SS Empire Adventure

Last updated

History
Name
  • Eastney (1920-24)
  • Germaine L D (1924-31)
  • Andrea (1931-40)
  • Empire Adventure (1940)
Owner
  • Romney Steamship Co Ltd, London (1921-24)
  • L Dreyfus et Compagnie, France (1924-31)
  • Società Anonima di Navigazione Corrado, Genoa (1931-40)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1940)
Operator
  • Owner operated except:-
  • Runciman Shipping Co Ltd (1940)
Port of registry
  • Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg London (1921-22)
  • Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg London (1922-24)
  • Flag of France.svg Dunkirk (1924-31)
  • Civil Ensign of Italy.svg Genoa (1931-40)
  • Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg London (1940)
BuilderNorthumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland [1]
Yard number256
Launched13 October 1920
CompletedFebruary 1921
Identification
  • UK Official Number 146165 (1921-24, 1940)
  • Italian Official Number 1829 (1931-40)
  • Code Letters NDAT (1931-33)
  • ICS November.svg ICS Delta.svg ICS Alpha.svg ICS Tango.svg
  • Code letters IBXA (1933-40)
  • ICS India.svg ICS Bravo.svg ICS X-ray.svg ICS Alfa.svg
  • Code letters GLXW (1940)
  • ICS Golf.svg ICS Lima.svg ICS X-ray.svg ICS Whiskey.svg
FateTorpedoed by U-138 night of 20/21 September 1940, sank 23 September 1940
General characteristics
Tonnage5,145  GRT
Length375 ft (114.30 m)
Beam51 ft 2 in (15.60 m)
Depth31 ft 7 in (9.63 m)
Propulsion1 x triple expansion steam engine (Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd, Newcastle) 370 hp (280 kW) NHP.
Speed11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement39
Oceans around British Isles satellite image location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Sunk
Red pog.svg
Torpedoed
class=notpageimage|
Location of the torpedo attack and sinking of Empire Adventure

SS Empire Adventure was a 5,787-ton steamship built in 1920 as the Eastney. She was sold to France in 1924 and renamed Germaine L D. In 1931 she was sold to Italy, being renamed Andrea, being seized in 1940 and renamed Empire Adventure. She was torpedoed on the night of 20/21 September 1940 and sank while under tow on 23 September 1940.

Contents

History

Eastney was built by the Northumberland Shipping Co, Howdon, Wallsend, [2] as yard number 356. [3] She was owned and operated by the Romney Steamship Co, London. In 1924, Eastney was sold to L Dreyfus & Co, France, and renamed Germaine L D. [2] On 25 March 1929, she was in collision with Alice Marie in the North Sea off Vlissingen, Netherlands. She was beached at Rammekens for temporary repairs to be carried out. [4] Germaine L D was refloated the next day. [5] On 3 March 1931, she collided with Southborough at Rotterdam, Netherlands. Southborough sustained some damage but Germaine L D was undamaged. [6] On 23 March 1932, she ran aground at Buenos Aires, Argentina, but was freed the next day with assistance from a tug. No damage was sustained. [7] In 1932, Germaine L D was sold to Società Anonima di Navigazione Corrado, Genoa, and renamed Andrea. In June 1940, Andrea was seized at Newcastle upon Tyne and renamed Empire Adventure. [2]

Convoy OB 216

Convoy OB 216 departed from Liverpool on 19 September 1940. [8] During the night of 20/21 September 1940, Empire Adventure was torpedoed by U-138 [9] 52 miles (84 km) northwest of Rathlin Island [10] 55°11′N11°30′W / 55.183°N 11.500°W / 55.183; -11.500 . [11] Although taken in tow by HMS Superman, Empire Adventure sank on 23 September 1940 at 55°48′N07°22′W / 55.800°N 7.367°W / 55.800; -7.367 . A total of 21 of the 39 crew were killed. [10] The survivors were picked up by HMS Arabis [8] and the Swedish merchantman Industria and landed at Belfast. [10] Those lost on Empire Adventure are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London. [12]

Official number and code letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.

