D/S Viggo Hansteen - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945

Misc. War Voyages:

She had a complement of 47 (this number includes the gunners), mostly Norwegian but also 5 Canadians. Her first voyage went through the Mediterranean and Suez to Bandar Shapur with supplies for Russia, then back to The U.S. (New York). She then joined Convoy UGS 38 which departed Hampton Roads on Apr. 3-1944 and consisted of 85 ships. On Apr. 20 it was attacked by 60 torpedo aircraft which came over the convoy in 3 waves, 3 n. miles off Cape Bengut. Viggo Hansteen was unharmed, but 1 ship was damaged and the American S/S Paul Hamilton was sunk by the first group of 9 planes. According to "Nortraships flåte" this ship had a cargo of explosives and 498 soldiers on board; all 580 on board died when the ship was blown to pieces. Viggo Hansteen reported an enormous explosion nearby which shook the whole ship. Arnold Hague's "Allied Convoy System" states that the American ship had 504 troops, all of whom died. He also lists the British Royal Star as lost in the attack on Apr. 20, 1 died. The convoy arrived Port Said on Apr. 28. (A visitor to my website tells me that the Liberty Ships Samite and Stephen F. Austin were also damaged by aerial torpedoes in this attack. His source: "Liberty, The Ships That Won the War" by Peter Elphick. This source also states that Viggo Hansteen's destination was Alexandria, where her cargo was unloaded).

German bombers, stationed in the south of France posed a more serious threat to allied shipping in the Mediterranean than the U-boats did at this time, their primary goal being the large UGS convoys from the U.S. carrying supplies to the allied forces in Italy. On the other hand, the convoys' anti aircraft defence system was very strong, with aircraft patrolling night and day. Additionally, the merchant ships' own armament played a part in the defence, as did the squadrons stationed in North Africa and the special anti aircraft cruisers which often joined the escorts from Gibraltar, as well as the radar installations in the escorts which could detect the aircraft early and thereby give the convoys time to prepare for attack. Several Norwegian ships took part in the UGS convoys, as well as the GUS and KMS convoys, examples are Astrid, Fernbrook, Høegh Silverlight, Høegh Silverstar, Kronprinsessen, Liss, Marathon, Topdalsfjord, and President de Vogue just to name a few. They're listed under their respective letters of the alphabet on this website.

Viggo Hansteen then returned to the U.S. to load cargo at Norfolk, Newport News and Charleston (ammunition and high explosives below decks, glider planes as deck cargo). The gliders were unloaded at Naples in Aug., about 300 American soldiers came on board who were landed at Piombino Roads where the ammunition was also discharged. She then transported German POW's to Naples, before returning to the U.S.

From May-1944 Viggo Hansteen had a female, Canadian radio operator, Maude Elisabeth Steane. She was shot by a crew member on Aug. 14-1944 while the ship was at Naples (the man who killed her also shot himself and was buried at an American cemetery nearby). See M/S Mosdale for the names of other female Canadian radio operators during the war.

Early in Jan.-1945 we find Viggo Hansteen in the New York-U.K. Convoy HX 331, bound for Cherbourg with general cargo. In March-1945 she was in the westbound Convoy ON 288 with 9 other Norwegian ships, namely Villanger, Dageid, Tanafjord, Slemmestad, G. C. Brøvig, Polartank, Heranger, Harald Torsvik and Høyanger. This convoy departed Southend on March 2-1945, and arrived New York on March 19. The Norwegian commodore, R. G. Bruusgaard was in the British Port Fremantle.

Viggo Hansteen returned to the U.K. the following month with Convoy HX 348, in which the Liberty Ship Cyrus H. McCormick and the British Empire Gold were sunk by U-1107 on Apr. 18. HX 348 had left New York on Apr. 3-1945 and arrived Liverpool on the 20th. In June that year she saw happier circumstances when she arrived Bergen to cheering crowds, in a free Norway.

POST WAR:

Sold to S. Ugelstad, Oslo Oct.-1946. Managed by Rønneberg & Galtung, Moss from 1948. Ran aground off New Zealand on Apr. 24-1952, 2 m northeast of Moeraki Lighthouse, 28 m northwest of Taiaroa Head, voyage London-Port Chalmers via Panama with cement and cars, but refloated, only slightly damaged. Came under the Costa Rican flag as Alkimos in 1953, Alkimos Shipping Co. S.A., Panama (Faros Shipping Co., London managers), then under Greek flag in 1959. Struck Beagle Island reef on March 20-1963 north of Fremantle, voyage Indonesia-Bunbury in ballast, refloated seriously damaged March 25, towed to Fremantle. Left in tow for Hong Kong on May 3, but broke adrift in a storm and grounded 31 m north of Fremantle on the 31st. Refloated and beached Febr. 11-1964. Anchor chain broke on May 2 and she was driven back ashore. Refloated again on July 1-1965, but grounded again and was finally declared a total loss. Sold locally for scrapping, hull broke in 3 sections, partially demolished and abandoned.

Related external links:
Liberty Ships - Alphabetical list. George M. Shriver is listed under the G ships

YLRadio - Elizabeth Steane is pictured.

Her story can also be found at the website of the
CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum

The attack on Cyrus McCormick
The attack on Empire Gold