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SS Empire Adventure

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Coordinates: 55°48′N 7°22′W / 55.800°N 7.367°W / 55.800; -7.367
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History
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
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland London (1921-22)
  • United Kingdom London (1922-24)
  • France Dunkirk (1924-31)
  • Italy Genoa (1931-40)
  • United Kingdom London (1940)
BuilderNorthumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland[1]
Yard number256
Launched13 October 1920
CompletedFebruary 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)
FateTorpedoed by U-138 night of 20/21 September 1940, sank 23 September 1940
General characteristics
Tonnage5,145 GRT
Length375 ft (114.30 m)
Beam51 ft 2 in (15.60 m)
Depth31 ft 7 in (9.63 m)
Propulsion1 x triple expansion steam engine (Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd, Newcastle) 370 hp (280 kW) NHP.
Speed11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement39
SS Empire Adventure is located in Oceans around British Isles
Sunk
Sunk
Torpedoed
Torpedoed
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Location of the torpedo attack and sinking of Empire Adventure

SS Empire Adventure was a 5,787-ton steamship 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 while under tow on 23 September 1940.

History

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Eastney was built by the Northumberland Shipping Co, Howdon, Wallsend,[2] as yard number 356.[3] 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.[2] On 25 March 1929, she was in collision with Alice Marie in the North Sea off Vlissingen, Netherlands. She was beached at Rammekens for temporary repairs to be carried out.[4] Germaine L D was refloated the next day.[5] On 3 March 1931, she collided with Southborough at Rotterdam, Netherlands. Southborough sustained some damage but Germaine L D was undamaged.[6] 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.[7] 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.[2]

Convoy OB 216

Convoy OB 216 departed from Liverpool on 19 September 1940.[8] During the night of 20/21 September 1940, Empire Adventure was torpedoed by U-138[9] 52 miles (84 km) northwest of Rathlin Island[10] 55°11′N 11°30′W / 55.183°N 11.500°W / 55.183; -11.500.[11] Although taken in tow by HMS Superman, Empire Adventure sank on 23 September 1940 at 55°48′N 07°22′W / 55.800°N 7.367°W / 55.800; -7.367. A total of 21 of the 39 crew were killed.[10] The survivors were picked up by HMS Arabis[8] and the Swedish merchantman Industria and landed at Belfast.[10] Those lost on Empire Adventure are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[12]

Official number and code letters

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Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.

Eastney and Empire Adventure had the UK Official Number 146165[13] Andrea had the Italian Official Number 1829.[14]

Andrea used the Code Letters NDAT[14] and IBXA.[15] Empire Adventure used the Code Letters GLXW.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "SS Eastney (1921)". www.tynebuiltships.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "EMPIRE - A". Mariners-L. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  3. ^ "1145165". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  4. ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45161. London. 26 March 1929. col G, p. 21.
  5. ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45163. London. 28 March 1929. col D, p. 26.
  6. ^ "Mails and Shipping, Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 43762. London. 4 March 1931. col F, p. 23.
  7. ^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 46091. London. 26 March 1932. col E, p. 19.
  8. ^ a b "Naval Events, September 1940, Part 2 of 2, Sunday 15th – Monday 30th". naval history.net. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  9. ^ Ubootwaffe gives 21:26 on 20 September 1940 (German time), Uboatnet gives 02:27 on 21 September 1940
  10. ^ a b c "Empire Adventure". uboat.net. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  11. ^ "EMPIRE ADVENTURE". ubootwaffe.net. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  12. ^ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  13. ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  14. ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  15. ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
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55°48′N 7°22′W / 55.800°N 7.367°W / 55.800; -7.367

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