Hundreds ofEmpire ships were employed by theGovernment of the United Kingdom.[1] They were acquired from a number of sources: many were built for the government; others obtained from theUnited States; still others were captured or seized from enemy powers. Empire ships were mostly used duringWorld War II by theMinistry of War Transport (MoWT), which owned the ships but contracted out their management to various shipping lines; however, some ships requisitioned during theSuez Crisis were also named as Empire ships. Most Empire ships have since been lost or scrapped; however, a few still remain in active service or preserved.
Empire Ibex was a 7,208GRT (9,600DWT)cargo ship which was built bySkinner & Eddy Corp.Seattle. Completed in 1918 asEdgefield for theUnited States Shipping Board (USSB). To MoWT in 1941 and renamedEmpire Ibex. On 1 July 1943,Empire Ibex was in collision withEmpire MacAlpine in the northAtlantic (53°30′N36°25′W / 53.500°N 36.417°W /53.500; -36.417) and was severely damaged, abandoned on 2 July and sank.[2][3]
Empire Imp was a 129 GRTtug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd,Selby. Launched on 22 May 1942 and completed in July 1942. Capsized on 1 August 1942 and sank atPembroke Dock,Pembrokeshire. Refloated on 19 August and repaired. Sold in 1960 to H. G. Pounds, Portsmouth. Sold in 1961 to J. D. Irving, Canada and renamedIrving Walnut. Scuttled off the east coast of Canada in March 1969.[4]
Empire Impala was a 6,113 GRT (9,400 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Virginia Shipbuilding Corp,Alexandria, Virginia. Laid down asBoshbish for the USSB and completed in 1920 asClemence C Morse for the United States Transportation Co. To USSB in 1923 and renamedOakman. ToLykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Co Inc in 1933. To MoWT in 1940 and renamedEmpire Impala. On 7 March 1943,Empire Impala was a member ofConvoy SC 121. She stopped to pick up survivors from SSEgyptian which had beentorpedoed byU-230 when she was herself torpedoed byU-591 and sunk.[5]
Empire Indus was a 5,155 GRT cargo ship which was built byBlohm & Voss,Hamburg. Launched in 1923 asGera for German Australian Line, 1926 combined withHamburg America Line. On 4 April 1941, she was scuttled atMassawa,Eritrea prior to thecapture of the port by British forces. On 8 September 1942 she was refloated and beached to enable temporary repairs to be carried out. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Indus. On 2 May 1943, she left Massawa under tow bySS Mantola, arriving inKarachi, India on 13 May where she was repaired. On 14 April 1944, she was badly damaged as a result of the explosion of theSS Fort Stikine atBombay. Repairs were completed in November 1945. Sold in 1946 to Arden Hall Steamship Co,Cape Town. RenamedBosveld in 1947. Sold in 1948 to Pan Ocean Navigation Co,Panama and renamedPan Ocean. On 6 April 1958 she developed a leak and foundered 160 nautical miles (300 km) north-west ofAlexandria, Egypt. (33°15′N27°55′E / 33.250°N 27.917°E /33.250; 27.917).[6][7]
Empire Industry was a 3,721 GRT cargo ship which was built by Vuijk en Zoon,Capelle aan den IJssel, Netherlands. Launched in 1916 asLeersum. Sold in 1939 to E Oldendorff,Lübeck and renamedHenning Oldendorf. On 17 November 1939, she was captured byHMS Colombo in theDenmark Strait. She was taken toLerwick and thenLiverpool. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Industry. On 16 March 1941,Empire Industry was sunk by theGerman battleshipScharnhorst at43°27′N45°25′W / 43.450°N 45.417°W /43.450; -45.417.[8] Empire Industry is shown Ellis Island Records 1943?
