SS Empire Broadsword

Empire Broadsword was a Type C1-S-AY-1 infantry landing ship built in 1943 as Cape Marshall. She was renamed Empire Broadsword before completion and entering into service for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She had a short career, entering service in December 1943 and being sunk by a mine in July 1944.

History
Name	Cape Marshall (1943) Empire Broadsword (1943-44)
Owner	War Shipping Administration
Operator	Cunard White Star Line
Port of registry	London
Builder	Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California
Launched	16 August 1943
Completed	December 1943
Out of service	2 July 1944
Identification	United Kingdom Official Number 169737 Code Letters MYMJ
Fate	Struck a mine and sank
General characteristics
Tonnage	7,177 GRT 4,823 NRT
Length	396 ft 5 in (120.83 m)
Beam	60 ft 1 in (18.31 m)
Depth	35 ft (10.67 m)
Propulsion	Steam turbines, double reduction geared driving a single screw
Armament	1 × 4 in gun 1 × 12 pdr gun 12 × 20mm guns

Location of the sinking of Empire Broadsword.

Construction

The ship was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California as yard number 348. She was launched on 16 August 1943 as Cape Marshall.^[1] She was 396 feet 5 inches (120.83 m) long, with a beam of 60 feet 1 inch (18.31 m) and a depth of 35 feet (10.67 m). She was propelled by two steam turbines which drove a single screw via double reduction gearing. The steam turbine were manufactured by Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Corp, Essington, Pennsylvania.^[2]

Career

The ship was transferred under the terms of lend lease shortly after being completed in 1943 under the name Empire Broadsword.^[3] She was chartered by the MoWT, and was operated under the management of Cunard White Star Line^[2]

Empire Broadsword was mined and sunk off Normandy on July 2, 1944, while supporting the allied invasion of Europe.^[4] Her position is 49°25′N 0°54′W.^[1] Seventy survivors were rescued by USS PC-1225.^[5] The wreck lies on its starboard side in 27 metres (89 ft) of water and is now a dive site.^[6] Those lost on Empire Broadsword are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.^[7]

Official Numbers and Code Letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Empire Broadsword had the UK Official Number 169737 and used the Code Letters MYMJ.^[2]

References

1. "1169737". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
2. "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
3. Colledge. Ships of the Royal Navy. p. 113.
4. "EMPIRE - B". mariners-l.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
5. "Waverly". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
6. "Legacy of the landings". Dive Magazine. Archived from the original on 13 March 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
7. "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.

Sources

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.