SS Empire Bell
History | |
---|---|
Name |
|
Owner |
|
Operator |
|
Port of registry |
|
Builder | Öresundsvarvet, Landskrona |
Yard number | 28 |
Launched | 11 January 1930 |
Completed | 7 May 1930 |
Out of service | 25 September 1942 |
Identification | |
Fate | Torpedoed and sunk by U-442 |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | |
Length | 286 ft 2 in (87.22 m) |
Beam | 40 ft 2 in (12.24 m) |
Depth | 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m) |
Propulsion | One compound steam engine, 124 hp (92 kW) |
Crew | 31, plus 6 DEMS gunners |
Empire Bell was a 1,744 GRT
Description
Belgia was built by Öresundsvarvet, Landskrona.[1] She was yard number 28 and was launched on 11 January 1930 with completion on 7 May.[2] She was 286 feet 6 inches (87.33 m) long, with a beam of 40 feet 2 inches (12.24 m) and a depth of 28 feet 4 inches (8.64 m).[3] Her GRT was 2,023,[1] with a NRT of 1,074.[3] She was originally built as a passenger ship.[4]
Career
Belgia was owned by Förnyade Ångfartygs Aktiebolag Götha. She was managed by F Sternberg, Gothenborg,[3] trading as the Gotha Line.[4] Her port of registry was Gothenborg.[3] Belgia was employed on the Gothenborg - Antwerp route. In 1940, she was withdrawn from service and converted to a cargo ship,[4] or collier.[1] The rebuilt ship was 1,744 GRT.[5] During the Second World War, Belgia was a member of a number of convoys.
- HN 23B / HN 25
Convoy HN 23B departed from
- HG 41
Convoy HG 41 departed from
On 26 January 1941, Belgia was bombed by German aircraft and set on fire. At the time she was in the Thames Estuary.[1] Six crew were killed in the attack.[9] On 14 February she was salvaged and towed to Harwich, Essex. Her owners sold her to the MoWT who had her repaired and she was renamed Empire Bell.[1] She was placed under the management of James Westroll Ltd and her port of registry was changed to South Shields.[5][10] Empire Bell was a member of a number of convoys.
- RU 29
Convoy RU 29 departed Reykjavík, Iceland on 25 June 1942 and arrived at Loch Ewe on 29 June. Empire Bell was carrying a cargo of vehicles with a destination of Hull.[11]
- UW 42
Convoy UR 42 departed Loch Ewe on 22 September 1942 and arrived at Reykjavík on 27 September.
Official Numbers and Code Letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to
Propulsion
The ship was propelled by a compound steam engine which had four cylinders, two of 16+9⁄16 inches (421 mm) diameter and two of 35+7⁄16 inches (900 mm) by 35+7⁄16 inches (900 mm) stroke. The engine was built by Aktiebolag Lindholmen-Motala.[3]
References
- ^ ISBN 1-85044-275-4.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ "3007636". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ a b c "Feeder Lines - Part 4". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 4 November 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ a b c "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ "CONVOY HN 23B". Warsailors. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ "CONVOY HN 25". Warsailors. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ "CONVOY HG 41". Warsailors. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ "World War II Swedish Ship Losses". Mareud. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ a b "Empire Bell". Uboat. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ "CONVOY RU 29". Warsailors. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ "Convoy UR.42". Convoyweb. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 30 October 2009.