History
NameEmpire Cowper
OwnerMinistry of War Transport
OperatorR Chapman & Son
Port of registryUnited Kingdom London
BuilderWilliam Doxford & Sons Ltd
Yard number681
Launched23 September 1941
CompletedDecember 1941
Out of service11 April 1942
Identification
FateBombed and sunk
General characteristics
Tonnage
Length428 ft 8 in (130.66 m)
Beam56 ft 5 in (17.20 m)
Draught27 feet 4+3⁄4 inches (8.350 m)
Depth35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)
PropulsionTriple expansion steam engine
SS Empire Cowper is located in Russia
SS Empire Cowper
Location of the sinking of Empire Cowper.

Empire Cowper was a 7,161 GRT 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.[1] Yard number 682,[2] she was launched on 23 September and completed in December,[1]

The ship was 428 feet 8 inches (130.66 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m). She had a depth of 35 feet 5 inches (10.80 m) and a draught of 27 feet 4+3⁄4 inches (8.350 m). She was assessed at 7,164 GRT, 5,053 NRT.[3] Her DWT was 10,173.[2]

The ship was propelled by a 511 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 23+1⁄2 inches (60 cm), 37+1⁄2 inches (95 cm) and 68 inches (170 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank.[3]

History

Empire Cowper was completed in December 1941,[1] and placed under the management of R Chapman & Son.[2] 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°01′N 36°00′E / 71.017°N 36.000°E / 71.017; 36.000,[1] with the loss of nine of her crew.[8] Those lost on Empire Cowper are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Mitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
  2. ^ a b c "William Doxford/Pallion Ship Index". John Bage. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "LLOYDS'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  4. ^ "ON160000". Mariners. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  5. ^ "CONVOY PQ 13". Warsailors. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Convoy PQ.13". Convoyweb. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  7. ^ "CONVOY QP 10". Warsailors. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  8. ^ "SS Empire Cowper (+1942)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
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