D/S Vestland

To Vestland on the "Ships starting with V" page.

Some War Voyages:

Vestland is listed in Convoy HN 11 from Norway to the U.K. in Febr.-1940, bound for Methil in ballast. She returned to Norway later that month with Convoy ON 15, and towards the end of March-1940, we find her in Convoy HN 21, bound for Burntisland in ballast. She subsequently joined Convoy ON 25 in order to head back to Norway (convoy left Methil on Apr. 5-1940), but must have been one of the ships that returned to the U.K. due to the German invasion, since she was in Allied control for the rest of the war. Follow links for more convoy info; several Norwegian ships took part.

In May-1940 she joined Convoy OA 146, which left Southend on May 11, dispersed on the 15th. Vestland was only bound for Barry on that occasion. She's also listed in Convoy OA 172, leaving Southend on June 21, dispersed 4 days later. Vestland's destination is given as Bristol Channel, having joined from Portsmouth, station 65. This convoy was composed of 2 parts, OA 172(1) and OA 172(2), Vestland being in Part 1, as were the Norwegian Bonde and Trolla, while the Norwegian Evviva was in Part 2. Already on June 27 Vestland shows up as bound for Sydney, C.B. in Convoy OB 175, which was dispersed on June 30. (See the external links provided at the end of this page). She appears among the ships leaving Halifax in Convoy HX 59 on July 19-1940 (cargo of pulp for Grimsby), but lost touch that same night. At the end of Aug. she's listed in Convoy OA 205, leaving Methil on Aug. 27, dispersed Aug. 30, but no destination is given for her. However, it looks like she headed across the North Atlantic, because in Sept. that same year she shows up in the slow Sydney (C.B.)-U.K. Convoy SC 5, cargo of pulp wood, bound for Ridham Dock. In the middle of Nov.-1940 she joined Convoy OB 244, together with 11 other Norwegian ships. Her destination was Quebec.

Early in the new year, on Jan. 12-1941, she's included in the Halifax-U.K. Convoy SC 19, bound for London with paper pulp in station 33 (see also Ruth I). In May that year we find her in the U.K.-Gibraltar Convoy OG 61, which left Liverpool on May 5 and arrived Gibraltar on the 19th. Vestland, however, was bound for St. John, N.B., so probably left this convoy at some point in order to proceed across the North Atlantic to her destination (see my page listing ships in all OG convoys for the names of other ships in OG 61). The following month she's listed, with a cargo of lumber for London, in Convoy SC 34, leaving Sydney, C.B. (Cape Breton) on June 10-1941, then returned at the end of July with the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 1, leaving Liverpool on July 26-1941. The following month Vestland, again with a cargo of lumber, was one of several Norwegian ships in Convoy SC 42, departing Sydney C. B. on Aug. 30-1941. Follow the link for some details on this convoy battle and the names of ships sunk (incl. the Norwegian Stargard). The captain of Vestland reported that when the British Gypsum Queen was torpedoed on Sept. 11 he didn't have the heart to ignore the men in the sea crying for help, and against orders he stopped and rescued 26, but 10 died. Among the rescued men was Adrian E. Millar, father of the maritime historian Ian Millar, who may be well known to Americans (and others) interested in maritime matters.

On Oct. 17-1941 Vestland collided in convoy* with the Dutch M/S Heenvliet, which sank, but the entire crew was picked up by Vestland and taken to Barry Docks. A visitor to my website has told me that Heenvliet (Master C. Ree) was a 346 gt coaster, completed in 1939, owned by Soetermeer & Fekkes, Rotterdam. She was on a voyage from Barry to Londonderry, when she collided in St. George's Channel with Vestland.

* See Convoy BB 89 from Belfast Lough to Milford Haven (external link).

On Dec. 1 that same year, while in a convoy 28 n. miles southwest of Bardsey Island Vestland was attacked by German aircraft. She was not hit, but a bomb detonated so close that her steering was damaged. No-one was injured.

