Allied Warships

HNoMS Uredd (P 41)

Submarine of the U class

NavyThe Royal Norwegian Navy
TypeSubmarine
ClassU 
PennantP 41 
ModThird Group 
Built byVickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.) 
Ordered11 Mar 1940 
Laid down15 Oct 1940 
Launched24 Aug 1941 
Commissioned12 Dec 1941 
Lost24 Feb 1943 
Loss position67° 05'N, 13° 31'E
History

Uredd (Lt.Cdr. R.Q. Roren) left Lunna Voe for her 8th war patrol on 5 February 1943. She was supposed to return to Lerwick on 19 February. She was lost off Norway in a newly laid minefield southwest of Fugloyvær in the Fugleoy fjord, south-west of Bodo in position 67º05'N, 13º31'E. The minefield was laid by German minelayer Cobra. Most likely she is lost on or around 10 February 1943. She was officially reported overdue on 26 February 1943.

 
Former nameP 41

Commands listed for HNoMS Uredd (P 41)

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and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1Løytnant (Lt.) Rolf Quernheim Røren, RNON30 Nov 194124 Feb 1943 (+)

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Notable events involving Uredd include:


The history of HNoMS Uredd as compiled on this page is extracted from this submarines patrol reports. Corrections and details regarding information from the enemy's side (for instance the composition of convoys attacked) is kindly provided by Mr. Platon Alexiades, a naval researcher from Canada.

This page was last updated in July 2016.

10 Dec 1941
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed her builders yard at Barrow for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Sweetbriar (Lt.(Retd.) J.W. Cooper, RNR). (1)

11 Dec 1941
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Holy Loch to begin a period of trials and training. (2)

26 Jan 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Holy Loch for Scapa Flow. Passage north was made together with ORP Jastrzab (Lt.Cdr. B. Romanowski) and FFS Rubis (Lt. H.L.G. Rousselot) which were en-route to Blyth and Dundee respectively. They were escorted by HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) C.C. Flemming, RN). (3)

28 Jan 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Scapa Flow to participate in A/S training. (2)

9 Feb 1942
HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. These were followed by A/S exercises with HNoMS Uredd (Lt. R.Q. Røren). (4)

20 Feb 1942
HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises at Scapa Flow with HNoMS Uredd (Lt. R.Q. Røren).

On ompletion of these HMS London made several runs over the D/G range. (4)

8 Mar 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Scapa Flow for Lerwick. She was escorted by HNoMS Draug. (3)

9 Mar 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Lerwick. She departed for her 1st war patrol later the same day. She was ordered to patrol to the north of Fro Havet. The patrol was uneventful except for two Sleipner class destroyers observed from close range on 13 March. They were not attacked as the battleship Tirpitz was expected to break out and the submarine did not want to disclose its position.

For some positions of HNoMS Uredd during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

25 Mar 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) ended her 1st war patrol at Lerwick. The patrol was uneventful. (5)

26 Mar 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She made the passage together with FFS Rubis (Lt. H.L.G. Rousselot) and FFS Minerve (Lt. P.M. Sonneville). They were escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (3)

28 Mar 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Dundee. (2)

19 Apr 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Dundee for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (3)

20 Apr 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Scapa Flow. (2)

24 Apr 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) shifted from Scapa Flow to Lerwick escorted by HMS Preston North End (Lt. K.A. Vasey, MBE, RNR). (2)

25 Apr 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to provide cover for convoy PQ 15 to northern Russia.

For the daily positions of HNoMS Uredd during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

1 May 1942
The submarines HMS P 43 (Lt. A.C. Halliday, RN), ORP Jastrzab (Lt.Cdr. B. Romanowski), HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) and FFS Minerve (Lt. P.M. Sonneville) arrived in Zones K 30, K 28, K 26, K 24 respectively to provide cover for the passage of convoys PQ 15 and QP 11. (6)

7 May 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) ended her 2nd war patrol at Lerwick. (5)

8 May 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (3)

9 May 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Dundee. (3)

19 May 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (3)

21 May 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Lerwick. She departed for her 3rd war patrol later the same day. She was to provide cover during convoy operations to and from Northern Russia (convoys PQ 16 / QP 12).

