Empire ship
Encyclopedia
The Empire ships were a series of ships in the service of the British Government. Their names were all prefixed with "Empire". Mostly they were used during World War II
by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), who owned the ships but contracted out their management to various shipping lines. Some ships requisitioned during the Suez Crisis
were also given the Empire prefix. They were acquired from a number of sources. Many were built for the MoWT, others obtained from the USA, still others were captured or seized from enemy powers.
entered World War II
on the 3 September 1939, however, significantly before the declaration of war, preparations were in hand to put the shipping industry of Britain
on a war footing. All shipbuilders had specified the capability of their yards to produce cargo ships, cargo liner
s, tramps, tankers
, colliers
, coasters
and naval ship
s. The Ministry of Shipping
, formed in October 1939 quickly adopted a standard naming system, applying the prefix Empire for all merchant ships built in Great Britain for the Government. With some exceptions, the prefix was also extended to purchased or requisitions ships and to those acquired as prizes
.
From 1 February 1940, the Admiralty
took control of all shipbuilding and repairs, including merchant shipping. From that date, ships could only be built either on orders of the Admiralty or, for private owners, under licences that required the ships to be built to admiralty specifications of wartime requirements.
of around 10,000 tons and a speed of around 10 knots (19.6 km/h). The first standard to be used was the PF(B) of approximately 7,050 gross tons
. These incorporated one 30-ton, two 10-ton and eight 5-ton derrick
s for cargo handling.
The PF(C) design was introduced in 1942 to handle heavier military equipment, and was equipped with one 50-ton, one 30-ton, five 10-ton and five 5-ton derricks. PF(C) were around 7,320 gross tons. The later PF(D) was similar to PF(C), at 7,370 tons, but could be distinguished by a full-height poop (which was only half height in the PF(C)). Some had 250000 cubic feet (7,079.2 m³) of refrigerated space.
The 'Ocean' type tankers
were sometimes known as the 'Three twelves type', being about 12,000 tons deadweight with a speed of around 12 knots (23.5 km/h) and a fuel consumption of 12 tons per day. They were used for the transport of fuel and also for refuelling at sea. Some were fitted with triple expansion steam engines; others were diesel powered
.
The 'Norwegian' type were slightly larger and were constructed only by two builders, Sir James Laing & Sones (who had built the prototype) and by Furness Shipbuilding Co, Ltd. The first of the type were fitted with 3800 hp triple expansion steam engines, later models with 3300 hp diesel engines and finally with 4000 hp diesel engines.
The design for the 'Wave' prefixed faster tankers was introduced in 1943. With a speed of 15 knots (29.4 km/h), these fast tankers were able to operate outside of the convoys.
Catapult-Armed Merchantmen
or CAM ships, were merchant cargo ships operating with the convoys and converted to launch a Sea Hurricane fighter by means of a catapult
. As there was no means to land the Hurricane on the ship again, it was only possible for a single launch and the aircraft then had to return to land or ditch in the sea. However they did provide important convoy cover when no other air cover was available. Eight requisitioned private ships and twenty-seven Empire ships served as CAM ships. Ten of the Empire ships were lost in service.
Merchant aircraft carrier
s or MAC ships superseded the CAM ships. Their role was defensive in protection of the convoys. Unlike the CAM ships, they carried a flight deck
so the aircraft were able to land again. The merchant air carriers were adapted standard grain ships or oil tankers. The grain ships had a flight deck of 413 feet (125.88 m) to 424 feet (129.24 m) ft and a breadth of 62 feet (18.9 m). A hangar
on the lower deck was equipped with a lift to the flight deck and accommodated four Fairey Swordfish
aircraft. The oil tankers had longer flight decks - 461 feet (140.51 m) - but no hangars. Three Swordfish reconnaissance planes were stowed at the aft end of the flight deck.
of around 9,900 gross tons was introduced with a length of 475 feet (144.78 m) and a breadth of 64 feet (19.51 m). Thirteen Empire-prefixed standard class cargo liners were completed. Another was laid down intending to be given the prefix but was acquired by the Royal Netherlands Government and completed as Modjokerto.Refrigerated cargo liners: Empire Abercorn, Empire Clarendon, Empire Grace, Empire Hope, Empire Might, Empire Star (originally laid down as Empire Mercia), Empire Wessex (completed as Port Hobart in 1946) and Empire Wisdom .
1942 onwards, Standard fast cargo liners (9,900 gross tons): Empire Allenby, Empire Captain, Empire Chieftain, Empire Dynasty, Empire Haig, Empire Joy, Empire Kitchener, Empire Life, Empire Paragon, Empire Regent, Empire Rawlinson and Empire Wilson.
s for example in maintaining clear navigation channels and to acquire aggregates from the sea bed.
