SS Empire Cloud

The ship was built by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was launched on 27 December 1940 and completed in April 1941.[2]

The ship was 401 feet 0 inches (122.22 m) long, with a beam of 54 feet 0 inches (16.46 m) and a depth of 33 feet 2 inches (10.11 m). She had a GRT of 5,669 and a NRT of 3,546.[3]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 23 ¹⁄₂ inches (60 cm), 38 inches (97 cm) and 66 inches (170 cm) diameter by 45 inches (110 cm) stroke. The engine was built by George Clarke (1938) Ltd, Sunderland.[3]

Empire Cloud was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of Allen, Black & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Sunderland. The Code Letters BCGC and United Kingdom Official Number 168668 were allocated.[3]

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

OB 318

Convoy OB 318 departed from Liverpool on 2 May 1941 and dispersed at sea on 10 May.[4] Empire Cloud was on her maiden voyage.[2] At 14:28 on 9 May, Empire Cloud was torpedoed and damaged by U-201 when east northeast of Cape Farewell (61°00′N 32°30′W).[1] Five crew were killed, the survivors were picked up by HMS Nigella.[5] The ship was abandoned, but HMS St Apollo assisted in the protection of her while the Dutch tug Thames was despatched from Reykjavík, Iceland.[1] HMS Hollyhock also assisted Empire Cloud.[6] Thames arrived on 13 May and towed Empire Cloud at 6 knots (11 km/h) to Greenock,[1] where she arrived on 20 May.[5] She was repaired and returned to service.[2]

HX 167

Empire Cloud may have sailed in Convoy HX 167, which departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on 27 December 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 11 January 1942.[7] She is noted under Convoy SC 63 as having come from HX 167.[8]

SC 63

Convoy SC 63 departed from Sydney, Cape Breton on 3 January 1942 and dispersed at sea on 13 January. Empire Cloud was carrying a general cargo and was bound for Manchester.[8]

TAW(S)

Empire Cloud was a member of Convoy TAW(S). At about 10:10 on 19 August 1942, Empire Cloud was torpedoed by U-564 northeast of Trinidad with the loss of three crew members. The Dutch tug Roode Zee took her in tow, but she sank on 21 August at 10°54′N 62°10′W. The surviving crew were rescued by other ships in the convoy. They were landed at Key West, Florida and Mobile, Alabama.[1] Those lost on Empire Cloud are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[9]