Empire Florizel was a cargo ship that was built in 1943 by Lithgows, Greenock, Renfrewshire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She had a short career, being bombed and sunk during the Allied invasion of Sicily exactly three months after her launch.
The ship was 432feet long between perpendiculars (447feet overall), with a beam of 56feet. She had a depth of 34feet and a draught of 26feet. She was assessed at, .[1]
The ship was propelled by a 520 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 23½ inches (60 cm), 37½ inches (96 cm) and 68inches diameter by 48inches stroke. The engine was built by John Brown & Co. Ltd, Clydebank, Renfrewshire.[1] It drove a single screw propeller.
The ship was built in 1943 by Lithgows Ltd, Greenock, Renfrewshire. She was yard number 990.[2] She was launched on 21 April 1943.[3] Her port of registry was Greenock.[1] The Code Letters BFGY andUnited Kingdom Official Number 169503 were allocated.[4] Empire Florizel was operated under the management of J & G Harrison & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, Renfrewshire.[1] Her 48 crew were supplemented by 21 DEMS gunners.
Carrying 4,000 tons of military and invasion stores and fourteen passengers,[5] Empire Florizel made her maiden voyage as a member of Convoy KMS 96G,[6] which departed from the Clyde on 25 June 1943 and passed Gibraltar on 6 July.[7] Redesignated KMS 19, the convoy arrived at Algiers, Algeria on 8 July in preparation for Operation Husky.[6] Redesignated KMS 19Y, the convoy departed from Algiers on 14 July and arrived at Augusta, Sicily, Italy on 20 July.[8] Empire Florizel was bombed and sunk at Augusta on 21 July.[3] Two of her crew, four gunners and three passengers were killed.[5] The two crew members killed are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.[9]
