SS Empire Adventure
| History | |
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| Builder: | Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland |
| Yard number: | 256 |
| Launched: | 13 October 1920 |
| Completed: | February 1921 |
| Identification: |
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| Fate: | Torpedoed by U-138 night of 20/21 September 1940, sank 23 September 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 5,145 GRT |
| Length: | 375 ft (114.30 m) |
| Beam: | 51 ft 2 in (15.60 m) |
| Depth: | 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m) |
| Propulsion: | 1 x triple expansion steam engine (Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd, Newcastle) 370 hp (280 kW) NHP. |
| Speed: | 11 knots (20 km/h) |
| Complement: | 39 |
SS Empire Adventure was a 5,787 ton steamship which was 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 whilst under tow on 23 September 1940.
History
Eastney was built by the Northumberland Shipping Co, Howdon, Wallsend,[1] as yard number 356.[2] 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.[1] 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.[3] Germaine L D was refloated the next day.[4] On 3 March 1931, she collided with Southborough at Rotterdam, Netherlands. Southborough sustained some damage but Germaine L D was undamaged.[5] 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.[6] 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.[1]
- Convoy OB 216
Convoy OB 216 departed from Liverpool on 19 September 1940.[7] During the night of 20/21 September 1940, Empire Adventure was torpedoed by U-138[8] 52 miles (84 km) northwest of Rathlin Island[9] 55°11′N 11°30′W / 55.183°N 11.500°W.[10] Although taken in tow by HMS Superman, Empire Adventure sank on 23 September 1940 at 55°48′N 07°22′W / 55.800°N 7.367°W. A total of 21 of the 39 crew were killed.[9] The survivors were picked up by HMS Arabis[7] and the Swedish merchantman Industria and landed at Belfast.[9] Those lost on Empire Adventure are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[11]
Official number and code letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.
Eastney and Empire Adventure had the UK Official Number 146165[12] Andrea had the Italian Official Number 1829.[13]
Andrea used the Code Letters NDAT[13] and IBXA.[14] Empire Adventure used the Code Letters GLXW.[12]
References
- 1 2 3 "EMPIRE - A". Mariners-L. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ↑ "1145165". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 2008-12-15. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Casualty reports" The Times (London). Tuesday, 26 March 1929. (45161), col G, p. 21.
- ↑ "Casualty reports" The Times (London). Thursday, 28 March 1929. (45163), col D, p. 26.
- ↑ "Mails and Shipping, Casualty Reports" The Times (London). Wednesday, 4 March 1931. (43762), col F, p. 23.
- ↑ "Casualty Reports" The Times (London). Saturday, 26 March 1932. (46091), col E, p. 19.
- 1 2 "NAVAL EVENTS, SEPTEMBER 1940, Part 2 of 2, Sunday 15th – Monday 30th". naval history.net. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ↑ Ubootwaffe gives 21:26 on 20 September 1940 (German time), Uboatnet gives 02:27 on 21 September 1940
- 1 2 3 "Empire Adventure". uboat.net. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ↑ "EMPIRE ADVENTURE". ubootwaffe.net. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ↑ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- 1 2 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- 1 2 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- ↑ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
External links
Coordinates: 55°48′N 7°22′W / 55.800°N 7.367°W