SS Empire Celt

Empire Celt was an 8,032 GRT tanker which was built in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in January 1942, she had a short career, being torpedoed and sunk on 24 February 1942 by U-158.

History
Name: Empire Celt (1941-44)
Owner: Ministry of War Transport
Operator: Jas German & Co Ltd
Port of registry: Middlesbrough
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding Company
Launched: 7 October 1941
Completed: December 1941
Identification:
  • Code Letters BCWD
  • United Kingdom Official Number 164861
Fate: Sunk 24 February 1942
General characteristics
Class and type: Tanker
Tonnage:
Length: 468 ft 5 in (142.77 m)
Beam: 61 ft 2 in (18.64 m)
Draught: 33 ft 0 in (10.06 m)
Installed power: Triple expansion steam engine
Propulsion: Screw propellor
Crew: 53 (including DEMS gunners)
Location of the torpedoing of Empire Celt.

Description

Empire Celt was built by Furness Shipbuilding Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees,[1] as yard number 335.[2] She was launched on 7 October 1941 and completed in December.[1]

Empire Celt was 468 feet 5 inches (142.77 m) long, with a beam of 61 feet 2 inches (18.64 m) and a depth of 33 feet 0 inches (10.06 m). She had a GRT of 8,032 and a NRT of 4,664.[3]

Empire Celt was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 27 inches (69 cm), 44 inches (110 cm) and 76 inches (190 cm) diameter by 51 inches (130 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Richardsons, Westgarth & Co Ltd, Hartlepool.[3]

History

Empire Celt was placed under the management of Jas. German & Co Ltd, Middlesbrough.[2] Her port of registry was Middlesbrough. The United Kingdom Official Number 164861 and Code Letters BCWD were allocated.[3]

Empire Celt was a member of Convoy ON 67, which departed Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire on 13 February 1942 bound for North America.[4] Empire Celt was on a voyage from Greenock to New York. She was in ballast.[5] At 08:55 (German time) on 24 February, Empire Celt was torpedoed by U-158, being hit by two torpedoes. Four crew and two DEMS gunners were killed. Although she had been damaged, Empire Celt continued her voyage. Another attack at 09:50 by U-558 failed, with the torpedo aimed at Empire Celt hitting Eidanger instead. Empire Celt later broke in two, with the bow section sinking.[6] The Canadian ship Citadelle rescued 23 survivors, and HMS St Zeno rescued 22 survivors. They were landed at St. John's, Newfoundland on 22 February.[6] The stern section was considered salvageable, and the tug Foundation Franklin was despatched on 9 March to assist but failed to find any trace of Empire Celt and she was presumed to have sunk at position 43°50′N 43°38′W.[1][6] Those lost on Empire Celt are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[7]

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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.
  2. "FURNESS SHIPBUILDING COMPANY LTD., HAVERTON HILL". Tees Built Ships. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  3. "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  4. "ON Convoys – 1941-1945, Convoy ON 1 through ON 100". Warsailors. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  5. "Empire Celt". Ubootwaffe. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  6. "Empire Celt". Uboat. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  7. "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
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