List of Empire ships - B
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 the Second World War
by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), which 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.
cargo ship
that was built by Lithgows Ltd
, Port Glasgow
. She was launched on 28 August 1941 and completed in October 1941. In May 1942 she was a member of Convoy PQ 16. Damaged by bombing but managed to reach the Kola Inlet
. Commissioned in 1943 as and converted to a cable layer for Operation Pluto
. Renamed Empire Baffin in 1946. Sold to Stag Line Ltd later that year and renamed Clintonia. Operated under the management of J Robinson & Sons, North Shields
. Sold in 1960 to Alcestis Shipping Co, SA and renamed Aspis. Operated under the management of Faros Shipping Co Ltd, London. Scrapped at Yokosuka
, Japan
December 1963.
tanker
which was built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow
. Launched on 23 October 1941 and completed in December 1941. To Indian Navy
in 1948 as INS Chilka. Removed from India
n Navy list in 1976.
in 1949 and renamed Barton Grange. Sold in 1958 to the Western Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Sunlight. Operated under the management of Wang Kee and Co Ltd, Hong Kong
. Sold in 1962 to the Pan-Norse Steamship Co Ltd, Panama
. Operated under the management of Wallem & Co Ltd, Hong Kong. Arrived at Hong Kong for scrapping 30 March 1967.
. Launched on 18 December 1944 and completed in May 1945. Sold in 1946 to Queenship Navigation Ltd and renamed Nordic Queen. Operated under the management of Coast Lines Ltd. Sold in 1958 to Maldavian National Trading Corporation (Ceylon) Ltd and renamed Maldive Star. Scrapped in December 1972 at Gadani Beach
, Pakistan
.
, Sunderland. Launched on 17 December 1941 and completed in March 1942. Sold in 1946 to Alexander Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Bibury. Operated under the management of Houlder Bros Ltd. Sold in 1951 to Halcyon Lijn NV, the Netherlands
and renamed Stad Massluis. Sold in 1962 to Compagnia Navigazione Jaguar and renamed Jaguar. Operated under the management of Palomba & Salvatori, Italy
. Sold in 1966 to Olamar S.A. and renamed Goldfield, still under the same management. Sold in 1968 to Compagnia de Navigazione Sulamar and renamed Poseidon. Operated under the management of V Coccoli, Italy. Ran aground in September 1969 and put into Naples
. Sold for scrap and arrived under tow at Split
, Yugoslavia
on 21 November 1969.
, Glasgow. Launched on 21 October 1941 and completed in February 1942. Sold to the Belgian Government
in 1943 and renamed Belgian Airman. Sunk by U-879 on 14 April 1945 in Chesapeake Bay
(36°09′N 74°05′W).
. Launched in September 1945. Chartered to Atlantic Steam Navigation Company in 1946 and renamed Empire Baltic. Rebuilt by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Tilbury
as a vehicle ferry
. Management passed to the British-India Line
in 1961. Arrived at Spezia, Italy for scrapping on 10 July 1962.
. Launched on 12 April 1941 and completed in August 1941. Sold in 1946 to Metcalfe Motor Coasters Ltd, London and renamed Rose-Julie M. Sold in 1956 to MAC Shipping Co Ltd, Glasgow. Operated under the management of T J Metcalf, London. Scrapped in January 1966 at Queenborough
, Kent
.
on 7 February 1943 off Algeria
(36°48′N 01°32′E)
. Launched on 28 December 1944 and completed in March 1945. Sold in 1948 to the Rodney Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Tennyson. Operated under the management of the Anglo-Danubian Shipping Co Ltd, London. Sold in 1950 to T Stone (Shipping) Ltd and renamed Berylstone. Operated under the management of Stone & Rolfe Ltd, Swansea
. Sold in 1960 to Compagnia Navigazione Zannis and renamed Manticos. Operated under the management of A Halcoussis & Co, Greece
. Developed a leak 210 nautical miles (388.9 km) south of Dakar
, Senegal
on 8 October 1963. Although a tug assisted with pumping the ship out from 16 October, Manticos sank on 22 October.
which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
. Launched on 5 October 1944 and completed in February 1945. To the Admiralty
in 1947 and renamed Adept. Sold to the Government of Ceylon
and renamed Aliya. Allocated to the Royal Ceylon Navy. Refitted in 1964. Sold to Steel Corporation of Sri Lanka for scrapping in 1978.
which was built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee. Launched on 30 December 1941 and completed in March 1942. Sold in 1946 to Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co Ltd, Dundee and renamed Angusburn. Sold to Rederei A/B Hildegaard in 1955 and renamed Brettenham. Operated under the management of F Lundqvist, Finland
. Arrived at Cartagena
, Spain
on 14 April 1971 for scrapping.
Sunderland. Launched on 8 December 1942 and completed in March 1943. Sold in 1946 to Lamport & Holt Line Ltd and renamed Memling. Sold in 1953 to Blue Star Line and renamed Vancouver Star. Renamed Memling in 1957. Arrived at Vlissingen on 23 October 1959 for scrapping.
, Essex
. Launched on 8 June 1944 and completed in August 1944. Sold to Van Castricum & Co Ltd, London and renamed Sodok. Sold in 1947 to Shell Company of Singapore Ltd and renamed Guntur. Sold in 1962 to Madam Dolly Seah, Singapore
. Sold in 1972 to P T Perusahaan Pelyaran Palka Utama, Indonesia
.
(1938) Ltd, Northwich
. Launched on 2 May 1944 and completed in July 1944. Sold in 1967 to J Havens, London. Departed Brest
on 24 June for Vianna, Portugal
. Reported overdue on 4 July. Found by a Spanish
fishing boat and towed to Santoña
, Spain where she was declared unseaworthy. Detained due to salvors not being paid.
, Trieste
. Launched in 1926 as Monte Piana for Navigazione Generale Geromilich & Co, Trieste. Beached at Aden
on 12 June 1940 after crew attempted to scuttle her when intercepted by the Royal Navy
. Attempts to repair unsuccessful, towed to Vizagapatam, India by SS Nirvana in February 1941 where repaired. Sold in 1947 to Navigation & Coal Trade Ltd, London and renamed Rubystone. Sold in 1951 to Alvion Steamship Co, Panama. Scrapped at Nagasaki
, Japan in August 1960.
, Pennsylvania
. Launched in 1918 as Sacandaga for United States Shipping Board
(USSB). Sold in 1918 to Carolina Co. Operated under the management of American Palmetto Line. Returned to USSB in 1925. Sold in 1932 to American Diamond Lines Inc, and renamed Black Heron. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Barracuda. Sunk on 15 December 1942 by U-77
west of Gibraltar
(35°30′N 06°17′W).
, Sunderland. Launched on 17 January 1942 and completed in April 1942. Sold in 1945 to Clan Line Steamers Ltd
and renamed Clan Alpine. Sold in 1957 to Bullard, King & Co and renamed Umvoti. Resold to Clan Line in 1959 and reverted to Clan Alpine. Sold for scrapping with a delivery date of November 1960. Broke moorings at Chittagong
, East Pakistan
on 31 October 1960 during a cyclone and driven 11 nautical miles (20.4 km) inland from the mouth of the Chittagong River. Scrapped in situ February 1961.
, Chester, Pennsylvania
. Launched as Bascobel in 1919 for the USSB. Sold in 1922 to Gulf Coast Transportation Co, New Orleans. Sold in 1928 to Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railway Co
. To United States Maritime Commission
(USMC) in 1936. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Bascobel. Returned to USMC in 1946, renamed Bascobel. Sold to Universal Tank Cleaning Corp in 1954 and then Standard Tank Cleaning Corp in 1958. Sank on 18 December 1961 at Mariners Harbor
, New York
. Declared a constructive total loss, scrapped in New York in December 1963.
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Empire Battleaxe
was a 7,177 GRT LSI
which was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation
, Wilmington, California. She was laid down as Cape Berkeley and completed as Empire Battleaxe in October 1943. Became HMS Donovan in 1946 and reverted to Empire Battleaxe later that year. To USMC in 1947 and renamed Cape Berkeley in 1948. Proposed sale to China
as Hai C fell through later that year, then renamed Empire Battleaxe. Laid up in James River
, Virginia
. Scrapped at Kearny, New Jersey
May 1966.
and renamed Hüseyin Kaptan. Scrapped at Haliç
in 1963.
which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 20 August 1940 and completed in November 1940. Bombed, broke in two and sank in Tees Bay, off Middlesbrough
on 15 January 1942. The wreck lies at 54°41′08"N 1°08′36"W.
and sank 6 nautical miles (11.1 km) from St Ann's Head, north Devon
(51°41′N 05°10′W) on 5 April 1942.
and renamed Hawkinge. Sold in 1951 to Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Company, Dundee and renamed Angusbrae. Sold in 1956 to Willem H Müller & Co NV , Rotterdam
and renamed Hispania. Sold in 1960 to West End Corporation, Panama and renamed Dia. Developed a leak and sank south of Savona
, Italy (44°12′N 08°38′E) on 14 October 1964.
ed on 27 July 1944 by German E-boats in the Strait of Dover
(50°55′N 01°02′E) and beached at Dungeness. Patched up and towed to the Thames estuary
on 2 August 1944 by tugs Empire Betsy and Empire Humphrey. To Tilbury on 20 September and later towed to Glasgow for repairs including a new stern. Sold in 1946 to Cheriton Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Beatrice N. Operated under the management of P B Pandelis Ltd, London. Sold in 1952 to N G Kyrakides Shipping Ltd, London and renamed Mary K. Sold in 1964 to Winchester Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Winchester Prowess. Operated under the management of G O Till, London. Sold in 1966 to B Bottigliere di Guiseppe, Naples and renamed Grazia Bottigliere. Scrapped at Split, Yugoslavia in March 1969.
