Allied Warships

HNoMS Tunsberg Castle (K 374)

Corvette of the Castle class

NavyThe Royal Norwegian Navy
TypeCorvette
ClassCastle 
PennantK 374 
Built bySwan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd. (Wallsend-on-Tyne, U.K.) 
Ordered6 Feb 1943 
Laid down5 May 1943 
Launched16 Aug 1943 
Commissioned17 Apr 1944 
Lost12 Dec 1944 
Loss position70° 44'N, 30° 08'E
History

Mined on 12 December 1944 of Båtsfjord, Norway in position 70.43.701'N, 30.07.800'E.
5 Crewmembers went down with the ship.

 
Former nameHMS Shrewsbury Castle

We don't have any commands listed for HNoMS Tunsberg Castle (K 374)


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Notable events involving Tunsberg Castle include:


10 May 1944
HMS Una (Lt. C.A.J. Nicholl, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Awe (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Carse, DSC, RNVR), HMS Capel (Lt. B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN), HNoMS Tunsberg Castle and FFS Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves . (1)

11 May 1944
HMS Una (Lt. C.A.J. Nicholl, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Awe (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Carse, DSC, RNVR), HMS Capel (Lt. B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN), HNoMS Tunsberg Castle and FFS Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves . (1)

12 May 1944
HMS Una (Lt. C.A.J. Nicholl, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Awe (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Carse, DSC, RNVR), HMS Capel (Lt. B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN) and HNoMS Tunsberg Castle. (1)

16 May 1944
HMS Una (Lt. C.A.J. Nicholl, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Evenlode (T/A/Lt.Cdr. G.B. Medlycott, RNR), HMS Loch Killin (Lt.Cdr. S. Darling, RANVR), HMS Capel (Lt. B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN) and HNoMS Tunsberg Castle. (1)

17 May 1944
HMS Una (Lt. C.A.J. Nicholl, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Capel (Lt. B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN), HNoMS Tunsberg Castle and HMCS Orangeville (Lt. F.R. Pike, RCNVR). (1)

13 Jul 1944

Combined convoy OS 83 / KMS 57.

This combined convoy assembled off Oversay on 13 July 1944.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Adrastus (British, 7905 GRT, built 1923), Ashbury (British, 3901 GRT, built 1924), Astrid (Norwegian, 2861 GRT, built 1942), Bactria (British, 2407 GRT, built 1928), Baron Tweedmouth (British, 3357 GRT, built 1927), Benedick (British, 6978 GRT, built 1928), Bestik (Norwegian, 2684 GRT, built 1920), Bornholm (British, 3177 GRT, built 1930), Capitaine Paul Lemerle (French, 4945 GRT, built 1925), Clan Chattan (British, 7262 GRT, built 1937), Empire Addison (British, 7010 GRT, built 1942), Empire Clive (British, 7069 GRT, built 1941), Empire Derwent (British, 4026 GRT, built 1930), Empire Fal (British, 4880 GRT, built 1914), Empire Melody (British, 2283 GRT, built 1942), Empire Pakeha (British, 8115 GRT, built 1910), Empire Peacock (British, 6098 GRT, built 1919), English Monarch (British, 4557 GRT, built 1924), Fort Lawrence (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943), Fresno Star (British, 7998 GRT, built 1919), Geologist (British, 6202 GRT, built 1944), Glaucus (British, 7596 GRT, built 1921), Harberton (British, 4585 GRT, built 1930), Harpalycus (British, 5629 GRT, built 1935), Maihar (British, 7563 GRT, built 1917), Novasli (Norwegian, 3204 GRT, built 1920), Pacheco (British, 1405 GRT, built 1927), Samcebu (British, 7253 GRT, built 1944), Samfinn (British, 7253 GRT, built 1944), Silverlarch (British, 5064 GRT, built 1924) and Tweedbank (British, 5627 GRT, built 1930).

The rescue ship Gothland (British, 1286 GRT, built 1932) was also part of the convoy.

