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 Thackeray was a 2,865GRTcargo ship built by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd,Sunderland. Launched on 1 July 1942 and completed in August 1942. Sold in 1945 to Rodney Steamship Co Ltd and renamedThackeray. Operated under the management of Anglo-Danubian Transport Co Ltd, London. She ran aground on 27 December 1946 near Outer Cat Island,Argentia,Newfoundland. Refloated on 24 May 1947 and repaired atSt John's, Newfoundland. Sold in 1948 to M S Polemis, Greece and renameTheokeetor. Operated under the management of Goulandris Brothers Ltd, Greece. Sold in 1953 to Compagnia Commercial Tansatlantica SA,Panama and renamedMozart. Operated under the management of S Polemis & Sons Ltd,New York. Sold in 1954 to Compagnia Navigazione Micaela SA and renamedMicaela. Operated under the management of Società Armamento Marittimo, Italy. RenamedOnorato Secondo in 1960. Sold in 1962 to Polska Zegluga Morska,Poland and renamedJelcz. Scrapped in May 1968 atYstad Sweden.[2]
Empire Thames was a 5,825 GRTocean liner built byBlohm & Voss, Hamburg. Completed in 1920 asUrundi for Deutsche Ost Afrika Linie, Hamburg. Requisitioned in 1939 by theKriegsmarine. Between February and May 1945, she carried 32,716 people fromthe Eastern Baltic and East Prussia. Seized in May 1945 atCopenhagen. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Thames. Chartered in 1945 to theGreek Government and renamedKalamai. Returned to MoT in 1946 and renamedEmpire Thames. Sold in 1947 to Goulandris Bros,London. Sold in 1948 to Compagnia Maritima de Este, Panama and renamedValparaiso. RenamedEmpire Thames in 1949, scrapped in March 1949 atAntwerp, Belgium.[3]
Empire Thane was an 8,120 GRTtanker built byLithgows Ltd,Port Glasgow. Launched on 26 October 1939 asDesmoulea for Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd and completed in December 1939. Torpedoed on 31 January 1941 in theMediterranean Sea (35°31′N02°34′E / 35.517°N 2.567°E /35.517; 2.567) and abandoned. Reboarded and towed toSouda Bay,Crete where most of her cargo was discharged. Towed toPort Said, Egypt in April 1941 and then toSuez. Damaged on 5 August 1941 by anaerial torpedo off West Beacon, Suez. Departed Suez on 18 August under tow ofOlivia and arrived atAden on 27 August. Examined and was found to have broken her back, with her engine room full of water and unable to steer. Departed Aden on 30 December under tow ofMalda and arrived atBombay on 12 January 1942 for drydocking. A drydock was unavailable and departed Bombay on 23 April under tow ofOndina. Arrived atBhavnagar, India on 1 May. Damage was not repairable there and she was beached, with further strained her. Departed under tow ofUtsire on 20 November but the tow rope parted on 22 November and she ran aground at Goapnath Point. Refloated on 26 November and towed back to Bombay. Relegated to use as an oil hulk. Finally dry-docked in July 1943, repairs were assessed as possible, but materials were unavailable as two of the ships carrying them had been sunk en route. Temporary repairs were carried out. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Thane. Towed toCochin and used as an oil hulk. Returned to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Ltd in January 1947 and was renamedDesmoulea. Departed Cochin on 21 April under tow and arrived atFalmouth, Cornwall on 16 July, thus completing in excess of 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km) under tow. Repaired and returned to service. Scrapped in 1961 inHong Kong.[4]
