| Navy | The Royal Norwegian Navy |
| Type | Submarine |
| Class | U |
| Pennant | P 66 |
| Mod | Third Group |
| Built by | Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.) |
| Ordered | 12 Jul 1941 |
| Laid down | 29 Apr 1942 |
| Launched | 22 Jan 1943 |
| Commissioned | 3 Apr 1943 |
| End service | |
| History | HMS Varne was supposed to be transferred the the Royal Netherlands Navy as Haai but due to the loss of most of its crew while on transfer from Australia to the U.K. the transfer did not took place. Instead HMS Varne was transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy before completion on 28 March 1943. She was commissioned as Ula on 3 April 1943. Ula was sold to be broken up for scrap in December 1965 to H. Eckhart GmbH (Hamburg, Germany). She was scrapped in Hamburg in 1966. |
| Former name | HMS Varne |
Commands listed for HNoMS Ula (P 66)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt. Reidar Michael Sars, RNON | 28 Mar 1943 | Oct 1943 |
| 2 | Lt. Sigurd Valvatne, RNON | Oct 1943 | Dec 1943 |
| 3 | Lt. Reidar Michael Sars, RNON | Dec 1943 | Mar 1944 |
| 4 | Lt. Sigurd Valvatne, RNON | Mar 1944 | May 1944 |
| 5 | Lt. Reidar Michael Sars, RNON | May 1944 |
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Notable events involving Ula include:
The history of HNoMS Ula as compiled on this page is extracted from this submarines patrol reports. Corrections and details regarding information from the enemy's side (for instance the composition of convoys attacked) is kindly provided by Mr. Platon Alexiades, a naval researcher from Canada.
This page was last updated in July 2016.
2 Apr 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed her builders yard at Barrow for Holy Loch. She made the passage together with HMS Upstart (Lt. P.C. Chapman, DSC and Bar, RN). They were escorted by HMS Virginia (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J. Dobson, RNR). (1)
3 Apr 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Holy Loch to begin a period of trials and training. (2)
30 Apr 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed from Holy Loch for Scapa Flow. She made the passage together with HrMs O 10 (Lt.Cdr. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN), HMS Ultimatum (Lt. W.H. Kett, RNR) and HMS Truculent (Lt. R.L. Alexander, RN) that were to proceed to Lerwick. They were escorted by HMS Dornoch (Lt. H.E. Jackson, RN). (3)
2 May 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Scapa Flow where she was to participate in A/S training. (2)
18 May 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Scapa Flow for Dundee. Off Scapa Flow she joined HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN) and her escort HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR) that were both coming from Lerwick. (3)
19 May 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (2)
2 Jun 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Dundee for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HMS Celia (T/Lt. L.B. Merrick, RNR). She made part of the passage north together with HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN), submarine FFS Rubis (Lt.Cdr. H.L.G. Rousselot) and FFS Minerve (Lt. H.F.D. Simon-Dubuisson). (3)
3 Jun 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Scapa Flow where she was to participate in A/S training. (2)
16 Jun 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Scapa Flow for Lerwick. (3)
17 Jun 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Lerwick. (3)
20 Jun 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Norwegian Sea for an anti U-boat patrol. The patrol was uneventful.
For the daily positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
29 Jun 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) ended her 1st war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
1 Jul 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). Off Barrahead they were joined by HrMs K XV (Lt.Cdr. Baron C.W.T. van Boetzelaer, RNN) and HMS Trusty (Lt.Cdr. E.F Balston, DSO, RN). (4)
2 Jul 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (4)
7 Aug 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Dundee for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (4)
8 Aug 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Lerwick. She departed for her 2nd war patrol later the same day. She was ordered to patrol in the Norwegian Sea on an anti U-boat patrol. The patrol was uneventful.
For the daily positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
19 Aug 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) ended her 2nd war patrol at Lerwick. She departed for Dundee later the same day. She was escorted by HMS Macbeth (T/Lt. A. Parker, RNR). (4)
21 Aug 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (4)
29 Aug 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (4)
30 Aug 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Lerwick. (4)
31 Aug 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to proceed to Lunna Voe first before proceeding on patrol for special operation 'Venus'.