For the daily positions of HNoMS Uredd during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

24 May 1942
At 1107 hours in 71°03.5’N, 11°07’E, HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) observed a submarine which was later identified as HMS P 46 (Lt. J.S. Stevens, DSC, RN) when signals were exchanged.

1 Jun 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) ended her 3rd war patrol at Lerwick. She departed for Dundee later the same day. She made the passage together with HMS P 37 (Lt. H. Winter, RN). Off Scapa Flow they were joined by HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN). They were escorted by the British ASW trawler HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (5)

2 Jun 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Dundee. (2)

19 Jun 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Dundee for Scapa Flow. (2)

20 Jun 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Scapa Flow where she was to participate in A/S exercises. (2)

22 Jun 1942
In the afternoon HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (7)

26 Jun 1942
In the afternoon HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (7)

13 Jul 1942
The battleship HMS King George V (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN) conducted RDF exercises off Scapa Flow with the submarine HNoMS Uredd (Lt. R.Q. Røren). During the exercises HMS King George V was most likely escorted by the destroyer HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN). (8)

16 Jul 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Scapa Flow for Lerwick. She made the passage together with HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Lord Lloyd (T/Lt. M.W. Bond, RNVR). (3)

16 Jul 1942
HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) departed from Scapa Flow bound for Lerwick. She made the passage together with HNoMS Uredd (Lt. R.O. Rören). They were escorted by HMS Lord Lloyd (T/Lt. M.W. Bond, RNVR). (3)

17 Jul 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Lerwick. (2)

18 Jul 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to perform an A/S patrol in the Norwegian Sea.

For the daily positions of HNoMS Uredd during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

25 Jul 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) was informed of the presence of a U-boat to the south of her position was unable to intercept.

28 Jul 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) ended her 4th war patrol at Lerwick. (5)

29 Jul 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (3)

31 Jul 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Dundee. At Dundee she was docked (date currently unknown to us). (2)

12 Aug 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) was undocked.

18 Aug 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) shifted from Dundee to Rosyth where she was to participate in A/S exercises. (3)

24 Aug 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) returned to Dundee. (3)

31 Aug 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Dundee for Lerick. She made the passage together with HMS P 54 (Lt. C.E. Oxborrow, DSC, RN) and HMS Tribune (Lt. N.J. Coe, DSC, RNR). They were escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (3)

1 Sep 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Lerwick. (2)

2 Sep 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for her 5th war patrol. She was to provide cover for convoy operations (PQ 18 and QP 14) to Northern Russia.

For the daily positions of HNoMS Uredd during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

10 Sep 1942
At 1527 hours in 69°33’N, 16°33’E, HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) observed three heavy enemy units at a range of 11-12 miles. The first was believed to be Tirpitz or Admiral Hipper, the second almost certainly Admiral Scheer and the third a light cruiser. The submarine made an enemy report. These were in fact Admiral Hipper, Admiral Scheer and the light cruiser Köln transferring from Bogen Bay to Kaa Fjord.

24 Sep 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) ended her 5th war patrol at Lerwick. (5)

25 Sep 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She made the passage together with HMS P 54 (Lt. C.E. Oxborrow, DSC, RN) and FFS Rubis (Lt.Cdr. H.L.G. Rousselot). They were escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (3)

26 Sep 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Dundee. (2)

11 Oct 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Dundee for Lerwick. The passage was made together with FFS Junon (Cdr. J. Querville, RN) and HMS P 54 (Lt. C.E. Oxborrow, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). P 54 left them off Scapa Flow for onward passage to Holy Loch. (3)

12 Oct 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Lerwick. (2)

13 Oct 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol north of Bergen, Norway.

For the daily and attack positions of HNoMS Uredd during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

18 Oct 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) torpedoed and heavily damaged the German transport ship Libau (3663 GRT, built 1920, former Soviet Kaganovitch) off the Norwegian coast in approximate position 61°17’N, 04°53’E. The Libau was hit in the engine room and beached at Araldeflu but was declared a total loss.

