SS_Empire_Celtic

SS <i>Empire Celtic</i>

SS Empire Celtic

World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom

Empire Celtic was a ferry which was built in 1945 as Landing Ship, Tank LST 3512 for the Royal Navy. In 1946 she was chartered by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company Ltd, converted to a ferry and renamed Empire Celtic. In 1956, she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for a few months during the Suez Crisis as HMS Empire Cedric. She served until 1960 and was scrapped in 1965.

Quick Facts History, General characteristics ...

Description

The ship was ordered on 1 February 1944.[1] She was built by Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Lauzon, Quebec,[2] as yard number 335.[3] She was launched on 25 April 1945,[4] and completed in September.[2]

The ship was 347 feet 6 inches (105.92 m) long, with a beam of 55 feet 3 inches (16.84 m) and a depth of 12 feet 5 inches (3.78 m).[1]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine.[2] The engine was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway.[4] It could propel her at 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h).[1]

History

LST 3512 was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 7 August 1945.[5] In 1946, she was chartered by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd.[4] She was rebuilt as a ferry by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Tilbury.[2] She entered service on trooping duties on the Tilbury - Hamburg route. I 1955, the route was changed to Tilbury - Rotterdam.[6] In 1956, Empire Celtic took part in Operation Musketeer.[5] She was used to bring vehicles back to the United Kingdom from Egypt. Due to weather damage Empire Celtic had to divert to Malta for repairs.[7] Empire Celtic was withdrawn from service in 1960. She was sold on 10 August 1962,[5] and scrapped at La Spezia, Italy.[4]

References

  1. [1]
    "HMS LST 3512". Warships. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. [2]
    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. [3]
    "FURNESS SHIPBUILDING COMPANY LTD., HAVERTON HILL". Tees Built Ships. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  4. [4]
    "LST (Landing Ship Tank/Troop)". Luton & District Model Boat Club. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  5. [5]
    "LST 3512". Old Ships. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  6. [6]
    "The 'Empire' Class, the pioneer ships of Roll on / Roll off ferries". The Maritime Steam Restoration Trust. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  7. [7]
    "British Units involved in the Suez crisis". Britain's Small Wars. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
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