The ship was 410 feet 0 inches (124.97 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 54 feet 4 inches (16.56 m). She had a depth of 27 feet 2 inches (8.28 m),[3] and a draught of 23 feet (7.0 m).[4] She was assessed at 3,750 GRT, 3,411 NRT.[3] Her DWT was 6,800.[2]
The ship was propelled by a 359 nhptriple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 28+1⁄2 inches (72 cm), 47 inches (120 cm) and 78 inches (200 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation.[3]
History
West Amargosa was built for the USSB. She was completed in March 1919,[2] The United States Official Number 217631 and Code Letters LQBW were allocated.[3]West Amargosa was chartered by United American Lines until 1921, operating the Plymouth – Gibraltar – Tunis – New York route.[5] With the change of Code Letters in 1934, she was allocated KLCP.[6] In 1937, she was transferred to the USMC and laid up as part of the reserve fleet.[7]
In 1940, West Amargosa was transferred to the MoWT. She was initially operated under the management of Sir W. Reardon Smith & Sons.[8] Management was later transferred to John Morrison & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[8]West Amargosa was due to join Convoy HX 119, which departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 6 April 1941 and arrived at Liverpool, Lancashire on 22 April. She was recorded as carrying a cargo of scrap iron bound for Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.[9] Instead, she joined Convoy SC 28, which departed from Halifax on 9 April and arrived at Liverpool on 28 April. Her destination was now given as West Hartlepool, Co Durham.[10] She left the convoy at the Clyde, joining Convoy WN 228, which departed the Clyde on 1 May and arrived at Methil, Fife on 5 May.[11]
West Amargosa was renamed Empire Crossbill.[1] She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 168177 and Code Letters MLNP. Her port of registry was London.[12] She departed Middlesbrough on 30 May for the Tyne, returning to Middlesbrough on 2 June and departing the same day for the Tyne again. On 10 June,[13] she joined Convoy EC 31, which had departed from Southend, Essex on 9 June and arrived at Loch Ewe on 14 June.[14] She then joined Convoy OB 334, which departed from Liverpool on 11 June and arrived at Halifax on 25 June.[15] She left the convoy at St John's, Newfoundland on 24 June. Empire Crossbill departed St. John's that day for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, arriving on 2 July.[13]
Empire Crossbill departed Philadelphia on 22 August for Halifax, where she arrived on 25 August, departing the same day for Sydney, Cape Breton, Canada.[13]Empire Crossbill was a member of Convoy SC 42, which departed Sydney on 30 August 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 15 September.[16] She was stated to be carrying 6,686 tons of steel and four tons of relief goods,[7] although it is also stated that she was carrying a cargo of explosives.[17] At 03:11 GMT on 11 September,[18]Empire Crossbill was torpedoed and sunk by U-82 at 63°14′N37°12′W / 63.233°N 37.200°W / 63.233; -37.200.[1] All 38 crew, ten DEMS gunners and her single passenger were killed.[4] Those lost on Empire Crossbill are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[19]
References
^ abcMitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN1-85044-275-4.
