List of Empire ships - I - J
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.
(9,600 DWT
) cargo ship
which was built by Skinner & Eddy Corp. Seattle. Completed in 1918 as Edgefield for the United States Shipping Board
(USSB). To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Ibex. On 1 July 1943, Empire Ibex was in collision with Empire MacAlpine in the north Atlantic (53°30′N 36°25′W) and was severely damaged. She was abandoned on 2 July and sank.
which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
. Launched on 22 May 1942 and completed in July 1942. Capsized on 1 August 1942 and sank at Pembroke Dock
, Pembrokeshire
.
, Virginia
. Laid down as Boshbish for the USSB and completed in 1920 as Clemence C Morse for the United States Transportation Co. To USSB in 1923 and renamed Oakman. To Lykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Co Inc
in 1933. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Impala. On 7 March 1943, Empire Impala was a member of Convoy SC 121. She stopped to pick up survivors from SS Egyptian which had been torpedo
ed by U-230
when she was herself torpedoed by U-591 and sunk.
, Hamburg
. Launched in 1923 as Gerta for Hamburg America Line
. On 4 April 1941, she was scuttled at Massawa
, Eritrea
prior to the capture of the port
by British forces. On 8 September 1942 she was refloated and beached to enable temporary repairs to be carried out. To MoWT and renamed Empire Indus. On 2 May 1943, she left Massawa under tow by , arriving in Karachi
, India
on 13 May where she was repaired. On 14 April 1944, she was badly damaged as a result of the explosion of the at Bombay. Repairs were completed in November 1945. Sold in 1946 to Arden Hall Steamship Co, Cape Town
. Renamed Bosveld in 1947. Sold in 1948 to Pan Ocean Navigation Co, Panama
and renamed Pan Ocean. On 6 April 1958 she developed a leak and foundered 160 nautical miles (296.3 km) north west of Alexandria
, Egypt
. (33°15′N 27°55′E)
, Netherlands
. Launched in 1916 as Leersum. Sold in 1939 to E Oldendorff, Lübeck
and renamed Henning Oldendorf. On 17 November 1939, she was captured by in the Denmark Strait
. She was taken to Lerwick
and then Liverpool
. To MoWT and renamed Empire Industry. On 16 March 1941, Empire Industry was sunk by the German
Battleship Scharnhorst at 43°27′N 45°25′W.
, Bremen
. Launched in 1922 as Werra. Sold in 1939 to Lloyd Triestino, Trieste
and renamed Calabria . On 10 June 1940 she was seized as a war prize
at Calcutta. To MoWT, intended to be renamed Empire Inventor but on 8 December 1940 she was torpedoed by U-103 and sunk at 52°43′N 10°07′W.
, Sunderland. Launched on 14 May 1942 and completed in July 1942. To the Dutch Government
in 1943 and renamed Frans van Mieris. Sold in 1946 to Stoomvart Maatschappij Ostzee and renamed Farmsum. Operated under the management of Vinke & Zonen, Amsterdam
. Sold in 1950 to E Hsian Steamship Co Ltd, Hong Kong
and renamed Kin Ming. Sold in 1965 to Kai Tai Marine Lines Ltd, Formosa
and renamed Kai Queen. Operated under the management of China Union Lines Ltd. Scrapped in September 1969 at Kaohsiung
, Taiwan
.
which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd
, Grangemouth
. Launched on 22 June 1943 and completed in August 1943. Sold in 1949 to Heny & McGregor Ltd, Leith
and renamed Rattray Head. Sold in 1960 to Gino Gardella, Italy
and renamed Brick Quarto. Scrapped in October 1973 at Savona
, Italy.
which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd, Hessle
. Launched on 18 February 1941 and completed in July 1941. Sold in 1945 to Comben, Longstaff & Co Ltd and renamed Suffolkbrook. Sold in 1948 to Lovering & Sons Ltd, Cardiff
and renamed Fennel. Sold in 1952 to Hindlea Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Hindlea. Operated under the management of J L Hindmarsh, Cardiff. Lengthened in 1959, now 506 GRT (725 DWT). On 27 October 1959 she was driven ashore in Moelfre Bay
, Anglesey and broke in two. Wreckage looted
by local inhabitants. Declared a total loss.
. Launched on 22 October 1941 and completed in July 1942. Sold in 1946 to Clyde Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Flying Tempest. Sold in 1962 to Societa Salvataggi Siciliana, Italy and renamed Poetto. Renamed Montelungo in 1968, scrapped in 1982.
, Portugal
.
, Japan
. Completed in May 1919 as Eastern Glade for USSB. To American South African Line Inc
in 1926 and then to Postal Steamship Corp, New York
in 1934. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Jaguar. Torpedoed on 8 December 1940 and sunk by U-105
at 51°34′N 17°35′W.
