SS Empire Bison
Encyclopedia
{|Empire Bison was a 5,912 GRT cargo ship
built in 1919 for the United States Shipping Board
(USSB) as West Cawthon. In 1940 she was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Bison. She was torpedoed and sunk by on 1 November 1940.
California
for the USSB. She was yard number 6 and was launched on 16 April 1919 with completion in June.
and Africa
. During the Second World War, West Cawthon was a member of a number of convoys.
HX 58
Convoy HX 58 departed Halifax, Nova Scotia
on 15 July 1940 and arrived at Liverpool
on 31 July. West Cawthon was carrying a cargo of steel
and general cargo bound for Manchester
. She was notified in the Advanced Sailing Telegram as carrying ammunition.
In 1940, West Cawthon was sold the MoWT and renamed Empire Bison. Her port of registry was London
. Empire Bison was a member of a number of convoys.
HX 82
Convoy HX 82 departed Halifax on 20 October 1940 and arrived at Liverpool on 6 November. The weather for the convoy was extremely bad and on 23 Oct in a Westerly gale force 8-9 the convoy hove to. As Empire Bison tried to come about a man was washed overboard. Empire Bison together with four other ships was forced to continue without the convoy. In the continuing bad weather contact with the convoy and the four other ships was lost.Empire Bison was torpedo
ed by and sunk at 59°30′N 17°40′W on 1 November 1940 at 0513. There were only four survivors, 38 crew and passengers perished . At the time of her loss, Empire Bison was carrying a cargo of 6067 long tons (6,164.4 t) of scrap metal and 94 lorries. The survivors were picked up by the Danish
steamship Olga S and landed at Gourock
, Renfrewshire
. Those lost on Empire Bison are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial
, London.
. West Cawthon had the US Official Number 218322 and the Code Letters
LRPW. In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to KILZ. Empire Bison had the UK Official Number 167628 and used the Code Letters GTQS.
. It developed 349 hp. She was capable of 10.5 knots (20.6 km/h).
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...
built in 1919 for the 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) as West Cawthon. In 1940 she was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Bison. She was torpedoed and sunk by on 1 November 1940.
Description
West Cawthon was a Design 1019 ship. She 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
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for the USSB. She was yard number 6 and was launched on 16 April 1919 with completion in June.
Career
West Cawthon was owned by the USSB. In 1920 she was sold to the Green Star Steamship Co, New York. In 1921 she was sold to Imperial Shipping Co, New York, and was sold back the USSB in 1923. 1926 West Cawthon was sold to the American-South African Line Inc. Her port of registry was New York. She operated between the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. During the Second World War, West Cawthon was a member of a number of convoys.
HX 58
Convoy HX 58 departed Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
on 15 July 1940 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 31 July. West Cawthon was carrying a cargo of steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
and general cargo bound for Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. She was notified in the Advanced Sailing Telegram as carrying ammunition.
In 1940, West Cawthon was sold the MoWT and renamed Empire Bison. Her port of registry was London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Empire Bison was a member of a number of convoys.
HX 82
Convoy HX 82 departed Halifax on 20 October 1940 and arrived at Liverpool on 6 November. The weather for the convoy was extremely bad and on 23 Oct in a Westerly gale force 8-9 the convoy hove to. As Empire Bison tried to come about a man was washed overboard. Empire Bison together with four other ships was forced to continue without the convoy. In the continuing bad weather contact with the convoy and the four other ships was lost.Empire Bison was torpedo
Torpedo
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 by and sunk at 59°30′N 17°40′W on 1 November 1940 at 0513. There were only four survivors, 38 crew and passengers perished . At the time of her loss, Empire Bison was carrying a cargo of 6067 long tons (6,164.4 t) of scrap metal and 94 lorries. The survivors were picked up by the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
steamship Olga S and landed at Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
. Those lost on Empire Bison are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial
Tower Hill Memorial
The Tower Hill Memorial is a national war memorial on the south side of Trinity Square Gardens, just to the north of the Tower of London. It commemorates those from the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets who died during both world wars and have "no grave but the sea".The First World War memorial...
, London.
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...
. West Cawthon had the US Official Number 218322 and 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:...
LRPW. In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to KILZ. Empire Bison had the UK Official Number 167628 and used the Code Letters GTQS.
Propulsion
The ship had a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 24½ inches (62 cm), 41½ inches (105 cm) and 72 inches (182.9 cm) diameter by 48 inches (121.9 cm) stroke. The engine was built by the Llewellyn Iron Works, Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. It developed 349 hp. She was capable of 10.5 knots (20.6 km/h).