List of Empire ships (R)
Suffix beginning with R
[Hugh Latimer|]''Empire Rabaul''
Empire Rabaul was a 7,307 Gross register tonnage cargo ship which was built by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields. Launched on 27 November 1944 and completed in February 1945. Sold in 1947 to B J Sutherland & Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne and renamed Dumfries. Sold in 1953 to Chine Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Charles Dickens. Operated under the management of Anglo-Danubian Transport Co Ltd, London. Sold in 1956 to the Yugoslavian Government and renamed Pohorje. Arrived on 21 April 1967 at Trieste, Italy for scrapping.''Empire Race''
Empire Race was a 244 GRT tug which was built by Henry Scarr Ltd, Hessle. Launched on 21 November 1944 and completed in June 1942. Sold in 1962 to Società di Navigazione Capiece, Italy and renamed Capo d'Orlando.''Empire Rain''
Empire Rain was a 7,290 GRT cargo ship which was built by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields. Launched on 30 October 1940 and completed in January 1941. Sold in 1945 to Thompson Steam Shipping Co Ltd, London, and renamed Amersham. Operated under the management of Clan Line Ltd. Sold in 1952 to Malabar Steamship Co Ltd, Bombay and renamed Janeta. Scrapped in March 1963 in Bombay.''Empire Rainbow''
Empire Rainbow was a 6,942 GRT CAM ship which was built by Greenock Dockyard Co Ltd, Greenock. Launched on 27 December 1940 and completed in May 1941. Torpedoed on 26 July 1942 and sunk by U-607 at while a member of Convoy ON 113.''Empire Raja''
Empire Raja was a 6,224 GRT cargo ship which was built by Joh. C. Tecklenborg AG, Wesermünde. Completed in 1922 as Wildenfels for DDG Hansa, Bremen. Scuttled on 25 August 1941 at Bandar Shapur, Iraq. Salvaged and seized as a war prize. To MoWT and renamed Empire Raja. Sold in 1951 to Wheelock, Marden & Co, Hong Kong and renamed Lansdowne. Sold in 1951 to Dai-Ichi Kisen KK, Japan, and renamed Liverpool Maru. Scrapped in November 1960 at Osaka, Japan.''Empire Raleigh''
Empire Raleigh was a 7,240 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 12 June 1941 and completed in October 1941. Allocated in 1942 to the Dutch Government and renamed Vermeer. Sold in 1946 to Stoomscheep Maatschappij Wijklijn NV and renamed Zonnewijk. Operated under the management of Erhardt & Dekkers, Rotterdam. Sold in 1961 to Compagnia Navigazione de Egeo, Panama and renamed Antonakis. Operated under the management of Lemos & Pateras Ltd. Ran aground on 6 December 1961 at Cape Spartel, Morocco and broke in two. Declared a total loss.''Empire Rancher''
Empire Rancher was a 332 GRT collier which was built by J Harker Ltd, Knottingley. Launched on 2 January 1943 and completed in June 1943. Sold in 1947 to Anglo-Danubian Transport Co Ltd, London and renamed Shelley. Sold in 1948 to Coppack Brothers & Co, Hull. Stranded on 6 June 1965 in Strangford Lough. Refloated and taken in tow but sank on 8 June in Belfast Lough.''Empire Ranger''
Empire Ranger was a 7,008 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 3 December 1941 and was completed in February 1942. Bombed on 28 March 1942 by Junkers Ju 88 aircraft and sunk at while a member of Convoy PQ 13. Crew member, Alfred Minchin was taken prisoner by a German destroyer and became a member of the Waffen-SS British Free Corps, holding the rank of Sturmmann. He was 'convicted at Central Criminal Court on 5 February 1946 of conspiring to assist the enemy and sentenced to 7 years of penal servitude.''Empire Rangoon''
Empire Rangoon was a 7,028 GRT cargo ship which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast. Launched on 25 January 1944 and completed in May 1944. Sold in 1947 to Reardon Smith Line Ltd and renamed Homer City. Operated under the management of Sir William Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd. Sold in 1966 to Grosvenor Shipping Co Ltd, London, and renamed Grosvenor Mariner. Operated under the management of Mollers Ltd, Hong Kong. Sold in 1966 to Tat On Shipping & Enterprise Co Ltd, Hong Kong, and renamed Red Sea. Operated under the management of Yick Fung Shipping & Enterprise Co Ltd, Hong Kong. On 17 August 1971 she was driven aground at Lanatu Island, Hong Kong during Typhoon Rose. Refloated but scrapped in September 1971 at Hong Kong.''Empire Rani''
Empire Rani was a 7,575 GRT cargo ship which was built by Joh. C. Tecklenborg AG, Wesermünde. Completed in 1921 as Marienfels for Hansa Line, Bremen. Captured on 25 August 1941 at Bandar Shapur, Iran. To MoWT and renamed Empire Rani. Sold in 1950 to San Giorgio del Porto, Italy, and renamed Karachi. Scrapped in June 1959 at Osaka, Japan.''Empire Ransom''
