| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Alster (1928–40) Empire Endurance (1940–41) |
| Owner: | Norddeutscher Lloyd (1928–40) Kriegsmarine (1940) Ministry of War Transport (1940–41) |
| Operator: | Norddeutscher Lloyd (1928–40) Kriegsmarine (1940) Booth Steamship Co Ltd (1940–41) |
| Port of registry: | Bremen, Germany (1928–33) Bremen (1933–40) Kriegsmarine (1940) Middlesbrough, United Kingdom (1940–41) |
| Route: | Germany - Australia (1928-40) |
| Builder: | Deutsche Werft |
| Yard number: | 211 |
| Launched: | 1927 |
| Completed: | February 1928 |
| Out of service: | 20 April 1941 |
| Identification: | United Kingdom Official Number 164841 (1940–41) Code Letters QMHG (1928–34) Code Letters DOEO (1934–40) Code Letter GMJJ (1940–41) |
| Fate: | Torpedoed and sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Cargo liner |
| Tonnage: | 8,514 GRT 5,328 NRT 12,000 DWT |
| Length: | 509 ft 9 in (155.37 m) |
| Beam: | 63 ft 2 in (19.25 m) |
| Depth: | 30 ft 9 in (9.37 m) |
| Installed power: | 1,000 hp (750 kW) |
| Propulsion: | Triple expansion steam engine, 1 low pressure steam turbine |
| Crew: | 90 |
Empire Endurance was a 8,514 GRT cargo liner that was built in 1927 as Alster by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, Germany for Norddeutscher Lloyd. She was captured on 10 April 1940 by HMS Icarus off Norway, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Endurance. She served until 20 April 1941 when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-73 southeast of Rockall, Inverness-shire, United Kingdom.
The ship was a 8,514 GRT cargo liner. She was built in 1927 by Deutsche Werft Hamburg,[1][2] with yard number 211.[3]
The ship was 509 feet 9 inches (155.37 m) long, with a beam of 63 feet 6 inches (19.35 m). She had a depth of 30 feet 9 inches (9.37 m). She was assessed at 8,514 GRT, 5,328 NRT,[4] 12,000 DWT.[1]
The ship was propelled by a 1000 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 311⁄4 inches (79 cm), 523⁄4 inches (134 cm) and 865⁄6 inches (220 cm) diameter by 571⁄16 inches (145 cm ) stroke. The engine was built by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg.[4] A low pressure steam turbine drove a single screw propeller through double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling.[5]
Alster would have been launched in 1927, as she was completed in February 1928.[2] She was built for Norddeutscher Lloyd.[1] The Code Letters QMHG were allocated and her port of registry was Bremen.[4] She served on routes between Germany and Australia.[6] Lloyds Register entries show that she held a passenger certificate from 1934–40. With the change in Code Letters in 1934, Alster was allocated DOEO as her callsign.[7]
On 18 March 1940, Alster was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine. She was used as a troopship in Operation Weserübung - the German invasion of Norway.[2] On 10 April, Alster was captured by HMS Icarus in Vestfjord, near Bodø, Norway.[1][2] She was escorted to the United Kingdom by HMS Ullswater.[2] At the time of her capture, Alster was under the command of Kapitän Scharf, who had previously commanded the Blur Riband-holding ocean liner Europa.[8] As well as the troops on board, she was carrying cigarettes, 80 lorries, 1,000 sacks of coffee, flour and sugar and a large quantity of toys.[9] The lorries, as well as anti-aircraft guns, ammunition, communications equipment, coke and hay, were unloaded in the Northern Norwegian port of Tromsø, as part of the Allied support of the Norwegians fighting the German invasion of their country. The cargo was put to use in the supply and defence of the Tromsø area.[10]
Alster was passed to the MoWT and renamed Empire Endurance.[1] The United Kingdom Official Number 164841 and Code Letters GMJJ were allocated. Her port of registry was Middlesbrough. She was placed under the management of the Booth Steamship Co Ltd.[5] Empire Endurance was a member of Convoy FN 255, which departed from Southend, Essex on 17 August and arrived at Methil, Fife two days later.[11] She then joined Convoy OA 202, which departed on 21 August and dispersed at sea on 25 August.[12] Her destination was Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where she arrived on 3 September. Empire Endurance sailed on 12 September fo Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, arriving three days later.[13] She then joined Convoy HX 74, which departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on 17 September and arrived at Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom on 2 October. She was carrying general cargo stated to be bound for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.[14] She left the convoy at the Clyde on 2 October.[13]
Empire Endurance departed on 25 October to join Convoy OB 234,[13] which had departed from Liverpool the previous day and dispersed at sea on 30 October.[15] Her destination was Montreal, where she arrived on 6 November. She departed on 18 November for the Clyde, arriving on 27 November.<rer name=Port/> The ship was declared a prize of war on 10 December 1940, valued at £144,000.[16] She departed on 5 January 1941 to join Convoy OB 270,[13] which had departed from Liverpool that day and dispersed at sea on 8 January.[17] She sailed to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, arriving on 17 January. Empire Endurance sailed on 3 February for Halifax, arriving two days later and departing on 9 February for the Clyde, where she arrived on 21 February.[13]
Empire Endurance departed on 23 February for Swansea, Glamorgan, arriving on 1 March. She sailed on 9 March for Avonmouth, Somerset, arriving the next day. She departed on 29 March for Cardiff, Glamorgan, arriving the next day and sailing on 2 April for Newport, Monmouthshire, where she arrived later that day. She sailed on 13 March for Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, where she arrived on 15 March.[13]
On 19 March, Empire Endurance departed from Milford Haven,[13] bound for Cape Town, South Africa and Alexandria, Egypt. She was manned by 90 crew and had five passengers on board. Amongst her cargo were the motor launches ML-1003 and ML-1037. At 03:32 (German time) on 20 April, Empire Endurance was hit amidships by a torpedo fired by U-73, under the command of Helmut Rosenbaum. At the time she was south west of Rockall at . A coup de grâce was fired at 03:57 which hit just under the bridge, breaking her in two. Empire Endurance sank with the loss of 65 crew and one passenger. On 21 April, HMS Trillium picked up twenty crew and four passengers at . They were landed at Greenock, Renfrewshire on 25 May. On 9 May, five crew were rescued by Highland Brigade. They were landed at Liverpool.[2] Those lost on board Empire Endurance are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[18]
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