(All times are zone -1)
1530 hours - Sighted a ship bearing 078° coming out of the Vilnesfjord. Commenced attack. The target was seen to be a ship of 2500-3000 tons.

1548 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 1000 yards. One hit was obtained.

1558 hours - As the ship did not sink fired another torpedo but no hit was obtained. It was then noticed that the ship was aground. (5)

28 Oct 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) ended her 6th war patrol at Lerwick. (5)

31 Oct 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for Dundee.

1 Nov 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Dundee.

9 Nov 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Dundee for Lerwick with FFS Junon (Cdr. J. Querville, RN).

10 Nov 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Lerwick.

11 Nov 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off northern Norway to give cover for convoy QP 15.

For the daily positions of HNoMS Uredd during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

22 Nov 1942
At 1730 hours, in position initially believed to be 71°02'N, 18°56'E (the position was very approximate as the submarine had been navigating by dead reckoning for three days and was later corrected to 72°08’N, 22°38’E), HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) observed from 600-800 yards a large submarine believed to be of the Soviet ‘K’ class. It was not attacked although the British authorities had not been informed of her passage. This was indeed the Soviet K-3.

29 Nov 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) ended her 7th war patrol at Lerwick. (5)

30 Nov 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for Dundee.

1 Dec 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Dundee.

28 Dec 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR).

30 Dec 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) arrived at Lerwick for W/T trials off the Shetland Islands.

31 Dec 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) carried out trials off Lerwick escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR).

1 Jan 1943
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) returned to Lerwick.

6 Jan 1943
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol to the north of Fro Havet. While en-route to the patrol area she was ordered to patrol off Bredsund.

For the daily and attack positions of HNoMS Uredd during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

17 Jan 1943
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) attacked the German S-boot tender Adolf Lüderitz with four torpedoes off Stadlandet, Norway. No hits were obtained.

(All times are zone -1)
1348 hours - Sighted a German warships bearing 170°. Enemy course approximately 300°. Started attack. Several patrol vessels were also seen around.

1356 hours - In position 62°14'N, 05°16'E fired four torpedoes from 3600 yards. No hits were obtained. (5)

19 Jan 1943
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) ended her 8th war patrol at Lerwick. (5)

1 Feb 1943
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Lerwick for Lunna Voe and arrived there in the afternoon.

5 Feb 1943
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed from Lunna Voe for her 9th war patrol. She was to perform a special operation (Operation Seagull, sabotage of the Sulitjelma mine power plant near the Swedish border) for which a Norwegian team of six men led by Løytnant Per Getz was to be landed in 66°59’N, 13°52’E (Bodø area). After this mission she was to land a seventh man in 69°31'N, 17°27'E to make contact and pick up two crewmembers of FFS Junon at Senja (Mefjorden) (operation Upsilon III) as well as two Norwegians. Uredd first proceeded to Lunna Voe to pick up the Norwegian raiding team for Operation Seagull before proceeding on patrol.

10 Feb 1943
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) is reckoned to have run into a newly laid German minefield in in approximately 67°00’N, 13°30’E (Fugloyfjord south of Bodø, Norway). Thirty-five crew members (including and seven commandos perished, there were no survivors. She was under special orders to pick up and deliver special forces in the region. Uredd was relocated in 1985 declared a war cemetery on 13 March 1986. A memorial of a Dolphin was raised at the road south of the place and opened by HM King Olav V on 18 June 1987. (9)

Sources

  1. ADM 199/400
  2. ADM 199/2573
  3. ADM 199/424
  4. ADM 53/116168
  5. ADM 199/1852
  6. Personal communication
  7. File 2.12.03.2099 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  8. ADM 53/116137
  9. 6. Undervannsbåten Uredd by Jon Rustung Hegland (Dreyers Forlag, Oslo, 1990)

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


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