| SS Empire Curzon | |
|---|---|
| Career | |
| Name: | Empire Curzon |
| Owner: | Ministry of War Transport |
| Operator: | R Chapman & Son |
| Port of registry: |
 South Shields |
| Builder: | John Readhead & Son Ltd |
| Yard number: | 538 |
| Launched: | 24 December 1943 |
| Completed: | February 1944 |
| Maiden voyage: | 29 February 1944 |
| Out of service: | 2 September 1944 |
| Identification: |
United Kingdom Official Number 169055 Code Letters GFTP     |
| Fate: | Scrapped in 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Cargo |
| Tonnage: |
7,067 GRT 10,280 DWT |
| Length: | 431 ft (131 m) |
| Beam: | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Propulsion: | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Armament: | Anti-torpedo nets |
Empire Curzon was a 7,067 GRT cargo that was built in 1943 by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She had a short career, running aground in September 1944 and then being laid up before being sold for scrap in December 1945.
Description[]
The ship was built in 1943 by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.[1] She was Yard Number 538.[2]
The ship was 431 feet (131 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet (17 m).[3] She was assessed at 7,067 GRT,[1] Her DWT was 10,280.[2]
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine.[1]
History[]
Empire Curzon was launched on 24 December 1943 and completed in February 1944.[1] The United Kingdom Official Number 169055 and Code Letters GFTP were allocated. Her port of registry was South Shields.[4] She was placed under the management of R Chapman & Son Ltd.[2]
Empire Curzon departed from the Tyne on her maiden voyage on 29 February 1944,[5] joining Convoy FN 1281, which had departed from Southend, Essex that day and arrived the following day at Methil, Fife.[6] On 3 March, she joined Convoy EN 353, which arrived at Loch Ewe two days later.[5] Empire Curzon then joined Convoy ON 227, which had departed from Liverpool, Lancashire on 8 March and arrived at New York, United States on 22 March. She was equipped with anti-torpedo nets.[7] She departed from New York on 1 April as a member of Convoy NG 426, which arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on 8 April. Empire Curzon then sailed to Cape Trujillo[where?] and San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic before returning to Guantanamo Bay.[5]
On 28 April, Empire Curzon departed from Guantanamo Bay as a member of Convoy GN 129, which arrived at New York on 5 May.[5] On 10 May, she departed New York as a member of Convoy HX 291, which arrived at Liverpool on 27 May. She was carrying a cargo of sugar.[8]
Empire Curzon departed from Liverpool on 15 July bound for Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, arriving on 17 July. She departed the next day as a member of Convoy EBC 45, arriving at the Seine Bay, France on 20 July. She departed from the Seine Bay on 3 August, joining convoy FTM 56, which arrived at Southend two days later.[5] She then joined Convoy FN 1440, which departed Southend that day and arrived at Methil on 7 August.[9] She left the convoy at Hull, Yorkshire, arrivng on 7 August.[5]
Empire Curzon departed from Hull on 17 August, joining Convoy FS 1547 off Spurn Head.[5] The convoy had departed from Methil that day and arrived at Southend on 19 August.[10] She then joined Convoy ETM 67, which arrived at the Seine Bay on 28 August.[5] On 2 September 1944, Empire Curzon ran aground off Normandy in bad weather. She was driven onto the wreck of the SS Iddesleigh.[1] She was refloated and towed to Southampton, arriving on 25 September.[5] It was found that her bottom was extensively damaged.[1] On 27 October, she was towed to Falmouth, Cornwall, where she was laid up. In November 1945, Empire Curzon was sold for scrap.[1] Empire Curzon departed from Falmouth under tow on 14 December 1945. She arrived at Briton Ferry, West Glamorgan on 16 December for scrapping.[1][5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 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 "John Readhead's Shipyard - 1909 to 1968". John Bage. http://www.johnbage.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/John%20Readhead%20Shipyard%20Page%206.htm. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ↑ "EMPIRE - C". Mariners. http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireC.html. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ↑ "Signal Letters Database". Convoyweb. http://convoyweb.org.uk/signal/index.html?search_all.php~signalmain. Retrieved 14 May 2011. (Enter GFTP or Empire Curzon in relevant search box)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 "EMPIRE CROWN". Convoyweb. http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=EMPIRE%20CROWN~armain. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ↑ "Convoy FN.1281 =Convoy FN.81 / Phase 13". Convoyweb. http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fn/index.html?fn.php?convoy=1281!~fnmain. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ↑ "Convoy ON.227". Convoyweb. http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html?onz.php?convoy=227!~onzmain. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ↑ "Convoy HX.291". Convoyweb. http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html?hx.php?convoy=291!~hxmain. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ↑ "Convoy FN.1440". Convoyweb. http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fn/index.html?fn.php?convoy=1440!~fnmain. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ↑ "Convoy FS.1547 = Convoy FS.47 / Phase 16". Convoyweb. http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fs/index.html?fs.php?convoy=1547!~fsmain. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
The original article can be found at SS Empire Curzon and the edit history here.