SS Empire Adventure

{{short description|World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= |image_caption= }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country= |flag= |name=*''Eastney'' (1920–1924) *''Germaine L D'' (1924–1931) *''Andrea'' (1931–1940) *''Empire Adventure'' (1940) |ordered= |builder= Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/E-Ships/eastney1921.html|title=SS Eastney (1921)|publisher=www.tynebuiltships.co.uk|accessdate=23 May 2017}}</ref> |original_cost= |laid_down= |launched= 13 October 1920 |completed= February 1921 |yard_number= 256 |acquired= |commissioned= |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |owner=*Romney Steamship Co Ltd, London (1921–1924) *L Dreyfus et Compagnie, France (1924–1931) *Società Anonima di Navigazione Corrado, Genoa (1931–1940) *Ministry of War Transport (1940) |operator=*Owner operated except:- *Runciman Shipping Co Ltd (1940) |registry=*{{Flagicon|UKGBI|civil}} London (1921–1922) *{{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} London (1922–1924) *{{flagicon|France}} Dunkirk (1924–1931) *{{flagicon|Italy|civil}} Genoa (1931–1940) *{{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} London (1940) |renamed= |struck= |reinstated= |honours= |fate= [[Torpedo]]ed night of 20/21 September 1940, sank 23 September 1940 |identification=*UK [[Official Number]] 146165 (1921–1924, 1940) *Italian [[Official Number]] 1829 (1931–1940) *Code Letters NDAT (1931–1933) *{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Delta}}{{ICS|Alpha}}{{ICS|Tango}} *Code letters IBXA (1933–1940) *[[File:ICS India.svg|15px|border]] [[File:ICS Bravo.svg|15px|border]] [[File:ICS X-ray.svg|15px|border]] [[File:ICS Alfa.svg|15px|border]] *Code letters GLXW (1940) *[[File:ICS Golf.svg|15px|border]] [[File:ICS Lima.svg|15px|border]] [[File:ICS X-ray.svg|15px|border]] [[File:ICS Whiskey.svg|15px|border]] |notes= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= |tonnage= {{GRT|5,145}} |length= {{convert|375|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} |beam= {{convert|51|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |depth={{convert|31|ft|7|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |draft= |hold_depth= |propulsion= 1 x triple expansion steam engine (Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd, Newcastle) 370 [[Nominal horsepower|NHP]] |sail_plan= |complement= 39 |armament= |speed= {{convert|11|kn|km/h}} |notes= }} }} {{Location map many |British Isles Oceans |label1=Sunk |mark1size=8 |pos1=top |lat1_dir=N |lon1_dir=W |lat1_deg=55|lat1_min=48 |lon1_deg=7|lon1_min=22 |label2=Torpedoed |mark2size=8 |pos2=bottom |lat2_dir=N |lon2_dir=W |lat2_deg=55|lat2_min=11 |lon2_deg=11|lon2_min=30 |width=304 |caption=Location of the torpedo attack and sinking of ''Empire Adventure'' }}

'''SS ''Empire Adventure''''' was a 5,787-ton [[steamship]] built in 1920 as '''''Eastney'''''. She was sold to a company in France in 1924 and renamed '''''Germaine L D'''''. In 1931 she was sold to a company based in [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]], being renamed '''''Andrea''''', and then seized by the British Government in 1940 and renamed ''Empire Adventure''. She was [[torpedo]]ed on the night of 20/21 September 1940 and sank while under tow on 23 September 1940.

