| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Empire Cowper |
| Owner | Ministry of War Transport |
| Operator | R Chapman & Son |
| Port of registry |  London |
| Builder | William Doxford & Sons Ltd |
| Yard number | 681 |
| Launched | 23 September 1941 |
| Completed | December 1941 |
| Out of service | 11 April 1942 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Bombed and sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 428 ft 8 in (130.66 m) |
| Beam | 56 ft 5 in (17.20 m) |
| Draught | 27 feet 4+3⁄4 inches (8.350 m) |
| Depth | 35 ft 5 in (10.80 m) |
| Propulsion | Triple expansion steam engine |
Empire Cowper was a 7,161 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, United Kingdom. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport. Empire Cowper was bombed and sunk on 11 April 1942 whilst a member of Convoy QP 10.
Empire Cowper was built in 1941 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.[1] Yard number 682,[2] she was launched on 23 September and completed in December,[1]
The ship was 428 feet 8 inches (130.66 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m). She had a depth of 35 feet 5 inches (10.80 m) and a draught of 27 feet 4+3⁄4 inches (8.350 m). She was assessed at 7,164 GRT, 5,053 NRT.[3] Her DWT was 10,173.[2]
The ship was propelled by a 511 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 23+1⁄2 inches (60 cm), 37+1⁄2 inches (95 cm) and 68 inches (170 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank.[3]
Empire Cowper was completed in December 1941,[1] and placed under the management of R Chapman & Son.[2] The Official Number 169003 was allocated,[4] as were the Code Letters BCTF.[3]
Empire Cowper was a member of Convoy PQ 13, which departed Loch Ewe on 10 March 1942 and arrived at Murmansk, Soviet Union on 31 March.[5] She arrived at Reykjavík, Iceland on 16 March and departed on 20 March to join the convoy.[6]
Empire Cowper was a member of Convoy QP 10, which departed the Kola Inlet on 10 April and arrived at Reykjavík on 21 April.[7] On 11 April, she was bombed by Junkers Ju 88 aircraft and sunk in the Barents Sea at 71°01′N 36°00′E / 71.017°N 36.000°E,[1] with the loss of nine of her crew.[8] Those lost on Empire Cowper are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.[9]
