| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Name | Avondale Park |
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |  Montreal |
| Builder | Pictou Shipyard, Foundation Maritime Ltd |
| Launched | February 1944 |
| Completed | May 1944 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk 7 May 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 315 ft 5 in (96.14 m) |
| Beam | 46 ft 5 in (14.15 m) |
| Depth | 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m) |
| Installed power | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Propulsion | Screw propeller |
| Crew | 34, plus 4DEMS gunners |
| Armament |
|
Avondale Park was a 2,872 GRT Canadiancargo ship which was built byPictou Shipyard atPictou, Nova Scotia in 1944. She was the last merchant ship to be sunk by Germany in theSecond World War, on 7 May 1945, the day ofGerman surrender. She was built as a merchantsteamship constructed for Canada'sMerchant Navy in 1944 as part of Canada'sPark ship program.
The ship was built by Foundation Maritime Limited'sPictou Shipyard inPictou, Nova Scotia. She was launched in February 1944,[2] and completed in May 1944.[3]
The ship was 315 feet 5 inches (96.14 m) long, with a beam of 46 feet 5 inches (14.15 m) and a depth of 22 feet 9 inches (6.93 m). She had a GRT of 2,878 and a NRT of 1,653.[3]
She was propelled by atriple expansion steam engine which had cylinders 20 inches (51 cm), 31 inches (79 cm) and 55 inches (140 cm) diameter by 39 inches (99 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Canada Iron Foundries,Three Rivers,Quebec.[3]
Avondale Park was built for the Canadian Government and operated by the Park Steamship Co Ltd. The United KingdomOfficial Number 175378 andcode letters VDDN were allocated. Her port of registry wasMontreal, under theBritish flag.[3] She was laterchartered by theMinistry of War Transport, who placed her under the management of Witherington & Etheridge,Newcastle upon Tyne.[2]
Avondale Park was a member of Convoy EN 491, which departedHull on 6 May 1945 bound forBelfast viaMethil. On 7 May 1945, the convoy was attacked byU-2336 and two ships were sunk,Sneland I andAvondale Park, which became the last British merchant ship to be sunk during the Second World War.[2] The sinking, at just after 23:00 on 7 May 1945, was in the last hours of the Second World War in Europe, with the official surrender taking place at 23:01 on 8 May 1945.[4]Avondale Park sank at56°05′N02°32′W / 56.083°N 2.533°W /56.083; -2.533. Two of the 38 crew were lost.[2] A signal had been sent to the U-boats on 4 May 1945 ordering them to surrender butU-2336 did not receive the signal.[5]
