Hundreds of Empire ships were employed by the Government of the United Kingdom . They were acquired from a number of sources: many were built for the government; others obtained from the United States ; still others were captured or seized from enemy powers. Empire ships were mostly used during World War II by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), which owned the ships but contracted out their management to various shipping lines; however, some ships requisitioned during the Suez Crisis were also named as Empire ships. Most Empire ships have since been lost or scrapped; however, a few still remain in active service or preserved.
62-648: Empire Unicorn was a 7,067 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool . Launched on 29 October 1943 and completed in December 1943. Allocated in 1945 to the French Government and renamed Pierre Corniou . Sold in 1950 to Société Navale de l'Ouest and renamed Saint Andre . Sold in 1953 to O Wallenius, Stockholm and renamed Otello . Sold in 1956 to L Jeansson AB, Stockholm and renamed Apollo. Sold in 1961 to Polska Zegluga Morska, Poland and renamed Kopalnia . Relegated to
124-584: A Marinha Portuguesa destroyer . A trawler attempted to tow her to shallow water but she broke free and sank. Empire Waterhen was a 5,948 GRT (7,500 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Oscar Daniels Shipbuilding Co, Tampa, Florida . Completed in 1920 as Manatee for the USSB. To USMC in 1937 and MoWT in 1941, renamed Empire Waterhen . Sunk on 9 June 1944 as a blockship as part of Gooseberry 4 , Juno Beach , Courseulles , Calvados , France. Raised in 1948 and scrapped at Penarth , Glamorgan . Empire Wave
186-810: A storage vessel at Gdynia in 1971 and renamed MP-ZP-GDY 7 . Empire Union was a 5,952 GRT cargo ship which was built by Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino , Trieste . Completed in 1924 as Salvore . Sold in 1937 to Lloyd Triestino and renamed Sistiana . Seized on 10 June 1940 as a war prize by the South African Navy in Table Bay . To the South African Government and renamed Myrica . To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Union . Torpedoed on 26 December 1942 and sunk by U-356 at 47°30′N 24°30′W / 47.500°N 24.500°W / 47.500; -24.500 while
248-593: A cyclone at Akyab , Burma and broke up. Declared a total loss. Empire Warrior was a 1,306 GRT cargo ship which was built by Hamburg-Elbe Schiffsbau, Hamburg. Completed in 1921 as Bianca . Sold in 1927 to A Kirsten, Hamburg and renamed Elbe . 1932 renamed Bianca again. Captured on 20 October 1939 in the North Sea by HMS Transylvania and escorted to Kirkwall , Orkney Islands . To MoWT and renamed Empire Warrior . Damaged on 19 June 1941 by bombing off Vila Real de Santo António , Portugal. Crew rescued by
310-587: A member of Convoy ON 154 . Empire Unitas IV was a 341 GRT whaler which was built by Bremer Vulkan Schiff- und Mashcinenbau , Bremen . Completed in 1937 as Unitas 4 for Jurgens Van Den Bergh Margarine Verkaufs Union GmbH, Hamburg . Requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1940. Seized in May 1945 at Flensburg . To MoWT and renamed Empire Unitas IV . Scrapped in 1955 in Port Glasgow . Empire Unitas V
372-786: A member of Convoy KMS 8. Empire Welfare was a 7,083 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 11 November 1943 and completed in January 1944. To the French Government in 1945 and renamed Matelot Becuwe . Sold in 1949 to Société Algeriènne de Navigation and renamed Marcel Schiaffino . Operated under the management of Charles Schiaffino et Compagnie, Algiers. Sold in 1965 to Bulet, Bulgaria and renamed Desmin . Sold in 1968 to Navigation Maritime Bulgare, Bulgaria and renamed Stefan Karadja . Scrapped in 1973 in Yugoslavia. Empire Welland