Empire Thistle was a 263 GRTtug built byClelands (Successors) Ltd,Willington Quay-on-Tyne. Launched on 21 October 1941 and completed in February 1942. Sold in 1946 to Clyde Shipping Co Ltd and renamedFlying Hurricane. Sold in 1956 to Britannia Steam Towing Co and renamedBrynforth. Sold in 1962 to Alexandra Towing Co Ltd. Scrapped in August 1965 atSilloth,Cumberland.[5]
Empire Thrush was a 6,160 GRT cargo ship built byFederal Shipbuilding Co,Kearny, New Jersey. Launched on 17 April 1919 asLorain forUnited States Shipping Board (USSB). Completed in May 1919. To Cosmopolitan Shipping Co, New York in 1932 and returned to USSB later that year. To MoWT in 1942 and renamedEmpire Thrush. Torpedoed on 14 April 1942 and sunk byU-203 offChesapeake Bay, USA (35°08′N75°18′W / 35.133°N 75.300°W /35.133; -75.300).[6][7]
Empire Thunder was a 5,965 GRT cargo ship built by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 6 August 1940 and completed in January 1941.Torpedoed on maiden voyage and sunk byU-124 north-west of the Hebrides (59°14′N12°43′W / 59.233°N 12.717°W /59.233; -12.717).[8]
Empire Tide was a 6,978 GRTCAM ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 27 May 1941 and completed in October 1941. Sold in 1945 to Ropner Shipping Co Ltd and renamedThirlby. Sold in 1956 to Transportes Maritimos Atlas Sa, Panama and renamedGuri. Sold in 1963 to Panamanian Oriental Steamship Corp, Panama and renamedAnto. Operated under the management of World-Wide Shipping Ltd. Sold in 1965 to Eastern Giant Navigation Co Ltd,Bahamas, remaining under World-Wide's management. Sold in 1966 to Apollo Shipping Co SA, Panama. Scrapped in November 1966 at Ikeda, Japan.[9]
Empire Tigachi was a 685 GRTcoastal tanker built by Elsflether Werft AG,Elsfleth, Germany. Completed in 1942 asFlemhude for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945, to MoWT and renamedEmpire Tigachi. She ran aground on 3 January 1946 atNidingen, Sweden. The wreck stripped by salvors later broke in two and declared a total loss.[3]
Empire Tigarth was the intended name of a 312 GRT coastal tanker built in 1941 asSwine for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 at Copenhagen. To MoWT, intended to be renamedEmpire Tigarth but allocated toUSSR in 1946. No further trace.[3]
Empire Tigaven was a 972 GRT tanker built byDeutsche Werft,Hamburg. Completed in 1937 asAlgol forTrelleborgs Angfabrik Nya A/B, Sweden. Hit amine on 13 December 1939 and sank betweenTrelleborg andFalsterbo. Salvaged in 1940 in two parts, sold and rebuilt. Sold in 1941 to O Wallenius,Stockholm and renamedSoya VII. Sold in 1942 to J T Essberger, Hamburg and renamedAlgol. Requisitioned in 1942 by the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 atArendal, Norway. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Tigaven. Sold in 1947 to Metcalfe Motor Coasters Ltd and renamedPeter M. Sold in 1964 to N E Vernicos Ltd, Greece and renamedMotol 5. Sold in 1969 to D & C Vernicos Ltd, Greece. Scrapped in March 1972 atPerama, Greece.[10]
Empire Tigawa was the intended name of a 633 GRT coastal tanker which was built by D W Kremer Sohn,Elmshorn, Germany. Completed on 6 April 1940 asAnna for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 atKristiansand, Norway. To MoWT, the nameEmpire Tigawa was allocated but she was stranded on 27 December 1945 atBolsax,Kattegat and was badly damaged. Refloated and sailed toKalundborg, Denmark. Declared a constructive total loss. Towed toBurntisland,Fife and reported sold to a Norwegian buyer. RenamedArdeche. Removed from shipping registers in 1959.[11][12]
Empire Tigbart was a 679 GRT coastal tanker which was built byDanziger Werft AG,Danzig. Completed in 1936 asPoel for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 atKiel. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Tigbart. Allocated in 1946 to USSR and renamedKoktebel. On shipping registers until 1970.[11][13]
