SS Empire Blanda

Last updated

History
Name
  • Nile (1919-33)
  • Sokol (1933-39)
  • Rio Grande (1939-40)
  • Empire Blanda (1940-41)
Owner
  • Nile Steamship Co Ltd (1919-30)
  • Jugoslovenska Plovidba DD (1930-39)
  • Compagnia Panamena de Vapores Ltda (1939-40)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1940-41)
Operator
  • Glen & Co (1919-30)
  • Jugoslovenska Plovidba DD (1930-39)
  • Compagnia Panamena de Vapores (1939-40)
  • Larrinaga Steamship Co Ltd (1940-41)
Port of registry
  • Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Glasgow (1919-22)
  • Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Glasgow (1922-30)
  • Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg Susak (1930-39)
  • Flag of Panama.svg Panama City (1939-40)
  • Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg London (1940-41)
BuilderLithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow
Yard number715
Launched30 September 1919
CompletedNovember 1919
Out of service19 February 1941
Identification
  • UK Official Number 141932 (1919-30, 1940-41)
  • Code Letters KOWS (1930-33)
  • ICS Kilo.svg ICS Oscar.svg ICS Whiskey.svg ICS Sierra.svg
  • Code Letters HPKQ (1939-40)
  • ICS Hotel.svg ICS Papa.svg ICS Kilo.svg ICS Quebec.svg
  • Code Letters GLXW (1940-41)
  • ICS Golf.svg ICS Lima.svg ICS X-ray.svg ICS Whiskey.svg
FateTorpedoed and sunk by U-69, 19 February 1941
General characteristics
Tonnage
Length423 ft 5 in (129.06 m)
Beam56 ft (17.07 m)
Depth28 ft 7 in (8.71 m)
PropulsionTriple expansion steam engine
Speed11 knots (20 km/h)
Crew37 plus 3 DEMS gunners (Empire Blanda)

Empire Blanda was a cargo ship that Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow built in 1919 as Nile. It was sold to a Yugoslavian company in 1930 and renamed Sokol in 1933, serving until 1939 when it was sold to a Panamanian company and renamed Rio Grande. In 1940, the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) requisitioned Nile, which was renamed Empire Blanda. On 19 February 1941 U-69 torpedoed Nile, sinking it.

Contents

Description

The ship was a 5,593  GRT cargo ship. It was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow, [1] as yard number 715. The ship was launched as Nile on 30 September 1919 and completed in November. [2] It was 423 feet 5 inches (129.06 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet (17.07 m) and a depth of 28 feet 7 inches (8.71 m). [3] The ship was powered by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 27 inches (69 cm), 45 inches (110 cm) and 75 inches (190 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. It was manufactured by J G Kincaird Ltd, Greenock. [3] The ship could make 11 knots (20 km/h). [2]

Career

Nile was owned by the Nile Steamship Co Ltd and operated under the management of Glen & Co Ltd. [3] Its port of registry was Glasgow. [3] In 1930, Nile was sold to Jugoslovenska Plovidba DD, Susak. [1] It was renamed Sokol in 1933. [4]

In 1939, Sokol was sold to Compagnia Panamena de Vapores Ltda and renamed Rio Grande. It was operated under the management of T & N Coumantaros Ltd, Greece. In June 1940, Rio Grande sailed from Bermuda to Halifax, Nova Scotia to join Convoy HX 51, which arrived at Liverpool on 2 July. It was carrying a cargo of lumber and sulphur. [5] On arrival, Rio Grande was requisitioned by the MoWT and renamed Empire Blanda. It was operated under the management of the Larrinaga Steamship Co Ltd. [1] Its port of registry was London. [6]

Convoy HX 107 departed Halifax on 3 February 1941 and was to arrive at Liverpool on 28 February. Empire Blanda was carrying a cargo of steel, bound for Glasgow. [7] At 08:18 on 19 February 1941, Empire Blanda was torpedoed and sunk by U-69 south of Iceland with the loss of all 37 crew and three DEMS gunners, having straggled from the convoy. [8] Those lost on Empire Blanda are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London. [9]

Official Numbers and Code Letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Nile and Empire Blanda had the UK Official Number 141931. [3] [6]

Nile used the Code Letters KOWS from 1930. [3] Rio Grande used the Code Letters HPKQ [10] Empire Blanda used the Code Letters GLXW. [6]

Related Research Articles

Empire Beatrice was a 7,046 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow in 1942. She was owned by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and managed by David Alexander & Sons. Although badly damaged during the war, she was repaired and sold into merchant service after the war ended. She served with various shipping companies as Beatrice N, Mary K, Winchester Prowess and Grazia Bottigliere, eventually being scrapped in 1966.

Athelqueen was an 8,202 GRT tanker which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast in 1942 as Empire Benefit for the Ministry of War Transport. Postwar she was sold into merchant service and renamed Athelqueen and later Mariverda, serving until scrapped in 1961.

SS <i>Crown Arun</i>

Crown Arun was a 2,372 GRT cargo ship which was built by Actien-Gesellschaft „Neptun“ Schiffswerft und Maschinenfabrik, Rostock as Hannah Böge. She was captured at sea on 3 September 1939 and declared a war prize. Taken into service by the British Government, Crown Arun was torpedoed and sunk by U-99 on 17 September 1940.

