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 Labrador was a 3,539GRTcargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd,West Hartlepool. Launched on 19 August 1944 and completed in October 1944. Sold in 1949 to Williamson & Co Ltd,Hong Kong and renamedIncharran. Seized on 1 May 1950 by aChinese Nationalistwarship. She was released with the assistance ofHMS Mounts Bay. On 12 February 1953 she was attacked by Chinese Nationalist warships when in theStrait of Formosa but evaded capture and safely reached Hong Kong. Sold in 1955 to Indo-China Steam Navigation Co Ltd,London and renamedSunshine. Sold in 1968 to Golden River Shipping Corp. and renamedGolden River. Operated under the management of C T Chu, Hong Kong. Arrived on 7 April 1970 atSakaide, Japan for scrapping.[2]
Empire Labuan was a 7,339 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 5 September 1944 asEmpire Labuan and completed in November 1944 as HMSHolm Sound (F 189),[3] an aircraft component repair and maintenance ship. Completed one wartime tour to Gibraltar, Malta, Port Said, Aden, Bombay, Cochin, Ceylon, Cocas Islands, Fremantle and return, in support of the Pacific fleet. Sold in 1949 to Aviation & Shipping Ltd and reconverted to a cargo ship, renamedAvisbay. Operated under the management of Purvis Shipping Co Ltd, London. Sold in 1950 toElder Dempster Lines,Liverpool and renamedPrah. Sold in 1959 toAtlanska Plovidba,Yugoslavia and renamedNaprijed. Arrived on 13 May 1969 atSplit for scrapping.[4]
Empire Lad was a 298 GRTcoastaltanker which was built byRowhedge Ironworks Ltd,Rowhedge,Essex. Launched on 10 July 1941 asEmpire Garnet and completed in November 1941 asEmpire Lad. Sold in 1946 to Anglo-American Oil Co Ltd and renamedEsso Suwanee Sold in 1951 toEsso Petroleum Co Ltd. Sold in 1960 to P L Den Breejen,Netherlands. Sold in 1963 to Compagnia Comercio Navigazione Alpes,Panama. Converted to carry dry cargo, now 331 GRT and renamedUSA. Sold in 1966 to Autco SA, Panama and renamedPejerey. RenamedEsterel in 1966. Sold in 1968 to Columbo Shipping Co, Panama and renamedWesterend. Sold in 1970 to Albina SA, Panama, renamedSunrise thenGrace. Sold in 1971 to D P Gousetis, Greece and renamedCaptain Stelios. Sold in 1975 to C Dagadakis, Greece and renamedSan Liberal. Sold in 1977 to E & G Kottis, Greece and renamedKleopatra.[5]
Empire Lady was a 7,046 GRT cargo ship which was built by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd,Newcastle upon Tyne. Launched on 20 June 1944 and completed in August 1944. Sold in 1946 toRoyal Mail Lines Ltd and renamedTweed. Arrived on 20 August 1959 atNewportMonmouthshire for scrapping.[6]
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Empire Lagan was an 11,399 GRTescort aircraft carrier which was built bySun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.,Chester, Pennsylvania. Completed in April 1940 asMormacland forMoore-McCormack Lines, Inc. Rebuilt in March 1941 byNewport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company as an escort carrier with a capacity for twenty aircraft. Transferred on 17 November 1940 to theRoyal Navy and renamed HMSArcher. On 13 January 1942 she was in collision with SSBrazos, which sank at32°54′N74°14′W / 32.900°N 74.233°W /32.900; -74.233.Archer was towed stern-first toCharleston, South Carolina for repairs. Decommissioned:6 November 1943,Archer was relegated to a stores ship. Transferred in March 1945 to the MoWT and renamedEmpire Lagan. Transferred in January 1946 toUnited States Maritime Commission (USMC) and laid up inNorfolk, Virginia. Sold in 1948 to Sven Salen,Stockholm and renamedAnna Salen. Operated under the management of Reder Pulp AB from 1949.[7]
Refitted as apassenger ship with superstructure extended to the stern, and extra lifeboats, now 11,672 GRT. Sold in 1955 to Compagnia Navigazione Tasmania SA and renamedTasmania. Operated under the management of Hellenic Mediterranean lines. Sold in 1961 to China Union Lines,Taipei. Converted to a cargo ship (now 7,638 GRT) and renamedUnion Reliance. On 7 November 1961 she was involved in a collision with theNorwegian tanker MVBerean, which caught fire and exploded, then beached. Refloated on 9 November and towed toGalveston, Texas. Scrapped in March 1962 atNew Orleans.[7]
