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M/T Gefion
Updated June 24-2009

To Gefion on the "Ships starting with G" page.

Owner: Tankrederiet Gefion A/S
Manager: Eivind Evensen, Oslo
Tonnage:
9475 gt

Built by Kockums Mekaniska Verksteds A/B, Malmö, Sweden in 1938.

Captain: Bjarne Henriksen from 1937 until 1945.

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 Dec.-1940 to July-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.

Departure From To Arrival Convoy Remarks
1940 Dec. 13 Cristobal Aruba Dec. 17 Independent Previously traded in Pacific
See Page 1
Dec. 18 Aruba Curacao Dec. 19 Independent
Dec. 21 Curacao Buenos Aires Jan. 8-1941 Independent
1941 Jan. 12 Buenos Aires Aruba Jan. 28 Independent
Jan. 30 Aruba Buenos Aires Febr. 21 Independent
Febr. 25 Buenos Aires Curacao March 14 Independent
March 15 Curacao Buenos Aires Roads Apr. 4 Independent See also Page 1 above
Apr. 10 La Plata Curacao Apr. 29 Independent
May 9 Curacao New York City May 16 Independent
Aug. 26 New York City Halifax Aug. 29 Independent
Sept. 4 Halifax Belfast Lough Sept. 16 HX 148
Sept. 17 Belfast Lough Swansea Sept. 19 BB 77 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
Sept. 29 Swansea Milford Haven Sept. 30 Independent
Oct. 1 Milford Haven ON 22 For NYC.
Dispersed Oct. 15
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Oct. 15 Dispersed from ON 22 New York City Oct. 19 Independent
Dec. 18 New York City Aruba Dec. 25 Independent
Dec. 28 Aruba Halifax Jan. 3*-1942 Independent *Compare w/Page 2
1942 Jan. 14 Halifax Aruba Jan. 22 Independent
Jan. 23 Aruba Halifax Febr. 2 Independent
Febr. 9 Halifax Aruba Febr. 17 Independent
Febr. 20 Aruba Baltimore Febr. 28 Independent
March 6 Baltimore Aruba March 14 Independent
March 16 Aruba Halifax March 27 Independent
Apr. 2 Halifax Aruba Apr. 10 Independent
Apr. 11 Aruba Halifax Apr. 22 Independent
Apr. 30 Halifax Cape Cod Canal May 2 XB 15 Convoy available at XB convoys
(external link)
May 2 Cape Cod Canal New York City May 4 Independent
May 11 New York City Hampton Roads Independent
May 14 Hampton Roads Key West May 19 KS 500 Convoy available at KS convoys
(external link)
May 19 Detached from KS 500 Port Arthur May 23 Independent
May 23 Port Arthur Houston May 23 Independent
May 25 Houston Key West May 29 Independent
June 2 Key West Hampton Roads June 7 KN 106 Convoy available at KN convoys
(external link)
June 8 Hampton Roads New York City June 9 Independent
June 11 New York City Cape Cod Bay Independent
June 17 Cape Cod Bay Halifax June 19 BX 25 Convoy available at BX convoys
(external link)
June 28 Halifax Cape Cod Canal June 30 XB 27 Convoy available at XB convoys
(external link)
June 30 Cape Cod Canal New York City July 1 Independent
July 2 New York City Hampton Roads Independent Compare w/Page 2
July 8 Hampton Roads Key West July 14 KS 518 Convoy available at KS convoys
(external link)
July 14 Detached from KS 518 Port Arthur July 17 Independent
July 19 Port Arthur Key West Independent
July 27 Key West Hampton Roads July 31 KN 124 Convoy available at KN convoys
(external link)
Aug. 4 Hampton Roads New York City Aug. 5 Independent Notional Sailing Date
Aug. 5 New York City Cape Cod Bay Independent
Aug. 9 Cape Cod Bay Halifax Aug. 11 BX 32C Convoy available at BX convoys
(external link)
Aug. 16 Halifax Cape Cod Bay Aug. 18 XB 34 Convoy available at XB convoys
(external link)
Aug. 18 Cape Cod Bay New York City Aug. 18 Independent
Aug. 28 New York City Key West Sept. 3 KS 534 Convoy available at KS convoys
(external link)
Sept. 3 Key West Baytown Sept. 7 KH 400 Key West to Sabine Bar.
Convoy available at KH convoys
(external link)
Missing voyage, Page 2
Sept. 11 Galveston Bar Key West Sept. 15 HK 102 Convoy available at HK convoys
(external link)
Sept. 15 Key West New York City Sept. 20 KN 201 Convoy available at KN convoys
(external link)
Oct. 11 New York City Gitmo Oct. 18 NG 313 For Aruba.
Convoy available at NG convoys
(external link)
Oct. 18 Gitmo Aruba Oct. 20 GAT 15 Gitmo to Aruba.
