SS Broompark
 The only known photograph of SS Broompark, taken in June 1940
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | SS Broompark |
| Owner | J. & J. Denholm Ltd, Glasgow |
| Operator | Denholm Line Steamers |
| Port of registry |  Greenock, United Kingdom |
| Builder | Lithgows |
| Yard number | 921 |
| Launched | 12 September 1939 |
| Out of service | 28 July 1942 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sunk by U-boat U-552 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 5,136 GRT, 3,057 NRT |
| Length | 446 ft (136 m) overall |
| Beam | 56 ft (17.1 m) |
| Draft | 25 feet 9 inches (7.85 m) |
| Depth | 24.8 ft (7.56 m) |
| Installed power | 1,950 indicated horsepower (1,450 kW) |
| Propulsion | 1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft, 1 screw, cruiser stern |
| Speed | 10.5 kn (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) |
| Crew | 49 |
SS Broompark was a British
Building
SS Broompark was built by
Broompark was allocated the
Bordeaux
On 13 June 1940, Broompark entered
About a hundred people took up his offer. Amongst those who boarded was the
The scientists brought with them 26 cans containing 185 kilograms (408 lb) of heavy water worth £22,000. Originally from Norway, it was a vital ingredient in nuclear energy research that would find use in the British Tube Alloys project. The managing director of the Antwerp Diamond Bank, Paul Timbal, joined them, bringing with him between £1 million and £3 million in diamonds. They also discovered 600 long tons (610 t) of machine tools in wagons on the quay, which were loaded on board. The diamonds and the heavy water were strapped to the deck on wooden pallets, so that if the ship was sunk they might float free, and possibly be recovered.[5][11][10] On 19 June, Broompark weighed anchor and sailed down the Gironde estuary without the assistance of a pilot or tugboats, and made its way safely to Falmouth, arriving on 21 June.[5]
U-boat attack
On 21 September 1940, Broompark was travelling from
Sinking
On 25 July 1942, Broompark, now under the command of Captain John Leask Sinclair was en route to New York with convoy ON-113. The ship was carrying ballast only. At 03:52, the convoy came under attack from
Footnotes
- ^ a b c U-boats.
- ^ a b c "SS Broompark (+1942)". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Lloyd's Register, Steamers & Motorships" (PDF). Lloyd's Register. Lloyd's of London. 1940. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ "No. 27682". The London Gazette. 3 June 1904. p. 3569.
- ^ a b c d e f Martin, Roy. "The Suffolk Golding Mission, A Considerable Service" (PDF). Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ a b c
Freeman, Kerin (2015). The Civilian Bomb Disposing Earl: Jack Howard and Bomb Disposal in WWII. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. pp. 139–145. ISBN 9781473825604.
- ^ "Naval Events, June 1940, Part 2 of 4, Saturday 8th – Friday 14th". Naval History. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ "Earlspark". uboat.net. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "British Army Officers 1939-1945 -- G".
- ^ a b
OCLC 3195209.
- ^ "La Bataille de L'Eau Lourde". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 9 December 2006.
- ^ "No. 35064". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 January 1941. p. 686.
- ^ de Neumann, Bernard (19 January 2006). "Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea (Part Two)". WW2 People's War. BBC. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
References
- "Broompark (British Steam merchant) – Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
42°0′N 40°26′W / 42.000°N 40.433°W
