 Independent
Febr. 8 Belfast Lough New York City Febr. 24 ON 223 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
March 6 New York City Belfast Lough March 20 HX 282 Escort Oiler
March 21 Belfast Lough Londonderry March 22 Independent
March 24 Londonderry Barry March 26 Independent
Apr. 22 Barry Belfast Lough Apr. 22 Independent
Apr. 27 Belfast Lough New York City May 11 ON 234 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
May 19 New York City Loch Ewe June 2 HX 292 Escort Oiler
June 2 Loch Ewe Scapa Flow June 3 WN 590 Convoy available at WN convoys
(external link)
June 8 Scapa Flow Loch Ewe June 9
June 10 Loch Ewe New York City June 28 ON 240 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
* Aug. 7 Seine Bay Port Talbot Aug. 8 FBC 47
*Although Fagerfjell is listed in Convoy FBC 47 (external link) this voyage seems completely out of place (see also Page 5). Could this be a mix-up with Fagerbro?
Sept. 6 New York City Liverpool Sept. 21 HX 307 Escort Oiler, 70 depth charges
(See also Page 5 above - missing voyages)
Sept. 28 Liverpool New York City Oct. 13 ON 256 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Oct. 16 New York City Hampton Roads Oct. 17 Independent
Oct. 19 Hampton Roads New York City Oct. 19 Independent
Oct. 20 New York City Solent Nov. 4 HX 315 Escort Oiler, 70 depth charges
Nov. 14 Solent New York City Dec. 3 ON 266 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See link above
Dec. 4 New York City Clyde Dec. 19 HX 324 Escort Oiler, 70 depth charges
1945 Jan. 13 Clyde Cape Cod Canal Jan. 31* ON 278 Escort Oiler
*Date should be Jan. 29, see Page 6
Jan. 29 Cape Cod Canal New York City Febr. 1 Independent
Febr. 23 New York City Liverpool March 10 HX 340 Escort Oiler, 70 depth charges.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in HX convoys
March 18 Liverpool New York City Apr. 5 ON 291 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Apr. 8 New York City Liverpool Apr. 23 HX 349 Escort Oiler, 70 depth charges.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in HX convoys
Apr. 27 Liverpool New York City May 12 ON 299 Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
May 19 New York City HX 357 Escort Oiler, 70 depth charges.
Detached independent, May 27.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in HX convoys
May 27 Detached from HX 357 Liverpool Independent Damaged propeller blade
Oct. 17 Liverpool Waterford Oct. 18 Independent To repair propeller
Oct. 20 Waterford Curacao Independent
Nov. 5 Curacao Clyde Nov. 22 Independent
Nov. 26 Clyde Sandefjord, Norway Nov. 30 Independent For further voyages (1946), see Page 6


 Some Convoy Voyages: 
Follow the convoy links provided for more details on them; some also have the Commodore's notes. For voyages in between those discussed here, please see the documents received from the National Archives of Norway as well as Hague's Voyage Record above.

Fagerfjell was in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 160 in Nov.-1941, together with several other Norwegian ships, as will be seen when following the link. She arrived Lamlash on Nov. 30, having left Halifax on the 15th. The following month, she joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 50*, originating in Liverpool on Christmas Eve, dispersed Jan. 3-1942. Fagerfjell arrived Aruba independently on Jan. 11, having joined from Clyde. Charles Racine, Fernwood, Fjordheim (returned), Høegh Giant, Innerøy, Sama, Skandinavia, Strinda and Taborfjell are also listed.

She headed back to the U.K. again at the beginning of Febr.-1942 with Convoy HX 173, again in the company of several other Norwegian ships, subsequently joining the westbound Convoy ON 71*, departing Liverpool on Febr. 26, dispersed March 8, Fagerfjell arriving Curacao independently on March 19. Athos, Fjordaas, Gallia, Garonne, Høegh Giant, John Bakke, Malmanger, Skaraas, Solfonn and Velma are also listed, as is the Panamanian Norvik, which had Norwegian managers and is included under the N's on this website.

