| SS Empire Cowper | |
|---|---|
| Career | |
| Name: | Empire Cowper |
| Owner: | Ministry of War Transport |
| Operator: | R Chapman & Son |
| Port of registry: |
 London |
| Builder: | William Doxford & Sons Ltd |
| Yard number: | 681 |
| Launched: | 23 September 1941 |
| Completed: | December 1941 |
| Out of service: | 11 April 1942 |
| Identification: |
United Kingdom Official Number 169003 Code Letters BCTF     |
| Fate: | Bombed and sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: |
7,161 GRT 10,173 DWT |
| Length: | 428 ft 8 in (130.66 m) |
| Beam: | 56 ft 5 in (17.20 m) |
| Draught: | 27 feet 4 3⁄4 inches (8.350 m) |
| Depth: | 35 ft 5 in (10.80 m) |
| Propulsion: | Triple expansion steam engine |
Empire Cowper was a 7,161 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, United Kingdom. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport. Empire Cowper was bombed and sunk on 11 April 1942 whilst a member of Convoy QP 10.
Description[]
Empire Cowper was built in 1941 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.[1] Yard number 682,[2] she was launched on 23 September and completed in December,[1]
The ship was 428 feet 8 inches (130.66 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m). She had a depth of 35 feet 5 inches (10.80 m) and a draught of 27 feet 4 3⁄4 inches (8.350 m). She was assessed at 7,164 GRT, 5,053 NRT.[3] Her DWT was 10,173.[2]
The ship was propelled by a 511 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 23 1⁄2 inches (60 cm), 37 1⁄2 inches (95 cm) and 68 inches (170 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank.[3]
History[]
Empire Cowper was completed in December 1941,[1] and placed under the management of R Chapman & Son.[2] The Official Number 169003 was allocated,[4] as were the Code Letters BCTF.[3]
Empire Cowper was a member of Convoy PQ 13, which departed Loch Ewe on 10 March 1942 and arrived at Murmansk, Soviet Union on 31 March.[5] She arrived at Reykjavík, Iceland on 16 March and departed on 20 March to join the convoy.[6]
Empire Cowper was a member of Convoy QP 10, which departed the Kola Inlet on 10 April and arrived at Reykjavík on 21 April.[7] On 11 April, she was bombed by Junkers Ju 88 aircraft and sunk in the Barents Sea at 71°01′N 36°00′E / 71.017°N 36°E,[1] with the loss of nine of her crew.[8] Those lost on Empire Cowper are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[9]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "William Doxford/Pallion Ship Index". John Bage. http://www.johnbage.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Pallion%20Shipyard%20-%20William%20Doxford%20Ship%20Index.htm. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "LLOYDS'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=41b0988.pdf. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ↑ "ON160000". Mariners. http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/ON160000.htm. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ↑ "CONVOY PQ 13". Warsailors. http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/pq13.html. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ↑ "Convoy PQ.13". Convoyweb. http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/pq/index.html?pq.php?convoy=13!~pqmain. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ↑ "CONVOY QP 10". Warsailors. http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/qp10.html. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ↑ "SS Empire Cowper (+1942)". Wrecksite. http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?138431. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ↑ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Ship%20Index%20A-F.html. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
The original article can be found at SS Empire Cowper and the edit history here.