SS Empire Curlew (1945)

Empire Curlew was a 4,273 GRT ferry that was built in 1945 as LST Mk.3 HMS LST 3042 by Harland & Wolff, Govan, Scotland for the Royal Navy. In 1947, she was renamed HMS Hunter. During the Suez Crisis in 1956, she was transferred to the Ministry of Transport and renamed Empire Curlew. She served until 1962, when she was scrapped.

For other ships with the same name, see SS Empire Curlew and HMS Hunter.

History
Name:
  • HMS LST 3042 (1945-47)
  • HMS Hunter (1947-56)
  • SS Empire Curlew (1956-62)
Owner:
  • Royal Navy (1945-56)
  • Ministry of Transport (1956-62)
Operator:
  • Royal Navy (1945-56)
  • Atlantic Steam Navigation Company Ltd (1956-61)
  • British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd (1961-62)
Port of registry:
  • Royal Navy (1945-56)
  • United Kingdom (1956-62)
Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd
Yard number: 1298
Launched: 31 January 1945
Completed: November 1945
Commissioned: 16 November 1945
Out of service: 1962
Identification:
Fate: Scrapped in 1962
General characteristics
Class and type: Landing Ship, Tank
Tonnage:
Length: 347 ft 6 in (105.92 m)
Beam: 55 ft 1 in (16.79 m)
Draught: 12 feet 2 1⁄2 inches (3.721 m) (summer)
Depth: 27 ft 1 in (8.26 m)
Propulsion: Triple expansion steam engine
Speed: 13 knots (24 km/h)
Capacity: 90 troops (HMS LST 3042, HMS Hunter)
Complement: 14 (HMS LST 3042, HMS Hunter)
Armament: 8 x 20mm AA guns

Description

The ship was built in 1945 by Harland & Wolff, Govan.[1] She was Yard Number 1298,[2]

The ship was 347 feet 6 inches (105.92 m) long, with a beam of 55 feet 1 inch (16.79 m). She had a depth of 27 feet 1 inch (8.26 m), and a summer draught of 12 feet 2 1⁄2 inches (3.721 m). She was assessed at 4,273 GRT, 2,296 NRT.[3]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine. The engine was built by Lobnitz, Renfrew.[2] It drove twin screw propellers and could propel the ship at 13 knots (24 km/h).[4]

In Royal Navy service, the ship had a complement of 14 and capacity for 90 troops. Armament was 8 x 20mm AA guns.

History

HMS LST 3042 was launched on 31 January 1945,[2] and completed in November 1945.[1] She was commissioned on 16 November 1945.[5] In 1947, she was renamed HMS Hunter.[6] Hunter was later laid up on the River Clyde.[7]

In 1956, during the Suez Crisis, she was requisitioned by the Ministry of Transport and renamed Empire Curlew.[1] She was converted by John Brown & Company at their Dalmuir yard.[2] She was placed under the management of the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company. In 1962, management was transferred to the British-India Steam Navigation Co Ltd.[1] In April 1962, Empire Curlew was advertised for sale as lying at Malta, along with Empire Baltic.[3] She arrived 20 August 1962 at La Spezia, Italy for scrapping.[1]

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References
  1. Mitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
  2. "Launched 1945: HMS LST 3042". Clydesite. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2011.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  3. "Public Notices". The Times (55368). London. 17 April 1962. col A, p. 3.
  4. "LST (Mk 3) class". Uboat. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  5. "HMS LST 3042 (LST 3042)". Uboat. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  6. "BI Fleet - Managed vessels 3". Biship. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  7. "LST (Landing Ship Tank/Troop)". Luton Model Boat Club. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  8. "EMPIRE - C". Mariners. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
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