Empire Explorer
British Steam merchant
Empire Explorer under her former name Inanda
| Name | Empire Explorer | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,345 tons | ||
| Completed | 1925 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | T. & J. Harrison, Liverpool | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 9 Jul 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-575 (Günther Heydemann) | ||
| Position | 11° 40'N, 60° 55'W - Grid ED 9679 | ||
| Complement | 78 (3 dead and 75 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Demerara - Trinidad (8 Jul) - Barbados - UK | ||
| Cargo | 4000 tons of sugar, 1000 tons of pitch and 200 bags of mail | ||
| History | Completed in May 1925 as British steam passenger ship Inanda (5985 grt) for Charente Steamship Co Ltd (T & J Harrison), Liverpool. On 7 September 1940 the Inanda was bombed and sunk during a German air raid while in Royal Albert Dock, London. Later raised, rebuilt and renamed Empire Explorer by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1941. | ||
| Notes on event | At 02.47 hours on 9 July 1942 the unescorted Empire Explorer (Master Edgar Buckingham Stephens) was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire by U-575 west of Tobago. Three crew members were lost. The master, 66 crew members and eight gunners were picked up by HMS MTB-337 and landed at Tobago. U-575 reported the ship under her former name Inanda. | ||
| On board | We have details of 5 people who were on board. | ||
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