MV Eidsvold (1934)

Eidsvold was a 4,184 GRT motor vessel built in 1934 at Gothenburg for Norwegian Owners. She was torpedoed and sunk in 1942 by the Japanese submarine I-159.

History
Norway
Name:	Eidsvold
Owner:	Skibs-A/S Eidsiva (1924–40) Nortraship (1940–42)
Operator:	Sverre Ditlev Simonsen & Co.
Port of registry:	Oslo
Builder:	Götaverken A/B
Yard number:	480
Launched:	1934
Completed:	September 1934
Identification:	Code Letters LIVR
Fate:	Torpedoed and sunk by I-159 at Flying Fish Cove, 20 January 1942
General characteristics
Tonnage:	4,184 GRT, 2,368 NRT, 8,330 DWT
Length:	116.64 metres (382 ft 8 in)
Beam:	16.81 metres (55 ft 2 in)
Depth:	6.93 metres (22 ft 9 in)
Installed power:	Diesel engine, 489 nhp, 2625 bhp
Propulsion:	Screw propeller
Speed:	12.2 knots (22.6 km/h)
Complement:	31

Description

Eidsvold was 116.64 metres (382 ft 8 in) long, with a beame of 16.89 metres (55 ft 5 in). She had a depth of 6.93 metres (22 ft 9 in). The ship was assessed at 4,184 GRT, 2,368 NRT,[1] 8,330 DWT.[2] She was propelled by a 489nhp six-cylinder four-stroke single cycle single action diesel engine. The engine was built by Götaverken A/B.[1] It was rated at 489 nhp, 2625 bhp and could propel the ship at 12.2 knots (22.6 km/h).[3]

History

Eidsvold was built in as yard number 480 in 1934 by Götaverken A/B, Gothenburg, Sweden for Skibs A/S Eidsiva. She was delivered in September 1934.[3] Eidsvold was operated under the management of Sverre Ditlev Simonsen & Co. Her port of registry was Oslo and the Code Letters LIVR were allocated.[1] In 1940, the vessel was requisitioned by Nortraship.[3]

Fate

On 20 January 1942,[3] Eidsvold was struck by a torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-159 at Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island. The ship broke in two and was abandoned by her 31 crew.[2][4] On 6 February,[2] the crew were rescued by HMS Durban. They arrived at Batavia, Netherlands East Indies on 20 February.[5] Her wreck was later towed to near Smith Point.. On 5 October 1942, the wreck was torpedoed by USS Searaven.[6]

Notes

1. Lloyd's of Lobdon (1934). "Lloyd's Register, Steamers & Motorships" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
2. "Eidsvold". Warsailors.com. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
3. "M/S Eidsvold" (in Norwegian). Sjohisrorie. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
4. "Norwegian Ship Master Narrates War Ordeals, Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 20 February 1946, p.2". Retrieved 1 March 2012.
5. "Naval Events, January 1942, Part 2 of 2, Thursday 15th – Saturday 31st". Naval History. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
6. Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1942, Oktober". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 13 May 2015.