For the daily positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
1 Sep 1943
After exercises, HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars), departed Lunna Voe for her patrol area. (4)
5 Sep 1943
During the night of 5/6 September 1943, HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars), conducted special operation 'Venus' (SIS). About 6,000lb of stores and three Norwegian agents Einar Johansen, Torstein Raaby and Per Ingebrigtsen were landed at Kvalviken in Mefjord (approx. 69°30’N, 17°30’E). (4)
11 Sep 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) ended her 3rd war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
12 Sep 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS White Bear until 1130/13 when HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR) took over the escort. (4)
14 Sep 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (4)
24 Sep 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She made the passage together with HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN) and HrMs O 15 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN). They were escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (4)
24 Sep 1943
HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She made the passage together with the Norwegian submarine HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars). They were ecorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (5)
25 Sep 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Lerwick. She departed for her 4th war patrol later the same day. She was ordered to patrol off Norway (Malangen Fjord) and later in the Norwegian Sea for anti U-boat patrol.
For the daily positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
26 Sep 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) was ordered to patrol near position 62°13'N, 05°17'E (Stadlandet). (4)
28 Sep 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) was ordered to patrol on patrol line KK in the Norwegian Sea for an anti U-boat patrol. The patrol was uneventful. (4)
12 Oct 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) ended her 4th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
15 Oct 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She made the passage together with HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN). They were escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (4)
16 Oct 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (4)
28 Oct 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She made part of the passage together with HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN). They were escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (4)
29 Oct 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) arrived at Lerwick. (4)
30 Oct 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) departed Lerwick for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Norwegian Sea for an anti U-boat patrol.
For the daily positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
6 Nov 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) was informed of the possible presence of a U-boat in her vicinity (the submarine was near 64°00’N, 04°39’E) but nothing was seen.
12 Nov 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) ended her 5th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
20 Nov 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) departed Lerwick for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Stadlandet, Norway.
For the daily and attack positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
22 Nov 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) torpedoed and sank the Norwegian merchant Arcturus (1681 GRT, built 1892, offsite link) north-west of Stadlandet in the Vanylsgapet, about 2.5 nautical miles north of Honningsvaeg, Norway in position 62°14'N, 05°09'E.
The Arcturus was already damaged, on fire and under tow after an attack by British aircraft earlier in the day. The Arcturus was towed by the auxiliary patrol vessel V 5101 and escorted by the auxilirary submarine chaser UJ 1709. Ula fired one torpedo at a whale catcher and one torpedo at the Arcturus. Both torpedoes however hit the Arcturus. The two escort vessels joined by the tug Furu and the minesweeper M 5615 searched for survivors and twenty-one men were rescued. Ula escaped without any counterattack.
(All times are zone -1) 1355 hours - Heard HE bearing 255°.
1358 hours - Sighted funnels and masts of three ships bearing 257°. Enemy course was approximately 180°. Smoke and flames were seen on the after part of the last and largest ship.
1409 hours - The vessels were now seen to be a laden merchant vessel of 3500 tons, one armed whale catcher of 800 tons and one armed trawler or tug. The merchant vessel had a small fire in no.4 hold.
1414 hours - Fired the first torpedo at the whalecatcher from 700 yards. A hit was heard.
1415 hours - Fired a second torpedo but now aimed at the merchant vessel. This torpedo also hit. Ula meanwhile had gone deep.
1428 hours - Ula hit bottom. She quickly broke free but had lost depth control.
1430 hours - Ula broke surface. Only the smaller escort or tug was seen.
1436 hours - Went to 100 feet. No counter attack developed. (4)
24 Nov 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) attacked a convoy made up of three merchant vessels heading south escorted by two escorts. Ula fires two torpedoes but these missed their intended target (a merchant vessel of 8000 tons) and hit land instead. These were tankers Altengamme and Amrum, the steamer Trotsburg escorted by K 2 and V 5304. Shortly after this attack Ula spotted a merchant vessel heading north escorted by a M-class minesweeper, Ula fired two torpedoes at the merchant, one of these hit the German merchant Eisstrom (928 GRT, former Dutch Marietje Bohmer) off Alesund, Norway in position 62°27'N, 06°04'E. She was escorted by minesweeper M 407 and beached near Eltrenes. The attack was unobserved and she was believed to have been mined at that time.
(All times are zone -1) 1336 hours - Sighted smoke bearing 096° Probably a convoy coming south through the lead of Alesund.
1420 hours - Sighted mastheads bearing 118°. Range approximately 9000 yards. HE was also reported from that direction.
1425 hours - Sighted three merchant vessels bearing 115°. The last one was seen to be a large merchant vessel of about 8000 tons. This ship was choses as the target. This would be a very long range attack as we were unable to close the range.
1430 hours - In position 62°25'N, 06°02'E fired two torpedoes from a range of 10000 yards. It was intended to fire four torpedoes but Ula dipped on firing. Two torpedo explosions were heard almost 9 minutes after firing. This were thought to be the torpedoes hitting the land beyond the target. It appeared the range had been overestimated.
