MV Empire Cheer

History
Name
  • Empire Cheer (1943-46)
  • Cornish City (1946-63)
Owner
  • Ministry of War Transport (1943-45)
  • Ministry of Transport (1945-46)
  • Sir W Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd (1946-63)
OperatorSir W Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd (1943-63)
Port of registryUnited Kingdom Sunderland
BuilderWilliam Doxford & Sons Ltd
Yard number702
Launched9 March 1943
CompletedJuly 1943
Out of service8 December 1962
Identification
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Tonnage
Length428 ft 8 in (130.66 m)
Beam56 ft 5 in (17.20 m)
Depth35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)
Installed power2SCSA engine
PropulsionScrew propeller

Empire Cheer was a 7,297 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1943 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and completed in July 1943. After the Second World War she was sold to her managers, Sir William Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd, who renamed her Cornish City. On 8 December 1962 she suffered an engine room fire, after which she was scrapped in March 1963.

Construction

The ship was built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland,[1] as yard number 702.[2] She was launched on 9 March 1943 and completed in July 1943.[1]

Dimensions

The ship was 428 feet 8 inches (130.66 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m) and a depth of 35 feet 5 inches (10.80 m). She had a gross register tonnage (GRT) of 7,297 and a net register tonnage (NRT) of 4,936.[3] Her deadweight tonnage (DWT) was 10,073.[2]

Engine

The ship was propelled by a 2-stroke Single Cycle Single Action diesel engine, which had three cylinders of 23+5⁄8 inches (60 cm) bore by 91+5⁄16 inches (231.9 cm) stroke.[3]

History

Empire Cheer was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of Sir W Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd. The United Kingdom Official Number 169115 and the Code Letters BFJJ were allocated. Her port of registry was Sunderland.[3]

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

HX 305

Convoy HX 305 departed New York on 25 August 1944 and arrived at Liverpool on 10 September. Empire Cheer was carrying general cargo bound for Methil and London.[4]

MKS 97G

Convoy MKS 97G departed Gibraltar on 25 April 1945 bound for the United Kingdom. Empire Cheer was carrying a cargo of wheat. She was fitted with an anti-torpedo net device.[5]

In 1946, Empire Cheer was sold to Sir W Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd who renamed her Cornish City,[1] the fourth Reardon Smith Line ship to carry that name.[6] She served until 1962. On 8 December, the ship was in port at Aden when a fire broke out in her engine room,[1] killing two of her crew.[7] Cornish City arrived at Hong Kong for scrapping on 7 March 1963.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 "William Doxford/Pallion Ship Index". John Bage. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  4. ^ "CONVOY HX 305". Warsailors. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  5. ^ "MKS Convoys – Nov. 1942-1945 MKS 61 through MKS 103". Warsailors. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  6. ^ "William Reardon Smith & Sons". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  7. ^ "Two Britons Killed In Ship Fire". The Times. No. 55570. London. 10 December 1962. col F, p. 10.