| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Builder | Downey Shipbuilding Corp |
| Yard number | 10 |
| Launched | 23 July 1919 |
| Completed | November 1919 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk, 10 May 1941. |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 386 ft 8 in (117.86 m) |
| Beam | 52 ft 2 in (15.90 m) |
| Depth | 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m) |
| Installed power | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Propulsion | Screw propeller |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Crew | 41, plus 4DEMS gunners (Empire Caribou) |
Empire Caribou was a 4,861 GRTcargo ship which was built in 1919 for theUnited States Shipping Board (USSB) asWaterbury. She was sold in 1920 to the American Star Line and renamedNorthern Star. In 1923, she was sold to American Sugar Transporters Inc and renamedDefacto. In 1941 she was passed to theMinistry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamedEmpire Caribou. On 10 May 1941, she wastorpedoed and sunk byU-556.
The ship was built by Downey Shipbuilding Corporation,Arlington,New York, as yard number 10.[1] She was launched in 1919,[2] and completed in November that year.[1]
The ship was 386 feet 8 inches (117.86 m) long, with a beam of 52 feet 2 inches (15.90 m) and a depth of 27 feet 4 inches (8.33 m). Her GRT was 4,800, with a NRT of 2,999.[3] Her DWT was 7,814.[1] In 1940, her GRT was recorded as 4,861 and her NRT as 2,994.[4]
She was propelled by atriple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 24 inches (61 cm), 40 inches (100 cm) and 70 inches (180 cm) diameter and 48 inches (120 cm) stroke.[3] The ship could make 10 knots (19 km/h).[5]
Waterbury was built for the USSB.[2] She was launched on 23 July 1919.[6] The United States Official Number 219134 was allocated.[3] In 1920 she was sold to the American Star Line Inc and renamedNorthern Star. In 1923, she was sold to American Sugar Transporters Inc and renamedDefacto.[2] TheCode Letters LTKB were allocated.[3] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to KOKC.[4] On 18 March 1940,Defacto was given to theUnited Kingdom.[7] She was passed to the MoWT and renamedEmpire Caribou.[2] The United KingdomOfficial Number 167431 and the Code Letters GQBN were allocated.[4]
Empire Caribou was a member of a number of convoys during theSecond World War.
Convoy SC 25 departedHalifax,Nova Scotia on 10 March 1941 and arrived atLiverpool on 29 March.Empire Caribou was carrying a cargo ofsteel bound forLondon.[8]
Convoy OB 318 departed Liverpool on 2 May 1941 and arrived at Halifax on 10 May.Empire Caribou was carrying a cargo of 2,020 tons ofchalk and was bound forBoston, Massachusetts.[9] On 10 May, she was torpedoed and sunk byU-556 at59°28′N35°44′W / 59.467°N 35.733°W /59.467; -35.733,[2] with the loss of 29 members of her 40-member crew. Eleven survivors were rescued byHMS Malcolm. They were landed atReykjavík,Iceland and transferred toHMS Scimitar which took them toGreenock.[7] Those lost onEmpire Caribou are commemorated at theTower Hill Memorial, London.[10]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in May 1941 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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