SS 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.

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:
  • London (1921-22)
  • London (1922-24)
  • Dunkirk (1924-31)
  • Genoa (1931-40)
  • London (1940)
Builder: Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland[1]
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

History

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.[11] Although taken in tow by HMS Superman, Empire Adventure sank on 23 September 1940 at 55°48′N 07°22′W. 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

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
  1. "SS Eastney (1921)". www.tynebuiltships.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  2. "EMPIRE - A". Mariners-L. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  3. "1145165". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  4. "Casualty reports". The Times (45161). London. 26 March 1929. col G, p. 21.
  5. "Casualty reports". The Times (45163). London. 28 March 1929. col D, p. 26.
  6. "Mails and Shipping, Casualty Reports". The Times (43762). London. 4 March 1931. col F, p. 23.
  7. "Casualty Reports". The Times (46091). London. 26 March 1932. col E, p. 19.
  8. "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. "Empire Adventure". uboat.net. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  11. "EMPIRE ADVENTURE". ubootwaffe.net. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  12. "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  13. "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  14. "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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