SS Henry
Encyclopedia
SS Henry was a Norwegian
steam-powered cargo ship best known for being one of the two ships sunk in one of the most controversial incidents in Norway during the Second World War
.
. She sailed for her original owner until she was sold to Egil Krogh in Norway in 1925. After she was sold to the Norwegian company her tonnage was changed from 604 to 628 gross tons
. Following the German invasion of Norway
in 1940 she came under German overall control, continuing to sail along the coast of occupied Norway
.
Bay by Hestskjær Lighthouse off the port of Kristiansund
in Møre og Romsdal
county. She was carrying a cargo of rocks from the Aust-Agder
town of Risør
northwards along the coastline. In addition to the Norwegians on board Henry she carried four German Army Gefreiter
s. At 1837hrs the SS Irma
, a Hurtigruten
passenger ship that had just overtaken Henry, was struck and sunk by what later turned out to be torpedo
es fired from MTB 627, a Royal Norwegian Navy
Motor Torpedo Boat
. As Henry launched two of her lifeboats
she too was torpedoed, by the other Royal Norwegian Navy Motor Torpedo Boat present, MTB 653. One of the two lifeboats were brought ashore at Hestskjær Lighthouse by the lighthouse
keeper and later brought into Kristiansund.
Two of Henrys crewmen were lost in the ship's sinking, her captain
John Olav Gustav Dommersnes and the stoker Johan Wåge Larsen.
The loss of the two civilian Norwegian ships were utilised heavily in propaganda
by the Germans and the Norwegian national socialist collaborator party Nasjonal Samling. One of the main uses of the incident in Nazi propaganda was in a recruitment drive aimed at convincing Norwegian sailors to join the German Kriegsmarine
. The Nazi propaganda machinery blamed the British Royal Navy
for sinking Henry and Irma, it only becoming known after the war that Royal Norwegian Navy vessels were behind the operation that sank the two ships.
. This has been disputed by the survivors of Irma and Henry.
The MTB crews also claimed that Henry took evasive action after Irma was hit, while the survivors claimed that she had stopped to launch two of her lifeboats to assist the survivors from Irma when she herself was hit and sunk.
One explanation for the presence of the naval trawler reported by the crews of MTB 627 and MTB 653 has been fronted by several researchers. In the Hustadvika area was a small tugboat, the Hopplafjord, which rescued survivors after the sinking of the two ships. Hopplafjord, being similar to a naval trawler in size and profile, may have been misinterpreted as an escort vessel by the MTB commander.
unveiled a monument to the people lost on the two ships, and led a memorial ceremony at sea near the site of the 1944 sinking of the two vessels.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
steam-powered cargo ship best known for being one of the two ships sunk in one of the most controversial incidents in Norway during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Before the Second World War
Henry was built in 1907 for the Swedish company Ångfartygs-A/B Nornan of GothenburgGothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
. She sailed for her original owner until she was sold to Egil Krogh in Norway in 1925. After she was sold to the Norwegian company her tonnage was changed from 604 to 628 gross tons
Gross tonnage
Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...
. Following the German invasion of Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
in 1940 she came under German overall control, continuing to sail along the coast of occupied Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
.
Sinking
In the evening of 13 February 1944 Henry was sailing along the coast near HustadvikaHustadvika
Hustadvika is a long section of coastline outside the municipality of Fræna in Romsdal, Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the shipping route between Molde and Kristiansund. The area is shallow and is full of little islands and reefs...
Bay by Hestskjær Lighthouse off the port of Kristiansund
Kristiansund
Kristiansund is a city and municipality on the western coast of Norway, in the Nordmøre district of Møre og Romsdal county. It was officially awarded township status in 1742, and it is still the major town for the region. The administrative center of the municipality is the city of Kristiansund...
in Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
county. She was carrying a cargo of rocks from the Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
town of Risør
Risør
is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
northwards along the coastline. In addition to the Norwegians on board Henry she carried four German Army Gefreiter
Gefreiter
Gefreiter is the German, Swiss and Austrian equivalent for the military rank Private . Gefreiter was the lowest rank to which an ordinary soldier could be promoted. As a military rank it has existed since at least the 16th century...
s. At 1837hrs the SS Irma
SS Irma (1905)
SS Irma was a 1,322-ton steamship built by the British shipyard Sir Raylton Dixon & Co. Ltd. in Middlesbrough in the north-east of England. She was delivered to the Norwegian passenger ship company Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab of Bergen in 1905...
, a Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta is a Norwegian passenger and freight line with daily sailings along Norway's western and northern coast. Sometimes referred to in English as Norwegian Coastal Express, Hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the roundtrip journey in 11...
passenger ship that had just overtaken Henry, was struck and sunk by what later turned out to be torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es fired from MTB 627, a Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
. As Henry launched two of her lifeboats
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
she too was torpedoed, by the other Royal Norwegian Navy Motor Torpedo Boat present, MTB 653. One of the two lifeboats were brought ashore at Hestskjær Lighthouse by the lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
keeper and later brought into Kristiansund.
Two of Henrys crewmen were lost in the ship's sinking, her captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
John Olav Gustav Dommersnes and the stoker Johan Wåge Larsen.
The loss of the two civilian Norwegian ships were utilised heavily in propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
by the Germans and the Norwegian national socialist collaborator party Nasjonal Samling. One of the main uses of the incident in Nazi propaganda was in a recruitment drive aimed at convincing Norwegian sailors to join the German Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
. The Nazi propaganda machinery blamed the British Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
for sinking Henry and Irma, it only becoming known after the war that Royal Norwegian Navy vessels were behind the operation that sank the two ships.
Controversy
The sinking of Irma and Henry has been controversial ever since the Second World War, with disagreements over the exact nature of the events. The Royal Norwegian Navy remains adamant that Irma and Henry were without lights or national markings and were sailing as a convoy escorted by a German naval trawlerNaval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
. This has been disputed by the survivors of Irma and Henry.
The MTB crews also claimed that Henry took evasive action after Irma was hit, while the survivors claimed that she had stopped to launch two of her lifeboats to assist the survivors from Irma when she herself was hit and sunk.
One explanation for the presence of the naval trawler reported by the crews of MTB 627 and MTB 653 has been fronted by several researchers. In the Hustadvika area was a small tugboat, the Hopplafjord, which rescued survivors after the sinking of the two ships. Hopplafjord, being similar to a naval trawler in size and profile, may have been misinterpreted as an escort vessel by the MTB commander.
Post-war memorial
Henry was honoured together with Irma 16 September 2002 when King Harald V of NorwayHarald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
unveiled a monument to the people lost on the two ships, and led a memorial ceremony at sea near the site of the 1944 sinking of the two vessels.