SS Empire Broadsword
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | C1-S-AY-1 Infantry landing ship |
| Name: |
Cape Marshall (1943) Empire Broadsword (1943-44) |
| Owner: | War Shipping Administration |
| Operator: | Cunard White Star Line |
| Port of registry: |
 London |
| Builder: | Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California |
| Launched: | 16 August 1943 |
| Completed: | December 1943 |
| Out of service: | 2 July 1944 |
| Identification: |
United Kingdom Official Number 169737 Code Letters MYMJ 30x15px30x15px30x15px30x15px |
| Fate: | Struck a mine and sank |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: |
7,177 GRT 4,823 NRT |
| Length: | 396 feet 5 inches (120.83 m) |
| Beam: | 60 feet 1 inch (18.31 m) |
| Depth: | 35 feet (10.67 m) |
| Propulsion: | Steam turbines, double reduction geared driving a single screw |
| Armament: |
1 x 4 in gun 1 x 12 pdr gun 12 x 20mm guns |
Empire Broadsword was an Type C1-S-AY-1 infantry landing ship built in 1943 as Cape Marshall. She was renamed Empire Broadsword before completion and entering into service for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She had a short career, entering service in December 1943 and being sunk by a mine in July 1944.
Construction
The ship was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California as yard number 348. She was launched on 16 August 1943 as Cape Marshall.[1] She was 396 feet 5 inches (120.83 m) long, with a beam of 60 feet 1 inch (18.31 m) and a depth of 35 feet (10.67 m). She was propelled by two steam turbines which drove a single screw via double reduction gearing. The steam turbine were manufactured by Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Corp, Essington, Pennsylvania.[2]
Career
The ship was transferred under the terms of lend lease shortly after being completed in 1943 under the name Empire Broadsword.[3] She was chartered by the MoWT, and was operated under the management of Cunard White Star Line[2]
The Empire Broadsword was mined and sunk off Normandy while supporting the allied invasion of Europe.[4] Her position is 49°25′N 0°54′W / 49.417°N 0.9°W.[1] The wreck lies on its starboard side in 27 metres (89 ft) of water and is now a dive site.[5]
Official Numbers and Code Letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Empire Broadsword had the UK Official Number 169737 and used the Code Letters MYMJ.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ""1169737"" (subscription required). Miramar Ship Index. R.B. Haworth. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=43b1112.pdf. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
- ↑ Colledge. Ships of the Royal Navy. pp. 113.
- ↑ "EMPIRE - B". mariners-l.co.uk. http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireB.html. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
- ↑ "Legacy of the landings". Dive Magazine. http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=5258&v=1. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
Sources
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
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- Type C1 ships
- Ships built in Los Angeles, California
- 1943 ships
- Empire ships
- Ministry of War Transport ships
- Steamships of the United Kingdom
- World War II merchant ships of the United Kingdom
- Troop ships of the United Kingdom
- World War II shipwrecks in the English Channel
- Maritime incidents in 1944
- Ships damaged by naval mines
- Troop ships