. Launched on 31 March 1942 and completed in June 1942. Attacked by aircraft from KG26
and sunk on 13 September 1942 at 76°10′N 10°05′E while a member of Convoy PQ 18.
, Sunderland. Launched on 8 April 1943 and completed in July 1943. Sold in 1946 to E Rasmussen, Norway
and renamed Polycrown. Sold in 1962 to Lamda Shipping Enterprises, Lebanon
and renamed Ioannis Aspiotis. Sold in 1968 to Laurel Shipping Co Ltd, Cyprus
and renamed Laurel. Scrapped in January 1969 at Kaohsiung
, Taiwan
.
, Washington in 1919 as Waban for USSB. Sold in 1933 to Lykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Co Inc
. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Sambar. Boiler room explosion on 6 March 1941. Repaired and renamed Empire Beaver. To Norwegian Government
in 1942 and renamed Norhauk. Struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary on 21 December 1943 (51°50′12"N 01°33′14"E).
. Launched on 2 December 1944 and completed in February 1945. Sold in 1947 to Steel & Bennie Ltd and renamed Forager. Capsized and sank in the River Clyde
on 23 May 1962. Refloated on 5 June. Sold to Societa Rim. Napoletani, Italy and renamed Mastino. Scrapped in March 1984 in Naples.
, Netherlands and sank on 11 November 1947.
for F Sternhagen, Gothenburg
. Bombed and set on fire by enemy aircraft on 26 January 1941 in the Thames Estuary. Salvaged on 14 February 1941 and towed to Harwich
. Sold to UK and passed to MoWT, renamed Empire Bell. Sunk by U-442
south of Iceland
(62°19′N 15°27′W) on 25 September 1942.
, Sunderland. Launched on 31 October 1943 and completed in February 1944. To the Admiralty in 1947 and renamed Elf. Sold to Imprese Maritime Augustea, Italy and renamed Mare Jonio. Transferred to Italian Navy
in 1972.
and renamed Victor. Sold in 1957 to Geelong Harbour Trust Commissioners, Geelong. Sold in 1968 to R J Pherson, Melbourne and then sold to J H Nicholls, Melbourne in 1970.
. Launched on 24 November 1942 and completed in April 1943. Sold in 1945 to Athel Line Ltd and renamed Athelqueen. Sold in 1955 to Mariblanca Navigazione SA and renamed Mariverda. Operated under the management of Chandris (England) Ltd. Arrived at Kure
on 6 September 1961 for scrapping.
of 14,810 DWT
. Sold in 1960 to Malaya Shipping Co, Hong Kong, and renamed Kelantan. Operated under the management of United Shipping & Investment Co Ltd, Hong Kong and then Gibson Shipping Co Inc, Macao
. Scrapped in March 1965 at Hirao
.
. Launched on 26 April 1945 and completed in July 1945. Sold in 1946 to the United Towing Co Ltd and renamed Merchantman. Sold in 1962 to Societe Rim. Napoletani and renamed Tarentum. Scrapped in 1982 in Naples.
(2°36′S 116°33′E).
Ltd, Northwich. Launched in 1943 and completed in June 1943. To the Admiralty in 1946. Scrapped in Antwerp in October 1963.
(24°45′S 34°47′E) on 10 August 1942. Although beached and abandoned, Empire Birch slid off the beach and sank in deep water.
in 1949 and she was renamed Lokoja Palm. Sold in 1966 to Compagnia Navigazione Kea, Panama and renamed Despina L. Sold in 1969 to Nova Shipping Co Ltd, Cyprus and renamed Nova. Operated under the management of Pergamos Shipping Co Ltd. Scrapped in China in December 1971.
California. Launched in 1919 as the West Cawthon for the USSB. To Green Star Steamship Corporation in 1920. To USSB in 1923, then American South African Line Inc
in 1926. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Bison. Torpedoed and sunk by U-124 on 1 November 1940 at 59°30′N 17°40′W, a straggler from Convoy HX 82.
Empire Bittern was a 8,546 GRT passenger ship which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast. Completed in 1902 as Iowa for the White Diamond Steamship Co Ltd, operated under the management of G Warren & Co Ltd. sold in 1913 to Hamburg America Line
and renamed Bohemia. Requisitoned by the United States Government
in 1917 and passed to the USSB, renamed USS Artemis in 1919. To MoWT in 1940, renamed Empire Bittern, sunk as an additional blockship
as part of Operation Overlord
on 23 July 1944.
as war prize
in 1945. To MoWT, renamed Empire Blackwater. To USMC in 1946. Sold in 1946 to Seatrade Corporation, New York. Sold in 1949 to Baase & Co, Copenhagen
and renamed Krusaa. Sold in 1960 to Nils Berg, Finland and renamed Krucia. Sold in 1969 to H Hayrynen O/Y, Finland and renamed Helvi. Sold in 1971 to Nan Sing Navigation Co, Taiwan and renamed Eastern Faith. Scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in December 1975.
(51°24′N 03°17′E).
. She was laid down in May 1941, but captured in December 1941 when ready for launching. Engine & boilers intended for Empire Blossom were sent to Singapore
on 1 December 1941 on the Holt Line ship Ulysses. Ship reported completed by Japanese.
, Belgium for scrapping.
on 13 February. Declared a constructive total loss. Prenton was sold and repaired, passing to Argo Maritime Transport Co, Greece in 1950 and renamed Agios Dionysis. Sold in 1951 to D G Coucoumbanis, Greece and renamed Sandenis. Sold later that year to G Frangistis, Greece and renamed San Denis. Scrapped at Savona, Italy in 1959.
(56°57′N 7°25′W). Refloated but sank off Bo Vich Chuan Rock on 8 November 1950.
Empire Bounty was a 8,128 GRT tanker which was built by Furness Shipbuilding Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees. Launched on 30 September 1943 and completed in February 1944. To Royal Navy
in 1946 as RFA Wave Victor. Fire in engine room in Bristol Channel
, February 1954. Vessel abandoned but later reboarded and towed to Swansea
. Towed to North Shields
in April 1954 and repaired. Chartered to the Air Ministry
in August 1960, sent to Gan, Maldive Islands as a fuelling hulk
for military aircraft using RAF Gan
. Towed to Singapore in April 1971 for scrapping. Reported to be a hulk in Manila Bay
, Philippines
in March 1975.
, Glasgow. Launched on 4 April 1942 and completed in May 1942. Torpedoed and sunk by U-404 on 30 March 1943 at 47°26′N 15°53′W while a member of Convoy SL 126.
. Launched on 14 October 1943 and completed in February 1944. Sold in 1946 to C Rowbotham & Sons and renamed Chartsman. Sold to Coastal Prospecting Ltd and converted to suction dredger in 1967, renamed Baymead. Scrapped at Northam in July 1974.
. Launched on 28 August 1941 and completed in December 1941. Sold in 1942 to the Dutch Government
and renamed Doorman. Sold in 1947 to Verenigde Tankkustvaart NV, Netherlands and renamed Flandria. Sold in 1951 to Ulric Thomas and renamed Alice. Operated under the management of S Stein KG, Germany. Sold in 1952 to Bauermann & Metzendorf GmbH, Germany and renamed Hammonia. Lengthened in that year. Sold in 1954 to R Bauermann and renamed Petra. Operated under the management of Olea Tankschiff GmbH, Germany. Sold in 1962 to Vittorio Rossetti, Italy and renamed Anny. New engine in 1965, renamed Tosco in 1972. Sold in 1975 to Tosco Sardi di Navigazione SpA, Italy. Scrapped at Spezia in June 1975.
in December 1983.
, 5 February 1941. Refloated 13 March 1941 and taken in tow by tug Bullger. Tug struck a mine and sank in Druridge Bay
on 16 March. Empire Breeze was anchored off Cresswell
and later taken to Sunderland for repairs. Empire Breeze was torpedoed on 25 August 1942 and sunk by U-438 at 49°22′N 35°52′W while a member of Convoy ON 122.
which was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd
, Glasgow. Launched in 1925 as Letitia for Anchor Donaldson Line. Converted to troopship
in 1940 and then a hospital ship
in 1944. To MoWT in 1946 and renamed Empire Brent, operated under the management of Donaldson's. Renamed Captain Cook in 1952, scrapped at Inverkeithing
in 1960.
Ltd, Northwich. Launched on 26 February 1941 and complete in June 1941. Sale to Springwell Shipping Co agreed in 1946 and new name Springbridge allocated, but involved in attempted salvage of cargo from SS Fort Massac which had been in a collision with SS Thornaby off the Sunk Light Vessel (51°53′N 1°31′E on 9 April 1946. Empire Bridge was holed in a collision with the wreck of Fort Massac and sank alongside her. Salvage attempts by the Admiralty only succeeded in turning her on her port side. Declared a total constructive loss.
(49°25′N 00°54′W) on 2 July 1944.
, Newcastle upon Tyne. Launched on 19 August 1940 and completed in November 1940. Sold in 1946 to Anglo-American Oil Co Ltd and renamed Esso Cadillac. Sold in 1956 to Mariblanca Navigazione SA, Panama and renamed Maribella II. Operated under the management of Chandris (England) Ltd. Arrived at Osaka
for scrapping on 14 August 1959.