On assembly the convoy was escorted by the escort carrier HMS Fencer (A/Capt. W.W.R. Bentinck, OBE, RN), destroyer HMS Hesperus (Cdr. G.V. Legassick, RD, RNR), frigates HMS Cotton (Lt.Cdr. I.W.T. Beloe, RN), HMS Gardiner (A/Lt.Cdr. W.G.H. Bolton, DSC, RD, RNR), corvettes HMS Flint Castle (T/Lt. S.G. Wright, RNVR), HMS Oxford Castle (T/Lt. H.E. Holden, DSC, RNR), HMS Rushen Castle (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.C. Warwick, DSC and Bar, RNR) and HNoMS Tunsberg Castle (?).

On assembly the Empire Fal and Tweedbank collided and the returned to port.

On 21 July 1944, the merchant vessel Empire Chamois (British, 5684 GRT, built 1918) joined the convoy coming from the Azores.

Around 0615B/22, HMS Fencer parted company with the convoy to join the combined convoy SL 164 / MKS 55 which she did around 1945B/22. She was escorted by HMS Cotton which did not join this convoy but returned to convoy OS 83/ KMS 57.

On 23 July 1944 the convoy split into convoy OS 83 bound for Freetown and convoy KMS 53 bound for the Mediterranean.

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Convoy OS 83 was made up of the merchant vessels; Adrastus, Bactria, Bornholm, Clan Chattan, Empire Chamois, Empire Clive, Empire Pakeha, Fresno Star, Harberton and Silverlarch.

These were joined by the merchant vessels Beckenham (British, 4636 GRT, built 1937), Empire Flame (British, 7069 GRT, built 1941), Empire Moonrise (British, 6854 GRT, built 1941), Nailsea Moor (British, 4926 GRT, built 1937) and Radmanso (Swedish, 4280 GRT, built 1914) coming from Gibraltar which they had departed earlier that day.

These ships had been escorted by the frigates HMS Aire (A/Lt.Cdr. N.K. Boyd, DSC and Bar, RNR), HMS Odzani (Lt.Cdr. L.A. Sayers, RD, RNR), corvette HMS Bellwort (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.V. Banks, RNVR) and the patrol vessel HMS Kilmington (T/Lt. D.D. Humphreys, RNVR) which now formed the escort of this convoy towards Freetown.

on 24 July 1944, the merchant vessel Samstrudy (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944) departed Casablanca to join the convoy. She was escorted by the patrol vessel / sloop Amiral Mouchez. On this ship joining the convoy, the Hamberton parted company to proceed to Casablanca escorted by the Amiral Mouchez. They arrived at Casablanca on 25 July.

On 31 July 1944, the Bactria and Empire Clive arrived at Dakar having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessel Slesvig (British, 3098 GRT, built 1938) had joined the convoy coming from Dakar.

The convoy arrived at Freetown on 2 August 1944. Some ships of the convoy did not enter Freetown but proceed directly to other destinations.

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Convoy KMS 57 proceeded towards the Straits of Gibraltar. This convoy was made up the merchant vessels Ashbury, Astrid, Baton Tweedmouth, Benedick, Bestik, Capitaine Paul Lemerle, Empire Addison, Empire Derwent, Empire Derwent, Empire Melody, Empire Peacock, English Monarch, Fort Lawrence, Geologist, Glaucus, Harpalycus, Maihar, Novasli, Pacheco, Samcebu and Samfinn.

The rescue ship Gothland was also with them.

Escort was provided by the escort from combined convoy OS 83 / KMS 57.

On 25 July 1944, the Baron Tweedmouth, Benedick, Pacheco and Gothland arrived at Gibraltar together with the original escort of the convoy.

