SS Belgian
| History | |
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| Name: |
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| Owner: |
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| Operator: |
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| Builder: | Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Yard number: | 1139 |
| Launched: | 29 August 1919 |
| In service: | October 1919 |
| Identification: |
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| Fate: | Sunk by U-96, 27 June 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 5,287 GRT |
| Length: | 400 ft 3 in (122.00 m) |
| Beam: | 52 ft 4 in (15.95 m) |
| Depth: | 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m) |
| Propulsion: | 1 x triple expansion steam engine of 517 hp (386 kW) |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
The SS Belgian was a 5,287-ton steamship which was built in 1919, sold in 1934 becoming Amelia Lauro, seized in 1940 and renamed Empire Activity and sunk by a German U-boat in 1941.
History
Belgian was built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend and launched on 29 August 1919, being completed in October 1919.[1] From 1919 to 1934 Belgian was owned by the Leyland Line. In 1934, she was sold to Achille Lauro, and renamed Amelia Lauro.[2]
On 7 March 1940, Amelia Lauro was damaged by German bombing at 52°55′N 02°19′E / 52.917°N 2.317°E[3] en route from Newcastle upon Tyne to Piombino laden with coal. She was set on fire and the crew anchored her, then abandoned her.[4] The SS Titania rescued 37 of the crew, and the sloops Pintail and Londonderry assisted. Amelia Lauro was escorted to Immingham[3] with her superstructure burnt out.[4] One crew member was killed outright and three were wounded.[5] One of the wounded crewmen later died from his injuries.[6] In an expression of gratitude, Lauro Lines owner Achille Lauro donated £26. 5s to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in appreciation of assistance rendered by the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat in bringing 29 crew to shore.[7] Permission was given for temporary repairs to be carried out.[4]
As a consequence of Italy's declaration of war on 10 June 1940, Amelia Lauro was seized as a prize of war. The seizure was ratified by the prize court on 4 May 1941.[8] Amelia Lauro was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport, being renamed Empire Activity. Galbraith, Pembroke & Co were appointed managers. On 27 June 1941, Empire Activity was torpedoed by U-96 off Newfoundland at 49°30′38″N 53°51′30″W / 49.51056°N 53.85833°WCoordinates: 49°30′38″N 53°51′30″W / 49.51056°N 53.85833°W,[9] 1 nautical mile south of the Peckford Reef.[1] She was en route from Botwood to the United Kingdom laden with zinc concentrates.[4]
Official number and code letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.
Belgian had the UK Official Number 140659.[10] Amelia Lauro had the Italian Official Number 423[11] Empire Activity had the UK Official number 140659.[12]
Belgian used the Code Letters KCQH.[10] Amelia Lauro used the Code Letters IBEZ.[11] Empire Activity used the Code Letters GQXX.[12]
References
- 1 2 "1140659". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 2008-11-28. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Belgian". Ellis Island. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
- 1 2 3 4 The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. 1995. pp. 431–32. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
|first1=missing|last1=in Authors list (help) - ↑ "Four Bombs On Italian Ship" The Times (London). Saturday, 9 March 1940. (48560), col F, p. 6.
- ↑ "Steamer's Crew Of 21 Saved" The Times (London). Monday, 11 March 1940. (48561), col D, p. 5.
- ↑ "Italian Gratitude to Lifeboat Crew" The Times (London). Wednesday, 12 June 1940. (48640), col D, p. 4.
- ↑ "The Prize Court" The Times (London). Wednesday, 6 May 1941. (48866), col D, p. 6.
- ↑ "EMPIRE - A". Mariners-L. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
- 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.
- 1 2 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS AND MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
External links
- Photo of Empire Activity
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