MV Empire Dawn
{{Short description|Empire ship of World War II}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name = Empire Dawn | Ship owner = Ministry of War Transport | Ship operator = W Runciman & Co Ltd | Ship registry = {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} Sunderland, United Kingdom | Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = William Doxford & Sons Ltd | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 670 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 14 December 1940 | Ship completed = April 1941 | Ship commissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = 11 September 1942 | Ship identification =*United Kingdom Official Number 168667
| Ship fate = Sunk by enemy action | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Cargo ship | Ship tonnage =*{{GRT|7,241}}
| Ship displacement = | Ship length =*{{convert|442|ft|9|in|m|2|abbr=on}} (overall)
| Ship beam = {{convert|56|ft|5|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|27|ft|4+3/4|in|m}} | Ship depth = {{convert|35|ft|5|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship range = | Ship power = 516 nhp 3-cylinder diesel engine | Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = 41 | Ship notes = | Ship complement = | Ship armament = }} |
{{location map|South Atlantic|width=304
|long=2
|lat=-34
|caption=Location of the attack by Michel on Empire Dawn
}}
Empire Dawn was a {{GRT|7241|link=off}} cargo ship that was built in 1940 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Entering service in April 1941, she served until 11 September 1942 when she was sunk by the German raider Michel.
Description
The ship was built in 1940 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham.{{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1=W.H. |last2=Sawyer |first2=L.A. |year=1995 |title=The Empire Ships |page=not cited |publisher= Lloyd's of London Press Ltd |location= London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong |isbn=1-85044-275-4}} She was yard number 670.{{cite web|url=http://www.johnbage.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Pallion%20Shipyard%20-%20William%20Doxford%20Ship%20Index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301013848/http://www.johnbage.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Pallion%20Shipyard%20-%20William%20Doxford%20Ship%20Index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 March 2011 |title=William Doxford/Pallion Ship Index |publisher=John Bage |accessdate=30 May 2011 }}
The ship was {{convert|442|ft|9|in|m|2}} long overall ({{convert|428|ft|6|in|m|2}} between perpendiculars), with a beam of {{convert|56|ft|0|in|m|2}}. She had a depth of {{convert|35|ft|0|in|m|2}} and a draught of {{convert|27|ft|4+3/4|in|m}}. She was assessed at {{GRT|7,241}}, {{NRT|5,066}}.{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/40/40a1060.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |accessdate=15 July 2011}} Her DWT was 10,328.
The ship was propelled by a 516 nhp diesel engine, which had three cylinders of {{convert|23+3/4|in|cm}} diameter by {{convert|91+1/16|in|cm}} stroke, driving a single screw propeller. The engine was built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.
History
=1941=
Empire Dawn was built for the MoWT. She was launched on 14 December 1940 and completed in 1941. She was placed under the management of W Runciman & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Sunderland.{{cite web |url=http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Empire%20Clough%20to%20Empire%20Dawn.html |title=Empire Clough to Empire Dawn |publisher=Brian Watson |accessdate=31 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102054233/http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Empire%20Clough%20to%20Empire%20Dawn.html |archive-date=2 November 2014 |url-status=dead }} The United Kingdom Official Number 168667 and Code Letters BCGD were allocated.
Empire Dawn sailed from Sunderland to the Tyne on 17 April 1941. Three days later, she joined Convoy EC 9,{{cite web |url=http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=EMPIRE%20DAWN~armain |title=EMPIRE DAWN |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=31 May 2011}} which had departed from Southend, Essex on 19 April and arrived at the Clyde on 25 April.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ec/index.html?ec.php?convoy=9!~ecmain |title=Convoy EC.9 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=31 May 2011}} She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 23 April and sailed to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, arriving on 9 May. She departed from Montreal on 17 May for Halifax, arriving four days later. Empire Dawn was a member of Convoy HX 129, which departed from Halifax on 27 May and arrived at Liverpool, Lancashire on 12 June. She was carrying a cargo of grain.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html?hx.php?convoy=129!~hxmain |title=Convoy HX.129 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=31 May 2011}} Empire Dawn left the convoy at Oban, Argyllshire on 12 June. Two days later, she joined Convoy WN 140, which arrived at Methil, Fife on 17 June. She then joined Convoy FS 518, which arrived at Southend on 19 June.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fs/index.html?fs.php?convoy=0518!~fsmain |title=Convoy FS.518 = Convoy FS.18 / Phase 6 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=31 May 2011}} She left the convoy at Spurn Head on 18 June and sailed to Hull, Yorkshire.