Empire Lagoon was a 2,013 GRTcollier which was built byGrangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd,Grangemouth. Launched on 15 March 1941 and completed in June 1941. Sold in 1946 to Hudson Steamship Co Ltd, London and renamedHudson Bay. Scrapped in 1964 inBlyth, Northumberland.[8]
Empire Lagos was a 7,058 GRT cargo ship which was built byShort Brothers Ltd,Sunderland. Laid down asEmpire Lagos but launched on 31 October 1944 as HMSSolway Firth, an aircraft engine repair ship. Completed in 1947 by Amsterdam Drydock Company as a 7,339 GRT cargo ship. Sold to Skibs Kongsberg and renamedKongsberg. Operated by A G Olsen, Norway. Sold in 1955 to Rederi A/B Borgtramp and renamedOlofsborg. Operated under the management of J A Zachariassen,Finland. Sold in 1959 to Polish Steamship Co,Szczecin and renamedHuta Florian. Arrived on 26 August 1971 atBilbao, Spain for scrapping.[9]
Empire Laird was a 313 GRT collier which was built by Richard Dunston Ltd,Thorne,Yorkshire. Launched on 29 December 1942 and completed in July 1943. Sold in 1947 to A L Duggan & Co Ltd,Bristol and renamedMonkton Combe. Sold in 1950 to J Tyrrell, Arklow[10] and renamedHalronell. On 22 October 1961 she became stranded on Black Rock,Rosslare. She broke in two on 23 October and sank.[11]
Empire Lake was a 2,852 GRT collier which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlpool. Launched on 30 January 1941 and completed in March 1941.Torpedoed byU-181 on 15 July 1943 and sunk at21°27′S51°47′E / 21.450°S 51.783°E /-21.450; 51.783.[12]
Empire Lakeland was a 7,015 GRT cargo ship that was built byJohn Readhead & Sons Ltd,South Shields. Launched on 14 September 1942 and completed that November. She was managed byBlue Star Line.[13] Torpedoed on 11 March 1943 and sunk byU-190 while a member ofConvoy SC 121.[14]
Empire Lambeth was a 2,250 GRT collier which was built byJohn Crown & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 15 July 1946 asEmpire Lambeth and completed in September 1946 asDashwood for William France, Fenwick & Co Ltd. Scrapped in June 1961 atHendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Netherlands.[15]
Empire Lance was a 7,177 GRT (11,650 tonsdisplacement)Type C1-S-AY-1 cargo ship which was built byConsolidated Steel Corporation,Wilmington,California. Laid down asCape Pine and completed in December 1943 asEmpire Lance for the MoWT. To the Royal Navy in 1945 as HMSSir Hugo, then reverted to MoWT and renamedEmpire Lance later that year. To USMC in 1949 and renamedCape Pine. RenamedImperial Lance at an unknown date. Scrapped in December 1966 atBaltimore.[16]
Empire Lancer was a 7,037 GRT cargo ship which was built byLithgows Ltd,Port Glasgow. Launched on 31 August 1942 and completed in November 1942. Torpedoed on 16 August 1944 byU-862 and sunk in theMozambique Channel.[17]
Empire Lankester was a 7,067 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 24 February 1944 and completed in April 1944. She transported troops to Normandy shortly after D-Day and then returned to MOWT duty. From August 1944 to March 1946 her Master was James Davidson. Sold in 1948 toClan Line Steamers Ltd and renamedClan Mackellar. Sold in 1961 to Mullion & Co Ltd,Gibraltar and renamedArdgroom. Sold in 1966, due to be renamedNearco but arrived on 20 February 1967 at Hong Kong for scrapping.[18]
Empire Lantern was a 6,854 GRT cargo ship which was built byHong Kong & Whampoa Dock Co Ltd, Hong Kong. Laid down on 26 May 1941 asEmpire Lantern. Seized by the Japanese while under construction, launched on 8 December 1942 asGyokurei Maru. Torpedoed and sunk byUSS Grayback on 18 September 1944, at35°05′N124°24′E / 35.083°N 124.400°E /35.083; 124.400.[19]
