Empire Engineer was a refrigerated cargo ship that was built in 1921 as Canadian Commander by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was sold to an Italian firm in 1932 and renamed Giaocchino Lauro. She was seized by the United Kingdom in 1940, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Engineer. She served until 4 February 1941 when she was torpedoed and sunk by .
The SS Empire Engineer was built in 1920 by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal.[1] She was yard number 79.[2]
The ship was 400feet long, with a beam of 52feet. She had a depth of 28feet, and a draught of 25feet.[3] She was assessed at, .[4] 8,400 DWT.[1]
The ship was propelled by a 520 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 27inches, 44inches and 73inches diameter by 48inches stroke. The engine was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal.[3] She had 10325cuft of refrigerated cargo space. Refrigeration machinery was by the Lightfoot Refrigeration Co Ltd.[5]
Canadian Commander was launched in 1920,[1] with completion in April 1921.[3] She was built for the Canadian Government and operated by the Canadian Government Merchant Marine Ltd (GCMM). Her port of registry was Montreal, under the British flag. The United Kingdom Official Number 141832 and Code Letters TQDW were allocated.[3] On 3 July 1922, Canadian Commander ran aground at Saint Pierre and Miquelon. She was refloated on 16 July.[6] Following the demise of CGMM in 1928,[7] Canadian Commander was transferred to Canadian Commander Ltd and placed under the management of Canadian National Steamships Ltd.[3]
In 1932, Canadian Commander was sold to Achille Lauro, Naples, Italy and renamed Gioacchino Lauro.[8] Her port of registry was Naples. The Italian Official Number 383 was allocated. From 1934, her Code Letters were IBOG. She was assessed as, .[9] On 10 June 1940, Gioacchino Lauro was in port at Hartlepool, Co Durham when Italy declared war against the United Kingdom.[8] The ship and her cargo were seized as a prize of war,[10] Gioacchino Lauro was passed to the MoWT and renamed Empire Engineer.[8]
Empire Engineer was placed under the management of Weidner, Hopkins & Co Ltd. She regained her previous Official Number. The Code Letters GLYG were allocated. Her port of registry was West Hartlepool, Co Durham. She was assessed at, .[11]
Little is known of her war service. She was a member of Convoy OA 216, which departed from Methil, Fife on 18 September 1940 and joined Convoy OB 216 at sea on 21 September. Empire Engineer was in ballast and bound for Baltimore, Maryland.[12] Empire Engineer was a member of Convoy SC 20, which departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 22 January 1941 and arrived at Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom on 8 February. She was carrying a cargo of steel ingots bound for Newport, Monmouthshire.[13] Empire Engineer straggled behind the convoy. At 16:44 German time on 4 February, she was hit by a torpedo fired by and sank within four minutes at 54.35°N -38°W. Although some survivors were known to have taken to liferafts, all 39 crew were lost.[14] They are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[15]