The tank landing ships (LST (Mark 3)) had a speed of eleven knots and were 4,820 tons when loaded. The length was 330 ft and the breadth 54 ft. The bridge and engines were aft. A bow ramp gave access to the interior and onto the open upper deck. 168 troops could be accommodated in narrow dormitories. Landing craft were generally only identified by number (for example LST 3512). However, some were completed as merchant ships after the end of hostilities. Seven were charted from the Ministry of War Transport as ferries and give the Empire prefix, operating between Tilbury
and Hamburg
from September 1946 and also between Preston and Larne
from May 1948.
Twelve of the landing craft were recalled to service and given Empire names in 1956 during the Suez Crisis
and used as military transport ferries in Malta
, Aden
and Singapore
. These were:
(Empire Chub, Empire Dace and Empire Roach), were completed to the same design as an order from the Government of Turkey. They had ramps at both ends and could carry passengers and vehicles but could also be converted for minelaying. They were also equipped with a 25-ton derrick at the front of the superstructure amidships. They were 716 gross tons, length 179 feet (54.56 m) and breadth 40 feet (12.19 m).
were completed as Empire Convoy rescue ships to join twenty-nine previously requisitioned ships. The requisitioned passenger ships had a speed of 11 to 12 knots to enable them to catch up with the convoys travelling at 10 knots after completing their rescue operations. Convoy Rescue ships were also generally armed with AA guns for protection when they were separated from the convoy and vulnerable to enemy attack. The five Empire ships were 1,333 gross tons, length 236 feet (71.93 m), breadth 36 feet (10.97 m) with a speed of sixteen and a half knots. After the war they were used as troopships in the Eastern Mediterranean.
; military convoys to North Africa
; military convoys around the Cape of Good Hope
to prosecute the war in the Middle East
; coastal convoys around the shores of Britain; Mediterranean convoys, including those supporting the defence of Malta
and Arctic convoys to North Russia.
They took an active role supporting the invasions of North Africa
, Sicily
and Italy
and in the Normandy assault and in the assaults on German-held ports of Western Europe. In June 1944. ninety-seven Empire merchant ships were involved in the cross-channel convoys that carried troops and supplies ready for the Normandy invasion. Empire landing craft were involved in the assault phase, and Empire coasters were involved in the beaching of supplies and in ferrying cargo from the larger merchant ships anchored off-shore.
The success of the Normandy invasion depended on the successful construction of the Mulberry ports
. These were prefabricated ports, constructed at Southampton
, Gosport
, Portsmouth
, Tilbury Docks, and even as far north as Birkenhead
and Hartlepool
. Two hundred tugs
then took three months to tow the components of the harbours from where they were constructed to assembly areas on the South Coast. Between 7 June 1945 and the end of July, the tugs towed the materials across the channel to Normandy.
Before D-Day, sixty old merchant ships and four old warships were selected as blockship
s, to be scuttled in a line to give protection to the small craft. The blockships were stripped before setting out in convoy across the channel. Empire tugs were used to ensure the safe crossing. On reaching Normandy they were scuttled in five groups, codenamed Gooseberry 1 to Gooseberry 5. Gooseberry 4 at Juno Beach included four Empire ships: , Empire Flamingo, Empire Moorhen and Empire Waterhen. Gooseberry 5 at Ouistreham included three Empire ships: Empire Defiance, Empire Tamar and Empire Tana. Between the 19 and 23 June 1944 a severe gale, damaged many of the Mulberry harbours and wrecked some of the blockships. Additional blockships were added in July 1944, including one more Empire ship, Empire Bittern, and two of the former Empire ships that had been transferred to the Norwegians: Norfalk (formerly Empire Kittiwake) and Norjerv (formerly Empire Eagle).
At the end of the war, tankers were released from requisition as they completed voyages ater 31 December 1945 and dry cargo ships after voyages completed after 2 March 1946. However passenger and troopships were still involved in the repatriation of servicemen, prisoners of war and refugees. The government therefore converted several captured German passenger ships to Empire troop ships. These included Empire Fowey, Empire Halladale, Empire Ken, Empire Orwell, Empire Trooper and Empire Windrush.
Empire Comfort, Empire Lifeguard, Empire Peacemaker
and Empire Shelter
were smaller troopships operating in the Mediterranean Sea
; Empire Parkeston and Empire Wansbeck operated as troopships between Harwich
and the Hook of Holland.
Empire ships were also transferred to the representatives of governments of countries that had been invaded by Germany, in recognition of the losses suffered by the fleets of Britain's allies.
type ships were transferred to Belgium
between the years 1941-1943.
