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
- October 6, 1943
- Rank
- N 24.23 O 58.02
- Cause
- Torpedert
- Cargo
- Sukker, vannballast
- Route
- Lourenco Marques - Durban - Abadan
- Crew list
- Delvis
- Missing
- 0
- Captured during WW2
- 0
- Survived
- 46
- Deceased
- 0
- Date
- October 25, 1943
- Place
- Bombay
- Administrator
- Generalkonsul T. Knudtzon
- Note
- 5 passasjerer fra Durban
Minute
...
Capt. J. K. Hallen was present. ... Extract of log was produced for the period in question. ...
...
Above read and compared with the Log Book and bound to be in agreement in principle. This also refers to Extract of Engine log. The Captaini referred to the Log Books and had nothing to add. Nobody was injured onboard at the torpeoding nor did the cargo suffer. The Captain had not received any warning of U-boat in the area. Captain, who at the time was in bed, woke as a result of the explosion and immediately came up on deck. Nothing could be seen of the U-boat. The piece of torpedo found and which was handed to the British Naval officers, as mentioned in Log Book, had the inscription ENNSTOFF which apparently was part of a word presumably German. The Officers notified Captain that the piece would be transmitted to London for further examination.
No instructions for loading had been trespassed against.
...
First Witness, Riverdy Hulliard, A.B. ...
He was on the look-out when the torpedo struck. He saw the narrow track ofr the torpedo, coming from starboard side, when it was about 200 yards from the ship. He ran to the second mate to report this and found him immediately, but at that moment the torpedo had already struck. He saw nothing of the U-boat. He had been looking out sharply during the whole watch. He saw the explosion of the torpedo and felt a very violent shock in the ship. The ship listed frist to port and then back to starboard. Nobody was injured onboard. The weather was dark, no moon.
...
Appeared Second Witness, Henning Milward Vaagsnes ... served as Second Officer on the BRITANNIA. He was on duty on the bridge when the torpedo struck but did not see it. He noticed and heard the loud explosion. He had not seen any U-boat. No warning had been received about U-boats in the area., When the torpedo struck W. saw a flame on the afterdeck and water sprayed. The fire was immeidately extinguished and had caused no damage. Vessel first listed over to port and then to starboard, remaining that way. This was adjusted by means of shifting the ballast from center tanks to side tanks. The Captain came on deck immediately after the explosion had occurred. 7-8 minutes after the torpedo struck and after the vessel had been righted by means of shifting the ballast, two shots were fired with the 4" gun in the directrion the torpedo was believed to h ave come. From the second shot a spurt of fire was noticed in a distance which W. considered to be about 4-4,500 yards. This shot had apparently struck something but W. could not give any opinion as to what. On the voyage to Bandar Abbas nothing happened.
It was W. sho found the piece of the torpedo on the deck, referred to above, with the inscription ENNSTOFF. The piece was about 1/2 x 1/2' and 1/4" thick. It was handed to the British Naval officers. No damage to life or cargo. All lifeboats were swung out on the occasion. W. confirmed the damage as described in the Extraqct of Log.
...
Appeared Third Witness, Asbjørn Flakstad ... Third Engineer. Witness was on duty in the engine when the torpedo struck. He noticed the strong vibration. Vessel listed to starboard but shortly afterwards was righted again. He confirms the damage as described in the Extract of Engine log, but does not know whether there possibly could be other damaged which was not dicovered. Witness, who, as stated, was in the engine saw nothing of the torpedo or U-boat. He heard that shortly after the explosion two shots were fired from the ship but did not see any results.
...
First Witness reappeared and stated that he had ssen or heard no result of the shots fired from the ship.
...
Master, on request, informed that he had not seen any results of the shooting on board such as explosion, etc. Furthermore, one of the lifeboats had been torn to pieces during the accident and 1/4 of it had gone overboard. The same concerns one of the rafts, so if one of the shots had struck something it might have been the lifeboat referred to above or the raft.
...
Capt. Andersen for Caltex requested to add to the Declaration that the authorities who were authorized to take the gas test had been on board and found the vessel gas-free.
...
Deck log (in Norwegian)
Extract of log covering the torpedoing and damage of the MS BRITANNIA
September 11, 1943, 0210 o'clock sailed from Lorenco Marques in convoy bound for Abadan via Durban for orders with 7.028 bags of sugar (711.09 tons) and water ballast in the following tanks: Starboard and port sidetanks from No. 1 to No. 10. Draft on sailing F20' 7" A.25' 0". Vessel gasfree.
September 12 - 1935 o'clock arrived and anchored at Durban outer harbor. During stay at Durban pumped out ballast in all sidetanks and following center tanks filled with water ballast: No. 2-4-6-8 and 10. Draft F.17' 6" A. 23' 0". Took onboard 4 male and 1 female passenger for Abadan.
September 17 - 1515 o'clock sailed from Durban in convoy and proceeded in convoy until 0605 o'clock on September 27th, whereafter steered Admiralty courses which carefully followed. Voyage continued with nothing worth mentioning happening until 0234 o'clock the 6th of October when a tremendous explosion was felt and heard on the afterdeck, starboard side. The Lookout reported at the same time that he had seen the wake of a torpedo abeam in a distance of about 200 yards (position N.24.23 O 58.02). Vessel's course was altered 80 degr. to port, revolutions of engine increased. Zigzag course resumed. SOS sent out. Two shots were fired with the 4" gun in the presumed direction of U-boat. Vessel listing to starboard. Was righted again by trimming the tanks from No. 2 and No. 10 centertanks to No. 1 and 10 wingtanks on portside, respectively. At dawn, after through inspeciton of the damaged, zigzag course was abandoned and speed reduced.