Empire Ransom was a 2,905 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 31 August 1943 and completed in November 1943. Sold in 1946 to Kelvin Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Baron Elibank. Operated under the management of H Hogarth & Sons Ltd. Sold in 1959 to Empros Shipping Co Ltd, Greece, and renamed Armenistis. Arrived on 6 July 1971 at Tamise, Belgium for scrapping.''Empire Rapier''
Empire Rapier was a 7,177 GRT Type C1-S-AY1 cargo ship which was built by Consolidated Steel Corp, Wilmington, California. Laid down as Cape Turner but completed in December 1943 as Empire Rapier for MoWT. To United States Maritime Commission in 1948 and renamed Cape Turner. Renamed Empire Rapier at an unknown date. Arrived on 5 January 1966 at Kearney, New Jersey for scrapping.''Empire Raven''
Empire Raven was a 6,100 GRT refrigerated cargo ship which was built by Moore Shipbuilding Co, Oakland, California. Completed in November 1918 as Oskawa for the United States Shipping Board. To MoWT in 1942 and renamed Empire Raven. Sold in 1948 to South Georgia Co Ltd and renamed Southern Raven. Operated under the management of Christian Salvesen & Co Ltd, Leith. Scrapped in November 1952 at Port Glasgow. Louis Adamic wrote an account of life on the ship in 1922 in his Dynamite: [The Story of Class Violence in America], which in turn inspired Bertold Brecht's poem "Abbau des Schiffes Oskawa durch die Mannschaft", published in his 1939 collection Svendborger Gedichte.''Empire Rawlinson''
Empire Rawlinson was a 9,912 GRT cargo liner which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 22 June 1944 and completed in November 1944. Allocated in 1946 to the French Government and renamed Monkay. Sold in 1950 to Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes, France. Sold in 1959 to Compagnia Marittima Marmara SA, Panama and renamed Dimitrios. Sold in 1969 to S A Wisdom Ltda, Panama, and renamed Tropero. Operated under the management of A Bottacchi SA, Argentina. Arrived on 1 February 1972 at Campan, Argentina for scrapping.''Empire Ray''
Empire Ray was a 6,919 GRT CAM ship which was built by Greenock Dockyard Co Ltd, Greenock. Launched on 25 March 1941 and completed in June 1941. Sold in 1945 to King Line Ltd and renamed King Alfred. Arrived on 16 March 1963 at Hamburg, West Germany for scrapping.''Empire Raymond''
Empire Raymond is a 235 GRT tug which was built by A Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen. Launched on 21 January 1946 and completed in May 1946. Sold in 1947 to William Watkins Ltd and renamed Cervia. Foundered on 26 October 1954 at Tilbury, Essex while assisting. Raised on 28 October and beached. Repaired at Ramsgate, Kent and re-entered service. To Medway Maritime Museum in 1972 and then International Towing Ltd, Sittingbourne, Kent in 1973. To East Kent Maritime Museum in 1984 and preserved in William Watkins Ltd livery.''Empire Razorbill''
Empire Razorbill was a 5,117 GRT cargo ship which was built by American International Shipbuilding, Hog Island, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1920 as Conness Peak for USSB. Sold to Pioneer Steamship Corp, New York in 1920. Sold to Lykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Co Inc in 1933. Sold in 1938 to Wisconsin Steamship Co and renamed Erica Reed. Sold in 1939 to American Coast Line Inc and renamed Eastern Trader. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Razorbill. Sold in 1946 to Williamson & Co Ltd, Hong Kong. Sold in 1947 to Xilas Brothers, Greece and renamed M Xilas. Caught fire on 4 June 1947 at Ko Sichang, Thailand, beached and abandoned. Sank on 13 July 1947.''Empire Reaper''
Empire Reaper was a 322 GRT collier which was built by J Harker Ltd, Knottingley. Launched on 17 October 1942 and completed in April 1943. Sold in 1947 to Anglo-Danubian Transport Co Ltd, London and renamed Browning. Sold in 1949 to Kerton Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Moreton Corbet. Sold in 1953 to Fowey Harbour Commissioners, Fowey, Cornwall and renamed Lerryn. Sold in 1964 to Seabourne Aggregate Co Ltd, Southampton. Converted to a sand carrier and renamed Pen Adur. Sold in 1969 to South Coast Shipping Co Ltd, Southampton, and renamed Sand Wren. Sold in 1973 to Bowen & Caine, Southampton, and renamed Margaret Smith. Capsized on 28 June 1978 at Cowes, Isle of Wight. Towed to a position off Yarmouth but sank at.''Empire Record''
