Empire Avocet
We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.
| Name | Empire Avocet | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 6,015 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - Moore Shipbuilding Co, Oakland CA | ||
| Owner | New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 30 Sep 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-125 (Ulrich Folkers) | ||
| Position | 04.05N, 13.23W - Grid ET 9464 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 58 (2 dead and 56 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Buenos Aires - Rio Grande do Sol, Argentina (9 Sep) - Freetown - UK | ||
| Cargo | 3724 tons of meat and 1225 tons of general cargo | ||
| History | Built as American Cotati for US Shipping Board, San Francisco; 1937 transferred to US Maritime Commission, New York and laid up as Reserve at 31 Dec, 1939. 1942 taken over by Britain and renamed Empire Avocet by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). | ||
| Notes on loss | At 01.38 hours on 30 Sep, 1942, the unescorted Empire Avocet (Master Frederick Pover) was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire by U-125 about 350 miles south of Freetown. The master and a machinist were taken prisoner by the U-boat. Two crew members were lost. 47 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by the HMS Cowslip (K 196) (SubLt J.S.M. Swift) and landed at Freetown. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.