SS Belgian
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Belgian (1919-34) Amelia Lauro (1934-40) Empire Activity (1940-41) |
| Owner: | F Leyland & Co Ltd (1919-34) Achille Lauro, Naples (1934-40) Ministry of War Transport (1940-41) |
| Operator: | As owner except:- Galbraith, Pembroke & Co Ltd (1940-41) |
| Port of registry: |  Liverpool (1919-22) Liverpool (1922-34) Naples (1934-40) London (1940-41) |
| Builder: | Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Yard number: | 1139 |
| Launched: | 29 August 1919 |
| In service: | October 1919 |
| Identification: | UK official number 140659 (1919-34, 1940-41) Italian official number 423 (1934-40) Code letters KCQH (1919-34)     Code letters IBEZ (1934-40)     Code letters GQXX (1940-41)   |
| Fate: | Sunk by U-96, 27 June 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 5,287 GRT |
| Length: | 400 ft 3 in (122.00 m) |
| Beam: | 52 ft 4 in (15.95 m) |
| Depth: | 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m) |
| Propulsion: | 1 x triple expansion steam engine of 517 hp (386 kW) |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
The SS Belgian was a 5,287 ton steamship which was built in 1919, sold in 1934 becoming Amelia Lauro, seized in 1940 and renamed Empire Activity and sunk by a German U-boat in 1941.
Contents |
[edit] History
Belgian was built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend and launched on 29 August 1919, being completed in October 1919.[1] From 1919 to 1934 Belgian was owned by the Leyland Line. In 1934, she was sold to Achille Lauro, and renamed Amelia Lauro.[2]
On 7 March 1940, Amelia Lauro was damaged by German bombing at 52°55′N 02°19′E / 52.917°N 2.317°E[3] en route from Newcastle upon Tyne to Piombino laden with coal. She was set on fire and the crew anchored her, then abandoned her.[4] The SS Titania rescued 37 of the crew, and the sloops Pintail and Londonderry assisted. Amelia Lauro was escorted to Immingham[3] with her superstructure burnt out.[4] One crew member was killed outright and three were wounded.[5] One of the wounded crewmen later died from his injuries.[6] In an expression of gratitude, Lauro Lines owner Achille Lauro donated £26. 5s to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in appreciation of assistance rendered by the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat in bringing 29 crew to shore.[7] Permission was given for temporary repairs to be carried out.[4]
As a consequence of Italy's declaration of war on 10 June 1940, Amelia Lauro was seized as a prize of war. The seizure was ratified by the prize court on 4 May 1941.[8] Amelia Lauro was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport, being renamed Empire Activity. Galbraith, Pembroke & Co were appointed managers. On 27 June 1941, Empire Activity was torpedoed by U-96 off Newfoundland at 49°30′38″N 53°51′30″W / 49.51056°N 53.85833°WCoordinates: 49°30′38″N 53°51′30″W / 49.51056°N 53.85833°W,[9] 1 nautical mile south of the Peckford Reef.[1] She was on route from Botwood to the United Kingdom laden with zinc concentrates.[4]
[edit] Official number and code letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.
Belgian had the UK Official Number 140659.[10] Amelia Lauro had the Italian Official Number 423[11] Empire Activity had the UK Official number 140659.[12]
Belgian used the Code Letters KCQH[10]. Amelia Lauro used the Code Letters IBEZ.[11] Empire Activity used the Code Letters GQXX.[12]
[edit] References
- ^ a b ""1140659"" (subscription required). Miramar Ship Index. R.B. Haworth. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
- ^ "Belgian". Ellis Island. http://www.ellisisland.org/shipping/Formatship.asp?shipid=5738. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
- ^ a b c d The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. 1995. pp. p431–32. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- ^ "Four Bombs On Italian Ship" The Times (London). Saturday, 9 March 1940. Issue 48560, col F, p. 6.
- ^ "Steamer's Crew Of 21 Saved" The Times (London). Monday, 11 March 1940. Issue 48561, col D, p. 5.
- ^ "Italian Gratitude to Lifeboat Crew" The Times (London). Wednesday, 12 June 1940. Issue 48640, col D, p. 4.
- ^ "The Prize Court" The Times (London). Wednesday, 6 May 1941. Issue 48866, col D, p. 6.
- ^ "EMPIRE - A". Mariners-L. http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireA.html. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
- ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=30b0136.pdf. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=34b0045.pdf. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- ^ a b "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS AND MOTORSHIPS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=41b0269.pdf. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
[edit] External links
- Photo of Empire Activity
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- 1919 ships
- Standard WWI ships
- Tyne-built ships
- Steamships of Italy
- World War II merchant ships of Italy
- Steamships of the United Kingdom
- Ministry of War Transport ships
- Shipwrecks of the Newfoundland and Labrador coast
- World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
- Maritime incidents in 1941
- Ships sunk by German submarines