Empire Tiger was a 4,886 GRT cargo ship which was built byTodd Drydock and Construction Company,Tacoma, Washington. Completed in 1919 asOrcus for USSB. Sold in 1923 toGrace Steamship Company, New York and renamedCoya. To MoWT in 1940 and renamedEmpire Tiger. Last reported on 27 February 1941 in theAtlantic bound for theClyde.[14][15]
Empire Tigina was a 638 GRT coastal tanker which was built by D W Kremer Sohn, Elmshorn. Launched in 1940 asElse for the Kriegsmarine and completed on 25 July 1941. Seized in May 1945 atTrondheim, Norway. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Tigina. Allocated in 1946 to USSR. Deleted from shipping registers in 1959.[11][16]
Empire Tigity was a 465 GRT coastal tanker which was built by H Peters,Beidenfleth, Germany. Completed in 1944 asGohren for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945, to MoWT asEmpire Tigity. Sold in 1947 to Metcalfe Motor Coasters Ltd and renamedAnthony M. Newdiesel engines fitted in 1953. Sold in 1970 to Effluent Services Ltd,Macclesfield,Cheshire and renamedKinder. Scrapped in April 1983 atGarston, Merseyside.[11]
Empire Tiglas was the intended name of a 510 GRT coastal tanker which was built in 1942 asDanisch Wold. Seized in May 1945 in theChannel Islands. To MoWT, intended to be renamedEmpire Tiglas but allocated in 1946 to theDutch Government and renamedElst. Classed as alighter in 1947, managed by Van Ommeren NV on behalf of the Dutch Government.[11]
Empire Tigness was a 407 GRT coastal tanker which was built by Greifenwerft AG,Stettin. Completed in 1943 asGeorg for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 atFlensburg. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Tigness. Used as a salvage ship recovering thePLUTO pipeline 1947–49. Sold in 1949 toRisdon, Beazley & Co,Southampton and renamedTopmast No 15. Sold in 1959 to Dutch buyers, renamedPhito in 1959 and converted to a barge.[11]
Empire Tigombo was a 604 GRT coastal tanker which was built by Greifenwerft AG, Stettin. Completed in 1944 asHowacht for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 at Kiel. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Tigombo. Allocated in 1946 to USSR and renamedUtrish. Scrapped in 1968.[11]
Empire Tigonto was a 664 GRT coastal tanker which was built by D W Kremer Sohn, Elmshorn. Completed in 1940 asDora for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 at Flensburg. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Tigonto. Allocated in 1946 to USSR, deleted from shipping registers in 1959.[11]
Empire Tigoon was a 674 GRT coastal tanker which was built byWilton-Fijenoord,Schiedam, Netherlands. Completed in 1944 asSteingrund for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 at Kiel. To MoWT and renamedEmpire Tigoon. Allocated in 1946 to the Greek Government and renamedXanthi. Transferred to theRoyal Hellenic Navy in 1956 and renamedVaviis,pennant number (A-471). Stricken in 1989.[11][17]
Empire Tigosti was the intended name of a 638 GRT coastal tanker which was built in 1942 asHilde for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945 atKristiansand, Norway. To MoWT, intended to be renamedEmpire Tigosti but allocated in 1946 to USSR.[11]
Empire Tigouver was a 664 GRT coastal tanker which was built by D W Kremer Sohn, Elmshorn. Completed in 1942 asGrete for the Kriegsmarine. Seized in May 1945, to MoWT and renamedEmpire Tigouver. Allocated in 1946 to USSR and renamedGret. Deleted from shipping registers in 1959.[18]
