M/T Spinanger - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945

Misc. Convoy Voyages:

Spinanger rescued survivors from the British Arlington Court in 1939. This ship had been sunk by U-43 on Nov. 16, Convoy SL 7A.

She's listed among the ships in the Gibraltar-U.K. Convoy HGF 29 in May-1940, bound for Brest (available in my Convoys section - link above). The folllowing month she joined Convoy OB 168GF, which left Liverpool on June 15, joined up with OA 168GF from Southend 2 days later, forming Convoy OG 34F, which arrived Gibraltar on June 24. Her destination is given as Abadan on that occasion. (See external links at the end of this text).

In March/Apr.-1941 we find her with a cargo of fuel oil for Liverpool in station 62 of the slow Convoy SC 27, which left Halifax on March 30 and arrived Liverpool on Apr. 18 (she had been cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 26, from which Helle was sunk). In July that year she sailed in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 138, bound for Clyde with Admiralty fuel, returning across the Atlantic the following month with the westbound Convoy ON 5, leaving Liverpool on Aug. 6-1941. Spinanger's destination is given as Baltimore on that occasion. In Nov.-1941 she shows up in the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 54, and in Dec. she's listed as sailing in station 86 of Convoy OS 14 (according to the second external website that I've linked to below), together with the Norwegian Bur, Chr. Th. Boe, Thorsholm and L. A. Christensen. Spinanger was on a voyage from Oban to Port Fortin in ballast. Estrella and Sveve are also mentioned, but did not sail.

She can also be found in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 69 in Febr.-1942, bound for Londonderry, station 42 (ref. list of links above). Going back to the external website again, she's mentioned in Convoy OS 22 the following month, scheduled to sail in station 45 from Belfast, but did not sail. In Apr. she was in Convoy SC 80 from Halifax (having cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 79), as was the company's Hallanger, then they are both listed in Convoy OS 28 on May 12-1942, Spinanger voyaging from Belfast to Pointe a Pierre in ballast, station 35. (Hallanger, however, appears to have cancelled, because she's also listed in the next convoy - again, ref. the external link below). Spinanger also shows up in Convoy SC 99 from Halifax, leaving on Sept. 5-1942 (she had been cancelled from the previous convoy, SC 98, at the end of Aug.).

In May-1943 she's listed among the ships in Convoy HX 237 from New York (see also Sandanger and Brand). By June she was back in New York, joining Convoy HX 244 on June 15, bound for Clyde, station 92. Towards the end of the following month she joined Convoy HX 249, leaving New York on July 23-1943. Several Norwegian ships took part in all these convoys, as will be seen by going to the convoy links above. At the end of Nov. that year she sailed in the westbound North Atlantic convoy ON 212. The only other Norwegian ships in this convoy, except for the escorting corvettes Eglantine, Rose and Potentilla, were Vav, Fjordaas and Villanger. Spinanger spent the last day of 1943 at sea, en route to Heysham with Convoy HX 273.

Towards the end of Febr.-1944 she was scheduled for the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 280, but instead joined the next convoy, HX 281, which arrived Liverpool on March 15. Her destination is given as Heysham. The following month she joined the westbound Convoy ON 231 along with 14 other Norwegian ships, namely Bernhard, Ferncourt, Haakon Hauan, Østhav, Vav, Solstad, Idefjord, President de Vogue, Heranger, Kong Haakon VII, Thorsholm, Skaraas, Høyanger and Nordanger, all listed on this website. This convoy (which unfortunately is not available to me), consisted of 89 ships and departed Liverpool on Apr. 7, arriving New York on the 24th.

She went back to the U.K. in May-1944 with Convoy HX 290, and that summer, in July-1944, she can be found in Convoy HX 299 from New York. Already the following month she was back in New York, joining Convoy HX 304, bound for Londonderry and Belfast Dock. In Oct.-1944 she shows up in the slow Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 158 - all these are available in my Convoys section, links above.

Related external links:
The attack on Arlington Court

OS and OS/KMS Convoys - As can be seen, Spinanger is mentioned in Convoy OS 14 as well as Convoy OS 22 and OS 28.

OB (& OA) convoys - a section of the above website. Again, Spinanger is mentioned in the convoys listed in my text above.

OA & OB convoys

Torpedoed - 1945:

Spinanger arrived Londonderry from New York with Convoy HX 329 on Jan. 13-1945, then departed without escort for Greenock on the 15th. Torpedoed, starboard side aft, that same day by U-1172 (Kuhlmann) about 1 n mile off Clyde Light Vessel. 3 of the people in the engine room were killed, 4 were badly injured. A doctor from one of the destroyers sailing in the area came on board to see to the injured, until an RAF Rescue Launch arrived later to take them to port, where one died as a result of his burns. This man had been rescued by Gunner B. S. Thorsen, who had gone down into the oil and water filled engine room to find him and bring him up on deck. Spinanger was taken in tow to Rothesay, repaired.

Position given by Rohwer is 55 08N 05 25W. The British Escort Carrier HMS Thane was torpedoed and damaged at the same time.

I've received some documents from Roger Griffiths, England (see Page 2), one of which is a letter from the Director of Naval Construction, with the heading "HMS Thane and M.V. Spinanger", dated Febr. 2-1945 stating the following:
"On the 15th January, 1945 the above ships were damaged by underwater explosion whilst proceeding independently from Northern Ireland to the Clyde.

At 13:28 when in position 132 degrees, Clyde Light Vessel 6 cables, Thane sustained severe damage aft and at 14:05 the Norwegian Oiler Spinanger, stationed about 1 1/2 miles away, was similarly damaged. In both instances the centre of the explosion was 50-60 ft. forward of the stern post.

Can D.T.M. please supply any details of the type of weapon and charge weight etc. responsible for the damage to the above ships."