SS Empire Comfort

History
Name
  • HMS York Castle (1944)
  • SS Empire Comfort (1944-55)
NamesakeYork Castle
Owner
  • Admiralty (1944)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1944-45)
  • Ministry of Transport (1945-55)
Port of registryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
BuilderFerguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd.
Yard number372
Launched29 September 1944
CompletedDecember 1944
CommissionedNever commissioned
Out of service1954-55
IdentificationPennant number K537 (York Castle)
FateScrapped 1955
General characteristics
Tonnage1,333 GRT
Displacement1,060 long tons (1,080 t)
Length252 ft (76.81 m)
Beam36 ft (10.97 m)
Draught13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Installed powerQuadruple expansion steam engine
PropulsionScrew propeller
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)

SS Empire Comfort was a 1,333 GRT convoy rescue ship which was launched in 1944 as HMS York Castle a Castle-class corvette, but was renamed Empire Castle and converted for merchant service before completion by Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd., Port Glasgow as yard number 372.[1] She was launched on 20 September 1944.[2] The ship was 252 feet (76.81 m) long, with a beam of 36 feet (10.97 m) and a draught of 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 m).[1]

History

The ship was completed in December 1944 as Empire Comet for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).[2] She was placed under the management of Ellerman City Line.[2] Empire Comfort was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.

OS 113

Convoy OS 113 departed the Clyde and The Downs on 25 February 1945. It dispersed at sea on 1 March 1945. Empire Comfort made her first voyage as a convoy rescue ship as a member of this convoy.[3]

MKS 85G

Convoy MKS 85G departed Gibraltar on 24 February 1945 bound for the United Kingdom. Empire Comfort was employed as a convoy rescue ship for this convoy.[4]

OS 116

Convoy OS 116 departed from the Clyde and The Downs on 12 March 1945. It dispersed at 42°57′N 11°45′W / 42.950°N 11.750°W / 42.950; -11.750 on 17 March. Empire Comfort was a member of this convoy.[5]

MKS 88G

Convoy MKS 88G departed from Casablanca, Morocco on 11 March 1945 bound for the United Kingdom. Empire Comfort was employed as a convoy rescue ship for this convoy.[4]

OS 121

Convoy OS 121 departed from the Clyde on 7 April 1945 and dispersed at sea on 14 April. Empire Comfort was employed as a convoy rescue ship for this convoy.[6]>

MKS 93G

Convoy MKS 93G departed from Gibraltar on 5 April 1945 bound for the United Kingdom. Empire Comfort was employed as a convoy rescue ship for this convoy.[4]

In 1948, Empire Comfort was in the Mediterranean where she was working under the control of the Middle East Command. Empire Comfort was used as a troopship between Port Said, Egypt and Famagusta, Cyprus and also between Port Said and Tobruk, Libya. She was used in this role from July 1948 to at least February 1949.[7] In 1954, Empire Comfort was laid up at Falmouth, Cornwall.[8] In June 1955, Empire Comfort, along with Empire Lifeguard and Empire Peacemaker were offered for sale "as lying at Falmouth".[9] In July 1955, she was sold to Belgian buyers and towed to Antwerp. It was intended that she would be converted for service in the Belgian Congo, but she was scrapped in December 1955 at Ghent.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Launched 1944: HMS YORK CASTLE". Clydesite. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c d Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Convoy OS.113/ KMS.87". Convoyweb. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "MKS Convoys – Nov. 1942-1945, MKS 61 through MKS 103". Warsailors. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  5. ^ "Convoy OS.116/ KMS.90". Convoyweb. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Convoy OS.121/ KMS.95". Convoyweb. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Empire Comfort July 1948 - October 1949". The South West Maritime History Society. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Empire C". Mariners. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  9. ^ "Public Notices". The Times. No. 53248. London. 16 June 1955. col B, p. 1.