SS Empire Bruce
World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom
History | |
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Name | Empire Bruce |
Owner | Ministry of War Transport |
Operator |
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Port of registry |
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Builder | Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland |
Yard number | 737 |
Launched | 11 June 1941 |
Completed | August 1941 |
Identification |
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Fate | Sunk, 18 April 1943 |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | |
Length | 423 ft 8 in (129.13 m) |
Beam | 59 ft 9 in (18.21 m) |
Depth | 35 ft (10.67 m) |
Propulsion | 1 x triple expansion steam engine |
Speed | 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h) |
Crew | 42, plus 7 DEMS gunners. |
Empire Bruce was a prototype 7,459 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1941 by Sir J Laing & Sons for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed and sunk by U-123 on 18 April 1943.
Description
Empire Bruce was built by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland . [1] She was yard number 737. [2] Launched on 11 June 1941, she was completed in August 1941. [1]
The ship was 423 feet 8 inches (129.13 m) long, with a beam of 59 feet 9 inches (18.21 m) and a depth of 35 feet (10.67 m) . She was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 24 inches (61 cm) , 39 inches (99 cm) and 68 inches (170 cm) bore by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by the Central Marine Engine Works, West Hartlepool . [3] It could propel her at 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h) . [2] She had a GRT of 7,349 with a NRT of 4,497. [3]
Career
Empire Bruce's port of registry was Sunderland. She was initially operated under the management of the Larrinaga Steamship Co Ltd. [3] Management was then transferred to Christian Salvesen & Co Ltd , Leith . [4]
Empire Bruce was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War .
- ON 14
Convoy ON 14 departed Liverpool on 7 September 1941 and Loch Ewe on 10 September. It dispersed at sea on 15 September. Empire Bruce was bound for Philadelphia . [5]
Sinking
At 12:39 on 18 April 1943, Empire Bruce was struck in the stern by a torpedo fired from U-123 , under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Horst von Schroeter . The ship was carrying a cargo of 9,141 tons of linseed from Buenos Aires , Argentina to the United Kingdom via Freetown , Sierra Leone . She capsized and sank after further torpedoes were fired at 13:51 and 14:19. The entire crew of 42, and seven DEMS gunners were rescued by minesweeper HMS MMS 107 . They were landed at Freetown on 19 April. [6] The ship sank 100 nautical miles (190 km) off Freetown ( 06°40′N 13°17′W / 6.667°N 13.283°W / 6.667; -13.283 ). [1]
Official Numbers and Code Letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers . Empire Bruce had the UK Official Number 168918 and used the Code Letters BCPJ. [3]
References
- 1 2 3 Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships . London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4 .
- 1 2 "1168918" . Miramar Ship Index . Retrieved 27 December 2009 .
- 1 2 3 4 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF) . Plimsoll Ship Data . Retrieved 27 December 2009 .
- ↑ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF) . Plimsoll Ship Data . Retrieved 27 December 2009 .
- ↑ "CONVOY ON 14" . Warsailors . Retrieved 27 December 2009 .
- ↑ "Empire Bruce" . Uboat . Retrieved 27 December 2009 .
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in April 1943
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Shipwrecks |
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Other incidents |
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