Empire Inventor was a 9,515 GRT cargo and passenger ship built byAG Weser,Bremen. Launched in 1922 asWerra forNorddeutscher Lloyd. Sold in 1935 toSocietá Italia Flotte Riuniti,Genoa and renamedCalabria. Sold in 1937 toLloyd Triestino,Trieste. On 10 June 1940 she was seized as awar prize atCalcutta. The MoWT allocated her to theBritish-India SN Co and intended to rename herEmpire Inventor, but on 8 December 1940 she was torpedoed byU-103 and sunk at52°43′N10°07′W / 52.717°N 10.117°W /52.717; -10.117.[9]
Empire Inventor was a 9,912 GRT tanker which was built by Sir J. Laing & Sons Ltd., Sunderland. Launched on 22 April 1943 and completed in January 1944. Sold in 1946 to British Oil Shipping Co. Ltd and renamedVivian Louise. Sold in 1955 to Stanhope Steamship Co. Ltd., renamedStanloch. Arrived at Savona for breaking on 20 March 1959.[10]
Empire Irving was a 7,071 GRT cargo ship built byWilliam Gray & Co. Ltd,West Hartlepool. She was launched on 25 April 1944 and completed in June. Sold in 1946 to Ropner Shipping Co. Ltd. and renamedBellerby. Sold to Iranian Lloyd Co. Ltd. in 1960 and renamedPersian Cambyssis. Sold to Iranian Shipping Lines S.A. in 1964, renamedIranian Trader thenShiraz. Arrested atDammam, Saudi Arabia in May 1966, derelict by 1969. Drove ashore on 26 January 1970. Sold in September 1970 E. Matrood and Essa Zarco Bayrainis,Bahrain. RenamedSayhet and placed under the Saudi Arabian flag. Sold in 1972 to Gulf Navigation Co., Saudi Arabia. Resold later that year to Euroasia Carriers Ltd for demolition. Scrapped December 1972 atGadani Beach, Pakistan.[11]
Empire Iseult was a 7,170 GRT cargo ship which was built byJ L Thompson & Sons Ltd,Sunderland. Launched on 14 May 1942 and completed in July 1942. To theDutch Government in 1943 and renamedFrans van Mieris. Sold in 1946 to Stoomvart Maatschappij Ostzee and renamedFarmsum. Operated under the management of Vinke & Zonen,Amsterdam. Sold in 1950 to E Hsian Steamship Co Ltd,Hong Kong and renamedKin Ming. Sold in 1965 to Kai Tai Marine Lines Ltd,Formosa and renamedKai Queen. Operated under the management of China Union Lines Ltd. Scrapped in September 1969 atKaohsiung, Taiwan.[12]
Empire Islander was a 2,066 GRT (2,900 DWT)collier which was built byGrangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd,Grangemouth. Launched on 22 June 1943 and completed in August 1943. Sold in 1949 to Henry & McGregor Ltd,Leith and renamedRattray Head. Sold in 1960 to Gino Gardella, Italy, and renamedBrick Quarto. Scrapped in October 1973 atSavona, Italy.[13]
Empire Isle was a 402 GRT (480 DWT)coaster which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd,Hessle. Launched on 18 February 1941 and completed in July 1941. Sold in 1945 to Comben, Longstaff & Co Ltd and renamedSuffolkbrook. Sold in 1948 to Lovering & Sons Ltd,Cardiff and renamedFennel. Sold in 1952 to Hindlea Shipping Co Ltd and renamedHindlea. Operated under the management of J L Hindmarsh, Cardiff. Lengthened in 1959, now 506 GRT (725 DWT). On 27 October 1959 she was driven ashore inMoelfre Bay, Anglesey and broke in two. Wreckagelooted by local inhabitants. Declared a total loss.[14]
Empire Ivy was a 263 GRT tug which was built by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd,Goole. Launched on 22 October 1941 and completed in July 1942. Sold in 1946 to Clyde Shipping Co Ltd and renamedFlying Tempest. Sold in 1962 to Societa Salvataggi Siciliana, Italy, and renamedPoetto. RenamedMontelungo in 1968, scrapped in 1982.[15]
Empire Jack was a 734 GRT (1,015 DWT) coaster which was built byVickers Armstrongs LtdBarrow in Furness. Launched on 4 October 1941 asRiver Fisher and completed in December 1941 asEmpire Jack. Sold in 1946 to J Fisher & Sons Ltd, Barrow in Furness and renamedRiver Fisher. Sold in 1967 to Greenore Ferry Services Ltd,Dublin and renamedOwenduv. Sold in 1971 to Compagnia Marittima Fogana SA, Panama. Capsized on 13 January 1972 and sank after cargo shifted, 10 nautical miles (19 km) offLeixões, Portugal.[16]
Empire Jaguar was a 5,186 GRT (8,500 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Uchida Shipbuilding & Engineering Co,Yokohama, Japan. Completed in May 1919 asEastern Glade for USSB. ToAmerican South African Line Inc in 1926 and then to Postal Steamship Corp,New York in 1934. To MoWT in 1940 and renamedEmpire Jaguar. Torpedoed on 8 December 1940 and sunk byU-103 at51°34′N17°35′W / 51.567°N 17.583°W /51.567; -17.583.[17]
