SS Empire Explorer
History | |
---|---|
Name |
|
Owner |
|
Operator |
|
Port of registry | |
Builder | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardon Ltd |
Launched | 24 February 1925 |
Completed | May 1925 |
Out of service | 9 July 1942 |
Identification | |
Fate | Sunk, 9 July 1942 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type |
|
Tonnage | |
Length | 407 ft 0 in (124.05 m) |
Beam | 52 ft 2 in (15.90 m) |
Draught | 25 ft 7+1⁄4 in (7.804 m) |
Depth | 28 ft 5 in (8.66 m) |
Installed power | 606 nhp |
Propulsion | Quadruple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller |
Speed | 13 knots (24 km/h) |
Crew | 70, plus 8 DEMS gunners (Empire Explorer) |
Armament | 1 x 4-in or 4.7-in gun, 8 x machine guns, kites (Empire Explorer) |
Empire Explorer was a 5,985 GRT cargo ship that was built as the cargo liner Inanda in 1925 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom for a British shipping line. She was hired by the Royal Navy in 1940 for use as an ocean boarding vessel but was sunk in an air raid London in September 1940. She was salvaged, rebuilt as a cargo ship, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Explorer. She served until 9 July 1942, when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-575 in the West Indies.
Description
The ship was built in 1925 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.[1]
The ship was 407 feet 0 inches (124.05 m) long, with a beam of 52 feet 2 inches (15.90 m). She had a depth of 28 feet 5 inches (8.66 m), and a draught of 25 feet 7+1⁄4 inches (7.804 m). She was assessed at 5,985 GRT, 3,746 NRT,[2] 6,900 DWT.[3]
The ship was propelled by a 606
History
Inanda was launched on 24 February 1925,
Inanda was a member of Convoy OA 7, which departed from
Inanda sailed from Middlesbrough on 11 December to join Convoy FS 53,
Inanda departed from Liverpool on 29 March as a member of Convoy OB 119, which dispersed at sea on 1 April. She was performing the rôle of a convoy rescue ship and sailed to London after the convoy had dispersed.[16] She then sailed to Southend, from where she departed on 8 April as a member of Convoy OA 125G, which formed Convoy OG 25 on 10 April. Inanda was carrying general cargo bound for Antigua,[17] arriving on 24 April and sailing that day for Saint Kitts, where she arrived on 24 April. She sailed the next day for Saint Lucia, from where she departed on 26 April for Grenada, arriving on 29 April. She spent the next few weeks sailing around the West Indies, arriving at Bermuda on 20 May.[10] Carrying general cargo, Inanda was a member of Convoy BHX 64, which departed on 7 August and joined with convoy HX 64 on 12 August.[18] Convoy HX 64 departed from Halifax on 8 August and arrived at Liverpool on 23 August. Inanda was bound for London,[19] which was reached by leaving the convoy and sailing to the Methil Roads, where she arrived on 24 August.[10] She then joined Convoy FS 262, which departed on 25 August and arrived at Southend on 27 August.[20]
Inanda was then hired by the Royal Navy for use as an ocean boarding vessel. On 7 September, she was berthed at London Docks when she was sunk in an air raid. She was salvaged and rebuilt as a cargo ship. Inanda was renamed Empire Explorer,[1] she was passed to the MoWT and placed under the management of T & J Harrison Ltd. Her port of registry was changed to London although she retained the Code Letters GLMB.[21]
Empire Explorer was a member of Convoy FN 632, which departed from Southend on 15 February 1942 and arrived at Methil two days later.
Empire Explorer sailed on 1 June to join Convoy OS 30,
Those killed serving on Inanda and Empire Explorer are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[28][29] Inanda has been depicted on postage stamps issued by Barbados and Saint Kitts and Nevis.[5]
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- ^ a b c "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Harrison Line E - R". Brian Watson. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Convoy OS.30". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Inanda (T&J Harrison)". Ship Stamps. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "News in Brief". The Times. No. 46048. London. 4 February 1932. col G, p. 9.
- ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Telegrams in Brief". The Times. No. 47454. London. 15 August 1936. col G, p. 9.
- ^ "Convoy OA.7". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "INANDA". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy HXF.8". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy FN.46". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy FS.53". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy OA.53". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "CONVOY HX 20". Warsailors. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy OB.119". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy OA.125G". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy BHX.64". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "CONVOY HX 64". Warsailors. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy FS.262 = Convoy FS.62 / Phase 3". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy FN.632 = Convoy FN.32 / Phase 7". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f "EMPIRE EXPLORER". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Convoy EN.50". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Convoy FN.636 = Convoy FN.36 / Phase 7". Convoyweb. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "CONVOY HX 188". Warsailors. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Empire Explorer". Uboat. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Iddesleigh to Indier". Brian Davis. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Empire Eve to Empire Ghyll". Brian Davis. Retrieved 15 September 2011.