. Launched on 16 November 1944 and completed in January 1945. Sold in 1951 to Western Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Westway. Operated under the management of Wang Kee & Co, Hong Kong. Sold in 1958 to Djakarta Lloyd, Indonesia
and renamed Djajapratama. Sold in 1967 to Trikora Lloyd, Indonesia. Arrived on 23 December 1970 at Hong Kong for scrapping.
. Launched on 25 April 1944 and completed in June 1944. Sold in 1947 to Union Steamship Company of New Zealand
and renamed Taioma. In 1978 she was preserved at the Tauranga Historic Village, Tauranga
, New Zealand
. The museum closed and Taioma was purchased in March 2000 by the Taioma Reef Society to be sunk as a dive wreck
in the Bay of Plenty
.
which was built by Kaldnes Mekaniske Verkstad, Tønsberg
, Norway
. Launched in 1944 as Jan Mayen but requisitioned by Germany. Seized in May 1945 as a war prize. To MoWT and renamed Empire Janus. Sold in 1947 to Christian Salvesen & Co Ltd, Leith and renamed Southern Main. Scrapped in 1964 at Odense
, Denmark
.
) type C1-S-AY1
landing ship which was built by Consolidated Steel Corp
, Wilmington
, California
. Laid down as Cape Lobos and completed in January 1944 as Empire Javelin for the MoWT. Torpedoed on 28 December 1944 and sunk by U-772 at 50°05′N 01°00′W while a member of Convoy TBC 1.
. Launched on 17 October 1944 and completed in January 1945 as Empire Mary. Sold in 1946 to Overseas Towage & Salvage Co Ltd and renamed Marinia. Sold in 1950 to Union des Remorquage de Dakar and renamed W Ponty. Renamed Ponty in 1954. Sold in 1961 to Société Belge Remorquage Oceanique, Ostend
, Belgium
and renamed Ocean Bull. Sold in 1965 to SA Italiene Lavore e Maritimi, Italy and renamed Nettuno. Renamed Nettuno Sailem in 1984 and scrapped in May 1985 in Palermo
, Italy.
in 1961 and renamed R A 3.
in 1947 and renamed Aid. Sold in 1960 to H G Pounds
, Portsmouth
. sold in 1961 to J D Irving Ltd, Canada
and renamed Irving Teak. Scrapped in June 1977 in Canada.
Troon
. Launched on 24 March 1943 and completed in May 1943. To the French Government
in 1945 and renamed Joseph Blot. Sold in 1954 to Armement Leon Mazzella et Compagnie, Algeria
, and renamed Leon Mazzella. Sold in 1960 to Loris Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama and renamed Loris. Sold in 1966 to Compagnia Maritima Santa Barbara Sa, Panama, and renamed Agia Varvara. Scrapped in January 1975 at İzmir
, Turkey
.
, and renamed Tolmiros. Sold in 1973 to L G Matsas, Greece. Scrapped in February 1986 at Perama
, Greece.
which was built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow
. Launched on 27 May 1941 and completed in August 1941. Sold in 1946 to Bowring Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Regent Jaguar. Operated under the management of C T Bowring & Co Ltd. Arrived on 2 June 1958 at Briton Ferry
for scrapping.
.
. Was en route to the USA when war was declared. Returned to Germany by sailing around the top of Scotland
and down the North Sea
. Used as an accommodation ship at Hamburg, then as a troopship
to Norwegian and Baltic ports. Took part in the Evacuation of East Prussia
. Seized on 13 May 1945 at Flensburg
. To MoWT and renamed Empire Jewel. Arrived on 19 June 1945 at Kiel
and placed under armed guard with a Royal Navy
contignent to prevent the Germans from using her to block the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal
. After arrival at Brunsbüttel
the armed guard left and she was at anchor for three weeks with a full German crew. Sailed on 20 July 1945 with a detachment of Army
guards bound for Methil
. To Belfast in July 1945 for conversion to a troopship by Harland & Wolff Ltd. Completed in April 1946 and renamed Empire Fowey. Her high-pressure boilers caused problems for her crew, who were not used to this type of boiler. In March 1947 she was towed to the Clyde
and refitted again, new boilers and geared turbines fitted, and the accommodation again refitted. Served as a troopship until 1957 and then chartered to the Pan-Islamic Steamship Co, Pakistan
. Sold to them in 1960 and renamed Safina-E-Hujjaj. Scrapped in October 1976 at Gadani Beach
, Pakistan.
.
, Monmouthshire
.
, Spain
.
after Convoy PQ 17 had scattered. Paulus Potter was abandoned by her crew. On 13 July 1942, she was torpedoed by U-255 and sunk in the Barents Sea
.
