Official Number:                      136655

Builder:                                  Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan

Launched:                              17 December 1913

Pennant No:                           Y 8.77

Into Service:                            1915

Out of service:                         22 November 1918

Fate:                                      12 October 1946 scuttled in the North Atlantic

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

17 December 1913 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan as Yard Nr: 444G named Egba for African Steamship Co Ltd., London

5 April 1914 completed with accommodation for 12 passengers

1915 engaged in trooping duties

16 March 1918 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a Stores Carrier. Served in the White Sea

April 1918 assisted the ice-breaker HMS ALEXANDER through extra-thick ice

22 November 1918 returned to her owners

1933 transferred to Elder Dempster Lines Ltd., Liverpool

10 May 1941 came across and rescued the survivors in Boat Nr. 3 from Lamport & Holt’s ship Lassell which had been torpedoed on the evening of 30 April 1941 about 300 nmilesSW of Cape Verde Islands

12 May 1942 while on passage from the UK to Halifax was attacked by a submarine whose torpedo passed 150 feet ahead of the ship

9 August 1943 purchased for £4,989 by the MoWT and renamed Empire Severn under the management of Elder Dempster Lines Ltd., Liverpool

5 January 1944 sailed Southend in unescorted convoy FN1227 to Immingham arriving the next day

8 January 1944 sailed Immingham joining in unescorted convoy FN1230 to Methil arriving 10 January 1944

10 January 1944 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN330 to Oban arriving 13 January 1944

14 January 1944 sailed Oban and joined escorted convoy ONS27 to Halifax arriving 3 February 1944

5 February 1944 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy XB95 to the Cape Cod Canal arriving 7 February 1944

7 February 1944 sailed the Cape Cod Canal independently to New York arriving the next day

16 February 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy NG417 to Guantanamo arriving 23 February 1944

23 February 1944 sailed Guantanamo in escorted convoy GAT119 to San Juan, Puerto Rico arriving 25 February 1944

2 March 1944 sailed Ponce independently to Macoris arriving the next day

12 March 1944 sailed Macoris independently to Guantanamo arriving 14 March 1944

14 March 1944 sailed Guantanamo independently to Havana, Cuba arriving 19 March 1944

12 October 1946 scuttled in the Skaggerak in position 58.18N 09.37E loaded with high explosives and gas munitions