SS Empire Conrad
{{short description|Cargo ship built in 1942}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name =*Empire Conrad (1942-52)
| Ship owner =*Ministry of War Transport (1942-45)
| Ship operator =*Glen & Co Ltd (1942-52)
| Ship registry =*{{Flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} Greenock (1942-52)
| Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Lithgows Ltd | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 963 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 23 March 1942 | Ship completed = May 1942 | Ship commissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = April 1967 | Ship identification =*Code Letters BDTJ (1942-54)
| Ship fate = Scrapped | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Cargo ship | Ship tonnage =*{{GRT|7,009}}
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|434|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|56|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|26|ft|3|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = {{convert|34|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship registry = | Ship power = Triple expansion steam engine | Ship propulsion = Screw propeller | Ship speed = | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = | Ship notes = | Ship armament = }} |
Empire Conrad was a {{GRT|7009|link=off}} cargo ship that was built in 1942 by Charles Connell & Co Ltd, Clydebank for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold to a French company in 1952 and renamed Franta and then resold later that year and renamed Nia. In 1954, she was sold to a Panamanian company and renamed Eugenia. She served until 1967, when she was scrapped.
Description
The ship was built by Lithgow's Ltd, Port Glasgow, as yard number 963. She was launched on 23 March 1942,{{Cite web|url=http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=18288 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403064822/http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=18288 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=3 April 2012 |title=Launched 1942: ss EMPIRE CONRAD |publisher=Clydesite |access-date=1 August 2010}} and completed in May.{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/41/41b0996.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=1 August 2010}}
The ship was {{convert|434|ft|9|in|m|2}} long, with a beam of {{convert|56|ft|2|in|m|2}}. The ship had a depth of {{convert|34|ft|2|in|m|2}} and a draught of {{convert|26|ft|3|in|m|2}}. The ship had a GRT of 7,009 and a NRT of 4,972.
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 J G Kincaird & Co Ltd, Greenock.
History
Empire Conrad was built in 1942 for the MoWT.{{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 placed under the management of Glen & Co Ltd. The Code Letters BDTG and United Kingdom Official Number 168983 were allocated. Her port of registry was Greenock.
On 20 May 1942, Empire Conrad departed from Milford Haven, Wales with a cargo of 32 Spitfires in cases. The aircraft were all Spitfire Mk VcT.{{cite web|url=http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/p029.htm |title=Spitfire aircraft production, page 029 |publisher=Spitfires |access-date=1 August 2010}} Also on board were the ground crew who were to assemble them, a total of over 110 men. Empire Conrad was escorted by the 29th ML Flotilla and the corvette {{HMS|Spirea|K08|2}}. The convoy was later joined by the Minesweepers {{HMS|Hythe|J194|2}} and {{HMS|Rye|J76|2}}. Empire Conrad arrived at Gibraltar on 27 May. The aircraft were transferred to the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Eagle|R05|2}} where they were assembled. On 2 June, Eagle departed from Gibraltar escorted by the cruiser {{HMS|Charybdis|88|2}} and destroyers {{HMS|Antelope|H36|2}}, {{HMS|Ithuriel|H05|2}}, {{HMS|Partridge|G30|2}}, {{HMS|Westcott|D47|2}} and {{HMS|Wishart|D67|2}}. On 3 June, the aircraft were flown off Eagle bound for Malta. Twenty-eight of them arrived safely, with the other four being shot down en route.{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xAH-MaltaSupply02.htm |title=THE SUPPLY OF MALTA 1940-1942, Part 2 of 3 |publisher=Naval History |access-date=21 July 2010}}
Empire Conrad was a member of Convoy HG 84, which departed from Gibraltar on 10 June 1942, and arrived at Liverpool on 20 June. She was carrying iron pyrites and a general cargo and was bound for Leith and Hull.{{cite web|url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hg84.html |title=CONVOY HG 84 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=1 August 2010}}
Empire Conrad was a member of Convoy KMS 15, which departed the United Kingdom on 1 June 1943 bound for Gibraltar and the Mediterranean. She joined the convoy at Tripoli, Libya and left it at Port Said, Egypt.{{cite web|url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/kmsconvoys.html |title=KMS Convoys – 1942-1945, KMS 1 through KMS 30 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=1 August 2010}}
Empire Conrad was a member of Convoy MKS 21, which departed from Alexandria, Egypt on 3 August 1943 and arrived at Gibraltar on 14 August, departing later that day for Liverpool, where it arrived on 25 August. Empire Conrad joined at Gibraltar, she was carrying a cargo of scrap metal and was bound for Manchester.{{cite web|url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/mks21.html |title=CONVOY MKS 21 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=1 August 2010}} In 1945, Empire Conrad was a member of Convoy KMS 92G, which detached from Convoy OS 118 at sea on 29 March.{{cite web|url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/kmsconvoys3.html |title=KMS Convoys – 1942-1945, Convoy KMS 51 through KMS 98 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=1 August 2010}}
On 31 December 1945, {{SS|Empire Perdita||2}} was reported to be adrift in the Mozambique Channel, {{convert|200|nmi|km}} north east of Durban, South Africa. Empire Conrad went to her assistance.{{Cite newspaper The Times|title=British Ship Adrift Off South Africa |date=1 January 1946 |page=3 |issue=50338 |column=E}} In 1952, Empire Conrad was sold to P Atychiades, Marseilles, France and was renamed Franta. She was sold in 1954 to the Refast Steamship Co and was renamed Nia. She was operated under the management of Marcou & Sons Ltd, London. Later that year, she was sold to Ocean Tramp Tankers Corporation, Panama and was renamed Eugenia. She was reflagged to Liberia. In November 1956, Eugenia was one of a number of ships trapped in the Suez Canal, Egypt.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Trapped Ships May Be Freed |date=24 November 1956 |page=6 |issue=53967 |column=A, B }} She served until 1967, and was scrapped at Niihama, Japan in April 1967.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Lithgows ships}}
{{Empire ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire Conrad}}
Category:Ships built on the River Clyde
Category:Ministry of War Transport ships
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom
Category:Merchant ships of France