M/S Panama Express

To Panama Express on the "Ships starting with P" page.


Source: Sverre Johansens postcard collection.

Misc. War Details:

Captain was Thomas L. Thommesen all through the war, with Asbjørn Andresen as chief engineer. Steward was Brynjulv Granaas. When Norway was invaded on Apr. 9-1940 Panama Express was directed to proceed to Bermuda (according to a personal story) where she stayed for 3 weeks, before being placed in the banana trade between Vancouver B.C./Seattle–Panama, until Aug.-1942 (March?). Panama Express was among the first to be attacked by Japanese submarines. She was on a voyage from San Pedro to Manzanillo on Dec. 21-1941 when a torpedo was spotted, then another from another direction, making it clear that more than one submarine was in on the attack. Both missed, and she was able to avoid further attacks by zig-zag'ing at full speed. One of the subs surfaced and followed but was unable to reach her speed and gave up the chase.

The next time she arrived San Pedro 18 of the crew wrote a memo to the captain saying they would turn in their notice unless something was done about the lacking (non existent) armament on board, or unless convoy protection could be given. None of the above demands could be met on the spot, but they all agreed to stay on until such protection could be given, which it finally was in San Pedro in March (Aug.?) of 1942 in the form of guns on board.

She then transported military supplies from California to Balboa for a while, bringing bananas on her return trips. On one of her voyages she had 156 torpedoes in her hold, and hand grenades as deck cargo. In the fall of 1943 she went to Brisbane to be converted to troop ship for about 800 men, and was subsequently in service Brisbane/New Guinea/Philippines, taking part in the war operations there.

One of her problems with regard to being in convoys was her speed; her engines were not suitable for the slow pace of the convoys. In a convoy from Leyte to Hollandia she was given permission to proceed at her own fast speed, in order to "clean the engine", and from then on she was allowed to go alone, or with a destroyer as escort.

On May 5-1945 she was en route to Leyte and Manila, when in the Coral Sea she was ordered by the Naval authorities in Townsville to assist the American steamer Point San Pedro, which had engine trouble, and she arrived the following morning. The steamer also had the American M/S Deutgan in tow, which had also had engine problems. Within a couple of days Panama Express had towed both ships to Milne Bay, New Guinea, a distance of 234 miles. Both the American ships were in service for US Army Transport and were in ballast, with a total of 200 people on board.

From the spring of 1940 until Sept. 1945 Panama Express transported a total of 140 000 tons cargo and over 16 700 soldiers, sailing 327 653 miles.

See also M/S British Columbia Express.

POST WAR:

Returned to owners in Australia on Apr. 15-1946 after having taken part in the demobilization. On June 18-1946 she came to Kristiansand, Norway. Sold to Salenrederierna A/B, Stockholm in1959, and renamed Buccanero. Sold to Singi Navigation Corp, Taiwan in 1965, and renamed Sinteh Reefer.

To Panama Express on the "Ships starting with P" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Krigsseileren", Issue No. 3 for 1986, and misc. (ref. My sources).