SS Empire Celtic
World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
- HMS LST 3512 (1945)
- SS Empire Celtic (1945-56)
- HMS Empire Celtic (1956)
- SS Empire Celtic (1945-62)
- Royal Navy (1945)
- Ministry of War Transport (1945)
- Ministry of Transport (1945-62)
- Royal Navy (1945)
- Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd (1946-56)
- Royal Navy (1956)
- Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd (1956-60)
Royal Navy (1946-48)
London (1948-56)- Royal Navy (1956)
- London (1956-60)
| 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 & type |
|
| 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
The 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
LST 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]