434-481: A member of Convoy SC 3. Empire Wagtail was a 4,893 GRT cargo ship which was built by Todd Drydock and Construction Company , Tacoma, Washington . Completed in 1919 as Ossining for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). Sold in 1932 to Gulf Pacific Mail Line Inc and renamed Point Lobos . Operated under the management of Swayne & Hoyt Inc, San Francisco . It became the scene of
496-618: A new diesel engine. Sold in 1963 to Harbour Line Ltd, Bermuda and renamed Elys Harbour . Operated under the management of Mollers Ltd, Hong Kong. Sold in 1967 to Unique Development Co Inc, Liberia and renamed Unique Developer . Operated under the management of R Y Chen, Hong Kong. Sold in 1969 to Taboga Enterprises Inc, Panama and renamed Fermenco . Chartered in 1973 by Compagnia Agropecuaria y Maritima Santa Rosa Ltd, Colombia , returning to Taboga Enterprises later that year. Sold in 1974 to Wayne Inc, Panama and renamed Avalon . Sold in 1981 to Pizano SA and renamed Bahia Columbia . Operated under
558-477: A refit. Caught fire on 8 February 1946 while in drydock. Caught fire on 2 March at the Canada Dock, Liverpool, gutted and sank. Refloated on 4 May and drydocked. Declared to be a total loss. Departed on 26 January 1947 under tow bound for Dalmuir , West Dunbartonshire for breaking. Departed on 25 September 1947 under tow bound for Troon for final demolition. Empire Weaver was a 2,822 GRT cargo ship which
620-536: A total loss. Empire Usk was a 3,229 GRT cargo ship which was built by Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne . Completed in 1918 as War Combe . Sold in 1920 to Oakwin Steamship Co and renamed Watsness . Operated under the management of Sir W R Smith & Sons Ltd. Sold in 1927 to Mervyn Steamship Co, Newport , Monmouthshire and renamed Marklyn . Ran aground on 20 January 1942 at Crammag Head, Port Logan . Cargo of iron ore discharged but she
682-610: A troopship during the First World War . Detained at Newport News, Virginia on 28 August 1915 as she had been armed with a 4.7-inch (120 mm) gun. Detention lasted until 22 September and the ship was only released once the gun had been dismantled and put ashore. Chartered by the Aberdeen line in 1926 and renamed Herminius . Returned to Shaw, Savill in 1932 and renamed Waimana . Laid up in Gareloch in 1939. Purchased by
SECTION 10
#1732787681020744-564: A widely reported murder while anchored in Alameda in 1936. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Wagtail . Torpedoed on 28 December 1942 and sunk by U-260 at 43°17′N 27°22′W / 43.283°N 27.367°W / 43.283; -27.367 while a member of Convoy ONS 154. Empire Waimana was an 8,129 GRT refrigerated cargo liner which was built by Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast. Completed in 1911 as Waimana for Shaw, Savill & Albion Line Ltd . Requisitioned as
806-472: Is a ship's total internal volume expressed in "register tons", each of which is equal to 100 cubic feet (2.83 m ). Replaced by Gross Tonnage (GT), gross register tonnage uses the total permanently enclosed capacity of the vessel as its basis for volume. Typically this is used for dockage fees, canal transit fees, and similar purposes where it is appropriate to charge based on the size of the entire vessel. Internationally, GRT may be abbreviated as BRT for
868-573: Is on Streymoy 's east coast, northeast of Hoyvík and Tórshavn . Its name means "White Point" in Faroese . Hvítanes is located in a little bay with a stone beach and a harbour where the small boats can be pulled up a ramp out of reach of the sometimes destructive sea. It was founded in 1837. The Eysturoyartunnilin surfaces near Hvítanes and connects Tórshavn with the Skálafjørður on Eysturoy . This Faroe Islands location article
930-733: The Moorsom Commission in 1849. Gross and net register tonnages were replaced by gross tonnage and net tonnage , respectively, when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted The International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships on 23 June 1969. The new tonnage regulations entered into force for all new ships on 18 July 1982, but existing vessels were given a migration period of 12 years to ensure that ships were given reasonable economic safeguards, since port and other dues are charged according to ship's tonnage. Since 18 July 1994