. Fitted with a diesel engine
in 1973 by Straits Engineers Ltd, Singapore. Sold in 1975 to World Dredging Ltd, Panama. Sold in 1983 to Strel Ltd, Panama.
. She was abandoned but her engines were left in the "full ahead" position. Chased by a trawler
and boarded, taken in tow and beached in the Humber Estuary where the fire was extinguished. Refloated and taken to Hull Docks
where she sank. Declared a total constructive loss but raised, sold and repaired. Sold in 1948 to H P Marshall & Co, Middlesbrough
, and renamed Marton. Sold in 1952 to Limerick Steamship Co Ltd, Limerick
, Ireland
and renamed Galtee Sold in 1961 to F Maggiani & Others, Italy and renamed Vittorio Bogazzi. Sold in 1970 to Carlo Figlie, Italy, and renamed Enrico Effe. Scrapped in 1976 in Italy.
and renamed Nellore. Sold in 1966 to Austin Navigation Corporation Ltd, Panama and renamed Oriana. On 31 December 1966, she caught fire at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Grounded due to amount of water used to put fire out. Refloated on 4 January 1967 but declared a constructive total loss. Scrapped in December 1967 at Kaohsiung.
, Portugal
.
, Northern Ireland
, for scrapping when Norjerv broke in two and sank. Sold in 1963 to N E Vernicos Shipping Co Ltd, Greece, and renamed Vernicos Kitty. Scrapped in December 1974 at Kartal
, Turkey.
and renamed Balbus. Sold in 1967 to Tsavliris Salvage & Towage Ltd, Greece and renamed Nisos Poros. Scrapped in December 1970 in Greece.
. Launched on 21 September 1944 and completed in December 1944. To the French Government in 1946 and renamed Saint Gaudens. Sold in 1948 to Les Petroles d'Outre-Mer, France, and renamed Sevane. Sold in 1958 to Jugoslavenska Tankerska Plovidba, Yugoslavia
and renamed Progres. Arrived on 9 November 1970 at Split
for scrapping.
, capsized and sank. Raised on 2 August 1972, declared a total constructive loss but repaired and returned to service. Scrapped in March 1979 at Naples.
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 Ibex
Empire Ibex was a 7,208 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...
(9,600 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...
) 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...
which was built by Skinner & Eddy Corp. Seattle. Completed in 1918 as Edgefield 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). To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Ibex. On 1 July 1943, Empire Ibex was in collision with Empire MacAlpine in the north Atlantic (53°30′N 36°25′W) and was severely damaged. She was abandoned on 2 July and sank.
Empire Imp
Empire Imp was a 129 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 22 May 1942 and completed in July 1942. Capsized on 1 August 1942 and sank at Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying north of Pembroke on the River Cleddau. Originally a small fishing village known as Paterchurch, the town was greatly expanded from 1814 onwards following the construction of a Royal Naval Dockyard...
, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
.
Empire Impala
Empire Impala was a 6,113 GRT (9,400 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Virginia Shipbuilding Corp, AlexandriaAlexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, 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...
. Laid down as Boshbish for the USSB and completed in 1920 as Clemence C Morse for the United States Transportation Co. To USSB in 1923 and renamed Oakman. 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...
in 1933. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Impala. On 7 March 1943, Empire Impala was a member of Convoy SC 121. She stopped to pick up survivors from SS Egyptian which had been 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 U-230
German submarine U-230
U-230 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.She was commissioned on 24 October 1942 with Oberleutnant Siegmann in command...
when she was herself torpedoed by U-591 and sunk.
Empire Indus
Empire Indus was a 5,155 GRT cargo ship which was built by Blohm & VossBlohm + Voss
Blohm + Voss , is a German shipbuilding and engineering works. It is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; there were plans to sell 80% of Blohm + Voss to Abu Dhabi Mar Group, but talks collapsed in July 2011.-History:It was founded on April 5, 1877, by Hermann Blohm and Ernst Voss as a...
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. Launched in 1923 as Gerta for Hamburg America Line
Hamburg America Line
The Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft was a transatlantic shipping enterprise established in Hamburg, Germany during...
. On 4 April 1941, she was scuttled at Massawa
Massawa
Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa (Ge'ez ምጽዋዕ , formerly ባጽዕ is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate,...
, Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
prior to the capture of the port
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
by British forces. On 8 September 1942 she was refloated and beached to enable temporary repairs to be carried out. To MoWT and renamed Empire Indus. On 2 May 1943, she left Massawa under tow by , arriving in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, 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...
on 13 May where she was repaired. On 14 April 1944, she was badly damaged as a result of the explosion of the at Bombay. Repairs were completed in November 1945. Sold in 1946 to Arden Hall Steamship Co, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. Renamed Bosveld in 1947. Sold in 1948 to Pan Ocean Navigation Co, 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...
and renamed Pan Ocean. On 6 April 1958 she developed a leak and foundered 160 nautical miles (296.3 km) north west of Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. (33°15′N 27°55′E)
Empire Industry
Empire Industry was a 3,721 GRT cargo ship which was built by Vuijk en Zoon, Capelle aan den IJsselCapelle aan den IJssel
Capelle aan den IJssel is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality had a population of 65,605 in 2005, and covers an area of 15.42 km² of which 1.13 km² is water...
, 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...
. Launched in 1916 as Leersum. Sold in 1939 to E Oldendorff, Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
and renamed Henning Oldendorf. On 17 November 1939, she was captured by in the Denmark Strait
Denmark Strait
The Denmark Strait or Greenland Strait |Sound]]) is an oceanic strait between Greenland and Iceland...
. She was taken to Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
and then 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...
. To MoWT and renamed Empire Industry. On 16 March 1941, Empire Industry was sunk by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Battleship Scharnhorst at 43°27′N 45°25′W.
Empire Inventor
Empire Inventor was a 9,515 GRT cargo ship which was built by AG WeserAG Weser
Aktien-Gesellschaft Weser was one of the great German shipbuilding companies, located at the Weser River in Bremen. Founded in 1873 it was finally closed in 1983. Altogether, AG Weser built about 1400 ships of different types, including many war ships...
, Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
. Launched in 1922 as Werra. Sold in 1939 to Lloyd Triestino, 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...
and renamed Calabria . On 10 June 1940 she was seized as a 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...
at Calcutta. To MoWT, intended to be renamed Empire Inventor but on 8 December 1940 she was torpedoed by U-103 and sunk at 52°43′N 10°07′W.
Empire Iseult
Empire Iseult was a 7,170 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 14 May 1942 and completed in July 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...
in 1943 and renamed Frans van Mieris. Sold in 1946 to Stoomvart Maatschappij Ostzee and renamed Farmsum. Operated under the management of Vinke & Zonen, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. Sold in 1950 to E Hsian Steamship 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...
and renamed Kin Ming. Sold in 1965 to Kai Tai Marine Lines Ltd, Formosa
Formosa
Formosa or Ilha Formosa is a Portuguese historical name for Taiwan , literally meaning, "Beautiful Island". The term may also refer to:-Places:* Formosa Strait, another name for the Taiwan Strait...
and renamed Kai Queen. Operated under the management of China Union Lines Ltd. Scrapped in September 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 Islander
Empire Islander was a 2,066 GRT (2,900 DWT) 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 Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd
Grangemouth Dockyard Company
The Grangemouth Dockyard Company was a British shipbuilding and ship repair firm located at Grangemouth, on the Firth of Forth, Scotland.-History:...
, Grangemouth
Grangemouth
Grangemouth is a town and former burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, east of Falkirk, west of Bo'ness and south-east of Stirling. Grangemouth had a resident population of 17,906 according to the 2001...
. Launched on 22 June 1943 and completed in August 1943. Sold in 1949 to Heny & McGregor Ltd, Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
and renamed Rattray Head. Sold in 1960 to Gino Gardella, 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...
and renamed Brick Quarto. Scrapped in October 1973 at 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.
Empire Isle
Empire Isle was a 402 GRT (480 DWT) coasterCoastal 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....
which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd, Hessle
Hessle
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 18 February 1941 and completed in July 1941. Sold in 1945 to Comben, Longstaff & Co Ltd and renamed Suffolkbrook. Sold in 1948 to Lovering & Sons Ltd, 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...
and renamed Fennel. Sold in 1952 to Hindlea Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Hindlea. Operated under the management of J L Hindmarsh, Cardiff. Lengthened in 1959, now 506 GRT (725 DWT). On 27 October 1959 she was driven ashore in Moelfre Bay
Moelfre
Moelfre is a village and community on the east coast of Isle of Anglesey in Wales, and on the Anglesey Coastal Path. It has a population of 1,129.The Royal Mail postcode begins LL72....
, Anglesey and broke in two. Wreckage looted
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
by local inhabitants. Declared a total loss.
Empire Ivy
Empire Ivy was a 263 GRT tug 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 22 October 1941 and completed in July 1942. Sold in 1946 to Clyde Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Flying Tempest. Sold in 1962 to Societa Salvataggi Siciliana, Italy and renamed Poetto. Renamed Montelungo in 1968, scrapped in 1982.
