SS Empire Adventure
World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Builder | Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland[1] |
| Yard number | 256 |
| Launched | 13 October 1920 |
| Completed | February 1921 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Torpedoed by U-138 night of 20/21 September 1940, sank 23 September 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 5,145 GRT |
| Length | 375 ft (114.30 m) |
| Beam | 51 ft 2 in (15.60 m) |
| Depth | 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m) |
| Propulsion | 1 x triple expansion steam engine (Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd, Newcastle) 370 hp (280 kW) NHP. |
| Speed | 11 knots (20 km/h) |
| Complement | 39 |
Sunk
Torpedoed
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Location of the torpedo attack and sinking of Empire AdventureSS Empire Adventure was a 5,787-ton steamship built in 1920 as the Eastney. She was sold to France in 1924 and renamed Germaine L D. In 1931 she was sold to Italy, being renamed Andrea, being seized in 1940 and renamed Empire Adventure. She was torpedoed on the night of 20/21 September 1940 and sank while under tow on 23 September 1940.
History
Eastney was built by the Northumberland Shipping Co, Howdon, Wallsend,[2] as yard number 356.[3] She was owned and operated by the Romney Steamship Co, London. In 1924, Eastney was sold to L Dreyfus & Co, France , and renamed Germaine L D.[2] On 25 March 1929, she was in collision with Alice Marie in the North Sea off Vlissingen, Netherlands. She was beached at Rammekens for temporary repairs to be carried out.[4] Germaine L D was refloated the next day.[5] On 3 March 1931, she collided with Southborough at Rotterdam, Netherlands. Southborough sustained some damage but Germaine L D was undamaged.[6] On 23 March 1932, she ran aground at Buenos Aires, Argentina, but was freed the next day with assistance from a tug. No damage was sustained.[7] In 1932, Germaine L D was sold to Società Anonima di Navigazione Corrado, Genoa , and renamed Andrea. In June 1940, Andrea was seized at Newcastle upon Tyne and renamed Empire Adventure.[2]
- Convoy OB 216
Convoy OB 216 departed from Liverpool on 19 September 1940.[8] During the night of 20/21 September 1940, Empire Adventure was torpedoed by U-138[9] 52 miles (84 km) northwest of Rathlin Island[10] 55°11′N 11°30′W / 55.183°N 11.500°W / 55.183; -11.500.[11] Although taken in tow by HMS Superman, Empire Adventure sank on 23 September 1940 at 55°48′N 07°22′W / 55.800°N 7.367°W / 55.800; -7.367. A total of 21 of the 39 crew were killed.[10] The survivors were picked up by HMS Arabis[8] and the Swedish merchantman Industria and landed at Belfast.[10] Those lost on Empire Adventure are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[12]
Official number and code letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.
Eastney and Empire Adventure had the UK Official Number 146165[13] Andrea had the Italian Official Number 1829.[14]
Andrea used the Code Letters NDAT[14] and IBXA.[15] Empire Adventure used the Code Letters GLXW.[13]
References
- ^ "SS Eastney (1921)". www.tynebuiltships.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ a b c "EMPIRE - A". Mariners-L. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ "1145165". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45161. London. 26 March 1929. col G, p. 21.
- ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45163. London. 28 March 1929. col D, p. 26.
- ^ "Mails and Shipping, Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 43762. London. 4 March 1931. col F, p. 23.
- ^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 46091. London. 26 March 1932. col E, p. 19.
- ^ a b "Naval Events, September 1940, Part 2 of 2, Sunday 15th – Monday 30th". naval history.net. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ Ubootwaffe gives 21:26 on 20 September 1940 (German time), Uboatnet gives 02:27 on 21 September 1940
- ^ a b c "Empire Adventure". uboat.net. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ "EMPIRE ADVENTURE". ubootwaffe.net. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
External links
- Photo of Germaine L D Archived 14 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
55°48′N 7°22′W / 55.800°N 7.367°W / 55.800; -7.367
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1929
- 16 Jan: Hsin Wah
- 12 Feb: Alloway
- 19 Feb: Kanowna
- 22 Mar: I'm Alone
- 25 Mar: Muggia
- 29 Mar: Selje
- 26 May: Aleutian
- 9 Jul: HMS H47
- 17 Jul: USS General Alava
- 1 Aug: Asakaze
- 30 Aug: San Juan
- 7 Sep: Kuru
- 9 Sep: Andaste
- 11 Sep: Acielle
- 2 Oct: Commandant Bultinck
- 22 Oct: Milwaukee
- 29 Oct: Wisconsin
- 31 Oct: Senator
- 4 Nov: Gilbert San
- 29 Nov: Norwich City
- 7 Dec: Ägir
- 18 Dec: Fort Victoria
- Unknown date: San Antonio
- 5 Jan: Siboney
- 20 Jan: President Garfield
- 29 Jan: City of Cairo
- 28 Feb: Liberty Glo
- 7 Mar: Thétis
- 10 Mar: Pengreep
- 22 Mar: USCGC Dexter
- 25 Mar: Germaine L D
- 26 Mar: Europa
- 28 Mar: Libia
- 30 Mar: Naïade
- 6 Apr USS Childs
- 7 Apr Paris
- 18 Apr Paris
- 27 Apr: Duchess of Richmond
- April (unknown date) Franconia
- 15 May: Irwell
- May (unknown date): Duke of Lancaster, Duke of Rothesay
- 9 Jul: HMS L12
- 11 Jul: I-55, Kinugasa
- 3 Aug: Medway Queen
- 9 Aug: Viceroy of India
- 20 Aug Paris
- September (unknown date): Binnendijk, Eider
- 5 Oct: NRP Adamastor
- 12 Oct: USFS Widgeon
- 13 Oct: Empress of Canada
- 19 Oct: Bowes Castle
- 20 Oct: USAT Liberty
- 6 Nov: Barbana G
- 13 Nov: Ro-63
- 22 Nov: Parizhskaya Kommuna
- 18 Dec: Algonquin
- 24 Dec: Roosevelt
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in September 1940 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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