Empire Tilbury was a 7,312 GRT cargo ship which was built byWilliam Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 9 July 1945 and completed in December 1945. Sold in 1946 to Hain Steamship Co Ltd and renamedTrevean. Sold in 1957 toPeninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co Ltd and resold to Hain's later that year. Sold in 1963 to East Asia Navigation Co, Hong Kong and renamedEast Lion. RenamedKawana in 1964. On 2 June 1966, she caught fire in theChittagong Roads,East Pakistan and was beached near the Norman Point Light where she broke in two and was declared a total loss.[19]
Empire Tintagel was a 493 GRT coastal tanker which was built in Japan asJAP No 4000. Seized in 1945, to MoWT and renamedMTS No 12. RenamedEmpire Tintagel in 1947. Sold in 1951 to Chan Cheng Kum,Singapore and renamedHua Li. Sold in 1970 to Compass Agencies Private Ltd, Singapore. Sold in 1974 to Lawrence Shipping Co, Panama and renamedKim Hua Li. Sank on 28 December 1975 in theSouth China Sea (02°19′N109°01′E / 2.317°N 109.017°E /2.317; 109.017).[18]
Empire Titan was a 244 GRT tug which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd,Hessle,Yorkshire. Launched on 29 June 1942 and completed in October 1942. Sold in 1947 to the Government Railways,Gold Coast and renamedTitan. Sold in 1957 to H P Lenaghan & Sons Ltd,Belfast and renamedLenadee. Sold in 1959 to C Picciotto fu Giuseppe, Italy and renamedPionere. Capsized and sank on 30 November 1966 atMessina while assistingGuglielmo Marconi. Refloated on 22 January 1967, repaired and returned to service.[20]
Empire Titania was a 258 GRT tug which was built by Scott & Sons,Bowling, West Dunbartonshire. Launched on 21 December 1942 and completed in July 1943. To theAdmiralty in 1947 and renamedVagrant. Sold in 1968 to C Picciotto fu Gillseppe, Italy and renamedZancle. Scrapped in December 1987 at Spezia.[21]
Empire Tobago was a 7,320 GRT cargo ship which was built byBartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 28 May 1945 and completed in October 1945. Sold in 1947 toCounties Ship Management Co Ltd and renamedCrowborough Hill. Sold in 1951 to A Crawford & Co Ltd,Glasgow and renamedGryfevale. Sold in 1955 to Sterling Shipping Co Ltd and renamedSterling Valour. Sold in 1958 to G Bozzo, Italy and renamedMadda Primo thenMadda Bozzo. Sold in 1963 to Seastar Shipping Corporation,Somali Republic and renamedKriss. Arrived on 21 February 1968 atKaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping.[22]
Empire Toby was a 138 GRT tug which was built by Richard Dunston Ltd,Thorne, Yorkshire. Launched on 8 July 1942 and completed in August 1942. Sold in 1947 to Union de Remorquage d'Ocean,St Nazaire and renamedCroisic I. Sold in 1965 to Société Remorquage Mir-Demos, St Nazaire. Sold in 1969 to Société Algero-Provençale de Remorquage, France. Scrapped in December 1973 at Spezia, Italy.[23]
Empire Toiler was a 2,932 GRT cargo ship which was built byAilsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd,Troon,Ayrshire. Launched on 15 April 1942 and completed in June 1942. Allocated in 1943 to the Dutch Government and renamedVan Ostade. Sold in 1947 toKoninklijke Nederlands Stoomboot Maatschappij. Sold in 1950 to Tanfield Steamship Co Ltd,Newcastle upon Tyne and renamedEtal Manor. Sold in 1955 to Pelton Steamship Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne and renamedMoto. Sold in 1960 to Teulada SpA di Navigazione, Italy and renamedTirso. Operated under the management of O Rosini, Italy. Sold in 1962 to Compagnia Navigazione General SA, Italy and renamedHamal. Operated under the management of N Patella, Italy. Scrapped in May 1969 at Trieste.[24]