Convoy available at GAT convoys
(external link)
Oct. 26 Aruba Curacao AW 16*
* She must have made this voyage to Curacao independently; Convoy AW 16 was cancelled.
Oct. 27 Curacao Gitmo Oct. 31 TAG 16 Curacao to Gitmo.
Convoy available at TAG convoys
(external link)
Oct. 31 Gitmo New York City Nov. 9 GN 16 Convoy available at GN convoys
(external link)
Nov. 11 New York City Belfast Lough Nov. 25 HX 215
Nov. 25 Belfast Lough Avonmouth Nov. 27 BB 238 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
Dec. 1 Avonmouth Milford Haven Dec. 1 Independent
Dec. 2 Milford Haven New York City Dec. 23 ON 151 See also Page 3
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Dec. 29 New York City Liverpool Jan. 14-1943 HX 221 Missing voyages, Page 3 above
1943 Jan. 23 Liverpool Baltimore Febr. 11 ON 162 Missing voyages, Page 3 above
Apr. 12 New York City Liverpool Apr. 29 HX 234 Missing voyages, Page 3
(see also narrative below)
May 4 Liverpool Belfast Lough May 4 Independent
May 11 Belfast Lough New York City May 25 ON 183 Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
May 31 New York City Belfast Lough June 15 HX 242
June 15 Belfast Lough Avonmouth June 16 BB 300 Convoy available at BB convoys
(external link)
June 21 Avonmouth Milford Haven June 22 Independent
June 23 Milford Haven New York City July 8 ON 190 Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
July 15 New York City Liverpool July 29 HX 248
Aug. 8 Liverpool New York City Aug. 21 ON 196 Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Aug. 27 New York City Liverpool Sept. 11 HX 254 Missing voyages, Page 3
Sept. 22 Liverpool New York City Oct. 9 ON 203 Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Oct. 30 New York City Curacao Nov. 5 Independent
Nov. 7 Curacao Cristobal Nov. 10 Independent
Nov. 11 Balboa Sydney, N.S.W. Dec. 9 Independent
Dec. 14 Sydney, N.S.W. Balboa Jan. 9-1944 Independent
1944 Jan. 11 Cristobal Aruba Jan. 15 Independent
Jan. 16 Aruba Cristobal Jan. 19 Independent
Jan. 22 Balboa Sydney, N.S.W. Febr. 22 Independent
Febr. 28 Sydney, N.S.W. Balboa March 27 Independent
March 28 Cristobal Aruba Apr. 1 Independent
Apr. 2 Aruba Cristobal Apr. 5 Independent
Apr. 7 Balboa Milne Bay May 11 Independent
May 19 Milne Bay Balboa June 18 Independent
June 19 Cristobal Curacao June 22 Independent
July 28 Curacao Cristobal July 31 Independent
Aug. 1 Balboa Majuro Aug. 26 Independent
Aug. 30 Eniwetok Balboa Sept. 23 Independent
Sept. 24 Cristobal Cartagena, Col Sept. 25 Independent
Sept. 26 Cartagena, Col Gitmo Sept. 28 Independent
Sept. 30 Gitmo New York City Oct. 6 GN 160 Convoy available at GN convoys
(external link)
Oct. 8 New York City Baltimore Oct. 9 Independent
Nov. 3 Baltimore New York City Nov. 5 Independent See also Page 4
Nov. 14 New York City Liverpool Dec. 1 HX 320 Escort Oiler
Missing voyages, Page 4 above
Dec. 4 Liverpool New York City Dec. 22 ON 270
Dec. 29 New York City Avonmouth Jan. 12-1945 HX 329 Escort Oiler
(see also narrative below)
1945 Jan. 15 Avonmouth Milford Haven Jan. 16 Independent
Jan. 19 Milford Haven New York City Febr. 5 ON 279 Escort Oiler
Febr. 23 New York City New York City Febr. 23 HX 340 Escort Oiler. Returned.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in HX convoys
Febr. 28 New York City Avonmouth March 15 HX 341 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in HX convoys
March 18 Avonmouth Barry Island Independent
March 23 Milford Haven New York City Apr. 8 ON 292 Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
Apr. 13 New York City Avonmouth Apr. 28 HX 350 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in HX convoys
May 2 Avonmouth New York City May 19 ON 300 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in ON convoys
May 23 New York City Avonmouth June 6 HX 358 Escort Oiler.
Convoy will be added.
See ships in HX convoys
June 10 Avonmouth New York City Independent
June 23 New York City Swansea July 5 Independent
July 7 Swansea Baytown Independent Further voyages, Page 5 & Page 6