Off Gibraltar the merchant vessels Alexandre Andre (Belgian (tanker), 5261 GRT, built 1928), Antonio (British, 5225 GRT, built 1918), Empire Highway (British, 7166 GRT, built 1942), Fort Colville (British, 7153 GRT, built 1943), Parame (French, 2337 GRT, built 1918) joined the convoy as did a new escort which was made up of the AA cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. C.T. Jellicoe, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), frigates HMS Evenlode (Cdr. V.F. Smith, DSO, RD, RNR), HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RD, RNR), corvettes HMS Bergamot (A/Lt.Cdr. W. McInnes, RNR), HMS Delphinium (T/Lt. S. Rule, RNVR) and the A/S whalers HMSAS Protea (Lt. A. Thomas, DSC, SANF) and HMSAS Southern Sea (Lt.Cdr. M.R.J. Terry-Lloyd, SANF).

On 26 July 1944, the Empire Derwent and Parame arrived at Oran after having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessels Aztec (Hunduran, 5511 GRT, built 1929), Chateau Latour (French, 1912 GRT, built 1914), Dromus (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), Elias Boldinot (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943), James E. Howard (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943), Joel Chandler Harris (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Silverster Gardiner (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Smith Thompson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), William H. Wilmer (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943) and the net tender USS Pepperwood (Lt. E.F. McLaughlin, USNR) and the self propelled fuel barge USS Gauger (Lt. G.V. Davis, USNR) joined the convoy.

On 27 July 1944, the Alexandre Andre, Astrid, Capitaine Paul Lemerle, Chateau Latour, Empire Highway, Empire Melody, Fort Lawrence, Silverster Gardiner, Smith Thompson and William H. Wilmer arrived at Algiers after having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessels Avon Coast (British, 1036 GRT, built 1923), Empire Tern (British, 2479 GRT, built 1919), Fort Grahame (British, 7133 GRT, built 1943), Fort Hall (British, 7157 GRT, built 1943) and James J. Maguire (British (tanker), 10525 GRT, built 1939) joined the convoy.

On 28 July 1944, the Empire Tern arrived at Algiers after having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessel Kola (British, 1538 GRT, built 1924) joined the convoy.

Around 0555B/29, HMS Colombo parted company wth the convoy and set course for Malta where she arrived around 1850B/29.

On 30 July 1944, the Antonio, Aztec, Dromus, Joel Chandler Harris and Novasli arrived at Bizerta after having been detached from the convoy while the merchant vessel George F. Patten (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) joined the convoy.

On 30 July 1944, the Bestik arrived at Tunis after having been detached from the convoy.

On 30 July 1944, Avon Coast and Fort Colville arrived at Malta after having been detached from the convoy.

On 30 July 1944, the merchant vessels Albert G. Brown (American (tanker), 7218 GRT, built 1943), Destro (British, 3553 GRT, built 1920), Evviva (Norwegian, 1597 GRT, built 1921), Fort Clatsop (British, 7157 GRT, built 1943), James J. Hill (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942), Ocean Vulcan (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Samconon (British, 7210 GRT, built 1944), and Zaanstroom (Dutch, 1646 GRT, built 1920) departed Augusta to join the convoy. With them was also the frigate HMS Awe (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Carse, DSC, RNVR) which also joined the convoy.

On 31 July 1944, the Ashbury, Elias Boldinot, Empire Peacock, English Monarch, Fort Grahame, Fort Hall, George F. Patten, Harpalycus, James E. Howard, James J. Maguire, Kola and Samcebu, Samfinn, Silvester Gardiner and Smith Thompson as well as USS Pepperwood and USS Gauger all arrived at Augusta after having been detached from the convoy.

On 3 August 1944, the Fort Clatsop, James J. Hill, Ocean Vulcan and Zaanstroom arrived at Alexandria after having been detached from the convoy. With them the HMS Awe, HMS Evenlode and HMS Usk also arrived at Alexandria.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Port Said on 4 August 1944.

27 Aug 1944
HrMs O 9 (Lt. R.W. van Lynden, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HNoMS Tunsberg Castle. (2)

26 Nov 1944
HMS Vulpine (T/Lt. P.S. Thirsk, DSC, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Holyhead with HNoMS Eglantine, HNoMS Tunsberg Castle and HMS Sweetbriar (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.G. Lewis, RNR). (3)

29 Nov 1944

Operation Acumen, the passage of convoys JW 62 and RA 62 between the U.K. and Northern Russia vice versa.