Empire Blessing was a cargo ship which was built in 1943 by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and operated under the management of W Runciman & Co Ltd. In March 1945, Empire Blessing struck a mine in the River Scheldt and sank.

British Bombardier was an 8,202 GRT tanker which was built in 1942 as Empire Fusilier and completed as Empire Bombardier. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT); postwar, she was sold to British Tanker Co Ltd, serving until she was scrapped in 1959.

Ravelston was an 2,808 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1906 for the Ravelston Steamship Co Ltd. She was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1941 and renamed Empire Bond. In 1946 she was sold and renamed Prenton. Following a grounding in 1949, she was declared a constructive total loss, but was sold and repaired, returning to service as Agios Dionysissios. In 1951 she was renamed Sandenis and then San Denis, serving until she was scrapped in 1959.

Seniority was an 2,876 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1942 as Empire Boswell for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Postwar she was sold into merchant service as Aviswell and Seniority, serving until she ran aground on 7 November 1950. Although refloated, she sank on 8 November 1950.

Esso Cadillac was an 8,149 GRT tanker which was built in 1940 as Empire Bronze for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold into civil service in 1946 and renamed Esso Cadillac. Another change of ownership in 1956 saw her renamed Maribella II and she served under this name until scrapped in 1959.

Empire Buckler was a 7,046 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1941 by Lithgows Ltd for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Postwar she was sold into merchant service, being renamed Ovingdean Grange, Sabrina, and Noemi, serving until she ran aground in 1965 and was declared a constructive total loss.

Empire Buffalo was a 6,404 GRT Design 1105 cargo ship which was built in 1919 as Eglantine by Skinner & Eddy for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). She was sold in 1933 to the Lykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Corporation. In 1940 she was sold to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Buffalo. She was torpedoed and sunk by U-125 in 1942.

Wallsend was a 2,905 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1943 as Empire Buttress for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in July 1943, she was sold postwar and renamed Wallsend. In 1959 she was sold to Liberia and renamed Bordagain, a further change of ownership in 1967 saw her renamed Daring. She served until 1976, when she was scrapped.

Yelkenci was a 7,052 GRT refrigerated cargo ship which was built in 1943 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) as Empire Camp. She was sold in 1946 and renamed Valacia. In 1951, she was sold and renamed New York City. A further sale in 1955 saw her renamed Loch Morar. A final sale to Turkish owners saw her renamed Yelkenci. She served with them until scrapped in 1971.

Holmbury was a 7,058 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1943 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) as Empire Canyon. In 1947 she was sold and renamed Holmbury. In 1960, she was sold to Pakistan and renamed Ilyasbaksh. In 1965, she was detained by India as war had broken out between India and Pakistan. She was declared a war prize and seized by the Indian Government. She was scrapped in 1970.

Belgian Captain was a 7,041 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1942 as Empire Centaur for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1943 she was passed to the Belgian Government and renamed Belgian Captain. Postwar, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Capitaine Lambe. In 1960 she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Ardee, being renamed Alpha Trader in 1964. She served until 1967 when she was scrapped.

SS <i>Inkosi</i> (1937)

Inkosi was a 6,618 GRT refrigerated cargo liner which was built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was hired by the Royal Navy in 1940 for use as an ocean boarding vessel, but was sunk in an air raid before she could be used for this purpose. The ship was salvaged, converted to a cargo ship and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), who renamed her Empire Chivalry. In 1946 she was sold and renamed Planter. She served until 1958, when she was scrapped.

Empire Comet was a 6,914 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1940 by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed and sunk by U-136 in June 1941.

Clan Matheson was a 5,614 GRT cargo ship that William Hamilton & Co Ltd of Port Glasgow built in 1919 as Clan Morgan for Clan Line Steamers Ltd. She was sold in 1948 and renamed Harmodius. In 1951 she was sold again and renamed Claire T. In 1955 she was bought by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) which renamed her Empire Claire. She was scuttled on 27 July 1955 with a cargo of obsolete chemical materiel.

Belgian Crew was a 7,048 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1942 by Sir W G Armstrong, Whitworth & Co (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne as Empire Claymore for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Belgian Government in 1943 and renamed Belgian Crew. In 1946 she was sold to Compagnie Maritime Belge and renamed Capitaine Parlet. In 1960 she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Ardenode. A further sale to Panama in 1966 resulted in her being renamed Tynlee. She served until 1969, when she was scrapped.

SS Empire Cobbett was a 9,811 GRT tanker which was built in 1942 by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1946 she was sold into merchant service and renamed San Wilfrido. She was scrapped in 1959.

Empire Chapman was an 8,194 GRT tanker which was built in 1942 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1946 she was sold into merchant service and renamed British Commando. She was scrapped in 1959.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN   1-85044-275-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 "1141932" . Miramar Ship Index . Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  4. ↑ "Search results for "1141932"". Miramar Ship index. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  5. ↑ "CONVOY HX 51". Warsailors. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  7. ↑ "CONVOY HX 107". Warsailors. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  8. ↑ "Empire Blanda". Uboat. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  9. ↑ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 23 November 2009.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.