Empire Dawn joined Convoy FN 486 off Spurn Head on 29 June. The convoy had departed from Southend that day and arrived at Methil on 30 June.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fn/index.html?fn.php?convoy=0486!~fnmain |title=Convoy FN.486 = Convoy FN.86 / Phase 5 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=31 May 2011}} She departed from Methil on 17 July, joining Convoy EC 46, which had departed from Southend on 15 July and arrived at the Clyde on 20 July.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ec/index.html?ec.php?convoy=46!~ecmain |title=Convoy EC.46 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=31 May 2011}} She left the convoy at Oban on 19 July, departing two days later to join Convoy OG 69, which departed from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire on 19 July and arrived at Gibraltar on 1 August. Her cargo was described as "stores".{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/og/index.html?og.php?convoy=69!~ogmain |title=Convoy OG.69 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=31 May 2011}} Over the next four months, Empire Dawn sailed to Cape Town, South Africa, Aden, Suez, Egypt, Mombasa, Kenya, Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika and Beira, Mozambique before arriving back at Cape Town on 14 November. She departed the next day for Freetown, Sierra Leone, where she joined Convoy SL 94, which departed on 30 November and arrived at Liverpool on 20 December. Her cargo consisted of copper, sisal and tobacco.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl2/index.html?sl.php?convoy=94!~slmain |title=Convoy SL.94 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=31 May 2011}}
=1942=
Empire Dawn departed from Liverpool on 24 February 1942 for the Clyde, arriving the next day. She then joined Convoy ON 71, which departed from Liverpool on 26 February and arrived at dispersed at sea on 8 March. Again, her cargo was "stores".{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html?onz.php?convoy=71!~onzmain |title=Convoy ON.71 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=31 May 2011}} She arrived at Cape Town on 2 April. She departed Cape Town nine days later for Aden, arriving on 27 April and then departing two days later for Port Sudan, Sudan, where she arrived on 2 May. She departed from Port Sudan on 8 May for Suez, arriving on 11 May.
=Sinking=
Empire Dawn departed Suez on 14 August for Aden, arriving on 18 August and departing four days later for Durban, South Africa, where she arrived on 4 September. She departed the next day on what was to be her final voyage. She was in ballast, bound for Trinidad where she was to load bauxite and then sail to New York.{{cite web |url=http://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck_class/hilfskreuzer/michel.html |title=Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser) Michel |publisher=John Asmussen |accessdate=31 May 2011}} On 11 September, Empire Dawn was attacked by the German raider Michel west of Cape Town, South Africa. Her position was {{coord|34|00|S|2|00|E|display=inline, title}}. Although Empire Dawn indicated that she had surrendered, and the crew were abandoning ship, the shelling continued. She was sunk with the loss of 20 of her 41 crew.{{cite web |url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?16021 |title=MV Empire Dawn (+1941) |publisher=Wrecksite |accessdate=30 May 2011}} The survivors were rescued by Michel. They were transferred to {{Ship|German tanker|Uckermark||2}}, and later {{SS|Charlotte Schliemann||2}} which took them to Singapore, where they were handed over to the Japanese as prisoners of war.{{cite web |url=http://warsailors.com/raidervictims/michel.html |title=Norwegian Victims of Michel |publisher=Warsailors |accessdate=31 May 2011}} The continued shelling after the ship had surrendered was considered to be a war crime. Michel{{'}}s captain Helmuth von Ruckteschell was found not guilty on this charge at his trial held at the Curio Haus in Hamburg, Allied-occupied Germany, from 5–21 May 1947. It was shown that the surrender was flashed in Morse Code by electric torch, the light from which was demonstrated in Court to be too weak to be seen in daylight and amongst the flashes of explosions. Von Ruckteschell was convicted on three other charges and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, subsequently reduced to seven years. Von Ruckteschell died in prison on 24 June 1948. Those lost on Empire Dawn are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Empire ships}}
{{September 1942 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire Dawn}}
Category:Ships built on the River Tees
Category:Ministry of War Transport ships
Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom
Category:Maritime incidents in September 1942