Site Map | Search Warsailors.com | Merchant Fleet Main Page | Warsailors.com Home |
|
D/S Topdalsfjord To Topdalsfjord on the "Ships starting with T" page. Manager: Den Norske Amerikalinje A/S, Oslo. Launched on May 5-1921 by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal (Yard No. 82) for NAL. Delivered in July 1921. Captain: Karl A. Kristensen. Related item on this website: The Memorial for Seamen in Stavern, Norway (external link) claims that Topdalsfjord was torpedoed in the North Atlantic in the winter of 1941, and that Motorman Birger Kornelius Olsen died on shore after having been in a lifeboat for 8 days. I have never seen this incident mentioned anywhere else, and I don't believe Topdalsfjord was ever torpedoed. However, in the Norwegian magazine "Krigsseileren" No. 1/1985 I happened upon the names of 16 Norwegians who are buried at Pine Ridge Cemetery, Saranac, NY. One of them is a Birger Olsen from Topdalsfjord, who is said to have died in Nov.-1942 following an illness. Please go to Norwegian War Graves for more information about this Norwegian memorial in Saranac. Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Topdalsfjord covered 208 114 miles during the war, carrying 116 489 tons of cargo. In Dec.-1939 she transported, among other things, 94 cases of gold from Bergen, Norway to the U.S., valued at 30 million dollars. Another load of gold was transported in March 1940. She was mostly in service in the Atlantic, but also made voyages to Africa and the Mediterranean, as will be seen in this narrative. She's listed in the U.K. to Norway Convoy ON 25 in Apr.-1940. Due to the German invasion of Norway on Apr. 9, several ships turned around and headed back to the U.K. - follow the link for details. She arrived Kirkwall on Apr. 12. In June-1940, she's listed in Convoy OA 168, which left Southend on June 15 and joined up with Convoy OB 168 from Liverpool 2 days later, the combined convoy forming Convoy OG 34F, which arrived Gibraltar on June 24 (see also ships in all OG convoys). Topdalsfjord, however, was only bound for Fowey on that occasion, arriving there on June 16. Later that month, she was one of several Norwegian ships in Convoy OA 175, which originated in Southend on June 27-1940 and dispersed on July 1. She was on a voyage from Southampton to Norfolk, VA, station 55 - ref. external links at the end of this page, as well as my own page related to OA 175 (Vice Commodore's report). Topdalsfjord arrived Hampton Roads on July 14, having started out from Falmouth on June 28, according to Page 1. Carrying phosphates for Garston, she headed back to the U.K. again on Sept. 1 in Convoy HX 70 from Halifax, sailing in station 62. The following month, we find her in Convoy OB 228, which left Liverpool on Oct. 13 and dispersed on the 17th. Her destination is not given, but from the archive document mentioned above, we learn that she arrived Wabana on Oct. 23 (the Norwegian Dokka was sunk - see also some reports related to OB 228 on my own site). She now joined Convoy HX 85 from Halifax on Nov. 1, cargo of iron ore for Port Talbot, where she arrived on Nov. 28, later joining Convoy OB 257, originating in Liverpool on Dec. 10-1940, dispersed Dec. 13. Her destination is given as Baltimore; according to the archive document mentioned above, she arrived New York on Dec. 30, having started out in Milford Haven on Dec. 9 - again, see the external link at the end of this page for the names of other ships in the OB convoys mentioned here, some of which were Norwegian. Topdalsfjord acted as the Commodore's ship several times, the first time in Jan.-1941. This was probably Convoy HX 106, in which she can be found in station 51. It left Halifax on Jan. 30 and arrived Liverpool on Febr. 18. At the external website that I've linked to at the end of this page, she's subsequently listed as bound for Hampton Roads and Barbados in Convoy OB 295, leaving Liverpool on March 8-1941, dispersed March 14. Topdalsfjord arrived Hampton Roads on March 30, Barbados Apr. 15, and in May that year, I have her in station 44 of Convoy HX 125A from Halifax, bound for Clyde with a cargo of sugar, having been cancelled from the previous convoy, HX 124. See also the cruising order/Commodore's notes for HX 125. The following month, she's listed as bound for Halifax in Convoy OB 336, which originated in Liverpool on June 15 and dispersed on the 25th, Topdalsfjord arriving her destination on June 30, according to Page 2. She now joined Convoy HX 141, which departed Halifax on July 27-1941 and arrived Liverpool on Aug. 11. Later that month, she took station 92 of the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 9 (departure Liverpool Aug. 20); her destination was New York, where she arrived Sept. 3, the convoy having been dispersed Aug. 25, and on Sept. 16, she headed back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 150 from Halifax. Other Norwegian ships in the latter convoy were Fenris (station 83), Solfonn (44), Havkong (84), Garonne (62), Thorshavet (33), Heina (64), Varanger (66?) and Braganza (66?). The following month, we find her in station 13 of the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 24x, departing Liverpool on Oct. 8, dispersed on the 15th, Topdalsfjord arriving New York Oct. 25. According to Arnold Hague, she later joined Convoy HX 163 on Dec. 3. She's not mentioned on my own page about this convoy, but my information is incomplete (will be updated) - see external link below. In Jan.