Docks. Back broken, cargo of timber was salvaged. Refloated on 15 June 1947 and beached. Declared a constructive total loss, sold and repaired. Sold to Newbigin Steamship Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne and renamed Gripfast. Operated under the management of E R Newbigin Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Sold in 1960 to Saints Anargyroi Compagnia Ltda, Panama and renamed Capetan Costis. Operated under the management of Ezkos Maritime Technical Co, Greece. Sold in 1966 to Compagnia di Navigazione Patricio, Liberia
and renamed Karine M. Operated under the management of Mooringwell Steamship Co, Cardiff. Sold later that year to Siconen Shipping SA, Panama and renamed Pitsa. Operated under the management of Kalamotusis Shipbroking Ltd, London. Put into Djibouti
on 10 October 1967 with boiler defects, also found to be leaking. Left for Colombo
on 1 December 1967 in tow of tug Nisos Kerkyra. Sank on 6 December 1967 off Socotra Island (13°32′N 55°00′E).
design 7,459 GRT cargo ship built by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 11 June 1941 and completed in August 1941. Torpedoed and sunk on 18 April 1943 by U-123 100 nautical miles (185.2 km) off Freetown, Sierra Leone (06°40′N 13°17′W).
. Sold in 1948 to Haddon Steamship Co Ltd, London and renamed Vergmor. Sold in 1950 to Turnbull, Scott Shipping Co Ltd, London and renamed Southgate. sold in 1955 to Sadikzade Rusen Ogullari KS, Turkey and renamed Fatih. Scrapped in Istanbul in February 1968.
. Sold in 1961 to Compagnia Navigazione Marcasa SA and renamed Noemi. Operated under the Lebanese
flag by J Livanos & Sons Ltd, London. Ran aground on 17 December 1965 south of Masirah, Oman
and declared a constructive total loss.
, Seattle. Launched in 1919 as Eglantine for USSB. To Lykes Bros-Ripley Steamship Corp in 1933. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Buffalo. Torpedoed and sunk on 6 May 1942 by U-125 north west of Jamaica
(19°14′N 82°34′W).
and completed in January 1942 as Tobruk. Operated under the management of Gdynia America Shipping Lines Ltd. Sold in 1951 to Polskie Linie Oceaniczne. Scrapped in Gdynia
in June 1968.
, Southampton. Launched in 1924 as Jamnagar for HH The Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawangar, India. To Royal Indian Navy in 1941 as an auxiliary patrol vessel
. To Hashim Mohomed Ganchi, India in 1944 then to MoWT, renamed Empire Bulbul. Sold in 1947 to Yannoulatos (Far East) Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed Hellenic Bulbul. New name Hellenic Bee allocated but ran aground on 29 August 1948 near Domanik Island, Bay of Bengal
(21°53′N 90°48′E), and then sank.
, Courseulles-sur-Mer
. Raised in 1947 and scrapped.
. To MoWT during the war and renamed Empire Bure. Operated under the management of Lamport & Holt Line as a troopship. Laid up in September 1949 in Holy Loch
. Sold in 1950 to Charlton Steamship Co and renamed Charlton Star. Laid up at Spezia in 1957. Sold in 1958 to A J & D J Chandris, Greece. Reflagged to Liberia and renamed Maristrella. Sold for scrap in 1959 and scrapped in Sakai
, Japan in 1960.
which was built by Short Brothers Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 29 May 1941 and completed in August 1941. Torpedoed and sunk on 20 September 1941 by U-74 east of Cape Farewell
, Greenland
(61°30′N 35°11′W) while a member of Convoy SC 44.
and renamed Miliana. Sold in 1948 to Scotto Pugliese Fils & Cie, Algeria
and renamed Rivoli. Sold in 1952 to Bulk Oil Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Pass of Drumochter. Sold in 1962 to Lugari & Filippi, Italy and renamed Santa Giulia. Sold in 1971 to Ciana Anopo Compagnia di Navigazione & Bunkeraggi SpA, Italy. Scrapped at Spezia, Italy in 1971.
. Sold in 1968 to Peoples Bank & Trust Co, Philippines
and renamed Marites. Grounded on 19 November 1970 in Manila Bay during Typhoon Patsy
. Refloated 29 November, anchored in South Harbour, Manila. Sold and arrived at Hong Kong on 8 February 1972 for scrapping.
dropped by a Heinkel He 111
of KG26, then sunk by a torpedo fired by U-703 in the Barents Sea
(76°18′N 33°30′E) while a member of Convoy PQ 17.
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), which 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.
Empire Baffin
Empire Baffin was a 6,978 GRTGross 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...
cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
that was built by Lithgows Ltd
Lithgows
Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and...
, Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...
. She was launched on 28 August 1941 and completed in October 1941. In May 1942 she was a member of Convoy PQ 16. Damaged by bombing but managed to reach the Kola Inlet
Kola Peninsula
The Kola Peninsula is a peninsula in the far northwest of Russia. Constituting the bulk of the territory of Murmansk Oblast, it lies almost completely to the north of the Arctic Circle and is washed by the Barents Sea in the north and the White Sea in the east and southeast...
. Commissioned in 1943 as and converted to a cable layer for Operation Pluto
Operation Pluto
Operation Pluto was a World War II operation by British scientists, oil companies and armed forces to construct undersea oil pipelines under the English Channel between England and France. The scheme was developed by Arthur Hartley, chief engineer with the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company...
. Renamed Empire Baffin in 1946. Sold to Stag Line Ltd later that year and renamed Clintonia. Operated under the management of J Robinson & Sons, North Shields
North Shields
North Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
. Sold in 1960 to Alcestis Shipping Co, SA and renamed Aspis. Operated under the management of Faros Shipping Co Ltd, London. Scrapped at Yokosuka
Yokosuka, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 419,067 and a population density of 4,160 people per km². It covered an area of 100.62 km²...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
December 1963.
Empire Bairn
Empire Bairn was a 813 GRT coastalCoastal 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....
tanker
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:...
which was built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Launched on 23 October 1941 and completed in December 1941. To Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
in 1948 as INS Chilka. Removed from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Navy list in 1976.
Empire Balfour
Empire Balfour was a 7,201 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 27 June 1944 and completed in September 1944. Sold to Houlder Bros & Co LtdHoulder Line
The Houlder Line were a number of related British Shipping companies originally established by the Houlder brothers. was operated by the Houlder Line and was torpedoed in the North Atlantic in 1940. was operated by the Houlder Line...
in 1949 and renamed Barton Grange. Sold in 1958 to the Western Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Sunlight. Operated under the management of Wang Kee and Co Ltd, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Sold in 1962 to the Pan-Norse Steamship Co Ltd, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. Operated under the management of Wallem & Co Ltd, Hong Kong. Arrived at Hong Kong for scrapping 30 March 1967.
Empire Balham
Empire Balham was a 1,061 GRT cargo ship which was built by G Brown & Co (Marine) Ltd, GreenockGreenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
. Launched on 18 December 1944 and completed in May 1945. Sold in 1946 to Queenship Navigation Ltd and renamed Nordic Queen. Operated under the management of Coast Lines Ltd. Sold in 1958 to Maldavian National Trading Corporation (Ceylon) Ltd and renamed Maldive Star. Scrapped in December 1972 at Gadani Beach
Gadani Beach
Gadani Beach is a beach on the Arabian Sea located near the Hub River and Cape Monze in Gadani, Lasbela District, Balochistan, Pakistan.Gadani Beach is the location of Gadani ship-breaking yard, which is one of the world's largest ship-breaking yards....
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Empire Ballad
Empire Ballad was a 6,640 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons LtdBartram & Sons Ltd
This Sunderland shipbuilding firm was founded in 1838 by George Bartram and John Lister. Their partnership was dissolved in 1852 and Bartram's son Robert Appleby Bartram was taken into the business. On his father's retirement in 1871, Robert went into partnership with George Haswell to establish...
, Sunderland. Launched on 17 December 1941 and completed in March 1942. Sold in 1946 to Alexander Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Bibury. Operated under the management of Houlder Bros Ltd. Sold in 1951 to Halcyon Lijn NV, 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 renamed Stad Massluis. Sold in 1962 to Compagnia Navigazione Jaguar and renamed Jaguar. Operated under the management of Palomba & Salvatori, 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...
. Sold in 1966 to Olamar S.A. and renamed Goldfield, still under the same management. Sold in 1968 to Compagnia de Navigazione Sulamar and renamed Poseidon. Operated under the management of V Coccoli, Italy. Ran aground in September 1969 and put into Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. Sold for scrap and arrived under tow at Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
on 21 November 1969.
Empire Ballantyne
Empire Ballantyne was a 6,959 GRT cargo ship which was built by Harland & Wolff LtdHarland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
, Glasgow. Launched on 21 October 1941 and completed in February 1942. Sold to the Belgian Government
Belgian federal government
The Cabinet of Belgium is the executive branch of the Belgian federal government, consisting of ministers and secretaries of state drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. Formally, the ministers are appointed by the King...
in 1943 and renamed Belgian Airman. Sunk by U-879 on 14 April 1945 in Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
(36°09′N 74°05′W).
Empire Baltic
Empire Baltic was built as LST 3519 by Canadian Vickers LtdCanadian Vickers Limited
Canadian Vickers Limited was an aircraft and shipbuilding company that operated in Canada during the early part of the 20th century until 1944. A subsidiary of the UK parent, it built its own aircraft designs as well as others under licence. Canadair absorbed the Canadian Vickers Ltd...
. Launched in September 1945. Chartered to Atlantic Steam Navigation Company in 1946 and renamed Empire Baltic. Rebuilt by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Tilbury
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...
as a vehicle ferry
Ferry
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...