Convoy JW 62.

This convoy departed Loch Ewe on 29 November 1944 for Northern Russia.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Amasa Delano (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Andrew Turnbull (American, 7240 GRT, built 1944), August Belmont (American, 7240 GRT, built 1944), Barbara Frietchie (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), British Respect (British (tanker), 8479 GRT, built 1943), Cecil N. Bean (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Edward N. Hurley (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943), Empire Garrick (British (tanker), 8128 GRT, built 1942), Empire Stalwart (British, 7045 GRT, built 1943), Fort Boise (British, 7151 GRT, built 1943), Fort Highfield (British, 7129 GRT, built 1943), Fort Island (British, 7167 GRT, built 1944), Fort Massac (British, 7157 GRT, built 1943), John Gibbon (American, 7247 GRT, built 1944), Laurelwood (British (tanker), 7347 GRT, built 1929), Linn Boyd (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Longwood (British (tanker), 9463 GRT, built 1930), Luculus (British (tanker), 6546 GRT, built 1929), Nelson W. Aldrich (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Owen Wister (American, 7240 GRT, built 1944), Renald Fernald (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Robert Lowry (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Stanton H. King (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Stephen Leacock (American, 7198 GRT, built 1944), Stevenson Taylor (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), U.S.O. (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), W.R. Grace (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), William H. Wilmer (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943), William Tyler Page (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) and Woodbridge N. Ferris (American, 7200 GRT, built 1943).

The rescue vessel Rathlin (British, 1600 GRT, built 1936).

The convoy had a close escort made up of the sloops HMS Cygnet (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN), HMS Lapwing (Cdr.(Retd.) E.C. Hulton, RN), HMS Lark (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Lambton, RN), frigates HMS Tavy (Cdr. G.A. Thring, DSO, RN), HMCS Monnow (Cdr. E.G. Skinner, DSO, RCNR), HMCS Nene (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E.R. Shaw, RCNR), HMCS Port Colborne (T/Lt.Cdr. C.J. Angus, RCNR), HMCS Saint John (A/Lt.Cdr. W.R. Stacey, RCNR), HMCS Stormont (T/A/Lt.Cdr. G.A. Myra, RCNR), HMS Bahamas (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.S. Thomson, RNR), HMS Somaliland (A/Lt.Cdr. K.B. Hopkins, DSC, RNVR), HMS Tortola (T/A/Lt.Cdr. G.C.L. Payne, RNVR) and the corvettes HNoMS Eglantine, HMS Allington Castle (A/Lt.Cdr. P.A. Read, RNR), HMS Bamborough Castle (T/Lt. M.S. Work, DSC and Bar, RNR) and HNoMS Tunsberg Castle.

On 1 December 1944, the destroyers HMS Keppel (Cdr. I.J. Tyson, DSO, DSC, RNR), HMS Westcott (A/Lt.Cdr. E.P. Reade, DSC, RN), HMS Beagle (Lt. C.D.T. Williams, RN) and HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Walker, RN) joined coming from the Faeroer Islands having departed there on 30 November.

Part of the convoy arrived in the Kola Inlet on 7 December 1944. Another part of the convoy was detached to Archangelsk and had parted company with the convoy around 1730B/6. To escort this part of the convoy the Russian destroyers Baku, Gremyashchiy, Razumniy, Uritsky, Dejatelnyj, Derzkij, Doblestnyj and Zivuchij as well as some patrol vessels had joined as escorts.

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Convoy RA 62.

