SS Leander (1925)
History | |
---|---|
Name |
|
Owner |
|
Operator |
|
Port of registry | |
Builder | Atlas Werke AG |
Launched | 1925 |
Out of service | 8 August 1940 |
Identification | |
Fate | Sank |
General characteristics | |
Type | Cargo ship |
Tonnage |
|
Length | 224 ft (68 m) |
Beam | 33 ft (10 m) |
Depth | 13 ft 9 in (4.19 m) |
Propulsion | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller |
Complement | 9, plus 6 DEMS gunners (Empire Crusader) |
Leander was a 989 GRT coaster that was built in 1925 by Atlas Werke AG, Hamburg, Germany. The British Royal Navy captured her in November 1939 and impressed her into service as Empire Crusader. She was bombed and sunk in 1940.
Description
The ship was built in 1925 by Atlas Werke AG, Bremen.[1]
The ship was 224 feet (68 m) long, with a beam of 33 feet (10 m).[2] She had a depth of 13 feet 9 inches (4.19 m).[3] She was assessed at 989 GRT.[4]
The ship was propelled by a
History
Leander was built for Neptun Line, Bremen.[1] On 18 February 1931, she caught fire off Domesnaes, Latvia and was abandoned by her crew.[5]
When World War II broke out, she was in port at Vigo, Spain. Unable to get food,[6] she attempted to reach Germany disguised as a Soviet merchant ship.[7] On 9 November the British destroyer HMS Isis captured her off Vigo.[1] Her captain attempted to scuttle Leander, but was forcibly prevented from doing so by the rest of her crew.[7] Leander was escorted into Falmouth, Cornwall, arriving on 13 November.[1]
Leander was declared to be a
On 7 August 1940, Empire Crusader departed from
References
- ^ ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- ^ a b McDonald, Kendall (January 1998). "Q&A: WRECKS". Divernet. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "SS Empire Crusader [+1940]". Wrecksite. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "Neptun Line / Dampfschifffahrts Gesellschaft Neptun 1873-1974 Bremen". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45751. London. 19 February 1931. col G, p. 21.
- ^ "German Ship Captured". The Times. No. 48464. London. 16 November 1939. col G, p. 8.
- ^ a b "German Ship Disguised as Russian". The Times. No. 48465. London. 17 November 1939. col A, p. 5.
- ^ "EMPIRE CRUSADER". Convoyweb. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "Convoy CW.9". Convoyweb. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "No. 34963". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 October 1940. p. 5890.