Empire Lapwing was a 5,358 GRT cargo ship which was built by theMerchant Shipbuilding Corporation,Harriman, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1921 asAla for theUnited States Shipping Board (USSB). ToAmerican Diamond Lines in 1931. To Black Diamond Lines Inc in 1935 and renamedBlack Condor. To MoWT in 1941 and renamedEmpire Lapwing. Allocated in 1942 to theBelgian Government and renamedBelgian Fighter. Torpedoed on 9 October 1942 byU-68 and sunk at35°00′S18°30′E / 35.000°S 18.500°E /-35.000; 18.500.[20]
Empire Larch was a 487 GRTtug which was built by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd,Goole. Launched on 30 January 1941 and completed in June 1941. The ship was operated by the Hull-based United Towing Co. on behalf of the owners (MoWT) and was armed under theDEMS programme. Damaged on 30 June 1941 by enemy aircraft bombing offGreat Yarmouth, later repaired.[21] DepartedAberdeen on 16 February 1942 withEmpire Pilgrim in tow, bound forBlyth, Northumberland. Was towing tugTID 12 on 9 August 1943 when she broke free and went aground at Tarlair Point,Macduff, Banffshire. In April 1944 she was assigned to "Operation Corncob" in preparation for the coming invasion of France and sailed from Hull to join the convoy which collected the vessels which were to be used as blockships to form the breakwater for theMulberry Harbour. On 6 June 1944 she crossed the channel from Poole to join the Normandy invasion fleet and arrived in the evening off Arromanches (Gold Beach) and assisted in positioning and scuttling the blockships. She ran aground on the morning of 7 June (while still under artillery fire from a German shore battery) and was towed off a sandbar by a US Navy tug.[22] She assisted tugThames in the tow ofEmpire Beatrice fromTilbury toGlasgow in April 1945.[17] Sold in 1946 to United Towing Co Ltd (who had managed her under contract from theMoWT during the war) and renamedMasterman. She was sold in 1962 to Brodospas, Yugoslavia and renamedSmjeli. She departedCape Town, South Africa on 9 December 1962 withMarianella on tow, bound forGenoa to be scrapped. She was scrapped in 1972 in Split.[21] This ship's role in the D-Day landings is the subject of the song 'Shores of Normandy' written by her then Galley Boy (Jim Radford, the youngest participant in the Allied invasion force)[23] and performed by him three times in theRoyal Albert Hall in 2014 for the D-Day 70th-anniversary commemorations.
Empire Lark was a 4,971 GRT cargo ship which was built byDeutsche Werke,Kiel. Launched in 1921 asMartha Hemsoth. Sold in 1926 to Hanseatische Reederei,Hamburg and renamedKersten Miles. Arrived on 27 October 1939 atLas Palmas with machinery damage while carrying a cargo ofwheat fromArgentina to Germany. Interned at Las Palmas, seized in May 1945 as awar prize. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Lark. Scuttled on 17 July 1947 at47°55′N08°25′W / 47.917°N 8.417°W /47.917; -8.417 with a cargo of 7,669 tons of chemical ammunition and 20 tons of contaminated earth.[24]
Empire Lass was an 813 GRT (850DWT) coastal tanker which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 31 July 1941 and completed in January 1942. Sold in 1946 to Anglo-American Oil Co Ltd and renamedEsso Juniata. Sold in 1956 to F T Everard & Sons Ltd and renamedArgosity. Lengthened in 1957 to 230 feet 5 inches (70.23 m), now 877 GRT. Arrived on 3 May 1969 atBruges, Belgium for scrapping.[25]
Empire Latimer was a 7,244 GRT cargo ship which was built byWilliam Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 14 August 1941 and completed in December 1941. Allocated in 1942 to theNorwegian Government and renamedKronprinsessen. Sold in 1946 to E Rasmussen, Norway and renamedPolytrader. Sold in 1962 to Marenviado Compagnia Navigazione and renamedFlora M. Operated under the management of L G Matsas, Greece. Arrived on 27 December 1968 atMihara, Japan for scrapping.[26]
