Empress Of Britain (Ss) Wreck

Field Value
Empress of britain (ss) Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		55 19.060 N,9 40.962 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 55.317660
  • Longitude: -9.682700
Name EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (SS)
Type liner
Date Sunk Oct 28, 1940
Original Source Brady et. al. 2012, 137-139; Hocking 1989, 222; Larn & Larn 2002; Lloyd's List 39, 304, Monday 28th October 1940; Lloyd's List 39, 305, Tuesday 29th October 1940; Lloyd's List 39, 309, Saturday 2nd November 1940; Lloyd's List 39, 317, Tuesday 12th November 1940; Smith 1947, 83; Williams 1997, 113-14; www.thegreatoceanliners.com.
WRECK MAP LOADING ... 55 19.060 N,9 40.962 W
Empress Of Britain (Ss) on Wreck Map Empress Of Britain (Ss) Wreck on Google Map
Wreck No: W07307, Place of Loss: Bloody Foreland, 90km WNW, Source of Coordinate: GSI_1, Description: At 42,348 tons, this passenger liner was the largest vessel of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company fleet and was the largest merchant vessel lost during World War II. It was built by John Brown & Co., Glasgow, in 1931 at a phenomenal cost of $15,000,000 and was considered to be one of the most luxurious vessels of its time. It embarked on its first world cruise in 1933 and could travel up to a speed of 24 knots, with accommodation for 423 first-class passengers, 260 tourist-class passengers and 470 third-class passengers. With the commencement of hostilities in 1939, the liner was requisitioned as a troop transport and it made several voyages for that purpose. Under the command of Charles Havard Sapsworth, the Empress of Britain was on a circuitous voyage from Cape Town via the Suez Canal to Canada and then on to Liverpool when on 26 October 1940, as it was travelling 150 miles off the coast of Ireland, it was attacked by a German long-range Focke-Wulf 200 Condor airplane. The liner was attacked three times and quickly caught fire, killing a number of people on board. The ship did not sink immediately, which enabled most of the 419 crew and 224 military personnel and families to safely board the lifeboats. The survivors were picked up by Royal Navy escorts. The Empress of Britain was then taken in tow by a Polish destroyer, the Burza, and later assisted by Royal Navy tugs Marauder and Thames. Two days later, approximately 90km WNW of Bloody Foreland, Kapitänleutnant Hans Jenisch in U-32 torpedoed the Empress of Britain twice, causing it to sink in nine minutes. In total, 49 people were lost during the attacks. Two days later, U-32 was itself sunk by the destroyer HMS Harvester. The wreck of the Empress of Britain measures 212m in length, 40m in width and 23.1m in maximum height, with an average height of 7.1m. The vessel is orientated E–W and lies upside-down on the flat seabed.

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FAQ

Where is the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (SS) wreck located?

The EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (SS) wreck is located at coordinates 55 19.060 N,9 40.962 W.

When did the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (SS) sink?

The EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (SS) sank on Oct 28, 1940.

What type of wreck is the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (SS)?

The EMPRESS OF BRITAIN (SS) is classified as a liner.

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