SS Nordnorge (1923) facts for kids
Nordnorge in Bodø in 1928
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | Nordnorge |
| Namesake | Northern Norway |
| Owner | Ofotens Dampskibsselskap |
| Port of registry | Narvik |
| Route |
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| Builder | Trondhjems mekaniske Værksted |
| Yard number | 186 |
| Laid down | September 1922 |
| Launched | 12 September 1923 |
| Completed | 17 January 1924 |
| Acquired | 18 January 1924 |
| Identification |
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| Captured | by the Germans on 7 May 1940 |
| Fate | Sunk by Royal Navy warships on 10 May 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type |
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| Tonnage |
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| Length |
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| Beam | 9 metres (30 ft) |
| Depth |
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| Installed power | 1,000 indicated horsepower |
| Propulsion | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Capacity | 270 passengers |
| Armament |
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The SS Nordnorge was a Norwegian steamship. It was built in 1923–1924 for a shipping company called Ofotens Dampskibsselskap. This company was based in Narvik, Norway.
At first, Nordnorge sailed on a route between Narvik and Trondheim. Later, in 1936, it joined the famous Hurtigruten coastal express route.
During World War II, German forces took over the ship in April 1940. They used it to secretly move troops. On May 10, 1940, after dropping off its soldiers, the Nordnorge was sunk by warships from the Royal Navy. The ship was found again in 2021.
Contents
Building the Nordnorge
The Ofotens Dampskibsselskap company ordered the Nordnorge to use on their Narvik-Trondheim route. It was built at a shipyard called Trondhjems mekaniske Værksted in Trondheim, Norway.
- Work on the ship began in September 1922.
- It was launched into the water on September 12, 1923.
- The ship was finished and given to its owners on January 18, 1924.
The Nordnorge was seen as a very nice ship. It was one of the last traditional coastal cargo liners built in Norway.
Ship's Size and Features
When it was first built, the Nordnorge had these features:
- It weighed 873 gross register tons.
- It was about 181 feet (55 m) long.
- It was about 9 metres (30 ft) wide.
- It had a depth of 21 ft (6.4 m).
- Its engine had 1,000 indicated horsepower.
- It could travel at a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).
The ship had a special deck for walking, called a promenade deck. It also had three different passenger sections:
- First Class was at the back of the ship.
- Second Class was in the middle.
- Third Class was at the front.
The Nordnorge was allowed to carry 270 passengers along the coast.
Early Journeys Along the Coast
For its first 12 years, the Nordnorge sailed between Trondheim and Narvik.
- It would leave Trondheim every Tuesday at noon.
- It carried both passengers and goods to towns along the coast.
- It connected with another ship route that went from Lødingen to Tromsø.
Before the Nordnorge was built, an older, slower ship called the Barøy served this route. In 1930, the Nordnorge was given the code letters LDHR. These letters changed to LENR by 1934 and stayed that way until at least 1939.
Upgrades and Hurtigruten Service
In 1935, the Ofotens Dampskibsselskap company started talking with the Norwegian government. They wanted to join the expanded Hurtigruten coastal service. This service ran along the entire Norwegian coast.
- They reached an agreement on November 1, 1936.
- The Nordnorge was chosen to be the company's ship for the Hurtigruten route.
- Narvik was also added to the Hurtigruten route.
Compared to other ships on the Hurtigruten, the Nordnorge was smaller and slower. It was also the only ship on the Hurtigruten that still had the old three-class system for passengers. Other ships had removed the Second Class.
Ship's Rebuild in 1936
During 1936, the Nordnorge was rebuilt at the same shipyard where it was made.
- Its hull (the main body of the ship) was made 20 feet (6.1 m) longer.
- This made the ship weigh 991 gross register tons.
- The Third Class section was moved to the middle of the ship and made bigger.
- A special room for refrigerated cargo was added.
- The ship's bridge (where the captain steers) was moved up one deck.
- New equipment was added, like an echo sounder (to measure water depth), an electric logbook, and a radio telephone.
The Nordnorge began its first Hurtigruten journey from Bergen to Kirkenes on November 3, 1936. By the time it joined, the Hurtigruten service was fully developed, with ships leaving every day from all ports on the route.
Nordnorge in World War II
When World War II started in September 1939, the Nordnorge kept sailing along the coast of Norway.
- On December 13, 1939, it rescued a person from a British ship called Deptford. This ship had been sunk by a German submarine.
- Another Norwegian patrol boat rescued four more people from the Deptford's crew.
German Invasion and Waiting Time
On April 9, 1940, Nazi Germany invaded Norway. This started the 62-day Norwegian campaign.
- At that time, the Nordnorge was in dry dock for its yearly maintenance.
- It was supposed to start sailing again on April 10, but the invasion stopped this.
- Instead, the Nordnorge was put into storage at Nyhavna in Trondheim.
Secret Mission and Sinking
On May 7, 1940, the German forces in Trondheim took over the Nordnorge. They replaced its Norwegian crew with German navy personnel.
- Late on May 9, the ship sailed north from Nyhavna.
- It was flying a Norwegian flag, but it was secretly carrying about 300 German mountain troops.
- The Germans had also put two 20 mm automatic cannons and two machine guns on the ship.
- This secret mission was called Operation Wildente. The Germans wanted to use the ship to move their troops about 500 kilometres (310 mi) behind the Allied lines. This would help them break through the Allied defenses in Norway.
On May 10, 1940, at 9:50 AM, Norwegian military in Mosjøen learned that the Nordnorge was sailing north.
- The British military was told and ordered two warships, HMS Calcutta and HMS Zulu, to find and sink the Nordnorge.
- However, the British warships were delayed by German air raids. They left too late to stop the Nordnorge before it reached its destination.
The Nordnorge arrived at Hemnesberget at 6:30 PM on May 10, 1940.
- Just before arriving, it raised the German war flag.
- The German troops quickly stormed the town.
- British and Norwegian soldiers on shore fired at the ship.
- Fighting broke out in the town. German bombers also attacked.
- After about an hour, the British and Norwegian troops had to leave the area.
- The Germans unloaded supplies from the Nordnorge.
At 8:15 PM, the British warships Calcutta and Zulu finally reached Hemnesberget.
- They immediately fired at the Nordnorge and hit it with two torpedoes.
- The ship exploded and sank quickly, going down stern first into deep water.
- As it sank, it pulled down the quay (dock) it was tied to.
- Ammunition that had been unloaded on the quay also exploded.
- Several houses in Hemnesberget were destroyed by the shelling.
- Some wounded people who were still on board the Nordnorge died when it sank.
After the Nordnorge was sunk, the Germans continued their advance. The British and Norwegian forces in the area later retreated north.
What Happened After
After losing the Nordnorge, the Ofotens Dampskibsselskap company continued to use its other ship, the Barøy, on the route. However, the Barøy was also sunk by a British aircraft in September 1941.
In total, the Ofotens Dampskibsselskap company lost four ships during World War II.