Empire Record was a 2,902 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 24 October 1942 and completed in December 1942. Sold in 1948 to Stanhope Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Stanway. Sold in 1951 to Williamson Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Yorkbrook. Operated under the management of Comben, Longstaff & Co Ltd. Sold in 1954 to I Jansen, Norway, and renamed Elisabeth Jansen. Sold in 1959 to Marine Venture Corp, New York, and renamed Celia B. Sold in 1963 to Prymo Meltemi Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama and renamed Saint Mary. Sold in 1964 to Angelmar Shipping Co Ltd, Panama, and renamed Sea Maid. On 7 January 1965, she lost her propeller and suffered engine damage northeast of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Towed to Willemstad and abandoned as a constructive total loss. Sold for scrapping at Curaçao, but resold and towed to Rotterdam. Scrapped in March 1969 at Bilbao, Spain.''Empire Redshank''
Empire Redshank was a 6,615 GRT cargo ship which was built by Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearney, New Jersey. Completed in April 1919 as Braddock for USSB. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Redshank. Bombed on 31 January 1942 and damaged north of the Shetland Islands. Torpedoed on 22 February 1943 and sunk by while a member of Convoy ON 166. Abandoned and then sunk by.''Empire Regent''
Empire Regent was a 9,904 GRT cargo liner which was built by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees. Launched on 17 July 1943 and completed in November 1943. Sold in 1946 to Rio Cape Line Ltd and renamed Black Prince. Operated under the management of Furness, Withy & Co Ltd. Chartered in 1949 by Shaw, Savill & Albion Co Ltd and renamed Zealandic. Sold in 1952 to Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd and renamed Beaverlodge. Sold in 1960 to Ben Line Steamers Ltd and renamed Benhiant. Sold in 1970 to Witty Compagnia Navigazione SA, Cyprus and renamed Venus. Operated under the management of Troodos Shipping & Trading Ltd, London. Arrived on 16 July 1971 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping.''Empire Reindeer''
Empire Reindeer was a 6,259 GRT cargo ship which was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearney, New Jersey. Completed as Clarion for USSB. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Reindeer. Torpedoed on 10 August 1942 and sunk by U-660 at while a member of Convoy SC 94.''Empire Rennie''
Empire Rennie was a 6,626 GRT cargo ship which was built by C Connell & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 7 October 1941 and completed in December 1941. Allocated in 1942 to the Dutch Government and renamed Frans Hals. Sold in 1946 to Van Nievelt, Goudriaan Stoomscheeps Maatschappij NV, Rotterdam and renamed Alchiba. Sold in 1956 to DDG Hansa, Bremen and renamed Rheinfels. Sold in 1968 to Permataris Shipping Co Ltd, Cyprus, and renamed Permataris. On 6 June 1975 she suffered an engine room fire east of Malta. Abandoned but later reboarded. Arrived on 12 June at Augusta, Sicily and laid up. To Piraeus, Greece, arriving on 11 July and laid up. Scrapped in February 1979 at Piraeus.''Empire Reserve''
Empire Reserve was a 5,693 GRT tanker which was built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Completed in 1916 as Mytilus for Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd. Requisitioned by MoWT in 1941. Arrived on 14 August 1942 at Harwich, Essex for use as an oil fuel depot. Intended to be renamed Empire Reserve but the name was not taken up. Returned to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd in 1946 and towed to Plaju, Indonesia. Used as a floating oil depot. Scrapped in November 1950 in Bombay.''Empire Resistance''
Empire Resistance was a 1,631 GRT cargo ship which was built by Feviks Jernskibsbyg, Fevik, Norway. Completed in 1908 as Ottar. Sold in 1935 to Servizio Italo-Portoghese Anonimo di Navigazione, Genoa, Italy and renamed Libano. Seized in June 1940 at Gibraltar. To MoWT and renamed Empire Resistance. Sold in 1946 to Resistance Shipping Co, London, and renamed Resistance. Sold in 1949 to Giacomo Costa, Genoa and renamed Beatrice C. Sold in 1954 to Raffaele Romano, Naples and renamed Acilia. Sold in 1956 to Apostolo & Ruffini, Genoa and renamed Cilin. Scrapped in June 1959 at Savona, Italy.''Empire Rest''