Her bad luck continued the following year when she in a heavy storm ran aground at Hvalfjord, Iceland on Jan. 15-1942 (see Convoy UR 3 - external link). Refloated on March 16-1942 and towed to Reykjavik. Temporary repairs were completed on Oct. 17, and following inspections by representatives from Norske Veritas, Lloyd's and Nortraship, she was ordered by the Commander of Fleet Salvage Office to be taken in tow for River Tyne, though she was still leaking in several places. Departure date was initially set to Oct. 18 but due to stormy weather she could not sail until Oct. 21-1942, at which time she left in tow of the tug Freebooter for the Tyne for further repairs, escorted by St. Elstrand. En route, 5 of the 6 pumps broke down so that it was impossible to keep the water out, and she sank in the evening of the 24th, approximate position 50 15N 11 30W. The 10 who had been on board were transferred to the escort and taken to Scotland.

An inquiry was held in London on Oct. 30-1942 with Captain Terjesen, 1st Engineer Anton Helle, Able Seaman Arne Førland, Able Seaman Gjentoft Hansen and the Icelandic Brynjulf Gunnarson attending. The latter was not part of the crew, but had been requested by the Naval Salvage Office to come along as an expert in the operation of the pumps. Others who came along from Reykjavik were Able Seaman Sigurd Langeland, Able Seaman Leif Berntsen, Cook Sigurd Mathisen and 2 British gunners.

Related external links:
OB (& OA) convoys - OA 172 is included. Note also that by going to this section of the same site and clicking on "Ship Search", using "Vestland" as keyword, many convoys that are not mentioned in my own text will come up, including several local U.K. convoys. Here are OA 146, OA 205, and OB 175, all mentioned in my text above.

See also this chronological list of
OA & OB convoys

SC-42, 9 - 14 Sept 1941 - U-Boat net's detailed account of the battle.

Historical Index of the Great Lakes has a lovely picture and technical details of Vestland, as well as several other ships (type Vestland in the search field, then click on the item number that comes up).

Back to Vestland on the "Ships starting with V" page.

Other Norwegian ships named Vestland through the years:
The company had previously had another ship by this name, delivered in Febr.-1894 as Maria to J. de Poorter, Rotterdam, 2454 gt. Sailed under the Swedish flag as St. Andrew from 1897, purchased by D/S A/S Vestland (Rich. Amlie) in 1915 and renamed Vestland. Sold in 1916 and renamed Arnøy. Sailed under the Finnish flag from 1924 as Björneborg, broken up in Denmark as Maria in 1953, having been sold again in 1943.
Another Vestland was built in France in 1958 for D/S A/S Vestland, Haugesund (Rich. Amlie & Co., A/S), 5768 gt. Became Greek Niky in in 1970, Milena R of Malta in 1984, delivered for breaking up in Nov. that year.
Yet another Vestland was built in in Haugesund in 1970, also for A/S D/S Vestland, 14 400 gt. Became Westocean in 1974 (Singapore), Katerina E 1980 (Greek), Esplanade in 1987 (Malta), Maggie 1989 (Monrovia), Sheeba 1989, Platinum Kris 1994 (Panama), San Tong 1999 - various owners.
The company also had a Vestland built in 1978 (Rostock), 9291 gt, under T/C as Iboundji 1978-1982, then Vestland again, became German Allgau, reg. in Cyprus in 1982, renamed Allgaeu 1986, Panamanian Marine Brave 1989, Vietnamese Hau Giang 1994, Hotay in 2003 (Vietnamese).
Additionally, Haugesund (Trygve Klovning/Th. Joh. Kyvig) had a small Vestland in the early 1950's, formerly a German trawler built 1921 - lost following a collision near den Helder in Jan.-1956.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Våre gamle skip" and "Våre motorskip", Leif M. Bjørkelund & E. H. Kongshavn, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Vol II, and misc. (ref. My sources).