MV Empire Beacon

History
Class and type: Coaster
Name: Empire Beacon
Owner: Ministry of War Transport
Operator: John Stewart & Co (Shipping) Ltd
Port of registry: United Kingdom Glasgow
Builder: Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling
Launched: 24 September 1941
Completed: February 1942
Identification:
  • UK Official Number 168695
  • Code Letters BCSY
Fate: Struck a mine and sank, 5 April 1942
General characteristics
Tonnage: 872 GRT
Length: 203 ft (61.87 m)
Beam: 33 ft 2 in (10.11 m)
Depth: 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
Propulsion: 6-cylinder SCSA Oil engine, 80 hp (60 kW)
Location of the sinking of Empire Beacon.

Empire Beacon was an 872 GRT coaster which was built in 1941. She was owned by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and managed by John Stewart & Co (Shipping) Ltd. Empire Beacon struck a mine and sank off St. Ann's Head, Pembrokeshire on 5 April 1942.

Career

Empire Beacon was built by Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling, West Dunbartonshire.[1] She was yard number 358 and was launched on 24 September 1941 and completed in November that year.[2] Empire Beacon was built for the MoWT and placed under the management of John Stewart & Co (Shipping) Ltd. Her port of registry was Glasgow.[3]

Sinking

On 5 April 1942, Empire Beacon struck a mine and sank 6 nautical miles (11 km) off St. Ann's Head (51°41′N 5°10′W / 51.683°N 5.167°W / 51.683; -5.167).[1][2]

Official Numbers and Code Letters

Official numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Empire Beacon had the UK Official Number 168695 and used the Code Letters BCSY.[2][3]

Propulsion

Empire Beacon was powered a Single Cycle, Single Action oil engines,[3] driving a single screw.[2] The cylinders were 1338 in (340mm) diameter by 22716 in (570 mm) stroke. The engine developed 80 horsepower (60 kW).[3]

References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "1168695". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 18 October 2009. (subscription required (help)).
  3. 1 2 3 4 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Retrieved 18 October 2009.
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