ST Empire Birch

Empire Birch was a tug built in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1942 she struck a mine and sank.

Description
Empire Birch was built by Henry Scarr Ltd, Hessle. She was yard number 418 and was launched on 9 August 1941 with completion on 12 December. She was 106 ft long, with a beam of 26 ft and a draught of 11 ft. Her GRT was 245 with a NRT of 229.

Career
Empire Birch was operated by the MoWT, her port of registry was Hull. She was the lead ship of the Birch-class tugs. On 10 August 1942, Empire Birch hit a mine in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Portuguese East Africa 150 nmi north of Lourenço Marques (-24.75°N, 34.78333°W). Although she was beached and abandoned, Empire Birch slid off the beach and sank in deep water.

Official Numbers and Code Letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Empire Bermuda had the UK Official Number 167111 and the Code Letters BCMV.

Propulsion
Empire Birch was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 16 in, 26 in and 43 in bore by 30 in stroke. It was built by the O D Holmer & Co, Hull.