 Misc. Convoy Voyages: 
For information on voyages made prior to and in between those mentioned here, please see the documents received from the National Archives of Norway as well as Hague's Voyage Record above. Follow the convoy links provided for more details on them; several Norwegian ships took part.

Gefion was in service in the Atlantic but also for the US Navy in the Pacific.

It looks like she spent quite a long time in New York in the spring of 1941, from arriving there from Curacao on May 16, to departing again for Halifax on Aug. 26 - see Page 1 of the archive documents. From Halifax, she subsequently joined Convoy HX 148 on Sept. 4, and arrived Swansea, via Belfast Lough, on Sept. 19. The following month, she joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 22*, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 2 and dispersed on the 15th, Gefion arriving New York Oct. 19.

The Norwegian version of my "Warsailor Stories" section has a story by Peder Kristoffer Langeland who served on this ship from Nov.-1941 till Sept.-1942. He confirms the ship was on charter to the U.S. Navy, and adds that they made several voyages Aruba – Halifax and Aruba – the Gulf, often in convoy north from Key West due to the increasing U-boat threat. He says that when the news of the Pearl Harbor attack was received on Dec. 7-1941, they were in New York. As already mentioned above, Gefion had arrived New York from the U.K. on Oct. 19-1941, and did not leave again until Dec. 18, with arrival Aruba Dec. 25. Her subsequent voyages are listed on Page 2 and in the Voyage Record above.

Skipping now to Nov. 11-1942, when she can be found in Convoy HX 215 from New York, bound for Avonmouth, where she arrived Nov. 27. She returned across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 151*, which originated in Liverpool on Dec. 3 and arrived New York Dec. 23, and about a week later, we find her in Convoy HX 221 from New York, cargo of gasoline for Stanlow, station 83. The Commodore's narrative is also available for this convoy; he was in Abraham Lincoln (Gefion is mentioned under Jan. 11). According to Page 3, Gefion arrived Stanlow on Jan. 16-1943.

She headed back to the U.S. on Jan. 23-1943 with the westbound Convoy ON 162, and was scheduled to go back to the U.K. on Febr. 28 in Convoy HX 228 (in which Brant County was sunk), but did not sail. As can be seen when going back to the archive document mentioned above, she appears to have spent a long time in Baltimore in this period (she had arrived there on Febr. 11 and did not leave until Apr. 3). She eventually got away in Convoy HX 234 from New York on Apr. 12, for which Laurits Swenson served as Commodore Vessel; the Commodore's report has been added. Gefion arrived Stanlow on Apr. 30, later returning to New York in Convoy ON 183*, which started out in Liverpool on May 10 and arrived New York on the 25th. On May 31, we find her in station 103 of Convoy HX 242 from New York, again bound for Avonmouth, where she arrived, via Belfast Lough, on June 16. She now joined the westbound Convoy ON 190*, which originated in Liverpool on June 24 and arrived New York July 9. On the 15th of that month, she's listed in Convoy HX 248; see also the Commodore's report. The following month, she joined the westbound Convoy ON 196* (from Liverpool Aug. 8, to New York Aug. 21), heading back to the U.K. on Aug. 27 in Convoy HX 254. Her destination is again given as Stanlow, and she had station 94 of the convoy. Her last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year (and for a long time thereafter) was made in Convoy ON 203*, departing Liverpool on Sept. 22, arriving New York Oct. 9. From New York, she later proceeded to Curacao - Page 4 and the Voyage Record above have details on her subsequent voyages.

In Nov.-1944, she was 1 of 3 Norwegian ships in Convoy HX 320; the others were Anna Knudsen and Dalfonn. Gefion, acting as Escort Oiler, was bound for Stanlow with petroleum products, arriving Stanlow on Dec. 1/2. Just a couple of days later, she embarked on her return voyage across the ocean with the westbound Convoy ON 270, and was scheduled to go back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 328 from New York on Christmas Eve, but instead joined the next convoy on Dec. 29, HX 329, for which Emma Bakke served as Commodore Vessel. Gefion was bound for Avonmouth, arriving there on Jan. 12-1945.

She returned to the U.S. later that month with the westbound Convoy ON 279, arriving New York on Febr. 5-1945, then on Febr. 23, she's listed in Convoy HX 340*, but returned to port that same day (Page 5), subsequently joining HX 341* on Febr. 28, arriving Avonmouth on March 15. Later that month, we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 292*, which started out in Southend on March 22 and arrived New York Apr. 8, then on Apr. 13, she joined Convoy HX 350*, and arrived Avonmouth Apr. 28. Her last westbound convoy voyage of the war was made in Convoy ON 300*, which sailed from Liverpool on May 2 and arrived New York May 18; in other words, VE Day was celebrated at sea. Just a few days later, on May 23, she headed back to the U.K. in Convoy HX 358*, and arrived Avonmouth on June 6. (This was the last HX convoy of the war; the last convoy in the ON series was ON 305, May 26).

Page 5 of the archive documents also shows some of her early 1946 voyages, as does Page 6.

* The ON convoys will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course, with more details on each; in the meantime, the ships sailing in them are named in the section for ships in all ON convoys (with escorts). The HX convoy series will also be completed, but for now, please see the section listing ships in all HX convoys. As will be seen, they all had several Norwegian ships, and Gefion often served as Escort Oiler.

Back to Gefion on the "Ships starting with G" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: Roger W. Jordan - and misc.

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