SS Empire Clive explained

Empire Clive was a cargo ship which was built in 1941 by Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). During the Second World War, she served as a CAM ship, armed with a Hawker Hurricane aircraft. In 1946 she was sold and renamed Charlebury. In 1958, she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Isabel Erica. She served until 1969 when she was scrapped.

Description

The ship was built by Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead as yard number 1061.[1] She was launched on 28 July 1941 and completed in August.[2]

The ship was 432feet long, with a beam of 56feet and a depth of 34feet. She had a GRT of 7,069 and a NRT of 5,194.[3]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of NaNinches, NaNinches and 68inches diameter by 48inches stroke. The engine was built by Cammell Laird.

History

Empire Clive was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of Capper, Alexander & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Liverpool. The Code Letters BCNM and United Kingdom Official Number 168801 were allocated.[3]

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

SC 58Convoy SC 58 departed from Sydney, Cape Breton on 4 December 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 21 December. Empire Clive was due to sail with this convoy.[4]
HX 164Convoy HX 164 departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on 8 December 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 23 December. Empire Clive was listed in this convoy, but sailed with Convoy SC 59.[5]
SC 59Convoy SC 59 departed from Sydney, Cape Breton on 10 December 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 27 December. Empire Clive, at the time a CAM ship, sailed with this convoy. She was carrying general cargo bound for Avonmouth, Somerset.[6]

On 19 July 1942, Empire Clive loaded ten Supermarine Spitfire aircraft. They were delivered to Malta on 3 August.[7] [8] [9]

MKS 16Convoy MKS 16 departed from Gibraltar on 9 July 1943. It joined Convoy SL 132 at sea on 10 July and arrived at Liverpool on 22 July. Empire Clive was carrying a cargo of phosphates bound for Glasgow.[10]

In 1946, Empire Clive was sold to Alexander Shipping Co Ltd and was renamed Charlebury. She was placed under the management of Houlder Bros Ltd, London. In 1958, she was sold to the Red Anchor Line, Hong Kong and renamed Isabel Erica In 1963, she was sold to the St Merryn Shipping Co, and placed under the management of C Moller & Co, Hong Kong. Isabel Erica was scrapped in August 1969 in Hong Kong.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of vessels constructed by Cammell Laird shipbuilders . Wirral Archives . 22 April 2010 . 10 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101010005137/http://www.mikekemble.com/mside/lairds.html . usurped .
  2. 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.
  3. Web site: LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS . Plimsoll Ship Data . 22 April 2010.
  4. Web site: CONVOY SC 58 . Warsailors . 22 April 2010.
  5. Web site: CONVOY HX 164 . Warsailors . 22 April 2010.
  6. Web site: CONVOY SC 59 . Warsailors . 22 April 2010.
  7. Web site: Spitfire aircraft production page 037 . Spitfires . 22 April 2010.
  8. Web site: Spitfire aircraft production page 039 . Spitfires . 22 April 2010.
  9. The aircraft were Mk.V serial numbers EP152, EP186, EP188 and EP199, also delivered were Mk.VbT serial numbers EP551, EP573, EP606, EP612, EP619 and EP621
  10. Web site: CONVOY MKS 16 . Warsailors . 22 April 2010.

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