==History== ''Eastney'' was built by the Northumberland Shipping Co, [[Howdon]], [[Wallsend]],<ref name=Mariner>{{cite web|url=http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireA.html |title=EMPIRE - A |publisher=Mariners-L |accessdate=2008-12-15}}</ref> as yard number 356.<ref name=Miramar>{{csr|register=MSI|id=1145165|accessdate=2008-12-15}}</ref> 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''.<ref name="Mariner" /> On 25 March 1929, she was in collision with {{SS|Alice Marie||2}} in the [[North Sea]] off [[Vlissingen]], Netherlands. She was beached at [[Rammekens]] for temporary repairs to be carried out.<ref name="Times260329">{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty reports |date=26 March 1929 |page=21 |issue=45161 |column=G }}</ref> ''Germaine L D'' was refloated the next day.<ref name="Times280329">{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty reports |date=28 March 1929 |page=26 |issue=45163 |column=D }}</ref> On 3 March 1931, she collided with ''Southborough''{{efn|Not the [[SS Southborough|SS ''Southborough'']] sunk late in World War I.}} at [[Rotterdam]], Netherlands. ''Southborough'' sustained some damage but ''Germaine L D'' was undamaged.<ref name="Times040331">{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Mails and Shipping, Casualty Reports |date=4 March 1931 |page=23 |issue=43762 |column=F}}</ref> On 23 March 1932, she ran aground at [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]], but was freed the next day with assistance from a [[tugboat|tug]]. No damage was sustained.<ref name="Times360332">{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty Reports |date=26 March 1932 |page=19 |issue=46091 |column=E}}</ref> 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''.<ref name=Mariner/>

===Convoy OB 216===

Convoy OB 216 departed from [[Liverpool]] on 19 September 1940.<ref name=Convoy>{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4009-22SEP02.htm |title=Naval Events, September 1940, Part 2 of 2, Sunday 15th – Monday 30th |publisher=naval history.net |access-date=2008-12-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610154833/http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4009-22SEP02.htm |archive-date=10 June 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> During the night of 20/21 September 1940, ''Empire Adventure'' was torpedoed by {{GS|U-138|1940|2}}<ref name=Vary>Ubootwaffe gives 21:26 on 20 September 1940 (German time), Uboatnet gives 02:27 on 21 September 1940</ref> {{convert|52|mi|km}} northwest of [[Rathlin Island]]<ref name=Uboat/> {{coord|55|11|N|11|30|W}}.<ref name=Waffe>{{cite web |url=http://www.ubootwaffe.net/ops/ships.cgi?boat=138;nr=4 |title=EMPIRE ADVENTURE |publisher=ubootwaffe.net |accessdate=2008-12-15 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928060717/http://www.ubootwaffe.net/ops/ships.cgi?boat=138;nr=4 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although taken in tow by {{HMS|Superman}}, ''Empire Adventure'' sank on 23 September 1940 at {{coord|55|48|N|07|22|W}}. A total of 21 of the 39 crew were killed.<ref name=Uboat/> The survivors were picked up by {{HMS|Arabis|K73|6}}<ref name=Convoy/> and the Swedish merchantman ''Industria'' and landed at [[Belfast]].<ref name=Uboat>{{cite web|url=https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/540.html |title=Empire Adventure |publisher=uboat.net|accessdate=2008-12-15}}</ref> Those lost on ''Empire Adventure'' are commemorated at the [[Tower Hill Memorial]], London.<ref name=THM>{{cite web |url=http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Ship%20Index%20A-F.html |title=Ship Index A-F |publisher=Brian Watson |accessdate=20 May 2011 |archive-date=6 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006025450/http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Ship%20Index%20A-F.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Official number and code letters== Official Numbers were a forerunner to [[IMO ship identification number|IMO Numbers]].

''Eastney'' and ''Empire Adventure'' had the UK [[Official Number]] 146165<ref name=Adventure>{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/40/40a1056.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |accessdate=10 January 2009}}</ref> ''Andrea'' had the Italian [[Official Number]] 1829.<ref name=Andrea>{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/33/33b0046.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |accessdate=10 January 2009}}</ref>

''Andrea'' used the [[Code Letters]] NDAT<ref name=Andrea/> and IBXA.<ref name=Andrea2>{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/37/37b0048.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |accessdate=10 January 2009}}</ref> ''Empire Adventure'' used the Code Letters GLXW.<ref name=Adventure/>

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.lda.fr/img/100_germaine-ld.jpg Photo of ''Germaine L D''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114055148/http://lda.fr/img/100_germaine-ld.jpg |date=14 November 2008 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire Adventure}} [[Category:1920 ships]] [[Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Empire ships]] [[Category:Ministry of War Transport ships]] [[Category:Steamships of France]] [[Category:Merchant ships of France]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in 1929]] [[Category:Steamships of Italy]] [[Category:World War II merchant ships of Italy]] [[Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War II]] [[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in September 1940]] [[Category:Shipwrecks of Northern Ireland]] [[category:Ships built by Northumberland Shipbuilding Company]]