Empire Jamaica was a 3,538 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 16 November 1944 and completed in January 1945. Sold in 1951 to Western Steamship Co Ltd and renamedWestway. Operated under the management of Wang Kee & Co, Hong Kong. Sold in 1958 to Djakarta Lloyd,Indonesia and renamedDjajapratama. Sold in 1967 to Trikora Lloyd, Indonesia. Arrived on 23 December 1970 at Hong Kong for scrapping.[18]
Empire Jane was a 235 GRT tug which was built by A Hall & Co Ltd,Aberdeen. Launched on 25 April 1944 and completed in June 1944. Sold in 1947 toUnion Steamship Company of New Zealand and renamedTaioma. In 1978 she was preserved at theTauranga Historic Village museum,Tauranga, New Zealand.[19] The museum closed andTaioma was purchased in March 2000 by the Taioma Reef Society to be sunk as adive wreck in theBay of Plenty.[20]
Empire Janus was a 575 GRTwhaler which was built by Kaldnes Mekaniske Verkstad,Tønsberg, Norway. Launched in 1944 asJan Mayen but was requisitioned by Germany. Seized in May 1945 as a war prize. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Janus. Sold in 1947 toChristian Salvesen & Co Ltd, Leith and renamedSouthern Main. Scrapped in 1964 atOdense, Denmark.[21]
Empire Javelin was a 7,177 GRT (11,650 tons displacement)type C1-S-AY1landing ship which was built byConsolidated Steel Corp,Wilmington,California. Laid down asCape Lobos and completed in January 1944 asEmpire Javelin for the MoWT. Torpedoed on 28 December 1944 and sunk byU-772 at50°05′N01°00′W / 50.083°N 1.000°W /50.083; -1.000 while a member of Convoy TBC 1.[22]
Empire Jean was a 487 GRT tug which was built byClelands (Successors) Ltd,Willington Quay-on-Tyne. Launched on 17 October 1944 and completed in January 1945 asEmpire Mary. Sold in 1946 to Overseas Towage & Salvage Co Ltd and renamedMarinia. Sold in 1950 to Union des Remorquage de Dakar and renamedW Ponty. RenamedPonty in 1954. Sold in 1961 to Société Belge Remorquage Oceanique,Ostend, Belgium and renamedOcean Bull. Sold in 1965 to SA Italiene Lavore e Maritimi, Italy and renamedNettuno. RenamedNettuno Sailem in 1984 and scrapped in May 1985 inPalermo, Italy.[23]
Empire Jean was a 593 GRT tug which was built by Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Willington Quay-on-Tyne. Launched on 30 December 1944 asEmpire Rosa and completed in April 1945 asEmpire Jean. Sold in 1946 to Metal Industries Ltd and renamedMetinda III. ToArmada Española in 1961 and renamedR A 3.[23]
Empire Jenny was a 275 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 4 October 1944 and completed in January 1945. To theAdmiralty in 1947 and renamedAid. Sold in 1960 toH G Pounds,Portsmouth. Sold in 1961 to J D Irving Ltd, Canada and renamedIrving Teak. Scrapped in June 1977 in Canada.[24]
Empire Jessica was a 2,847 GRT cargo ship which was built byAilsa Shipbuilding Co LtdTroon. Launched on 24 March 1943 and completed in May 1943. To theFrench Government in 1945 and renamedJoseph Blot. Sold in 1954 to Armement Leon Mazzella et Compagnie,Algeria, and renamedLeon Mazzella. Sold in 1960 to Loris Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama and renamedLoris. Sold in 1966 to Compagnia Maritima Santa Barbara Sa, Panama, and renamedAgia Varvara. Scrapped in January 1975 atİzmir, Turkey.[25]
Empire Jester was a 261 GRT tug which was built by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole. Launched on 6 May 1943 and completed in July 1943. Sold in 1946 to William Watkins Ltd and renamedNapia. Sold in 1971 to J G Efthinou, Greece, and renamedTolmiros. Sold in 1973 to L G Matsas, Greece. Scrapped in February 1986 atPerama, Greece.[26]
Empire Jet was an 8,134 GRTtanker which was built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd,Glasgow. Launched on 27 May 1941 and completed in August 1941. Sold in 1946 to Bowring Steamship Co Ltd and renamedRegent Jaguar. Operated under the management of C T Bowring & Co Ltd. Arrived on 2 June 1958 atBriton Ferry for scrapping.[27]
Empire Jewel was a 2,370 GRT tanker which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 12 June 1945 and completed in September 1945. Sold in 1946 to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd and renamedFossarus. Sold in 1960 to Shell Tankers Ltd, scrapped in October 1960 inSingapore.[28]