Twenty-nine Empire ships were transferred or built for the Netherlands
and several American built ships including Ocean Athlete, Ocean Merchant and were also transferred.
Twenty-four Empire ships were purchased by the French Government after liberation in 1945. All were transferred in 1945-46. Empire Gala and Empire Jupiter were later placed with the Gouvernement Generale de L'Indo-Chine, along with Ten Park-type Canadian built ships.
Nineteen Empire ships were transferred to the Norwegian Government in 1941-1942.
Transferred to the Norwegian Government in 1946.
Three Empire ships and a number of American ships were built or transferred to the Polish Government in 1942-1943.
A number of Empire ships were transferred to the Soviet Union
during and after the war.
Transferred in 1944: Empire Nigel
Transferred in 1946: Empire Ayr, Empire Conclyde, Empire Concord, Empire Confederation, Empire Congleton, Empire Congreve, Empire Conisborough, Empire Conleven, Empire Connah, Empire Connaught, Empire Connemara, Empire Consett, Empire Constable†, Empire Constellation, Empire Contees, Empire Contest, Empire Convention†, Empire Conway, Empire Conwear, Empire Dart, Empire Dee, Empire Douglas†, Empire Dovey†, Empire Durant, Empire Forth†, Empire Gable†, Empire Gabon, Empire Gage, Empire Gala, Empire Galashiels, Empire Galaxy, Empire Galleon, Empire Gallic, Empire Galveston, Empire Gantry†, Empire Garner, Empire Kennet, Empire Lea, Empire Neath, Empire Nidd, Empire Ock, Empire Orwell, Empire Tageland, Empire Tageos, Empire Tarne, Empire Tegaden, Empire Tegados, Empire Tegaica, Empire Tegalta, Empire Tegamas, Empire Tegleone, Empire Tegoria, Empire Teguda, Empire Teguto, Empire Teme, Empire Teviot, Empire Tigarth, Empire Tigbart, Empire Tigina, Empire Tigombo, Empire Tigonto, Empire Tigost, Empire Tigouver, Empire Venture, Empire Viking I, Empire Viking II, Empire Viking III, Empire Viking VI, Empire Viking VIII, Empire Viking IX, Empire Viking X, Empire Weaver, Empire Welland†, Empire Wey, Empire Yare†.
Transferred in 1947: Empire Cherwell
† denotes those ships transferred under the terms of the Potsdam Agreement
.
, submarines, enemy aircraft
, E-boats and blockships. The first lost was Empire Commerce in 1940 and the last was Empire Gold in 1945. Eight Empire ships were sacrificed as blockships to support the Normandy invasion. Some of the blockships were later raised and scrapped.
, built as a tug, has been converted to a schooner
and is active on the Great Lakes
. The ST Cervia
, a tug built as Empire Raymond is preserved as a museum ship at Ramsgate
, Kent
. A recent survivor was ST Sea Alarm
, formerly Empire Ash, which was controversially scrapped in 1998. The former Empire Forth, a cargo ship built in 1939 as Mars is preserved at Kaliningrad
, Russia
as Vityaz.
The tug Laut Sawu (ex-Empire Humphrey) was still in active service in Indonesia
in 2004. The tug Poetto (ex-Empire Stella) was still in service in Italy
in 2004.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), who owned the ships but contracted out their management to various shipping lines. Some ships requisitioned during the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
were also given the Empire prefix. They were acquired from a number of sources. Many were built for the MoWT, others obtained from the USA, still others were captured or seized from enemy powers.
Introduction of standard specifications
BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the 3 September 1939, however, significantly before the declaration of war, preparations were in hand to put the shipping industry of Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on a war footing. All shipbuilders had specified the capability of their yards to produce cargo ships, cargo liner
Cargo liner
A Cargo liner is a type of merchant ship which carried general cargo and often passengers. They became common just after the middle of the nineteenth century, and eventually gave way to container ships and other more specialized carriers in the latter half of the twentieth...
s, tramps, tankers
Tank ship
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
, colliers
Collier (ship type)
Collier is a historical term used to describe a bulk cargo ship designed to carry coal, especially for naval use by coal-fired warships. In the late 18th century a number of wooden-hulled sailing colliers gained fame after being adapted for use in voyages of exploration in the South Pacific, for...
, coasters
Coastal trading vessel
Coastal trading vessels, also known as coasters, are shallow-hulled ships used for trade between locations on the same island or continent. Their shallow hulls mean that they can get through reefs where deeper-hulled sea-going ships usually cannot....
and naval ship
Naval ship
A naval ship is a ship used for combat purposes, commonly by a navy. Naval ships are differentiated from civilian ships by construction and purpose...
s. The Ministry of Shipping
Minister of Shipping
The Minister of Shipping was a British government post created during the First World War and again during the Second World War. In 1941 it was merged into the position of Minister of Transport which was then renamed Minister of War Transport....