Empire Launcelot was a 2,890 GRT cargo ship which was built byAilsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd,Troon,Ayrshire. Launched on 13 August 1942 and completed in October 1942. Allocated in 1943 to the Belgian Government and renamedBelgian Trader. Sold in 1946 to Armement Deppe SA, Belgium and renamedOstende. Sold in 1954 to H Stinnes, Germany and renamedKettwig. Sold in 1963 to Monson Schiffs MBH & Co AG, Germany. Sold in 1965 to Compagnia de Navigazione Saborga SA and renamedHonda. Operated under the management of N Paletta, Italy. Scrapped in 1974 in Split, Yugoslavia.[27]
Empire Law was an 8,127 GRT tanker which was built by Furness Shipbuilding,Haverton Hill-on-Tees. Launched on 27 November 1943 and completed in March 1944. ToRoyal Fleet Auxiliary in 1946 and renamed RFAWave Conqueror. Sold in 1958 to H G Pounds,Portsmouth. Used as anoil hulk atLe Havre. Departed Le Havre under tow on 6 April 1960 and arrived on 23 April 1960 atSpezia, Italy for scrapping.[28]
Empire Lawn was a 254 GRT tug which was built byFerguson Brothers Ltd Port Glasgow. Launched on 1 April 1942 and completed in May 1942. To theAdmiralty in 1947 and renamedMasterful. Sold in 1958 to Marittime Augustea SpA, Italy and renamedSanantonio. Sold in 1968 to Societa Rim. Napoletani, Italy. Scrapped in March 1981 inNaples.[29]
Empire Lawrence was a 7,457 GRTCAM ship which was built byJ L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 10 June 1941 and completed in September 1941. Bombed on 27 May 1942 and sunk by German aircraft east ofBear Island (74°00′N25°10′E / 74.000°N 25.167°E /74.000; 25.167) while a member ofConvoy PQ 16.[30]
Empire Lea was a 2,563 GRT cargo ship which was built by Nakskov Skibs Akt.,Nakskov. Launched in 1942 asKarin K Bornhofen for R Bornhofen, Hamburg. Seized in May 1945 atCopenhagen. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Lea. Allocated in 1946 toUSSR and renamedVerkhoyansk. On shipping registers until 1970.[31]
Empire Leech was a 363 GRT coastal tanker which was built by J Smit,Alblasserdam, Netherlands. Launched in 1929 asEscaut for William Muller & Co, Netherlands. Attacked on 25 March 1941 by German aircraft off northCornwall. Beached at Cleave Strand,Crackington Haven, but her cargo ofcoal burned for four weeks. Refloated, salvaged and repaired. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Leech. Sold in 1948 to William Muller & Co, Netherlands and renamedSeine. On 17 July 1955 she was in collision with Russian tankerDrogobitz offDungeness,Kent and sank.[32]
Empire Leonard was a 235 GRT tug which was built by A Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen. Launched on 5 May 1946 and completed in September 1946 asSun XVI for W H J Alexander Ltd. Sold in 1962 to Societa Rim. Napoletani, Italy and renamedS Cataldo. Scrapped in 1983 in Naples.[33]
Empire Leopard was a 5,676 GRT cargo ship which was built bySkinner & Eddy Corp,Seattle. Completed in December 1917 asWest Haven for USSB. To theUnited States Navy in 1918, returned to USSB in 1920, then to Atlantic Gulf Pacific Steamship Co later that year. Returned to USSB in 1922. To Los Angeles Steamship Co Inc,Los Angeles in 1929 and renamedMarian Otis Chandler. To MoWT in 1940 and renamedEmpire Leopard. Torpedoed on 2 November 1942 byU-402 and sunk at52°26′N45°22′W / 52.433°N 45.367°W /52.433; -45.367 while a member ofConvoy SC 107.[34]
Empire Lethe was a 369 GRT coaster which was built by R Williamson & Son,Workington. Launched in 1891 asBlack Rock. Sold in 1913 to William Thomas & Sons Ltd, Liverpool and renamedEleth. To MoWT in 1941 and renamedEmpire Lethe. To William Thomas & Sons in 1946 and renamedEleth. Capsized on 1 February 1951 and sank 12 nautical miles (22 km) east ofCarlingford,Republic of Ireland.[32]
Empire Lewis was a 138 GRT tug which was built by R Dunston Ltd, Thorne. Launched on 29 May 1943 and completed in August 1943. Sold in 1947 to theCypriot Government and renamedDesdemona. Sold in 1987 to a Turkish buyer and renamedKaptan Dursun.[35]
Empire Lewisham was a 1,059 GRT coaster which was built byGeorge Brown & Co (Marine) Ltd, Greenock. Launched on 27 November 1945 and completed in February 1946. Sold in 1946 to J Hay & Sons Ltd, Glasgow and renamedThe Monarch. Sold in 1962 to P Vrangos, Greece and renamedSilver Cloud under theLebanese flag. RenamedChrysanthi at an unknown date. Scrapped in September 1968 atEleusina, Greece.[36]
