The information below regarding ships in the Nortraship fleet is a direct transcript of the original source 'Sjøforklaringer fra andre verdenskrig (1940 - 1945)'. The informasjon is collected from maritime inquiries held during and right after the war. The information may differ from the other quality assured information in Krigsseilerregisteret.
- Date
- June 6, 1941
- Rank
- Østkysten av Skottland, 56.47 N, 2.15 W
- Cause
- Bombet [av tyske fly]
- Cargo
- Jordnøtter o.l.
- Route
- Freetown - Oban - Hull
- Crew list
- Komplett
- Missing
- 0
- Captured during WW2
- 0
- Survived
- 35
- Deceased
- 0 [0]
- Date
- June 13, 1941
- Place
- London
- Administrator
- Konsul J. Gregg
Minute
...
Appeared Captain Carl Jensen, ... who stated that he was the master of the motor ship "Taurus" of Tønsberg.
The vessel was, on departure from Freetown, in good seaworthy condition. The crew consisted of 34 men, including the master, and in addition 4 gunners. All the regulation lifesaving equipment was available and in the prescribed order.
Captain Jensen produced log extract ...
...
The log extract was compared with the log book and found to be entirely in accordance with same.
The log extract was read out and Captain Jensen declared that the contents were correct in all respects and that he approved it as his evidence. The captain stated that 3 of the men were sligthly injured in the lifeboats after they had left the ship. The captein stated that he thinks salvage vessels are stationed on the north coast of Scotland.
...
Appeared as 1st witness, John Bjørn Gundersen, ... chief officer on board. ...
The witness was on the bridge from 12 o'clock midnight, Odvar Isaksen was the helmsman, Ole M. Nilsen the look-out man on the bridge. The witness had heard the drone and directly afterwards an aeroplane was seen not much above the mast tops. Saw no light signals from the aeroplane. There was no heavy sound from the explosion. Tremendous shaking of the vessel. The engine stopped and all in darkness. The captain gave orders to take soundings.
During the second attack the witness was standing on the forecastle. Approximately the same shaking as on the previous occasion. The whole of the surface of the sea seemed to be lifted up. All the lifesaving equipment in complete order.
The witness wa shown the produced log extract, signed by him, which he read through and approved. He added that on both occasions the aeroplanes disappeared at once. He did not see anything which might have been light signals from the first aeroplane, but tracer bullets round the aeroplane.
...
Appeared the 2nd witness, Oscar Emanuel Engelsgaard, ... chief engineer on board. ...
He was in bed dressed. Having come out into the passage he met 3rd engineer Herman Hansen, greaser Emil Riis and a motorman, who were on watch in the engine room. They all went on deck and then down again into the engine room and set the motor working according to orders from the bridge. After a few minutes he had to stop the motor on account of lack of cooling water. Water was coming in from the port side in the form of a strong jet which destroyed the electric switch board. The tunnel door was closed by the 2nd engineer and a couple of motormen.
The witness was shown the produced log extract which had been counter signed by him. He approved the extract.
Greaser Emil Riis received a blow on the head in the engine room. 2nd engineer Otto Lindahn received injury to his leg whilst in the lifeboat.
...
Appeared the 3rd witness, Alfred Sandstad, ... A.B. Seaman on board. ...
During the second attack the witness was standing on the forecastle. The course of the aeroplane was approximately from abeam on the port side. It dropped the bombs after the firing had commenced and as it (the aeroplane) was rising. The bombs fell probably about 25 away. The witness read through the produced log extract and found nothing to remark thereon.
...
Deck log (in Norwegian)
M.S. "TAURUS" Log Extract. Voyage Freetown - Hull.
Oban, Tuesday the 34d June 1941. Calm clear weather. At 0730 o'clock arrived at Oban. Anchored with the port anchor, 75 fathoms in the water.
At 2030 o'clock hove up the anchor, according to orders from the Naval Control Office, and contiued the voyage. Proceeded in convoy, speed about 7 miles.
Wednesday the 4th June. S.W.ly to Easterly wind, slightly cloudy. Proceeded in convoy along the Scottish coast. Three machine guns manned throughout the 24 hours.
Friday the 6th June. Easterly fresh breeze. Cloudy. Slightly hazy.