. Management passed to the British-India Line
British-India Steam Navigation Company
British India Steam Navigation Company was formed in 1856 as the Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company. The company had been formed out of Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co, a trading partnership of the Scots William Mackinnon and Robert Mackenzie, to carry mail between Calcutta and Rangoon. It...
in 1961. Arrived at Spezia, Italy for scrapping on 10 July 1962.
Empire Bank
Empire Bank was a 402 GRT coaster which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd, HessleHessle
Hessle is a town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, situated west of Kingston upon Hull city centre. Geographically it is part of a larger urban area which consists of the city of Kingston upon Hull, the town of Hessle and a number of other villages but is not part of the...
. Launched on 12 April 1941 and completed in August 1941. Sold in 1946 to Metcalfe Motor Coasters Ltd, London and renamed Rose-Julie M. Sold in 1956 to MAC Shipping Co Ltd, Glasgow. Operated under the management of T J Metcalf, London. Scrapped in January 1966 at Queenborough
Queenborough
Queenborough is a small town on the Isle of Sheppey in the Swale borough of Kent in South East England.Queenborough is two miles south of Sheerness. It grew as a port near the Thames Estuary at the westward entrance to The Swale where it joins the River Medway...
, 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...
.
Empire Banner
Empire Banner was a 6,699 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 29 June 1942 and completed in September 1942. Sunk by U-77German submarine U-77 (1940)
German submarine U-77 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine built by the Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack. The boat was sunk on 28 March 1943 east of Cartagena, Spain, in position by four depth charges and one bomb from two British Lockheed Hudson aircraft.-Ships sunk or...
on 7 February 1943 off Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
(36°48′N 01°32′E)
Empire Barbados
Empire Barbados was a 3,538 GRT cargo ship which was built by Wm Gray & Co Ltd, West HartlepoolWest Hartlepool
This article refers to the place; for the Rugby Football Club see West Hartlepool R.F.C.West Hartlepool refers to the western part of the what has since the 1960s been known as the borough of Hartlepool in North East England...
. Launched on 28 December 1944 and completed in March 1945. Sold in 1948 to the Rodney Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Tennyson. Operated under the management of the Anglo-Danubian Shipping Co Ltd, London. Sold in 1950 to T Stone (Shipping) Ltd and renamed Berylstone. Operated under the management of Stone & Rolfe Ltd, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. Sold in 1960 to Compagnia Navigazione Zannis and renamed Manticos. Operated under the management of A Halcoussis & Co, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Developed a leak 210 nautical miles (388.9 km) south of Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
on 8 October 1963. Although a tug assisted with pumping the ship out from 16 October, Manticos sank on 22 October.
Empire Barbara
Empire Barbara was a 275 GRT tugTugboat
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...
which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Selby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
. Launched on 5 October 1944 and completed in February 1945. To 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...
in 1947 and renamed Adept. Sold to the Government of Ceylon
Politics of Sri Lanka
Politics of Sri Lanka takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Sri Lanka is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both...
and renamed Aliya. Allocated to the Royal Ceylon Navy. Refitted in 1964. Sold to Steel Corporation of Sri Lanka for scrapping in 1978.
Empire Bard
Empire Bard was a 3,114 GRT heavy lift shipHeavy lift ship
A heavy lift ship is a vessel designed to move very large loads that cannot be handled by normally equipped ships. They are of two types: semi-submerging capable of lifting another ship out of the water and transporting it; and vessels that augment unloading facilities at inadequately equipped...
which was built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee. Launched on 30 December 1941 and completed in March 1942. Sold in 1946 to Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co Ltd, Dundee and renamed Angusburn. Sold to Rederei A/B Hildegaard in 1955 and renamed Brettenham. Operated under the management of F Lundqvist, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Arrived at Cartagena
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on 14 April 1971 for scrapping.
Empire Bardolph
Empire Bardolph was a 7,017 GRT cargo ship which was built by Short Brothers LtdShort Brothers of Sunderland
Short Brothers Limited was a British shipbuilding company formed in 1850 and based at Pallion, Sunderland since 1869. The company closed in 1964 when it failed to invest to build bigger ships.-19th century:...
Sunderland. Launched on 8 December 1942 and completed in March 1943. Sold in 1946 to Lamport & Holt Line Ltd and renamed Memling. Sold in 1953 to Blue Star Line and renamed Vancouver Star. Renamed Memling in 1957. Arrived at Vlissingen on 23 October 1959 for scrapping.
Empire Barkis
Empire Barkis was a 340 GRT coastal tanker which was built by Rowhedge Iron Works Ltd, RowhedgeRowhedge
Rowhedge is a village in Essex.Formerly in the parish of East Donyland, it is now a ward of Colchester Borough Council. It is on the south bank of the River Colne and is the first settlement downstream, about 4 km from Colchester. Wivenhoe is on the opposite bank and Fingringhoe is about...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. Launched on 8 June 1944 and completed in August 1944. Sold to Van Castricum & Co Ltd, London and renamed Sodok. Sold in 1947 to Shell Company of Singapore Ltd and renamed Guntur. Sold in 1962 to Madam Dolly Seah, 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...
. Sold in 1972 to P T Perusahaan Pelyaran Palka Utama, 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...
.
Empire Barnaby
Empire Barnaby was a 222 GRT water carrier which was built by W.J. Yarwood & SonsW.J. Yarwood & Sons
W.J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd were a shipbuilding company based in Northwich, Cheshire from 1896 to 1966.-History:The company founder, William James Yarwood served an apprenticeship at an ironfoundry in Northwich. He was appointed as a blacksmith with the River Weaver Navigation...
(1938) Ltd, Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
. Launched on 2 May 1944 and completed in July 1944. Sold in 1967 to J Havens, London. Departed Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
on 24 June for Vianna, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Reported overdue on 4 July. Found by a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
fishing boat and towed to Santoña
Santoña
Santoña is a town in the eastern coast of the autonomous community of Cantabria, on the north coast of Spain. It is situated by the bay of the same name. It is 45 km from the capital Santander. Santoña is divided into two zones, an urban plain, and a mountainous area, with Mount Buciero at its...
, Spain where she was declared unseaworthy. Detained due to salvors not being paid.
Empire Baron
Empire Baron was a 5,894 GRT cargo ship built by Cantiere Navale TriestinoCantiere Navale Triestino
CANT was an Italian aviation company which originally specialised in building naval aircraft, formed in 1923 as part of the CNT...
, Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. Launched in 1926 as Monte Piana for Navigazione Generale Geromilich & Co, Trieste. Beached at 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...
on 12 June 1940 after crew attempted to scuttle her when intercepted by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Attempts to repair unsuccessful, towed to Vizagapatam, India by SS Nirvana in February 1941 where repaired. Sold in 1947 to Navigation & Coal Trade Ltd, London and renamed Rubystone. Sold in 1951 to Alvion Steamship Co, Panama. Scrapped at Nagasaki
Nagasaki
is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Nagasaki was founded by the Portuguese in the second half of the 16th century on the site of a small fishing village, formerly part of Nishisonogi District...
, Japan in August 1960.
Empire Barracuda
Empire Barracuda was a 4,926 GRT cargo ship which was built by American International Shipbuilding Co, Hog IslandHog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hog Island is the historic name of an area southwest of the central part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along the Delaware River, to the west of the mouth of the Schuylkill River. Philadelphia International Airport now sits on the land that was once Hog Island....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Launched in 1918 as Sacandaga for United States Shipping Board
United States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
(USSB). Sold in 1918 to Carolina Co. Operated under the management of American Palmetto Line. Returned to USSB in 1925. Sold in 1932 to American Diamond Lines Inc, and renamed Black Heron. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Barracuda. Sunk on 15 December 1942 by U-77
German submarine U-77 (1940)
German submarine U-77 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine built by the Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack. The boat was sunk on 28 March 1943 east of Cartagena, Spain, in position by four depth charges and one bomb from two British Lockheed Hudson aircraft.-Ships sunk or...
west of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
(35°30′N 06°17′W).
Empire Barrie
Empire Barrie was a 7,168 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons LtdJ.L. Thompson and Sons
J.L. Thompson and Sons was a shipyard on the River Wear, Sunderland, which produced ships from the mid-18th century until the 1980s. The world-famous Liberty Ship was among the designs to be created, produced and manufactured at the yard's base at North Sands....
, Sunderland. Launched on 17 January 1942 and completed in April 1942. Sold in 1945 to Clan Line Steamers Ltd
Clan Line
The Clan Line was a passenger and cargo shipping company that operated in one incarnation or another from the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth century.-Foundation and early years:...
and renamed Clan Alpine. Sold in 1957 to Bullard, King & Co and renamed Umvoti. Resold to Clan Line in 1959 and reverted to Clan Alpine. Sold for scrapping with a delivery date of November 1960. Broke moorings at Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
, East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
on 31 October 1960 during a cyclone and driven 11 nautical miles (20.4 km) inland from the mouth of the Chittagong River. Scrapped in situ February 1961.
Empire Bascobel
Empire Bascobel was a 418 GRT tug which was built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding & Drydock CoBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipbuilding Division was created in 1905 when Bethlehem Steel Corporation acquired the San Francisco shipyard Union Iron Works in 1905...
, Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
. Launched as Bascobel in 1919 for the USSB. Sold in 1922 to Gulf Coast Transportation Co, New Orleans. Sold in 1928 to Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railway Co
Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company
The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company , also known as TCI and the Tennessee Company, was a major American steel manufacturer with interests in coal and iron ore mining and railroad operations. Originally based entirely within Tennessee, it relocated most of its business to Alabama in the...
