when sailing under the name of Janko
Official Number: N/R
Builder: Gotaverken A/B, Gothenburg
Launched: 28 July 1928
Into Service: WW2
Out of service: WW2
Fate: 1951 broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of a group of additional Norwegian-flagged ships which served as Escort Oilers during WW2
Career Data:
28 July 1928 launched by Gotaverken A/B, Gothenburg as Yard Nr 413 named
NIKE for Rederi AB Transoil ( R Sorman, Manager) Gothenburg
1 November 1928 completed
1938 purchased by Skibs A/S Jaguar (Anders Jahre, Manager) Sandefjord and
renamed JAGUAR
17 January 1939 she was abandoned after she had broken in two and the forepart
had sunk; new forepart added by Netherlands Graving Dock, Amsterdam;
purchased by Pankos Operating Co S.A.( Anders Jahre, Sandefjord,
Manager) Panama and renamed JANKO
31 October 1941 arrived Curacao from Aruba and was seized as a prize by the
Dutch authorities. Handed over to the Norwegian Shipping & Trade Mission
(NORTASHIP) Oslo and renamed NORSK TANK
22 November 1941 sailed Curacao independently to Halifax arriving 2 December
1941
8 December 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX164 arriving at Belfast 23
December 1941 with a cargo of diesel oil
26 December 1941 sailed Belfast Lough in escorted convoy BB116 to Avonmouth
arriving the next day
4 January 1942 sailed Avonmouth independently to Cardiff arriving the next day
WW2 fitted as and served as an Escort Oiler, name unchanged
2 September 1942 sailed Curaçao in escorted convoy AH3 to Halifax arriving 10
September 1942
20 April 1943 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN219 to Loch Ewe arriving 22
April 1943
15 February 1945 sailed Milford Haven in escorted convoy BTC70 to Southend
arriving 18 February 1945
1947 returned to Pankos Operating Co S.A. (Anders Jahre, Sandefjord, Manager)
Panama and name reverted to JANKO
28 January 1951 again broke in two off the Spanish coast in position 43°40 N
09°40 W
30 January 1951 the aft part was towed to Vigo by tug BUSTLER whilst the
forepart was towed upside down to the inlet to the River Mino by local fisherman
27 February 1951 the aft part was towed from Vigo to Falmouth by tug BUSTLER
for discharge and inspection while the forepart was declared a CTL
7 March 1951 aft part arrived Falmouth.
22 March 1951 aft part laid up on the River Fal
19 September 1951 aft part arrived Newport, Mon for demolition by John Cashmore.