SS Empire Driver
History | |
---|---|
Name |
|
Owner |
|
Operator |
|
Port of registry | |
Builder | William Gray & Co Ltd |
Yard number | 1137 |
Launched | 24 September 1942 |
Completed | November 1942 |
Out of service | 8 February 1969 |
Identification | |
Fate | Scrapped |
General characteristics | |
Type | Cargo ship |
Tonnage | |
Length | 431 ft 5 in (131.50 m) |
Beam | 56 ft 2 in (17.12 m) |
Draught | 26 ft 9 in (8.15 m) |
Depth | 35 ft 2 in (10.72 m) |
Propulsion | Triple expansion steam engine |
Empire Driver was a 7,042
Description
The ship was built in 1942 by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool.[1] She was yard number 1137.[2]
The ship was 431 feet 5 inches (131.50 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 2 inches (17.12 m). She had a depth of 35 feet 2 inches (10.72 m) and a draught of 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 m). She was assessed at 7,042 GRT. 4,860 NRT.[3] Her DWT was 10,300.[4]
The ship was propelled by a 510
History
World War II
Empire Driver was launched on 24 September 1942 and completed in November.
Empire Driver arrived at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire on 24 November 1942. She departed on 15 December to join Convoy FN 891,[5] which had departed from Southend, Essex the previous day and arrived at Methil, Fife on 16 December.[6] She then joined Convoy EN 175, which departed on 19 December and arrived at Loch Ewe on 21 December.[7] She then sailed to the Clyde, arriving on 23 December. Three days later, Empire Driver departed the Clyde for Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, where she arrived on 28 December.[5]
Empire Driver was a member of Convoy KX 8, which departed from Milford Haven on 3 January 1943 and dispersed at sea at 05°47′N 15°23′W / 5.783°N 15.383°W on 21 January. She was carrying a cargo of
Empire Driver was a member of Convoy KMS 11G, which departed from the Clyde on 14 March and arrived at
Empire Driver departed from Freetown on 10 May for
Empire Driver departed from Haifa on 7 January for Port Said, arriving three days later. She then sailed to Suez, from where she sailed on 11 January for Aden, arriving on 16 January. She departed two days later for Lourenço Marques, where she arrived on 31 January. On 12 February, Empire Driver departed from Lourenço Marques for Cape Town, where she arrived on 17 January, departing the next day for Buenos Aires, which was reached on 7 March. She departed on 16 March for
Empire Driver departed from Southend on 11 June for Loch Ewe via the Tyne, which was reached on 18 June via convoys FN 1385, FN 1837 and EN 397.[5] She then joined Convoy ON 241, which had departed from Liverpool on 18 June and arrived at New York on 2 July.[19] She departed from New York on 21 July for the Hampton Roads, Virginia, where she arrived two days later.[5] Empire Driver was a member of Convoy UGS 50, which departed from the Hampton Roads on 3 August and arrived at Port Said on 29 August. She left the convoy at Augusta, Italy,[20] arriving on 25 August. The next day, she sailed to Naples as a member of Convoy VN 61, arriving on 27 August.[5]
Empire Driver departed from Naples on 3 October 1944 for Algiers, arriving two days later and departing the day after that for Casablanca, Morocco, where she arrived on 8 October. She departed on 17 October to join Convoy UGS 56,[5] which had departed from the Hampton Roads on 2 October and arrived at Port Said on 28 October.[21] She then sailed to Suez, from where she departed on 5 November for Aden, arriving on 11 November and sailing two days later for Albany, Australia. Arrival there was on 11 December and Empire Driver sailed the next day for Wallaroo, where she arrived on 17 December. She departed on 21 December for Adelaide, arriving the next day.[5]
Empire Driver departed from Adelaide on 6 January 1945 for
Post-war
Empire Driver departed from Buenos Aires on 10 May for Pernambuco, Brazil, arriving on 30 May. She departed on 10 June for Gibraltar, from where she departed on 29 June for London, arriving on 7 July.[5] By 14 August 1945,[4] Empire Driver had been transferred to the French Government and renamed Radiotélégraphiste Biard.[1] She was named for Victor Biard, the radio operator on the British merchant ship Djurdjura,[22] which was torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine Brin on 13 June 1941.[23] She was placed under the management of Compagnie des Chargeurs Reunis,[1] Le Havre, Seine-Maritime.[24]
In 1950, Radiotélégraphiste Biard was sold to Pasquale Mazzella, Naples and renamed Dea Mazzella.
In 1960, Marial Mazzella was sold to Pala & Franchescini, Genoa and renamed Falzarego. A further sale in 1964 to Società per Azioni Costanza, Genoa saw her renamed Grazia Prima. In 1965, she was sold to Luzmar SA, Liberia and renamed Missouri. She served until 1969, arriving on 8 February at
References
- ^ ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- ^ "Results". Hartlepool built. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ a b c "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship data. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ a b "British merchant ships for France". The Times. No. 50220. London. 14 August 1945. col E, p. 2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "EMPIRE DRIVER". Convoyweb. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy FN.891 = Convoy FN.91 / Phase 9". Convoyweb. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy EN.175 (Series 2)". Convoyweb. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy KX.8". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy KMS.7G". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy MKS.7". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy KMS.11G". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy TE.20". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy OS.46/KMS13". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy OS.46". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy AKD.3". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy SL.156". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy SL.157". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy SL.157 / MKS.48". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy ON.241". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy UGS.50". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Convoy UGS.56". Convoyweb. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Victor Biard" (in French). Français Libre. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "SS Djurdjura (+1941)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Compagnie des Chargeurs Reunis, Havre". The Ships List. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Australian Dock Union Officials Accused". The Times. No. 52016. London. 1 June 1951. col F, p. 5.
- ^ Biggs, Amanda (23 June 1998). "A Brief History of the use of the Armed Forces during Wharf Disputes". Parliamentary Library of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "LIBERTY SHIPS - E". Mariners List. Retrieved 12 July 2011.