Norwegian Homefleet - Ships starting with P Built in Oslo 1926. Delivered in July-1926 from Akers Mek. Verksted, Oslo as whale catcher Pol III to Hvalfangerselskapet Polaris A/S, Larvik. Steel hull, 214 gt(?), Triple Expansion (Akers). WW II: Requisitioned by Den Konglige Norske Marine (Norwegian Navy) in 1939 and was operating as patrol boat, based in Horten. She had a single 76mm canon on her bow, and was guarding the entrance to Oslofjord an hour before midnight on Apr. 8-1940 as the German invasion fleet was approaching. (Other ships in Oslofjord at the time of the invasion were Kristiansand, Alpha, Halden I, and Sørland). Pol III's commander, Leif Welding Olsen rammed the German torpedo boat Albatros, but didn't stand a chance against the larger vessel. He was sprayed with machine gun fire, both his legs pierced by bullets. Pol III was abandoned on fire. Captain Welding Olsen, weakened by blood loss, let himself go from the lifeboat, thereby becoming the first uniformed victim of the invaders (please note, there are several different versions of this incident). Today, there's a statue of him outside the naval base in Horten. The crew of 14 men were picked up by Albatros and briefly imprisoned. Pol III, meanwhile, though listed as sunk in many sources, was spotted by another patrol boat, the Norwegian Skudd 2, the following day. Fires died out and she was towed to Tønsberg, later to be taken over by the Kriegsmarine on Apr. 14-1940 and repaired, entering service as patrol boat NO-05 Samoa, transferred to Admiral Arctic in 1941. From Apr. 1-1941 she was in service as patrol boat V-6105 for 61st Vorpostenflotille based in Bodø, from Oct. 5-1942 as NH-05, then from May 15-1944 as patrol boat V-6501 for 65th Vorpostenflotille based in Hammerfest. POST WAR: After the war she became part of the Norwegian mine sweeping fleet, later had several different owners and names, engines replaced, structure rebuilt, as follows: In 1947 she was sold to Skipsvedlikehold A/S (Henrik K Eriksen), Oslo (call sign LCVH). At that time she was 221 gt, 67 net, 649 hp. Derigged, engine and boiler removed. Registered in Måløy in 1948. Sold in 1948 to Johan E. Hareid A/S, Hareid. Towed from Måløy to Hareid on Apr. 12-1948 by seiner Nordingen, lengthened (16') and converted to fishing vessel/seiner at Hjørungavaag Verksted A/S, Hjørungavåg, 125.5’ x 22.7’ x 10.2’, 251 gt, 3300hl, with a hydraulic steering engine from a British landing craft, 8cyl 4tev Crossley dm 480bhp (1942, from MMS). Entered service as seiner Johan E (fishery No. M-16-HD) in 1950. Rebuilt that same year at Hjørungavaag Verksted A/S, Hjørungavåg. Experienced engine trouble off Cape Farewell at some point when on a voyage to West Greenland in a storm. Towed to Færingehavn by seiner Flømann. A 6cyl 4tev Crossley dm 375bhp engine (1943, from seiner Flemsøy since 1948) was later installed. Converted to purse net seiner in 1966. In 1971 a 2tev Wichmann 600bhp (1955, from Hvalrossen) was installed. Converted in 1973 to industrial trawler and used in the North Sea (but without much success). Owned in 1977 by Sameiet Johan E. (Johan E. Hareide A/S), Hareid (M-16-HD), making her last voyage in the North Sea that fall. Damaged by fire alongside the quay at Hareid(?) that year. Sold in 1978 to K/S Helgelandsføring AS & Co., Meløy, repaired(?), converted to live fish carrier, 2x 120m3 tanks, 277.93 gt., entered service as live fish carrier Odd Oscar in 1978(?). Sold in 1982 to A/S Nordfisk Trading (Svein Torrisen), Bodø, renamed Fisktrans in 1983. Sold in Aug.-1984 to Steinar Eide, Bogen in Kvæfjord. Sold in 1986 to Steinar Worren, Sandshamn. In the winter of 1988/89 she was southbound with a cargo of live fish when she ran aground and sank in shallow waters off Vallersund. Raised and towed to Larsnes Mek. Verksted, Larsnes for repairs. In 1990 she participated in the 50th anniversary ceremonies in Horten, with 2 of her original war time crew on board. In the spring of 1991 she was intended put up at a forced auction but this was cancelled. She was seen in Bergen on Apr. 6-1991 in a good condition, and again on June 6-1991, in the North Sea on her way to Møre from La Corunna in ballast. Owned in Nov.-1992 by Tradewind A/S, Sandshamn (seen in Ålesund in Apr.-1995). On July 17-1997 she was on a voyage Spain-Møre in ballast when she ran aground at Skåretreboen outside Haugesund. The skipper reported the incident to Rogaland Radio, saying that he was at Hauskeskjær (which was not the case). Refloated the next morning by salvage vessel and tug Bison, minor damages. Sold in Jun-1999 to Arnøytrans A/S, Skrova, renamed Arnøytrans. Sold in Dec.-2002 to Arnøyfrakt A/S (John Jacobsen), Sørarnøy. (Misc. sources, incl. an American newspaper article [author unknown] and details received from T. Eriksen, Norway - His sources: Arild Engelsen, Atle Wilmar via a thread on my Ship Forum and misc.).
Amazing that she most likely still exists. I'll make some enquiries among my Norwegian mates to see what they can turn up. Another version of the Captain's loss is that he knew he was mortally wounded so rolled overboard so that the crew wouldn't lose heart and stop fighting. Not a large ship at all: Imageol III.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
