| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Empire Byron |
| Owner | Ministry of War Transport |
| Operator | Haldin & Philipps Ltd |
| Port of registry |  Sunderland |
| Builder | Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland |
| Yard number | 289 |
| Launched | 6 October 1941 |
| Completed | January 1942 |
| Out of service | 5 July 1942 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk 5 July 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 416 ft 8 in (127.00 m) |
| Beam | 56 ft 5 in (17.20 m) |
| Depth | 34 ft (10.36 m) |
| Propulsion | 1 x triple expansion steam engine |
| Crew | 49, plus 19DEMS gunners |
Empire Byron was a 6,645 GRTcargo ship which was built in 1941 for theMinistry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in January 1942, she had a short service career.Empire Byron wastorpedoed and sunk on 5 July 1942 byGerman submarine U-703 while a member ofConvoy PQ 17.
Empire Byron was built byBartram & Sons Ltd,Sunderland for the MoWT.[1] She was yard number 289.[2]Empire Byron was launched on 6 October 1941 and completed in January 1942.[1]
The ship was 416 feet 8 inches (127.00 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m) and a depth of 34 feet (10.36 m). She was propelled by atriple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 23.5 inches (60 cm), 38 inches (97 cm) and 66 inches (170 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by North East Marine Engine Co (1938) Ltd,Newcastle upon Tyne. She had a GRT of 6,645 and a NRT of 4,796.[3]
Empire Byron was operated under the management of Haldin & Philipps Ltd.[3] She was a member of a number of convoys during theSecond World War.
Convoy PQ 12 departedReykjavík, Iceland on 1 March 1942.[4] It arrived atMurmansk on 12 March.[5]Empire Byron was a member of this convoy.[6]
Convoy QP 9 departed theKola Inlet,Soviet Union on 21 March 1942 and arrived at Reykjavík on 3 April.Empire Byron was listed as a member of this convoy, with a destination ofImmingham.[7]
Convoy PQ 17 departed Reykjavík on 27 June 1942 and scattered at sea on 5 July.[8]Empire Byron had started her voyage fromHull. She was carrying a cargo of 15 aircraft, 30 tanks, 2,455 tons of military stores and six vehicles. On 4 July,Empire Byron was hit by a torpedo dropped by aHeinkel He 111 ofII/KG 26 and was damaged, straggling behind the convoy. at 08:27 (German time) on 5 July,German submarine U-703 fired another torpedo, which sankEmpire Byron with the loss of six crew and a passenger at76°18′N33°30′E / 76.300°N 33.500°E /76.300; 33.500. A second passenger was takenprisoner. He was landed atNarvik, Norway on 15 July. The remaining 62 survivors were rescued byHMS Dianella and landed atArkhangelsk on 16 July.[9]
The ship's captain, John Wharton MBE,[9] and the 3rd Radio Officer, R Phillips, were each awarded aLloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea for their actions in the sinking ofEmpire Byron. In the case of Phillips, the award was posthumous.[10] Those lost onEmpire Byron are commemorated at theTower Hill Memorial, London.[11]
Official Numbers were a forerunner toIMO Numbers.Empire Byron had the United KingdomOfficial Number 169005 and used theCode Letters BCTG.[3]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in July 1942 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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