Empire Jack
Empire Jack was a 734 GRT (1,015 DWT) coaster which was built by Vickers Armstrongs Ltd Barrow in Furness. Launched on 4 October 1941 as River Fisher and completed in December 1941 as Empire Jack. Sold in 1946 to J Fisher & Sons Ltd, Barrow in Furness and renamed River Fisher. Sold in 1967 to Greenore Ferry Services Ltd, Dublin and renamed Owenduv. Sold in 1971 to Compagnia Marittima Fogana SA, Panama. Capsized on 13 January 1972 and sank after cargo shifted, 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) off LeixõesLeixões
Leixões is located 4 km to the north of Douro River mouth, in Matosinhos municipality, near the city of Porto. Leixões is one of Portugal's major seaports. Leixões Sport Club, commonly knows simply as Leixões, is Matosinhos' sports club....
, 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...
.
Empire Jaguar
Empire Jaguar was a 5,186 GRT (8,500 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Uchida Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, YokohamaYokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, 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...
. Completed in May 1919 as Eastern Glade for USSB. To 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 and then to Postal Steamship Corp, 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...
in 1934. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Jaguar. Torpedoed on 8 December 1940 and sunk by U-105
German submarine U-105 (1940)
German submarine U-105 was a Type IXB U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine. U-105 was ordered by the Kriegsmarine on 24 May 1938 as part of Nazi Germany's naval rearmament program. Her keel was laid down by AG Weser in Bremen on 16 November 1938...
at 51°34′N 17°35′W.
Empire Jamaica
Empire Jamaica was a 3,538 GRT cargo ship which was built by William 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 16 November 1944 and completed in January 1945. Sold in 1951 to Western Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Westway. Operated under the management of Wang Kee & Co, Hong Kong. Sold in 1958 to Djakarta Lloyd, 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...
and renamed Djajapratama. Sold in 1967 to Trikora Lloyd, Indonesia. Arrived on 23 December 1970 at Hong Kong for scrapping.
Empire Jane
Empire Jane was a 235 GRT tug which was built by A Hall & Co Ltd, AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. Launched on 25 April 1944 and completed in June 1944. Sold in 1947 to Union Steamship Company of New Zealand
Union Company
The Union Company, Union Steam Ship Company , or Union Line was started in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1875, when it was floated by James Mills, who had been clerk to Johnny Jones and his Harbour Steam Company....
and renamed Taioma. In 1978 she was preserved at the Tauranga Historic Village, Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The museum closed and Taioma was purchased in March 2000 by the Taioma Reef Society to be sunk as a dive wreck
Sinking ships for wreck diving sites
Sinking ships for wreck diving sites is the practice of scuttling old ships to produce artificial reefs suitable for wreck diving, to benefit from commercial revenues from recreational diving of the shipwreck, or to produce a diver training site....
in the Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
.
Empire Janus
Empire Janus was a 575 GRT whalerWhaler
A whaler is a specialized ship, designed for whaling, the catching and/or processing of whales. The former included the whale catcher, a steam or diesel-driven vessel with a harpoon gun mounted at its bows. The latter included such vessels as the sail or steam-driven whaleship of the 16th to early...
which was built by Kaldnes Mekaniske Verkstad, Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
, 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...
. Launched in 1944 as Jan Mayen but requisitioned by Germany. Seized in May 1945 as a war prize. To MoWT and renamed Empire Janus. Sold in 1947 to Christian Salvesen & Co Ltd, Leith and renamed Southern Main. Scrapped in 1964 at Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
, Denmark
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...
.
Empire Javelin
Empire Javelin was a 7,177 GRT (11,650 tons displacementDisplacement (ship)
A ship's displacement is its weight at any given time, generally expressed in metric tons or long tons. The term is often used to mean the ship's weight when it is loaded to its maximum capacity. A number of synonymous terms exist for this maximum weight, such as loaded displacement, full load...
) type C1-S-AY1
Type C1 ship
Type C1 was a designation for small cargo ships built for the U.S. Maritime Commission before and during World War II. The first C1 types were the smallest of the three original Maritime Commission designs, meant for shorter routes where high speed and capacity were less important. Only a handful...
landing ship which was built by Consolidated Steel Corp
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
Wilmington, Los Angeles, California
Wilmington is a district of Los Angeles, with industry as its primary economic activity. It lies adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro, and Harbor City. Wilmington is the site of Banning House and Drum Barracks, or Camp Drum, the only major American Civil War landmark in California. The...
, 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...
. Laid down as Cape Lobos and completed in January 1944 as Empire Javelin for the MoWT. Torpedoed on 28 December 1944 and sunk by U-772 at 50°05′N 01°00′W while a member of Convoy TBC 1.
