Letchworth was a cargo ship which was built in 1942 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) as Empire Caxton. In 1945 she was sold and renamed Letchworth. In 1956 she was sold and renamed Peterland. In 1959, she was sold to Greece and renamed Pamit, being renamed Christos when sold again in 1962. She served until 1967 when she ran aground and then sank.
The ship was built by William Gray & Co. Ltd., West Hartlepool. She was launched on 31 March 1942 and completed in May.[1]
The ship was 315feet long, with a beam of 46feet and a depth of 23feet. She had a GRT of 2,873 and a NRT of 1,693.[2]
She was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 20inches, 31inches and 55inches diameter by 55inches stroke. The engine was built by the Central Marine Engine Works, West Hartlepool.[2]
Empire Caxton was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of Martyn, Martyn & Co Ltd. She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 168940. The Code Letters BDVW were allocated and her port of registry was West Hartlepool.[2]
Empire Caxton was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.
In 1945, Empire Caxton was sold to the Watergate Steamship Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne and was renamed Letchworth. She was placed under the management of R S Dalgleish Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Her port of registry was changed to Newcastle upon Tyne.[5] In 1956, Letchworth was sold to Sagaland Ltd and was renamed Peterland. She was operated under the management of Buries, Markes LTd.[1] In 1959, Peterland was sold to Padre Compagnia Navigazione SA, Greece and renamed Pamit. She was operated under the management of A Halcoussis & Co.[1]
In 1962, Pamit was sold to Solmare Compania Maritima SA and was renamed Christos.[1] She was reflagged to Liberia.[6] Christos was operated under the management on T Samourkas, Greece. On 31 March 1967, she ran aground on Kandeliusa Island, near Kos. Although she was refloated the next day, Christos developed a number of leaks and sank at 36.5333°N 83°W.[1]