MV Empire Dawn

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Coordinates: 34°00′S 2°00′E / 34.000°S 2.000°E / -34.000; 2.000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

History
NameEmpire Dawn
OwnerMinistry of War Transport
OperatorW Runciman & Co Ltd
Port of registryUnited Kingdom Sunderland, United Kingdom
BuilderWilliam Doxford & Sons Ltd
Yard number670
Launched14 December 1940
CompletedApril 1941
Out of service11 September 1942
Identification
  • United Kingdom
    Official Number
    168667
  • Code Letters BCGD
FateSunk by enemy action
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage
Length
  • 442 ft 9 in (134.95 m) (overall)
  • 428 ft 8 in (130.66 m) (between perpendiculars)
Beam56 ft 5 in (17.20 m)
Draught27 feet 4+3⁄4 inches (8.350 m)
Depth35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)
Installed power516 nhp 3-cylinder diesel engine
Crew41
MV Empire Dawn is located in South Atlantic
MV Empire Dawn
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Location of the attack by Michel on Empire Dawn

Empire Dawn was a 7,241 GRT

Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Entering service in April 1941, she served until 11 September 1942 when she was sunk by the German raider Michel
.

Description

The ship was built in 1940 by

Sunderland, Co Durham.[1] She was yard number 670.[2]

The ship was 442 feet 9 inches (134.95 m) long overall (428 feet 6 inches (130.61 m) between perpendiculars), with a beam of 56 feet 0 inches (17.07 m). She had a depth of 35 feet 0 inches (10.67 m) and a draught of 27 feet 4+3⁄4 inches (8.350 m). She was assessed at 7,241 GRT, 5,066 NRT.[3] Her DWT was 10,328.[2]

The ship was propelled by a 516

propeller.[4] The engine was built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.[3]

History

1941

Empire Dawn was built for the MoWT.

Code Letters BCGD were allocated.[3]

Empire Dawn sailed from

Spurn Head on 18 June and sailed to Hull, Yorkshire.[6]

Empire Dawn joined

Tanganyika and Beira, Mozambique before arriving back at Cape Town on 14 November. She departed the next day for Freetown, Sierra Leone,[6] where she joined Convoy SL 94, which departed on 30 November and arrived at Liverpool on 20 December. Her cargo consisted of copper, sisal and tobacco.[13]

1942

Empire Dawn departed from Liverpool on 24 February 1942 for the Clyde, arriving the next day.[6] She then joined Convoy ON 71, which departed from Liverpool on 26 February and arrived at dispersed at sea on 8 March. Again, her cargo was "stores".[14] She arrived at Cape Town on 2 April. She departed Cape Town nine days later for Aden, arriving on 27 April and then departing two days later for Port Sudan, Sudan, where she arrived on 2 May. She departed from Port Sudan on 8 May for Suez, arriving on 11 May.[6]

Sinking

Empire Dawn departed Suez on 14 August for Aden, arriving on 18 August and departing four days later for

electric torch, the light from which was demonstrated in Court to be too weak to be seen in daylight and amongst the flashes of explosions. Von Ruckteschell was convicted on three other charges and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, subsequently reduced to seven years. Von Ruckteschell died in prison on 24 June 1948.[15] Those lost on Empire Dawn are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.[5]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 1-85044-275-4
    .
  2. ^ a b c "William Doxford/Pallion Ship Index". John Bage. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  4. ^ a b "MV Empire Dawn (+1941)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  5. ^ a b c "Empire Clough to Empire Dawn". Brian Watson. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "EMPIRE DAWN". Convoyweb. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  7. ^ "Convoy EC.9". Convoyweb. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  8. ^ "Convoy HX.129". Convoyweb. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Convoy FS.518 = Convoy FS.18 / Phase 6". Convoyweb. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  10. ^ "Convoy FN.486 = Convoy FN.86 / Phase 5". Convoyweb. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  11. ^ "Convoy EC.46". Convoyweb. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Convoy OG.69". Convoyweb. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  13. ^ "Convoy SL.94". Convoyweb. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  14. ^ "Convoy ON.71". Convoyweb. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  15. ^ a b c d "Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser) Michel". John Asmussen. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  16. ^ "Norwegian Victims of Michel". Warsailors. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
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