SS Western Maid
Encyclopedia
{|Western Maid was a 5,760 GRT cargo ship
that was built in 1918 by Northwest Steel Co
, Portland, Oregon
, United States
. She was built for the United States Shipping Board
(USSB), but was commissioned into the United States Navy
on completion as USS Western Maid, with the pennant number
ID-3703. Decommissioned in 1919, she was returned to the USSB. In 1937, she was passed to the United States Maritime Commission
. In 1940, she was transferred to the British Ministry of Shipping
and renamed Empire Cormorant, passing to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1941. In 1945, she was scuttled in the North Atlantic with a cargo of obsolete war matériel.
, Portland Oregon. Yard number 13, she was launched in August 1918, and completed that month.
The ship was 423 in 9 in (129.16 m) long, with a beam of 54 in 0 in (16.46 m). She had a depth of 29 in 9 in (9.07 m) and a draught of 24 feet 0½ inch (7.33 m). She was assessed at 5,760 GRT
, 3,538 NRT
. Her DWT
was 12,185.
She had a 594 nhp steam turbine
that drove a single screw propeller via double reduction gearing. The turbine was manufactured by the De Laval Steam Turbine Co of Trenton, New Jersey
. This made her a comparatively fast freighter for her day, capable of up to 15 knots (29.4 km/h).
, she was taken over by the USSB and launched as Western Maid. On completion, the ship was passed to the United States Navy
and commissioned on 17 August 1918 as USS Western Maid, with the pennant number
ID-3703. She was operated by the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. The Official Number 120372 was allocated.
Western Maid started her maiden voyage
on 21 August 1918, transporting a cargo of flour from Portland to Arica
, Chile
, and a cargo of nitrate
s from Arica to New Orleans, Louisiana
via the Panama Canal
, arriving on 23 October. Western Maid departed New Orleans on 11 November, taking 6,082 tons of general cargo to New York
, where she arrived on 17 November. On 10 January 1919, Western Maid was allocated to the War Department for use as a transport. That day, Western Maid was involved in a collision in New York Harbour. The owners of the other vessel attempted to sue the USSB for damages, but the case was dismissed as it was held that Western Maid was "engaged in public service". She departed New York with a cargo of grain for Falmouth, Cornwall
, United Kingdom
for delivery to the Food Administration Grain Corporation
or resale to Allied governments. Engine trouble forced a return to New York, and she resumed the voyage on 14 January. Western Maid called at Falmouth and Plymouth
and then sailed to Rotterdam
, Netherlands
before returning to the United States, arriving at Baltimore, Maryland on 12 March 1919.
Western Maid was decommissioned on 20 March 1919 and returned to the USSB. By 1930, she had been allocated the United States Official Number 216754 and the Code Letters
LKMT. In 1937, she was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission
. In 1940, Western Maid was transferred to the British Ministry of Shipping
and renamed Empire Cormorant. She was placed under the management of R Chapman & Son, Newcastle upon Tyne
. Her port of registry was London
. The Official Number 168086 and the Code Letters
GNFF were allocated. In 1941, Empire Cormorant was transferred to the MoWT, remaining under the management of Chapman.
Empire Cormorant was a member of Convoy HS 36, which departed Halifax, Nova Scotia
on 29 July 1942 and arrived at Sydney
on 31 July. Empire Cormorant then joined Convoy SC 97, which departed Halifax on 22 August and arrived at Liverpool
, United Kingdom on 7 September. She was carrying general cargo bound for Cardiff
, Wales
. On 29 September 1943, Spitfire Vb
aircraft BM177
was loaded on board Empire Cormorant. It was delivered to Portugal
on 19 October. Empire Cormorant was a member of Convoy MKS 31, which departed Gibraltar
on 23 November and arrived at Liverpool on 7 December. She was on a voyage from Casablanca
, Morocco
to the River Mersey
with a cargo of phosphate
s. On 3 January 1944, cargo loaded on board Empire Cormorant included Spitfire Vb aircraft W3648 and BM176. They were delivered to Portugal
on 17 February.
at 55°30′N 11°00′W with a cargo of obsolete chemical ammunition. The wreck lies in 8200 feet (2,499.4 m) of water.
Empire Cormorant was one of four redundant cargo ships that the Admiralty
used to dispose of chemical ammunition at the same site in the North Atlantic. The others were on 11 September and and on 30th October.
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 in 1918 by Northwest Steel Co
Northwest Steel
Northwest Steel was a small shipyard in Portland, Oregon. Little is known of its background or owners, but during World War I the yard built cargo ships for the...
, Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She was built 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), but was commissioned into the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
on completion as USS Western Maid, with the pennant number
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
ID-3703. Decommissioned in 1919, she was returned to the USSB. In 1937, she was passed to the 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...
. In 1940, she was transferred to the British Ministry of Shipping
Minister of Shipping
The Minister of Shipping was a British government post created during the First World War and again during the Second World War. In 1941 it was merged into the position of Minister of Transport which was then renamed Minister of War Transport....
and renamed Empire Cormorant, passing to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1941. In 1945, she was scuttled in the North Atlantic with a cargo of obsolete war matériel.
Description
The ship was built in 1918 by Northwest Steel CoNorthwest Steel
Northwest Steel was a small shipyard in Portland, Oregon. Little is known of its background or owners, but during World War I the yard built cargo ships for the...
, Portland Oregon. Yard number 13, she was launched in August 1918, and completed that month.