Following damage found on vessel as a result of torpedoing: Torpedo struck and exploded with tremenous force in ship's side near No. 8 starboard sidetank causing the bulkhead to No. 8 centertank to be blown away. Bulkheads to No. 9 side and center tanks torn to pieces and pressed in. Bulkhead to the aft pumproom starboard side loosened from revets from main deck to botgtom and severely pressed in. Bottom and ship's side in No. 8 sidetank and 3/4 of No. 9 on starboard side blown away. Shrapnel of torpedo penetrated through bulkheads of No. 8 and 9 port side tanks and bulkhead to No. 10 center tank. L and half of K plate on starboard outside No. 8 sidetank still intact but severly dented. Slight leakage to No. 7 port sidetank. Aft pumproom as well as loading tanks aft of the pumproom with the exception of No. 10 starboard and port sidetanks consequently open to the sea and filled to the water line. Starboard lifeboat aft broke in two and afterpart lost overboard. Starboard raft aft disappeared. All awning stantions and frames on starboard side aft broken and awnings torn. Securings of steering engine broken. During the strong vibration after the explosion a lot of the dishes, etc. were damaged in the messrooms as well as in the pantry. Concrete to radio and chart room shaken loose and otherwise minor damage.
After part of ship had given way about 6" from No. 8 tank and aft. Main deck on starboard side to aftermast severly dented. Portside shipside outside No. 9 sidetank severly crumpled and dented.
Pieces of the torpedo were found on deck. One fragment was marked with the letters (ENNSTOFF).
At 0740 o'clock telegram was sent to MXZ: "Reference my 2230, ship damaged proceeding for Khor Kuwai". 1135 o'clock received telegram from Admiralty: "Proceed Bandar Abbas".
Attempted to empty loading tanks on after ship forepumproom. No result. At 2355 o'clock anchored in Bandar Abbas harbor.
Thursday, October 7: 0930 o'clock Naval officers boarded the ship in order to examine the damage and receive information in regard to the torpedoing. Handed the pieces of the torpedo which were found to the Naval officers.
Tried to empty No. 10 port tank by means of pipe over the hatch. Used starboard center pump forepumproom for suction, - no result.
Friday, October 8. Attempted discharging of No. 10 port tank by means of steamejecter. No effect. Pumped all fresh water from afterpeak to forepeak and fore kofferdam.
Saturday, October 9: After thorough examination of damage in loading tanks and hull it was considered safe to take vessel to Bombay for drydocking inasmuch as there were no facilities to effect repairs at Bandar Abbas. In order to strengthen stretched a 5 1/2 " and one 6" wire along afterdeck on starboard and portside, between mooringbits on the fore and afterpart of maindeck and between 7 and 9 wingtank hatches.
Sunday, Ocboter 10: Continued work with lashing over the deck. Chain lifts to derricks shackled together around starboard No. 8 and 9 hatches. Shifted port lifeboat amidship over to starboard davits aft. Filled fore deeptanks with bunkers from bunkertanks aft, ab. 285 tons which lifted after part of ship 2'10".
Monday, October 10: 11 o'clock hove anchor and sailed in convoy for Bombay. Draft F 19' 10" A 23' 2".
Tuesday, October 12: Tested tanks. No movement in tanks or after part of ship whilst speeding.
Wednesday, October 13: Trimmed vessel for light list to port. Water rising about 10" a day in No. 7 portside tank.
Thursday, October 14: Light Easterly swell. Slight movement in afterpart of ship. Sounds of scraping from No. 9 center tank.
Friday, October 15: Light S.E. swell, some rumbling and movement in afterpart of ship.
Saturday, October 16: No change.
MAIN ENGINE: After ship had been torpedoed it was found that several bolts in the way of the foundation and the propeller bearings had loosened. Bolts on starboard and port motors tightened up. Stays for starboard and port settling tanks (fuel) given way and the tanks shifted. Fuel settling tank for boiler shifted out of place and one bolt in the bottom of same broken. Boiler stays given way. Several loose rivets on the port side.
Sunday, October 17 - 1505 o'clock. Arrived and anchored in Bombay harbor.
W. Taxt, 1. mate
F. Haaskjold, Ch. Eng.
K. Hallen, Capt.
Crew list (7)
- Details
- Date of birth March 30, 1913 in Vallø, Sem
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 3. maskinist
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Norman Hilliard
- Details
- Date of birth September 1, 1916 in Sommerset, U.K.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Rank
- Matros
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth October 2, 1919
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Rank
- Matros
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- Finn Haaskjold
- Details
- Date of birth September 20, 1898 in Bergen
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 1. maskinist
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth June 9, 1912 in Borge i Lofoten
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- Stuert
- Fate
- Reddet
- Name
- William Taxt
- Details
- Date of birth April 4, 1909 in Brevik
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 1. Styrmann
- Fate
- Reddet
- Details
- Date of birth June 30, 1915 in Arendal
- Nationality
- Norway
- Rank
- 2. styrmann
- Fate
- Reddet
