SS Empire Celtic

History
Name:
  • HMS LST 3512 (1945)
  • SS Empire Celtic (1945-56)
  • HMS Empire Celtic (1956)
  • SS Empire Celtic (1945-62)
Owner:
  • Royal Navy (1945)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945)
  • Ministry of Transport (1945-62)
Operator:
  • Royal Navy (1945)
  • Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd (1946-56)
  • Royal Navy (1956)
  • Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd (1956-60)
Port of registry:
  • United Kingdom Royal Navy (1946-48)
  • United Kingdom London (1948-56)
  • United Kingdom Royal Navy (1956)
  • United Kingdom London (1956-60)
Route:
  • Tilbury - Hamburg (1946-55)
  • Tilbury - Rotterdam (1955-60)
Ordered: 1 February 1944
Builder: Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd
Launched: 25 April 1945
Completed: September 1945
Commissioned: 7 August 1945
Out of service: 1960
Fate: Scrapped 1962
General characteristics
Class & type:
  • Landing Ship, Tank (LST 3514)
  • Ferry (Empire Celtic)
Tonnage:
Length: 347 ft 6 in (105.92 m)
Beam: 55 ft 3 in (16.84 m)
Draught: 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m)
Installed power: Triple expansion steam engine
Propulsion: Screw propellor
Speed: 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h)

Empire Celtic was a ferry which was built in 1945 as Landing Ship, Tank LST 3512 for the Royal Navy. In 1946 she was chartered by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company Ltd, converted to a ferry and renamed Empire Celtic. In 1956, she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for a few months during the Suez Crisis as HMS Empire Cedric. She served until 1960 and was scrapped in 1965.

Description

The ship was ordered on 1 February 1944.[1] She was built by Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Lauzon, Quebec,[2] as yard number 335.[3] She was launched on 25 April 1945,[4] and completed in September.[2]

The ship was 347 feet 6 inches (105.92 m) long, with a beam of 55 feet 3 inches (16.84 m) and a depth of 12 feet 5 inches (3.78 m).[1]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine.[2] The engine was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway.[4] It could propel her at 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h).[1]

History

LST 3512 was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 7 August 1945.[5] In 1946, she was chartered by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd.[4] She was rebuilt as a ferry by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Tilbury.[2] She entered service on trooping duties on the Tilbury - Hamburg route. I 1955, the route was change to Tilbury - Rotterdam.[6] In 1956, Empire Celtic took part in Operation Musketeer.[5] She was used to bring vehicles back to the United Kingdom from Egypt. Due to weather damage Empire Celtic had to divert to Malta for repairs.[7]Empire Celtic was withdrawn from service in 1960. She was sold on 10 August 1962,[5] and scrapped at La Spezia, Italy.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "HMS LST 3512". Warships. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 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.
  3. "FURNESS SHIPBUILDING COMPANY LTD., HAVERTON HILL". Tees Built Ships. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "LST (Landing Ship Tank/Troop)". Luton & District Model Boat Club. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 "LST 3512". Old Ships. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  6. "The 'Empire' Class, the pioneer ships of Roll on / Roll off ferries.". The Maritime Steam Restoration Trust. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  7. "British Units involved in the Suez crisis". Britain's Small Wars. Retrieved 20 March 2010.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, October 12, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.