-------------------------------------------------------
1455 hours - Sighted a laden merchant vessel of 4500 tons escorted by an M-class minesweeper bearing 125°. Range was approximately 8000 yards. Started attack.
1508 hours - In position 62°27'N, 06°04'E fired two torpedoes from 7000 yards. Remained at periscope depth to see the result of the attack.
1513 hours - Two hits were obtained. (4)
27 Nov 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) ended her 6th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
30 Nov 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She made the passage together with HMS Satyr (Lt. T.S. Weston, RN). They were escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (4)
2 Dec 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) arrived at Dundee. (4)
23 Dec 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) and HMS Seadog (Lt. C.R. Pelly, RN) departed Dundee for Lerwick. They made the passage together with HMS Viking (Lt. R. Bannar-Martin, DSC, RN) which was to proceed to Scapa Flow and from there to Plymouth. They were escorted by HMS Lord Ashfield (T/Lt. J.B. Morpeth, RNR). (4)
24 Dec 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Lerwick. (4)
25 Dec 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Skudesnes Fjord, Norway.
For the daily and attack positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
28 Dec 1943
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) attacked an unescorted merchant vessel with two torpedoes off Skudesnes, Norway. No hits were obtained. Lt. Sars identified the target as the Norwegian merchant Pan (1309 GRT, built 1922).
(All times are zone -1) 1333 hours - Heard HE bearing 350°. Had a look on that bearing and sighted a single merchant vessel at a range of about 5000 yards.
1335 hours - Commenced attack.
1356 hours - In position 59°08'N, 05°24'E fired two torpedoes from 1400 yards but no hits were obtained. (4)
1 Jan 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) attacked the German merchant Pergamon (2999 GRT, built 1943) with three torpedoes off Skudesnes, Norway. One torpedo hit Pergamon in no.4 hold but failed to explode and caused a small leak.
Pergamon was part of a convoy that was made up, besides herself, of the German merchant Elima (5245 GRT, built 1920) and the German tanker Lieselotte Essberger 1593 GRT, built 1935). They were escorted by German auxiliary patrol vessel V 5108 and the German guard vessel NS 09.
(All times are zone -1) 0915 hours - Heard HE bearing 060°. Observed two unescorted ships, one of 8000 tons and one of 6000 tons. Both were fully laden and northbound. Range to the first ship was about 3000 yards. Started attack.
0927 hours - In position 59°08'N, 05°24'E fired three torpedoes from 1400 yards. No hits were obtained. (4)
3 Jan 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) ended her 7th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
4 Jan 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Lord Ashfield (T/Lt. J.B. Morpeth, RNR). (4)
5 Jan 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (4)
20 Jan 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Dundee for Scapa Flow. She made the passage with HrMs O 15 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN). They were escorted by HMS Lord Ashfield (T/Lt. J.B. Morpeth, RNR).
(4)
21 Jan 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Scapa Flow where she was to participate in A/S training. (4)
9 Feb 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Scapa Flow for Lerwick. (4)
10 Feb 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Lerwick. (4)
16 Feb 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Skudesnes Fjord, Norway. Later the patrol area was changed to Lister Fjord.
For the daily and attack positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4)
20 Feb 1944
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) attacked a German convoy made up of the German tanker Orion (8064 GRT, built 1936, former Norwegian) the German merchants Bochum (6121 GRT, built 1922), Cap Guir (1536 GRT, built 1927), Hans Leonhardt (4174 GRT, built 1922) and Viola (991 GRT, built 1921) and the German seaplane tender Bussard (2040 GRT, built 1942). They were escorted by the German minesweepers M 456, M 427, The German auxiliary patrol vessels V 5304, V 5309 as well as the German auxiliary submarine chasers UJ 1701, UJ 1707, UJ 1712. The torpedoes missed. UJ 1707 and UJ 1712 hunted the submarine and the Egersund coastal battery opened fire on the submarine. The MTBs S 10 and S 16 were also sailed to join the hunt.
(All times are zone -1) 1055 hours - The Asdic operator reported a faint noise bearing 195°.
1058 hours - Sighted masts of a large convoy off Lister. Started attack. Position was 58°09'N, 06°33'E.
1132 hours - Fired four torpedoes at both ships. Range on firing was estimated as 6500 yards.
1137 hours - Heard a loud torpedo explosion.
1138 hours - Heard another loud torpedo explosion.
It is thought both ships had been hit and sunk. (4) 25 Feb 1944 (All times are zone -1)
0810 hours - Heard HE bearing 015°.
0817 hours - Sighted a merchant vessel of 2000 tons bearing 020°. This was a combined passenger / cargo ship. Enemy course was 135°.
