SS Empire Celtic

Empire Celtic was a ferry which was built in 1945 as Landing Ship, Tank LST 3512 for the Royal Navy. In 1946 she was chartered by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company Ltd, converted to a ferry and renamed Empire Celtic. In 1956, she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for a few months during the Suez Crisis as HMS Empire Cedric. She served until 1960 and was scrapped in 1965.

History
Name:
  • HMS LST 3512 (1945)
  • SS Empire Celtic (1945-56)
  • HMS Empire Celtic (1956)
  • SS Empire Celtic (1945-62)
Owner:
  • Royal Navy (1945)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945)
  • Ministry of Transport (1945-62)
Operator:
  • Royal Navy (1945)
  • Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd (1946-56)
  • Royal Navy (1956)
  • Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd (1956-60)
Port of registry:
  • Royal Navy (1946-48)
  • London (1948-56)
  • Royal Navy (1956)
  • London (1956-60)
Route:
  • Tilbury - Hamburg (1946-55)
  • Tilbury - Rotterdam (1955-60)
Ordered: 1 February 1944
Builder: Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd
Launched: 25 April 1945
Completed: September 1945
Commissioned: 7 August 1945
Out of service: 1960
Fate: Scrapped 1962
General characteristics
Class and type:
  • Landing Ship, Tank (LST 3514)
  • Ferry (Empire Celtic)
Tonnage:
Length: 347 ft 6 in (105.92 m)
Beam: 55 ft 3 in (16.84 m)
Draught: 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m)
Installed power: Triple expansion steam engine
Propulsion: Screw propellor
Speed: 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h)

Description

The ship was ordered on 1 February 1944.[1] She was built by Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Lauzon, Quebec,[2] as yard number 335.[3] She was launched on 25 April 1945,[4] and completed in September.[2]

The ship was 347 feet 6 inches (105.92 m) long, with a beam of 55 feet 3 inches (16.84 m) and a depth of 12 feet 5 inches (3.78 m).[1]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine.[2] The engine was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway.[4] It could propel her at 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h).[1]

History

LST 3512 was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 7 August 1945.[5] In 1946, she was chartered by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd.[4] She was rebuilt as a ferry by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Tilbury.[2] She entered service on trooping duties on the Tilbury - Hamburg route. I 1955, the route was changed to Tilbury - Rotterdam.[6] In 1956, Empire Celtic took part in Operation Musketeer.[5] She was used to bring vehicles back to the United Kingdom from Egypt. Due to weather damage Empire Celtic had to divert to Malta for repairs.[7] Empire Celtic was withdrawn from service in 1960. She was sold on 10 August 1962,[5] and scrapped at La Spezia, Italy.[4]

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References
  1. "HMS LST 3512". Warships. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  2. 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.
  3. "FURNESS SHIPBUILDING COMPANY LTD., HAVERTON HILL". Tees Built Ships. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  4. "LST (Landing Ship Tank/Troop)". Luton & District Model Boat Club. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  5. "LST 3512". Old Ships. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  6. "The 'Empire' Class, the pioneer ships of Roll on / Roll off ferries". The Maritime Steam Restoration Trust. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  7. "British Units involved in the Suez crisis". Britain's Small Wars. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
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