-1942 she's listed as bound for New York in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 56x, which left Liverpool on Jan. 12 and dispersed on the 16th, Topdalsfjord arriving New York on Jan. 29 (she had joined from Loch Ewe). She reported being followed by a U-boat in the Caribbean on May 31-1942, but escaped unharmed. Identity of the boat is unknown. From Page 3 of the archive documents, we learn that she was on a voyage from Trinidad to Kingston, Jamaica on that date. She later proceeded to Halifax, and from there, she joined Convoy HX 196 for the U.K. on June 29. She also reported being attacked by a U-boat on Aug. 3 that year (New Foundland banks), but escaped on this occasion as well. Note that she's listed as bound for Hampton Roads in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 115x in this time period (departure Liverpool July 24-1942). She arrived Halifax on Aug. 5, proceeding to New York the next day, with arrival Aug. 9; arrival date for Hampton Roads is not given on the archive document. A couple of months later, on Oct. 18-1942, she's listed, with a cargo of sugar and logs for Greenock, in station 54 of the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 212 (in which Kosmos II was sunk, and Frontenac torpedoed). See also this report on the passage of the convoy. Topdalsfjord now started taking part in the Torch operations, which had commenced in Nov.-1942 (my page about Athos has a list of Norwegian ships taking part in these operations). From the U.K., she headed to Oran, having joined Convoy KMS 5, leaving Clyde for Gibraltar and North Africa on Dec. 11-1942, also including the Norwegian Anna Knudsen, Vardefjell and Norelg, though the latter returned. This turned out to be a very trying voyage for Vardefjell - follow the link for details. Topdalsfjord arrived Oran on Dec. 26 - the Commodore says that she was "very slow and slack at repeating signals". She left Oran again on Jan. 4-1943, returning to the U.K. with Convoy MKS 5, which arrived Liverpool on Jan. 22. The following month, she's listed in Convoy KMS 10, which left Clyde on Febr. 26-1943 (her departure Clyde is given as Febr. 21 on Page 3 of the archive docs). She was bound for Philippeville on that occasion, arriving there on March 11 - see also narrative for March 11 on my page about KMS 10. At the end of that month, she's mentioned in Convoy MKS 10 - scroll down in the table on my page for that convoy. According to the archive document, she left Gibraltar on March 27 and arrived Penarth Apr. 5. Going back to the external website below, we find her in Convoy OS 47 / KMS 14 in May-1943, voyaging from Milford to Bougie in station 51. This convoy departed Liverpool on May 5 and split up on the 16th, the KMS convoy arriving Gibraltar on May 17, while the OS convoy continued to Freetown, with arrival May 25. Topdalsfjord had sailed from Milford Haven on May 4 and arrived Bougie May 20 (KMS 14x). For her return voyage, she sailed in Convoy SL 130 / MKS 14 at the beginning of June. The SL portion had originated in Freetown on May 30-1943; Topdalsfjord had sailed from Bougie on June 4, joining MKS 14x, which joined up with SL 130 off Gibraltar on June 11, the combined convoy arriving Liverpool on June 21; Topdalsfjord stopped at Loch Ewe that day. Her cargo is given as iron ore, and she also had passengers on board. The following month, she shows up in the westbound North Atantic Convoy ON 192x, which originated in Liverpool on July 9-1943 and arrived New York on the 22nd. See also Page 4. In Sept.-1943, she acted as Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 256 with the Norwegian Brimanger as the Vice Commodore's ship. Topdalsfjord had a general cargo for Greenock and had station 71 of the convoy, which left New York on Sept. 9 and arrived Liverpool on the 21st. The following month, she's listed as bound for Algiers in Convoy KMS 30x, which departed Liverpool on Oct. 17-1943 and arrived Gibraltar on the 31st; Topdalsfjord arrived Algiers on Nov. 3. Later that month, she made a voyage from Algiers to Gibraltar with Convoy MKS 31 - scroll down to the second table on that page. She arrived Gibraltar Nov. 23, having sailed from Algiers Nov. 21. She's also listed as bound from Gibraltar to Takoradi in Convoy OS 59 that month - this convoy had started out from the U.K. on Nov. 16-1943 as the combined convoy OS 59 / KMS 33 which split up on Nov. 28; note, however, that Topdalsfjord was not present from the U.K., but joined from Gibraltar, and arrived Freetown Dec. 8, proceeding to Takoradi a couple of days later, Convoy ST 77, returning to Freetown with Convoy TS 55, which arrived Freetown on Dec. 30. Again, see Page 4 above for further dates, as well as the external links at the end of this page.
