SS Empire Banner

History
Name	Empire Banner
Owner	Ministry of War Transport
Operator	W T Gould Ltd, Cardiff
Port of registry	Sunderland
Builder	Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.
Yard number	286
Launched	29 June 1942
Completed	September 1942
Identification	Official Number 169028 Code Letters BCXC
Fate	Torpedoed on 7 February 1943 and sunk by U-77
General characteristics
Tonnage	6,699 GRT
Length	416 ft 8 in (127.00 m)
Beam	56 ft 6 in (17.22 m)
Depth	34 ft (10.36 m)
Propulsion	1 x triple expansion steam engine (North East Marine Engine Co (1938) Ltd, Sunderland) 511 hp (381 kW)
Complement	47, plus 15 DEMS gunners

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Location of the sinking of Empire Banner.

Empire Banner was a 6,699 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland in 1942 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed by U-77 on 7 February 1943 and sunk later that day by enemy aircraft.

History

Empire Banner was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland as yard number 286. She was launched on 29 June 1942 and completed in September 1942. She was built for the MoWT[1] and was operated under the management of W T Gould & Co Ltd,[2] Cardiff.[3]

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

MKS 3X

Convoy MKS 3X sailed from Bône, Algeria on 3 December 1942 and arrived at Liverpool on 19 December. Empire Banner joined the convoy at Algiers She was fitted with anti-torpedo nets although these were reported as being broken on departure from Algiers.[4]

KMS 8G

Convoy KMS 8G which departed the Clyde on 21 January 1943.[5] Empire Banner was carrying 3,800 tons of military supplies, including tanks and other transport. She had departed from Penarth and was destined for Bône. On 7 February 1943, she was torpedoed by U-77 at 02:00 hours. Her position was 36°48′N 01°32′E.[3] Empire Banner headed for Oran but at 06:00 she was finished off by an enemy aircraft.[6] All 47 crew, 15 DEMS gunners and 10 soldier passengers were rescued by HMCS Camrose and landed at Algiers.[3]

Official number and code letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.

Empire Banner had the UK Official Number 169083 and used the Code Letters BCXC.[2]

References

1. Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. 24. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
2. "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
3. "Empire Banner". U-boat.net. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
4. "CONVOY MKS 3X & MKS 3Y". Warsailors. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
5. "Convoy KMS.8G". Convoyweb. Retrieved 8 March 2009. (Select Convoy KMS 8G from side menu)
6. "H.M.C.S. Regina K-234". The Carmody Genealogist. Archived from the original on 8 March 2001. Retrieved 8 March 2009.