992-645: The Royal Fleet Auxiliary . Sold in March 1960 to H G Pound , Portsmouth and used as an oil hulk at Le Havre , replacing RFA Wave Conqueror . Sold in 1960 to Società Miroline and renamed Noema . Arrived on 8 April 1964 at Bilbao , Spain for scrapping. Empire Vera was a 292 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby . Launched on 14 May 1945 and completed in December 1945. Sold in 1947 to United Towing Co Ltd and renamed Rifleman . New steam engine fitted in 1949. On 3 June 1949 she
1054-932: The Thai Government . Later transferred to the Royal Thai Navy and served as HTMS Samaesan , pennant number YTB 7. Laid up in 1982 in the Chao Phraya River , Bangkok . Scrapped in 1983. Empire Viscount was an 8,882 GRT tanker which was built by R Duncan & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow. Completed in 1929 as Athelviscount for United Molasses Co Ltd. Damaged on 31 August 1940 by bombing at Cammell Laird 's shipyard, Birkenhead . Torpedoed on 21 March 1942 and damaged by U-202 at 38°46′N 55°44′W / 38.767°N 55.733°W / 38.767; -55.733 . Salvage tug reached her on 26 March. Towed to John's , Newfoundland . A journey not without problems as three U-boats were reported in
1116-511: The Admiralty and converted to a dummy battleship representing HMS Resolution . To MoWT in 1942 and renamed Empire Waimana , reconverted for trade as there was a shortage of refrigerated cargo ships. Returned to Shaw, Savill & Albion Line Ltd in 1946 and renamed Waimana . In February 1951, she towed the liberty type ship SS San Leonardo 300 nautical miles (560 km) from Cape Northumberland , South Australia to Melbourne after
1178-625: The Antarctic. Sold to Japanese buyer in 1971 and renamed Fuji Maru . Scrapped in October 1971 at Kaohsiung , Taiwan. Empire Venus was an 8,159 GRT tanker which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd , Govan . Laid down as Empire Venus but taken over by the Admiralty on 28 January 1944 and name cancelled. Launched on 6 July 1944 and completed in November 1944 as RFA Wave Monarch for
1240-466: The German " Bruttoregistertonne ". Net register tonnage subtracts the volume of spaces not available for carrying cargo, such as engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from gross register tonnage. Gross register tonnage is not a measure of the ship's weight or displacement and should not be confused with terms such as deadweight tonnage or displacement . Gross register tonnage was defined by
1302-660: The Kriegsmarine in 1940 and used as an accommodation ship and depot ship at Kiel. Bombed by the RAF to prevent her from being used as an escape ship by top-ranking Nazi personnel. Seized in May 1945 at Kiel and used by the United States Navy as a transport ship. Allocated to the USA but declined as her electrical system was of the single-pole type. To MoWT in October 1945 and renamed Empire Waveney . To Liverpool for
SECTION 20
#17327876810201364-912: The Kriegsmarine in 1940. Seized in May 1945 at Emden . To MoWT and renamed Empire Unitas X . Sold in 1956 to Union Whaling Co Ltd and renamed C P Robinson . Scrapped in January 1963 in Durban. Empire Unity was a 6,386 GRT cargo ship which was built by AG Weser , Bremen. Completed in 1927 as Biscaya for J T Essberger, Hamburg. Captured on 19 October 1939 by HMS Scotstoun north of Iceland and escorted to Leith . To MoWT and renamed Empire Unity . Torpedoed on 4 May 1945 and damaged by U-979 south-west of Iceland ( 64°23′N 22°27′W / 64.383°N 22.450°W / 64.383; -22.450 ) and abandoned. Later reboarded and sailed to Hvitanes , Faroe Islands and then on to Reykjavík for temporary repairs. Departed Reykjavík on 20 June 1945 under tow bound for Methil and then Leith where she
