SS Empire Clive
{{short description|World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name =*Empire Clive (1941-46)
| Ship owner =*Ministry of War Transport (1941-46)
| Ship operator =*Capper, Alexander & Co Ltd (1941-46)
| Ship registry =*{{Flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} Liverpool (1941-46)
| Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Cammell Laird & Co Ltd | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 1061 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 28 July 1941 | Ship completed = August 1941 | Ship commissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship identification =*Code Letters BCNM (1941-58)
| Ship fate = Scrapped | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Cargo ship | Ship tonnage =*{{GRT|7,069}}
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|432|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|56|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship depth = {{convert|34|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship sail plan = | Ship power = Triple expansion steam engine | Ship propulsion = Screw propeller | Ship speed = | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = | Ship notes = | Ship armament = 1 x Hawker Hurricane aircraft (Empire Clive) }} |
Empire Clive was a {{GRT|7069|link=off}} cargo ship which was built in 1941 by Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). During the Second World War, she served as a CAM ship, armed with a Hawker Hurricane aircraft. In 1946 she was sold and renamed Charlebury. In 1958, she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Isabel Erica. She served until 1969 when she was scrapped.
Description
The ship was built by Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead as yard number 1061.{{cite web |url=http://www.mikekemble.com/mside/lairds.html |title=List of vessels constructed by Cammell Laird shipbuilders |publisher=Wirral Archives |access-date=22 April 2010 |archive-date=10 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010005137/http://www.mikekemble.com/mside/lairds.html |url-status=usurped }} She was launched on 28 July 1941 and completed in August.{{cite book | first = and Sawyer, L A| last = Mitchell, W H | year = 1995| title = The Empire Ships| publisher = Lloyd's of London Press Ltd| location = London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong|isbn=1-85044-275-4}}
The ship was {{convert|432|ft|2|in|m|2}} long, with a beam of {{convert|56|ft|2|in|m|2}} and a depth of {{convert|34|ft|2|in|m|2}}. She had a GRT of 7,069 and a NRT of 5,194.{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/41/41b0988.pdf|title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=22 April 2010}}
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of {{convert|23+1/2|in|cm}}, {{convert|37+1/2|in|cm}} and {{convert|68|in|cm}} diameter by {{convert|48|in|cm}} stroke. The engine was built by Cammell Laird.
History
Empire Clive was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of Capper, Alexander & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Liverpool. The Code Letters BCNM and United Kingdom Official Number 168801 were allocated.
Empire Clive was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.
;SC 58
Convoy SC 58 departed from Sydney, Cape Breton on 4 December 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 21 December. Empire Clive was due to sail with this convoy.{{cite web|url=http://warsailors.com/convoys/sc58.html |title=CONVOY SC 58 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=22 April 2010}}
;HX 164
Convoy HX 164 departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on 8 December 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 23 December. Empire Clive was listed in this convoy, but sailed with Convoy SC 59.{{cite web|url=http://warsailors.com/convoys/hx164.html |title=CONVOY HX 164 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=22 April 2010}}
;SC 59
Convoy SC 59 departed from Sydney, Cape Breton on 10 December 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 27 December. Empire Clive, at the time a CAM ship, sailed with this convoy. She was carrying general cargo bound for Avonmouth, Somerset.{{cite web|url=http://warsailors.com/convoys/sc59.html |title=CONVOY SC 59 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=22 April 2010}}
On 19 July 1942, Empire Clive loaded ten Supermarine Spitfire aircraft. They were delivered to Malta on 3 August.{{cite web|url=http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/p037.htm |title=Spitfire aircraft production page 037 |publisher=Spitfires |access-date=22 April 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/p039.htm |title=Spitfire aircraft production page 039 |publisher=Spitfires |access-date=22 April 2010}}The aircraft were Mk.V serial numbers EP152, EP186, EP188 and EP199, also delivered were Mk.VbT serial numbers EP551, EP573, EP606, EP612, EP619 and EP621
;MKS 16
Convoy MKS 16 departed from Gibraltar on 9 July 1943. It joined Convoy SL 132 at sea on 10 July and arrived at Liverpool on 22 July. Empire Clive was carrying a cargo of phosphates bound for Glasgow.{{cite web|url=http://warsailors.com/convoys/mks16.html |title=CONVOY MKS 16 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=22 April 2010}}
In 1946, Empire Clive was sold to Alexander Shipping Co Ltd and was renamed Charlebury. She was placed under the management of Houlder Bros Ltd, London. In 1958, she was sold to the Red Anchor Line, Hong Kong and renamed Isabel Erica In 1963, she was sold to the St Merryn Shipping Co, and placed under the management of C Moller & Co, Hong Kong. Isabel Erica was scrapped in August 1969 in Hong Kong.
References
{{reflist}}
{{CAM ships}}
{{Empire ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire Clive}}
Category:Ships built on the River Mersey
Category:Ministry of War Transport ships
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom