Jan Mayen Island (Part 5 of 6)

Weather/Supply Challenges

Resupply of the station and the Norwegian garrison was normally accomplished by Norwegian supply ships from Iceland and was subject to the whims of the Arctic weather. On December 30, 1943, a storm resulted in ice blocking the coastline out to a distance of 1500 yards. When the Norwegian supply ship HONNINGSVAAD arrived the next day, the landing of supplies was blocked by the ice which fortunately shifted away late in the day and the supplies were landed on January 1, 1944.

However, the weather wasn’t always so cooperative. On December 31, 1944, when the Norwegian supply ship NOMSOS arrived with supplies, the Norwegians garrison commander and medical officer went on board. They were unable to leave the ship until January 4, 1945 because of high surf, which also delayed the landing of the supplies.