This convoy departed the Kola Inlet on 10 December 1944 for Loch Ewe.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Abner Nash (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), Andrew W. Preston (American, 7247 GRT, built 1944), Benjamin Schlesinger (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Collis P. Huntington (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), Dolabella (British (tanker), 8142 GRT, built 1939), Donald W. Bain (American, 7200 GRT, built 1944), Eleazar Lord (American, 7247 GRT, built 1944), Elroy Alfaro (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Fort Crevecour (British, 7191 GRT, built 1943), Fort Romaine (British, 7131 GRT, built 1943), Fort Yukon (British, 7131 GRT, built 1943), Harold L. Winslow (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Henry Adams (American, 7212 GRT, built 1944), James M. Gillis (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), John Sharp Williams (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Joyce Kilmer (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Keith Palmer (American, 7244 GRT, built 1944), Laurelwood (British (tanker), 7347 GRT, built 1929), Lawrence J. Brengle (American, 7209 GRT, built 1944), Lucullus (British (tanker), 6546 GRT, built 1929), Marathon (Norwegian, 7208 GRT, built 1930), Nicholas Biddle (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), Park Benjamin (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), San Venancio (British (tanker), 8152 GRT, built 1942), Stage Door Canteen (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), William Pepper (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), William Wheelwright (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944) and Windfred L. Smith (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943).

The rescue vessel Rathlin (British, 1600 GRT, built 1936).

The convoy had the same close escort as JW 62 with the exception of the two Norwegian corvettes which remained in Northern Russia. The damaged frigate Mounsey (Lt. F.A.J. Andrew, RN) took passage in / with this convoy.

Before the convoy departed the Russian destroyers Baku, Gremyashchiy, Razumniy, Derzkij, Doblestnyj und Zivuchij conducted an A/S sweep of the Kola Inlet to drive off the concentration of German submarines in the area.

The convoy arrived at Loch Ewe on 19 December 1944.

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Cover for these convoys was provided by a force made up of escort carriers HMS Campania (A/Capt. K.A. Short, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.R. McGrigor, CB, DSO, RN), HMS Nairana (Capt. V.N. Surtees, DSO, RN), light cruiser HMS Bellona (Capt. C.F.W. Norris, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Caesar (Capt. G.N. Brewer, DSO, RN), HMS Cambrian (Lt.Cdr. H.T. Harrel, RN), HMS Caprice (Lt.Cdr. G.W. McKendrick, RN), HMS Cassandra (Cdr. P.F. Powlett, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN), HMS Onslow (Capt. H.W.S. Browning, OBE, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Biggs, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN), HMS Onslaught (Cdr. A. Pleydell-Bouverie, RN), HMS Oribi (Lt. D.M. Vaughan-Hughes, RN), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN).

Around 1745A/29, HMS Offa, HMS Onslaught, HMS Oribi, HMS Obedient and HMS Orwell departed Scapa Flow for the Faeroer Islands where they were to fuel and then join the remainder of the Force. HMS Onslow also proceeded to the Faeroer Islands to fuel but she departed Loch Ewe, also on 29 November. Her Commanding Officer had attended the convoy conference.

Around 1145A/30, HMS Campania, HMS Nairana, HMS Bellona, HMS Caesar, HMS Cambrian, HMS Caprice and HMS Cassandra departed Scapa Flow for the operation.

The cover force joined convoy JW 62 around 0800A/1 in position 63°29'N, 03°46'W and arrived in the Kola Inlet around 0100B/7 after having been detached from the convoy around 2145B/6.

The cover force departed the Kola Inlet on 10 December 1944 with convoy RA 62.

Around 0611A/11, HMS Cassandra was torpedoed and damaged by a Gnat torpedo fired by the German submarine U-365 in position 71°57'N, 32°04'E. The entire bow of the destroyer was blown off. HMS Cassandra was taken in tow (stern first) by the HMS Bahamas (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.S. Thomson, RNR). Later the tow was passed over to a Soviet tug which towed her to the Kola Inlet escorted by HMS Tavy, HMS Bahamas, HMS Somaliland and HMS Tortola. They arrived on the 14th.

HMS Campania, HMS Vindex, HMS Bellona, HMS Caesar, HMS Cambrian, HMS Caprice and HMS Onslaught arrived at Scapa Flow around 1100A/18.

Around 0900A/19, HMS Onslow, HMS Obedient and HMS Orwell arrived at Scapa Flow.

Around 1000A/19, HMS Offa and HMS Oribi arrived at Liverpool.

Sources

  1. ADM 173/19192
  2. File 2.12.03.6373 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  3. ADM 173/19460

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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