SS Empire Dorado
{{short description|World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name =*Tolosa (1920-40)
| Ship owner =*United States Shipping Board (1920-37)
| Ship operator =*United States Shipping Board (1920-37)
| Ship registry =*{{flagicon|United States}} Portsmouth, United States (1920-1940)
| Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Atlantic Corporation | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 8 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 1920 | Ship completed = September 1920 | Ship commissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship identification =*United States Official Number 220353 (1920–40)
| Ship fate = Sank after a collision | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Design 1019 cargo ship | Ship tonnage =*{{GRT|5,500}} (1920-40)
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|411|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|54|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship depth = {{convert|29|ft|9|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 | Ship speed = | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = | Ship notes = | Ship armament = }} |
{{location map|North Atlantic|width=304
|lat=57.967
|long=-20.633
|caption=Location where Empire Dorado sank.
}}
Empire Dorado was a {{GRT|5,595}} design 1019 cargo ship that was built in 1920 as Tolosa by Atlantic Corporation, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), passing to the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) in 1937. She was sold to the United Kingdom in 1940, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Dorado. She served until November 1941, when she was in collision with another ship. Although taken in tow, she subsequently sank.
Description
The ship was built in 1920 by Atlantic Corporation, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.{{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 8.{{cite web |url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergencylarge/wwone/atlantic.htm |title=Atlantic Corp., Portsmouth NH |publisher=Shipbuilding History |access-date=29 June 2011}}
The ship was {{convert|411|ft|2|in|m|2}} long, with a beam of {{convert|54|ft|2|in|m|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://users.xplornet.com/~shipping/ShipsE1.htm |title=Register of Ships Em - Ex |publisher=Gilbert Provost |access-date=29 June 2011}} She had a depth of {{convert|29|ft|9|in|m|2}}.{{cite web |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b1202.pdf |title=Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=15 July 2011}} As built, she was assessed at {{GRT|5,500}}.
The ship was propelled by a 359 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of {{convert|24+1/2|in|cm}}, {{convert|41+1/2|in|cm}} and {{convert|72|in|cm}} diameter by {{convert|48|in|cm}} stroke. The engine was built by Atlantic Corporation. It drove a single screw propeller.
History
Tolosa was launched in 1920 and completed in September of that year. She was built for the USSB. The United States Official Number 220353 and Code Letters MBCN were allocated. Her port of registry was Portsmouth, New Hampshire. On 20 March 1923, the Italian steamship {{SS|Giulia||2}} requested assistance when she was off Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Tolosa responded from {{convert|52|nmi|km}} away..{{Cite newspaper The Times|title=Casualty Reports |date=21 March 1923 |page=19 |issue=43295 |column=D}} In 1937, ownership passed to the USMC.{{cite web |url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?11897 |title=SS Empire Dorado (+1941) |publisher=Wrecksite |access-date=29 June 2011}}
In 1940, Tolosa was sold to the MoWT and was renamed Empire Dorado. She was operated under the management of Runciman (London) Ltd. The United Kingdom Official Number 168017 and Code Letters GLZX were allocated. Her port of registry was London. She was assessed at {{GRT|5595|link=off}}, {{NRT|3,373}}.