Most of what follows is from an article in "Tilbakeblikk" written by Gunner Arne Thommessen:
As already mentioned above, Topdalsfjord had arrived Freetown from Takoradi on Dec. 30-1943. At the beginning of the new year, we find her listed in Convoy SL 145 / MKS 36. The SL portion of this convoy, in which she sailed, had departed Freetown on Jan. 1-1944, joined up with the MKSx convoy from Gibraltar on the 12th, the combined convoy arriving Liverpool on Jan. 24. Topdalsfjord had a cargo of cocoa and W.A. produce (the Norwegian Ragnhild and Lisbeth also took part). Some ships in this convoy, including Topdalsfjord (bound for Hull) arrived Oban Anchorage on Jan. 22, and continued with Convoy WN 535, which left Loch Ewe on Jan. 24 and arrived Methil Jan. 27. From Methil, she joined Convoy FS 1344, and arrived her destination Hull on Jan. 29. Again, follow the external links further down on this page for more information. At the beginning of Febr.-1944, she was still in Hull loading war stores and explosives for the Mediterranean. The following gunners joined the ship there on Febr. 3: Birger W. Johansen, Yngvar Helliesen, Albert O. Liljevold, Einar T. Aronsen and Arne K. Thommessen (previously of Bosphorus, Kong Haakon VII and Belnor), then a few days later Odd Larsen and Einar Hansen. Gunnery Officer was Gunnar Slatlem. She left Hull for Leith on Febr. 11, arriving there on the 13th. Gunner Viktor Solberg joined, making the total number of Norwegian gunners the required 8. She also had British gunners. (Gunner Aronsen was needed for D/S Tore Jarl a few days later). Topdalsfjord loaded more war stores in Leith until Febr. 27, then headed for Methil (by then Gunner Henry N. Østerfeldt had completed their numbers again) and from there to Oban on the 29th, where she arrived together with other ships on March 3. The following day, they went out to join ships from various English and Scottish ports to form a large convoy, some with destination Gibraltar, others were going to misc. Mediterranean ports (this was Convoy OS 70 / KMS 44, which left Liverpool on March 3 and split up on March 15 - see external link below for more convoy details). They passed through the Straits of Gibraltar on March 17. Topdalsfjord, in station 61 of the convoy, had Malta as her destination. In the evening of March 19, the convoy (KMS 44x) was attacked by aircraft between Algiers and Cape Carbon. No ships were hit, but when Topdalsfjord arrived Malta on the 22nd they were told that 4 German aircraft had been shot down. D/S Gezina also took part in defending the convoy (as did Topdalsfjord. "Nortraships flåte" claims that the convoy consisted of 70 ships with a very strong escort). See also Page 4 and Page 5 for comparison of voyages mentioned here. Topdalsfjord stayed in Valetta unloading cargo until Apr. 15-1944 at which time she joined a convoy consisting of about 30 ships coming from Italy, its numbers increasing as they passed North African coastal ports. They were attacked by aircraft, but no ships appear to have been hit and they arrived Gibraltar on Apr. 22 (note that she's listed as bound from Malta to Gibraltar in Convoy MKS 46x in this time period. This particular portion had originated in Port Said on Apr. 9, and arrival date Gibraltar is given as Apr. 21). The following day, they joined a small convoy for Freetown, arriving there on May 3. (This was Convoy OS 74, which had started out in Liverpool on Apr. 12-1944 as the combined convoy OS 74 / KMS 48, then split up on Apr. 23, the KMS portion arriving Gibraltar on Apr. 25, while the OS convoy had continued to Freetown, with arrival May 3, as mentioned - ref. external link to OS 74 provided below). She started loading peanuts straight into her holds, but on May 12 they were suddenly ordered to sail again, and on May 14 she arrived Dakar (*) where more peanuts were loaded. The Norwegian Tamerlane was also there at the time, and the 2 Norwegian crews celebrated May 17 together (Norway's constitution day). While there, Gunner Odd Larsen transferred to Salta which was also at Dakar.