. To United States Maritime Commission
United States Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and replaced the U.S. Shipping Board which had existed since World War I...
(USMC) in 1936. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Bascobel. Returned to USMC in 1946, renamed Bascobel. Sold to Universal Tank Cleaning Corp in 1954 and then Standard Tank Cleaning Corp in 1958. Sank on 18 December 1961 at Mariners Harbor
Mariners Harbor, Staten Island
Mariners Harbor is a neighborhood located in the northwestern part of New York City, USA's borough of Staten Island. It is bordered by Lake Avenue to the east, Lisk Avenue to the south, Richmond Terrace to the north, and Holland Avenue to the west...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Declared a constructive total loss, scrapped in New York in December 1963.
Empire Battleaxe
Empire Battleaxe
Empire Battleaxe was a British ship of the Second World War and as HMS Donovan in service with the Royal Navyjust after the Second World War....
was a 7,177 GRT LSI
Landing Ship, Infantry
Landing Ship, Infantry was a British term for a type of ship used to transport infantry in amphibious warfare during the Second World War...
which was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation
Consolidated Steel Corporation
Consolidated Steel Corporation was an American steel and shipbuilding business. Consolidated built ships during World War II in two locations: Wilmington, California and Orange, Texas...
, Wilmington, California. She was laid down as Cape Berkeley and completed as Empire Battleaxe in October 1943. Became HMS Donovan in 1946 and reverted to Empire Battleaxe later that year. To USMC in 1947 and renamed Cape Berkeley in 1948. Proposed sale to China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
as Hai C fell through later that year, then renamed Empire Battleaxe. Laid up in James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Scrapped at Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
May 1966.
Empire Baxter
Empire Baxter was a 7,079 GRT cargo ship which was built by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, Barrow in Furness. Launched on 8 October 1941 and completed in December 1941. Sold in 1946 to Reardon Smith Line Ltd and renamed Paris. Sold in 1954 to Duff, Herbert & Mitchell Ltd, Liverpool and renamed Westford. Sold in 1958 to Compagnia Atlantica-Pacifica, Panama and renamed Severn River. Sold in 1959 to R & E Sadikloğu Ortaktari, TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and renamed Hüseyin Kaptan. Scrapped at Haliç
Halic
Halic may refer to:* Halič - a village in Slovakia* Haliç - a village in Turkey* The Golden Horn...
in 1963.
Empire Bay
was a 2,824 GRT collierCollier (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...
which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 20 August 1940 and completed in November 1940. Bombed, broke in two and sank in Tees Bay, off Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
on 15 January 1942. The wreck lies at 54°41′08"N 1°08′36"W.
Empire Beacon
Empire Beacon was a 879 GRT coaster which was built by Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling. Launched on 29 September 1941 and completed in November 1941. Struck a mineNaval 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...
and sank 6 nautical miles (11.1 km) from St Ann's Head, north Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
(51°41′N 05°10′W) on 5 April 1942.
Empire Beaconsfield
Empire Beaconsfield was a 2,905 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 2 October 1943 and completed in November 1943. Sold in 1946 to Constants (South Wales) Ltd, CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and renamed Hawkinge. Sold in 1951 to Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Company, Dundee and renamed Angusbrae. Sold in 1956 to Willem H Müller & Co NV , Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
and renamed Hispania. Sold in 1960 to West End Corporation, Panama and renamed Dia. Developed a leak and sank south of Savona
Savona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
, Italy (44°12′N 08°38′E) on 14 October 1964.
Empire Beatrice
Empire Beatrice was a 7,046 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 23 February 1942 and completed in April 1942. TorpedoTorpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
ed on 27 July 1944 by German E-boats in the Strait of Dover
Strait of Dover
The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel. The shortest distance across the strait is from the South Foreland, 6 kilometres northeast of Dover in the county of Kent, England, to Cap Gris Nez, a cape near to Calais in the French of...
(50°55′N 01°02′E) and beached at Dungeness. Patched up and towed to the Thames estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
on 2 August 1944 by tugs Empire Betsy and Empire Humphrey. To Tilbury on 20 September and later towed to Glasgow for repairs including a new stern. Sold in 1946 to Cheriton Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Beatrice N. Operated under the management of P B Pandelis Ltd, London. Sold in 1952 to N G Kyrakides Shipping Ltd, London and renamed Mary K. Sold in 1964 to Winchester Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Winchester Prowess. Operated under the management of G O Till, London. Sold in 1966 to B Bottigliere di Guiseppe, Naples and renamed Grazia Bottigliere. Scrapped at Split, Yugoslavia in March 1969.
Empire Beaumont
Empire Beaumont was a 7,044 GRT cargo ship which was built by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-TeesHaverton Hill
Haverton Hill is an area within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and ceremonial county of County Durham, England.It is situated to the north of the River Tees, near Billingham. The A1046 is the main road linking to Stockton and the A19 in the west and Port Clarence and the A178 in the east.- History...
. Launched on 31 March 1942 and completed in June 1942. Attacked by aircraft from KG26
Kampfgeschwader 26
Kampfgeschwader 26 "Löwengeschwader" was a Luftwaffe bomber wing during World War II .Its units participated on all of the fronts in the European Theatre until it was disbanded in September–October 1944. It operated two of the major German bomber types; the Heinkel He 111 and the Junkers Ju 88...
and sunk on 13 September 1942 at 76°10′N 10°05′E while a member of Convoy PQ 18.
Empire Beauty
was a 7,297 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Doxford & Sons LtdWilliam Doxford & Sons
William Doxford & Sons Ltd, often referred to simply as Doxford, was a British shipbuilding company.-History:The Company was established by William Doxford in 1840. From 1870 it was based in Pallion, Sunderland, on the River Wear in Northeast England. The Company was managed by William Doxford's...
, Sunderland. Launched on 8 April 1943 and completed in July 1943. Sold in 1946 to E Rasmussen, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and renamed Polycrown. Sold in 1962 to Lamda Shipping Enterprises, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and renamed Ioannis Aspiotis. Sold in 1968 to Laurel Shipping Co Ltd, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and renamed Laurel. Scrapped in January 1969 at Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
Empire Beaver
Empire Beaver was a 6,086 GRT refrigerated cargo ship which was built by G M Standifer Construction Corp, VancouverVancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
, Washington in 1919 as Waban for USSB. Sold in 1933 to Lykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Co Inc
Lykes Brothers Steamship Company
Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., also called Lykes Lines, was a cargo shipping company acting from the beginning of the 20th century to 2005 having its main business in the trade to and from the United States.-History:In 1900 the sons of Dr...
. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Sambar. Boiler room explosion on 6 March 1941. Repaired and renamed Empire Beaver. To Norwegian Government
Politics of Norway
Politics in Norway take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy. Executive power is exercised by the King's council, the cabinet, led by the Prime Minister of Norway. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Storting, elected...
in 1942 and renamed Norhauk. Struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary on 21 December 1943 (51°50′12"N 01°33′14"E).
Empire Becky
Empire Becky was a 244 GRT tug which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd, HessleHessle
Hessle is a town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, situated west of Kingston upon Hull city centre. Geographically it is part of a larger urban area which consists of the city of Kingston upon Hull, the town of Hessle and a number of other villages but is not part of the...
. Launched on 2 December 1944 and completed in February 1945. Sold in 1947 to Steel & Bennie Ltd and renamed Forager. Capsized and sank in the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
on 23 May 1962. Refloated on 5 June. Sold to Societa Rim. Napoletani, Italy and renamed Mastino. Scrapped in March 1984 in Naples.
Empire Bede
Empire Bede was a 6,959 GRT cargo ship which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 6 January 1942 and completed in March 1942. Damaged by a torpedo from U-553 at 19°35′N 76°25′W and sunk by gunfire from at 19°41′N 76°50′W on 18 August 1942 while a member of convoy TAW 13.Empire Belgrave
Empire Belgrave was a 890 GRT coastal tanker which was built by A & J Inglis Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 16 March 1945 and completed in June 1945. Sold to F T Everard & Sons Ltd and renamed Aqueity. Struck a mine off TerschellingTerschelling
Terschelling is a municipality and an island in the northern Netherlands, one of the West Frisian Islands.Waddenislanders are known for their resourcefulness in using anything and everything that washes ashore. With few trees to use for timber, most of the farms and barns are built with masts...
, Netherlands and sank on 11 November 1947.
Empire Bell
Empire Bell was a 2,023 GRT collier which was built as Belgia in 1930 by Öresundsvarvet, LandskronaLandskrona
Landskrona is a locality and the seat of Landskrona Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 28,670 inhabitants in 2005.-History:The city of Landskrona was founded at the location of Scania's best natural harbour, as a means of King Eric of Pomerania's anti-Hanseatic policy, intended to compete...
for F Sternhagen, Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
. Bombed and set on fire by enemy aircraft on 26 January 1941 in the Thames Estuary. Salvaged on 14 February 1941 and towed to 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...
. Sold to UK and passed to MoWT, renamed Empire Bell. Sunk by U-442
German submarine U-442
German submarine U-442 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II.The submarine was laid down on 19 October 1940 at the Schichau-Werke at Danzig, launched on 17 January 1942, and commissioned on 21 March 1942 under the command of Fregattenkapitän Hans-Joachim Hesse.U-442...
south of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
(62°19′N 15°27′W) on 25 September 1942.
Empire Belle
Empire Belle was a 257 GRT tug built by John Crown & Sons LtdJohn Crown & Sons Ltd
John Crown & Sons Ltd, was a British shipbuilding company founded in 1847 and based on the River Wear, Sunderland.-Ships built by John Crown & Sons Ltd:-See also:* List of shipbuilders and shipyards...