Empire Dorado was due to have been a member of Convoy HX 59, which departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on 19 July and arrived at Liverpool, Lancashire on 3 August. She did not sail with the convoy, nor with HX 60,{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx59.html |title=Convoy HX 59|publisher=Warsailors |access-date=29 June 2011}} She sailed with Convoy HX 61, which departed on 27 July and arrived at Liverpool on 11 August. She was carrying a cargo of pig iron bound for Glasgow, but was ordered to return to Halifax. Although due to sail with convoys HX 63, HX 64, HX 65 and HX 66,{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx61.html |title=Convoy HX 61|publisher=Warsailors |access-date=29 June 2011}} she eventually joined Convoy HX 67, which departed on 20 August and arrived at Liverpool on 4 September.{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx67.html |title=Convoy HX 67|publisher=Warsailors |access-date=29 June 2011}}
Empire Dorado was a member of Convoy OB 239, which departed from Liverpool on 4 November 1940. The convoy returned to Oban, Argyllshire, arriving on 8 November.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ob2/index.html?ob.php?convoy=239!~obmain |title=Convoy OB.239 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=29 June 2011}} The reason for the return was that reports were received on 6 November by British Naval Intelligence that {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}} was operating in the Atlantic Ocean. After the convoy scattered, Admiral Hipper called for air support. A squadron of Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Kondors was despatched from Kiel to join Admiral Hipper and her battle group in the attack on Convoy HX 84. As they flew to their destination, OB 239 was spotted and attacked on 8 November. Empire Dorado was bombed by aircraft of I Staffeln, Kampfgeschwader 40, Luftwaffe when she was west of Ireland ({{coord|55|07|N|16|50|W}}), killing three crew.{{cite web |url=http://chilternfixie.wordpress.com/ |title=The Empire Dorado |publisher=The Chiltern Fixie |date=25 November 2010 |access-date=29 June 2011}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/40-11.htm |title=Seekrieg 1940, November |access-date=17 March 2015 |last1=Rohwer |first1=Jürgen |last2=Hümmelchen |first2=Gerhard |work=Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart |language=de }} Empire Dorado issued an SOS, stating that all her lifeboats had been smashed and that she was slowly sinking.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=S.O.S. from another ship |date=9 November 1940 |page=4 |issue=48769 |column=E }} She was towed by {{ship|HMT|Man o' War}} to the Clyde for repairs.{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4011-24NOV01.htm |title=Naval Events, November 1940, Part 1 of 2, Friday 1st – Thursday 14th |publisher=Naval History |access-date=29 June 2011}} Those killed serving on board Empire Dorado are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.{{cite web |url=http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Empire%20Day%20to%20Empire%20Engineer.html |title=Empire Day to Empire Engineer |publisher=Brian Watson |access-date=29 June 2011}}
Empire Dorado was due to have been a member of Convoy ON 19, which departed from Liverpool on 21 September 1941 and dispersed at sea on 7 October. She was to have been in ballast, bound for Baltimore, Maryland, United States, but did not join the convoy.{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/on19.html |title=Convoy ON 19 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=29 June 2011}} She departed from the Clyde on 28 September 1941, joining Convoy ON 21,{{cite web |url=http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=EMPIRE%20DORADO~armain |title=Empire Dorado |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=29 June 2011}} which had departed from Liverpool that day and dispersed at {{coord|45|05|N|52|37|W}} on 14 October.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html?onz.php?convoy=21!~onzmain |title=Convoy ON 21 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=29 June 2011}} She proceeded to Halifax, arriving on 18 October. She sailed from Halifax on 2 November for Sydney, Cape Breton, arriving two days later.
Empire Dorado was to have joined Convoy SC 52, which departed from Sydney on 29 October and returned to Sydney on 5 November, but she did not sail with the convoy.{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/sc52.html |title=Convoy SC 52 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=29 June 2011}} She joined Convoy SC 53, which departed on 4 November and arrived at Liverpool on 24 November. She was carrying general cargo bound for Manchester, Lancashire. On 20 November, Empire Dorado collided with the Greek cargo ship {{SS|Theomitor||2}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/sc53.html |title=Convoy SC 53 |publisher=Warsailors |access-date=29 June 2011}} Although taken in tow by a Royal Navy ship, she sank on 22 November at {{coord|57|58|N|20|38|W}}. All crew were evacuated before the ship sank.
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Design 1019 ships}}
{{Empire ships}}
{{November 1940 shipwrecks}}
{{November 1941 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire Dorado}}
Category:Ships built in New Hampshire
Category:Steamships of the United States
Category:Merchant ships of the United States
Category:Design 1019 ships of the Ministry of War Transport