The external website that I've linked to at the end of this page has her in station 62 of Convoy SL 113 in June-1942. This convoy left Freetown on June 15 and arrived Liverpool on July 7. Mike Holdoway, the webmaster of the site, has told me that she had left Curacao on May 26 with a cargo of 11 612 tons of topped crude oil and 112 drums of oil residues, bound for Stanlow. Arrived Ardrossen on July 5, Stanlow the next day. The Norwegian Thorhild, Thorshavet and Vanja are also named, but the latter did not sail.

She joined the westbound Convoy ON 135* on Oct. 2-1942, but returned to port (Clyde), later joining ON 141*, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 24 and arrived New York on Nov. 10 (Fagerfjell joined from Clyde, final destination Curacao, see Page 3). Both these convoys had other Norwegian ships, namely Glarona, Lynghaug, Ragnhild, Thorsholm and Villanger in ON 135, while Albert L. Ellsworth, Anna Odland, Aun, Fernmoor, Fernwood, Gallia, Herbrand, Jenny (returned), Ørnefjell, Pan Aruba, Reinholt, Salamis, Samuel Bakke, Skiensfjord and Trondheim sailed in ON 141. Fagerfjell was scheduled to return to the U.K. in Convoy HX 218, leaving New York on Dec. 5, but instead joined the next convoy on Dec. 13, HX 219, bound for Avonmouth with fuel oil in station 43, arriving her destination on Dec. 30 (via Belfast Lough).

At the beginning of the new year we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 161, which originated in Liverpool on Jan. 12-1943 and arrived New York on the 31st. Fagerfjell, which had joined the convoy from Milford Haven and was bound for Curacao again, detached for Guantanamo on Jan. 28, as did the Norwegian Vav. They both show up again in Convoy HX 228 from New York at the end of the following month, in which Brant County was sunk; follow the links for more information. A cruising order and the Commodore's notes are also available for this convoy, along with misc. reports and analysis of attacks. Fagerfjell's destination is given as Stanlow (arr. March 17), and she had station 63 of this convoy, which left New York on Febr. 28-1943. She now joined Convoy ON 174*, departing Liverpool on March 20, arriving New York Apr. 8. She had station 52, serving as escort oiler, and also carried 60 depth charges. Other Norwegian ships were Norbryn, Nueva Granada, Trondheim and Troubadour. Later that month she was one of several Norwegian ships joining Convoy HX 235 from New York, and at the beginning of June she joined Convoy ON 187*, together with Annik, Athos, Braga, Bralanta, Elisabeth Bakke, Frontenac, Helgøy, Kronprinsen, Lista, Morgenen, Norbryn, Norefjord, O. B. Sørensen, President de Vogue, Toledo and Vanja, as well as the Panamanian Norvinn. ON 187 originated in Liverpool on June 1 (Fagerfjell joined from Clyde) and arrived New York on the 15th.

She headed to the U.K. again on June 23 in HX 245, cargo of Admiralty fuel, destination Scapa, station 62 (further dates on Page 4), and in July she joined the westbound Convoy ON 193* back to New York (she arrived New York July 30, having left Loch Ewe on the 16th). As usual, several Norwegian ships took part, namely Bralanta, Chr. Th. Boe, Fernwood, Geisha, Harpefjell, Herbrand, Hiram, Idefjord, Maud, Meline, Norlom, O. B. Sørensen, Para, Samuel Bakke, Sandviken, Santos, Skaraas, Skjelbred, Stiklestad, Thorhild, Thorshov and Tungsha, as well as the Panamanian Norlys, which had Norwegian managers and is, therefore, included under the N's of this website.

On Aug. 7-1943, Fagerfjell left New York with Convoy HX 251, bound for Milford Haven and Devonport with a cargo of Admiralty fuel, station 52 (again, see Page 4). At the beginning of Sept.-1943 we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 200*, with Biscaya, Bralanta, Buenos Aires, Emma Bakke, Haakon Hauan, Herbrand, Ivaran, Laurits Swenson, Norden, Norheim, O. B. Sørensen, Reinholt and the Panamanian Norbris. Fagerfjell was bound for Philadelphia, where she arrived on Sept. 18 according to the archive doc. A. Hague now has her returning at the end of the following month with Convoy HX 264. This convoy is not yet available among the HX convoys included on my own website, but I've linked directly to Hague's listing at the end of this page, and as can be seen, the Norwegian Dageid, Kaldfonn, Lista, Montevideo, Samuel Bakke, Skaraas, Spinanger and Tungsha are also listed in this convoy, which left New York on Oct. 31; Fagerfjell arrived Loch Ewe on Nov. 17, continuing to Scapa. She subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 216* (originated in Liverpool Dec. 16), but she returned to port, later joining ON 217*. Both had other Norwegian ships - Ferncourt, Fernwood, Molda and Skiensfjord are listed in ON 216, and Brimanger, Duala, John Bakke, Norheim, Pan Scandia and Reinholt are included in ON 217, wich originated in Liverpool on Christmas Eve (Fagerfjell joined from Clyde on both occasions) and arrived New York on Jan. 10-1944.

