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.

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.

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+1⁄2 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 / 38.200°S 20.067°E / -38.200; 20.067) 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. 1 2 3 4 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  3. 1 2 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 / 38.200°S 20.067°E / -38.200; 20.067

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