SS Michael E
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | Michael E |
| Owner | Bury Hill Shipping Co Ltd |
| Operator | Counties Ship Management Co Ltd, London |
| Port of registry | London |
| Builder | William Hamilton & Co, Port Glasgow |
| Completed | May 1941 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk, 2 June 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 60.4 ft (18.4 m) |
| Draught | 23 ft 2+1⁄4 in (7.07 m) |
| Depth | 35.8 ft (10.9 m) |
| Installed power | 443 NHP |
| Propulsion | triple-expansion steam engine; screw |
| Crew | 46 Merchant Navy personnel, 12 RAF personnel, four DEMS gunners |
| Aircraft carried | 1 Hawker Sea Hurricane |
| Aviation facilities | aircraft catapult |
| Notes | sister ships: Kingston Hill, Lulworth Hill, Marietta E, Primrose Hill |
SS Michael E was a 7,628 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941. She was the first British catapult aircraft merchant ship (CAM ship): a merchant ship fitted with a rocket catapult to launch a single Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft to defend a convoy against long-range German bombers. She was sunk on her maiden voyage by a German submarine.