SS Empire Cowper explained

Empire Cowper was a cargo ship that was built in 1941 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, United Kingdom. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport. Empire Cowper was bombed and sunk on 11 April 1942 whilst a member of Convoy QP 10.

Description

Empire Cowper was built in 1941 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Yard number 682,[1] she was launched on 23 September and completed in December,[2]

The ship was 428feet long, with a beam of 56feet. She had a depth of 35feet and a draught of 27inchesftNaNinchesin (ftin). She was assessed at, .[3] Her DWT was 10,173.[1]

The ship was propelled by a 511 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of NaNinches, NaNinches and 68inches diameter by 48inches stroke. The engine was built by John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank.[3]

History

Empire Cowper was completed in December 1941,[2] and placed under the management of R Chapman & Son.[1] The Official Number 169003 was allocated,[4] as were the Code Letters BCTF.[3]

Empire Cowper was a member of Convoy PQ 13, which departed Loch Ewe on 10 March 1942 and arrived at Murmansk, Soviet Union on 31 March.[5] She arrived at Reykjavík, Iceland on 16 March and departed on 20 March to join the convoy.[6]

Empire Cowper was a member of Convoy QP 10, which departed the Kola Inlet on 10 April and arrived at Reykjavík on 21 April.[7] On 11 April, she was bombed by Junkers Ju 88 aircraft and sunk in the Barents Sea at 71.0167°N 36°W,[2] with the loss of nine of her crew.[8] Those lost on Empire Cowper are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: William Doxford/Pallion Ship Index . John Bage . 25 April 2011 . dead . https://archive.today/20121223172639/http://www.johnbage.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Pallion%20Shipyard%20-%20William%20Doxford%20Ship%20Index.htm . 23 December 2012 . dmy-all .
  2. Book: Mitchell . W.H. . Sawyer . L.A. . 1995 . The Empire Ships . not cited . Lloyd's of London Press Ltd . London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong . 1-85044-275-4.
  3. Web site: LLOYDS'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS . Plimsoll Ship Data . 7 July 2011.
  4. Web site: ON160000 . Mariners . 25 April 2011.
  5. Web site: CONVOY PQ 13 . Warsailors . 25 April 2011.
  6. Web site: Convoy PQ.13 . Convoyweb . 25 April 2011.
  7. Web site: CONVOY QP 10 . Warsailors . 25 April 2011.
  8. Web site: SS Empire Cowper (+1942) . Wrecksite . 25 April 2011.
  9. Web site: Ship Index A-F . Brian Watson . 20 May 2011.