SS Empire Adventure

Career
Name: Eastney (1920-24)
Germaine L D (1924-31)
Andrea (1931-40)
Empire Adventure (1940)
Owner: Romney Steamship Co Ltd, London (1921-24)
L Dreyfus et Compagnie, France (1924-31)
Società Anonima di Navigazione Corrado, Genoa (1931-40)
Ministry of War Transport (1940)
Operator: Owner operated except:-
Runciman Shipping Co Ltd (1940)
Port of registry: London (1921-22)
London (1922-24)
Dunkirk (1924-31)
Genoa (1931-40)
London (1940)
Builder: Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland
Yard number: 256
Launched: 13 October 1920
Completed: February 1921
Identification: UK official number 146165 (1921-24, 1940)
Italian official number 1829 (1931-40)
Code Letters NDAT (1931-33)

Code letters IBXA (1933-40)

Code letters GLXW (1940)
Fate: Torpedoed by U-138 night of 20/21 September 1940, sank 23 September 1940
General characteristics
Tonnage: 5,145 GRT
Length: 375 ft (114.30 m)
Beam: 51 ft 2 in (15.60 m)
Depth: 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m)
Propulsion: 1 x triple expansion steam engine (Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd, Newcastle) 370 hp (280 kW) NHP.
Speed: 11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement: 39
Sunk
Torpedoed
Location of the torpedo attack and sinking of Empire Adventure

SS Empire Adventure was a 5,787 ton steamship which was built in 1920 as the Eastney. She was sold to France in 1924 and renamed Germaine L D. In 1931 she was sold to Italy, being renamed Andrea, being seized in 1940 and renamed Empire Adventure. She was torpedoed on the night of 20/21 September 1940 and sank whilst under tow on 23 September 1940.

Contents

History

Eastney was built by the Northumberland Shipping Co, Howdon, Wallsend[1] as yard number 356.[2] She was owned and operated by the Romney Steamship Co, London. In 1924, Eastney was sold to L Dreyfus & Co, France and renamed Germaine L D.[3] On 23 March 1932, she ran aground at Buenos Aires, Argentina, but was freed the next day with assistance from a tug. No damage was sustained.[4] In 1932, Germaine L D was sold to Società Anonima di Navigazione Corrado, Genoa and renamed Andrea. In June 1940, Andrea was seized at Newcastle upon Tyne and renamed Empire Adventure.[1]

Convoy OB 216

Convoy OB 216 departed from Liverpool on 19 September 1940.[5] During the night of 20/21 September 1940, Empire Adventure was torpedoed by U-138[6] 52 miles (84 km) northwest of Rathlin Island[7] .[8] Although taken in tow by HMS Superman, Empire Adventure sank on 23 September 1940 at . A total of 21 of the 39 crew were killed.[7] The survivors were picked up by HMS Arabis[5] and the Swedish merchantman Industria and landed at Belfast.[7] Those lost on Empire Adventure are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[9]

Official number and code letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.

Eastney and Empire Adventure had the UK Official Number 146165[10] Andrea had the Italian Official Number 1829.[11]

Andrea used the Code Letters NDAT[11] and IBXA.[12] Empire Adventure used the Code Letters GLXW.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "EMPIRE - A". Mariners-L. http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireA.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
  2. ^ ""1145165"" (subscription required). Miramar Ship Index. R.B. Haworth. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
  3. ^ "Mails and Shipping, Casualty Reports" The Times (London). Wednesday, 4 March 1931. Issue 43762, col F, p. 23.
  4. ^ "Casualty Reports" The Times (London). Saturday, 26 March 1932. Issue 46091, col E, p. 19.
  5. ^ a b "NAVAL EVENTS, SEPTEMBER 1940, Part 2 of 2, Sunday 15th – Monday 30th". naval history.net. http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4009-22SEP02.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
  6. ^ Ubootwaffe gives 21:26 on 20 September 1940 (German time), Uboatnet gives 02:27 on 21 September 1940
  7. ^ a b c "Empire Adventure". uboat.net. http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/540.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
  8. ^ "EMPIRE ADVENTURE". ubootwaffe.net. http://www.ubootwaffe.net/ops/ships.cgi?boat=138;nr=4. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
  9. ^ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Ship%20Index%20A-F.html. Retrieved 20 May 2011. 
  10. ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=40a1056.pdf. Retrieved 10 January 2009. 
  11. ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=33b0046.pdf. Retrieved 10 January 2009. 
  12. ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=37b0048.pdf. Retrieved 10 January 2009. 

External links