, Sunderland. Launched on 31 October 1943 and completed in February 1944. To the Admiralty in 1947 and renamed Elf. Sold to Imprese Maritime Augustea, Italy and renamed Mare Jonio. Transferred to Italian Navy
Marina Militare
The Italian Navy is the navy of the Italian Republic. It is one of the four branches of military forces of Italy; formed in 1946, from what remained of the Regia Marina . As of 2008, the Italian Navy had 35,200 active personnel with 180 commissioned ships, 19 Floating Docks, and 123 aircraft...
in 1972.
Empire Ben
Empire Ben was a 242 GRT tug which was built by J S Watson Ltd, Gainsborough. Launched on 22 December 1942 and completed in March 1943. Sold in 1948 to Leith Salvage & Towage Co Ltd and renamed E Nicholson. Sold in 1951 to Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners, MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and renamed Victor. Sold in 1957 to Geelong Harbour Trust Commissioners, Geelong. Sold in 1968 to R J Pherson, Melbourne and then sold to J H Nicholls, Melbourne in 1970.
Empire Benefit
Empire Benefit was a 8,202 GRT tanker which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. Launched on 24 November 1942 and completed in April 1943. Sold in 1945 to Athel Line Ltd and renamed Athelqueen. Sold in 1955 to Mariblanca Navigazione SA and renamed Mariverda. Operated under the management of Chandris (England) Ltd. Arrived at Kure
Kure, Hiroshima
is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...
on 6 September 1961 for scrapping.
Empire Beresford
Empire Beresford was a 9,804 GRT tanker which was built by Sir J Laing & Sons, Sunderland. Launched on 15 September 1943 and completed on December 1943. Sold in 1945 to Stanhope Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Stanbell. Operated under the management of J A Billmeir. Converted in 1955 to an ore carrierBulk carrier
A bulk carrier, bulk freighter, or bulker is a merchant ship specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, ore, and cement in its cargo holds. Since the first specialized bulk carrier was built in 1852, economic forces have fueled the development of these ships,...
of 14,810 DWT
Deadweight 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...
. Sold in 1960 to Malaya Shipping Co, Hong Kong, and renamed Kelantan. Operated under the management of United Shipping & Investment Co Ltd, Hong Kong and then Gibson Shipping Co Inc, Macao
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
. Scrapped in March 1965 at Hirao
Hirao, Yamaguchi
is a town located in Kumage District, Yamaguchi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 14,396 and a density of 418.49 persons per km². The total area is 34.40 km².-External links:* *...
.
Empire Bermuda
Empire Bermuda was a 3,539 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 30 September 1944 and completed in November 1944. Sold in 1949 to the Indo-China Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London and renamed Hewsang. Sold in 1963 to Sunshine Navigation Co Ltd, Panama and renamed Sunshine. Operated under the management of Patt Manfield & Co Ltd, Hong Kong. Scrapped at Kaohsiung in March 1970.Empire Bess
Empire Bess was a tug which was built by Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Willington Quay-on-TyneWillington Quay
Willington Quay is an area in the borough of North Tyneside in Tyne and Wear in northern England. It is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne, facing Jarrow, and between Wallsend and North Shields. It is served by the Howdon Metro station in Howdon. The area from 2006 onwards has been an...
. Launched on 26 April 1945 and completed in July 1945. Sold in 1946 to the United Towing Co Ltd and renamed Merchantman. Sold in 1962 to Societe Rim. Napoletani and renamed Tarentum. Scrapped in 1982 in Naples.
Empire Betsy
Empire Betsy was a 275 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 14 December 1943 and completed in May 1944. Sold in 1947 to Bataansch Petroleum Maatschappij, Netherlands and renamed Soegio. Struck a mine and sank on 12 February 1948 in Macassar Strait, BorneoBorneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
(2°36′S 116°33′E).
Empire Billow
Empire Billow was a 215 GRT water carrier which was built by W.J. Yarwood & SonsW.J. Yarwood & Sons
W.J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd were a shipbuilding company based in Northwich, Cheshire from 1896 to 1966.-History:The company founder, William James Yarwood served an apprenticeship at an ironfoundry in Northwich. He was appointed as a blacksmith with the River Weaver Navigation...
Ltd, Northwich. Launched in 1943 and completed in June 1943. To the Admiralty in 1946. Scrapped in Antwerp in October 1963.
Empire Birch
Empire Birch was a 244 GRT tug which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd, Hessle. Launched on 9 August 1941 and completed in December 1941. Hit a mine 150 nautical miles (277.8 km) north of Lourenço MarquesMaputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
(24°45′S 34°47′E) on 10 August 1942. Although beached and abandoned, Empire Birch slid off the beach and sank in deep water.
Empire Birdsay
Empire Birdsay was the intended name of the 5,122 GRT ship that was built by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Newcastle on Tyne. Launched on 16 August 1947 and completed in December 1947 as Zarian for United Africa Co Ltd, which became Palm Line LtdPalm Line
The Palm Line was a British-owned shipping line that was engaged in the West African trade from 1949, primarily servicing the ports along 5,000 miles of coastline from Morocco in the north to Angola in the far south....
in 1949 and she was renamed Lokoja Palm. Sold in 1966 to Compagnia Navigazione Kea, Panama and renamed Despina L. Sold in 1969 to Nova Shipping Co Ltd, Cyprus and renamed Nova. Operated under the management of Pergamos Shipping Co Ltd. Scrapped in China in December 1971.
Empire Bison
Empire Bison was a 5,612 GRT cargo ship which was built by Southwestern Shipbuilding Co, San PedroSan Pedro, Los Angeles, California
San Pedro is a port district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was annexed in 1909 and is a major seaport of the area...
California. Launched in 1919 as the West Cawthon for the USSB. To Green Star Steamship Corporation in 1920. To USSB in 1923, then American South African Line Inc
Farrell Lines
Farrell lines Incorporated was named in 1948 after James A. Farrell Jr., and John J. Farrell, sons of James A Farrell Sr., president of US Steel. The company was previously known as American South African Lines . It was a passenger/cargo line in regular service from New York to South Africa...
in 1926. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Bison. Torpedoed and sunk by U-124 on 1 November 1940 at 59°30′N 17°40′W, a straggler from Convoy HX 82.
Empire Bittern
Hamburg America Line
The Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft was a transatlantic shipping enterprise established in Hamburg, Germany during...
and renamed Bohemia. Requisitoned by the United States Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
in 1917 and passed to the USSB, renamed USS Artemis in 1919. To MoWT in 1940, renamed Empire Bittern, sunk as an additional 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...
as part of Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
on 23 July 1944.
Empire Blackwater
Empire Blackwater was a 2,917 GRT cargo ship which was built by Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft, Flensberg. Launched in 1939 as Pompeji, seized at KielKiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
as war prize
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...
in 1945. To MoWT, renamed Empire Blackwater. To USMC in 1946. Sold in 1946 to Seatrade Corporation, New York. Sold in 1949 to Baase & Co, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and renamed Krusaa. Sold in 1960 to Nils Berg, Finland and renamed Krucia. Sold in 1969 to H Hayrynen O/Y, Finland and renamed Helvi. Sold in 1971 to Nan Sing Navigation Co, Taiwan and renamed Eastern Faith. Scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in December 1975.
Empire Blanda
Empire Blanda was a 5,693 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched in 1919 as Nile. Sold in 1930 to Jugoslovenska Plovidba DD and renamed Sokol. Sold in 1939 to Compagnia Panamena de Vapores, Panama and renamed Rio Grande. Operatued under the management of T & N Coumantaros Ltd, Greece. Requisitioned in 1940, to MoWT as Empire Blanda. Torpedoed on 19 February 1941 & sunk by U-69 south of Iceland.Empire Blessing
Empire Blessing was a 7,064 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 1 October 1943 and completed in January 1944. Mined and sunk on 19 March 1945 in River Scheldt, BelgiumBelgium
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...
(51°24′N 03°17′E).
Empire Blossom
Empire Blossom was a 6,603 GRT cargo ship which was built by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Company of Hong Kong LtdTaikoo Dockyard
Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company was a dockyard located in the present-day Taikoo Shing and part of Taikoo Place of Quarry Bay on the north shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong.-History:...
. She was laid down in May 1941, but captured in December 1941 when ready for launching. Engine & boilers intended for Empire Blossom were sent to 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...
on 1 December 1941 on the Holt Line ship Ulysses. Ship reported completed by Japanese.
Empire Bombardier
Empire Bombardier was a 8,202 GRT tanker which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast. Launched on 8 August 1942 as Empire Fusilier. Completed February 1943 as Empire Bombardier. Sold in 1946 to British Tanker Co and renamed British Bombardier. Arrived on 15 March 1959 at TamiseTemse
Temse is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Elversele, Steendorp, Temse proper and Tielrode. On January 1, 2006 Temse had a total population of 26,287...
, Belgium for scrapping.
Empire Bond
Empire Bond was a 2,088 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched in 1906 as Ravelston for the Ravelston Steamship Co Ltd. Requisitioned in 1941 and renamed Empire Bond. Sold in 1946 to Rethymnis & Kulukundis, London and renamed Prenton, sold later that year to J Kattoula, Liverpool. Ran aground off Mytiki, Nikopoli Bay, Greece on 9 February 1949. Refloated and arrived at PrevezaPreveza
Preveza is a town in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece, located at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. It is the capital of the regional unit of Preveza, which is part of the region of Epirus. An immersed tunnel, completed in 2002 which runs between Preveza and Actium, connects the town...
on 13 February. Declared a constructive total loss. Prenton was sold and repaired, passing to Argo Maritime Transport Co, Greece in 1950 and renamed Agios Dionysis. Sold in 1951 to D G Coucoumbanis, Greece and renamed Sandenis. Sold later that year to G Frangistis, Greece and renamed San Denis. Scrapped at Savona, Italy in 1959.
