M/S Kronprinsen

To Kronprinsen on the "Ships starting with K" page.


This picture was received from Tore Setså, who says the source is A. Duncan.

Misc. Convoy Voyages:

Kronprinsen was in Convoy BX 23A (according to J. Rohwer) when she was torpedoed and damaged by U-432 (Schultze), position 42 53N 67 11W on June 9-1942. Barbara Mumford has sent me some information from Mitchell & Sawyer's "Empire Ships" which adds that she was on a voyage from Baltimore to the U.K. at the time. Her stern was blown off, and her deck cargo on fire. She was towed in and beached at Pubnico Fairway to discharge cargo, including carbide. Temporary repairs were made, then on July 23-1942 she was towed to Halifax, and on Oct. 9 to Boston, Mass. and repaired. Page 2 has an interesting article on this incident, w/pictures. The British ship Malayan Prince was also damaged in the attack by U-432.

In Apr.-1943 Kronprinsen, with a general cargo and fuel, can be found in station 65 of Convoy HX 233, together with several other Norwegian ships. She also carried 4 passengers on this voyage.

A little over a year later we find her in Convoy GUS 48, which had departed Port Said on Aug. 3-1944. Kronprinsen, however, joined the convoy from Alexandria on Aug. 4 and arrived New York on the 27th.

Some Arctic Convoys Confusion:

J. R. Hegland ("Nortraships flåte") states that two Norwegian ships took part in the last convoy to Russia, Convoy JW 67, namely Kong Haakon VII and Kronprinsen, adding that they were both in Kirkenes when the war was finally over on May 8-1945. This last piece of info does not fit with the dates for Convoy JW 67, which sailed from the Clyde on May 12 with 26 ships, arriving the Kola Inlet on May 20. Besides, Bob Ruegg/Arnold Hague ("Convoys to Russia") name 3 other Norwegian ships in this convoy; Roald Amundsen, Egerø and Ivaran; no mention at all of Kong Haakon VII and Kronprinsen. However, both of them show up in the earlier Convoy JW 66, which departed Clyde with 27 ships on Apr. 16-1945*, arriving the Kola Inlet without losses on Apr. 25. Kronprinsen and Egerø returned with the last convoy out, RA 67, leaving the Kola Inlet with 25 ships on May 23-1945. Kronprinsen was later ordered to the U.S.

*In the book "Sjøfolk i krig" there's a personal account stating that Kong Haakon VII was in Liverpool in Apr.-1945, loading sacks of flour and also other supplies meant for the aid of Finnmark, before joining Kronprinsen in a convoy, which is again given as JW 67, but as mentioned, this is the wrong designation. The account says that as the convoy was off the east of Finnmark the 2 Norwegian vessels were ordered to leave the convoy and proceed to Kirkenes, adding they were still there on May 8. The fact that Kronprinsen can be found again in Convoy RA 67 towards the end of that month, would indicate that she went back to Murmansk at some point. (See also this Guestbook message).

POST WAR:

as per "Empire Ships"

1945: Olsen & Ugelstad, Norway. 1952: Vori - Cia. Nav. Porto Alegre S.A. Panama. 1967: Lukia M - Liminship Cia. Nav., Greece. Sprang a leak in Yellow Sea on Febr. 10-1969, 50 miles southwest of Barren Island, 29 29N 124 16E (voyage Safaga/Korea). Abandoned. Later towed to Shanghai. Reported subsequently seized by Government of People's Republic of China. No further trace.

Related external link:
The Empire Ships - On the "Mariners" website. Empire Fairbairn can be found on this page.

To Kronprinsen on the "Ships starting with K" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøfolk i krig", Leif M. Bjørkelund, "Convoys to Russia", Bob Ruegg & Arnold Hague, and misc. others as stated in the above text.