SS Empire Florizel

History
Name: Empire Florizel
Owner: Ministry of War Transport
Operator: J & G Harrison & Co. Ltd.
Port of registry: United Kingdom Greenock, United Kingdom
Builder: Lithgows
Yard number: 990
Launched: 21 April 1943
Maiden voyage: 25 June 1943
Out of service: 21 July 1943
Identification:
  • United Kingdom Official Number 169503
  • Code Letters BFGY
Fate: Bombed and sunk
General characteristics
Class and type: Cargo ship
Tonnage:
Length:
  • 432 ft 7 in (131.85 m) (LPP)
  • 447 ft 6 in (136.40 m) (OL)
Beam: 56 ft 2 in (17.12 m)
Draught: 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Depth: 33 ft 8 in (10.26 m)
Installed power: Triple expansion steam engine, 520 nhp
Propulsion: Single screw propeller
Crew: 48 + 21 DEMS gunners

Empire Florizel was a 7,056 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1943 by Lithgows, Greenock, Renfrewshire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She had a short career, being bombed and sunk during the Allied invasion of Sicily exactly three months after her launch.

Description

The ship was 432 ft 7 in (131.85 m) long between perpendiculars (447 ft 6 in (136.40 m) overall), with a beam of 56 feet 2 inches (17.12 m). She had a depth of 34 feet 2 inches (10.41 m) and a draught of 26 feet 8 inches (8.13 m). She was assessed at 7,056 GRT, 4,814 NRT.[1]

The ship was propelled by a 520 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 23½ inches (60 cm), 37½ inches (96 cm) and 68 inches (170 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by John Brown & Co. Ltd, Clydebank, Renfrewshire.[1] It drove a single screw propeller.[2]

History

The ship was built in 1943 by Lithgows Ltd, Greenock, Renfrewshire.[3] She was yard number 990.[2] She was launched on 21 April 1943.[3] Her port of registry was Greenock.[1] The Code Letters BFGY andUnited Kingdom Official Number 169503 were allocated.[4] Empire Florizel was operated under the management of J & G Harrison & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, Renfrewshire.[1] Her 48 crew were supplemented by 21 DEMS gunners.[5]

Carrying 4,000 tons of military and invasion stores and fourteen passengers,[5] Empire Florizel made her maiden voyage as a member of Convoy KMS 96G,[6] which departed from the Clyde on 25 June 1943 and passed Gibraltar on 6 July.[7] Redesignated KMS 19, the convoy arrived at Algiers, Algeria on 8 July in preparation for Operation Husky.[6] Redesignated KMS 19Y, the convoy departed from Algiers on 14 July and arrived at Augusta, Sicily, Italy on 20 July.[8] Empire Florizel was bombed and sunk at Augusta on 21 July.[3] Two of her crew, four gunners and three passengers were killed.[5] The two crew members killed are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Empire Florizel". Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 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.
  4. ↑ "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "CONVOY KMS 19". Warsailors. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 "EMPIRE FAITH". Convoyweb. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "Convoy KMS.19G". Convoyweb. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "Convoy KMS.19Y". Convoyweb. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "Empire Eve to Empire Ghyll". Brian Davis. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
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