Empire Jean (I)
Empire Jean was a 487 GRT 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 17 October 1944 and completed in January 1945 as Empire Mary. Sold in 1946 to Overseas Towage & Salvage Co Ltd and renamed Marinia. Sold in 1950 to Union des Remorquage de Dakar and renamed W Ponty. Renamed Ponty in 1954. Sold in 1961 to Société Belge Remorquage Oceanique, Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
, 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...
and renamed Ocean Bull. Sold in 1965 to SA Italiene Lavore e Maritimi, Italy and renamed Nettuno. Renamed Nettuno Sailem in 1984 and scrapped in May 1985 in Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, Italy.
Empire Jean (II)
Empire Jean was a 593 GRT tug which was built by Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Willington Quay-on-Tyne. Launched on 30 December 1944 as Empire Rosa and completed in April 1945 as Empire Jean. Sold in 1946 to Metal Industries Ltd and renamed Metinda III. To Armada EspañolaSpanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
in 1961 and renamed R A 3.
Empire Jenny
Empire Jenny was a 275 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 4 October 1944 and completed in January 1945. To the AdmiraltyAdmiralty
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 Aid. Sold in 1960 to H G Pounds
H. G. Pound
H.G. Pound is the name of the founder of a British merchant firm in Portsmouth, UK. The firm, founded in 1864, diversified into shipbreaking after World War I and has accumulated over the years vast quantities of military equipment awaiting scrapping...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. sold in 1961 to J D Irving Ltd, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and renamed Irving Teak. Scrapped in June 1977 in Canada.
Empire Jessica
Empire Jessica was a 2,847 GRT cargo ship which was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co LtdAilsa Shipbuilding Company
-History:The company was founded in 1885 by the 3rd Marquess of Ailsa.In 1902 the Ailsa yard fitted out the polar exploration ship Scotia for the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902-04...
Troon
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services...
. Launched on 24 March 1943 and completed in May 1943. To the French Government
Government 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"...
in 1945 and renamed Joseph Blot. Sold in 1954 to Armement Leon Mazzella et Compagnie, 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 Leon Mazzella. Sold in 1960 to Loris Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama and renamed Loris. Sold in 1966 to Compagnia Maritima Santa Barbara Sa, Panama, and renamed Agia Varvara. Scrapped in January 1975 at İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Empire Jester
Empire Jester was a 261 GRT tug which was built by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole. Launched on 6 May 1943 and completed in July 1943. Sold in 1946 to William Watkins Ltd and renamed Napia. Sold in 1971 to J G Efthinou, GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and renamed Tolmiros. Sold in 1973 to L G Matsas, Greece. Scrapped in February 1986 at Perama
Perama
Perama is a port city and a suburb of Piraeus that lies on the southwest edge of the Aegaleo mountains. It creates the western terminus of the Port of Piraeus and there is also a port that provides ferry services to Salamis. The town has only one main road connecting Lambrakis and Ralli Avenues,...
, Greece.
Empire Jet
Empire Jet was a 8,134 GRT tankerTank 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 27 May 1941 and completed in August 1941. Sold in 1946 to Bowring Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Regent Jaguar. Operated under the management of C T Bowring & Co Ltd. Arrived on 2 June 1958 at Briton Ferry
Briton Ferry
Briton Ferry is a town and community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales. The town encompasses the electoral wards of Briton Ferry East and Briton Ferry West....
for scrapping.
Empire Jewel (I)
Empire Jewel was a 2,370 GRT tanker which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 12 June 1945 and completed in September 1945. Sold in 1946 to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd and renamed Fossarus. Sold in 1960 to Shell Tankers Ltd, scrapped in October 1960 in SingaporeSingapore
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...
.
Empire Jewel (II)
Empire Jewel was a 19,047 GRT cargo ship which was built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg. Launched in 1936 as Potsdam for the Hamburg America LineHamburg America Line
The Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft was a transatlantic shipping enterprise established in Hamburg, Germany during...
. Was en route to the USA when war was declared. Returned to Germany by sailing around the top of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and down the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. Used as an accommodation ship at Hamburg, then as a troopship
Troopship
A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
to Norwegian and Baltic ports. Took part in the Evacuation of East Prussia
Evacuation of East Prussia
The evacuation of East Prussia refers to the evacuation of the German civilian population and military personnel in East Prussia and the Klaipėda region between 20 January, and March 1945, as part of the evacuation of German civilians towards the end of World War II...
. Seized on 13 May 1945 at Flensburg
Flensburg
Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig...
. To MoWT and renamed Empire Jewel. Arrived on 19 June 1945 at Kiel
Kiel
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...
and placed under armed guard with a 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...
contignent to prevent the Germans from using her to block the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal
Kiel Canal
The Kiel Canal , known as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal until 1948, is a long canal in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.The canal links the North Sea at Brunsbüttel to the Baltic Sea at Kiel-Holtenau. An average of is saved by using the Kiel Canal instead of going around the Jutland Peninsula....
