| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Empire Chaucer |
| Owner: | Ministry of War Transport |
| Operator: | W J Tatem Ltd |
| Port of registry: | Sunderland |
| Builder: | W Pickersgill & Sons Ltd |
| Launched: | 18 March 1942 |
| Completed: | May 1942 |
| Out of service: | 17 October 1942 |
| Identification: | Code Letters BDVX United Kingdom Official Number 169018 |
| Fate: | Torpedoed and sunk by U-504 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 5,970 GRT 3,501 NRT |
| Length: | 401 ft 0 in (122.22 m) |
| Beam: | 54 ft 0 in (16.46 m) |
| Depth: | 33 ft 2 in (10.11 m) |
| Installed power: | triple expansion steam engine |
| Propulsion: | Screw propellor |
| Crew: | 49 |
Empire Chaucer was a 5,970 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1942 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in May 1942, she had a short career, being torpedoed and sunk by U-504 on 17 October 1942.
The ship was built by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was launched on 18 March 1942 and completed in May 1942.[1]
The ship was 401 feet 0 inches (122.22 m) long, with a beam of 54 feet 0 inches (16.46 m) and a depth of 33 feet 2 inches (10.11 m). She had a GRT of 5,970 and a NRT of 3,501.[2]
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 23½ inches (60 cm), 38 inches (97 cm) and 66 inches (170 cm) diameter by 45 inches (110 cm) stroke.[2]
Empire Chaucer was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of W J Tatem Ltd,[2] Cardiff.[3] Her port of registry was Sunderland. The Code Letters BDVX and United Kingdom Official Number 169018 were allocated.[2]
In October 1942, Empire Chaucer departed Calcutta, India bound for the United Kingdom via Durban and Cape Town, South Africa and then via Trinidad. She was carrying a cargo of 2,000 tons of pig iron and 6,500 tons of general cargo, including mail and tea.[3]
Empire Chaucer departed Durbon on 13 October bound for Cape Town. At 06:15 on 17 October, Empire Chaucer was torpedoed and sunk 450 nautical miles (830 km) south of Cape Town () by U-504 with the loss of three crew. The remaining 46 crew and a passenger took to the lifeboats. Twelve survivors, including the Captain, were rescued by Empire Squire and landed at Trinidad. Fifteen survivors spent 23 days in a lifeboat before being rescued by Nebraska. They were landed at Cape Town. The remaining 20 survivors landed at Bredasdorp on 31 October.[3] Those lost on Empire Chaucer are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[4]