MV Empire Day

History
NameEmpire Day
OwnerMinistry of War Transport
Operator
  • Stephens Sutton Ltd (1941– )
  • Lyle Shipping Co Ltd ( –1944)
Port of registry Sunderland, United Kingdom
BuilderWilliam Doxford & Sons Ltd
Yard number673
Launched27 March 1941
CompletedJuly 1941
Out of service7 August 1944
Identification
FateTorpedoed and sunk, 7 August 1944
General characteristics
Type
  • CAM ship (1941–1943)
  • Cargo ship (1943–1944)
Tonnage
Length428 ft 8 in (130.66 m)
Beam56 ft 5 in (17.20 m)
Draught27 feet 4+34 inches (8.350 m)
Depth35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)
Installed power516 nhp
Propulsion2SCSA diesel engine
Complement34, plus 8 DEMS gunners
Armament
  • 1 Hawker Sea Hurricane (1941–1943)
  • 1 × 4-inch gun
  • 1 × 12-pdr gun
  • 2 × 20 mm guns
Location of the attack by U-198 on Empire Day off the coast of what is now Tanzania

MV Empire Day was a 7,241 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 as a CAM ship by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1943, she was converted to a standard cargo ship. She served until August 1944 when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-198.