MV British Bombardier
Encyclopedia
British Bombardier was an 8,202 GRT tanker
which was built in 1942 as Empire Fusilier and completed as Empire Bombardier. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and postwar was sold to British Tanker Co Ltd, serving until scrapped in 1959.
, Belfast
. She was yard number 1158, and was launched on 8 August 1942. She was completed in February 1943 as Empire Bombardier. The ship was 465 in 6 in (141.88 m) long, with a beam of 56 in 6 in (17.22 m) and a depth of 34 feet (10.36 m). She was propelled by a four stroke, Single Cycle Single Action diesel engine
which had eight cylinders of 25 inches (65 cm) bore by 55 inches (140 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Harland & Wolff.
HX 242
Convoy HX 242 departed New York
on 31 May 1943 and arrived at Liverpool
on 15 June. Empire Bombardier was bound for the Stanlow Refinery
, Ellesmere Port
.
HX 304
Convoy HX 304 departed New York on 17 August 1944 and arrived at Liverpool on 1 September. Empire Bombardier was bound for Thameshaven.
In 1946, Empire Bombardier was sold to the British Tanker Co Ltd and renamed British Bombardier. Her port of registry was changed to London. In 1955, the British Tanker Company was renamed to BP Tanker Company
. She served until 1959, when she was sold for scrap to a firm in Tamise
, Belgium
. She arrived for scrapping on 15 March 1959.
. The ship had the UK Official Number 168521. Empire Bombardier used the Code Letters
BFJY. British Bombardier is recorded as using the same code letters in 1946.
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 in 1942 as Empire Fusilier and completed as Empire Bombardier. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and postwar was sold to British Tanker Co Ltd, serving until scrapped in 1959.
Description
Empire Fusilier was built by Harland and 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....
, Belfast
Belfast
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...
. She was yard number 1158, and was launched on 8 August 1942. She was completed in February 1943 as Empire Bombardier. The ship was 465 in 6 in (141.88 m) long, with a beam of 56 in 6 in (17.22 m) and a depth of 34 feet (10.36 m). She was propelled by a four stroke, Single Cycle Single Action diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
which had eight cylinders of 25 inches (65 cm) bore by 55 inches (140 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Harland & Wolff.
Career
The MoWT placed Empire Bombardier under the management of Dodd, Thomson & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Belfast. Empire Bombardier was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.HX 242
Convoy HX 242 departed 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...
on 31 May 1943 and arrived at Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 15 June. Empire Bombardier was bound for the Stanlow Refinery
Stanlow Refinery
Stanlow Refinery is an oil refinery owned by Essar Energy in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England. It was previously owned by Royal Dutch Shell and is part of the Shell Stanlow Manufacturing Complex.-History:...
, Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
.
HX 304
Convoy HX 304 departed New York on 17 August 1944 and arrived at Liverpool on 1 September. Empire Bombardier was bound for Thameshaven.
In 1946, Empire Bombardier was sold to the British Tanker Co Ltd and renamed British Bombardier. Her port of registry was changed to London. In 1955, the British Tanker Company was renamed to BP Tanker Company
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
. She served until 1959, when she was sold for scrap to a firm in Tamise
Temse
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
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. She arrived for scrapping on 15 March 1959.
Official Numbers and Code Letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO NumbersIMO ship identification number
The IMO ship identification number is made of the three letters "IMO" followed by the seven-digit number assigned to all ships by IHS Fairplay when constructed. This is a unique seven digit number that is assigned to propelled, sea-going merchant ships of 100 GT and above...
. The ship had the UK Official Number 168521. Empire Bombardier used the Code Letters
Code letters
Code letters were a method of identifying ships before the introduction of modern navigation aids. Later, with the introduction of radio, code letters were also used as radio callsigns.-History:...
BFJY. British Bombardier is recorded as using the same code letters in 1946.