0832 hours - Fired three torpedoes from a range of 6500 yards. (The patrol report does not mention a position as the page with the 'attack form' of this attack in missing.
0836 hours - Two explosions were heard.
0838 hours - Periscope depth. The target was not sighted and is thought to have sunk. (4) 28 Feb 1944 29 Feb 1944 1 Mar 1944 15 Mar 1944 16 Mar 1944 For the daily and attack positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4) 21 Mar 1944 While near Alesund, Ula, fires three torpedoes at a merchant (approx. 2000 GRT) in a convoy of three escorts and two merchants. All torpedoes missed and two torpedoes were heard to hit land. Ula escaped without counterattack. The convoy Ula attacked was made up of the Norwegian Merchants (both in German service) Finse (1614 GRT, built 1916), Standard (1286 GRT, built 1930), Norwegian tanker (also in German service) Irania (2184 GRT, built 1929). The escorts were the German auxiliary patrol vessels V 5304, V 5307, NK 07. Most likely the target had been the Finse.
Later the same day Ula was recalled from patrol.
(All times are zone -1)
1232 hours - Sighted two merchant vessel of 2000 tons and three trawlers. Commenced attack.
1246 hours - In position 62°27'N, 06°03'E fired three torpedoes (four were intended) from 2700 yards. No hits were obtained. There was no counter attack by the escorts.
(4) 23 Mar 1944 25 Mar 1944 For the daily and attack positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4) 30 Mar 1944 4 Apr 1944 (All times are zone -1)
Details of this attack can not be provided (the patrol report is unreadable, there is not much ink left on the papers).
(4) 6 Apr 1944 Wesergau was in a convoy with two other merchants and two escorts (Pergamon, M 2 and NK 06). Ula fired three torpedoes. Two torpedoed hit Wesergau. The escorts attacked Ula for several hours dropping a total of 68 depth charges, many close but aft of Ula. Ula finally escaped by passing the shallow grounds at Havfluene.
(All times are zone -1)
Details of this attack can not be provided (the patrol report is unreadable, there is not much ink left on the papers).
(4) 7 Apr 1944 16 Apr 1944 For the daily and attack positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4) 19 Apr 1944 (All times are zone -2)
0654 hours - Sighted the conning tower of a U-boat behind the M-class minesweeper we had sighted earlier. Started attack.
0701 hours - In position 59°08'N, 05°23'E fired four torpedoes from 600 yards.
0702 hours - One torpedo hit was seen just abaft the conning tower. Another explosion was heard within seconds. The Asdic reported breaking up noises. Went deep to 60 feet.
0711 hours - Two depth charges were dropped by the escort. Two patrol vessels soon joined the hunt.
0725 hours - Two depth charges.
0726 hours - One depth charge.
0728 hours - One depth charge. During the next 20 minutes more depth charges were dropped, most of them were single depth charges. They caused no damage to Ula. (4) 22 Apr 1944 (All times are zone -2)
0247 hours - Sighted a vessel towards Lister in the flashes from the light. This vessel was on a northerly course.
0248 hours - Turned towards. More vessels were now sighted. Asdic reported A/S transmissions coming from the same direction.
0255 hours - Sighted an M-class minesweeper. Range was only 200 yards. Ordered hard starboard. The range to the nearest ship in the convoy was about 1000 yards.
0256 hours - Sighted another escort vessel. Lt. Valvatne was now forced to fire on the closest merchant vessel so fired four torpedoes from 800 yards. One torpedo hit was obtained. Ula meanwhile dived to 60 feet.
0312 hours - Heard breaking up noises.
0336 hours - HE had now faded out so surfaced. (4) 24 Apr 1944 26 Apr 1944 27 Apr 1944 19 May 1944 20 May 1944 19 Jun 1944 20 Jun 1944 26 Jun 1944 28 Jun 1944 4 Jul 1944 5 Jul 1944 11 Jul 1944 12 Jul 1944 20 Jul 1944 For the daily positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4) 26 Jul 1944 5 Aug 1944 2 Sep 1944 4 Sep 1944 25 Sep 1944 26 Sep 1944 3 Oct 1944 For the daily positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4) 4 Oct 1944 17 Oct 1944 18 Oct 1944 19 Oct 1944 3 Nov 1944 4 Nov 1944 For the daily positions of HNoMS Ula during this patrol see the map below.
