M/S Ivaran

To Ivaran on the "Ships starting with I" page.


Source: Sverre Johansen's postcard collection.

Other pages on this website with information related to this text:
Convoy HX 210
Convoy HX 218
Convoy ON 159
Convoy HX 225
Convoy ON 170
Convoy HX 233
Convoy HX 244
Convoy HX 250
Convoy HX 251
Convoy HX 279
Convoy HX 286
Convoy HX 294
Convoy HX 305
Convoy HX 315
Convoy HX 327
Convoy ON 279
Convoy JW 67

Misc. War Details:

According to "Nortraships flåte" a U-boat was observed from Ivaran when off Port of Spain in the early morning hours of Aug. 25-1942. 2 shots were fired from Ivaran, and immediately afterwards yet another U-boat was seen. Shortly thereafter a war ship approached, nothing further happened, and she was escorted into Port of Spain by the war ship, arriving that same day. Ivaran was en route from Rio with a cargo for New York when this incident occurred.

The above is also mentioned in Tormund Gjertsen's Story (Norwegian text). He has given me the names of 4 other crew members in this period, namely Jørgen A. Larsen (Danish), Johnny Gruelund (or possibly Grønlund - Danish), Helge Olsen, and Trygve Martinsen. Helge, Tormund and Trygve paid off in New York in Sept.-1942, the latter 2 heading to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to become gunners at Camp Norway. The 3 of them met again 47 years later (Helge has since passed away). T. Gjertsen later joined Hallanger and was on board when she was sunk. After that incident he served on Chr. Th. Boe, later Karsten Wang.

In Oct.-1942 Ivaran is listed as sailing in Convoy HX 210, departing New York City on Oct. 1. She was bound for Cardiff, cargo is given as "valuables", and she sailed in station 64 of the convoy. A couple of months later she can be found in Convoy HX 218, leaving New York City on Dec. 5-1942, arriving Liverpool on the 21st. Ivaran's destination is given as Belfast Dock and Cardiff, cargo of valuables, station 63.

Early in Jan.-1943 we find her in station 11 of the westbound Convoy ON 159, and at the end of that month she sailed back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 225 from New York, general cargo for Liverpool, station 72. In March she joined the westbound Convoy ON 170, then returned to the U.K. in Apr. with Convoy HX 233, cargo of explosives and general. By June she was back in New York again, leaving in Convoy HX 244 on June 15, again bound for Liverpool with general cargo, station 43 (arrival Liverpool June 30-1943). At the end of the following month she was scheduled for Convoy HX 250, but joined the next convoy instead, leaving New York on Aug. 7-1943 with HX 251. She had a general cargo as well as 700 tons of explosives, destination Liverpool, station 101. This convoy had a large number of Norwegian ships.

In Febr.-1944 we find her in Convoy HX 279 from New York, general cargo for Liverpool, and in Apr. she's listed as bound for Liverpool with general cargo in Convoy HX 286. Early in June that year she's listed in Convoy HX 294, then in Aug.-1944 she sailed in Convoy HX 305, again bound for Liverpool with general cargo. In Oct.-1944 she was in Convoy HX 315, general cargo for London, acting as Commodore Vessel. She was also the Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 327 from New York in Dec.-1944, bound for Liverpool with general cargo.

She returned to the U.S. in Jan.-1945 with the westbound Convoy ON 279. Again, several other Norwegian ships were also in these convoys - follow links above.

Ivaran, Roald Amundsen and Egerø are listed as taking part in Convoy JW 67, the last convoy to Russia, sailing from the Clyde on May 12-1945 with 26 ships, arriving the Kola Inlet on May 20. Ivaran and Roald Amundsen didn't go all the way to Murmansk, but left the convoy to proceed to Kirkenes. (Egerø is listed in the last returning convoy, RA 67, which departed the Kola Inlet with 25 ships on May 23-1945 - Kronprinsen was also in that convoy).

POST WAR:

Sold to Montan Transport GmbH (manager Unterweser Reederei AG, Bremen) in 1955 and renamed Kelkheim. Sold in Febr.-1963 to breakers in Hong Kong.

Related external link:
The Australian War Memorial has another picture of this ship. It can be found by running a search via their collection search page.

Back to Ivaran on the "Ships starting with I" page.