Empire Chaucer was a cargo ship which was built in 1942 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in May 1942, she had a short career, being torpedoed and sunk by on 17 October 1942.
The ship was built by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was launched on 18 March 1942 and completed in May 1942.[1]
The ship was 401feet long, with a beam of 54feet and a depth of 33feet. She had a GRT of 5,970 and a NRT of 3,501.[2]
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of NaNinches, 38inches and 66inches diameter by 45inches stroke.[2]
Empire Chaucer was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of W J Tatem Ltd,[2] Cardiff.[3] Her port of registry was Sunderland. The Code Letters BDVX and United Kingdom Official Number 169018 were allocated.[2]
In October 1942, Empire Chaucer departed Calcutta, India bound for the United Kingdom via Durban and Cape Town, South Africa and then via Trinidad. She was carrying a cargo of 2,000 tons of pig iron and 6,500 tons of general cargo, including mail and tea.[3]
Empire Chaucer departed Durban on 13 October bound for Cape Town. At 06:15 on 17 October, Empire Chaucer was torpedoed and sunk 450nmi south of Cape Town (-38.2°N 24°W) by with the loss of three crew. The remaining 46 crew and a passenger took to the lifeboats. Twelve survivors, including the Captain, were rescued by and landed at Trinidad. Fifteen survivors spent 23 days in a lifeboat before being rescued by . They were landed at Cape Town. The remaining 20 survivors landed at Bredasdorp on 31 October.[3] Those lost on Empire Chaucer are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[4]