Empire Rest was a 1,333 GRT convoy rescue ship which was built by Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd., Port Glasgow. Launched on 19 June 1944 as HMS Rayleigh Castle for the Royal Navy. Completed in October 1944 as Empire Rest for MoWT. Laid up in July 1948 at Falmouth, Cornwall. Sold in October 1951 to Lloyds Albert Yard & Motor Boat Packet Services Ltd. Operated under the management of R A Beazley, Southampton. Arrived on 6 June 1952 at Briton Ferry, West Glamorgan for scrapping.''Empire Reynard''
Empire Reynard was a 325 GRT coaster which was built by Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft. Launched on 11 July 1942 and completed in October 1942. Allocated in 1943 to the Dutch Government and renamed Westerhaven. Sold in 1946 to Société Anonyme Jean Negri, France and renamed Orsuro. Sold in 1949 to Compagnie Charentaise de Transports Maritimes, France and renamed Chassiron. Sold in 1951 to R T V Hall, Dublin and renamed Kilbride. Sold in 1972 to T Rive, Dublin, then sold in 1973 to Mrs Joyce Hercock, Hull and renamed Joyce. Scrapped in April 1974 at Hull.''Empire Reynolds''
Empire Reynolds was an 8,128 GRT tanker which was built in 1942 by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Sold to H E Moss & Co. London in 1946 and renamed Luminous. Sold in 1956 to Compagnia Sicula di Armamento Cosarma, Italy and renamed Potere. Renamed Miriella later that year. Scrapped in 1960 in Trieste.''Empire Rhodes''
Empire Rhodes was a 7,050 GRT cargo ship which was built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee. Launched on 19 September 1941 and completed in December 1941. On 18 December 1945 her cargo of jute caught fire at Gdynia, Poland. She was scuttled in an attempt to extinguish the fire, that burnt until 3 January 1946. Towed to Kiel, Germany on 23 February 1946, then to Falmouth. Arrived on 11 April 1946 at Glasgow. Sold on 25 February 1947 to be scuttled but repaired instead. Sold to the South Georgia Co and renamed Culter. Operated under the management of Christian Salveson & Co Ltd, Leith. Sold in 1959 to M Ipar, Istanbul and renamed Virginia Ipar. Scrapped in September 1970 at Istanbul.''Empire Rhondda''
Empire Rhondda was a 1,996 GRT cargo ship which was built by Schiffswerke AG, Hamburg. Completed in 1923 as Pasajes for Oldenburg-Portuguese Line, Hamburg. On 11 January 1945 she ran aground in the Skaggerak at. Salvaged and taken to Kristiansand for repairs. Seized in May 1945 at Frederikshaven, Denmark. To MoWT and renamed Empire Rhondda. To USSB in 1946 and renamed Henri Barbusse. No trace after 1955, deleted from shipping registers in 1968.''Empire Ribble''
Empire Ribble was a 4,545 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Completed in 1922 as Dunstaffinage. Sold in 1939 to F A Vinnen & Co, Bremen and renamed Magdalene Vinnen. Damaged in July 1943 during Allied air raid on Hamburg. Towed to Copenhagen for repairs and seized there in May 1945. To MoWT and renamed Empire Ribble. Chartered to the Dutch Government and renamed Osterbeek. Allocated to the Dutch Government in 1946 and sold the next year to Erhardt & Dekkers, Netherlands, renamed Winterswijk. Sold in 1954 to Peak Steamship Co, Hong Kong, and renamed Universal Trader. Sold in 1958 to Great Southern Steamship Co, Hong Kong. Scrapped in 1959 at Yokohama, Japan.''Empire Richmond''
Empire Richmond was a 1,047 GRT coaster which was built by John Lewis & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen. Launched on 11 June 1945 and completed in August 1945. Sold in 1946 to Stephenson Clarke Lt and renamed Pulborough. Renamed Pulborough II in 1959, sold later that year to Ashok Line, India, and renamed Nilgiri. Arrested in 1969 at Calcutta and sold by Court Order. Scrapped in April 1970 at Calcutta.''Empire Rider''
Empire Rider was a 964 GRT coaster which was built by Scott & Sons, Bowling, West Dunbartonshire. Launched on 15 September 1943 and completed in October 1943. Sold in 1946 to O Dorey & Sons Ltd, Guernsey and renamed Rocquaine. Scrapped in 1961 at Terneuzen, Netherlands.''Empire Ridge''
Empire Ridge was a 2,922 GRT ore carrier which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 7 February 1941 and completed in April 1941. Torpedoed on 19 May 1941 and sunk by U-96 at.''Empire Ridley''
Empire Ridley was a 6,838 GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 21 August 1941 and completed in November 1941. To the Admiralty in 1943 and converted to a pipe-laying vessel. To Royal Navy as HMSLatimer. To MoWT in July 1945 and renamed Empire Ridley (martyr)|Ridley]. Sold to Norwegian buyer in 1947, sent to Italy for conversion. Sold to Società Ligure di Armamento, Italy and renamed Acheo. Scrapped in 1964 at Sakai, Japan.