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Empire Jewel was a 19,047 GRT ocean liner which was built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg. Launched in 1935 asPotsdam for theHamburg America Line. Was en route to the United States when war was declared. Returned to Germany by sailing around the top of Scotland and down theNorth Sea. Used as an accommodation ship at Hamburg, then as atroopship to Norwegian and Baltic ports. Took part in theEvacuation of East Prussia. Seized on 13 May 1945 atFlensburg. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Jewel. Arrived on 19 June 1945 atKiel and placed under armed guard with aRoyal Navy contingent to prevent the Germans from using her to block theKaiser Wilhelm Kanal. After arrival atBrunsbüttel the armed guard left and she was at anchor for three weeks with a full German crew. Sailed on 20 July 1945 with a detachment ofArmy guards bound forMethil. To Belfast in July 1945 for conversion to a troopship byHarland & Wolff Ltd. Completed in April 1946 and renamedEmpire Fowey. Her high-pressure boilers caused problems for her crew, who were not used to this type of boiler. In March 1947 she was towed to theClyde and refitted again, new boilers and geared turbines fitted, and the accommodation again refitted. Served as a troopship until 1957 and then chartered to the Pan-Islamic Steamship Co,Pakistan. Sold to them in 1960 and renamedSafina-E-Hujjaj. Scrapped in October 1976 at Gadani Beach, Pakistan.[29]
Empire Jill was a 739 GRT (1,015 DWT) coaster which was built by S P Austin & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 15 January 1942 and completed in April 1942. Sold in 1946 to J Fisher & Sons Ltd, Barrow in Furness, and renamedRace Fisher. Sold in 1967 to M J Motraghi,Iran.[16]
Empire Joan was a 203 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 8 January 1943 and completed in May 1943. To the Admiralty in 1947 and renamedEmphatic. Sold in 1958 to E Handcock (1929) Ltd, Cardiff. Sold in 1960 to Bristol Channel Towage Co Ltd. Sold in 1963 to R & J H Rea Ltd and renamedHallgarth. Scrapped in May 1966 atNewport,Monmouthshire.[4]
Empire John was a 487 GRT tug which was built by Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Willington Quay-on-Tyne. Launched on 21 April 1943 and completed in October 1943. Damaged on 21 August 1947 by a mine near Kiel, reached port and repaired. Sold in 1951 to Dominion Coal Co, Canada. Scrapped in December 1965 atBilbao, Spain.[30]
Empire Johnson was a 7,168 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland hull nr. 613. Launched on 20 October 1941 and completed in January 1942. To the Dutch Government in 1942 and renamedPaulus Potter. On 5 July 1942, she was damaged by bombs dropped by a German aircraft west ofNovaya Zemlya afterConvoy PQ 17 had scattered.Paulus Potter was abandoned by her crew. On 13 July 1942, she was torpedoed byU-255 and sunk in theBarents Sea.[12]
Empire Jonathan was a 235 GRT tug which was built by A Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen. Launched on 27 January 1944 and completed in March 1944. To the Admiralty in 1947 and renamedFidget. Sold in 1971 to theSingaporean Government. Fitted with adiesel engine in 1973 by Straits Engineers Ltd, Singapore. Sold in 1975 to World Dredging Ltd, Panama. Sold in 1983 to Strel Ltd, Panama.[19]
Empire Jonquil was a 369 GRT coaster which was built by Gebroeders Bodewes Volharding,Foxhol, Netherlands. Launched in 1939 asVenus. RenamedBegonia in 1940 for Dutch owners. Requisitioned in 1940 and renamedEmpire Jonquil. On 13 March 1947, she caught fire 20 nautical miles (37 km) northeast of theOuter Dowsing Lightship. She was abandoned but her engines were left in the "full ahead" position. Chased by atrawler and boarded, taken in tow and beached in theHumber Estuary where the fire was extinguished. Refloated and taken toHull Docks where she sank. Declared a total constructive loss but raised, sold and repaired. Sold in 1948 to H P Marshall & Co,Middlesbrough, and renamedMarton. Sold in 1952 to Limerick Steamship Co Ltd,Limerick, Ireland and renamedGaltee Sold in 1961 to F Maggiani & Others, Italy and renamedVittorio Bogazzi. Sold in 1970 to Carlo Figlie, Italy, and renamedEnrico Effe. She was scrapped in 1976.[31].