1426-460: The Kriegsmarine in 1940. Seized in May 1945 at Kiel . To MoWT and renamed Empire Unitas VIII . Sold in 1956 to Union Whaling Co Ltd, South Africa and renamed Sir Liege . Scrapped in October 1961 in Durban . Empire Unitas X was a 339 GRT whaler built by F Schichau GmbH , Danzig . Completed in 1939 as Unitas 10 for Jurgens Van Den Bergh Margarine Verkaufs Union GmbH, Hamburg. Requisitioned by
1488-401: The Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 at Flensburg, to MoWT and renamed Empire Wensum . Sold in 1947 to Mooringwell Steamship Co and renamed Bruce M . Sold in 1956 to Compagnia de Transportes Maritime, Panama and renamed Sorengo . Scrapped in December 1966 at Spezia , Italy. Gross Register Tonnage Gross register tonnage ( GRT , grt , g.r.t. , gt ), or gross registered tonnage ,
1550-686: The Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 at Flensburg. To MoWT and renamed Empire Victory . The Bomb damage was repaired in July 1946 by Harland & Wolff, Southampton . Then refitted by Silley, Cox & Co Ltd, Falmouth, Cornwall . To Ministry of Food , operated under the management of United Whalers Ltd. Sold in 1950 to Union Whaling Co Ltd, South Africa and renamed Abraham Larsen . Sold in 1957 to Taiyo Gyogyo KK, Japan. Rebuilt with new diesel engines , now 27,059 GRT and renamed Nisshin Maru No 2 . Scrapped in March 1987 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Empire Vigilance
1612-643: The Prize Court to the United Kingdom. Agreement reached with the USSR and passed to them in 1946 and renamed Rossia , later Rossiya . Renamed Aniva in 1985 and arrived in December 1985 at Kure , Japan for scrapping. Empire Wensum was a 2,515 GRT cargo ship which was built by Richardson, Duck & Co Ltd, Stockton on Tees . Completed in 1910 as Rotherhill . Sold in 1925 to Sauber & Co, Hamburg and renamed Robert Sauber . Requisitioned in 1940 by
1674-550: The Southern Ocean on British account c 20 November 1945. Allocated to USSR by Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission at Berlin, 7 December 1945. Whaling equipment fitted at Kiel removed at Liverpool, June–September 1946. Handed over to USSR in Britain 26 September 1946 and renamed Slava . Re-refitted, presumably at Liverpool, September–December 1946. Sailed from Liverpool 22 December 1946 for the first Soviet whaling season in
1736-639: The Southern Ocean on British account late November 1945. Handed over to USSR in Britain September 1946 and renamed Slava VIII . Empire Viking II was a 250 GRT whaler which was built by Smiths Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough. Completed in 1929 as Vikingen II . Sold in 1938 to Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH, Hamburg and renamed Wiking 2 . Requisitioned in 1939 by the Kriegsmarine. Seized by Royal Navy on 18 October 1945 at Kiel. To MoWT and renamed Empire Viking II . Allocated to USSR by Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission at Berlin, 7 December 1945. Deployed to
1798-501: The Southern Ocean on British account late November 1945. Handed over to the USSR in Britain in September 1946 and renamed Slava V . Empire Villager was a 2,066 GRT collier which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 31 August 1943 and completed in November 1943. Sold in 1946 to F T Everard & Sons Ltd and renamed Grit . Sold in 1957 to Bankstone Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Bankstone . Operated under
1860-548: The Southern Ocean on British account late November 1945. Handed over to the USSR in Britain, September 1946 and renamed Slava II . Empire Viking VIII was a 381 GRT whaler which was built by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Bremen. Completed in 1939 as Wiking 8 for Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH, Hamburg. Requisitioned in 1940 by the Kriegsmarine. Seized by Royal Navy on 29 October 1945 at Emden. To MoWT and renamed Empire Viking VIII . Allocated to USSR by Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission at Berlin, 7 December 1945. Deployed to
