D/S K. G. Meldahl
Updated Oct. 11-2009

To K. G. Meldahl on the "Ships starting with K" page.

Crew List


Source: Sverre Johansen's postcard collection.

Final Fate - 1942:

K. G. Meldahl, on charter to British War Transport, departed New York on Sept. 20-1942 for Bombay, via Port of Spain and Cape Town for bunkers. On deck she had several large crates containing aircraft and other materials, and in No. 5 hold she had 750 tons ammunition. She had a crew of 30 (31?) and 2 gunners. She left Cape Town again on Nov. 7.

On Nov. 10, she was torpedoed and sunk by U-181 (Lüth). Several hours earlier (at about 03:40) the 2nd mate, who was on bridge duty at the time, had clearly seen a U-boat* on the port side, 3 ships lengths off on a parallel course. The alarm was sounded and the ship positioned so that the aft gun faced the U-boat, at which time the latter quickly submerged, whereupon K. G. Meldahl proceeded at full speed in a zig zag course, after having radioed Simonstown Radio about the incident. However, the U-boat kept track of the Norwegian ship, and on her next try the torpedo hit in the engine room on the starboard side. Time given for this attack in a report presented at the maritime hearings is 09:22, position 35 33S 29 46E (Page 3 of the archive documents gives the time of her loss as 09:08).

*According to "Nortraships flåte" the ship had, in fact, been attacked earlier that day by the same U-boat, when about 160 n. miles southeast of East London, but that torpedo had missed. Only one attack is noted by J. Rohwer, who gives the position as 34 59S 29 45E, time 08:27 (German time). Charles Hocking simply gives the position "off East London, South Africa".

As she started to sink orders were given to abandon ship. The starboard lifeboat had been blown away so the majority of the crew took to the port boat and rowed away from the ship to avoid the suction. The 3rd mate got off on the aft raft. The captain had run to get the ship's papers and by the time he got back the boat had already been launched, and the aft raft with the 3rd mate in it had been cut loose, so he jumped overboard when the after part of the ship was under water and swam over to the lifeboat.

She sank in about 6 minutes, duly photographed by the U-boat which had surfaced. Pictures were also taken of the lifeboats, before the U-boat came over to ask the usual questions about ship and cargo etc. Captain Johnsen describes the boat as about 300' long, sea green in colour with a double deck and 2 guns, a 4" on the foredeck, a smaller one on the after deck, 2 periscopes. Those who asked the questions claimed to be Italian. The commander, the only one in uniform "looked German", but did not say anything. They were also asked if an SOS had been sent out, but this had not been done as the radio station had been destroyed. After having inquired whether they needed anything, the boat circled around for a while, then submerged.

The 30 survivors were subsequently distributed in 3 lifeboats and all supplies and equipment from 3 rafts were transferred to them. The port boat had a radio transmitter which was used every morning and night to signal the South African coastal stations. In the morning of Nov. 13 an aircraft came over and dropped water and provisions down to them, and that same afternoon, after having been in the boats for 79 hours, they were picked up by a South African mine sweeper and landed in Port Elisabeth the next day. 2 crew were lost.

The maritime hearings were held in Cape Town on Dec. 2-1942 with the captain, the 2nd and 3rd mates, Able Seaman Karlsen (at the wheel when the U-boat was spotted the first time), and Able Seaman Rong appearing. The latter had been at the wheel during the actual attack.

In the Norwegian magazine "Krigsseileren", Issue No. 2 for 1975 there's an article written by someone who appears to have been one of the mates, who had joined the ship in Hull in 1942. At that time, she had a different captain and 1st mate, but they are not named. I get the impression that Captain Johnsen and 1st Mate Nilsen had joined the ship in New York, shortly before they were torpedoed. The author says they were travelling alone at the time, and that the 2 men who were lost were in the engine room. The survivors headed for South Africa in 2(?) lifeboats. He adds "via Cape Town and D/S Romulus to New York", but whether they all travelled that way or just he, is unclear. (All this may seem like unnecessary details, but I mention it in case relatives are searching for info surrounding this sinking). The article also mentions a few other voyages.

U-181 also sank the Norwegian Gunda 9 days later.

Crew List:
Stoker Karl H. Guttormsen had previously been on Benwood when that ship was lost in Apr.-1942 - later served on Havkong, Polarsol, Sønnavind and Bomma.

Survivors
Captain Torjus Emil Johnsen	1st Mate Sverre Ivar Nilsen	2nd Mate Frithjof Harry Mangor Haakonsen	3rd Mate Henry Robertsen	Radio Operator Sverre M. Jensen	Boatswain Johan Aslaksen
Able Seaman Eugen Brandt	Able Seaman Willy Kristiansen	Able Seaman Olav Rong	Able Seaman Nils W. Johannessen	Able Seaman Fritz Dahl	Able Seaman Halfdan Johansen
Able Seaman Kjell Robert Dalbak	Able Seaman Hans Gustav Karlsen *	Ordinary Seaman Clifford Evans (British)	Ordinary Seaman Richard McDonald (British)	Deck Boy John Hoyes (British)	1st Engineer Karl Morten Krømke
2nd Engineer Anton S. Johansen	3rd Engineer Eivin Lillejord	Stoker Leif Heian	Stoker Alf Nilsen	Stoker Karl H. Guttormsen	Oiler Charles Adamson (British)
Oiler Francis Steain (Australian)	Steward Sivert Moxheim	Cook Frank Larsen	Galley Boy Leonard Wright (British)	Mess Boy Peter Fairbotham (British)	Gunner Frank Howse (British)
Gunner Thomas Broadhead (British)
Casualties:
† Donkeyman Julius Skaugerud **	† Oiler William Steain *** (Australian)

Related external links:
More information on U-181

U-181 | Wolfgang Lüth

Back to K. G. Meldahl on the "Ships starting with K" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Krigsseileren", Issue No. 2 for 1975, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Norwegian Maritime Museum, Volume I, and misc. (ref. My sources).