Empire Josephine was a 275 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 10 May 1944 and completed in September 1944. To The Admiralty in 1945 and sold in 1946 to the Hong Kong Government. Sold in 1965 to Yau Wing Co, Hong Kong and renamedYau Wing No 25. sold in 1966 to Cheung Chau Shipping & Trading Co and renamedFedredge Josephine. Operated under the management of Mollers Ltd, Hong Kong. Scrapped in September 1967 in Hong Kong.[24]
Empire Joy was a 9,895 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 13 March 1945 and completed in December 1945. sold in 1946 to the Eastern & Australian Steamship Co Ltd,London and renamedNellore. Sold in 1966 to Austin Navigation Corporation Ltd, Panama and renamedOriana. On 31 December 1966, she caught fire at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Grounded due to the amount of water used to put the fire out, refloated on 4 January 1967 but declared a constructive total loss. Scrapped in December 1967 at Kaohsiung.[32]
Empire Judy was a 738 GRT coaster which was built by S P Austin & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 5 April 1943 and completed in June 1943. Sold in 1946 to J Fisher & Sons Ltd, Barrow in Furness and renamedStream Fisher. converted in 1965 to carry irradiated atomic fuel. Sold in 1969 to Grandport Shipping, Panama and renamedRamaida. Operated under the management of J H Ramage. Scrapped in September 1977 atLisbon, Portugal.
Empire Julia was a 593 GRT tug which was built by Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Willington Quay-on-Tyne. Launched on 22 April 1944 and completed in July 1944. Sold in 1946 to United Towing Co Ltd and renamedTradesman. On 3 June 1949 she was assistingRifleman towingSS Norjerv toStrangford Lough, Northern Ireland, for scrapping whenNorjerv broke in two and sank. Sold in 1963 to N E Vernicos Shipping Co Ltd, Greece, and renamedVernicos Kitty. Scrapped in December 1974 atKartal, Turkey.[30]
Empire Jumna was a 2,370 GRT tanker which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 31 October 1944 and completed in January 1945. Sold in 1946 to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd and renamedFossularca. Sold in 1960 to Shell Tankers Ltd. Scrapped in May 1964 in Singapore.[28]
Empire Juna was a 292 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 8 February 1946 and completed in August 1946. Sold in 1947 to theNigerian Government and renamedBalbus. Sold in 1967 to Tsavliris Salvage & Towage Ltd, Greece and renamedNisos Poros. Scrapped in December 1970 in Greece.
Empire Jupiter was an 8,217 GRT tanker which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd,Govan. Launched on 21 September 1944 and completed in December 1944. To the French Government in 1946 and renamedSaint Gaudens. Sold in 1948 to Les Petroles d'Outre-Mer, France, and renamedSevane. Sold in 1958 to Jugoslavenska Tankerska Plovidba,Yugoslavia and renamedProgres. Arrived on 9 November 1970 atSplit for scrapping.[33]
Empire Jura was an 813 GRT coastal tanker which was built byA & J Inglis Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 28 August 1944 and completed in October 1944. Sold in 1946 to Van Castricum & Co Ltd, London and renamedSamshoo. Sold in 1951 to Bulk Oil Steamship Co Ltd and renamedPass of Glenogle. Sold in 1961 to A Garolla & Compagnie, Italy and renamedMarcello Garolla. Sold in 1969 to Sarda Bunkers SpA, Italy and renamedMarcello G. On 19 February 1972, she developed a list in bad weather atNaples, capsized and sank. Raised on 2 August 1972, declared a total constructive loss but repaired and returned to service. Scrapped in March 1979 at Naples.[34]
The above entries give a precis of each ship's history. For a fuller account see the linked articles.