M/S Washington Express - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945

A Rescue & Misc. Enemy Encounters:

Washington Express was on a voyage Liverpool-New York on Aug. 14-1942 when one of the gunners spotted the 9 survivors from M/S Moldanger who had been on a raft for 48 days (torpedoed June 27-1942). Follow the link for more details.

Later that month, on Aug. 25-1942, when returning to Liverpool, she was followed by what was believed to be an enemy raider. When this steamer, which carried no flag, signalled "what ship" it was not done according to allied rules, so Washington Express did not reply but instead altered course and sailed away at maximum speed (16 knots), while the 76 mm gun was made ready and manned. The mysterious vessel followed and opened fire, but the shots fell short and because of the distance between them Washington Express could not effectively return the fire. Hiding behind a smoke screen she attempted to get away, but the attacker continued to fire. However, due to the smoke screen and approaching darkness nothing further developed and she proceeded at full speed while zig-zagging for 3 hours. (This according to a report by Gunner Oddmund Jensen in "Tilbakeblikk").

In the New Year of 1943 she was attacked by U-441 (Hartmann) when on an independent voyage from New York to the U.K. via Halifax, but escaped, possibly partly due to the fact that the torpedo may have detonated too early, but presumably also due to her ability for speed. (She had started out with Convoy HX 221 from New York on Dec. 29-1942, but was sent into Halifax for independent routing). The boatswain had seen a periscope on Jan. 7 and a radio message was sent out, but nothing further happened that day other than the fact that a bright light was seen behind them that afternoon, thought to have been some sort of an explosion. The attack by U-441 took place in the afternoon of Jan. 9 in position 58 39N 22 46W, about 12 minutes after 1st Mate Birger Aanonsen had spotted a shadow passing in front of the ship and sounded the alarm, while at the same time altering course 90° at full speed. Then one of the gunners saw the boat on the port quarters, at which time the gunners were ordered to fire. They claimed to have observed several hits with the Oerlikon and the boat was not seen again. When a powerful underwater explosion took place shortly afterwards, making it feel as if Washington Express was lifted out of the water, they at first thought they had been hit by a torpedo, but when everything was found to be in order they assumed the U-boat had been sunk instead (while Hartman in fact thought he had sunk the Norwegian ship). On that particular voyage they had encountered a bad storm which had destroyed all the lifeboats and rafts, so they were undoubtedly relieved when they realized they had gotten away from the U-boat.

Gunners at that time were: Knud Knudsen, Ragnvald Helland, Rolf I. Hansen. Marius P. Hansen, Ragnvald Larsen, Thorleif Olsen and Oddmund Jensen.

Misc. Voyages - 1943-1945:

In March-1943 she's listed in the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 175*, which left Liverpool on March 24 and arrived New York on Apr. 16. Washington Express, however, is said to have detached from this convoy to proceed independently. She later returned to the U.K. in Convoy HX 234, joining the convoy from Halifax, then headed to New York with the westbound Convoy ON 183*, which left Liverpool on May 10-1943 and arrived New York on the 25th. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 242 from New York to the U.K. at the end of that month, but instead joined the next convoy, HX 243, leaving New York City on June 7, arriving Liverpool on the 21st. She was bound for Glasgow with general cargo and had station 75 of the convoy. At the end of July we find her in the westbound Convoy ON 195*, again bound for New York; departure Liverpool July 31, arrival New York Aug. 13. Towards the end of that month she was scheduled for Convoy HX 253, but was cancelled. She's not included in any of the subsequent eastbound convoys, so it's quite possible she made this voyage independently(?).

Arnold Hague has her, with several other Norwegian ships, in Convoy HX 263, which left New York on Oct. 24-1943 and arrived Liverpool on Nov. 8. She must have returned across the ocean shortly thereafter (independently?), because he also has her, again with several other Norwegian ships, in HX 270, departing New York on Dec. 10-1943, arriving Liverpool on the 26th. (The links to these HX convoys are both external - not available in my own Convoys section)

In Jan.-1944 she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 220*, leaving Liverpool on Jan. 15, arriving New York on Febr. 4. Later that month she shows up in the fast New York-U.K. Convoy CU 14, together with the Norwegian Elisabeth Bakke. According to Arnold Hague, she joined Convoy CU 21 in Apr.-1944 (she's not mentioned in the Advance Sailing Telegram for this convoy), but returned to port following a collision with Flying Eagle, another ship in the convoy, and subsequently joined CU 22, this time in company with the Norwegian Hegra and Mosdale. (Arnold Hague states she returned to port again, but again, this is not mentioned in the Advance Sailing Telegram).

What follows is from crew member Dag Midbøe's personal documents (used here with permission), received from Neil Carlsen, Norway. D. Midbøe was on board from May-1944 until May-1945 - see also text under Leiv Eiriksson.

On June 8-1944 Washington Express Left New York for Loch Ewe in Convoy CU 27, arriving June 18. Due to the Normandie invasion she remained on standby for a while then headed to Salford to unload her cargo, before departing on July 12 for Oversay. On the 17th of that month she left Oversay for New York in Convoy UC 30*, arrival July 27. Departed New York on Aug. 3 for Swansea in Convoy CU 34, arriving on Aug. 12. Left Oversay on Aug. 27 for New York in Convoy UC 35*, arrived Sept. 5. Returned to Salford on Sept. 12 with Convoy CU 39, arrived her destination on Sept. 23. Went back to New York on Oct. 1, having joined Convoy UC 39B*, arrived Oct. 11. Ready to leave again on Oct. 22, Convoy CU 44 and arrived Salford on Nov. 2. Left Salford on Nov. 10 in Convoy UC 44B*, arriving Saint John, N.B. on the 21st of that month. Departed St. John on Dec. 19 in Convoy FH 148A with arrival Halifax on Dec. 21, then joined Convoy HX 327 that same day and arrived London on Jan. 5-1945.

She departed England again on Jan. 20-1945, Convoy UC 53A*, arrived New York on Febr. 1, and Dag Midbøe says she joined convoy HX 337 in New York on Febr. 5, arrived Avonmouth on the 23rd, but note that she's not listed in this convoy, and the dates are a little off. She is, however, listed in Convoy CU 58, which left New York on Febr. 11-1945 and arrived Liverpool on the 22nd, and her destination is indeed given as Avonmouth. On March 2 she sailed to New York again in Convoy UC 58B*, arriving March 12, then joined CU 63 on the 23rd to head back to England, arriving Liverpool on Apr. 2. On Apr. 11 she left Liverpool in UC 63B* for New York, arrival Apr. 22. Left in Convoy HX 354 on May 3 and arrived Salford on May 19. A few days later, on May 24-1945 she joined convoy UC 69* and arrived New York on June 3. This convoy was escorted by Martin H. Ray, Dale W. Peterson, Roy O. Hale, Edsall, Daniel and Stewart. Commodore was John W. W. Cumming (Monticello).