Empire Torrent was a 7,076 GRT cargo ship which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 29 October 1942 and completed in December 1942. Sold in 1948 to Ernels Shipping Co Ltd and renamedArgos Hill. Operated under the management ofCounties Ship Management Co Ltd, London. Sold in 1951 to Queen Line Ltd and renamedQueen Maud. Operated under the management of T Dunlop & Sons, Glasgow. Sold in 1954 to Nueva Valencia Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama and renamedScotia. Operated under the management of N J Goulandris Ltd, London. RenamedSkotia in 1960 and reflagged to Greece. Scrapped in July 1962 in Hong Kong.[25]
Empire Torridge was a 4,050 GRT cargo ship which was built by Burntisland Shipbuilding Co Ltd,Burntisland. Completed in 1923 asAsiatic. Sold in 1942 to Hunter Shipping Co, London. She ran aground on 21 January 1942 at North Bay,TaraCo. Down and abandoned. Refloated on 2 April 1942 and temporary repairs carried out. Towed to Belfast on 9 April but declared a constructive total loss. To MoWT in 1943, repaired and renamedEmpire Torridge. Sold in 1946 to Fred Hunter (Management) Ltd and renamedHuntress. Sold in 1950 to August Paulin,Finland and renameModesta. Scrapped in July 1962 atSplit,Yugoslavia.[26]
Empire Toucan was a 4,421 GRT cargo ship which was built byFederal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co,Kearny, New Jersey. Completed in 1920 asFreeport Sulphur No 5 for theFreeport Sulphur Transportation Co and sold to William Reardon-Smith Ltd, Cardiff in February 1940.[27] To MoWT in 1940 and renamedEmpire Toucan. Torpedoed on 29 June 1940 and sunk byU-47 south west ofIreland (49°20′N13°52′W / 49.333°N 13.867°W /49.333; -13.867).[28]
Empire Tourist was a 7,064 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 17 July 1943 and completed in October 1943. Torpedoed on 4 March 1944 and sunk byU-703 south-east ofBear Island (73°25′N22°11′E / 73.417°N 22.183°E /73.417; 22.183) while a member of Convoy RA 57.[22]
Empire Tower was a 4,378 GRT cargo ship which was built by Burntisland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Burntisland. Completed in 1935 asRoxburgh. Sold in 1937 to Tower Steamship co and renamedTower Field. Operated under the management ofCounties Ship Management Co Ltd, London. Damaged by bombing on 10 May 1941 off the Outer Dowsing Buoy,Thames Estuary. Repaired, but ran aground on 19 October 1941 in the Workington Channel while entering port atHull and broke in two. Refloated and repaired, to MoWT in 1942 and renamedEmpire Tower. Torpedoed on 5 March 1943 and sunk byU-130 north-west ofLisbon (43°50′N14°46′W / 43.833°N 14.767°W /43.833; -14.767) while a member of Convoy XK 2.[26]
Empire Townsman was a 313 GRT coaster which was built by Richard Dunston Ltd, Thorne. Launched on 26 May 1943 and completed in August 1943. Sold in 1947 to W D Tamlyn & Co Ltd and renamedRoselyne. Sold in 1953 to Fowey Harbour Commissioners,Fowey and renamedLantyan. Sold in 1964 to Seaborne Aggregate Co Ltd, Southampton. Converted to asuction dredger and renamedPen Arun. Sold in 1970 to Amey Marine Ltd, Southampton. Sold in 1974 to Dale Sany & Gravel Co Ltd,Guernsey and renamedSir Cedric. Sold in 1976 to Roselyon Shipping Co, Guernsey. Sold in 1978 to Société Private Derrien-Bichue, France.[29]
Empire Towy was a 2,754 GRT cargo ship which was built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg. Launched in 1943, seized in May 1945 in an incomplete state. Completed in 1947 asEmpire Towy for MoT, Sold to Fenton Steamship Co subject to condemnation byPrize Court. RenamedEmpire Patrai in 1950. Sold in 1953 to Hellenic Lines, Greece and renamedPatrai. Sold in 1981 to Celika Navigation Co,Cyprus. Sold in 1983 to Crystal Breese Corp. Operated under the management of Roussos Bros, Greece. Scrapped in 1984 in Perama, Greece.[18]