(4) 23 Nov 1944 25 Nov 1944 26 Nov 1944 8 Jan 1945 Sources ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) fires three torpedoes against the Norwegian merchant (German controlled) Ryfylke (898 GRT, built 1929, offsite link) off Lista, Norway. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) ended her 8th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Lord Ashfield (T/Lt. J.B. Morpeth, RNR). (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Lord Ashfield (T/Lt. J.B. Morpeth, RNR). (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) arrived at Lerwick. She departed for her 9th war patrol later the same day. She was ordered to conduct a special operation (Operation Foremost, details to follow) and to attack enemy shipping in the Bredsund area afterwards.
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) received a signal cancelling her special operation. She was ordered to proceed to the Bredsund area forthwith.
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) ended her 9th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) departed Lerwick for her 10th war patrol. She was ordered to conduct a special operation (Operation Apparatus, details to follow) and to attack enemy shipping in the Stadlandet and Bredsund areas afterwards.
In the evening, HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) carried out operation Apparatus in Mefjord (landing half a ton of stores for the SIS agents of operation Venus, see 5 Sep 1943).
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) torpedoed and damaged the German tanker Ill (read ill) (7603 GRT, former Norwegian Turicum offsite link) off Stadlanded, Norway in position 62°15'N, 04°58'E. Ula fired four torpedoes, one of these hit and damaged the Ill. The tanker Ill was in convoy with seven merchants escorted by seven escorts. Two escorts (V 5303 and V 5304) attacked Ula for several hours with total of 114 depth charges. Ula finally escaped under a minefield.
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) torpedoed and damaged the German merchant Wesergau (1923 GRT, built 1943) off Stadlandet, Norway in position 62°10'N, 05°05'E. The German ship was run aground but was not salvaged.
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) ended her 10th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) departed Lerwick for her 11th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Skudesnes / Lister area.
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) torpedoed and sank the German U-boat U-974 (OL Heinz Wolff) in position 59°08'N, 05°23'E. U-974 was escorted by the German minesweeper M 407 which picked up eight survivors (Wolff, the First Officer and six ratings).
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) torpedoed and sank the German merchant Bahia (4117 GRT, built 1927) off Lista, Norway in position 58°07'N, 06°27'E. Bahia was in convoy together with the German Merchants Ingrid Traber (1883 GRT, built 1927), Claus Rickmers (5165 GRT, built 1924), Walter L.M. Russ (1538 GRT, built 1927), tanker Amrum (1005 GRT, built 1938), and hospital ship Posen (1104 GRT, built 1925). They were escorted by the German minesweepers M 416, M 427, M 437, M 446, M 489, M 496. Bahia was carrying 7500 tons of coal, fifty-one survivors were picked up, sixteen were missing.
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) ended her 11th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She made this passage together with HMS Unshaken (Lt. J. Whitton, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HNoMS Nordkapp. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt. S. Valvatne) arrived at Dundee. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) departed Dundee for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (6)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) arrived at Scapa Flow where she was to participate in A/S exercises. (6)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) departed Scapa Flow for Dundee. (6)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (6)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) shifted from Dundee to Leith for radar trials. (6)
Having completed radar trials at Leith, HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars), returned to Dundee. (6)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) shifted from Dundee to Leith for more radar trials. She was escorted by HMS ML 229 (T/Lt. W.C.R. Walsh, RNVR). (6)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) returned to Dundee. (6)
HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) arrived at Lerwick. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for her 12th war patrol. She was ordered to perform an anti U-boat patrol in the Norwegian Sea.
At 2045 hours in approximately 73°N, 12°E, HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) sighted the conning tower of a U-boat from 6000 yards but lost contact very quickly. This may have been U-921.
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) ended her 12th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR).
(4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Castlenau (T/Skr. G. Wood, RNR). (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) arrived at Lerwick. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for her 13th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Lister, Norway.
At 2110 hours (zone -1), HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars), was bombed in error by a British Wellington aircraft from Coastal Command in position 60°09'N, 03°26'E. Four or more depth charges exploded when Ula passed 10 feet. The submarine had only minor damage. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) ended her 13th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) departed Lerwick for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) departed Dundee for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Agnes Wetherly (T/Lt. C.A. Pinhey, RNVR). (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) arrived at Lerwick. She departed for her 14th war patrol later the same day. She was ordered to patrol off Fro Havet, Norway. The patrol was uneventful.
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) ended her 14th war patrol at Lerwick. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) and HMS Venturer (Lt. J.S. Launders, DSC and Bar, RN) both departed Lerwick for Dundee. They were escorted by HMS Minna (T/Lt. P.W. Scott, RNR). (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) arrived at Dundee. (4)
HNoMS Ula (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Sars) was taken in hand for refit at Dundee. When the war in Europe ended she was still refitting. (2)