SS Empire Fusilier

Last updated
History
Name
  • Mincio (1921-40)
  • Empire Fusilier (1940-42)
Owner
  • Pietro Ravano Fu Marco (1921-30)
  • Unione Società Anonima di Navigazione (1930-1940)
  • Ministry of Shipping (1940-41)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1941-42)
Operator
  • Pietro Ravano Fu Marco (1921-30)
  • Unione Società Anonima di Navigazione (1930-1940)
  • Watts, Watts & Co. (1940-42)
Port of registry
BuilderCantiere Cerusa
Launched1921
Out of service9 February 1942
Identification
  • Italy Official Number 1042 (1921–40)
  • Code Letters NYZO (1921–34)
  • ICS November.svg ICS Yankee.svg ICS Zulu.svg ICS Oscar.svg
  • Code Letters IBEW (1934–40)
  • ICS India.svg ICS Bravo.svg ICS Echo.svg ICS Whiskey.svg
  • United Kingdom Official Number 166306 (1940–42)
  • Code Letters GMJG (1940–42)
  • ICS Golf.svg ICS Mike.svg ICS Juliet.svg ICS Golf.svg
FateTorpedoed and sunk
General characteristics
Type Cargo ship
Tonnage5.404  GRT, 3,184  NRT
Length120.14 m (394 ft 2 in)
Beam15.77 m (51 ft 9 in)
Depth8.38 m (27 ft 6 in)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine, 337 NHP
Crew41, plus 6 DEMS gunners (Empire Fusilier)
North Atlantic Ocean laea location map.svg
Red pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
Location where Empire Fusilier was torpedoed and sunk

Empire Fusilier was cargo ship which was built as Mincio in 1921 by Cantiere Cerusa, Voltri, Italy for Pietro Ravano Fu Marco, Genoa. She was seized as a prize of war in 1940, passing to the Ministry of Shipping and renamed Empire Fusilier, serving until torpedoed and sunk by U-85 in 1942.

Contents

Description

The ship was 120.14 m (394 ft 2 in) long, with a beam of 15.77 m (51 ft 9 in). She had a depth of 8.38 m (27 ft 6 in). She was assessed at 5,404  GRT, 3,184  NRT. [1]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 26, 42+1⁄2 and 69+7⁄16 inches (66.0, 108.0 and 176.4 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by G. Fossati & Co., Sestri Ponente. It was rated at 337NHP. [1]

History

Mincio was built in 1921 by Società Anonima Cantieri Cerusa, Voltri, Italy for Pietro Ravano Fu Marco, Genoa. [2] The Italian Official Number 1042 and Code Letters NYZO were allocated. [1] An accident occurred whilst the ship was at Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States on 14 July 1921. Three crew were killed by hydrocyanide fumes during fumigation of the ship's holds. Two others were recovered unconscious. [3] Mincio was sold to the Unione Società Anonima di Navigazione in 1930. [4] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to IBEW. [5]

On 10 June 1940, the day the Italy declared war on the United Kingdom Mincio was at Liverpool, Lancashire. She was immediately seized as a prize of war and was passed to the Ministry of Shipping, which later became the Ministry of War Transport. [2] [6] She was renamed Empire Fusilier. The Code Letters GMJG and United Kingdom Official Number 166306 were allocated. Her port of registry was Liverpool and she was placed under the management of Watts, Wats & Co. Ltd. [7]

Empire Fusilier was a member of Convoy OB 268, which departed from Liverpool on 1 January 1941 and dispersed at sea. She left the convoy and returned, [8] arriving at the Clyde on 6 January. She departed from the Clyde on 15 January, arriving at Liverpool the next day. [9] She was a member of Convoy OB 288, which departed from Liverpool on 18 February and dispersed at sea on 22 February. Again she returned, this time due to steering problems. [10] She arrived at Oban, Argyllshire on 20 February, sailing on 26 February to join Convoy OG 54, [9] which had departed from Liverpool the previous day and arrived at Gibraltar on 14 March. Empire Fusilier again left the convoy and returned, [11] arriving at Oban on 1 March. She sailed on 11 March to join Convoy OB 296, [9] which had departed from Liverpool the previous day and dispersed at sea on 15 March. She was bound for Tampa, Florida, United States. [12] where she arrived on 9 April. She sailed on 8 May for the Hampton Roads and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where she arrived on 18 May. She departed from Halifax on 24 May for Sydney, Nova Scotia, arriving two days later. [9] Carrying a cargo of phosphates, she joined Convoy SC 33, which sailed on 1 June and arrived at Liverpool on 21 June. [13] She put in to Loch Ewe on 19 June to join Convoy WN 143, [9] which departed from Oban the next day and arrived at Methil, Fife on 25 June. [14] She then joined Convoy FS 524, which departed from Methil on 24 June and arrived at Southend-on-Sea, Essex on 26 June. [15] She left the convoy at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire on 25 June. [9]