The ship was 423 in 9 in (129.16 m) long, with a beam of 54 in 0 in (16.46 m). She had a depth of 29 in 9 in (9.07 m) and a draught of 24 feet 0½ inch (7.33 m). She was assessed at 5,760 GRT
Gross Register Tonnage
Gross register tonnage a ship's total internal volume expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of . It is calculated from the total permanently enclosed capacity of the vessel. The ship's net register tonnage is obtained by reducing the volume of non-revenue-earning spaces i.e...
, 3,538 NRT
Net register tonnage
Net register tonnage is a ship's cargo volume capacity expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of . It is calculated by reducing non-revenue-earning spaces i.e. spaces not available for carrying cargo, for example engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from the ship's...
. Her 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...
was 12,185.
She had a 594 nhp steam turbine
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
that drove a single screw propeller via double reduction gearing. The turbine was manufactured by the De Laval Steam Turbine Co of Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. This made her a comparatively fast freighter for her day, capable of up to 15 knots (29.4 km/h).
History
Originally laid down as Aisne for the Compagnie Générale TransatlantiqueCompagnie Générale Transatlantique
The Compagnie Générale Transatlantique , typically known overseas as the French Line, was a shipping company established during 1861 as an attempt to revive the French merchant marine, the poor state of which was indicated during the Crimean War of 1856...
, she was taken over by the USSB and launched as Western Maid. On completion, the ship was passed to the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and commissioned on 17 August 1918 as USS Western Maid, with the pennant number
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
ID-3703. She was operated by the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. The Official Number 120372 was allocated.
Western Maid started her maiden voyage
Maiden voyage
The maiden voyage of a ship, aircraft or other craft is the first journey made by the craft after shakedown. A number of traditions and superstitions are associated with it....
on 21 August 1918, transporting a cargo of flour from Portland to Arica
Arica
Arica is a city in northern Chile. "Arica" may also refer to:Places* Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile* Arica Airport , Chile* Arica, Amazonas, town in Colombia* Rio Aricá-açu, tributary of the Cuiabá River south of Cuiabá, BrazilOther...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and a cargo of nitrate
Nitrate
The nitrate ion is a polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO and a molecular mass of 62.0049 g/mol. It is the conjugate base of nitric acid, consisting of one central nitrogen atom surrounded by three identically-bonded oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement. The nitrate ion carries a...
s from Arica to New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
via the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, arriving on 23 October. Western Maid departed New Orleans on 11 November, taking 6,082 tons of general cargo to 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...
, where she arrived on 17 November. On 10 January 1919, Western Maid was allocated to the War Department for use as a transport. That day, Western Maid was involved in a collision in New York Harbour. The owners of the other vessel attempted to sue the USSB for damages, but the case was dismissed as it was held that Western Maid was "engaged in public service". She departed New York with a cargo of grain for Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for delivery to the Food Administration Grain Corporation
United States Food Administration
During the United States participation in World War I the U. S. Food Administration was the responsible agency for the administration of the allies' food reserves. One of its important tasks was the stabilization of the price of wheat on the U. S. market. It was established by of August 10, 1917...
or resale to Allied governments. Engine trouble forced a return to New York, and she resumed the voyage on 14 January. Western Maid called at Falmouth and Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and then sailed to 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...
, 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...
before returning to the United States, arriving at Baltimore, Maryland on 12 March 1919.
Western Maid was decommissioned on 20 March 1919 and returned to the USSB. By 1930, she had been allocated the United States Official Number 216754 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:...
LKMT. In 1937, she was transferred to the 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...
. In 1940, Western Maid was transferred to the British Ministry of Shipping
Minister of Shipping
The Minister of Shipping was a British government post created during the First World War and again during the Second World War. In 1941 it was merged into the position of Minister of Transport which was then renamed Minister of War Transport....
and renamed Empire Cormorant. She was placed under the management of R Chapman & Son, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. 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...
. The Official Number 168086 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:...
GNFF were allocated. In 1941, Empire Cormorant was transferred to the MoWT, remaining under the management of Chapman.
Empire Cormorant was a member of Convoy HS 36, which 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 29 July 1942 and arrived at Sydney
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
on 31 July. Empire Cormorant then joined Convoy SC 97, which departed Halifax on 22 August 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...
, United Kingdom on 7 September. She was carrying general cargo bound for Cardiff
Cardiff
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...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. On 29 September 1943, Spitfire Vb
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
aircraft BM177
United Kingdom military aircraft serials
In the United Kingdom to identify individual aircraft, all military aircraft are allocated and display a unique serial number. A unified serial number system, maintained by the Air Ministry , and its successor the Ministry of Defence , is used for aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force , Fleet...
was loaded on board Empire Cormorant. It was delivered to 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...
on 19 October. Empire Cormorant was a member of Convoy MKS 31, which departed 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...
on 23 November and arrived at Liverpool on 7 December. She was on a voyage from Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
to the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
with a cargo of phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
s. On 3 January 1944, cargo loaded on board Empire Cormorant included Spitfire Vb aircraft W3648 and BM176. They were delivered to 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...
on 17 February.
Scuttling
On 1 October 1945, Empire Cormorant was scuttled in the outer approaches of the North ChannelNorth Channel (Great Britain and Ireland)
The North Channel is the strait which separates eastern Northern Ireland from southwestern Scotland...
at 55°30′N 11°00′W with a cargo of obsolete chemical ammunition. The wreck lies in 8200 feet (2,499.4 m) of water.
Empire Cormorant was one of four redundant cargo ships that 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...
used to dispose of chemical ammunition at the same site in the North Atlantic. The others were on 11 September and and on 30th October.