Empire Liberty was the prototypeLiberty ship.[37] She was a 7,157 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 23 August 1941 and completed in November 1941. Allocated in 1943 to theGreek Government and renamedKyklades. Sold in 1947 to H C Dracoulis, Greece and renamedMentor. Scrapped in October 1960 inOsaka, Japan.[38]
Empire Liddell was a 1,425 GRT cargo ship which was built by W Harkness & Sons Ltd,Middlesbrough. Launched in 1920 asEnugu for theNigerian Government. To MoWT in 1943 and renamedEmpire Liddell. Sold in 1946 to Arden Hall Steamship Co Ltd, Cape Town and renamedHoeveld. Sold in 1951 to South African National Steamship Co, Cape Town and renamedAliwal. Scrapped in January 1961 atDurban, South Africa.[32]
Empire Life was a 9,879 GRT cargo ship which was built byCaledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd,Dundee. Launched on 12 January 1945 by Lord Westwood and completed in May 1945. Sold in 1946 to theUnion-Castle Mail Steamship Co Ltd and renamedGood Hope Castle. Arrived on 14 July 1959 at Hong Kong for scrapping.
Empire Lifeguard was a 1,333 GRTconvoy rescue ship which was built byFleming & Ferguson Ltd,Paisley. Launched on 8 June 1944 asCastle-class corvette HMSMaiden Castle for the Royal Navy. Completed in November 1944 asEmpire Lifeguard for MoWT. On 23 July 1947 she was holed atHaifa,Palestine byLimpet Mines attached to her hull inFamagusta, Cyprus. She was refloated on 8 August 1947 and towed toPort Said, Egypt for dry-docking. She caught fire three times during repairs, which were completed in September 1947. Laid up atFalmouth, Cornwall about 1954. ReachedAntwerp, Belgium on 22 July 1955 for scrapping, towed byST Marinia.[clarification needed][39]
Empire Light was a 6,828 GRT cargo ship built byBarclay, Curle & Co inGlasgow. She was launched on 5 July 1940, and completed that September. TheGerman auxiliary cruiser Pinguin sank her by shellfire on 25 April 1941, off theSeychelles at about02°00′S61°00′E / 2.000°S 61.000°E /-2.000; 61.000.[40]
Empire Light was a 6,537 GRT tanker which was built by J Brown & Co Ltd,Clydebank. Launched in 1925 asLumen for H E Moss & Co Ltd, Liverpool. Collided on 9 April 1942 with the Dutch flagged SSSpar in theRiver Tyne. Repaired, to MoWT and renamedEmpire Light. Torpedoed on 7 March 1943 and sunk byU-468 at53°57′N46°14′W / 53.950°N 46.233°W /53.950; -46.233.[32]
Empire Lightning was a 6,942 GRT cargo ship which was built by Short Brothers Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 4 September 1941 and completed in January 1941. On 7 October 1942, she was in collision with British-flagged SSMilcrest, which sank.Empire Lightning put intoHalifax,Nova Scotia with bow damage for repairs. Sold in 1946 to Hall Brothers Steamship Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne and renamedTrident. Arrived on 9 November 1959 at Osaka, Japan for scrapping.[41]
Empire Lilliput was a 138 GRT tug which was built by R Dunston Ltd, Thorne. Launched on 10 November 1943 and completed in January 1944. Sold in 1947 toShell Company of Singapore Ltd and renamedLembu. Scrapped in September 1958 inSingapore.[35]
Empire Lily was a 325 GRT coaster which was built by I Pimblott & Sons Ltd,Northwich,Cheshire. Launched on 29 January 1942 and completed in June 1942. Allocated in 1946 to the Dutch Government and renamedPampus. Sold later that year to L Tercy, France and renamedPetit Frere. Newdiesel engine fitted in 1953. Sold in 1962 to A Veroutis & Co, Greece and renamedDedalos. Sold in 1964 to S D Voudouris & Syriggas, Greece and renamedNikiforos. Sold in 1973 to Beekman Line SA, Greece and renamedGagnant. On shipping registers in 1988 but owner not specified, thought to have been scrapped about this time.[42]
