SS Empire Explorer
{{short description|World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image= | Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name =*Inanda (1925–41)
| Ship owner =*Charente Steamship Co Ltd (1925–41)
| Ship operator =*T & J Harrison Ltd (1925–40)
| Ship registry =*{{Flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} Liverpool, United Kingdom (1925–41)
| Ship route= | Ship ordered = | Ship builder =Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardon Ltd | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 24 February 1925 | Ship completed = May 1925 | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = 9 July 1942 | Ship identification =*United Kingdom Official Number 147310
| Ship fate = Sunk, 9 July 1942 | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class =*Cargo liner (1925–41)
| Ship tonnage =*{{GRT|5,985}}
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|407|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|52|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|25|ft|7+1/4|in|m|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = {{convert|28|ft|5|in|m|2|abbr=on}} | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship sail plan = | Ship power = 606 nhp | Ship propulsion = Quadruple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller | Ship speed = {{convert|13|kn|km/h}} | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = 70, plus 8 DEMS gunners (Empire Explorer) | Ship armament = 1 x 4-in or 4.7-in gun, 8 x machine guns, kites (Empire Explorer) | Ship notes = }} |
{{location map|Caribbean|width=304
|lat=11.667
|long=-60.917
| AlternativeMap = La2-demis-caribbean.png
|caption=Location where Empire Explorer was torpedoed and sunk off Grenada.}}
Empire Explorer was a {{GRT|5,985}} cargo ship that was built as the cargo liner Inanda in 1925 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom for a British shipping line. She was hired by the Royal Navy in 1940 for use as an ocean boarding vessel but was sunk in an air raid London in September 1940. She was salvaged, rebuilt as a cargo ship, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Explorer. She served until 9 July 1942, when she was torpedoed and sunk by {{GS|U-575||2}} in the West Indies.
Description
The ship was built in 1925 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.{{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}}
The ship was {{convert|407|ft|0|in|m|2}} long, with a beam of {{convert|52|ft|2|in|m|2}}. She had a depth of {{convert|28|ft|5|in|m|2}}, and a draught of {{convert|25|ft|7+1/4|in|m}}. She was assessed at {{GRT|5,985}}, {{NRT|3,746}},{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0563.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |accessdate=15 September 2011}} 6,900 DWT.{{cite web |url=http://www.benjidog.co.uk/allen/index_files/Page10057.htm |title=Harrison Line E - R |publisher=Brian Watson |accessdate=15 September 2011}}
The ship was propelled by a 606 nhp quadruple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of {{convert|26|in|cm}}, {{convert|36|in|cm}}, {{convert|52|in|cm}} and {{convert|76|in|cm}} diameter by {{convert|54|in|cm}} stroke. The engine was built by the Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. It drove a single screw propeller, and could propel the ship at {{convert|13|kn|km/h}}.