At 0044 o'clock the drone of the engine was heard from an aeroplane which was aapproaching the convoy from west. Soon afterwards the aeroplane became visible and it now sent out ligth signals. As soon as it came within range, fire was opened, but immediately afterwards 3 bombs were dropped from a low altitude, all of which exploded in the water close to the stern and the port quarter. The vessel soon afterwards developed a heavy list to port and began to sink with the after part of the ship. On account of heavy leakage in the engine room the electric installation was put o0ut of action. The tunnel door was closed and orders were given for the shackling in of the hand steering apparatus. Before this was managed, however, the main motor had to be stopped on account of the hight of water in the engine room. The radio emergency transmitter had been put out of action by the explosion and by means of morse lamp the following message was sent to one of the other vessels in the convoy:- "Leaking heavily, unable to use own engine, require tug assistance."
At 0130 o'clock one of the escort vessels, the T.42, came up alongside and informed us that request had been made by wireless for tug assistance. On being requested, the vessel then mad ready to commence the towing.
At 0215 o'clock the hawser had been made fast and the course laid for the sandy beach north of Montross Bay. Soon afterwards fire was opened at a twin-engined monoplane which came in over the vessel from a S.W.ly direction at a low altitude. Directly afterwards three bombs were dropped, all of which exploded in the water along the port bow about 25 from the ship's side. During the attack the T.42 let go the hawser.
At 0300 o'clock towing was resumed, and as the vessel was now sinking faster, the course was sent for Johnshaven, and salvage assistance was asked for. Wind and sea increased.
At 0430 o'clock the hawser parted.
At 0500 the towing was resumed.
At 0530 the after part of the vessel was lying down to the deck in the water, and those of the crew who were not required in order to continue with the towing were ordered into lifeboats and were soon afterwards picked up by the trawler "CHRYSOLITE", which had now come to our assistance.
At 0615 o'clock the towing had to be given up.
At 0620 o'clock the remaining men went into the boats.
At 0622 o'clock the vessel sank at about 56-47 N., 2-15 W., in about 20 fathoms of water.
London, th 11th June 1941
O. Engelsgaard, Chief Engineer
J. B. Gundersen, Chief Officer
Carl Jensen, Master
Crew list (34)
- Details
- Date of birth January 11, 1918 in Oslo
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Lettmatros
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth June 8, 1913 in Rissa
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- kokk
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth February 12, 1900 in Skoger
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Mekaniker
- Fate
- Name
- Ch. Hilmar Dahl
- Details
- Date of birth May 12, 1912 in Elverum
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Tømmermann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth February 11, 1919 in London
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Rank
- Telegrafist
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth January 18, 1896 in Oslo
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Elektrikker
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth November 27, 1891 in Hamar
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 1. maskinist
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth September 9, 1906 in Hadsel
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Båtsmann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth February 6, 1910 in Stokke
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 3. styrmann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth September 13, 1901 in Arendal
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 1 Styrmann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth July 1, 1915 in Larvik
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Smører
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Herman Hansen
- Details
- Date of birth February 5, 1895 in Onsøy
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 3. maskinist
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth September 10, 1921 in Kragerø
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Lettmatros
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Carl Iver Jensen
- Details
- Date of birth November 4, 1910 in Stokke
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Fører
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth July 14, 1907 in Bergen
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 2. Styrmann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth April 27, 1921 in Glemmen
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Matros / skytter.
- Fate
- Reddet.
- Details
- Date of birth April 5, 1925 in Lugar
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Rank
- Messegutt
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth December 7, 1901 in Eidanger
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Båtsmann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Harry Klæbo
- Details
- Date of birth November 29, 1919 in Sauda
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Matros
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth January 31, 1912 in Bærum
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Lettmatros
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth January 20, 1900 in Alsvik
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Stuert
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Kaare Liberg
- Details
- Date of birth February 26, 1917 in Furnes
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Motormann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth August 5, 1907 in Oslo
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 2. maskinist
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Trygve Manneråk
- Details
- Date of birth December 9, 1910 in Lyngdal
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Motormann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Harald Moltu
- Details
- Date of birth April 5, 1911 in Moltustranda
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Matros
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Arne Nilsen
- Details
- Date of birth March 17, 1912 in Kristiania
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 4. maskinist
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Magne Omar Olsen
- Details
- Date of birth September 24, 1919 in Bergen
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Smører
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth August 30, 1922 in Tønsberg
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Byssegutt
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth March 16, 1890 in Nesna
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Smører
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Kai Edvard Sand
- Details
- Date of birth April 12, 1922 in Fredrikstad
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Motormann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Alfred Sandstad
- Details
- Date of birth January 21, 1899 in Hitra
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Matros
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth March 11, 1897 in Bergen
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Smører
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth April 17, 1916 in Bergen
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Matros
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth July 17, 1897 in Hemne
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Matros
- Fate
- Reddet