Empire Linden was a 244 GRT tug which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd,Hessle. Launched on 24 September 1941 and completed in December 1941. Loaned in 1944 to Kenya & Uganda Railways & Harbours Administration,Mombasa.Chartered in 1945 toBritish Petroleum Co Ltd,Bandar Mashur. Sold in 1948 to Tanganyika Railways & Harbours Administration,Dar es Salaam. Sold in 1956 toEast African Railways & Harbours Administration, Dar es Salaam and renamedLinden. Sold in 1974 to Marino Engineering Works,Kenya. Scrapped in September 1983 at Mombasa, Kenya.[43]
Empire Lionel was a 7,012 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 2 May 1942 and completed in June 1942. Sold in 1945 to Pool Shipping Co Ltd and renamedLevenpool. Operated under the management of Sir R Ropner & Co Ltd. Sold in 1962 to Trafalgar Steamship Co Ltd and renamedNewlane. Operated under the management of Tsavliris Shipping Ltd, London. Sold in 1968 to Kantara Shipping Ltd, Cyprus and then in 1969 to Newlane Shipping Ltd, Cyprus, still under Tsavliris's management. Arrived on 23 October 1969 atChittagong, India for scrapping.[44]
Empire Livingstone was a 6,997 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 24 July 1941 and completed in October 1941. Ran ashore on 31 December 1943 atBizerta,Tunisia. Declared a total loss and scrapped in situ.[45]
Empire Lizard was a 1,749 GRT tanker which was built by Bertram Engine Works,Toronto, Ontario. Launched in 1904 as cargo shipHaddington, renamedMaplehill in 1914. Sold in 1937 for scrapping but bought by Branch Lines Ltd,Montreal and converted to a tanker. RenamedOakbranch. To MoWT in 1945 and renamedEmpire Lizard. Sold in 1947 to Bulk Storage Co Ltd and renamedBasingbrook. Scrapped in 1949 in Sunderland.[32]
Empire Lola was a 292 GRT tug which was built by George Brown & Co (Marine) Ltd, Greenock. Launched on 5 March 1946 and completed in April 1943. To the Admiralty in 1947 and renamedJustice. Sold in 1951 to theGovernment of Bermuda. Sunk as a gunnery target offBermuda on 21 July 1967 byHMS Leander.[46]
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Empire Longford was a 3,703 GRT cargo ship which was built bySwan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Launched in 1912 asDimboola for Melbourne Steamship Co. Sold in 1935 to Ho Hong Steamship Co, Singapore and renamedHong Siang. ToMinistry of Transport in 1951 and renamedEmpire Longford. Acquired by the military in 1951 and renamedEmpire Longford, she carried stores from Singapore to Korea and between Korea and Japan. She was also used on at least one occasion to carry troops from Pusan to Inchon even though not designed to carry passengers. She was sailed to the UK and scrapped in 1953 inDover, Kent.[32]
Empire Longstone was a 7,301 GRT cargo ship which was built by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Launched on 2 May 1946 and completed in August 1946 asHesperides for Houston Line Ltd. Sold in 1960 to Clan Line Steamers Ltd and renamedClan Murray. Scrapped in September 1962 in Osaka, Japan.[47]
Empire Lord was a 7,359 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 11 October 1943 and completed in February 1944. Sold in 1946 to United British Steamship Co Ltd and renamedAldington Court. Operated under the management of Haldin & Co Ltd. Sold in 1959 to Cosmar Shipping Corporation, Liberia and renamedAnacreon. Sold in 1966 to Garden City Shipping Co Inc, Panama and renamedWhite Daisy. Operated under the management of F Italo Groce, Italy. Sold in 1968 to Compagnia Navigazione Rivabella SA, Panama and renamedRobertina. Operated under the management of World Shipping SA. On 15 June 1970, she sprang a leak offCape Palmas, Liberia. Beached 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) west of Cape Garraway, Liberia but a constructive total loss.[48]
Empire Lorenzo was a 2,865 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 25 September 1942 and completed in December 1942. Sold in 1946 to Hogarth Shipping Co Ltd and renamedBaron Elcho. Operated under the management of H Hoparth and Sons. Sold in 1951 to Compagnia Maritime Ircar SA, Liberia and renamedKismet II. Ran aground on 25 November 1955 atCape Breton Island (47°05′N60°03′W / 47.083°N 60.050°W /47.083; -60.050) and abandoned as a total loss.[49]
