Empire Thrush
British Steam merchant
Empire Thrush under her former name Lorain. Photo courtesy of Steamship Historical Society (http://www.sshsa.org)
| Name | Empire Thrush | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 6,160 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearny NJ | ||
| Owner | Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd, Montreal | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 14 Apr 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-203 (Rolf Mützelburg) | ||
| Position | 35° 08'N, 75° 18'W - Grid CA 7968 | ||
| Complement | 55 (0 dead and 55 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Tampa, Florida - Halifax - River Mersey | ||
| Cargo | 5000 tons of rock phosphate, 740 tons of TNT and 2800 tons of citrous pulp | ||
| History | Completed in May 1919 as Lorain for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1937 laid up as reserve. 1942 transferred to Britain and renamed Empire Thrush for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). | ||
| Notes on event | At 15.15 hours on 14 April 1942 the unescorted Empire Thrush (Master George Frisk) was hit aft by one G7a torpedo from U-203 and sank slowly by the stern about 8 miles north of Diamond Shoals off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The master, 47 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by the American Q-ship USS Asterion (AK 100) (LtCdr G.W. Legwen, Jr.) which had witnessed the attack on the horizon and arrived at the scene after about two hours. On 18 April, the survivors were landed at Norfolk, Virginia. | ||
| On board | We have details of 3 people who were on board. | ||
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