Jump to content

SSEmpire Crossbill

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

History
Name
  • West Amargosa(1919–41)
  • Empire Crossbill(1941)
Owner
  • United States Shipping Board (1919–37)
  • United States Maritime Commission (1937–40)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1940–41)
Operator
  • United American Lines (1919–21)
  • United States Shipping Board (1921–37)
  • United States Maritime Commission (1937–40)
  • Sir W. Reardon Smith & Sons (1940)
  • John Morrison & Co Ltd (1940–41)
Port of registry
  • United StatesLos Angeles, USA (1919–40)
  • United KingdomLondon, United Kingdom (1940–41)
BuilderLos Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Company
Yard number11
Launched25 September 1918
CompletedMarch 1919
Out of service11 September 1941
Identification
  • United States Official Number 217631 (1919–40)
  • United KingdomOfficial Number168177 (1940–41)
  • Code Letters LQBW (1919–34)
  • Code Letters KLCP (1934–40)
  • Code Letter MNLP (1940–41)
FateTorpedoed and sunk
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage
Length410 ft 0 in (124.97 m) between perpendiculars
Beam54 ft 4 in (16.56 m)
Draught23 ft (7.0 m)
Depth27 ft 2 in (8.28 m)
PropulsionTriple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller
Speed11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement38 + 10 DEMS gunners (Empire Crossbill)
SS Empire Crossbill is located in Greenland
SS Empire Crossbill
class=notpageimage|
Location of the sinking ofEmpire CrossbilloffGreenland.

Empire Crossbillwas a 5,463 GRTDesign 1013cargo shipthat was completed in 1919 byLos Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Company,San Pedro,California,United Statesfor theUnited States Shipping Board(USSB). She was transferred to theUnited States Maritime Commission(USMC) in 1937 and theMinistry of Transport(MoT) in 1941, serving until she wastorpedoedand sunk on 11 September 1941 byU-82in theAtlantic Oceanwhile a member ofConvoy SC 42.

Description[edit]

The ship was built in 1919 byLos Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Company,San Pedro, California.[1]She was Yard Number 11.[2]

The ship was 410 feet 0 inches (124.97 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 54 feet 4 inches (16.56 m). She had a depth of 27 feet 2 inches (8.28 m),[3]and a draught of 23 feet (7.0 m).[4]She was assessed at 3,750GRT,3,411NRT.[3]HerDWTwas 6,800.[2]

The ship was propelled by a 359nhptriple expansion steam engine,which had cylinders of28+1⁄2inches (72 cm), 47 inches (120 cm) and 78 inches (200 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation.[3]

History[edit]

West Amargosawas built for the USSB. She was completed in March 1919,[2]The United States Official Number 217631 andCode LettersLQBW were allocated.[3]West AmargosawascharteredbyUnited American Linesuntil 1921, operating thePlymouth–Gibraltar–Tunis–New Yorkroute.[5]With the change of Code Letters in 1934, she was allocated KLCP.[6]In 1937, she was transferred to the USMC and laid up as part of thereserve fleet.[7]

In 1940,West Amargosawas transferred to the MoWT. She was initially operated under the management of Sir W. Reardon Smith & Sons.[8]Management was later transferred to John Morrison & Co Ltd,Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[8]West Amargosawas due to join Convoy HX 119, which departed fromHalifax,Nova Scotia,Canadaon 6 April 1941 and arrived atLiverpool,Lancashireon 22 April. She was recorded as carrying a cargo of scrap iron bound forMiddlesbrough,Yorkshire.[9]Instead, she joined Convoy SC 28, which departed from Halifax on 9 April and arrived at Liverpool on 28 April. Her destination was now given asWest Hartlepool,Co Durham.[10]She left the convoy at theClyde,joining Convoy WN 228, which departed the Clyde on 1 May and arrived atMethil,Fifeon 5 May.[11]

West Amargosawas renamedEmpire Crossbill.[1]She was allocated the United KingdomOfficial Number168177 andCode LettersMLNP. Her port of registry wasLondon.[12]She departed Middlesbrough on 30 May for theTyne,returning to Middlesbrough on 2 June and departing the same day for the Tyne again. On 10 June,[13]she joined Convoy EC 31, which had departed fromSouthend,Essexon 9 June and arrived atLoch Eweon 14 June.[14]She then joined Convoy OB 334, which departed from Liverpool on 11 June and arrived at Halifax on 25 June.[15]She left the convoy atSt John's,Newfoundlandon 24 June.Empire Crossbilldeparted St. John's that day forPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania,United States, arriving on 2 July.[13]

Empire Crossbilldeparted Philadelphia on 22 August for Halifax, where she arrived on 25 August, departing the same day forSydney,Cape Breton,Canada.[13]Empire Crossbillwas a member ofConvoy SC 42,which departed Sydney on 30 August 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 15 September.[16]She was stated to be carrying 6,686 tons ofsteeland four tons of relief goods,[7]although it is also stated that she was carrying a cargo of explosives.[17]At 03:11GMTon 11 September,[18]Empire Crossbillwastorpedoedand sunk byU-82at63°14′N37°12′W/ 63.233°N 37.200°W/63.233; -37.200.[1]All 38 crew, tenDEMSgunners and her single passenger were killed.[4]Those lost onEmpire Crossbillare commemorated at theTower Hill Memorial,London.[19]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcMitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995).The Empire Ships.London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited.ISBN1-85044-275-4.
  2. ^abc"Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro CA (formerly Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company)".Ship Building History. Archived fromthe originalon 22 September 2008.Retrieved6 May2011.
  3. ^abcd"LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS"(PDF).Plimsoll Ship Data.Retrieved7 July2011.
  4. ^ab"SS Empire Crossbill (+1941)".Wrecksite.Retrieved6 May2011.
  5. ^"West Amargosa".Ellis Island.Retrieved6 May2011.
  6. ^"LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS"(PDF).Plimsoll Ship Data.Retrieved7 July2011.
  7. ^ab"Empire Crossbill".Uboat.Retrieved6 May2011.
  8. ^ab"EMPIRE – C".Mariners.Retrieved6 May2011.
  9. ^"CONVOY HX 119A & HX 119B".Warsailors.Retrieved6 May2011.
  10. ^"CONVOY SC 28".Warsailors.Retrieved6 May2011.
  11. ^"Convoy WN.122".Convoyweb.Retrieved6 May2011.
  12. ^"LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS"(PDF).Plimsoll Ship Data.Retrieved7 July2011.
  13. ^abc"EMPIRE CROSSBILL".Convoyweb.Retrieved6 May2011.
  14. ^"Convoy EC.31".Convoyweb.Retrieved6 May2011.
  15. ^"Convoy OB.334".Convoyweb.Retrieved6 May2011.
  16. ^"CONVOY SC 42".Warsailors.Retrieved6 May2011.
  17. ^"Valour at Sea 1941 – The War Intensifies".Veterans Affairs Canada.Retrieved6 May2011.
  18. ^"REPORT ON INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM" U 432, "A 500-TON U-BOAT SUNK AT ABOUT 1200 G.M.T. ON 11th MARCH, 1943".U-boat Archive. Archived fromthe originalon 26 October 2007.Retrieved6 May2011.
  19. ^"Ship Index A-F".Brian Watson. Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2011.Retrieved20 May2011.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Empire_Crossbill&oldid=1232184498"