Eastney and Empire Adventure had the UK Official Number 146165 [13] Andrea had the Italian Official Number 1829. [14]

Andrea used the Code Letters NDAT [14] and IBXA. [15] Empire Adventure used the Code Letters GLXW. [13]

Related Research Articles

The SS Belgian was a 5,287-ton steamship which was built in 1919, sold in 1934 becoming Amelia Lauro, seized in 1940 and renamed Empire Activity and wrecked in 1943.

SMS Teodo was a 6,561 ton collier built in 1915 for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. She was ceded to Italy in 1921 as a war reparation. She was renamed Barbana in 1924 and Barbana G in 1926. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and renamed Empire Airman. On 21 September 1940, Empire Airman was torpedoed and sunk by U-100.

Empire Antelope was a 4,782-ton cargo ship which was built as Ophis in 1919. She was renamed Bangu in 1928. In 1941 she was renamed Empire Antelope. She was sunk by the German submarine U-402 on 2 November 1942.

Empire Baron was a 5,890 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1926 for Navigazione Generale Gerolimich & Compagnia Società in Anzioni, Trieste, Italy. She was captured by the Royal Navy in 1940 and ownership passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was renamed Empire Baron. She was sold in 1947 to Navigation & Coal Trade Ltd, London and renamed Rubystone. She was sold to a Panamanian company in 1951 and was scrapped in 1960.

RFA <i>Maine</i> (1924) 1924–1954 steam ship

RFA Maine was a 7,432 GRT hospital ship which was built in 1924 as the ocean liner Leonardo da Vinci by SA Ansaldo, La Spezia, Italy for the Società di Navigazione Transatlantica Italiana. In 1941, she was captured by the British at Kismayu, Italian Somaliland. Declared a prize of war, she was passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Clyde, serving as a hospital ship for the British Army during the Second World War. In 1948, ownership was passed to the Admiralty and she entered service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as RFA Maine. She served during the Korean War and was scrapped in 1954.

Norhauk was a 6,086 GRT refrigerated cargo ship which was built to Design 1015 by G. M. Standifer Construction Company, Vancouver, Washington in 1919 as Waban for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). After service with Lykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Co Inc she was transferred to the Ministry of Shipping in 1940 and renamed Empire Sambar. A boiler-room explosion damaged her in 1941. After repairs she was renamed Empire Beaver. She was transferred to the Norwegian Government in 1942 and renamed Norhauk, serving until she struck a mine and sank in December 1943.

Jamnagar was a 576 GRT coaster which was built in 1924 for Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar. In 1941 she entered service with the Royal Indian Navy. In 1944, she was sold into merchant service before being requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Bulbul. In 1947, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Hellenic Bulbul. The name Hellenic Bee had been allocated but she ran aground and sank before the proposed name change could be implemented.

SS <i>Wahehe</i> (1922) German-built passenger steamship

Wahehe was a 4,690 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1922 as Wadigo by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte und Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg for Woermann Linie AG. She was converted to a refrigerated cargo liner in about 1934.

Laksnes was a 1,587 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1927 by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany as Marquardt Petersen for German owners. She was sold in 1935 and renamed Sexta. Another sale in 1938 saw her renamed Annelis Christophersen.

Walter L M Russ was a 1,538 GRT cargo ship built in 1927 in Rostock, Germany. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). It was intended that she would be renamed Empire Concourse but in July 1945 she ran aground between Wales and Ireland, and was wrecked.

Quersee was a 999 GRT coaster that was built in 1926 as Amrum by Nordseewerke, Emden for German owners. She was sold in 1931, and renamed Quersee. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945 at Brunsbüttel, Germany, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), and renamed Empire Condor. She was sold into merchant service in 1947, and renamed Mediterranean Trader. In 1949, she was sold to India and renamed Maharashmi, serving until 1951, when she ran aground and was wrecked.