History
Inanda was launched on 24 February 1925,{{cite web |url=http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8513 |title=Inanda (T&J Harrison) |publisher=Ship Stamps |accessdate=15 September 2011}} and was completed in May. She was built for the Charente Steamship Co Ltd and placed under the management of T & J Harrison Ltd. Her port of registry was Liverpool. She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 137410 and Code Letters KSNF. On 3 February 1932, Inanda was on a voyage from London to the West Indies when she suffered a broken propeller. She put into Swansea, Glamorgan for repairs.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=News in Brief |date=4 February 1932 |page=9 |issue=46048 |column=G }} Following the changes to Code Letters in 1934, Inanda was allocated GLMB.{{cite web |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/37/37b0417.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |accessdate=15 September 2011}} In August 1936, Inanda brought George "Dod" Orsborne and his brother James back to the United Kingdom from Georgetown, British Guiana, where they had taken the Grimsby trawler {{ship||Girl Pat|1935 trawler|2}} without authority.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Telegrams in Brief |date=15 August 1936 |page=9 |issue=47454 |column=G }}
Inanda was a member of Convoy OA 7, which departed from Southend, Essex on 19 September 1939 and dispersed at sea on 22 September. She was bound for Antigua,{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/oa/index.html?oa.php?convoy=7!~oamain |title=Convoy OA.7 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} where she arrived on 3 October. She departed that day and sailed to Saint Kitts, arriving later that day. On 4 October, Inanda sailed for Grenada, arriving on 6 October and departing that day for Trinidad, where she arrived the next day. On 9 October, she sailed for Demarara, British Guiana, arriving the next day and departing on 14 October for Trinidad, where she arrived on 15 October. Departing on 20 October, Saint Vincent and Grenada were visited before Inanda arrived at Saint Lucia, from where she sailed on 25 October for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She arrived on 2 November, sailing on 8 November as a member of Convoy HXF 8,{{cite web |url=http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=INANDA~armain |title=INANDA |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} which arrived at Dover, Kent, United Kingdom on 21 November. Inanda was carrying general cargo, rum and sugar.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hxf/index.html?hxf.php?convoy=8!~hxfmain |title=Convoy HXF.8 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} She then sailed to Southend to join Convoy FN 46, which departed on 1 December and arrived at Methil, Fife the next day.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fn/index.html?fn.php?convoy=0046!~fnmain |title=Convoy FN.46 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} She left the convoy at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire on 2 December.
Inanda sailed from Middlesbrough on 11 December to join Convoy FS 53, which had sailed from Methil that day and arrived at Southend on 12 December.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fs/index.html?fs.php?convoy=0053!~fsmain |title=Convoy FS.53 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} She then joined Convoy OA 53, which sailed on 14 December and dispersed at sea on 16 December. She was carrying a cargo of sulphite as well as a number of passengers and her captain was the convoy's Vice Commodore. Inanda was bound for Demerara,{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/oa/index.html?oa.php?convoy=53!~oamain |title=Convoy OA.53 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} which was reached on 9 January 1940 via Barbados and Trinidad. She departed on 13 January for Montserrat, from where she sailed on 15 January for Trinidad. She departed on 16 January for Galveston, Texas, United States, arriving on 22 January and sailing on 3 February for Halifax, where she arrived on 13 February. Inanda was a member of Convoy HX 20, which departed on 16 February and arrived at Liverpool on 4 March. She was carrying general cargo.{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx20.html |title=CONVOY HX 20 |publisher=Warsailors |accessdate=15 September 2011}}
Inanda departed from Liverpool on 29 March as a member of Convoy OB 119, which dispersed at sea on 1 April. She was performing the rôle of a convoy rescue ship and sailed to London after the convoy had dispersed.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ob/index.html?ob119.htm~obmain |title=Convoy OB.119 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} She then sailed to Southend, from where she departed on 8 April as a member of Convoy OA 125G, which formed Convoy OG 25 on 10 April. Inanda was carrying general cargo bound for Antigua,{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/oa/index.html?oa.php?convoy=125G!~oamain |title=Convoy OA.125G |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} arriving on 24 April and sailing that day for Saint Kitts, where she arrived on 24 April. She sailed the next day for Saint Lucia, from where she departed on 26 April for Grenada, arriving on 29 April. She spent the next few weeks sailing around the West Indies, arriving at Bermuda on 20 May. Carrying general cargo, Inanda was a member of Convoy BHX 64, which departed on 7 August and joined with convoy HX 64 on 12 August.