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Manager: Erling H. Samuelsen, Oslo Built by Kockums Mekaniska Verksteds A/B, Malmö, Sweden in 1929. Captain: Arne H. Sørensen Her voyages are listed on this original image from the National Archives of Norway.
Soløy is listed, with destination Clyde, in station 63 of Convoy SL 46, which left Freetown on Sept. 3-1940 and arrived Liverpool on the 23rd. However, it does not look like she proceeded to the U.K.; see the archive document. Touraine is also listed in this convoy, but there's some disagreement as to whether this was the French or the Norwegian ship by this name - ref. external links below. (A. Hague has also included Rinda, while this ship is listed in SLS 46 in another section of the site - left Freetown Sept. 1). 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; Soløy arrived Oban on the 10th. See also Bur and Havsten. The following month, she's listed, together with Ingertre and Jenny, in Convoy OB 300, originating in Liverpool on March 20, dispersed on the 26th (Ranja and Taurus were scheduled, but did not sail, though according to A. Hague, Ranja did sail). Soløy's destination is given as Buenos Aires, where she arrived on Apr. 22, having started out from Loch Ewe on March 22. The external website that I've linked to below has more information on both these convoys. Note that A. Hague has not included Soløy in OB 300. Related external link:
Having made voyages to La Plata, Rosario and Trinidad, Soløy proceeded to Bermuda, with arrival June 9. She departed Bermuda again for Hull on June 14 with 7880 tons of wheat from La Plata, joining the Bermuda portion of Convoy HX 133. On June 24, she was torpedoed in the after part of Hold 4, port side by U-203 (Mützelburg), 54 44N 39 31W*. "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. 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 had survived and were rescued shortly thereafter by the British S/S Traveller which landed them in Liverpool on July 3. An inquiry into the sinking of Soløy was held there 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 lifeboat (should this be starboard?) and swam across to Traveller. According to "Nortraship's flåte", U-203 lost contact with Convoy HX 133 the day Soløy was sunk, but instead encountered the westbound Convoy OB 336 and torpedoed 2 more ships there**. However, the Admiralty knew that several more U-boats had been notified about HX 133 and summoned escort vessels from 2 westbound convoys nearby for reinforcements. By June 25, 13 escorts were protecting HX 133 while 10 U-boats were approaching, but in spite of the strong escort the U-boats succeeded in torpedoing several more ships. The Norwegian M/S Vigrid was also sunk, while M/T Kongsgaard was damaged. (M/T Havprins escaped unharmed; she rescued 44 women and men from the Dutch Maasdam - follow the link for more details). Several other Norwegian ships also took part, as will be seen when going to my page about HX 133. The page includes the Commodore's narrative and info on other ships sunk. U-556 (Wohlfarth) and U-651 (Lohmeyer) were also sunk in this battle.
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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