SS Empire Florizel

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History
NameEmpire Florizel
OwnerMinistry of War Transport
OperatorJ & G Harrison & Co. Ltd.
Port of registryUnited Kingdom Greenock, United Kingdom
BuilderLithgows
Yard number990
Launched21 April 1943
Maiden voyage25 June 1943
Out of service21 July 1943
Identification
  • United Kingdom
    Official Number
    169503
  • Code Letters BFGY
FateBombed and sunk
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage
Length
  • 432 ft 7 in (131.85 m) (LPP)
  • 447 ft 6 in (136.40 m) (OL)
Beam56 ft 2 in (17.12 m)
Draught26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Depth33 ft 8 in (10.26 m)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine, 520 nhp
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Crew48 + 21 DEMS gunners

Empire Florizel was a 7,056 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1943 by Lithgows, Greenock, Renfrewshire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She had a short career, being bombed and sunk during the Allied invasion of Sicily exactly three months after her launch.

Description

The ship was 432 ft 7 in (131.85 m) long between perpendiculars (447 ft 6 in (136.40 m) overall), with a beam of 56 feet 2 inches (17.12 m). She had a depth of 34 feet 2 inches (10.41 m) and a draught of 26 feet 8 inches (8.13 m). She was assessed at 7,056 GRT, 4,814 NRT.[1]

The ship was propelled by a 520

propeller.[2]

History

The ship was built in 1943 by

Official Number 169503 were allocated.[4] Empire Florizel was operated under the management of J & G Harrison & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, Renfrewshire.[1] Her 48 crew were supplemented by 21 DEMS gunners.[5]

Carrying 4,000 tons of military and invasion stores and fourteen passengers,

Operation Husky.[6] Redesignated KMS 19Y, the convoy departed from Algiers on 14 July and arrived at Augusta, Sicily, Italy on 20 July.[8] Empire Florizel was bombed and sunk at Augusta on 21 July.[3] Two of her crew, four gunners and three passengers were killed.[5] The two crew members killed are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Empire Florizel". Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "CONVOY KMS 19". Warsailors. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  6. ^ a b "EMPIRE FAITH". Convoyweb. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Convoy KMS.19G". Convoyweb. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Convoy KMS.19Y". Convoyweb. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Empire Eve to Empire Ghyll". Brian Davis. Retrieved 18 January 2017.

External links