SS Empire Blessing explained

Empire Blessing was a cargo ship which was built in 1943 by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and operated under the management of W Runciman & Co Ltd. In March 1945, Empire Blessing struck a mine in the Scheldt and sank.

Description

Empire Blessing was a cargo ship. She was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland,[1] as yard number 298. The ship was launched on 1 October 1943 and completed in January 1944. She was 431feet long, with a beam of 56feet and a depth of 35feet.[2] The ship was powered by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of NaNinches, 39inches and 70inches diameter by 48inches stroke. It was manufactured by Worthington Simpson Ltd, Newark-on-Trent.[2]

Career

Empire Blessing was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.

ON 220Convoy ON 220 sailed from Loch Ewe on 15 January 1944, bound for Canada and the United States. Empire Blessing set off in the convoy, but returned to Loch Ewe.[3]
ONS 29Convoy ONS 29 sailed from Oban on 13 February 1944, bound for Canada and the United States.[4]
HX 291Convoy HX 291 departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on 10 May 1944 and arrived at Liverpool on 27 May. Empire Blessing was carrying a cargo of sugar and was bound for the Inverness Firth to await further orders.[5]

Empire Blessing was involved in the Normandy Landings in June 1944.[6] On 19 March 1945, Empire Blessing struck a mine in the River Scheldt at Knocke, Belgium (51.4°N 20°W) and sank. On 13 February 1954, (formerly Empire Seablue) struck the wreck of Empire Blessing and was holed. Although attempts were made to beach Seablue, she sank 5nmi west south west of Vlissingen, Netherlands.[1]

Official Numbers and Code Letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Empire Blessing had the UK Official Number 180054 and used the Code Letters GCTW.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Mitchell, W. H., and Sawyer, L A . 1995 . The Empire Ships . Lloyd's of London Press Ltd . London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong . 1-85044-275-4.
  2. Web site: Lloyd's register, Steamers & Motorships . Plimsoll Ship Data . 25 November 2009.
  3. Web site: ON Convoys – 1941-1945, Convoy ON 201 through ON 2491 . Warsailors . 25 November 2009.
  4. Web site: ONS Convoys – 1943-1945, Convoy ONS 1 through ONS 51 . Warsailors . 25 November 2009.
  5. Web site: CONVOY HX 291 . Warsailors . 25 November 2009.
  6. Web site: Walter Bennett's Experiences . BBC . 25 November 2009.

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