1922-545: The Southern Ocean on British account late November 1945. Handed over to the USSR in Britain, September 1946 and renamed Slava III . Empire Viking IX was a 381 GRT whaler which was built by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Bremen. Completed in 1939 as Wiking 9 for Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH, Hamburg. Requisitioned in 1940 by the Kriegsmarine. Seized by Royal Navy on 29 October 1945 at Emden. To MoWT and renamed Empire Viking IX . Allocated to USSR by Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission at Berlin, 7 December 1945. Deployed to
List of Empire ships (U–Z) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1984-543: The Southern Ocean on British account late November 1945. Handed over to the USSR in Britain, September 1946 and renamed Slava IV . Empire Viking X was a 370 GRT whaler which was built by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Bremen. Completed in 1939 as Wiking 10 for Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH, Hamburg. Requisitioned in 1940 by the Kriegsmarine. Seized by Royal Navy on 29 October 1945 at Emden. To MoWT and renamed Empire Viking X . Allocated to USSR by Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission at Berlin, 7 December 1945. Deployed to
2046-577: The Southern Ocean on British account late November 1945. Handed over to the USSR in Britain, September 1946 and renamed Slava IX . Empire Viking III was a 250 GRT whaler which was built by Smiths Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough. Completed in 1929 as Vikingen III . Sold in 1938 to Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH, Hamburg and renamed Wiking 3 . Requisitioned in 1939 by the Kriegsmarine. Seized by Royal Navy on 18 October 1945 at Kiel. To MoWT and renamed Empire Viking III . Allocated to USSR by Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission at Berlin, 7 December 1945. Deployed to
2108-545: The Southern Ocean on British account late November 1945. Handed over to the USSR in Britain, September 1946 and renamed Slava X . Empire Viking VI was a 381 GRT whaler which was built by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Bremen. Completed in 1939 as Wiking 6 for Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH, Hamburg. Requisitioned in 1940 by the Kriegsmarine. Seized by Royal Navy on 29 October 1945 at Emden. To MoWT and renamed Empire Viking VI . Allocated to USSR by Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission at Berlin, 7 December 1945. Deployed to
2170-764: The Superintendent Civil Engineer, Bombay. To the Indian Navy in 1949 and renamed INS Nirmal . Empire Ure was a 2,570 GRT cargo ship which was built by Van Duivendijks Scheepswerft, Lekkerkerk . Launched in 1920 as Willem Van Driel Sr. . Sold in 1927 to Kohlen-Import und Poseidon, Königsberg , renamed Rheinland . Requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1940. Seized as a prize in May 1945. To MoWT and renamed Empire Ure . Sold in 1947 to Crete Shipping Co., renamed Amberstone . Sold in 1950 to D. A. Psychoyos, Greece and renamed Metamorfosis . Ran aground at Ijmuiden on 2 December 1950. Broke in two,
2232-420: The USA. Empire Wansbeck was a 3,508 GRT troopship which was built by Danziger Werft AG , Danzig. Launched in 1939 as refrigerated cargo ship Linz for Norddeutscher Lloyd and completed at Odense Staalskibsværft , Odense , Denmark. Requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine and used as a minelayer . Seized in May 1945 at Kiel Fjord . To MoWT and rebuilt as a troopship, renamed Empire Wansbeck . Operated under
2294-450: The area and the vessels encountered storms and both drifted eastwards when the towline parted. Spotted by an aircraft on 4 April when still 100 nautical miles (190 km) offshore having been assumed by the Admiralty that both ships had foundered. Arrived at St John's with Athelviscount drawing 41 feet (12.50 m) aft and her bows high in the air. Moored to a buoy as she was unable to be drydocked but broke free on 9 April and grounded at
