Empire Moon
British Steam merchant
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| Name | Empire Moon | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 7,472 tons | ||
| Completed | 1941 - J.L. Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | Court Line Ltd (Haldin & Philipps Ltd), London | ||
| Homeport | Sunderland | ||
| Date of attack | 22 Jul 1943 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | A total loss by U-81 (Johann-Otto Krieg) | ||
| Position | 36° 43'N, 15° 20'E - Grid CN 3282 | ||
| Complement | 48 (0 dead and 48 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Syracuse, Sicily - Malta | ||
| Cargo | Coal | ||
| History | Completed in May 1941 as CAM ship for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). On 26 Sep 1941, collided with Empire Mallard near Point Armour, Strait of Belle Isle. While Empire Moon was only slightly damaged, the other ship sank. On 14 Jun 1942, the Hurricane fighter (PO Sanders) from Empire Moon was launched while in convoy HG-84 to chase off a German Fw200 aircraft. Afterwards the pilot bailed out over the convoy and was recovered by HMS Stork (U 81) (Cdr F.J. Walker, DSO, RN). Her catapult was removed by the end of 1942. Post-war: 1946/47 sold to Mediterranean SS Co Ltd (G.O. Till), London. 1949 renamed Ionian Moon for Pandelis Shipping Co. 1952 renamed Alcyone Fortune for Alcyone Shipping Co Ltd. 1953 renamed Sterling Victory for Sterling Shipping Co Ltd (A. Vergottis Ltd), Nassau, Bahamas. 1957 registered in Liberia as Alma for Victoria SS Co. 1968 renamed Campos for Compagnia Navigazione Campos, Panama. 1969 transferred to Campos Shipping Co, Famagusta. Broken up at Shanghai in March 1970. | ||
| Notes on event | At 17.14 hours on 22 July 1943, U-81 fired a spread of three torpedoes at the Empire Moon, escorted by HMS Stroma (T 150) (SkrLt J.S. Harper, RNR) south of Syracuse and hit her in the foreship. At 17.52 hours, a coup de grâce was fired at the stopped vessel. The ship was beached at the coast of Sicily the next day. In June 1945 the Empire Moon was refloated and towed to Syracuse and in July 1945 to Palermo for repairs. | ||
| On board | We have details of 4 people who were on board. | ||
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