Shipbuilder's model of the S.S. Empire Purcell by William Gray & Co. of West Hartlepool, circa 1942.

Shipbuilder's model of the S.S. Empire Purcell.

A Shipbuilder's model of the WWII cargo ship S.S. Empire Purcell by William Gray & Co. of West Hartlepool, circa 1942.

The scale model is mounted in a glazed mahogany case, which stands on a four leg base.

Width: 173 cm.

Depth: 42 cm.

Height: 140 cm.

Notes on S.S. Empire Purcell.

Built and launched in 1942.

Steel Screw Steamer 7,049-GRT cargo ship (Length: 446.4 ft).

Builder: William Gray & Co. Ltd., West Hartlepool.

Owned by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).

Fate: Bombed and sunk on 27/05/1942, by German air attack on passage from Middlesbrough via Reykjavik for North Russia with military cargo, member of Convoy PQ 16.

Literature: Empire Ships of World War Two. Sawyer, L. A., Mitchell, W. H. 1990. Page: 63.

Notes on Empire Ships.

Empire ships were merchant ships that were all given a name beginning with "Empire", they were used in the service of the Government of the United Kingdom during and after World War II. Most were used and owned by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), who contracted their operation to shipping companies of the British Merchant Navy.

Empire ships came from two main sources: new construction, and capture and seizure. New Empire ships were built for the MoWT or obtained from the USA to increase Britain's shipping capacity and offset losses to German U-boats, commerce raiders, bombing and other enemy actions in the tonnage war Germany was waging against Britain's sea transport around the globe. Others were captured or seized from enemy powers and some were acquired by requisition or normal purchase or lease.

New Empire ship construction represented an enormous undertaking that included classes of freighters, tankers, aircraft carriers, fast cargo liners, tank landing ships, deep-sea salvage and rescue tugs and several other categories. Total production numbered in the hundreds.

Price

This object includes complimentary, Insured Shipping / Delivery within the UK

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance