SS Empire Crossbill
{{short description|World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom}}
{{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 =*West Amargosa (1919–41)
| Ship owner =*United States Shipping Board (1919–37)
| Ship operator =*United American Lines (1919–21)
| Ship registry =*{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Los Angeles, USA (1919–40)
| Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Company | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 11 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 25 September 1918 | Ship completed = March 1919 | Ship commissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = 11 September 1941 | Ship identification =*United States Official Number 217631 (1919–40)
| Ship fate = Torpedoed and sunk | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Cargo ship | Ship tonnage =*{{GRT|5,463}}
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|410|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}} between perpendiculars | Ship beam = {{convert|54|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|23|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = {{convert|27|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship range = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller | Ship speed = {{convert|11|kn|km/h}} | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = | Ship notes = | Ship complement = 38 + 10 DEMS gunners (Empire Crossbill) | Ship armament = }} |
{{location map|Greenland|width=304
|lat=63.233
|long=-37.2
|caption=Location of the sinking of Empire Crossbill off Greenland.
}}
Empire Crossbill was a {{GRT|5463|link=off}} Design 1013 cargo ship that was completed in 1919 by Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, San Pedro, California, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). She was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) in 1937 and the Ministry of Transport (MoT) in 1941, serving until she was torpedoed and sunk on 11 September 1941 by {{GS|U-82|1941|2}} in the Atlantic Ocean while a member of Convoy SC 42.
Description
The ship was built in 1919 by Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, San Pedro, California.{{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 11.{{cite web |url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/inactive/toddsanpedro.htm |title=Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro CA (formerly Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company) |publisher=Ship Building History |access-date=6 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922163235/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/inactive/toddsanpedro.htm |archive-date=22 September 2008 |df=dmy-all }}
The ship was {{convert|410|ft|0|in|m|2}} long between perpendiculars, with a beam of {{convert|54|ft|4|in|m}}. She had a depth of {{convert|27|ft|2|in|m|2}},{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b1291.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=7 July 2011}} and a draught of {{convert|23|ft|m|1}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?30919 |title=SS Empire Crossbill (+1941) |publisher=Wrecksite |access-date=6 May 2011}} She was assessed at {{GRT|3,750}}, {{NRT|3,411}}. Her DWT was 6,800.
The ship was propelled by a 359 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of {{convert|28+1/2|in|cm}}, {{convert|47|in|cm}} and {{convert|78|in|cm}} diameter by {{convert|48|in|cm}} stroke. The engine was built by Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation.
History
West Amargosa was built for the USSB. She was completed in March 1919, The United States Official Number 217631 and Code Letters LQBW were allocated. West Amargosa was chartered by United American Lines until 1921, operating the Plymouth – Gibraltar – Tunis – New York route.{{cite web |url=http://www.ellisisland.org/shipping/Formatship.asp?shipid=2617 |title=West Amargosa |publisher=Ellis Island |access-date=6 May 2011}} With the change of Code Letters in 1934, she was allocated KLCP.{{cite web |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/37/37b0942.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=7 July 2011}} In 1937, she was transferred to the USMC and laid up as part of the reserve fleet.{{cite web |url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1105.html |title=Empire Crossbill |publisher=Uboat |access-date=6 May 2011}}
In 1940, West Amargosa was transferred to the MoWT. She was initially operated under the management of Sir W. Reardon Smith & Sons.{{cite web |url=http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireC.html |title=EMPIRE – C |publisher=Mariners |access-date=6 May 2011}} Management was later transferred to John Morrison & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. West Amargosa was due to join Convoy HX 119, which departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 6 April 1941 and arrived at Liverpool, Lancashire on 22 April. She was recorded as carrying a cargo of scrap iron bound for Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx119.html |title=CONVOY HX 119A & HX 119B |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=6 May 2011}} Instead, she joined Convoy SC 28, which departed from Halifax on 9 April and arrived at Liverpool on 28 April. Her destination was now given as West Hartlepool, Co Durham.{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/sc28.html |title=CONVOY SC 28 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=6 May 2011}} She left the convoy at the Clyde, joining Convoy WN 228, which departed the Clyde on 1 May and arrived at Methil, Fife on 5 May.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/wn/index.html?wn.php?convoy=122!~wnmain |title=Convoy WN.122 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=6 May 2011}}
West Amargosa was renamed Empire Crossbill. She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 168177 and Code Letters MLNP. Her port of registry was London.{{cite web |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/40/40a1068.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=7 July 2011}} She departed Middlesbrough on 30 May for the Tyne, returning to Middlesbrough on 2 June and departing the same day for the Tyne again. On 10 June,{{cite web |url=http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=EMPIRE%20CROSSBILL~armain |title=EMPIRE CROSSBILL |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=6 May 2011}} she joined Convoy EC 31, which had departed from Southend, Essex on 9 June and arrived at Loch Ewe on 14 June.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ec/index.html?ec.php?convoy=31!~ecmain |title=Convoy EC.31 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=6 May 2011}} She then joined Convoy OB 334, which departed from Liverpool on 11 June and arrived at Halifax on 25 June.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ob2/index.html?ob.php?convoy=334!~obmain |title=Convoy OB.334 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=6 May 2011}} She left the convoy at St John's, Newfoundland on 24 June. Empire Crossbill departed St. John's that day for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, arriving on 2 July.
Empire Crossbill departed Philadelphia on 22 August for Halifax, where she arrived on 25 August, departing the same day for Sydney, Cape Breton, Canada. Empire Crossbill was a member of Convoy SC 42, which departed Sydney on 30 August 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 15 September.{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/sc42.html |title=CONVOY SC 42 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=6 May 2011}} She was stated to be carrying 6,686 tons of steel and four tons of relief goods, although it is also stated that she was carrying a cargo of explosives.{{cite web |url=http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=history/other/sea/secondintensifies |title=Valour at Sea 1941 – The War Intensifies |publisher=Veterans Affairs Canada |access-date=6 May 2011}} At 03:11 GMT on 11 September,{{cite web |url=http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-432INT.htm |title=REPORT ON INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM "U 432," A 500-TON U-BOAT SUNK AT ABOUT 1200 G.M.T. ON 11th MARCH, 1943 |publisher=U-boat Archive |access-date=6 May 2011 |archive-date=26 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026232825/http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-432INT.htm |url-status=dead }} Empire Crossbill was torpedoed and sunk by {{GS|U-82|1941|2}} at {{coord|63|14|N|37|12|W}}. All 38 crew, ten DEMS gunners and her single passenger were killed. Those lost on Empire Crossbill 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 }}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Design 1013 ships}}
{{Los Angeles SB&DDC and Todd, Los Angeles ships}}
{{Empire ships}}
{{September 1941 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire Crossbill}}
Category:Ships built in Los Angeles
Category:Steamships of the United States
Category:Merchant ships of the United States
Category:Design 1013 ships of the Ministry of War Transport
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Maritime incidents in September 1941