2356-466: The gross and net tonnages, dimensionless indices calculated from the total moulded volume of the ship and its cargo spaces by mathematical formulae , have been the only official measures of the ship's tonnage. However, the gross and net register tonnages are still widely used in describing older ships. Hvitanes Hvítanes ( Danish : Hvidenæs ) is a village in the Faroe Islands . It
2418-406: The harbour entrance. Refloated and docked on 23 May for temporary repairs to be carried out. Departed under tow on 30 June bound for New York where permanent repairs were carried out. To MoWT and renamed Empire Viscount . Returned to United Molasses in 1946 and renamed Athelviscount . Scrapped in October 1957 at Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht , Netherlands. Empire Voice was a 6,828 GRT cargo ship which
2480-402: The latter had lost her propeller. Arrived on 27 January 1952 at Milford Haven , Pembrokeshire for scrapping. Empire Wall was the intended name of a cargo ship which was to have been built by Hong Kong & Whampoa Dockyard Co Ltd , Hong Kong. Laid down on 24 June 1941. In 1945 she was 80% complete with all materials needed to complete her available. Scrapped in May 1950. Empire Wallace
2542-461: The management of Abella Compagnia Ltda, Barranquilla Colombia. Arrived on 5 December 1988 at Chittagong , Bangladesh for scrapping. Empire Walter was a 244 GRT tug which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd, Hessle . Launched on 30 December 1943 and completed in March 1944. Sold in 1946 to C J King & Sons Ltd, Bristol and renamed Sea Queen . Scrapped in June 1974 at Gijon , Spain. Empire Wandle
List of Empire ships (U–Z) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2604-406: The management of Kaiser Gypsum Co, United States. Renamed Ocean Carrier in 1957. Laid up on 13 November 1971 at Los Angeles . Arrived on 11 July 1973 under tow at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping. Empire Victory was a 21,846 GRT factory ship which was built by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG , Bremen. Completed in 1937 as Unitas for Unitas Deutsche Walfang GmbH. Requisitioned in 1939 by
2666-523: The management of Stone & Rolfe Ltd, Swansea . Sold in 1959 to Virtu Steamship Co Ltd, Malta and renamed Saver . Sold in 1965 to Marespuma Compagnia Navigazione, Panama and renamed Christoyannis . Operated under the management of A P Venetsanos, Greece. Sold in 1967 to Ann Poulos, Greece. Scrapped in November 1967 at Perama, Greece. Empire Vincent was a 275 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 3 September 1943 and completed in January 1944. Transferred in December 1945 to
2728-547: The management of Stone & Rolfe Ltd, Swansea. Collided on 18 October 1949 with HMS Albion and sank 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) off the Longstone Lighthouse . Empire Warlock was a 254 GRT tug which was built by Ferguson Brothers Ltd , Port Glasgow. Launched on 23 July 1942 and completed in September 1942. Sold in 1947 to the Egyptian Government and renamed Sakr . Empire Warner
2790-468: The management of Wilson Line. Sold in 1962 to Kavounides Bros, Greece and renamed Esperos . Converted to a passenger ship. Withdrawn in March 1980, scrapped in 1981 in Spain. Empire Wapping was a 2,025 GRT collier which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 15 March 1945 and completed in May 1945. Sold in 1947 to Thomas Stone Shipping Ltd and renamed Maystone . Operated under
2852-463: Was a 12,639 GRT factory ship which was built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd , Newcastle upon Tyne. Completed in 1929 as Vikingen . Sold in 1938 to Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH, Hamburg and renamed Wikinger . Requisitioned in 1939 by the Kriegsmarine. Formally seized by Royal Navy on 16 June 1945 at Kiel. To Howaldtswerke yards, Kiel, for repair and refit, August–November 1945. To MoWT November 1945 and renamed Empire Venture . Deployed to