Empire Trader was a 9,965 GRT cargo ship which was built by Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast. Completed in 1908 asTainui forShaw, Savill & Albion Ltd. Torpedoed on 8 April 1918 and abandoned. Later reboarded and towed to Falmouth. Sold for scrapping in 1939, sale revoked byGovernment Order. To MoWT in 1940 and renamedEmpire Trader. Torpedoed on 21 February 1942 and damaged byU-92 while a member ofConvoy ON 166. Escorted towards theAzores byHMCS Dauphin but sunk by her at48°27′N29°47′W / 48.450°N 29.783°W /48.450; -29.783 as a result of orders received from the Admiralty. Crew rescued byconvoy rescue shipStockport, which was sunk byU-604 on 23 February with the loss of all on board.[26]
Empire Trail was a 7,038 GRT cargo ship which was built by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 19 August 1943 and completed in December 1943. Sold in 1947 to Steamship Mombasa Co Ltd and renamedTrail. Operated under the management of Maclay & McIntyre Ltd. Sold in 1951 to Maclay & McIntyre Ltd and renamedLoch Maddy. Sold in 1960 to Panamanian Oriental Steamship Corp and renamedOcean Glory. Operated under the management of Wheelock, Marden & Co, Hong Kong. Laid up in Hong Kong from 28 August 1962 with propeller damage. On 2 September 1962 she broke free from her moorings inTyphoon Wanda and collided withGrosvenor Navigator. Sold in 1963 to Japanese breakers for scrapping.[30]
Empire Traveller was an 8,201 GRT tanker built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast. Launched on 29 June 1943 and completed in October 1943. To theFrench Government in 1946 and renamedPechelbronn. Sold in 1956 to African Carriers Corporation and renamedEagle. Operated under the management of J A Galani,Paris. Sold in 1959 to Maritenia Shipping Co Ltd and renamedJajce. Operated under the management of theYugoslavian Government. Sold in 1963 to Jugoslavenska Tankerska Plovidba, remaining under Yugoslavian Government management. Scrapped in January 1969 atValencia, Spain.[31]
Empire Treasure was a 7,022 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 28 December 1942 and completed in March 1943. On 15 January 1944, her stern frame fractured in a storm while she was a member of a convoy. A propeller blade was lost and her rudder rendered inoperative. The other blades were then lost too. She drifted for three days maintaining radio silence before requesting assistance. The tugBustler was despatched by the Admiralty, and she arrived in theBristol Channel on 29 January. Sold in 1946 to Donaldson Line Ltd and renamedGracia. Sold in 1954 to Blue Star Line and renamedOregon Star. Sold in 1955 to Williamson & Co Ltd, Hong Kong and renamedInchleana. Sold in 1966 to National Shipping Corporation, Pakistan and renamedTetulia. Scrapped in 1969 at Chittagong, East Pakistan.[32]
Empire Trent was a 5,006 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd,West Hartlepool. Completed in 1927 as Rockpool for Sir R Ropner & Sons. She ran aground on 1 February 1941 onLittle Cumbrae Island and declared a constructive total loss. To MoWT in 1941 and renamedEmpire Trent. Sold in 1946 toUnion Steamship Company of South Africa and renamedGeneral George Brink. Sold in 1947 to Arcturus Steamship Corp, Panama and renamedAfricana. Scrapped in November 1959 atOsaka, Japan.[26]
