SS British Corporal facts for kids
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The British Corporal was a large tanker built in 1922 in the United Kingdom. She was made by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company in Jarrow, Northumberland. This ship was built for the British Tanker Company.
In 1940, the ship was damaged during an attack by German E-boats. She was then taken over by the British Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Her name was changed to Empire Corporal. After being repaired, she returned to service in 1942. However, on August 14, 1942, she was hit by a torpedo and sank off the coast of Cuba.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator | British Tanker Company (1922-42) |
| Port of registry |  London, United Kingdom |
| Builder | Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Co Ltd |
| Yard number | 923 |
| Launched | May 1922 |
| Out of service | 14 August 1942 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Tanker |
| Tonnage |
|
| Length | 440 ft 0 in (134.11 m) |
| Beam | 57 ft 1 in (17.40 m) |
| Draught | 33 ft 11 in (10.34 m) |
| Depth | 26 ft 7 in (8.10 m) |
| Installed power | Two steam turbines, double reduction geared |
| Propulsion | Screw propeller |
| Crew | 45 + 10 DEMS gunners (Empire Corporal) |
About the Ship
The British Corporal was built in 1922. She was 440 feet (134 meters) long. Her width, or beam, was 57 feet (17.3 meters).
The ship was powered by two steam turbine engines. These engines worked together to turn a single propeller. This propeller pushed the ship through the water.
The Ship's Journey
The British Corporal was launched in May 1922. Her home port was London. She often traveled between the United Kingdom and the Middle East.
In 1934, her special identification code letters were changed to GFJV. On November 6, 1934, the British Corporal got stuck in the ground near Swansea, Wales. Luckily, she was pulled free the next day without any damage.
Spanish Civil War Incident
On August 6, 1937, the British Corporal was attacked. Three Spanish Nationalist planes attacked her while she was near Algiers, Algeria. She was carrying petrol from Abadan, Iran, to the United Kingdom.
The attack lasted for an hour. The planes used both bombs and machine guns. The British Corporal was only slightly damaged, and her radio stopped working for a short time. No one on board was hurt. After the attack, the ship went to Algiers for safety.
The British Government protested this attack. They told the Spanish forces that their aircraft had attacked a British ship. The British also warned that any aircraft attacking their ships could be shot down.
World War II Adventures
During the Second World War, the British Corporal traveled in many groups of ships called convoys. These convoys helped protect ships from enemy attacks.
In July 1940, she was part of Convoy OA 178. On July 4, 1940, German S-Boats attacked her in the English Channel. She was hit by a torpedo in the back of the ship. Later that day, German planes also attacked her. They dropped bombs, causing serious damage.
The British Corporal was towed to Southampton, Hampshire, for repairs. She was then taken over by the British Ministry of War Transport. Her old owners still managed her.
After repairs, she joined Convoy ON 14 in September 1941. She sailed from Liverpool to New York City. The leader of the convoy praised her for her good communication and how well she stayed in position.
In March 1942, the British Corporal joined Convoy HX 80. She carried aviation fuel from Halifax, Canada, to Liverpool. She then sailed to Iceland and even to Murmansk, Soviet Union. Because of thick fog and ice, she had to turn back to Iceland.
In mid-1942, the ship's name was changed to Empire Corporal. On June 23, 1942, she joined Convoy ON 106, heading for New York.
Final Voyage
On August 9, 1942, the Empire Corporal left Curaçao. She was carrying a large amount of petrol and white spirit. She joined Convoy TAW 12J.
At 11:57 AM on August 14, 1942, a German submarine called U-598 attacked her. The submarine fired a torpedo that hit the Empire Corporal. She sank off the coast of Barlovento Point, Cuba.
Sadly, six of her 55 crew members were lost. This included ten gunners who were on board to defend the ship. The people who survived were rescued by a United States Navy boat. They were then taken to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
The crew members who were lost on the Empire Corporal are remembered at the Tower Hill Memorial in London.