Almeria Lykes was a 7,773 GRT Type C3 cargo ship that was built in 1940 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey for the Lykes Brother Steamship Co. She was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Condor. In 1942, she was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) and renamed Almeria Lykes. She was torpedoed by Axis motor torpedo boats on 13 August 1942 and later scuttled.

Deneb was a 1,080 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1923 as Rhenania by Nüscke & Co, Stettin for German owners. She was sold in 1924 and renamed Marth Halm In 1927, she was sold to Finnish owners and renamed Bore VII. She ran aground in 1936 and was declared a total loss. In 1937, she was sold to Germany, repaired and renamed Götaälv. In 1938 she was sold and renamed Bernhard Schulte. In 1941, she sank off the Lofoten Islands but was salvaged and repaired.

Orlanda was a cargo ship that was built in 1920 by F Krupp AG, Emden for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in Hamburg, in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Conington. In 1946, she was allocated to the Newfoundland Government. In 1949, she was sold to Panama and renamed Alabe. She served until 1958, when she was scrapped.

Ambria was a cargo ship that was built in 1922 by Deutsche Werft, Finkenwerder for German owners. She was sold in 1934 and renamed Gumbinnen. She was sunk by a British destroyer in 1941, raised and repaired. Gumbinnen was seized by the Allies in Flensburg, in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Conleith. In 1946, she was allocated to the Norwegian Government and renamed Dragnes. She was sold into Norwegian merchant service and renamed Mimona. In 1959, she was sold and renamed Malay. She served until 1961 when she was scrapped.

Charlotte Cords was a cargo ship that was built in 1923 by Neptun AG, Rostock for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in Travemünde in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Connah. In 1946, she was allocated to the Soviet Government and renamed Nikolai Bauman. The ship was scuttled while carrying a cargo of nuclear waste in 1964.

Selnes was a 1,593 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1928 as Gemma by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany for German owners. A sale in 1929 saw her renamed Peter Vith. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Constitution. In 1946, she was transferred to Norway and renamed Grannes and then Selnes following a further sale later that year. In 1950, she was involved in a collision in the Thames Estuary and was declared a total loss.

SS <i>Pinnau</i>

Pinnau was a 1,198 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1922 by Nobiskrug Werft GmbH, Rendsburg, Germany for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Constructor. In 1947, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Estkon. She served until 1959 when she was scrapped.

The Bernhard Blumenfeld was a 2,879 GRT cargo ship that was completed in 1921 as the SS Dalewood by Eltringham's, Ltd., Willington on Tyne, England. She was sold to a German company in 1923 and renamed the Bernhard Blumenfeld. She was sold again in 1938 and renamed the Carl Jüngst.

Empire Engineer was a 5,358 GRT refrigerated cargo ship that was built in 1921 as Canadian Commander by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was sold to an Italian firm in 1932 and renamed Giaocchino Lauro. She was seized by the United Kingdom in 1940, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Engineer. She served until 4 February 1941 when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-123.

References

  1. ↑ "SS Eastney (1921)". www.tynebuiltships.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "EMPIRE - A". Mariners-L. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "1145165" . Miramar Ship Index . Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  4. ↑ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45161. London. 26 March 1929. col G, p. 21.
  5. ↑ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45163. London. 28 March 1929. col D, p. 26.
  6. ↑ "Mails and Shipping, Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 43762. London. 4 March 1931. col F, p. 23.
  7. ↑ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 46091. London. 26 March 1932. col E, p. 19.
  8. 1 2 "Naval Events, September 1940, Part 2 of 2, Sunday 15th – Monday 30th". naval history.net. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  9. ↑ Ubootwaffe gives 21:26 on 20 September 1940 (German time), Uboatnet gives 02:27 on 21 September 1940
  10. 1 2 3 "Empire Adventure". uboat.net. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  11. ↑ "EMPIRE ADVENTURE". ubootwaffe.net. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  12. ↑ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  13. 1 2 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  14. 1 2 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  15. ↑ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.

55°48′N7°22′W / 55.800°N 7.367°W / 55.800; -7.367

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