2914-584: Was a 17,780 GRT ocean liner which was built by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg. Completed in 1938 as MV Patria . Requisitioned in 1940 by the Kriegsmarine. This was the ship on which Admiral Dönitz and the German High Command surrendered to the Allies in Flensburg. Seized, to MoWT and refitted as a troopship by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast and renamed Empire Welland . Allocated on 29 January 1946 by
2976-495: Was a 2,025 GRT collier which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd , Grangemouth . Launched on 30 November 1944 and completed in March 1945. Sold in 1946 to William France, Fenwick & Co Ltd and renamed Braywood . Sold in 1960 to Faruk & Ozmelek, Turkey and renamed Abdullah . Sold in 1976 to Kalkavan Ziya Koll, Sirketi , Turkey and renamed Taylan Kalkavan . Scrapped in April 1982 at Aliaga, Turkey . Empire Venture
3038-712: Was a 2,906 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 22 February 1943 and completed in May 1943. Sold in 1948 to Eskgarth Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Eskgarth. Operated under the management of H M Lund, London. Sold in 1951 to Uskside Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Uskmouth . Operated under the management of R W Jones & Co, Newport. Sold in 1963 to Compagnia Marabello San Nicolas, Panama and renamed Alexandra K . Sold in 1968 to Pateras Bros Ltd, Greece and renamed Aristios II . Sold in 1969 to Reinato Marino Navigazione SA, Panama. Scrapped in June 1971 in Piraeus , Greece. Empire Vauxhall
3100-421: Was a 2,961 GRT cargo ship built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd , Troon . It was launched on 21 March 1946 as Empire Warner but sold while under construction and completed in June 1946 as Uskside for Uskside Steamship Co Ltd., operated under the management of R W Jones & Co, Newport. She was sold in 1965 to N Michalos & Sons Maritime Co Ltd, Greece and renamed Gero Michalos . Ran aground on 10 May 1968 in
3162-422: Was a 250 GRT whaler which was built by Smiths Dock Co Ltd , Middlesbrough . Completed in 1929 as Vikingen I . Sold in 1938 to Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH, Hamburg and renamed Wiking 1 . Requisitioned in 1939 by the Kriegsmarine. Seized by Royal Navy on 18 October 1945 at Kiel. To MoWT and renamed Empire Viking I . Allocated to USSR by Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission at Berlin, 7 December 1945. Deployed to
SECTION 50
#17327876810203224-629: Was a 3,093 GRT cargo ship which was built by Flensburger Schiff- Gesellschaft. Completed in 1935 as Wilhelm Traber for W Traber & Co, Hamburg. Seized in May 1945 at Brunsbüttel . To MoWT and renamed Empire Wandle . Allocated to the US in 1947. To United States Maritime Commission (USMC) and renamed Yankee Dawn . Operated under the management of William C Atwater & Co Inc, Fall River, Massachusetts . Sold in 1948 to Fall River Navigation Co, New York. Sold in 1950 to Oliver J Olsen & Co, San Francisco and renamed Cynthia Olsen . Scrapped in March 1971 in
3286-612: Was a 341 GRT whaler which was built by Bremer Vulkan Schiff- und Mashcinenbau, Bremen. Completed in 1937 as Unitas 5 for Jurgens Van Den Bergh Margarine Verkaufs Union GmbH, Hamburg. Requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1940. Seized in May 1945 at Flensburg. To MoWT and renamed Empire Unitas IV . Scrapped in 1954 in Port Glasgow. Empire Unitas VIII was a 341 GRT whaler built by Bremer Vulkan Schiff- und Mashcinenbau, Bremen. Completed in 1937 as Unitas 8 for Jurgens Van Den Bergh Margarine Verkaufs Union GmbH, Hamburg. Requisitioned by
