SS Empire Broadsword
{{short description|World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship image size= 300px |Ship caption= SS Empire Broadsword }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country= |Ship flag= |Ship class=C1-S-AY-1 Infantry landing ship |Ship name=*Cape Marshall (1943)
|Ship ordered= |Ship awarded= |Ship builder=Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California |Ship yard no=348 |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=16 August 1943 |Ship completed=December 1943 |Ship owner=War Shipping Administration |Ship operator=Cunard White Star Line |Ship christened= |Ship registry={{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} London |Ship identification=*United Kingdom Official Number 169737
|Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service=2 July 1944 |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship captured= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship fate=Struck a mine and sank |Ship homeport= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship tonnage=*7,177 GRT
|Ship length={{convert|396|ft|5|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|60|ft|1|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= |Ship depth={{convert|35|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=Steam turbines, double reduction geared driving a single screw |Ship speed= |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship test depth= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity= |Ship complement= |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*1 × 4 in gun
|Ship armor= |Ship aircraft= |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship badge= |Ship honours= |Ship notes= }} |
{{location map|France|width=304
|lat=49.417
|long=-0.9
|caption=Location of the sinking of Empire Broadsword.
}}
Empire Broadsword was a 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.{{csr|register=MSI|id=1169737|access-date=10 December 2009}} She was {{convert|396|ft|5|in|m|2}} long, with a beam of {{convert|60|ft|1|in|m|2}} and a depth of {{convert|35|ft|m|2}}. 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.
Career
The ship was transferred under the terms of lend lease shortly after being completed in 1943 under the name Empire Broadsword.{{cite book |last=Colledge |title=Ships of the Royal Navy |pages=113}} She was chartered by the MoWT, and was operated under the management of Cunard White Star Line{{cite web |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/43/43b1112.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=10 December 2009}}
Empire Broadsword was mined and sunk off Normandy on July 2, 1944, while supporting the allied invasion of Europe.{{cite web |url=http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireB.html |title=EMPIRE - B |access-date=2008-11-25|publisher=mariners-l.co.uk}} Her position is {{coord|49|25|N|0|54|W}}. Seventy survivors were rescued by {{USS|PC-1225}}.{{cite DANFS |title=Waverly |url=http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pc1225.htm |access-date=2 May 2012}} The wreck lies on its starboard side in {{convert|27|m|ft}} of water and is now a dive site.{{cite web|url=http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=5258&v=1 |title=Legacy of the landings |publisher=Dive Magazine |access-date=10 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313223755/http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/article.asp?uan=5258 |archive-date=13 March 2010 }} Those lost on Empire Broadsword are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.{{cite web |url=http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Ship%20Index%20A-F.html |title=Ship Index A-F |publisher=Brian Watson |access-date=20 May 2011 |archive-date=6 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006025450/http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Ship%20Index%20A-F.html |url-status=dead }}
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.
References
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- {{Cite Colledge2006}}
{{Type C1-S ships}}
{{Empire ships}}
{{Cunard ships}}
{{July 1944 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire Broadsword}}
Category:Ships built in Los Angeles
Category:Ministry of War Transport ships
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Troop ships of the United Kingdom
Category:World War II shipwrecks in the English Channel