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M/S Laurits Swenson To Laurits Swenson on the "Ships starting with L" page.
From May-1942, till July-1942 Helene Karoline J. Fischer Dale served as a stewardess on this ship. She later went on to become the first Norwegian female radio officer in our fleet. She had previously served as stewardess on Bayard from March-1940 till Dec. that year, and on the same ship from Febr.-1941 till March-1942, before joining Laurits Swenson in the same capacity in May-1942, as mentioned. The following month she started school at Little Norway, Toronto to become a radio operator, and fresh out of school she joined Fred. Olsen's Baalbek as 2nd radio operator in June-1943 (till Sept.-1943), before signing on Alf Lindeberg in Oct.-1943 where she stayed till Dec.-1945. Just 2 days after signing off Alf Lindeberg she joined M/S Fernplant, this time as 1st radio operator, remaining with this ship until March-1946. She was later awarded Krigsmedaljen and Haakon VII Frihetsmedalje - see my Norwegian War Medals page. Many women sailed with the Norwegian fleet during the war; mostly as stewardesses or saloon girls. Norwegian ships also had several female Canadian radio operators; a list of their names can be found at the end of my page about Mosdale. (My mother was also a radio operator, though not during the war. Her ships are named at Åse's Ships).
Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives: Please compare the above voyages with Arnold Hague's Voyage Record below.
(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.
According to Page 1 of the archive documents, Laurits Swenson left Los Angeles on Apr. 8-1940 with the intention of sailing to Oslo, Norway, but the country was invaded the next day, and she was diverted to Liverpool, so she returned to Los Angeles, later proceeding to Bermuda. From there, she joined the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 43 on May 15 in order to make the voyage to Liverpool, arriving there on May 30, cargo of grain and fruit (the Norwegian Ida Bakke, Vivi and Sildra also sailed in this convoy). With Erviken and Leiesten she's later listed in Convoy OB 164, which left Liverpool on June 9 and dispersed on the 12th, Laurits Swenson arriving Cristobal on June 25. In Sept.-1940 she's mentioned in the escort's report for Convoy HX 71, departing Halifax on Sept. 5 (convoy will be updated* with ships from Halifax), and the following month she shows up, together with Brant County, Grado, Petter, Ruth I and Samuel Bakke, in Convoy OB 226 (station 62), which left Liverpool on Oct. 9 and dispersed on the 12th. Her destination on that occasion was Hampton Roads, where she arrived on Oct. 24. More info on the OB convoys is available at the external link provided within the Voyage Record. In Jan.-1941, we find her in the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 102, bound for Liverpool with a general cargo, and the following month she joined Convoy OB 291, which departed Liverpool on Febr. 27 and dispersed March 3 (also available at the external website mentioned above). Caledonia, Grena, Hardanger, Hilda Knudsen, Skaraas and Storaas (bombed and damaged - see Skaraas and Storaas) are also included, as is the Panamania Norvik (Norwegian managers and included under the N's on this website). No destination is given for Laurits Swenson, but when going back to Page 1 of the archive documents, we learn that she arrived Cristobal on March 20. She returned to the U.K. in June with Convoy HX 130. She was again bound for Liverpool with a general cargo, sailing in station 63 of the convoy, having joined from Bermuda. A cruising order/Commodore's notes are also available for this convoy. Together with Belinda, Sama and Samuel Bakke, she subsequently joined Convoy OB 344, departing Liverpool on July 7, dispersed July 16, Laurits Swenson arriving Cristobal on the 24th, proceeding to Los Angeles and Vancouver the next day (see Page 2). She headed back across the Atlantic on Sept. 22 that year in Convoy HX 151 from Halifax (name is given as Swenson only, but it should be Laurits Swenson - page will be updated*) along with the Norwegian Dagrun (station 54), Sama (85), San Andres (105), Meline (43), Morgenen (93), Belinda, Thorshøvdi (53), Sophocles (left the convoy and sailed independently), Tigre (44), Hardanger (94), Leiv Eiriksson (24). Laurits Swenson arrived Liverpool on Oct. 6, and later that month, she joined the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 28*, as did the Norwegian Polartank, Brant County and other Norwegian ships (departure Liverpool Oct. 20, dispersed Nov. 3). When the convoy was located by U-boats on Oct. 29 the Admiralty redirected it and ordered the fastest ships (including the 3 Norwegian ones mentioned) to proceed independently. (The American Salinas was torpedoed and damaged by U-106 on Oct. 30). Laurits Swenson arrived Cristobal on Nov. 9, later continuing to Vancouver, where she arrived Nov. 23. Arnold Hague has also included her in Convoy HX 170 in Jan.-1942. The following month she's listed as bound for New York in the westbound Convoy ON 69*, which left Liverpool Febr. 20 and dispersed March 6, Laurits Swenson arriving New York on March 8. She headed back to the U.K. again on March 27 with Convoy HX 182 from Halifax, and at the beginning of May she joined the westbound Convoy ON 91*, general cargo for New York, where she arrived on May 16, the convoy having been dispersed the day before (departed Liverpool May 1). In June she joined Convoy HX 193 from Halifax, then early in July she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 109*, departing Liverpool July 3, arriving Halifax July 18(?) - Laurits Swenson, however, was bound for New York, with arrival there July 16. She sailed back to the U.K. the following month in Convoy HX 202, general cargo for Mersey - see also Page 3. For her return voyage across the ocean she joined Convoy ON 127 on Sept. 4, station 41. Having witnessed several ships being sunk, it was decided to leave the convoy on Sept. 11 after the 5th attack, and she subsequently made it safely to Halifax on her own. (See also Hindanger, Sveve, Daghild, Marit II and Fjordaas, 2 of which were sunk, the others damaged). The following month she's listed in Convoy HX 210, departing New York City on Oct. 1. Cargo is given as "valuables and explosives" and she sailed in station 33 of the convoy, bound for Liverpool. The Norwegian Montevideo served as Commodore Vessel. Laurits Swenson returned to New York at the beginning of Nov.