Empire Boswell
Empire Boswell was a 2,898 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 2 June 1942 and completed in August 1942. Sold in 1947 to Aviation & Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Aviswell. Operated under the management of Purvis Shipping Co Ltd, London. sold in 1949 to F T Everard & Son Ltd and renamed Seniority. Ran aground on 7 November 1950 at Leinish Point, Inner HebridesInner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
(56°57′N 7°25′W). Refloated but sank off Bo Vich Chuan Rock on 8 November 1950.
Empire Bounty
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1946 as RFA Wave Victor. Fire in engine room in Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
, February 1954. Vessel abandoned but later reboarded and towed to Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. Towed to North Shields
North Shields
North Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
in April 1954 and repaired. Chartered to the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
in August 1960, sent to Gan, Maldive Islands as a fuelling hulk
Hulk (ship)
A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. Although sometimes used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, the term most often refers to an old ship that has had its rigging or internal equipment removed, retaining only its flotational qualities...
for military aircraft using RAF Gan
RAF Gan
The former Royal Air Force Station Gan commonly known as RAF Gan, was a Royal Air Force military airbase on Gan Island, the southern-most island of Addu Atoll which is part of the larger groups of islands which form the Maldives, in the middle of the Indian Ocean.-History:The area was originally...
. Towed to Singapore in April 1971 for scrapping. Reported to be a hulk in Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in March 1975.
Empire Bowman
Empire Bowman was a 7,030 GRT cargo ship which was built by C Connell & Co Ltd, ScotstounScotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
, Glasgow. Launched on 4 April 1942 and completed in May 1942. Torpedoed and sunk by U-404 on 30 March 1943 at 47°26′N 15°53′W while a member of Convoy SL 126.
Empire Boxer
Empire Boxer was a 340 GRT coastal tanker which was built by Rowhedge Ironworks Ltd, RowhedgeRowhedge
Rowhedge is a village in Essex.Formerly in the parish of East Donyland, it is now a ward of Colchester Borough Council. It is on the south bank of the River Colne and is the first settlement downstream, about 4 km from Colchester. Wivenhoe is on the opposite bank and Fingringhoe is about...
. Launched on 14 October 1943 and completed in February 1944. Sold in 1946 to C Rowbotham & Sons and renamed Chartsman. Sold to Coastal Prospecting Ltd and converted to suction dredger in 1967, renamed Baymead. Scrapped at Northam in July 1974.
Empire Boy
Empire Boy was a 859 GRT coaster which was built by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, GooleGoole
Goole is a town, civil parish and port located approximately inland on the confluence of the rivers Don and Ouse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England...
. Launched on 28 August 1941 and completed in December 1941. Sold in 1942 to the Dutch Government
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
and renamed Doorman. Sold in 1947 to Verenigde Tankkustvaart NV, Netherlands and renamed Flandria. Sold in 1951 to Ulric Thomas and renamed Alice. Operated under the management of S Stein KG, Germany. Sold in 1952 to Bauermann & Metzendorf GmbH, Germany and renamed Hammonia. Lengthened in that year. Sold in 1954 to R Bauermann and renamed Petra. Operated under the management of Olea Tankschiff GmbH, Germany. Sold in 1962 to Vittorio Rossetti, Italy and renamed Anny. New engine in 1965, renamed Tosco in 1972. Sold in 1975 to Tosco Sardi di Navigazione SpA, Italy. Scrapped at Spezia in June 1975.
Empire Bracken
Empire Bracken was a 263 GRT tug built by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole. Launched on 24 September 1941 and completed in April 1942. Sold in 1946 to Clyde Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Flying Spitfire. Sold in 1963 to Societa Salvataggi Siciliana, Italy and renamed Tortoli. Renamed Lindoi in 1968. Scrapped in CagliariCagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
in December 1983.
Empire Breeze
Empire Breeze was a 7,457 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 3 October 1940 and completed in January 1941. Aground on Bondicar Rocks off AmbleAmble
Amble is a town, civil parish and seaport on the North Sea coast, in Northumberland, England. It lies at the mouth of the River Coquet, and the nearby Coquet Island is clearly visible from its beaches and harbour. The civil parish, which has town status, is called Amble by the Sea, and has a...
, 5 February 1941. Refloated 13 March 1941 and taken in tow by tug Bullger. Tug struck a mine and sank in Druridge Bay
Druridge Bay
Druridge Bay is a long coastal bay in Northumberland, England, stretching from Amble in the north to Cresswell in the south.Northumberland Coast Country Park is situated within the bay, and part of the bay is owned by the National Trust...
on 16 March. Empire Breeze was anchored off Cresswell
Cresswell, Northumberland
Cresswell is a village in Northumberland, England. It is about to the north of Ashington, on the North Sea coast.It is a popular bird watching area with Cresswell pond and bird hide nearby and the Druridge Bay Country Park less than away....
and later taken to Sunderland for repairs. Empire Breeze was torpedoed on 25 August 1942 and sunk by U-438 at 49°22′N 35°52′W while a member of Convoy ON 122.
Empire Brent
Empire Brent was a 13,876 GRT linerOcean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
which was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd
Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited was a British shipbuilding company in the Govan area on the Clyde in Glasgow. Fairfields, as it is often known, was a major warship builder, turning out many vessels for the Royal Navy and other navies through the First World War and the...
, Glasgow. Launched in 1925 as Letitia for Anchor Donaldson Line. Converted to troopship
Troopship
A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
in 1940 and then a hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
in 1944. To MoWT in 1946 and renamed Empire Brent, operated under the management of Donaldson's. Renamed Captain Cook in 1952, scrapped at Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing is a town and a royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, located on the Firth of Forth. According to population estimates , the town has a population of 5,265. The port town was given burgh status by King David I of Scotland in the 12th century and is situated about 9 miles north from...
in 1960.
Empire Bridge
Empire Bridge was a 348 GRT coaster which was built by W.J. Yarwood & SonsW.J. Yarwood & Sons
W.J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd were a shipbuilding company based in Northwich, Cheshire from 1896 to 1966.-History:The company founder, William James Yarwood served an apprenticeship at an ironfoundry in Northwich. He was appointed as a blacksmith with the River Weaver Navigation...
Ltd, Northwich. Launched on 26 February 1941 and complete in June 1941. Sale to Springwell Shipping Co agreed in 1946 and new name Springbridge allocated, but involved in attempted salvage of cargo from SS Fort Massac which had been in a collision with SS Thornaby off the Sunk Light Vessel (51°53′N 1°31′E on 9 April 1946. Empire Bridge was holed in a collision with the wreck of Fort Massac and sank alongside her. Salvage attempts by the Admiralty only succeeded in turning her on her port side. Declared a total constructive loss.
Empire Brigade
Empire Brigade was a 5,154 GRT cargo ship which was built by J Priestman & Co Ltd, Sunderland. Launched in 1912 as Hannington Court. Sold in 1936 to Achille Lauro & Co, Naples and renamed Elios. Taken as prize on 10 June 1940 in Newcastle upon Tyne, to MoWT and renamed Empire Brigade. Torpedoed and sunk on 18 October 1940 by U-99 in the North Atlantic (57°12′N 10°43′W).Empire Broadsword
Empire Broadsword was a 7,177 GRT infantry landing ship which was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington. She was laid down as Cape Marshall and completed as Empire Broadsword in December 1943. Struck a mine and sank in the English ChannelEnglish Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
(49°25′N 00°54′W) on 2 July 1944.
Empire Bromley
Empire Bromley was a 1,059 GRT coaster which was built by G Brown & Co (Marine) Ltd, Greenock. Launched on 26 May 1945 and completed in June 1945. Sold in 1946 to Constantine Shipping Co and renamed Levenwood. Operated under the management of J Constantine Steamship Line Ltd. Sold in 1961 to Panax (Overseas) Ltd, London and renamed Basildon. Sold in 1962 to Don Shipping Co Ltd. Operated under the management of C M Willie & Co (Shipping) Ltd. Sold in 1963 to R S Braggs & Co (Shipping) Ltd. Scrapped in October 1967 at Burcht, Belgium.Empire Bronze
Empire Bronze was a 8,149 GRT tanker which was built by R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co LtdHawthorn Leslie and Company
R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Limited, usually referred to as Hawthorn Leslie, was a shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturer. The Company was founded on Tyneside in 1886 and ceased building ships in 1982.-History:...
, Newcastle upon Tyne. Launched on 19 August 1940 and completed in November 1940. Sold in 1946 to Anglo-American Oil Co Ltd and renamed Esso Cadillac. Sold in 1956 to Mariblanca Navigazione SA, Panama and renamed Maribella II. Operated under the management of Chandris (England) Ltd. Arrived at Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
for scrapping on 14 August 1959.
Empire Brook
Empire Brook was a 2,852 GRT coaster which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 10 April 1941 and completed in May 1941. Sold in 1946 to Stanhope Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Stancliffe. Operated under the management of J A Billmeir & Co Ltd, London. Grounded on 3 April 1947 at entrance to SharpnessSharpness
Sharpness is an English port in Gloucestershire, one of the most inland in Britain, and eighth largest in the South West. It is on the River Severn at , at a point where the tidal range, though less than at Avonmouth downstream , is still large .The village of Sharpness is pronounced with the...
