Empire Crossbill
British Steam merchant
Empire Crossbill under her former name West Amargosa. Photo from US National Archives #RG-32-S
| Name | Empire Crossbill | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,463 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Corp, San Pedro CA | ||
| Owner | John Morrison & Son, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 11 Sep 1941 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-82 (Siegfried Rollmann) | ||
| Position | 63° 14'N, 37° 12'W - Grid AD 7143 | ||
| Complement | 49 (49 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | SC-42 | ||
| Route | Philadelphia - Sydney (30 Aug) - Hull | ||
| Cargo | 6686 tons of steel and 4 tons of relief goods | ||
| History | Completed in March 1919 as West Amargosa for US Shipping Board (USSB) and later laid up as part of the reserve fleet. On 14 November 1940 given to Britain and renamed Empire Crossbill by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) for Sir W. Reardon Smith & Sons, later the same year given to John Morrison & Son. | ||
| Notes on event | At 07.05 hours on 11 September 1941, U-82 fired three torpedoes at three ships in convoy SC-42 east of Cape Farewell and observed two hits. The Empire Crossbill sank immediately and the Scania was later sunk by U-202 (Linder). The Empire Crossbill (Master Eric Robinson Townend) sank with all hands: the master, 38 crew members, nine gunners and one passenger were lost. | ||
| On board | We have details of 49 people who were on board. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.