History
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
NameEmpire Heath
BuilderBartram & Sons Ltd, South Dock, Sunderland
Laid down1941
Launched27 April 1941
FateSunk 11 May 1944
General characteristics
TypeCAM ship
Tonnage6,643 GRT
Aircraft carriedSea Hurricane Mk.1

Empire Heath was a 6,643 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1941 by Bartram & Sons Ltd for the Ministry of War Transport. During the Second World War, she served as a CAM ship, capable of embarking and operating a Hawker Hurricane aircraft.[1]

History

Empire Heath sailed from Belfast on 8 April 1942 arriving at Gibraltar on 20 April with a deck cargo of 28 Supermarine Spitfire aircraft. She sailed again from Cardiff on 28 August arriving at Gibraltar on 14 September with a deck cargo of 16 Spitfires and 2 Hawker Hurricane aircraft. Empire Heath was north west of the small volcanic island of Trindade whilst sailing from Victoria, Brazil to Loch Ewe for orders, via Freetown, with a cargo of iron ore. On 11 May 1944, Empire Heath was located by the German submarine U-129 and discovered to be sailing without an escort northeast of Rio de Janeiro. Initially, U-129 fired three torpedoes at her but all missed. Subsequently, at 23.00 hours, U-129 fired a FAT torpedo which hit and Empire Heath sank rapidly. The U-boat crew rescued Chief Steward Frederick Wakeham, one of the survivors and captured him for questioning. He was landed at Lorient on 19 July and taken to the prisoner of war camp Marlag und Milag Nord. Overall, the master, 46 crew members, one passenger and nine gunners were killed.[2] The wreck is located at 21.31S 29.50W.[3][4]

References

  1. ↑ "Empire Heath (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "S.S. Empire Heath. (Sunderland)". Benfleet Community Archive. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "STAG LINE Joseph Robinson & Sons, North Shields". mariners-list.com. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  4. ↑ "Those Serving with SS Empire Heath in the Second World War 1939-1945 - The Wartime Memories Project -". wartimememoriesproject.com. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
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