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.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Route |
|
| Ordered | 1 February 1944 |
| Builder | Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon |
| Launched | 25 April 1945 |
| Completed | September 1945 |
| Commissioned | 7 August 1945 |
| Out of service | 1960 |
| Fate | Scrapped 1962 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type |
|
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 347 ft 6 in (105.92 m) |
| Beam | 55 ft 3 in (16.84 m) |
| Draught | 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m) |
| Installed power | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Propulsion | Screw propeller |
| Speed | 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h) |
Description
editThe 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
editLST 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 Due to weather damage Empire Celtic had to divert to Malta for repairs.[7] Empire Celtic was withdrawn from service in 1960.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
edit- ^ a b c "HMS LST 3512". Warships. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c d 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) - ^ "FURNESS SHIPBUILDING COMPANY LTD., HAVERTON HILL". Tees Built Ships. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d "LST (Landing Ship Tank/Troop)". Luton & District Model Boat Club. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ a b c "LST 3512". Old Ships. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ "The 'Empire' Class, the pioneer ships of Roll on / Roll off ferries". The Maritime Steam Restoration Trust. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ "British Units involved in the Suez crisis". Britain's Small Wars. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2010.