Empire Fusilier sailed from Middlesbrough on 11 August to join Convoy EC 58, [9] which had sailed from Southend-on-Sea the previous day and arrived at the Clyde on 15 August. [16] She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 14 August and then sailed to Tampa, where she arrived on 9 September. She sailed on 29 September for the Hampton Roads, arriving on 30 September and departing three days later for Sydney, where she arrived on 8 October. [9] Empire Fusilier was a member of Convoy SC 49, which departed from Sydney on 11 October and arrived at Liverpool 27 October. She was carrying a cargo of phosphates. [17] She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 26 October and joined Convoy WN 198, [9] which departed from Oban that day and arrived at Methil on 29 October. Again Empire Fusilier had steering defects. [18] She later joined Convoy FS 651, which departed from Methil on 19 November and arrived at Southend-on-Sea on 21 November. [19]

Empire Fusilier was a member of Convoy FN 576, which departed from Southend-on-Sea on 11 December and arrived at Methil on 13 December. [20] She left the convoy on 13 December and put in to the River Tyne, sailing on 11 January 1942 to join Convoy FN 602, [9] which had departed from Southend-on-Sea that day and arrived at Methil on 13 January. [21] She then joined Convoy EN 35, which departed from Methil on 22 January and arrived at Oban on 25 January. [22] She left the convoy at Loch Ewe, later sailing to join Convoy ON 60, [9] which departed from Liverpool on 26 January and arrived at Halifax on 15 January. [23] On 9 February, Empire Fusilier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south east of Saint John's, Newfoundland( 44°45′N47°25′W / 44.750°N 47.417°W / 44.750; -47.417 ) by U-85. [2] Six crew and three DEMS gunners were killed. Thirty-five crew and three gunners were rescued by HMCS Barrie. [24] Seven of her crew are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London. [25]

Related Research Articles

USS Westport (ID-3548) was a United States Navy cargo ship in commission from 1918 to 1919.

West Saginaw was a 5,758 GRT Design 1013 cargo ship that was built in 1919 by Northwest Steel Company, Portland, Oregon, United States. She was built for the United States Shipping Board, passing to the United States Maritime Commission in 1936. In 1941, she was transferred to the British Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Cougar.

Arietta was a 7,460 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 as Empire Cranmer by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Empire Cranmer was transferred to the Greek Government in 1942 and renamed Thraki. In 1947, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Arietta. On 17 March 1960, she ran aground at Novorossiysk, Soviet Union. Although refloated on 1 April, she was declared a constructive total loss.

Empire Cromwell was a 5,970 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed and sunk off Trinidad on 28 November 1942 by U-508.

Iserlohn was a 4,667 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1909 by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg, Germany. She was ceded to the United Kingdom in 1919, passing to the Admiralty. In 1921, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Union City. She was sold to Finland in 1924 and renamed Wasaborg. In 1935, she was sold to Italy and renamed Erica. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Renamed Empire Defiance, she served until June 1944, when she was sunk as a blockship at Sword, Ouistreham, France in support of Operation Overlord. She was salvaged in 1951 and scrapped at Antwerp, Belgium.

British Diplomat was a 6,498 GRT tanker that was built in 1926 by J Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, United Kingdom for the British Tanker Co Ltd. Relegated to use as a depot ship in Algeria by the time the Second World War stated, she was returned to the United Kingdom and transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1940, renamed Empire Diplomat. War service was spent in home waters. She served until 1946 when she was scrapped.

Belgian Sailor was a 7,028 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 as Empire Drayton by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Northumberland, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1942, she was transferred to the Belgian Government and renamed Belgian Sailor. She was sold into merchant service in 1946 and renamed Capitaine Biebuyck. In 1957, she was sold to Yugoslavia and renamed Kastav. A further sale in 1965 to Hong Kong saw her renamed Ivory Tellus, she served until 1970 when she was scrapped.

Norlom was a 6,326 GRT Design 1105 cargo ship that was built in 1919 as Editor by Skinner & Eddy Corporation, Seattle, Washington, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), which became the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) in 1937. In 1941, she was transferred to the British Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Dunlin. She was transferred to Norway in 1942 and renamed Norlom. She served until 2 December 1943 when she was bombed and sunk at Bari, Italy.

Empire Dunstan was a 2,887 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Entering service in January 1942, she served until November 1943, when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-81.

Norjerv was a 5,583 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1919 as West Islip by Ames Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Seattle, Washington, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). In 1928, she was sold and renamed Golden Rod. A further sale in 1935 saw her renamed Willhilo. She was renamed Indianan after a sale in 1937. In 1940, she was transferred to the Ministry of Supply (MoS) and renamed Empire Eagle, passing later that year to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1942, she was transferred to the Norwegian Government and renamed Norjerv, serving until June 1944 when she was transferred to the British Government. In July 1944, she was sunk as a blockship at Juno Beach, Calvados, France to reinforce Gooseberry 4.

Empire Eland was a 5,613 GRT Design 1019 cargo ship that was built in 1920 as West Kedron by Long Beach Shipbuilding Co, Long Beach, California, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). She was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) in 1937. In 1940, she was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed and sunk by U-94 on the night of 15–16 September 1941.

Norvarg was a 4,748 GRT Design 1014 refrigerated cargo ship that was built in 1920 as Rotarian by the Todd Dry Dock and Construction Company, Tacoma, Washington, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). She was sold to the Grace Steamship Co Inc, New York in 1923 and renamed Condor. In 1940, she was sold to the British Ministry of Shipping (MoS), which became the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1941, and was renamed Empire Elk. In 1942, she was transferred to the Norwegian Government and renamed Norvarg.

SS <i>Empire Energy</i> World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom

Empire Energy was a 6,548 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1923 as Grete by Neptun AG, Rostock, Germany. She was sold to an Italian firm in 1932 and renamed Gabbiano. She was seized by the United Kingdom in 1940, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Energy. She served until 5 November 1941, when she ran aground off Cape Norman, Newfoundland, and was wrecked.

Empire Explorer was a 5,985 GRT cargo ship that was built as the cargo liner Inanda in 1925 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom for a British shipping line. She was hired by the Royal Navy in 1940 for use as an ocean boarding vessel but was sunk in an air raid London in September 1940. She was salvaged, rebuilt as a cargo ship, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Explorer. She served until 9 July 1942, when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-575 in the West Indies.

Pengreep was a 8,806 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1914 by Irvine's Shipbuilding and Drydock Co Ltd, West Hartlepool, Co Durham, United Kingdom for a British company. She was requisitioned by the Admiralty on completion and returned to her owners in 1920. She was seized in June 1940 by Vichy French forces and renamed Ste Jacqueline. In 1942, she was seized by British forces, being renamed Pengreep in 1943. She was passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) later that year and renamed Empire Fal. In July 1945, she was scuttled with a cargo of gas bombs.

Inchearn was a 7,024 GRT refrigerated cargo ship that was built as Empire Flag in 1943 by Sir W G Armstrong, Whitworth & Co (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold in 1946 and renamed Carmia. A further sale in 1954 saw her renamed Victoria Star. In 1955, she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Inchearn. She served until 1966 when she was scrapped.

Jolee was a 5,500-gross register ton (GRT) Design 1022 cargo ship that was built in 1920 by American International Shipbuilding, Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). Launched as Cardington, She was completed as Jolee. She was sold in 1933 to Lykes Brothers - Ripley Steamship Co Inc. She was purchased by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1941 and renamed Empire Flamingo. She served until June 1944 when she was sunk as a blockship at Juno Beach.

Flaminian was a 2,699-gross register ton (GRT) cargo ship that was built in 1917 by W Harkness & Sons Ltd, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, United Kingdom for Ellerman & Papayanni Lines. She was sold in 1944 to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1944, converted to a cable storage hulk for Operation Pluto and renamed Empire Flaminian. Renamed Flaminian in 1946, she was used as a stevedore training ship from 1947, serving until scrapped in 1950.

Graigaur was a 7,047 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom, as the CAM ship Empire Foam for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold in 1946 to Graigaur Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Graigaur. She was sold in 1957 to Marinos & Frangos Ltd and renamed Maltezana. She was sold to the Great Southern Steamship Co Ltd., Hong Kong in 1958 and renamed Johore Bahru, serving until she was scrapped in 1963.

Hazelbank was a 6,140 GRT cargo ship built in 1942 as Empire Franklin by John Readhead and Sons Ltd, South Shields, County Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was converted to a CAM ship shortly after completion. She was sold to Bank Line in 1945 and was renamed Hazelbank. She was sold Compagnia Navigazione Nuevo Mundo SA, Panama in 1957 and renamed Irinicos. She was sold to Paleocrassos Bros, Greece in 1962 then to Salinas Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama in 1963 and was renamed Iris II, serving until 1967 when she was scrapped in Hong Kong.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs" (PDF). Lloyd's List. Lloyd's of London. 1930. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. 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. p. not cited. ISBN   1-85044-275-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "(untitled)". Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer. 14 July 1921. p. 12.
  4. ↑ "Navigazione Generale Italiana Line". The Ships List. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "Lloyd's Register, Steamers & Motorships" (PDF). Lloyd's List. Lloyd's of London. 1934. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "Prize Courts". The Times. No. 48647. London. 20 June 1940. col E, p. 1.
  7. ↑ "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs" (PDF). Lloyd's List. Lloyd's of London. 1940. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Convoy OB.268". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "EMPIRE FUSILIER". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  10. ↑ "Convoy OB.288". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  11. ↑ "Convoy OG.54". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  12. ↑ "Convoy OB.296". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "Convoy SC.33". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  14. ↑ "Convoy WN.143". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  15. ↑ "Convoy FS.524 = Convoy FS.24 / Phase 6". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  16. ↑ "Convoy EC.58". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  17. ↑ "Convoy SC.49". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Convoy WN.198". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "Convoy FS.651 = Convoy FS.51 / Phase 7". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  20. ↑ "Convoy FN.576 = Convoy FN.76 / Phase 6". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  21. ↑ "Convoy FN.602 = Convoy FN.2 / Phase 7". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "Convoy EN.35". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  23. ↑ "Convoy ON.60". Convoyweb. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  24. ↑ "Empire Fusilier". Uboat. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  25. ↑ "Empire Eve to Empire Ghyll". Brian Davis. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
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.