MS Borgestad was a Norwegian diesel-powered cargo ship, built at Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen in 1925.[1] The vessel is known for having engaged the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper to protect a convoy, where many of the vessels managed to escape thanks to her actions. Borgestad was sunk in early 1941 and all 31 people on board perished.[2] Captain Lars Grotnæss was awarded the War Cross, post mortem.
 MS Borgestad | |
| Class overview | |
| Name | MS Borgestad |
|---|---|
| In service | 1925-1941 |
| History | |
| Name | Borgestad |
Encounter with Admiral Hipper edit
Borgestad's encounter in the Atlantic with Admiral Hipper in 30 January 1941 was reported in Norwegian newspapers as early as May 1945, including Agderposten.
The ship was travelling east across the Atlantic towards England and the convoy's destination, Liverpool. The convoy was without a military escort and Borgestad was in the front line of the convoy. Borgestad was armed with a single gun, which was manned. The ship headed straight for the German cruiser and fired relentlessly, even though they knew that the target could not be reached with a small anti-submarine gun.
Captain Lars Grotnes's maneuver gave the other ships in the convoy chance to disperse while the German cruiser turned its attention to the attacker. Agderposten characterizes this as a battle between David and Goliath, and it could not last long. After a broadside from the cruiser, Borgestad was sunk. The German cruiser sank a further five of the convoy's ships.
"... it is certain that if Borgestad's crew had not so bravely sacrificed their lives, the convoy's losses would have been far greater", writes Agderposten. "The feat was also praised as one of the most brilliant examples of Norwegian seamanship and patriotism during the war, and Borgestad's entire crew was decorated after their death"[3]
Trips edit
| Departure | From | To | Arrival | Convoy | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr. 1 1940 | Durban | Cape Town | Apr. 4 | Independent | For earlier trips see this Note |
| Apr. 8 1940 | Cape Town | Takoradi | Apr. 19 | Independent | |
| Apr. 26 1940 | Takoradi | Baie Comeau | ? | Independent | Arrived at Sorel-Tracy in May 20 [4] |
| May 27, 1940 | Baie Comeau | Botwood | June 1 | Independent | |
| June 5, 1940 | Botwood | Cristóbal | June 23 | Independent | |
| June 24, 1940 | Balboa | Los Angeles | July 7 | Independent | |
| July 7, 1940 | Los Angeles | Tacoma | July 13 | Independent | |
| July 15, 1940 | Tacoma | Vancouver | July 16 | Independent | |
| July 24, 1940 | Vancouver | Colombo | Sept. 9 | Independent | |
| Sept. 18 1940 | Colombo | Bombay | Sept. 24 | Independent | |
| Sept. 24 1940 | Bombay | Port Sudan | Oct. 8 | BN 6 | For Port Sudan
(left convoy Oct. 7) Convoy available at BN 6[5] |
| Nov. 7 1940 | Port Sudan | ? | ? | BS 8 | For Port Elizabeth. |
| Nov. 12 1940 | Dispersed from BS 8 | Port Elizabeth | Nov. 30 | Independent | |
| Dec. 30 1940 | Port Elizabeth | Cape Town | Jan. 2 1941 | Independent | |
| Jan. 3 1941 | Cape Town | Freetown | Jan. 19 | Independent | |
| Jan. 30 1941 | Freetown | ? | ? | SLS 64[7] | Sunk by German cruiser Admiral Hipper |
References edit
- ^ Krigsseilerregisteret.no. "M/S Borgestad". krigsseilerregisteret.no. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ "M/S Borgestad - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945". warsailors.com. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ "Fotoarkivet etter Gunnar Knudsen. Gruppe mennesker ombord på skipet "D/S Borgestad" i New York". digitaltmuseum.no. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ http://www.warsailors.com/riksarkivet/borgestad.gif
- ^ "Arnold Hague convoy database - BN convoys". www.convoyweb.org.uk.
- ^ "Arnold Hague convoy database - misc convoys". www.convoyweb.org.uk.
- ^ "Convoy SLS 64 - warsailors.com". www.warsailors.com.
- ^ "M/S Borgestad - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945". warsailors.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.