. After arrival at Brunsbüttel
Brunsbüttel
Brunsbüttel is a town in the district of Dithmarschen, in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany that lies on the mouth of the Elbe river, near the North Sea. It is the location of the western entrance to the Kiel Canal, the eastern entrance being located at Kiel-Holtenau...
the armed guard left and she was at anchor for three weeks with a full German crew. Sailed on 20 July 1945 with a detachment of Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
guards bound for Methil
Methil
Methil is an eastern coastal town in Scotland. It was part of the former Burgh of Buckhaven and Methil. It lies within a continuous urban area described as Levenmouth.Methil lies geographically between Largo bay to the east and Wemyss Bay to the west....
. To Belfast in July 1945 for conversion to a troopship by Harland & Wolff Ltd. Completed in April 1946 and renamed Empire Fowey. Her high-pressure boilers caused problems for her crew, who were not used to this type of boiler. In March 1947 she was towed to the 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....
and refitted again, new boilers and geared turbines fitted, and the accommodation again refitted. Served as a troopship until 1957 and then chartered to the Pan-Islamic Steamship Co, 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...
. Sold to them in 1960 and renamed Safina-E-Hujjaj. Scrapped in October 1976 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.
Empire Jill
Empire Jill was a 739 GRT (1,015 DWT) coaster which was built by S P Austin & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 15 January 1942 and completed in April 1942. Sold in 1946 to J Fisher & Sons Ltd, Barrow in Furness, and renamed Race Fisher. Sold in 1967 to M J Motraghi, IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Empire Joan
Empire Joan was a 203 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 8 January 1943 and completed in May 1943. To the Admiralty in 1947 and renamed Emphatic. Sold in 1958 to E Handcock (1929) Ltd, Cardiff. Sold in 1960 to Bristol Channel Towage Co Ltd. Sold in 1963 to R & J H Rea Ltd and renamed Hallgarth. Scrapped in May 1966 at NewportNewport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
.
Empire John
Empire John was a 487 GRT tug which was built by Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Willington Quay-on-Tyne. Launched on 21 April 1943 and completed in October 1943. Damaged on 21 August 1947 by a mine near Kiel, reached port and repaired. Sold in 1951 to Dominion Coal Co, Canada. Scrapped in December 1965 at BilbaoBilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, 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...
.
Empire Johnson
Empire Johnson was a 7,168 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland hullnr 613. Launched on 20 October 1941 and completed in January 1942. To the Dutch Government in 1942 and renamed Paulus Potter. On 5 July 1942, she was damaged by bombs dropped by a German aircraft west of Novaya ZemlyaNovaya Zemlya
Novaya Zemlya , also known in Dutch as Nova Zembla and in Norwegian as , is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean in the north of Russia and the extreme northeast of Europe, the easternmost point of Europe lying at Cape Flissingsky on the northern island...
after Convoy PQ 17 had scattered. Paulus Potter was abandoned by her crew. On 13 July 1942, she was torpedoed by U-255 and sunk 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...
.
Empire Jonathan
Empire Jonathan was a 235 GRT tug which was built by A Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen. Launched on 27 January 1944 and completed in March 1944. To the Admiralty in 1947 and renamed Fidget. Sold in 1971 to the Singaporean GovernmentGovernment of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
. Fitted with a 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...
in 1973 by Straits Engineers Ltd, Singapore. Sold in 1975 to World Dredging Ltd, Panama. Sold in 1983 to Strel Ltd, Panama.
Empire Jonquil
Empire Jonquil was a 369 GRT coaster which was built by Gebroeders Bodewes Volharding, Foxhol, Netherlands. Launched in 1939 as Venus. Renamed Begonia in 1940 for Dutch owners. Requisitioned in 1940 and renamed Empire Jonquil. On 13 March 1947, she caught fire 20 nautical miles (37 km) north east of the Outer Dowsing LightshipLightvessels in the United Kingdom
The history of Lightvessels in the United Kingdom goes back over 250 years. This page also gives a list of lightvessel stations within the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar.-History:...
. She was abandoned but her engines were left in the "full ahead" position. Chased by a trawler
Naval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
and boarded, taken in tow and beached in the Humber Estuary where the fire was extinguished. Refloated and taken to Hull Docks
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
where she sank. Declared a total constructive loss but raised, sold and repaired. Sold in 1948 to H P Marshall & Co, 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...
