HNoMS Norge

HNoMS Norge

Company type	Coastal defence ship
Industry	Naval military
Founded	March 31, 1900 (1900-03-31) (launch date)
Defunct	April 9, 1940 (1940-04-09)
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk in Narvik harbour
Headquarters	Newcastle upon Tyne , United Kingdom
Products	Warship

For the Norwegian royal yacht, see HNoMY Norge.

HNoMS Norge was a coastal defence ship of the class serving within the Royal Norwegian Navy. Constructed by Armstrong Whitworth at their Newcastle on Tyne facility, she met her demise after being torpedoed by German destroyers in Narvik harbour on 9 April 1940.

Background and description

Commissioned during Norway’s broader naval expansion prior to the events of 1905, Norge, along with her sister vessel Eidsvold, formed the principal strength of the Royal Norwegian Navy for over four decades. These two ships were the largest in the fleet, each displacing 4,233 tons and manned by a crew of approximately 270 personnel. At the time, they were regarded as formidable units, equipped with twin 21 cm (8.26 inch) main artillery pieces. Their defensive capabilities included armor plating designed to resist engagement from comparable warships: a belt featuring six inches (15.24 cm) of Krupp cemented armor and turret protection consisting of nine inches (22.86 cm) of the same hardened steel.

King Haakon VII of Norway boards Norge on 28 November 1905 shortly after his ascension

Plans had been made to reinforce Norway’s coastal defence fleet with two additional vessels from the class ordered in 1912. However, these ships were appropriated by the British Royal Navy during their construction phase at the outbreak of World War I. Consequently, both the Eidsvold class and the older pair from the class remained operational well beyond their prime.

The launch of Norge took place at Armstrong Whitworth’s Elswick yard on 31 March 1900, followed by her commissioning early in 1901.

Initial and concluding engagement

The emergency steering wheel from Norge, retrieved from Narvik harbour by divers in 1983

In the early hours of 9 April 1940, a German flotilla consisting of ten destroyers transporting troops from a mountain division navigated into Ofotfjord amidst dense fog and heavy snowfall. The German forces demanded the surrender of the Eidsvold captain; upon refusal, the combat-ready destroyers launched torpedoes at Eidsvold before she could respond with gunfire.

Further inside the fjord aboard Norge, the crew heard the explosions but initially saw nothing until two German destroyers emerged suddenly from the darkness. Captain Per Askim of Norge commanded to commence firing. The ship discharged four shells from its 21 cm artillery (one from the forward turret and three aft) along with seven or eight rounds from the starboard 15 cm guns, targeting the German destroyer Bernd von Arnim. The estimated distance was approximately 800 metres (870 yd). Due to challenging weather conditions, optical gun sights were difficult to use, causing the initial salvo to fall short and subsequent shots to overshoot the target.

The German destroyers held their fire until they reached the pier, then retaliated. Bernd von Arnim engaged with its 12.7 cm (5-inch) guns and machine guns, though adverse weather also affected their accuracy. Additionally, the destroyer launched torpedoes in three separate salvos of two each. The first two salvos missed, but the final one struck Norge amidships, causing her to sink within a minute while her propellers were still turning. Ninety crew members survived in the icy water, whereas 101 lost their lives during this brief battle lasting under twenty minutes.

The recovered anchor of Norge displayed outside Narvik War Museum

The remains

Norge rests at an approximate depth of 20 metres (66 ft) in central Narvik harbour. Although partially salvaged on site, it is recognized as a war memorial, and diving on the wreck is strictly forbidden.

Sources

• Abelsen, Frank (1986). Norwegian naval ships 1939–1945 (in norsk and English). Oslo: Sem & Stenersen AS. ISBN 82-7046-050-8.
• Campbell, N J M (1979). "Norway". In Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger; Kolesnik, Eugene M. (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 369–70. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.

External links

Media related to Norge (ship, 1899) at Wikimedia Commons