SS Empire Dew

The ship was built in 1940 by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow.[1] She was yard number 940.[2]

The ship was 432 feet 0 inches (131.67 m) long, 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 3 inches (8.00 m). She was assessed at 7,005 GRT. 5,135 NRT.[3]

The ship was propelled by a 436 indicated horsepower (325 kW) triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 23+1⁄2 inches (60 cm), 37+1⁄2 inches (95 cm) and 68 inches (170 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Rankin & Blackmore Ltd, Greenock.[3]

Empire Dew was built for the MoWT. Launched on 21 November 1940, she was completed in January 1941.[1] She was placed under the management of R Chapman & Son Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[4] The Official Number 166993 and Code Letters GPFM were allocated.[3] Her port of registry was Greenock.[5]

Empire Dew departed from the Clyde on her maiden voyage on 2 February 1941 as a member of Convoy OB 281, which departed from Liverpool, Lancashire on 1 February and dispersed at sea on 5 February.[6] Her destination was Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where she arrived on 24 February.[7] From Halifax, a return trip was made to Saint John, New Brunswick, arriving back at Halifax on 10 March.[7] Empire Dew was a member of Convoy SC 26, which departed from Halifax on 20 March and arrived at Liverpool on 8 April. She was carrying a cargo of flour destined for Leith, East Lothian.[8] She left the convoy at the Clyde on 8 April.[7] Empire Dew was a member of Convoy WN 114, which departed from the Clyde on 13 April and arrived at Methil, Fife on 16 April.[9] She departed from Methil on 28 April as a member of Convoy FS 475, which arrived at Southend, Essex on 30 April.[10]

Empire Dew was a member of Convoy EC 27, which departed from Southend on 31 May and arrived at the Clyde on 6 June.[11] She left the convoy at Oban, Argyllshire on 5 June, to join Convoy OG 64,[7] which departed from Liverpool on 4 June and arrived at Gibraltar on 18 June.[12] She detached from the convoy and headed for Father Point, New Brunswick, Canada.[4] Her intended destination was Montreal.[12]

At 02:51 (German time) on 12 June, Empire Dew was torpedoed when north of the Azores, Portugal (51°09′N 30°16′W) by U-48, under the command of Herbert Schultze. 23 crew members died. Seventeen crew and two DEMS gunners were rescued by HNoMS St. Albans. They were landed at Liverpool.[4] Those killed serving on Empire Dew are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[5]