, and renamed Marton. Sold in 1952 to Limerick Steamship Co Ltd, Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and renamed Galtee Sold in 1961 to F Maggiani & Others, Italy and renamed Vittorio Bogazzi. Sold in 1970 to Carlo Figlie, Italy, and renamed Enrico Effe. Scrapped in 1976 in Italy.
Empire Josephine
Empire Josephine was a 275 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 10 May 1944 and completed in September 1944. To The Admiralty in 1945 and sold in 1946 to the Hong Kong Government. Sold in 1965 to Yau Wing Co, Hong Kong and renamed Yau Wing No 25. sold in 1966 to Cheung Chau Shipping & Trading Co and renamed Fedredge Josephine. Operated under the management of Mollers Ltd, Hong Kong. Scrapped in September 1967 in Hong Kong.Empire Joy
Empire Joy was a 9,895 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 13 March 1945 and completed in December 1945. sold in 1946 to the Eastern & Australian Steamship Co Ltd, LondonLondon
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...
and renamed Nellore. Sold in 1966 to Austin Navigation Corporation Ltd, Panama and renamed Oriana. On 31 December 1966, she caught fire at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Grounded due to amount of water used to put fire out. Refloated on 4 January 1967 but declared a constructive total loss. Scrapped in December 1967 at Kaohsiung.
Empire Judy
Empire Judy was a 738 GRT coaster which was built by S P Austin & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 5 April 1943 and completed in June 1943. Sold in 1946 to J Fisher & Sons Ltd, Barrow in Furness and renamed Stream Fisher. converted in 1965 to carry irradiated atomic fuel. Sold in 1969 to Grandport Shipping, Panama and renamed Ramaida. Operated under the management of J H Ramagge. Scrapped in September 1977 at LisbonLisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, 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...
.
Empire Julia
Empire Julia was a 593 GRT tug which was built by Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Willington Quay-on-Tyne. Launched on 22 April 1944 and completed in July 1944. Sold in 1946 to United Towing Co Ltd and renamed Tradesman. On 3 June 1949 she was assisting Rifleman towing to Strangford LoughStrangford Lough
Strangford Lough, sometimes Strangford Loch, is a large sea loch or inlet in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is separated from the Irish Sea by the Ards Peninsula. The name Strangford is derived ; describing the fast-flowing narrows at its mouth...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, for scrapping when Norjerv broke in two and sank. Sold in 1963 to N E Vernicos Shipping Co Ltd, Greece, and renamed Vernicos Kitty. Scrapped in December 1974 at Kartal
Kartal
Kartal is a district of Istanbul, Turkey located on the Asian side of the city, on the coast of the Marmara Sea between Maltepe and Pendik. The mayor is Altınok Öz . Despite being far from the city centre, Kartal is heavily populated now. . Total land area is 147,000 m² which includes some...
, Turkey.
Empire Jumna
Empire Jumna was a 2,370 GRT tanker which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 31 October 1944 and completed in January 1945. Sold in 1946 to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd and renamed Fossularca. Sold in 1960 to Shell Tankers Ltd. Srapped in May 1964 in Singapore.Empire Juna
Empire Juna was a 292 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 8 February 1946 and completed in August 1946. Sold in 1947 to the Nigerian GovernmentPolitics of Nigeria
Nigeria is a Federal Republic modeled after the United States, with executive power exercised by the president and with influences from the Westminster System model in the composition and management of the upper and lower houses of the bicameral legislature. However, the President of Nigeria is...
and renamed Balbus. Sold in 1967 to Tsavliris Salvage & Towage Ltd, Greece and renamed Nisos Poros. Scrapped in December 1970 in Greece.
Empire Jupiter
Empire Jupiter was a 8,217 GRT tanker which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, GovanGovan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
. Launched on 21 September 1944 and completed in December 1944. To the French Government in 1946 and renamed Saint Gaudens. Sold in 1948 to Les Petroles d'Outre-Mer, France, and renamed Sevane. Sold in 1958 to Jugoslavenska Tankerska Plovidba, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and renamed Progres. Arrived on 9 November 1970 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...
for scrapping.
Empire Jura
Empire Jura was a 813 GRT coastal tanker which was built by A & J Inglis Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 28 August 1944 and completed in October 1944. Sold in 1946 to Van Castricum & Co Ltd, London and renamed Samshoo. Sold in 1951 to Bulk Oil Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Pass of Glenogle. Sold in 1961 to A Garolla & Compagnie, Italy and renamed Marcello Garolla. Sold in 1969 to Sarda Bunkers SpA, Italy and renamed Marcello G. On 19 February 1972, she developed a list in bad weather at NaplesNaples
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...
, capsized and sank. Raised on 2 August 1972, declared a total constructive loss but repaired and returned to service. Scrapped in March 1979 at Naples.