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/bhx/index.html?bhx.php?convoy=64!~bhxmain |title=Convoy BHX.64 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} Convoy HX 64 departed from Halifax on 8 August and arrived at Liverpool on 23 August. Inanda was bound for London,{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx64.html |title=CONVOY HX 64 |publisher=Warsailors |accessdate=15 September 2011}} which was reached by leaving the convoy and sailing to the Methil Roads, where she arrived on 24 August. She then joined Convoy FS 262, which departed on 25 August and arrived at Southend on 27 August.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fs/index.html?fs.php?convoy=0262!~fsmain |title=Convoy FS.262 = Convoy FS.62 / Phase 3 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}}
Inanda was then hired by the Royal Navy for use as an ocean boarding vessel. On 7 September, she was berthed at London Docks when she was sunk in an air raid. She was salvaged and rebuilt as a cargo ship. Inanda was renamed Empire Explorer, she was passed to the MoWT and placed under the management of T & J Harrison Ltd. Her port of registry was changed to London although she retained the Code Letters GLMB.{{cite web |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/41/41b0993.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |accessdate=15 September 2011}}
Empire Explorer was a member of Convoy FN 632, which departed from Southend on 15 February 1942 and arrived at Methil two days later.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fn/index.html?fn.php?convoy=0632!~fnmain |title=Convoy FN.632 = Convoy FN.32 / Phase 7 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} She left the convoy at the Tyne on 16 February,{{cite web |url=http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=EMPIRE%20EXPLORER~armain |title=EMPIRE EXPLORER |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} to load general cargo. She sailed four days later to join Convoy FN 636, which had departed from Southend on 19 February and arrived at Methil on 21 February.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fn/index.html?fn.php?convoy=0636!~fnmain |title=Convoy FN.636 = Convoy FN.36 / Phase 7 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} She then joined Convoy EN 50, which departed the next day and arrived at Oban, Argyllshire on 23 February.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/en/index.html?en.php?convoy=50!~enmain |title=Convoy EN.50 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} She left the convoy at Loch Ewe and sailed to Saint Kitts, arriving on 17 March. Empire Explorer spent the next five weeks sailing around the West Indies, arriving at the Cape Verde Islands on 20 April and sailing two days later for Halifax, where she arrived on 30 April. She joined Convoy HX 188, which departed on 3 May and arrived at Liverpool on 15 May. She was carrying general cargo, sugar and 38 bags of mail.{{cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx188.html |title=CONVOY HX 188 |publisher=Warsailors |accessdate=15 September 2011}} She left the convoy at the Clyde, arriving on 15 May.
Empire Explorer sailed on 1 June to join Convoy OS 30, which departed from Liverpool that day and arrived at Freetown, Sierra Leone on 19 June. She was in ballast and armed with a 4-inch or 4.7-inch gun, eight machine guns and a number of kites. She was stated to be bound for George, South Africa.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/oskms/index.html?os030.htm~osmain |title=Convoy OS.30 |publisher=Convoyweb |accessdate=15 September 2011}} She arrived at Demerara on 21 June, sailing nine days later for Trinidad, where she arrived on 1 July. Empire Explorer sailed from Trinidad on 8 July, carrying 200 bags of mail, {{convert|1000|LT|t}} of pitch and {{convert|4000|LT|t}} of sugar and bound for Barbados. At 02:47 German time on 9 July, Empire Explorer was torpedoed, shelled and sunk at {{coord|11|40|N|60|55|W|display=inline,title}} by {{GS|U-575||2}}, which was in the command of Günther Heydemann. Of her 70 crew and 8 DEMS gunners, three crew were killed. The survivors were rescued by HMS MTB 337 and landed at Tobago.{{cite web|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1911.html |title=Empire Explorer |publisher=Uboat |accessdate=15 September 2011}}
Those killed serving on Inanda and Empire Explorer are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.{{cite web |url=http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Iddesleigh%20to%20Indier.html |title=Iddesleigh to Indier |publisher=Brian Davis |accessdate=15 September 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Empire%20Eve%20to%20Empire%20Ghyll.html |title=Empire Eve to Empire Ghyll |publisher=Brian Davis |accessdate=15 September 2011}}
Inanda has been depicted on postage stamps issued by Barbados and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/attachment.php?s=9d28ff8dd0e4046be4ddfa5cf8ca2392&attachmentid=15822&d=1275421929 Photo of Inanda as a cargo liner]
{{September 1940 shipwrecks}}
{{Empire ships}}
{{July 1942 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire Explorer}}
Category:Ships built on the River Tyne
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom
Category:Ministry of War Transport ships
Category:Maritime incidents in September 1940
Category:Maritime incidents in July 1942
Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War II