HNoMS Pol III

"Pol III" was a guard vessel of the Royal Norwegian Navy, used for patrolling the inlet of the Oslofjord in early April 1940. She was a small vessel, originally a whale catcher, of just 214 tons. She is best known for the valiant, but ultimately hopeless, attempt to turn back a whole German Kampfgruppe during Operation Weserübung.

Operational history

"Pol III" was built by Akers mekaniske verksted as build no. 429 in 1926. At the outbreak of World War II the ship was engaged as a guard vessel in the Oslofjord. Late on 8 April 1940 the guard vessel spotted the German Kampfgruppe 5 heading north as part of the German invasion of Norway. Despite being seriously outnumbered - the Kampfgruppe consisted of the heavy cruiser "Blücher", the heavy cruiser "Lützow", the light cruiser "Emden", three torpedo boats and eight minesweepers carrying 2,000 troops to Oslo - "Pol III" engaged the German forces. After firing a warning shot, "Pol III" closed with the German torpedo boat "Albatros". Realising that the enemy would not turn away, but was going to violate Norwegian neutrality, "Pol III" fired flares to alert Norwegian coastal batteries and rammed the "Albatros" in the side in an attempt to sink her. From the "Albatros" it was quite clear that the guns on "Pol III" were manned, and that the Norwegians intended to fight as long as possible. The "Albatros" promptly hit the small Norwegian vessel with anti aircraft fire, wounding the captain Leif Welding-Olsen and starting several fires. As "Pol III" was burning, her crew abandoned the vessel and was captured. Leif Welding-Olsen, weakened by blood loss, did not manage to enter the lifeboat and drowned, becoming the first Norwegian casualty in war between Norway and Nazi Germany.

Kampfgruppe 5 was turned back by Oscarsborg Fortress a few hours later, with the loss of the heavy cruiser Blücher.

The next day, 9th April, "Pol III" was towed to Tønsberg. The German Kriegsmarine captured her on the 14th April, and after repairs utilised the vessel as a Vorpostenboot under several names (NO-05 Samoa, V-6105 and NH-05). After the war, "Pol III" became part of the Norwegian mine sweeping fleet before she was sold off. Later "Pol III" had several different owners and names, the engines replaced and her structure rebuilt. In 1949 she was sold to Hareid where she was rebuilt as a fishing vessel and given the name "Johan E". In 1978 she ws sold to Ørnes and rebuilt as a fish transport vessel and named "Odd Oscar". Five years later she was sold to Bodø and given the name "Fisktrans". Although in essence a different vessel than in 1940, the hull of "Pol III" is still afloat and in use. Today she is owned in Salten and has the name "Arnøytrans". She runs as a fish transport vessel along the Norwegian coast.

ee also

* List of World War II ships of less than 1000 tons

External links

* [http://www.mil.no/sjo/start/fakta/historie/dagfordag/apr/#6 Royal Norwegian Navy website describing the Pol III] no icon
* [http://www.warsailors.com/homefleet/shipsp.html#pol3 Details of Pol III wartime and post-war career] en icon