This photo shows the steamer 'Songdal' in her homeport Kristiansand. Built in 1917 by Lindholmens MV, Gothenburg (yard no. 431) as Anten for Angf. A/B Viking (J.M. Dannberg mgr.), Gothenburg. 1920: Mongolia, Red. A/B Svenska Lloyd, Gothenburg. 1927: Songdal, A/S Songvaar (T. Isaksen mgr.), Kristiansand. 1935: Skis A/S Songdal (Johan Gerrard jr. mgr.), Kristiansand 1939: Usko, Hoyrilaiva O/Y Usko (Jalmari Penttila mgr.), Rauma. 1940: Dietrich Oldendorff, Egon Oldendorff Luebeck. 1942: Usko, Finnish Government. 1944: German government. 1944: August 17 sunk at Stettin by allied bombers.
Note: the songdal was the first vessel in the fleet of what later became Gerrards Rederi A/S. T. Isaksen had a large 'I' in the funnel. Johan Gerrard Jr. only had to change this letter in an 'G'' . All later vessels of Gerrards had a yellow funnel, where the Songdal has black instead.
Best wishes,
Schepekees.