1.
Desember 1951, en lang og slitsom historie tar slutt for dampskipet
Oakhill. Oakhill var bygget i 1923 under navnet Achen, og fikk som så
mange handelsskip under den andre verdenskrig en voldsom historie. Ved
tyskernes invasjon av Norge i april 1940, befant Achen seg i Narvik.
I de kommende dagene ble Narvik angrepet flere ganger av de allierte,
og mange skip forsvant i dypet under kampene. Achen derimot ble ikke
senket av de allierte under disse angrepene, men sank først den 19 eller
20 april 1940. Senere på året 1940 ble Achen forsøkt berget, men forsøket
gikk heller dårlig og igjen forsvant Achen i det kalde vannet utenfor
Narvik. Og her ble Achen liggende helt frem til 1951. I denne perioden
ble mange vrak berget for å rydde skipsleden inn til Narvik havn, og
blandt disse var Achen. Nå gitt nytt navn til Oakhill og eiet av et
norskt selskap. Oakhill skulle repareres etter alle årene i dypet, og
ble satt i slep med retning mot Kristiansand, med endestasjon Bremerhaven
i Tyskland. Men den 1. Desember 1951 endte Oakhill sine dager. Utenfor
Trøndelagskysten ved Buholmråsa brakk
sleperen og Oakhill drev inn på land hvor hun senere sank. Vraket av
Oakhill ligger i dag i to deler, hvor baugen hviler på en dybde av to
til tretti meter på innsiden av skjæret. Resten av vraket er lokalisert
utenfor skjæret på et dyp over femti meter...
1. December 1951, a long and tiresome history
is at an end for the steamer Oakhill. Oakhill was built in 1923
under the name Achen, and received like so many merchant ships
under second world war a violent history. At the German invasion
of Norway in April 1940, Achen was located in Narvik. In the days
to come Narvik was attacked several times by the Allied, and many
ships disappeared in the deep during the fighting. Achen on the
other hand was not sunk by the Allied under these attacks, but
sank later on the 19 or 20 April 1940. Later in the year 1940
Achen was tried salvaged, but the attempt went rather bad and
Achen again disappeared in the cold water outside Narvik. And
here Achen was left to rest until 1951. In these period many wrecks
were salvaged to clear up the shiplane in to Narvik harbor, and
among these was Achen. Now renamed to Oakhill and owned by a Norwegian
company. Oakhill was ment to be repaired after all the years in
the deep, and was put under towing with direction towards Kristiansand,
with final destination Bremerhaven in Germany. But on the 1. December
1951 Oakhill ended her days. Outside the coastline of Trøndelag
near Buholmråsa the cable broke and Oakhill driftet ashore
where she later sank. The wreck of Oakhill lies today in two pieces,
where the bow rest on a depth of two to thirty meters on the inside
of the reef. The rest of the wreck has been located outside the
reef on a depth of over fifty meters...
Name: |
Former names: |
Material: |
Dimensions: |
Oakhill |
Achen |
Steel |
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| Brt \ Nrt: |
Built: |
Homeport: |
Cargo: |
| 6388 \ |
( D ) 1923 |
Kristiansand ( N ) |
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Pictures on top showing Achen being
salvaged from the deep in Narvik.
Pictures :© Bladet
Dykking
Owner: Holmen &
Vabon, Kristiansand - LAKP
From one of the many
topics brought up in the Forum at www.warsailors.com;
The Narvik naval battles are
very difficult to research, as there are a lot if incorrect information
(on both sides). In most British files they state that no vessel were
afloat in Narvik after the second battle 13.4, but this is not correct
according to the reports given by civilian German and Swedish sailors
in their reports to their companies and in official hearings. The
loss of the Aachen (and the Lippe) is in detail described in a report
to the NDL by one of the first officers. Here is an extract: 9.4.40:
First officer Evers of the Aachen takes command over the British prize
Mersington Court. 10.4.40: The Aachen is abandoned by the crew due
to her dangerous position, and the crew assist in rescuing survivors
from German destroyers. In addition to some German vessels, the Cate
B., Saphir, Blythmoor and Romanby (there exist other information about
her loss) were sunk. After the fighting the crew of the Aachen re-embarked
her, and used her cranes to remove guns and ammunition from the British
steamers. 11.4.40: The Aachen unloads AA guns (ex British) at Fagernes,
and spend the night at the damaged quay. 12.4.40: Finishing the unloading,
again anchoring in the harbour. No damages on the Aachen from the
British air attack the same afternoon. In the evening most of the
crew are ordered ashore to seek cover from further attacks. 13.4.40:
The remaining crew abandon the Aachen during the fighting, and most
of them withdraw to Beisfjord. In the fighting the Lippe is severely
damaged, while the Aachen still is operational, but damaged (hull
and engine working) 15.4.40: The civilian crews are ordered to return
to Narvik to conduct military duty. Lippe and Aachen are prepared
to be scuttled as block ships (Hafensperre) by their crews. 16.4.40:
Most of the crew from the Aachen works ashore with unloading the Jan
Wellem, while the remaining crew moves her to Framnes, where she is
to be scuttled. They do not succeed to moor the Aachen in wanted position,
and she is abandoned in the evening. All useful equipment and provision
are taken ashore. 20.4.40: The crews are ordered home in the evening,
and leaves Narvik the next day trough Sweden. Due to this the Aachen
was still afloat 16.4, and most probably sunk no later than 20.4.
(ref earlier writing from Dorgeist and myself). Due to the wreck's
position, the Germans didn't manage to moor her as a block ship. The
wreck was easy lifted in 1951 and prepared to be repaired as Norwegian
Oakhill (owner: Holmen & Vabon, Kristiansand - LAKP) During the
southbound towage, the rope broke, and she drifted ashore 1.12.51
and sank (still on the seabed). She was bound for Kristiansand, and
further to Bremerhaven for repairs.
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