SS Empire Banner

Career
Name: Empire Banner
Owner: Ministry of War Transport
Operator: W T Gould Ltd, Cardiff
Port of registry: Sunderland
Builder: Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.
Yard number: 286
Launched: 29 June 1942
Completed: September 1942
Identification: Official Number 169028
Code Letters BCXC
Fate: Torpedoed on 7 February 1943 and sunk by U-77
General characteristics
Tonnage: 6,699 GRT
Length: 416 ft 8 in (127.00 m)
Beam: 56 ft 6 in (17.22 m)
Depth: 34 ft (10.36 m)
Propulsion: 1 x triple expansion steam engine (North East Marine Engine Co (1938) Ltd, Sunderland) 511 hp (381 kW)
Complement: 47, plus 15 DEMS gunners
Location of the sinking of Empire Banner.

Empire Banner was a 6,699 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland in 1942 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed by U-77 on 7 February 1943 and sunk later that day by enemy aircraft.

History

Empire Banner was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland as yard number 286. She was launched on 29 June 1942 and completed in September 1942. She was built for the MoWT[1] and was operated under the management of W T Gould & Co Ltd,[2] Cardiff.[3]

Empire Banner was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.

MKS 3X

Convoy MKS 3X sailed from Bône, Algeria on 3 December 1942 and arrived at Liverpool on 19 December. Empire Banner joined the convoy at Algiers She was fitted with anti-torpedo nets although these were reported as being broken on departure from Algiers.[4]

KMS 8G

Convoy KMS 8G which departed the Clyde on 21 January 1943.[5] Empire Banner was carrying 3,800 tons of military supplies, including tanks and other transport. She had departed from Penarth and was destined for Bône. On 7 February 1943, she was torpedoed by U-77 at 02:00 hours. Her position was .[3] Empire Banner headed for Oran but at 06:00 she was finished off by an enemy aircraft.[6] All 47 crew, 15 DEMS gunners and 10 soldier passengers were rescued by HMCS Camrose and landed at Algiers.[3]

Official number and code letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.

Empire Banner had the UK Official Number 169083 and used the Code Letters BCXC.[2].

References

  1. ^ Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. 24. ISBN 1-85044-275-4. 
  2. ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=43b0295.pdf. Retrieved 8 March 2009. 
  3. ^ a b c "Empire Banner". U-boat.net. http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2636.html. Retrieved 8 March 2009. 
  4. ^ "CONVOY MKS 3X & MKS 3Y". Warsailors. http://warsailors.com/convoys/mks3.html. Retrieved 8 March 2009. 
  5. ^ "Convoy KMS.8G". Convoyweb. http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/kms/index.html. Retrieved 8 March 2009.  (Select Convoy KMS 8G from side menu)
  6. ^ "H.M.C.S. Regina K-234". The Carmody Genealogist. http://www.magma.ca/~leprecha/short_history_1963.htm. Retrieved 8 March 2009.