Empire Lotus was a 3,683 GRT cargo ship which was built by Ropner & Sons,Stockton on Tees. Launched in 1920 asAlness. Sold in 1933 to Alexandria Navigation Co, Egypt and renamedStar of Ramleh. To MoWT in 1940 and renamedEmpire Lotus. Operated under the management of Glover Bros (London) Ltd Foundered on 12 April 1942 in theAtlantic while in convoy SC79 from Halifax NS at44°06′N60°27′W / 44.100°N 60.450°W /44.100; -60.450.[50][51]
Empire Lough was a 2,824 GRT collier which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 1 October 1940 and completed in December 1940. Intercepted on 24 June 1944 by GermanE-boats in theEnglish Channel and set on fire. Beached nearFolkestone but a total loss.[12]
Empire Lowlander was a 2,160 GRT collier which was built byJohn Crown & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 4 March 1946 and completed in June 1946 asCorflow forWilliam Cory & Son Ltd. Sold in 1959 to G Vlassis & Co, Greece. Capsized on 25 December 1969 and sank at37°37′N24°02′E / 37.617°N 24.033°E /37.617; 24.033.[15]
Empire Lucy was a 242 GRT tug which was built by J S Watson Ltd, Gainsborough. Launched on 6 March 1946 and completed in June 1946. Sold in 1962 to Impresa Marittima Augustea, Italy and renamedOhnina. Transferred to theMarina Militare in 1972.[33]
Empire Lugard was a 7,241 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 28 April 1941 and completed in September 1941. Torpedoed on 13 September 1942 and sunk byU-558 at12°07′N63°32′W / 12.117°N 63.533°W /12.117; -63.533 while a member ofConvoy TAG 5.[26]
Empire Lundy was a 288 GRT (300 DWT) coaster which was built by J Harker Ltd,Knottingley, Yorkshire. Launched on 11 April 1944 and complete in August 1944. Sold in 1946 to Skibs A/S Scot and renamedScot. Operated under the management of L Lauritsen, Norway. Sold in 1947 to Shell h/f,Iceland and renamedSkeljungur. Sold in 1956 to Bowker & King Ltd, London and renamedBannister. Removed from shipping register in 1967.[5]
Empire Lune was a 2,837 GRT cargo ship which was built by Nakskov Skibs Akt, Nakskov. Launched in 1943 asMillerntor forHamburg America Line. Completed atLübeck in 1945 by Lübecker Flenderwerke AG. Seized in May 1945 atFlensburg. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Lune. Allocated in 1947 to the United States, sold toSword Line Inc.New York and renamedAlabama Sword. RenamedTexas Sword in 1951. Sold in 1956 to Compagnia de Ultramar SA, Liberia and renamedZephyr. Ran aground on 10 November 1962 at Gladden Spit,British Honduras (16°32′N87°59′W / 16.533°N 87.983°W /16.533; -87.983). Caught fire on 17 November but the fire was later extinguished. Refloated on 27 November and declared a total constructive loss. Sold and repaired, sold in 1964 to Transcontinental Shipping Corp, Liberia and renamedCarina. Sold in 1966 to Astronato Compagnia Navigazione, Liberia and renamedSapho I. Sold in 1967 to Marvigor Compagnia Navigazione, Liberia. Scrapped in March 1970 atKarachi, Pakistan.[52]
Empire Lynx was a 6,032 GRT cargo ship which was built by Texas Steamship Co,Bath, Maine. completed in October 1917 asMaine for USSB. To Green Star Steamship Corp, USA in 1920, returned to USSB in 1921. To C Barnes, USA in 1922 and Fairfield Steamship Corp in 1923, Operated under the management ofSeas Shipping Company, New York. To MoWT in 1940 and renamedEmpire Lynx. Torpedoed on 3 November 1942 and sunk byU-132 at55°20′N40°01′W / 55.333°N 40.017°W /55.333; -40.017 while a member ofConvoy SC 107.[53]
Empire Lytton was a 9,807 GRT tanker which was built by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees. Launched on 16 June 1942 and completed in August 1942. Torpedoed on 9 January 1943 byU-442 and sunk at28°08′N28°20′W / 28.133°N 28.333°W /28.133; -28.333 while a member ofConvoy TM 1.[54]
The above entries give a precis of each ship's history. For a fuller account see the linked articles.