M/S Fernbrook

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


Source: Received from R. W. Jordan (his own collection).


This one was received from Historical Department, MAN B&W Diesel, Copenhagen
(probably at trials - larger, better quality version of pic is available)

Misc. War Details:

According to the first external website that I've linked to below, Fernbrook sailed in Convoy SLF 38, which left Freetown on July 4-1940 and arrived Liverpool on the 20th. Follow the link for more details.

On Oct. 4-1943 (Mediterranean), 7 aircraft came in over the convoy in which Fernbrook was sailing but were met by fierce fire from the ships. Several more attacks followed that evening and bombs were dropped, one of which landed in the water near Fernbrook, causing her starboard engine to stop and some damages in the engine room, leading those who were present there to think she had received a direct hit. At about the same time a powerful explosion was heard, followed by a splash causing a tall column of oil-mixed water above the ship, before numerous aircraft parts landed on her deck. About half an hour later another 3 aircraft appeared, again met by fire from the ships and 2 were believed to have been shot down. According to the gunners' report 1010 projectiles were fired from Fernbrook that day, no-one was injured in the incident.

In a document I have for Convoy GUS 33 from Port Said, there's a ship which looks like it might be Fernbrook (the document is a little blurry and hard to decipher, so I'm not 100% sure). This convoy, which had a number of Norwegian ships, departed Port Said on March 5-1944 and arrived Hampton Roads on Apr. 4, but many ships had other destinations and left the convoy, while others joined along the way. In fact, the ship that looks like Fernbrook joined from Alexandria on March 6.

German bombers were a serious threat to allied shipping in the Mediterranean from the new year of 1944, because about 100 modern bombers were stationed in the South of France, their primary goal being the large UGS convoys from U.S.A., carrying supplies to the allied forces in Italy. Fernbrook was in Convoy UGS 40 (station 54), consisting of 77 ships ("Nortraships flåte" says 65 ships), 17 escort vessels as well as the British cruiser Caledon. The convoy was attacked by a total of 62 aircraft off Cape Bengut on the evening of May 11-1944. The attack lasted for 40 minutes, no ships were hit, 19 planes crashed in the sea, giving a convincing example of how important and useful it was to have decent armament on the merchant ships. According to a gunner's report from Fernbrook, 1 aircraft fell in the water on her port side between ship No. 34 and 35, and another came down in flames near No. 74 and 75.

The Norwegian M/T Salamis was also in UGS 40, which had departed Hampton Roads on Apr. 23-1944 and arrived Port Said on May 19. The 3rd external site that I've linked to below has the names of other ships in this convoy (note that some of them are also listed on my page for the earlier GUS 33, going in the other direction).

Some of the gunners on Fernbrook at that time were:
Gunnery Officer Erling Bostad, Gunners Robert Werner Larsen, Edvard Aasmund Nilssen, Per Ottar Fjørtoft, Arne John Eriksen, Hermann Georg Venheim and Harry Busk Halvorsen.

In June-1944 Fernbrook is listed in Convoy GUS 44 which left Port Said on June 24, arriving Hampton Roads on July 18. Several ships joined along the way, while others parted company, but it looks like Fernbrook went all the way to the U.S.

POST WAR:

Sold in 1959 to Santilana Compania Naviera SA, Panama, and renamed Kalamai (Greek flag). Transferred to MA Karageorgis, Piraeus in 1960. While at Alexandria on Jan. 20-1965, having arrived from Hamina, Finland, with a cargo of sugar, steel bars and timber, she caught fire in the engine room and was scuttled. Later refloated and on Sept. 22-1965 berthed at Alexandria and condemned. Sold to Poul Christensen, Nakskov, Denmark, to be resold for breaking up. On Jan. 4-1967 she left Alexandria in tow for Piraeus, and arrived there on Jan. 11. Sold to Brodospas, for breaking up at Split, Yugoslavia.

Related external links:
SL Convoys - Mike Holdoway's new section on the SL and SLF convoys (as will be seen, Fernbrook is listed in SLF 38). He also has a section on the OS and OS/KMS convoys, as well as other convoys. This is a great resource, and well worth a visit.

Chronological list of GU convoys (with the returning UG convoys).

Ships in UGS 40, including escorts. A section of the Encyclopedia of WW 2 Naval Battles.

Astrup Fearnley - the Fearnley company today

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

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Tilbakeblikk", E-mails from R. W. Jordan (post war info) and misc. - ref. My sources.