Already on Jan. 13-1944, we find her in Convoy HX 275 from New York, bound for Londonderry, where she arrived on the 28th. Together with Duala, Frithjof Nansen, Idefjord, Norheim and Tigre, she later joined the westbound Convoy ON 223*, which originated in Liverpool on Febr. 7 (Fagerfjell joined from Belfast Lough) and arrived New York on the 24th. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 281 a few days later, but instead joined the next convoy on March 6, HX 282, heading back across the Atlantic at the end of the following month in Convoy ON 234*, with Abraham Lincoln, Estrella, Fernmoor, Garonne, Geisha, Kaldfonn, Leiv Eiriksson, Lista, Molda, Petter, Romulus, Samuel Bakke, Skiensfjord, Solfonn, Strinda, Vinland and the Panamanian Norlys. In May, we find her in Convoy HX 292, returning in June with Convoy ON 240*, which also included Dageid, Heranger, Høyanger, Østhav, Para, Petter, Strinda, Thorhild, Vanja and Villanger. ON 240 left Liverpool on June 10 and arrived New York on the 28th.

Fagerfjell was scheduled for Convoy HX 298 in July-1944, but did not sail. She does not show up again until Convoy HX 307 on Sept. 6, along with 7 other Norwegian ships, namely Buenos Aires, Frontenac, Idefjord, John Bakke, Kaia Knudsen, Thorsholm and Stiklestad. Fagerfjell's destination is given as Stanlow in the Advance Sailing Telegram, and she carried fuel, navy spec. and 70 depth charges, sailing in station 64. According to Page 5, she arrived Stanlow on Sept. 22/23, and a few days later she's listed in Convoy ON 256*, arriving New York on Oct. 13. Abraham Lincoln is again included, as are Egerø, Ferncourt, Katy, Montevideo, Norsktank, Olaf Bergh, Sørvard and Thorsholm. On Oct. 20 that same year, Fagerfjell can be found in Convoy HX 315 from New York, this time bound for Portsmouth, with arrival there on Nov. 4, and later that month she's listed in Convoy ON 266*, with Fernmoor, G. C. Brøvig, Katy and Vivi. This convoy arrived New York on Dec. 3, and already the next day she's listed in Convoy HX 324, which arrived Liverpool on Dec. 21 (Fagerfjell's destination was Clyde on that occasion).

She subsequently returned to New York with Convoy ON 278 in Jan.-1945 (station 82). Other Norwegian ships were Anna Knudsen (62), Vivi (42) and Lista (12). This convoy departed Southend on Jan. 12 and arrived New York on Jan. 31, but Fagerfjell arrived New York, via Cape Cod Canal, on Febr.1, having left Clyde on Jan. 13. ("The Allied Convoy System" by Arnold Hague says 47 ships were in this convoy, while Arthur Moore's book "A Careless Word - A Needless Sinking" gives the names of 49 - follow the convoy link for more details). Fagerfjell was scheduled to head back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 336 on Febr. 2, but did not sail, and was also cancelled from HX 337 and HX 339, but eventually got away with Convoy HX 340, which left New York on Febr. 23-1945 and arrived Liverpool March 10; Fagerfjell continued to Stanlow, arriving March 11. Other Norwegian ships were California Express, Ferncourt, Fjordaas, Gefion (returned), Ivaran, Kaldfonn, and Tungsha - again, see the external link provided at the end of this page.