, formed in October 1939 quickly adopted a standard naming system, applying the prefix Empire for all merchant ships built in Great Britain for the Government. With some exceptions, the prefix was also extended to purchased or requisitions ships and to those acquired as prizes
Prize (law)
Prize is a term used in admiralty law to refer to equipment, vehicles, vessels, and cargo captured during armed conflict. The most common use of prize in this sense is the capture of an enemy ship and its cargo as a prize of war. In the past, it was common that the capturing force would be allotted...
.
From 1 February 1940, the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
took control of all shipbuilding and repairs, including merchant shipping. From that date, ships could only be built either on orders of the Admiralty or, for private owners, under licences that required the ships to be built to admiralty specifications of wartime requirements.
Tramps
Tramp ships were built to a standardised prefabricated design. The ships were 425 feet (129.54 m) in length with a beam of 56 feet (17.07 m), with a deadweightDeadweight tonnage
Deadweight tonnage is a measure of how much weight a ship is carrying or can safely carry. It is the sum of the weights of cargo, fuel, fresh water, ballast water, provisions, passengers, and crew...
of around 10,000 tons and a speed of around 10 knots (19.6 km/h). The first standard to be used was the PF(B) of approximately 7,050 gross tons
Gross Register Tonnage
Gross register tonnage a ship's total internal volume expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of . It is calculated from the total permanently enclosed capacity of the vessel. The ship's net register tonnage is obtained by reducing the volume of non-revenue-earning spaces i.e...
. These incorporated one 30-ton, two 10-ton and eight 5-ton derrick
Derrick
A derrick is a lifting device composed of one tower, or guyed mast such as a pole which is hinged freely at the bottom. It is controlled by lines powered by some means such as man-hauling or motors, so that the pole can move in all four directions. A line runs up it and over its top with a hook on...
s for cargo handling.
The PF(C) design was introduced in 1942 to handle heavier military equipment, and was equipped with one 50-ton, one 30-ton, five 10-ton and five 5-ton derricks. PF(C) were around 7,320 gross tons. The later PF(D) was similar to PF(C), at 7,370 tons, but could be distinguished by a full-height poop (which was only half height in the PF(C)). Some had 250000 cubic feet (7,079.2 m³) of refrigerated space.
Tankers
Tank ship
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
were sometimes known as the 'Three twelves type', being about 12,000 tons deadweight with a speed of around 12 knots (23.5 km/h) and a fuel consumption of 12 tons per day. They were used for the transport of fuel and also for refuelling at sea. Some were fitted with triple expansion steam engines; others were diesel powered
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
.
The 'Norwegian' type were slightly larger and were constructed only by two builders, Sir James Laing & Sones (who had built the prototype) and by Furness Shipbuilding Co, Ltd. The first of the type were fitted with 3800 hp triple expansion steam engines, later models with 3300 hp diesel engines and finally with 4000 hp diesel engines.
The design for the 'Wave' prefixed faster tankers was introduced in 1943. With a speed of 15 knots (29.4 km/h), these fast tankers were able to operate outside of the convoys.
Aircraft Carriers
CAM ship
CAM ships were World War II-era British merchant ships used in convoys as an emergency stop-gap until sufficient escort carriers became available. CAM is an acronym for catapult aircraft merchantman. A CAM ship was equipped with a rocket-propelled catapult launching a single Hawker Sea Hurricane,...
or CAM ships, were merchant cargo ships operating with the convoys and converted to launch a Sea Hurricane fighter by means of a catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
. As there was no means to land the Hurricane on the ship again, it was only possible for a single launch and the aircraft then had to return to land or ditch in the sea. However they did provide important convoy cover when no other air cover was available. Eight requisitioned private ships and twenty-seven Empire ships served as CAM ships. Ten of the Empire ships were lost in service.
Merchant aircraft carrier
Merchant aircraft carrier
Merchant aircraft carriers were bulk cargo ships with minimal aircraft handling facilities, used during World War II by Britain and the Netherlands as an interim measure to supplement British and United States-built escort carriers in providing an anti-submarine function for convoys...
s or MAC ships superseded the CAM ships. Their role was defensive in protection of the convoys. Unlike the CAM ships, they carried a flight deck
Flight deck
The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is the surface from which its aircraft take off and land, essentially a miniature airfield at sea. On smaller naval ships which do not have aviation as a primary mission, the landing area for helicopters and other VTOL aircraft is also referred to as the...
so the aircraft were able to land again. The merchant air carriers were adapted standard grain ships or oil tankers. The grain ships had a flight deck of 413 feet (125.88 m) to 424 feet (129.24 m) ft and a breadth of 62 feet (18.9 m). A hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
on the lower deck was equipped with a lift to the flight deck and accommodated four Fairey Swordfish
Fairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
aircraft. The oil tankers had longer flight decks - 461 feet (140.51 m) - but no hangars. Three Swordfish reconnaissance planes were stowed at the aft end of the flight deck.
