SS Empire Beaumont
| History | |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | Cargo ship |
| Name: | Empire Beaumont |
| Owner: | Ministry of War Transport |
| Operator: | W Runciman & Co Ltd |
| Port of registry: |
 Middlesbrough |
| Builder: | Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees |
| Laid down: | 15 August 1941 |
| Launched: | 31 March 1942 |
| Completed: | June 1942 |
| Identification: |
|
| Fate: | Torpedoed and sunk, 13 September 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 7,044 GRT |
| Length: | 431 ft 3 in (131.45 m) |
| Beam: | 56 ft 2 in (17.12 m) |
| Depth: | 35 ft 2 in (10.72 m) |
| Propulsion: | One triple expansion steam engine |
Empire Beaumont was a 7,044 GRT cargo ship which was built by Furness Shipbuilding Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees in 1942. She was owned by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and managed by W Runciman & Co Ltd. Empire Beaumont had a short career, being sunk on 13 September 1942 while a member of Convoy PQ 18.
Description
Empire Beaumont was built by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees.[1] She was yard number 345 and was laid down on 15 August 1941[2] Empire Beatrice was launched on 31 March 1942 and completed in June that year. She had a GRT of 7,044.[1] Her port of registry was Middlesbrough. Empire Beaumont was managed by W Runciman & Co Ltd for the MoWT.[3]
Career
Empire Beaumont was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.
- UR 32
onvoy UR 32 sailed from Loch Ewe on 11 July 1942 and was destined for Reykjavík, Iceland. Arrival was on or about 16 July.[4]
- PQ 18
Convoy PQ 18 sailed from Loch Ewe on 2 September 1942 and arrived at Archangelsk on 21 September.[5] At 15:15 on 13 September, Empire Beaumont was attacked by Heinkel He 111 aircraft of KG26 and torpedoed.[1][6] Empire Beaumont was still afloat at 16:45 although it was believed that she had sunk by 18:30. Thirty-three survivors were rescued by HMS Sharpshooter. The majority of them were transferred to HMS Scylla and five were landed at Archangelsk for transfer to SS Empire Bard.[6] Those lost on Empire Beaumont are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[7]
Official Numbers and Code Letters
Official numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Empire Beaumont had the UK Official Number 164854 and used the Code Letters BDWD.[3]
Propulsion
Empire Beaumont was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 24½ inches (62 cm), 39 inches (99 cm), and 70 inches (180 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. It was built by Richardsons, Westgarth & Co Ltd, Hartlepool.[3]
References
- 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.
- ↑ "1164854". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 20 October 2009. (subscription required (help)).
- 1 2 3 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Retrieved 20 October 2009.
- ↑ "CONVOY UR 32". Warsailors. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
- ↑ "Convoy PQ.18". Convoyweb. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
- 1 2 "Convoy PQ18". Halcyon Class Ships. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ↑ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Retrieved 20 May 2011.