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Manager: Erling H. Samuelsen, Oslo Built by Kockums Mekaniska Verksteds A/B, Malmö, Sweden in 1929. Captain: Arne H. Sørensen
Soløy, bound for Clyde, is listed in station 63 of Convoy SL 46, which left Freetown on Sept. 3-1940 and arrived Liverpool on the 23rd. At the beginning of 1941 we find her in station 13 of Convoy SL 63, which left Freetown on Jan. 20 and arrived Liverpool on Febr. 9. See also Bur and Havsten. In March-1941 she's listed in Convoy OB 300, leaving Liverpool on March 20; her destination is given as Buenos Aires. The external website that I've linked to below has more information on these convoys. Related external link:
Soløy departed Bermuda on June 14-1941 with 7880 tons of wheat from La Plata, and was bound for Hull in Convoy HX 133 when she was torpedoed in the after part of Hold 4, port side on June 24 by U-203 (Mützelburg), 54 44N 39 31W*. Water was pouring into the tunnel, and due to the water pressure the 1st engineer, who was alone, was unable to close the tunnel door. She immediately started to sink, and was gone within 15 minutes. The port lifeboat was successfully launched, but while the starboard boat was being lowered Ordinary Seaman Larsen got his hand jammed so that the falls had to be cut in order to free him, and the boat was destroyed (many ended up in the water, and the ship's papers were lost). However, all 32 survived and were shortly thereafter rescued by the British S/S Traveller which landed them in Liverpool on July 3. "Nortraships flåte" states that Soløy was hit when the convoy was in the process of making a 40° course alteration, and that U-203 was seen by the Commodore ship to be crash diving a couple of cable lengths off to starboard.
M/T Havprins was also in this convoy, as well as M/S Vigrid and M/T Kongsgaard (Havprins escaped unharmed, rescued 44 women and men from the Dutch Maasdam). Several other Norwegian ships also took part, as will be seen by clicking on the link to Convoy HX 133 above. U-556 (Wohlfarth) and U-651 (Lohmeyer) were sunk in this battle. An inquiry into the sinking of Soløy was held in Liverpool on July 11-1941 with the captain, the 3rd mate, the 1st engineer, Ordinary Seaman Larsen (lookout) and Able Seaman Boland (helmsman) appearing. The 3rd mate stated that he had been knocked out of the port (starboard?) lifeboat and swam across to S/S Traveller.
Related external links: Back to Soløy on the "Ships starting with S" page. A fishing vessel, M/B Soløy (SF 90 A) escaped from Værlandet on Aug. 2-1941 with 27 people on board, arriving Baltasund on Aug. 4. Sank alongside the quay at Lerwick the following night. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume II, Norwegian Maritime Museum, and misc. (ref. My sources).
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