Empire Trinidad was an 8,130 GRT cargo ship which was built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 10 July 1945 and completed in November 1945. Sold in 1946 to Bear Creek Oil & Shipping co Ltd and renamedRegent Lion. Operated under the management of C T Bowring & Co Ltd. Sold in 1950 to Bowring Steamship Co Ltd, remaining under C T Bowring's management. RenamedCamillo in 1955. Arrived on 7 January 1960 atFaslane,Argyllshire for scrapping.[33]
Empire Tristram was a 7,167 GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 6 April 1942 and completed in July 1942. Damaged on 23 June 1944 by aV-1 flying bomb atSurrey Commercial Docks, London. Damaged on 12 July 1944 at Surrey Commercial Docks in an air raid, towed toBlyth, Northumberland for repairs. Sold in 1946 to Denholm Line Steamers Ltd and renamedHollypark. Operated under the management of J & J Denholm Ltd. Sold in 1955 to Buchanan Shipping Co Ltd and renamedGogovale. Operated under the management of Crawford & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Sold in 1957 to Aviation & Shipping Co Ltd and renamedAvisvale. Operated under the management of Purvis Shipping Co Ltd, London. Sold in 1961 to Compagnia Navigazione Marcasa SA, Panama and renamedSt Nicolas. Operated under the management of S Catsell & Co Ltd, London. Arrived on 28 January 1967 at Split, Yugoslavia for scrapping.[34]
Empire Trooper was a 14,106 GRT ocean liner which was built by Vulkan Werke, Hamburg. Completed in 1922 asCap Norte forHamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft. Chartered in 1932 toNorddeutscher Lloyd and renamedSierra Salvada, returned to Hamburg Süd in 1934 and renamedCap Norte. When war was declared, she was homeward bound fromPernambuco, Brazil. Her passengers were disembarked inLisbon. She was painted to represent a Swedish ship, carrying Swedish colours and renamedAncona. Departed for Germany via a circuitous route but spotted on 9 October 1939 byHMS Belfast north-west of theFaroe Islands in rough weather. Her captain surrendered her and she was escorted toScapa Flow. Used as ablockship there untilHMS Royal Oak was torpedoed there and served that purpose. To MoWT in 1940 and renamedEmpire Trooper, converted to atroopship. Damaged on 25 December 1940 by shelling fromAdmiral Hipper, which was driven off byHMS Berwick. Refitted in 1946, and again in 1950. Arrived on 9 April 1955 at Southampton on her last trooping duty from Hong Kong. Scrapped in September 1955 atInverkeithing, Fife.[35]
Empire Trophy was a 5,211 GRT tanker which was built by Cantiere Navali Riuniti,Palermo. Completed in 1916 asGiove for theRegia Marina. Scuttled on 8 April 1941 atMassowah,Italian Somaliland. Salvaged on 20 June and later repaired. To MoWT in 1942 and renamedEmpire Trophy. Arrived on 2 September 1944 at Bombay with boiler defects and laid up. Beached in March 1947 and stripped of useful materials before scrapping in Bombay.[36]
Empire Trotwood was a 797 GRT coastal tanker which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 29 February 1944 and completed in May 1944. Sold in 1947 toKuwait Oil Co Ltd and renamedAmir. Operated under the management of Anglo-Iranian Oil Co Ltd. Sold in 1952 toShell-Mex & BP Ltd and renamedBP Distributor. Scrapped in May 1965 atWillebroek, Belgium.[37]
Empire Trumpet was a 7,059 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 9 March 1943 and completed in April 1943. Sold in 1946 to T & J Harrison Ltd and renamedNaturalist. Sold in 1959 to Iranian Lloyd Co Ltd,Iran and renamedPersian Cyrus. Sold in 1965 to Iranian Shipping Lines SA and renamedHamadan. Sold in 1966 to P J Frangoulis & A I Cliafas, Greece and renamedKoula F. She ran aground on 25 July 1966 on the coast ofQais Island, Iran and declared a total loss.[38] The wreck is mostly out of the water and a popular tourist sight.