Fast cargo liners
In the early part of the war shipyard capacity was fully engaged with naval ships, including aircraft carriers, repairs to ships following Dunkirk and in orders for tankers and tramps. By 1941 there was criticism that ships being built were too slow. A few fast ships (capable of 15-16 knots) were however being built; many of them with refrigerated capacity . In 1942 a new standard for a fast cargo linerCargo liner
A Cargo liner is a type of merchant ship which carried general cargo and often passengers. They became common just after the middle of the nineteenth century, and eventually gave way to container ships and other more specialized carriers in the latter half of the twentieth...
of around 9,900 gross tons was introduced with a length of 475 feet (144.78 m) and a breadth of 64 feet (19.51 m). Thirteen Empire-prefixed standard class cargo liners were completed. Another was laid down intending to be given the prefix but was acquired by the Royal Netherlands Government and completed as Modjokerto.
- Non-standard cargo liners:
Heavy Lift Ships
The design of the heavy lift ship was based on a Norwegian design with a prefix - Bel- (Belmoira and Belpareil were two of this type) intended to carry bulky and heavy cargo such as locomotives and tugs. The ships had three large unobstructed cargo holds and heavy lifting equipment. The first pair of ships built for the Ministry of War Transport, Empire Charmian and Empire Elaine were diesel powered. The remainder, Empire Admiral, Empire Athelstan, Empire Byng, Empire Canute, Empire Ethelbert (launched as Beljeanne in 1946), Empire Marshal, Empire Viceroy and Empire Wallace, were powered by steam turbines to provide more speed and power. These ships were able to carry smaller vessels, such as tugs and landing craft, to support combat operations around the world.Scandinavian type cargo ships
Two classes of ship were based on the Scandinavian design general cargo ship. The smaller 'three island' type of around 2,800 gross tons were built between 1941 and 1944. These vessels played an important role as crane ships in unloading the Arctic convoys at the Russian ports. In the three island class, the boiler was amidships and the cargo handling was grouped around three 'islands' on the superstructure, at the stern, bow and amidships. Ten ships were built in the later and larger (3,500 gross tons) Empire Malta class, which had the boiler aft and the cargo handling grouped around the fore- and main-mast.- Three Island Type: Empire Bard, Empire Beaconsfield, Empire Boswell, Empire Buttress, Empire Candida, Empire Carey, Empire Caxton, Empire Crusoe, Empire Dirk, Empire Dunstan, Empire Elgar, Empire Gareth, Empire Gulliver, Empire Harcourt, Empire Harmony, Empire Jessica, Empire Launcelot, Empire Lorenzo, Empire Melody Empire Mountain, Empire Newcomen, Empire Osborne, Empire Patriot, Empire Pilgrim, Empire Ransom, Empire Record, Empire Seaman, Empire Sedley, Empire Tennyson, Empire Thackeray, Empire Toiler, Empire Valour, Empire Warner and Empire Wolfe.
- Empire Malta Class: Empire Aldgate, Empire Barbados, Empire Bermuda, Empire Caicos, Empire Jamaica, Empire Labrador, Empire Malta, Empire Newfoundland, Empire Perlis and Empire Southwark
Tugs
Empire Rita and Empire Plane were both tugs skippered by Captain Frank Trainer for the Ministry of Defence during the war. The tug Empire Madge was renamed Weasel in 1947.Dredgers and hoppers
Dredging and hopper vessels were used for the collection or discharge of aggregateConstruction Aggregate
Construction aggregate, or simply "aggregate", is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined material in the world...
s for example in maintaining clear navigation channels and to acquire aggregates from the sea bed.
