Nora 1940

The MS HALMA, ex Danish "NORA ", was seized under Public Law #I01 by the U.S. on September 8, 1941 and turned over to the War Shipping Administration for operation. On January 6, 1942, the HALMA was registered under the flag of Panama and assigned to the Marine Transport Line under a GAA agreement. On May 14, 1943, the HALMA was turned over to the Cosmopolitan Shipping Company in the port of New York.
The MS HALMA sunk after striking a mine which had been laid by the German U-119 (Horst-Tessen von Kameke) while en route from Boston to Greenland via Halifax, at 1645 GCT on June 3, 1943 in Convoy BX 55 with a load of 2975 tons of general cargo for bases in Greenland.
Due to thick fog, the HALMA got separated from the convoy and was approaching Halifax independently when the ship struck the mine. It exploded on the port side between #2 and #3 hatches. The explosion caused a geyser of water to shoot 75' in the air.
The HALMA took a heavy list to port but gradually settled back on an even keel which she maintained until she went down by the head at 1720 GCT on the same day, 35 minutes after striking the mine.
On board was a merchant crew of 37 and a Naval Armed Guard contingent of 5 men. Also on board were 6 U.S. Army Security personnel bound for Greenland. All hands survived.
All hands abandoned ship in 2 lifeboats. They were rescued by the S/V CAROLINE ROSE at 1900 GCT and landed at Halifax.

Name	Halma
Type:	Motor merchant
Tonnage	2,937 tons
Completed	1940 - Aalborg Værft A/S, Aalborg
Owner	Cosmopolitan Shipping Co, New York
Homeport	Panama
Date of attack	3 Jun 1943	Nationality: Panaman

Fate	Sunk by U-119 (Horst-Tessen von Kameke)
Position	44.17N, 62.23W - Grid BB 7550 - See location on a map -
Complement	48 (0 dead and 48 survivors).
Convoy	BX-55 (straggler)
Route	Boston - Halifax - Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland
Cargo	2975 tons of general cargo for US bases
History	Completed in January 1940 as Nora for D/S Vesterhavet A/S (J. Lauritzen), Esbjerg. On 8 Sep, 1941, seized by the US under Public Law #101 and operated by the US War Shipping Administration (WSA). On 6 Jan, 1942, registered in Panama as Halma for the Marine Transport Line under GAA agreement. On 14 May 1943, transferred to the Cosmopolitan Shipping Co, New York.
Notes on loss	At 17.45 hours on 3 Jun, 1943, the Halma (Master Hans R. Schnitler), a straggler from convoy BX-55 due to thick fog, struck a mine laid on 1 June by U-119 off Halifax. The mine exploded on the port side between #2 and #3 hatches. The explosion caused a geyser of water to shoot 75 feet in the air. The vessel took a heavy list to port but gradually settled back on an even keel until she went down by the head 35 minutes after the hit. The 37 crew members, five armed guards and six passengers (US Army Security personnel) abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The men were picked up by the Canadian sailing vessel Caroline Rose at 20.00 hours and landed at Halifax

MS HALMA Home Port: Panama City, R.P. Company: Marine Transport Line/Cosmopolitan Shipping Co. Master: Hans R. Schnitler (Norwegian) Built: Aalborg, Denmark 1940 Gross Tons: 2937 Dimensions: 373' x 52' x 18' Former Name: NORA ex Danish
The MS HALMA, ex Danish "NORA ", was seized under Public Law #I01 by the U.S. on September 8, 1941 and turned over to the War Shipping Administration for operation. On January 6, 1942, the HALMA was registered under the flag of Panama and assigned to the Marine Transport Line under a GAA agreement. On May 14, 1943, the HALMA was turned over to the Cosmopolitan Shipping Company in the port of New York. The MS HALMA sunk after striking a mine which had been laid by the German U-119 (Horst-Tessen von Kameke) while en route from Boston to Greenland via Halifax, at 1645 GCT on June 3, 1943 in Convoy BX 55 with a load of 2975 tons of general cargo for bases in Greenland. Due to thick fog, the HALMA got separated from the convoy and was approaching Halifax independently when the ship struck the mine. It exploded on the port side between #2 and #3 hatches. The explosion caused a geyser of water to shoot 75' in the air. The HALMA took a heavy list to port but gradually settled back on an even keel which she maintained until she went down by the head at 1720 GCT on the same day, 35 minutes after striking the mine. On board was a merchant crew of 37 and a Naval Armed Guard contingent of 5 men. Also on board were 6 U.S. Army Security personnel bound for Greenland. All hands survived. All hands abandoned ship in 2 lifeboats. They were rescued by the S/V CAROLINE ROSE at 1900 GCT and landed at Halifax.
U.S. MERCHANT SEAMEN SURVIVORS CARLI, John J. FERREIRA, Anthony GRANT, Ralph H. JONES, Glenn D. HEWITT, James J. KOLARIK, James KWIATKOWSKI, Edmund SHEA, James P. STERLICK, Richard B. TRANCHINO, Santo V. WOODS, John J. U.S. NAVAL ARMED GUARD SURVIVORS HAMILTON, Harry L. LYONS, Kenneth D. KRAMER, William H. PINKERTON, Delbert SLEASE, William C.	Messman Oiler Messman Dk. Cadet Eng. Cadet Electrician O.S. Messman O.S. Purser Messman Cox. S lc S 3c S lc S lc
U-119 (v. Kamake) sunk June 24, 1943 by HMS STARLING (U-66) 45-00 N./12-00 W. There were no survivors.

Halma

U-119

Type

XB