About a week after arrival U.K., Fagerfjell joined the westbound Convoy ON 291*, which arrived New York on Apr. 5-1945 and also had Ferncourt and Laurits Swenson in its ranks. Just 3 days later, Fagerfjell joined Convoy HX 349, which arrived Liverpool on Apr. 23 and included Harald Torsvik, Høyanger and John Bakke (link below). Fagerfjell again proceeded to Stanlow, arriving that same day. VE Day was celebrated at sea, while in the westbound Convoy ON 299*, which had left Liverpool on Apr. 27, arrived New York May 12, and included Buenos Aires, Glarona, Kaldfonn, Lektor Garbo, and Sophocles. Fagerfjell's last eastbound Trans Atlantic convoy voyage took place in Convoy HX 357, departing New York on May 19-1945. Abraham Lincoln, Brimanger, Jotunfjell, Kaldfonn, Montevideo, Østhav, Thorshavn and Tungsha had also been in company. See the external links provided at the end of this page (or ships in all HX convoys). Fagerfjell arrived Liverpool on June 5, Stanlow that same day.

Her subsequent voyages, up to and including Apr.-1946, are listed on Page 6 of the documents received from the National Archives of Norway. As will be seen, she got to go home to Norway in Nov.-1945.

* All the ON convoys mentioned here are available and will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course, along with further details on each. In the meantime, the ships sailing in them (and escorts) are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys.

For more information on all the other Norwegian ships named on this page, please see the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index.

Axel G. Axelson, Sweden (nickname Boras), who served on Fagerfjell until Oct.-1941, has sent me the following:
"It is of much interest for me to read about your father and all he had to go through (see my father's story). We, on Fagerfjell had a holiday compared to them who was right up in the tick of the war. Only when we sometime got a message mostly from an American ship that a German U-boat are close to you, we got a little exited. Fagerfjell was an old ship and the highest speed we could go was 13 knots, so maybe the U-boat captain did not think it was worth to bother with. Anyway he was not invited.

We had a couple of sailors who had been on ships who was sunken but the crew was saved and they did not like to go below deck when we had such messages, who can blame them. I am sending a couple of pictures and on one of them are Peter Rosberg (wearing a hat) and I in Montevideo febr. 18-41. He left the ship there and so did 7 more. He asked me to go too, but I did not like to go that way. Captain Christensen was plenty mad and said we are leaving now even if I have to steer the boat myself. Of course he depended on Axel to do that, as he always said, Axel is the only one who can keep a straight course, as he is always sober. Well for a Swede I got along well with everybody, but when the Germans invaded Norway some of them said; The Swedes should help Norway. I guess they helped them in other ways".

Axel says the following names are written on the back of the picture on the right:
Gustafson, Wilhelmson (Finnish), Myrvang, Sagard, Sundfar (ship's carpenter), Holmberg (also Finnish), Istad and Larsen.

Axel would very much like to find out what happened to his friend Peter Rosberg*, and has left several messages on my "Find Old Shipmates" Forum, one of which can be found here (written in Swedish), another one here, one here, one here, and yet another one here, and one on this page. He says Peter was from Ålesund, and left Norway after the German occupation, went to Petsamo and got a Swedish ship there, bound for New York. Axel never heard from Peter again after he paid off in Montevideo, but heard in 1953 that he had settled in Seattle and was the owner of a fishing boat there. They were both able seamen on board Fagerfjell. I have Axel's E-mail address if anyone can help him, my contact address is at the bottom of this page.

*Update - Aug.-2007: Axel (age 96, and Peter (age 88) have now found each other again through this site.

 POST WAR: 

Sold in 1951 to Soc. Sudamericana de Transports, Panama, renamed Valiant. Sold again in 1953 to Cia. De Navigation Sappho, Panama, renamed Indostrious. Sold in 1954 to Patagonia Cia, Panama. Laid up in Kynossoura, Greece in Aug.-1959, broken up in Trieste, Italy in 1961 (received from Per Ove Kittelsen, Norway, source unknown).

Related external links
SL/MKS convoys - Convoy SL 113, mentioned in my text above, is included. Another section of the site, based on A. Hague's database, has HX 264, HX 340, HX 349, and HX 357.

Back to Fagerfjell on the "Ships starting with F" page.

This company later had another Fagerfjell - ref. this posting to my Ship Forum.

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