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D/S Lom To Lom on the "Ships starting with L" page. Owner: D/S A/S Ibis Built at Hardinxveld, Netherlands in 1920. Captain: Karl Nepstad
In Admiralty service. In June-1940 Lom shows up in Convoy OA 169, which left Southend on June 17 and was dispersed 2 days later. Her destination is given as Weymouth. The convoy was composed of 2 parts, OA 169(1) and OA 169(2), Lom being in station 44 of Part 2, which had several Norwegian ships (see the external links below - note that she's also mentioned in Convoy OA 170 with a note saying "did not sail"). At the end of Sept.-1940 she was in the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 6, cargo of lumber for Preston. In Aug.-1941 we find her in station 44 of the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 7; her destination is given as Iceland. Attacked by He 111 aircraft on Jan. 25-1942 off Linney Head, only slight damage. Lom rescued 40 survivors from Empire Dunstan on Nov. 18-1943. This ship had been sunk by U-81 that same day. Related external links:
Arrived Bari on Nov. 24-1943 with a cargo of aviation fuel from Philippeville, Africa*. On December 2-1943 a large allied convoy of tankers, ammunition ships and supply vessels was at anchor in Bari with much needed supplies for the British, American and Canadian armies for their advance up the Italian mainland. The Liberty ship USS John Harvey (captain Knowles) had a cargo of liquid mustard gas bombs, and was guarded by a unit of the 701st Chemical Maintenance Company. In addition to Lom, the Norwegian D/S Bollsta, Norlom, Vest, and Salamis were present (follow the link to Bollsta for a list of all the ships damaged or sunk). About 20 enemy planes attacked and one of the ammunition ships was hit and blew up, starting the domino effect of events. Ship after ship caught on fire. The end result was over 1000 dead, many injured and suffering from the effects of the mustard gas. At least 17 ships were sunk.
Lom's gunners took part in the defence against the attacking Ju 88's, but not long after the attack had started she was struck by a bomb which exploded in No. 1 hold and immediately caught on fire. Several other bombs fell very close to the ship, the lifeboats were destroyed. After a while the fire reached the ammunition on the bridge and boat deck and started to explode. The majority of those who were on board saved themselves by jumping overboard and swimming away, many were injured and had to be admitted to a hospital. Trimmer Malfred Larsen died there on Dec. 16. An inquiry was held in Algiers on Dec. 19-1943 as well as in London on Febr. 25-1944 (with the 1st mate). The radio operator, the steward, Stoker McLeod and the galley boy gave statements at the inquiry in Algiers. The radio operator and the steward had been ashore when the explosion occurred and when they returned to the ship it was on fire. They were both ordered away from the harbour area. They remained in Bari for 2 days before being sent to Taranto where they stayed for 5 days, and were subsequently taken by ship to Algiers, arriving Dec. 13-1943. The stewards states that Lom's captain was on board Norlom at the time of the attack. The Canadian Stoker McLeod was also on shore and was just returning to the burning ship, seeing several men in the water, among them 1st Mate Sauness whom he helped up on the breakwater, then started to lead him over to a first aid station. Meeting Galley Boy Parkinson, who was also just returning to the ship, the 1st mate was handed over to him, while the stoker returned in order to see if he could assist others. The 1st mate was covered in oil and had a bad cut over his eye, so the galley boy took him along to a destroyer about 200 yards away where first aid was being given. The 1st mate was later taken to a hospital, then evacuated to Malta on Dec. 19 where he was again admitted to a hospital. Released on Jan. 28-1944, and on Febr. 4 he was sent to England with the British HMS Eastway, arriving Greenock on Febr. 21. Stoker McLeod, meanwhile, had found 3rd Engineer Adorsen trying to get onto the quay together with Stoker Farries. The 3rd engineer got onto the quay while the stoker was still on a raft with a gunner from Lom when Stoker McLeod helped the 3rd engineer towards the first aid station. Stoker McLeod left the quay at 10 a.m. the next morning, with Lom still burning (total loss). He says he later saw 10 men from Lom in the hospital. I believe all of Lom's casualties were buried in Bari,
Crew List:
* Karl J. Beck later joined Tai Yang.
Related external links: Raid on Bari Back to Lom on the "Ships starting with L" page. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Norwegian Maritime Museum, Volume II, and misc. (ref. My sources).
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