Empire Gem
British Motor tanker
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| Name | Empire Gem | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 8,139 tons | ||
| Completed | 1941 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | British Tanker Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | Glasgow | ||
| Date of attack | 24 Jan 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-66 (Richard Zapp) | ||
| Position | 35° 06'N, 74° 58'W - Grid CA 7968 | ||
| Complement | 51 (49 dead and 2 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Port Arthur, Texas - Halifax - UK | ||
| Cargo | 10.692 tons of motor spirit and 920 tons of machinery | ||
| History | Completed in October 1941 for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) | ||
| Notes on event | At 02.40 hours on 24 Jan 1942 the unescorted Empire Gem (Master Francis Reginald Broad) was hit amidships and aft by two torpedoes from U-66 15 mile southeast of the Diamond Shoals buoy off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The tanker immediately caught fire and later broke in two and sank in 35°02N/75°33W. 43 crew members and six gunners were lost. The master and the radio operator were picked up by a US Coast Guard vessel and landed at Hatteras Inlet on 25 January. | ||
| On board | We have details of 51 people who were on board. | ||
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