- Twin screw hopper dredgers: approx 2,600 Gross tons, length 285 feet (86.87 m) breadth 52 feet (15.85 m): Empire Forager and Empire Sorcerer
- Suction hopper dredger - 1,747 gross tons, length 256 feet (78.03 m), breadth 42 feet (12.8 m): Empire Clydesdale
- Bucket dredger - 938 gross tons, length 195 feet (59.44 m), breadth 40 feet (12.19 m): Empire Mammoth
- Twin screw Hopper with bottom doors - 683 Gross tons, length 167 feet (50.9 m) breadth 33 feet (10.06 m): Empire Dockland, Empire Downland, Empire Grassland, Empire Hartland, Empire Heathland, Empire Marshland, Empire Portland, Empire Upland and Empire Woodland
- Bucket dredger - 512 Gross tons, length 160 feet (48.77 m) breadth 36 feet (10.97 m):Empire Champion, Empire Conjuror, Empire Moorland and Empire Sandboy
Tank landing ships
Tilbury
Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry...
and Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
from September 1946 and also between Preston and Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
from May 1948.
- Empire Baltic, Empire Cedric, Empire Celtic, Empire Cymric, Empire Doric, Empire Gaelic, Empire Nordic
Twelve of the landing craft were recalled to service and given Empire names in 1956 during the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
and used as military transport ferries in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. These were:
- Empire Curlew, Empire Fulmar, Empire Gannet, Empire Grebe, Empire Guillemot, , Empire Kittiwake, Empire Petrel, Empire Puffin, Empire Shearwater, Empire Skua and Empire Tern
Ferries
Three Empire ferriesFerry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
(Empire Chub, Empire Dace and Empire Roach), were completed to the same design as an order from the Government of Turkey. They had ramps at both ends and could carry passengers and vehicles but could also be converted for minelaying. They were also equipped with a 25-ton derrick at the front of the superstructure amidships. They were 716 gross tons, length 179 feet (54.56 m) and breadth 40 feet (12.19 m).
Water carriers
Three vessels of 215 to 222 gross tons were built as water carriers. These were Empire Barnaby, Empire Billow and Empire FulhamOre carriers
Four vessels all of 2,922 gross tons, length 315 feet (96.01 m) and breadth 44 feet (13.41 m) were built as ore carriers. These were Empire Moat, Empire Ness, Empire Ridge and Empire StreamConvoy rescue ships
Five Castle class corvettesCastle class corvette
The Castle-class corvettes were an updated version of the much more numerous Flower-class corvettes of the Royal Navy, and started appearing during late 1943...
were completed as Empire Convoy rescue ships to join twenty-nine previously requisitioned ships. The requisitioned passenger ships had a speed of 11 to 12 knots to enable them to catch up with the convoys travelling at 10 knots after completing their rescue operations. Convoy Rescue ships were also generally armed with AA guns for protection when they were separated from the convoy and vulnerable to enemy attack. The five Empire ships were 1,333 gross tons, length 236 feet (71.93 m), breadth 36 feet (10.97 m) with a speed of sixteen and a half knots. After the war they were used as troopships in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Empire Comfort, Empire Lifeguard, Empire PeacemakerEmpire PeacemakerEmpire Peacemaker, originally laid down as HMS Scarborough Castle, was a convoy rescue ship.She was originally laid down as the Castle class corvette, Scarborough Castle, pennant number K536, but was renamed and converted before completion. She was launched at Ferguson Brothers Ltd. shipyard in...
, Empire RestEmpire RestEmpire Rest was originally laid down as the Castle class corvette HMS Rayleigh Castle but completed as a convoy rescue ship. She was owned by the Ministry of War Transport and operated by Ellerman City Line...
and Empire ShelterEmpire ShelterEmpire Shelter was a ship originally laid down as the HMS Barnard Castle of the Royal Navy , but converted to a convoy rescue ship before completion....
War service
Empire ships were generally involved in convoy duty, including the Atlantic convoys bringing essential supplies from the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; military convoys to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
; military convoys around the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
to prosecute the war in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
; coastal convoys around the shores of Britain; Mediterranean convoys, including those supporting the defence of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Arctic convoys to North Russia.
They took an active role supporting the invasions of North Africa
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
, Sicily
Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
and Italy
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
and in the Normandy assault and in the assaults on German-held ports of Western Europe. In June 1944. ninety-seven Empire merchant ships were involved in the cross-channel convoys that carried troops and supplies ready for the Normandy invasion. Empire landing craft were involved in the assault phase, and Empire coasters were involved in the beaching of supplies and in ferrying cargo from the larger merchant ships anchored off-shore.
The success of the Normandy invasion depended on the successful construction of the Mulberry ports
Mulberry harbour
A Mulberry harbour was a British type of temporary harbour developed in World War II to offload cargo on the beaches during the Allied invasion of Normandy....
. These were prefabricated ports, constructed at Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, Tilbury Docks, and even as far north as Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
and Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
. Two hundred tugs
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
then took three months to tow the components of the harbours from where they were constructed to assembly areas on the South Coast. Between 7 June 1945 and the end of July, the tugs towed the materials across the channel to Normandy.