Empire Trust was an 8,143 GRT cargo ship which was built byBarclay, Curle & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 15 November 1940 and completed in February 1941. To the Dutch Government in 1942 and renamedRembrandt. Sold in 1947 to Vereenigde Nederlandsche Scheepsvaart Maatschappij,The Hague and renamedAmerskerk. RenamedRijnkerk later that year. Arrived on 21 September 1963 at Hong Kong for scrapping.[39]
Empire Tudor was a 7,087 GRT cargo ship which was built by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 23 May 1944 and completed in July 1944. Sold in 1948 to Goulandris Bros, London and renamedGrandyke. Sold in 1949 to Ben Line Steamers Ltd and renamedBenvannoch. Sold in 1956 to Helmville Ltd and renamedMedina Princess. Operated under the management of M Alachouzos, London. She ran aground on 3 August 1962 nearDjibouti and laid up there. On 1 September 1964, she broke her mooring and ran aground again. Sold in 1967 to Greek shipbreakers.[40]
Empire Tugela was a 6,181 GRT cargo ship which was built byJoh. C. Tecklenborg AG, Wesermünde. Completed in 1921 asWartenfels forDDG Hansa, Bremen. When war broke out she was in theRed Sea and sought refuge at a port inItalian East Africa and thenMadagascar. Seized on 4 May 1942 atDiego Suarez, damaged but most of the scuttling charges failed to detonate. Salvaged byRoyal Navy, to MoWT and renamedEmpire Tugela. Sold in 1947 to Oceanic Navigation Co,Calcutta and renamedChitpur. Sold in 1948 to Hwah Sung Steamship Co,Shanghai and renamedHwah Sung. Sold in 1950 to Wallem & Co, Panama and renamedNavidad. Sold in 1952 to Purple Star Shipping Co, China. Sold in 1953 to Hwah Sung Steamship Co, Shanghai and renamedHwah Sung. Deleted from shipping registers in 1960. Reported sighting in 1983 asZhan Dou 75, owned by theChinese Government but this ship was previouslyShen Li (ex-Empire Nile). Possible identity in 1983 wasZhan Dou 46 although not listed in any shipping registers.[36]
Empire Tulip was a 288 GRT coaster which was built by Scheepsvaart Delfzijl v/h Sander,Delfzijl, Netherlands. Completed in 1939 asPallas for N Engelsman, Delfzijl. Requisitioned in 1940, to MoWT and renamedEmpire Tulip. Sold in 1947 to E J & W Goldsmith Ltd, London and renamedGoldgnome. Sold in 1954 to London & Rochester Trading Co Ltd and renamedInsistence. New diesel engine fitted in 1954 and another in 1964. Scrapped in December 1970 atRochester, Kent.[26]
Empire Turnstone was a 5,828 GRT cargo ship which was being built byColumbia River Shipbuilding,Portland, Oregon for theShipping Controller asWar Arrow. Requisitioned by theUnited States Shipping Board and completed after in June 1918 asWestern City for USSB. To MoWT in 1941 and renamedEmpire Turnstone. Torpedoed on 23 October 1942 and sunk byU-621 at54°40′N28°00′W / 54.667°N 28.000°W /54.667; -28.000 while a straggler from Convoy ONS 136.[41][42]
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Empire Tweed was a 5,452 GRT cargo ship which was built byDeutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG, Wesermünde. Completed in 1937 asGambian for United Africa Co Ltd. Seized in 1941 byVichy French forces atDakar,Senegal. RenamedSt Gabriel under the Vichy flag. Returned to Britain in 1943, renamedGambian, then to MoWT and renamedEmpire Tweed. Returned to United Africa Co Ltd in 1946 and renamedGambian. Sold in 1949 toPalm Line Ltd and renamedGambian Palm. Sold in 1959 to E N Vernicos Shipping Co, Greece and renamedIrini's Blessing. Scrapped in July 1963 in Hong Kong.[43]
Empire Tyne was a 3,724 GRT cargo ship which was built by Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Completed in 1923 asSteelville. Sold in 1937 to F C Dawson & Co Ltd and renamedFrancis Dawson. Caught fire on 8 March 1941 at Bedford Basin,Halifax,Nova Scotia and extensively damaged. Declared a constructive total loss. Towed to New York and repaired, to MoWT in 1941 and renamedEmpire Tyne. Sold in 1947 to Williamson & Co, Hong Kong and renamedInchcrag. Scrapped in Hong Kong in 1952.[44]
The above entries give a precis of each ship's history. For a fuller account see the linked articles.