3348-460: Was a 5,319 GRT cargo ship which was built by Harbour Marine Ltd, Victoria, British Columbia . Completed in 1921 as Canadian Traveller . Sold in 1932 to Achille Lauro & Co, Naples and renamed Procida . Seized on 10 June 1940 at Cardiff . Handed over to MoWT and renamed Empire Volunteer . Torpedoed on 15 September 1940 and sunk by U-48 at 56°43′N 15°17′W / 56.717°N 15.283°W / 56.717; -15.283 while
3410-503: Was a 7,463 GRT CAM ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland . Launched on 28 March 1941 and completed in July 1941. Torpedoed on 2 October 1941 and sunk by U-562 at 59°08′N 32°26′W / 59.133°N 32.433°W / 59.133; -32.433 while a member of Convoy ON 19. Empire Waveney was a 16,754 GRT ocean liner which was built by Blohm & Voss , Hamburg. Completed in 1929 as Milwaukee for Hamburg America Line . Requisitioned by
3472-464: Was a 7,800 GRT cargo ship which was built by Greenock Dockyard Co Ltd , Greenock . Launched on 4 September 1945 and completed in February 1946. Sold in 1956 to Ben Line Steamers Ltd and renamed Benarty . Th engines were removed in 1962 at Hong Kong ready for replacement but came ashore on 1 September 1962 at Kowloon Docks during Typhoon Wanda . Refloated on 14 September 1962, repaired and fitted with
3534-509: Was an 8,093 GRT tanker which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd Govan. Launched on 18 February 1942 and completed in May 1942 as British Vigilance for British Tanker Co Ltd . Torpedoed on 3 January 1943 while sailing in Convoy TM 1 and damaged by U-514 at 29°58′N 44°40′W / 29.967°N 44.667°W / 29.967; -44.667 and abandoned. Torpedoed on 24 January 1943 and sunk by U-105 . Empire Viking I
3596-582: Was assisting Tradesman towing SS Norjerv to Strangford Lough , Northern Ireland, for scrapping when Norjerv broke in two and sank. Scrapped in November 1967 at Blyth, Northumberland . Empire Viceroy was a 7,803 GRT (10,360 DWT ) heavy lift ship which was built by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd , Barrow in Furness . Launched on 8 April 1943 and completed in August 1943. Sold in 1954 to Gypsum Carriers Inc and renamed Harry Lundeberg . Operated under
3658-424: Was built by Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd , Glasgow. Launched on 3 September 1940 and completed in November 1940. Sold in 1946 to Booth Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Bernard . Sold in 1947 to Lamport & Holt Line Ltd and renamed Byron . Renamed Lalande in 1953. Sold in 1961 to William Brandt & Sons Ltd and renamed Uncle Batt . Arrived on 8 September 1961 at Moji , Japan for scrapping. Empire Volunteer
3720-612: Was built by Lübecker Flenderwerke AG, Lübeck. Completed in 1939 as Dalbek for Knorh & Burchard, Hamburg. Seized in May 1945 at Rendsburg . To MoWT and renamed Empire Weaver . Allocated in 1946 to the USSR and renamed Chernigov . Scrapped in June 1969 at Split , Yugoslavia . Empire Webster was a 7,043 GRT cargo ship which was built by Short Brothers Ltd , Sunderland. Launched on 18 July 1942 and completed in October 1942. Torpedoed on 7 February 1943 and sunk by U-77 off Algiers ( 36°47′N 01°37′E / 36.783°N 1.617°E / 36.783; 1.617 ) while
3782-530: Was damaged further in storms. Refloated on 5 June 1942 and arrived under tow on 17 June 1942 at Glasgow . Repaired, to MoWT and renamed Empire Usk . Sold in 1946 to Constants (South Wales) Ltd and renamed Heminge . Sold in 1948 to Crete Shipping Co Ltd, London and renamed Bluestone . Sold in 1953 to Grosvenor Shipping Co and renamed Grosvenor Mariner. Operated under the management of Moller Line (UK) Ltd. Scrapped in September 1955 in Hong Kong . Empire Valour
SECTION 60
#17327876810203844-490: Was repaired. Sold in 1947 to Store ship Transports Ltd, London and renamed Stordale . Sold in 1961 to T Pappadrinitriou, Greece and renamed Mageolia . Arrived under tow on 9 October 1963 at Cerigo where she was used as a depot ship . Arrived under tow on 12 April 1966 at Burriana , Spain for scrapping. Empire Upland was a 683 GRT dredger which was built by William Simons & Co Ltd, Renfrew . Launched on 26 December 1944 and completed in February 1945. Sold in 1945 to
#19980