-1942 with the westbound Convoy ON 143* (departure Liverpool Nov. 1), and in Dec.-1942, she joined Convoy HX 218 from New York, again bound for Liverpool, and again with explosives in her cargo, station 43. She subsequently returned to the U.S. early in Jan.-1943 with the westbound Convoy ON 159, acting as the Commodore's ship in station 61 - the Commodore's narrative is also available for this convoy. She was also Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 226, departing New York on Febr. 8. She had a general cargo for Swansea, where she arrived, via Belfast Lough, on Febr. 25. In March she joined the westbound Convoy ON 172* (convoy left Liverpool March 9, arrived New York March 27 - it looks like Laurits Swenson joined from Belfast Lough, see Page 3), and the following month she again served as Commodore Vessel, this time for Convoy HX 234; the Commodore had some good words for the ship and her crew, as can be seen when clicking on the link to this convoy. See also the Commodore's report. Laurits Swenson now went back to the U.S. in May with Convoy ON 183* (departure Liverpool May 10 - Laurits Swenson joined from Clyde - arrival New York May 25), and in June she was in Convoy HX 243 from New York, departing June 7, arriving Liverpool on the 21st, general cargo, station 114. In July we find her listed as bound for New York in the westbound Convoy ON 192* (from Liverpool July 9, to New York July 23), and she was chosen as Commodore Vessel again for her return voyage with Convoy HX 251 the following month (Commodore was Sir R.A.R. Plunket-Ernle-Erle-Drax). Her cargo is given as general and explosives, destination Liverpool in station 81. In Sept.-1943 she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 200* (from Liverpool Sept. 2, to New York Sept. 18), and according to A. Hague she subsequently joined Convoy HX 260*, which left New York on Oct. 5 and arrived Liverpool on the 20th - see also Page 4 of the archive docs. She later appears in the westbound Convoy ON 209* to New York, later acting as Commodore Vessel for the returning Convoy HX 269* in Dec.-1943. In Jan.-1944 she joined the westbound Convoy ON 219* (from Liverpool Jan. 8, to New York Jan. 27 - she joined from Clyde), heading back to the U.K. on Febr. 12 with Convoy HX 279, general cargo for Liverpool. In March she shows up in the westbound Convoy ON 228*, departing Liverpool March 15, arriving New York Apr. 1, going back to the U.K. later that month with Convoy HX 288, for which R.G. Clayton acted as Commodore in Laurits Swenson. On May 19 she joined the westbound Convoy ON 237*, arriving New York June 3. In the summer of 1944 the Germans started using the V 1 bombs (ref. external link at the end of this page), and the first Norwegian report of such a bomb came from Laurits Swenson, which had arrived London on July 31, having sailed from New York with Convoy HX 299, yet again acting as Commodore Vessel (Commodore J. K. Brook), with the Norwegian Høyanger as Vice Commodore's ship. Ships in port were in danger day and night from these bombs, as they could, of course, not defend themselves against them with their own armament. My father also experienced the V 1, and later the V 2, while going to Radio Officer's school in London. See his interesting and, at times, quite amusing account in one of his letters (Letter No. 4). Laurits Swenson departed London on Aug. 11, later joining convoy ON 249* in order to go back to New York, where she arrived Sept. 2, having started out from Loch Ewe Aug. 18. She's listed as returning to the U.K. with Convoy HX 309 in Sept.-1944 (Vice Commodore), bound for Glasgow with general cargo. In Oct.-1944 we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 259*, which originated in Liverpool on Oct. 12, but Laurits Swenson sailed from Clyde Oct. 11 and arrived New York Oct. 29. A month later she's listed as Vice Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 323, bound for Liverpool with general cargo. Christmas Eve that year was spent in the westbound Convoy ON 274*, which arrived New York on Jan. 8-1945. Laurits Swenson, general cargo for London, again acted as Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 337 in Febr.-1945 (having been cancelled from the previous convoy, HX 336). She returned across the ocean in March with Convoy ON 291*, then served as Commodore Vessel again for Convoy HX 351* (Commodore Sir R.A.R. Plunket-Ernle-Erle-Drax), which left New York on Apr. 18 and arrived Liverpool on May. 3. At the end of May we find her in the last ON convoy of the war, namely ON 305*. Her subsequent voyages are listed on Page 5 and Page 6 of the archive documents.
Sold in 1963. Arrived at Hong Kong on Sept. 5-1963 to be broken up. Related external links: Fi-103/V-1 "Buzz Bomb" - Detailed description and several pictures. Lesser known facts of WW II - scroll down on the page. For your information, the Australian War Memorial has several photos of V 1 and V 2 bombs - they can can be found through the collection search page of the site. One picture has the caption: A sectional drawing of a German V-1 Flying bomb, another has the caption: A sectionalised drawing showing the component parts of a German V-2 rocket (also designated A-4), and a third has the caption: Belgium. 1944-12. The first picture of the German V2 Flying Bomb which fell in Belgium. Back to Laurits Swenson on the "Ships starting with L" page. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, Fred. Olsen & Co. fleet list, and misc. others for cross checking info as named within the text. The majority of the information on Helene Fischer Dale was received from Olive Roeckner, who herself served as radio operator on Norwegian ships (she in turn received the information from Berit Pittman, Canada). A book has been written about her experiences - see my text under Narvik.
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