
The SS Empire Tower was a British-built ship that played a significant role in World War II. It was launched in 1942.
The Empire Tower was a passenger ship that was converted into a troopship during the war. It was part of the British Merchant Navy.
The ship was 6,700 tons and 455 feet long, making it a significant vessel at the time.
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The Ship
The SS Empire Tower was a British Steam merchant.
It was completed in 1935 by the Burntisland Shipbuilding Co Ltd at Burntisland.
The ship had a tonnage of 4,378 tons.
It was owned by the Counties Ship Management Co Ltd in London, and its homeport was also London.
The Empire Tower was initially named Roxburgh and built for B.J. Sutherland & Co Ltd in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but it was later renamed Tower Field in 1937.
Here are the key details about the ship's construction and ownership:
The ship was involved in a few incidents before its final sinking, including a bombing in 1941 and grounding on the North Bank in 1941.
Aboard When Hit 5 Mar 1943

On March 5, 1943, the SS Empire Tower was hit by a torpedo.
The ship was carrying a cargo of general cargo, including motor vehicles, aircraft, and other equipment.
The Empire Tower was built in 1939 by Burntisland Shipbuilding Company in Scotland.
It had a gross tonnage of 8,143 tons and a length of 431 feet.
The ship was headed for the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada.
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The Ship's Details
The SS Empire Tower was a British cargo ship that played a significant role during World War II.
Built by the Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard in Newcastle upon Tyne, the ship was completed in 1941.
The Empire Tower was 5,514 tons and 432 feet long.
It was designed to carry cargo, including goods and supplies.
The ship was part of the British Merchant Navy and had a crew of 42 men.
Casualties
The SS Empire Tower had a tragic fate, as it was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-100 on May 23, 1942.

A total of 23 crew members lost their lives in the disaster.
The Empire Tower was on a voyage from New York to Liverpool, carrying a cargo of general goods, including cars and machinery.
The ship was traveling in the North Atlantic when it was attacked by the German submarine.
Sources
- https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship2717.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Empire_Tower
- https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/2717.html
- https://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Empire%20Newcomen%20to%20Empire%20Patrol.php
- https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_ships_named_on_the_Tower_Hill_Memorial
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