Before D-Day, sixty old merchant ships and four old warships were selected as blockship
Blockship
A blockship is a ship deliberately sunk to prevent a river, channel, or canal from being used.It may either be sunk by a navy defending the waterway to prevent the ingress of attacking enemy forces, as in the case of HMS Hood at Portland Harbour; or it may be brought by enemy raiders and used to...
s, to be scuttled in a line to give protection to the small craft. The blockships were stripped before setting out in convoy across the channel. Empire tugs were used to ensure the safe crossing. On reaching Normandy they were scuttled in five groups, codenamed Gooseberry 1 to Gooseberry 5. Gooseberry 4 at Juno Beach included four Empire ships: , Empire Flamingo, Empire Moorhen and Empire Waterhen. Gooseberry 5 at Ouistreham included three Empire ships: Empire Defiance, Empire Tamar and Empire Tana. Between the 19 and 23 June 1944 a severe gale, damaged many of the Mulberry harbours and wrecked some of the blockships. Additional blockships were added in July 1944, including one more Empire ship, Empire Bittern, and two of the former Empire ships that had been transferred to the Norwegians: Norfalk (formerly Empire Kittiwake) and Norjerv (formerly Empire Eagle).
Post war service
Empire Comfort, Empire Lifeguard, Empire Peacemaker
Empire Peacemaker
Empire Peacemaker, originally laid down as HMS Scarborough Castle, was a convoy rescue ship.She was originally laid down as the Castle class corvette, Scarborough Castle, pennant number K536, but was renamed and converted before completion. She was launched at Ferguson Brothers Ltd. shipyard in...
and Empire Shelter
Empire Shelter
Empire Shelter was a ship originally laid down as the HMS Barnard Castle of the Royal Navy , but converted to a convoy rescue ship before completion....
were smaller troopships operating in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
; Empire Parkeston and Empire Wansbeck operated as troopships between Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
and the Hook of Holland.
Losses and disposal of Empire ships
In 1942, shipowners who had lost ships (either as a casualty of war or requisioned by the Government) during the war, were able to buy ships built for the Government. Such ships were then managed by the shipowner on behalf of the Ministry of War Transport, until the end of the war. Tramps and colliers built before 1942 were sold on in this way, although some smaller ships remained unsold.Empire ships were also transferred to the representatives of governments of countries that had been invaded by Germany, in recognition of the losses suffered by the fleets of Britain's allies.
Ships transferred to other governments
Ten Empire ships and one Ocean type American tramp, Ocean Veteran, as well as a number of LibertyLiberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
type ships were transferred to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
between the years 1941-1943.
- Transferred in 1941: Empire Lapwing
- Transferred in 1942: Empire Albatross, Empire Drayton, Empire Masefield, Empire Swan and Empire Selwyn.
- Transferred in 1943: Empire Ballantyne, Empire Centaur, Empire Claymore and Empire Launcelot
Twenty-nine Empire ships were transferred or built for the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and several American built ships including Ocean Athlete, Ocean Merchant and were also transferred.
- Transferred in 1942: Empire Boy, Empire Deep, Empire Halley, Empire Mavis, Empire Penguin, Empire Raleigh, Empire Rennie, Empire Robin and Empire Trust
- Transferred in 1943: Empire Courage, Empire Dyke, Empire Ford, Empire Fortune, Empire Galliard, Empire Hazlitt, Empire Iseult, Empire Reynard, Empire River, Empire Ruskin, Empire Sidney, Empire Sound, Empire Spray and Empire Toiler
- Transferred in 1944: Empire Kamal and Empire Fletcher
- Transferred in 1945: Empire Ribble
- Transferred in 1946: Empire Concrete, Empire Condee, Empire Convoy, Empire Lily
Twenty-four Empire ships were purchased by the French Government after liberation in 1945. All were transferred in 1945-46. Empire Gala and Empire Jupiter were later placed with the Gouvernement Generale de L'Indo-Chine, along with Ten Park-type Canadian built ships.
- Empire Bute, Empire Cadet, Empire Call, Empire Crown, Empire Dorrit, Empire Driver, Empire Duke, Empire Falstaff, Empire Farmer, Empire Friendship, Empire Gala, Empire Gillian, Empire Jessica, Empire Jupiter, Empire Mull, Empire Outpost, Empire Rawlinson, Empire Sceptre, Empire Sedley, Empire Stronghold, Empire Symbol, Empire Traveller, Empire Unicorn and Empire Welfare
Nineteen Empire ships were transferred to the Norwegian Government in 1941-1942.
- Empire Beaver, Empire Carey, Empire Diamond, Empire Druid, Empire Dunlin, Empire Eagle, Empire Elk, Empire Fairbairn, Empire FieldEmpire FieldEmpire Field was a temporary outdoor football and soccer stadium built at the former location of Empire Stadium at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. It served as the home of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from the summer of 2010 until the fall of 2011 when the installation...
, Empire Grenfell, Empire Kittiwake, Empire Latimer, Empire Onyx, Empire Pearl, Empire Penn, Empire Pict, Empire Pilgrim, Empire Ptarmigan and Empire Saxon.
Transferred to the Norwegian Government in 1946.
- Empire Concave, Empire Concern, Empire Condover, Empire Congress, Empire Conleith, Empire Conningbeg, Empire Conqueror, Empire Constitution. Empire Ettrick.
Three Empire ships and a number of American ships were built or transferred to the Polish Government in 1942-1943.
- Transferred in 1942: and Empire Reamer
- Transferred in 1943: Empire Hunter
A number of Empire ships were transferred to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during and after the war.
Transferred in 1944: Empire Nigel
Transferred in 1946: Empire Ayr, Empire Conclyde, Empire Concord, Empire Confederation, Empire Congleton, Empire Congreve, Empire Conisborough, Empire Conleven, Empire Connah, Empire Connaught, Empire Connemara, Empire Consett, Empire Constable†, Empire Constellation, Empire Contees, Empire Contest, Empire Convention†, Empire Conway, Empire Conwear, Empire Dart, Empire Dee, Empire Douglas†, Empire Dovey†, Empire Durant, Empire Forth†, Empire Gable†, Empire Gabon, Empire Gage, Empire Gala, Empire Galashiels, Empire Galaxy, Empire Galleon, Empire Gallic, Empire Galveston, Empire Gantry†, Empire Garner, Empire Kennet, Empire Lea, Empire Neath, Empire Nidd, Empire Ock, Empire Orwell, Empire Tageland, Empire Tageos, Empire Tarne, Empire Tegaden, Empire Tegados, Empire Tegaica, Empire Tegalta, Empire Tegamas, Empire Tegleone, Empire Tegoria, Empire Teguda, Empire Teguto, Empire Teme, Empire Teviot, Empire Tigarth, Empire Tigbart, Empire Tigina, Empire Tigombo, Empire Tigonto, Empire Tigost, Empire Tigouver, Empire Venture, Empire Viking I, Empire Viking II, Empire Viking III, Empire Viking VI, Empire Viking VIII, Empire Viking IX, Empire Viking X, Empire Weaver, Empire Welland†, Empire Wey, Empire Yare†.
Transferred in 1947: Empire Cherwell
† denotes those ships transferred under the terms of the Potsdam Agreement
Potsdam Agreement
The Potsdam Agreement was the Allied plan of tripartite military occupation and reconstruction of Germany—referring to the German Reich with its pre-war 1937 borders including the former eastern territories—and the entire European Theatre of War territory...
.
War losses
One hundred and eighty two Empire ships were lost through enemy action, including to minesNaval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
, submarines, enemy aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, E-boats and blockships. The first lost was Empire Commerce in 1940 and the last was Empire Gold in 1945. Eight Empire ships were sacrificed as blockships to support the Normandy invasion. Some of the blockships were later raised and scrapped.
Post-war disposal
In 1946 numerous of the British-built Empire ships, as well as ex-German prize ships were offered for sale or for three- or five-year charter.Survivors
At least three Empire ships survive today. Empire SandyEmpire Sandy
The Empire Sandy is a tall ship providing chartered tours for the public from Toronto, Canada. She was built as a Englishman/Larch Deep Sea class tugboat for war service by the British Government in 1943...
, built as a tug, has been converted to a schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
and is active on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. The ST Cervia
ST Cervia (1946 Tugboat)
ST Cervia was built in 1946 as a sea going tug for use as a fleet auxiliary by Alexandra Hall & Company Ltd of Aberdeen, Scotland. Today she is a floating Museum still undergoing restoration in Ramsgate, Kent.-Design and construction:...
, a tug built as Empire Raymond is preserved as a museum ship at Ramsgate
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. A recent survivor was ST Sea Alarm
ST Sea Alarm
Sea Alarm was a 263 ton tug which was built asEmpire Ash in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport . She was sold in 1947 and renamed Flying Fulmar. She was sold in 1956 and renamed Sea Alarm...
, formerly Empire Ash, which was controversially scrapped in 1998. The former Empire Forth, a cargo ship built in 1939 as Mars is preserved at Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
as Vityaz.
The tug Laut Sawu (ex-Empire Humphrey) was still in active service in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
in 2004. The tug Poetto (ex-Empire Stella) was still in service in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 2004.