How many died on the Telemark ferry?
“Hydro” sinks to bottom of the Tinnsjø lake The weakest link was the journey by train ferry over the Tinnsjø lake. An explosion in the bow sank the “Hydro” on 20 February 1944, and ended the last chapter in the story of heavy water in Norway. The sinking of the “Hydro” cost four Germans and 14 Norwegians their lives.
What happened to the first team that was to assault the vemork hydroelectric powerplant?
Except for the crew of one Halifax bomber, all the participants were killed in the crashes or captured, interrogated and executed by the Gestapo. In February 1943, a team of SOE-trained Norwegian commandos destroyed the production facility in Operation Gunnerside; this was followed by Allied bombing raids.
Why was Norway producing heavy water?
During the German occupation of Norway in World War II, the production of heavy water was judged to be a serious enough threat that at least five separate attacks were launched in order to prevent the Germans from making an atomic bomb.
What was being developed and stored at the vemork power plant?
Norsk Hydro’s Heavy Water Plant Although the Vemork plant was originally designed to use mountain water for electrolysis to produce ammonia for nitrogen fertilizer, the plant had recently become the first industrial-scale production site of heavy water in the world.
Did the Heroes of Telemark survive?
The survivors were executed, but the Swallows survived and lived in the wild, hunting for food. After three months, they received a message that six more Norwegians would be sent in an operation codenamed Gunnerside. Mr Ronneberg was to be the leader of the team.
Is Heroes of Telemark a true story?
The Heroes of Telemark is a 1965 British war film directed by Anthony Mann based on the true story of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage during the Second World War from Skis Against the Atom, the memoirs of Norwegian resistance soldier Knut Haukelid.
Is Heroes of Telemark true?
The Heroes of Telemark is a 1965 British war film directed by Anthony Mann based on the true story of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage during the Second World War from Skis Against the Atom, the memoirs of Norwegian resistance soldier Knut Haukelid. It was filmed on location in Norway.
Where is heavy water found naturally?
Today, Canada and India, which both rely on heavy-water nuclear power plants for electricity, make the most heavy water. Other countries with heavy-water production facilities include Argentina, Iran, Romania, and Russia. Satellite images taken in February 2005 reveal a heavy-water plant in Arak, Iran.
How much does a gallon of heavy water weigh?
The saying refers to the rough equivalence between 16 fluid ounces (a pint) and 16 ounces avoirdupois weight. A gallon is 4 quarts or 8 pints, so a gallon weighs approximately 8 lbs.
How accurate is Heroes of Telemark?
In the public mind, the raid was captured in true Hollywood style by the 1965 film The Heroes of Telemark starring Kirk Douglas. That version was not quite true to real life – but the story of the real heroes of Telemark is still extraordinary.
Did the King of Norway survive WWII?
His refusal to submit when a German-pressured Storting body asked him to abdicate inspired the Norwegians to resist the German occupation during World War II. Haakon VII returned from exile in England to Norway in June 1945. He continued in the high esteem of his people until his death.
Why do you need heavy water to make a nuclear bomb?
Nuclear power plants harness the energy of countless atoms of uranium splitting apart, or fissioning, in a chain reaction. Heavy water can help keep such a chain reaction going. As each uranium atom breaks apart, it shoots out neutrons that can go on to split other atoms.
When did the Rjukan Line in Norway Open?
The Rjukan Line and the ferries were operated by Norsk Transport, a subsidiary of Norsk Hydro. Construction of the line started in 1907, and it opened two years later. It became the second Norwegian railway to be electrified in 1911. It experienced heavy growth, and had fifteen electric locomotives in use.
What was the purpose of the Rjukan railway?
The Rjukan Line ( Norwegian: Rjukanbanen ), at first called the Vestfjorddal Line, was a 16-kilometre (10 mi) Norwegian railway line running through Vestfjorddalen between Mæl and Rjukan in Telemark. The railway’s main purpose was to transport chemicals from Norsk Hydro ‘s plant at Rjukan to the port at Skien, in addition to passenger transport.
How did the town of Rjukan get its name?
Rjukan was formerly a significant industrial centre in Telemark, and the town was established between 1905 and 1916, when Norsk Hydro started saltpetre (fertilizer) production there. Rjukan was chosen because Rjukan Falls, a 104-metre waterfall, provided easy means of generating large quantities of electricity.
Where was the Norsk Hydro Rjukan plant located?
Norsk Hydro Rjukan is an industrial facility operated by Norsk Hydro at Rjukan in Tinn, Norway, from 1911 to 1991. The plant manufactured chemicals related to the production of fertilizer, initially potassium nitrate from arc-produced nitric acid and later ammonia, hydrogen, and heavy water.