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SS Empire Adventure was a 5,787-ton steamship built in 1920 as the Eastney. She was sold to France in 1924 and renamed Germaine L D. In 1931 she was sold to Italy, being renamed Andrea, being seized in 1940 and renamed Empire Adventure. She was torpedoed on the night of 20/21 September 1940 and sank while under tow on 23 September 1940.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Builder | Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland[1] |
| Yard number | 256 |
| Launched | 13 October 1920 |
| Completed | February 1921 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Torpedoed by U-138 night of 20/21 September 1940, sank 23 September 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 5,145 GRT |
| Length | 375 ft (114.30 m) |
| Beam | 51 ft 2 in (15.60 m) |
| Depth | 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m) |
| Propulsion | 1 x triple expansion steam engine (Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd, Newcastle) 370 hp (280 kW) NHP. |
| Speed | 11 knots (20 km/h) |
| Complement | 39 |
Sunk
Torpedoed
Location of the torpedo attack and sinking of Empire Adventure
Eastney was built by the Northumberland Shipping Co, Howdon, Wallsend,[2] as yard number 356.[3] She was owned and operated by the Romney Steamship Co, London. In 1924, Eastney was sold to L Dreyfus & Co, France, and renamed Germaine L D.[2] On 25 March 1929, she was in collision with Alice Marie in the North Sea off Vlissingen, Netherlands. She was beached at Rammekens for temporary repairs to be carried out.[4] Germaine L D was refloated the next day.[5] On 3 March 1931, she collided with Southborough at Rotterdam, Netherlands. Southborough sustained some damage but Germaine L D was undamaged.[6] On 23 March 1932, she ran aground at Buenos Aires, Argentina, but was freed the next day with assistance from a tug. No damage was sustained.[7] In 1932, Germaine L D was sold to Società Anonima di Navigazione Corrado, Genoa, and renamed Andrea. In June 1940, Andrea was seized at Newcastle upon Tyne and renamed Empire Adventure.[2]
- Convoy OB 216
Convoy OB 216 departed from Liverpool on 19 September 1940.[8] During the night of 20/21 September 1940, Empire Adventure was torpedoed by U-138[9] 52 miles (84 km) northwest of Rathlin Island[10] 55°11′N 11°30′W.[11] Although taken in tow by HMS Superman, Empire Adventure sank on 23 September 1940 at 55°48′N 07°22′W. A total of 21 of the 39 crew were killed.[10] The survivors were picked up by HMS Arabis[8] and the Swedish merchantman Industria and landed at Belfast.[10] Those lost on Empire Adventure are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[12]
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.
Eastney and Empire Adventure had the UK Official Number 146165[13] Andrea had the Italian Official Number 1829.[14]
Andrea used the Code Letters NDAT[14] and IBXA.[15] Empire Adventure used the Code Letters GLXW.[13]
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