SS Empire Chaucer

Empire Chaucer was a 5,970 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1942 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in May 1942, she had a short career, being torpedoed and sunk by U-504 on 17 October 1942.

History
NameEmpire Chaucer
OwnerMinistry of War Transport
OperatorW J Tatem Ltd
Port of registryUnited Kingdom Sunderland
BuilderW Pickersgill & Sons Ltd
Launched18 March 1942
CompletedMay 1942
Out of service17 October 1942
Identification
FateTorpedoed and sunk by U-504
General characteristics
Tonnage
Length401 ft 0 in (122.22 m)
Beam54 ft 0 in (16.46 m)
Depth33 ft 2 in (10.11 m)
Installed powertriple expansion steam engine
PropulsionScrew propellor
Crew49
SS Empire Chaucer is located in South Atlantic
SS Empire Chaucer
Location of the sinking of Empire Chaucer.

Description

The ship was built by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was launched on 18 March 1942 and completed in May 1942.[1]

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 5,970 and a NRT of 3,501.[2]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 23+12 inches (60 cm), 38 inches (97 cm) and 66 inches (170 cm) diameter by 45 inches (110 cm) stroke.[2]

History

Empire Chaucer was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of W J Tatem Ltd,[2] Cardiff.[3] Her port of registry was Sunderland. The Code Letters BDVX and United Kingdom Official Number 169018 were allocated.[2]

In October 1942, Empire Chaucer departed Calcutta, India bound for the United Kingdom via Durban and Cape Town, South Africa and then via Trinidad. She was carrying a cargo of 2,000 tons of pig iron and 6,500 tons of general cargo, including mail and tea.[3]

Empire Chaucer departed Durban on 13 October bound for Cape Town. At 06:15 on 17 October, Empire Chaucer was torpedoed and sunk 450 nautical miles (830 km) south of Cape Town (38°12′S 20°04′E) by U-504 with the loss of three crew. The remaining 46 crew and a passenger took to the lifeboats. Twelve survivors, including the Captain, were rescued by Empire Squire and landed at Trinidad. Fifteen survivors spent 23 days in a lifeboat before being rescued by Nebraska. They were landed at Cape Town. The remaining 20 survivors landed at Bredasdorp on 31 October.[3] Those lost on Empire Chaucer are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[4]

References

  1. Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  3. "Empire Chaucer". U-boat. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  4. "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.

38°12′S 20°4′E

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