Docks. Back broken, cargo of timber was salvaged. Refloated on 15 June 1947 and beached. Declared a constructive total loss, sold and repaired. Sold to Newbigin Steamship Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne and renamed Gripfast. Operated under the management of E R Newbigin Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Sold in 1960 to Saints Anargyroi Compagnia Ltda, Panama and renamed Capetan Costis. Operated under the management of Ezkos Maritime Technical Co, Greece. Sold in 1966 to Compagnia di Navigazione Patricio, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
and renamed Karine M. Operated under the management of Mooringwell Steamship Co, Cardiff. Sold later that year to Siconen Shipping SA, Panama and renamed Pitsa. Operated under the management of Kalamotusis Shipbroking Ltd, London. Put into Djibouti
Djibouti (city)
The City of Djibouti is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Djibouti, a nation in the Horn of Africa. The biggest settlement on the Gulf of Tadjoura, it lies on a peninsula that separates that basin from the Gulf of Aden.-History:...
on 10 October 1967 with boiler defects, also found to be leaking. Left for Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
on 1 December 1967 in tow of tug Nisos Kerkyra. Sank on 6 December 1967 off Socotra Island (13°32′N 55°00′E).
Empire Bruce
Empire Bruce was a prototypePrototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
design 7,459 GRT cargo ship built by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 11 June 1941 and completed in August 1941. Torpedoed and sunk on 18 April 1943 by U-123 100 nautical miles (185.2 km) off Freetown, Sierra Leone (06°40′N 13°17′W).
Empire Brutus
Empire Brutus was a 7,233 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompsons & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 18 December 1942 and completed in March 1943. Damaged by bombing on 26 July 1943 at 39°50′N 13°38′W. Damaged by a mine on 8 July 1944 off NormandyNormandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. Sold in 1948 to Haddon Steamship Co Ltd, London and renamed Vergmor. Sold in 1950 to Turnbull, Scott Shipping Co Ltd, London and renamed Southgate. sold in 1955 to Sadikzade Rusen Ogullari KS, Turkey and renamed Fatih. Scrapped in Istanbul in February 1968.
Empire Buckler
Empire Buckler was a 7,046 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 30 June 1942 and completed in September 1942. Sold in 1946 to Houlder Bros & Co Ltd and renamed Ovingdean Grange. Sold in 1959 to Devon Shipping Co Ltd, Liberia and renamed Sabrina. Operated under the management of Empresa Navigacion Proamar SRL, ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Sold in 1961 to Compagnia Navigazione Marcasa SA and renamed Noemi. Operated under the Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
flag by J Livanos & Sons Ltd, London. Ran aground on 17 December 1965 south of Masirah, Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
and declared a constructive total loss.
Empire Buffalo
Empire Buffalo was a 6,374 GRT cargo ship which was built by Skinner & EddySkinner & Eddy
The Skinner & Eddy Corporation, commonly known as Skinner & Eddy, was a Seattle, Washington-based shipbuilding corporation that existed from 1916 to 1923. The yard is notable for completing more ships for the U.S...
, Seattle. Launched in 1919 as Eglantine for USSB. To Lykes Bros-Ripley Steamship Corp in 1933. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Buffalo. Torpedoed and sunk on 6 May 1942 by U-125 north west of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
(19°14′N 82°34′W).
Empire Builder
was a 7,048 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 19 November 1941. To Polish GovernmentPolitics of Poland
The politics of Poland take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government of a multi-party system and the President is the head of state....
and completed in January 1942 as Tobruk. Operated under the management of Gdynia America Shipping Lines Ltd. Sold in 1951 to Polskie Linie Oceaniczne. Scrapped in Gdynia
Gdynia
Gdynia is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland and an important seaport of Gdańsk Bay on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.Located in Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania, Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk and suburban communities, which together...
in June 1968.
Empire Bulbul
Empire Bulbul was a 576 GRT coaster built by J I Thornycroft & Co LtdJohn I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
, Southampton. Launched in 1924 as Jamnagar for HH The Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawangar, India. To Royal Indian Navy in 1941 as an auxiliary patrol vessel
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
. To Hashim Mohomed Ganchi, India in 1944 then to MoWT, renamed Empire Bulbul. Sold in 1947 to Yannoulatos (Far East) Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed Hellenic Bulbul. New name Hellenic Bee allocated but ran aground on 29 August 1948 near Domanik Island, Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
(21°53′N 90°48′E), and then sank.
Empire Bunting
Empire Bunting was a 6,318 GRT cargo ship which was built by Skinner & Eddy Corp, Seattle. Launched in 1919 as Eelbeck for USSB. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Bunting. Sunk on 9 June 1944 as a blockship as part of "Gooseberry 4", Juno BeachJuno Beach
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
, Courseulles-sur-Mer
Courseulles-sur-Mer
Courseulles-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is a popular tourist destination not only with locals but also with international visitors who come to tour the Normandy landing beaches...
. Raised in 1947 and scrapped.
Empire Bure
Empire Bure was a 8,178 GRT cargo liner which was built by J Cockerill SA, Hoboken, Belgium. Launched in 1921 as Elizabethville for Compagnie Belge-Maritime du CongoCompagnie Maritime Belge
-History:The CMB was founded in 1895 under the name Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo . At the request of Leopold II of Belgium and with support from British investors, a maritime connection was opened with Congo Free State. On 6 February 1895 the CMB ship Léopoldville was the first to leave port...
. To MoWT during the war and renamed Empire Bure. Operated under the management of Lamport & Holt Line as a troopship. Laid up in September 1949 in Holy Loch
Holy Loch
The Holy Loch is a sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Robertson's Yard at Sandbank, a village on the loch, was a major wooden boat building company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries....
. Sold in 1950 to Charlton Steamship Co and renamed Charlton Star. Laid up at Spezia in 1957. Sold in 1958 to A J & D J Chandris, Greece. Reflagged to Liberia and renamed Maristrella. Sold for scrap in 1959 and scrapped in Sakai
Sakai, Osaka
is a city in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the Medieval era.Following the February 2005 annexation of the town of Mihara, from Minamikawachi District, the city has grown further and is now the fourteenth most populous city in...
, Japan in 1960.
Empire Burton
Empire Burton was a 6,966 GRT CAM shipCAM 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,...
which was built by Short Brothers Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 29 May 1941 and completed in August 1941. Torpedoed and sunk on 20 September 1941 by U-74 east of Cape Farewell
Cape Farewell
Cape Farewell can mean:* Cape Farewell, New Zealand, northernmost point of the South Island.* Cape Farewell, Greenland, southernmost point in the territory of Greenland....
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
(61°30′N 35°11′W) while a member of Convoy SC 44.
Empire Bute
Empire Bute was an 813 GRT coastal tanker which was built by A & J Inglis Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 19 October 1944 and completed in December 1944. Sold in 1946 to the French GovernmentGovernment of France
The government of the French Republic is a semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the fifth Republic. The nation declares itself to be an "indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic"...
and renamed Miliana. Sold in 1948 to Scotto Pugliese Fils & Cie, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and renamed Rivoli. Sold in 1952 to Bulk Oil Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Pass of Drumochter. Sold in 1962 to Lugari & Filippi, Italy and renamed Santa Giulia. Sold in 1971 to Ciana Anopo Compagnia di Navigazione & Bunkeraggi SpA, Italy. Scrapped at Spezia, Italy in 1971.
Empire Buttress
Empire Buttress was a 2,905 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 6 May 1943 and completed in July 1943. Sold in 1946 to Burnett Steamship Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne and renamed Wallsend. Sold in 1959 to Bordagain Shipping Co Ltd, Liberia and renamed Bordagain. Operated under the management of R de la Sota Jr, France. Sold in 1967 to Compagnia de Navigazione Pinares SA, Panama and renamed Daring. Scrapped in Split, Yugoslavia in May 1976.Empire Byng
Empire Byng was a 7,832 GRT heavy lift ship which was built by Greenock Dockyard Co, Greenock. Launched on 16 November 1944 and completed in May 1945. Sold in 1951 to Dalhousie Steam & Motorshipping Co Ltd and renamed Peter Dal II. Operated under the management of Nomikos (London) Ltd. Sold in 1954 to Novacastria Shipping Co Ltd, still under the management of Nomikos. Sold in 1955 to Ben Line Steamers Ltd and renamed Benwyvis. Sold in 1963 to Bacong Shipping SA, Panama and renamed Southern Comet. Operated under the management of Southern Industrial Projects Inc, ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. Sold in 1968 to Peoples Bank & Trust Co, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and renamed Marites. Grounded on 19 November 1970 in Manila Bay during Typhoon Patsy
Typhoon Patsy (1970)
Super Typhoon Patsy was the twenty-seventh named storm, twelfth typhoon, and seventh super typhoon of the 1970 Pacific typhoon season....
. Refloated 29 November, anchored in South Harbour, Manila. Sold and arrived at Hong Kong on 8 February 1972 for scrapping.
Empire Byron
Empire Byron was a 6,640 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 6 October 1941 and completed in January 1942. Damaged on 5 July 1942 by an aerial torpedoAerial torpedo
The aerial torpedo, airborne torpedo or air-dropped torpedo is a naval weapon, the torpedo, designed to be dropped into water from an aircraft after which it propels itself to the target. First used in World War I, air-dropped torpedoes were used extensively in World War II, and remain in limited...
dropped by a Heinkel He 111
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
of KG26, then sunk by a torpedo fired by U-703 in the Barents Sea
Barents Sea
The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
(76°18′N 33°30′E) while a member of Convoy PQ 17.