Empire Eve was a CAM ship that was built in 1941 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She served until 1943, when she was torpedoed and sunk by off Algeria.
Description
The ship was built in 1941 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham.
The ship was long, with a beam of . She had a depth of . She was assessed at , .
The ship was propelled by a 292 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of , and diameter by stroke. The engine was built by George Clark (1938) Ltd, Sunderland.
History
Empire Eve was launched on 26 April 1941 and completed in June. She was placed under the management of J A Billmeir & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Sunderland. The United Kingdom Official Number 168912 and Code Letters BCLM were allocated. Management would later be transferred to Headlam & Sons Ltd, Whitby, Yorkshire.
Empire Eve was towed from Sunderland to the Tyne on 12 July 1941. She departed on 14 July to join Convoy EC 45, which had departed from Southend, Essex on 13 July and arrived at the Clyde on 18 July. She put into Methil, Fife on 16 July, departing the next day to join Convoy EC 46, which had departed from Southend on 15 July and arrived at the Clyde on 20 July. Empire Eve sailed on 27 July to join Convoy ON 1, which had departed from Liverpool, Lancashire the previous day and dispersed at on 9 August. She was bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where she arrived on 12 August. Laden with a cargo of grain, she departed with Convoy HX 146 on 21 August. Her Hawker Sea Hurricane was carrying the Squadron Code NJ-V. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 6 September. She left the convoy at the Clyde, arriving on 7 September.
Empire Eve sailed on 19 September to join Convoy ON 18, which had departed from Liverpool that day and dispersed at on 2 October. She was bound for Halifax, where she arrived on 5 October. She departed the next day for Saint John, New Brunswick, arriving on 7 October and sailing four days later for Halifax, where she arrived on 12 October. Empire Eve was a member of Convoy HX 155, which departed on 16 October and arrived at Liverpool on 31 October. She was carrying a cargo of grain, and left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 30 October.
Empire Eve then sailed to Liverpool, from where she departed on 15 November as a member of Convoy ON 37, which dispersed at on 30 November. Her destination was Halifax, where she arrived on 5 December. Laden with a cargo of grain, she returned with Convoy HX 165, which departed on 15 December and arrived at Liverpool on 30 December. She left the convoy at the Clyde, arriving on 28 December.
Empire Eve then sailed to Liverpool, She was a member of Convoy ON 56, which departed on 12 January 1942 and dispersed at on 16 January. She was bound for Halifax, arriving on 28 January. She departed the next day for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, arriving on 1 February. Empire Eve sailed on 7 February for Halifax, where she arrived on 11 February. She was a member of Convoy HX 175, which departed on 13 February and arrived at Liverpool on 25 February. She was carrying a cargo of grain but was not carrying an aircraft.
Empire Eve departed on 17 March as a member of Convoy OG 81, which arrived at Gibraltar on 29 March. She left the convoy and put into the Clyde, arriving on 18 March. She sailed on 8 April to join Convoy OG 82, which had departed from Liverpool that day and arrived at Gibraltar on 20 April. She departed on 12 May to make a round trip to Melilla, Spain, returning on 15 May. Empire Eve was a member of Convoy HG 83, which departed on 22 May and arrived at Liverpool on 3 June. She was carrying a cargo of iron ore bound for Glasgow, Renfrewshire. She arrived at the Clyde on 2 June. She then spent 6 weeks being fitted out for an Arctic convoy to Russia. However, due to the heavy losses suffered by another convoy under enemy action, this convoy was cancelled after loading had commenced. The Empire Eve never went to Russia.