Topdalsfjord left Dakar again on May 20 and joined a small convoy for the UK, meeting up with a larger convoy coming out of Gibraltar. This would have been Convoy SL 159 / MKS 50, in which she's listed as bound from Dakar to Clyde at the external site below. Cargo is given as groundnuts, and she also carried mail and 5 passengers. (SL 159 had started out in Freetown on May 17-1944 and joined up with the MKS convoyx from Gibraltar on May 31, the combined convoy arriving Liverpool on June 11). En route the news of the Normandy invasion reached them. After having passed Northern Ireland the convoy split up, with Topdalsfjord heading south to the Bristol Channel, arriving Avonmouth on June 12. The peanuts were discharged, and war stores taken on board again. Gunner John Johnsen now joined them, again meeting the required number of 8 Norwegian gunners. She continued to Cardiff on June 22 where more war stores were loaded for the Mediterranean (Gunner Einar Hansen left them in Cardiff, and Edgar Olai Olsen replaced him), departing Cardiff again on June 29, arriving Belfast on June 30, then departed for Gibraltar the next day (with Convoy OS 82 / KMS 56, which started out in Liverpool on July 1 and split up on July 11, the KMS convoy arriving Gibraltar on July 13, while the OS convoy continued to Freetown, with arrival there on July 21 - ref. external link below). A few ships went in to Gibraltar while Topdalsfjord proceeded to Bizerta (still with Convoy KMS 56x) with arrival on July 17, where cargo was discharged until July 30, while enduring several air attacks. On July 31, she's listed as joining Convoy GUS 47, which had originated in Port Said on July 24-1944; Topdalsfjord's destination is initially given as Gibraltar. (The Norwegian Tricolor, Polartank, Kong Sverre, Fernplant, and Lidvard were in this convoy from Port Said, while Topdalsfjord later joined from Bizerta, as mentioned). Off Algiers, early in the morning hours of Aug. 2 when en route towards Gibraltar, the alarm was sounded but nothing further took place and before reaching Gibraltar she was ordered to Casablanca alone for cargo, arriving there on Aug. 4, and they could finally get a good night's sleep. On Aug. 13, she joined up with a convoy coming from Gibraltar which was headed for New York. This must have been Convoy GUS 48 in which she's mentioned. They could hardly believe they were going to a place with no war for a change, though they still faced some tense moments when, half way to their destination on Aug. 21, 3 U-boats were reported to have been observed heading for the convoy's course, but she arrived New York in the evening of Aug. 26-1944 without further incidents (Page 5 of the archive documents gives arrival New York as Aug. 27, departure Casablanca on the 13th). Seeing a city fully lit was quite an experience for those on board after having grown accustomed to the blacked out cities of Europe. All her cargo was to be unloaded and new cargo taken on in New York, so she was to stay there for a while. 3 of the gunners paid off, among them Arne Thommessen who on Sept. 14-1944 joined D/T Torborg.
Topdalsfjord left New York with Convoy HX 308 on Sept. 13, bound for London with general cargo. At the end of Nov.-1944, we find her in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 268x, which left Southend on Nov. 23 and arrived New York on Dec. 10. Her destination is not given, but when going back to Page 5, we find that she arrived Philadelphia on Dec. 11. Topdalsfjord acted as Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 330 in Jan.-1945 (Commodore Rear Admiral E. W. Leir), then returned across the Atlantic the following month with the westbound Convoy ON 282x, departing Liverpool on Febr. 1-1945, arriving New York on the 19th - again, no destination is provided for Topdalsfjord, but it looks like she was bound for Hampton Roads, though no arrival date is given on the archive document mentioned above. She also acted as Commodore Vessel for Convoy HX 344 in March (Commodore Vice Admiral M.L. Goldsmith). The latter convoy, which left New York on March 14-1945 and arrived Liverpool on the 28th, is not yet available among the HX convoys included in my own Convoys section (will be added), but A. Hague's listing can be found via the external link below. She's also listed in the westbound Convoy ON 297x, which left Liverpool on Apr. 17 and arrived New York on May 2. She had a crew of 45 on arrival, 3 were discharged, 2 more were signed on while in New York, for a total of 44.
According to Page 5, Topdalsfjord left New York on May 16, but returned that same day, departing again on May 26 for San Juan, where she arrived June 1. See also Page 6, from which we learn that she went home to Norway in Oct.-1945. To find convoy information for some of the voyages made in between those already mentioned here, please follow the instructions provided at the external link below, then compare the results with the details shown on the various archive documents.
Arrived Hamburg on Jan. 9-1955 for breaking up by Eisen und Metall K. G., Lehr & Co. Related external links: Norway Heritage Projcet has quite a bit of information on NAL's ships, on this page. Back to Topdalsfjord on the "Ships starting with T" page. Den norske Amerikalinje had another ship by this name from 1959 till 1978.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
