Contents

SSEmpire Broadsword

History
Name	Cape Marshall (1943) Empire Broadsword (1943-44)
Owner	War Shipping Administration
Operator	Cunard White Star Line
Port of registry	London
Builder	Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California
Launched	16 August 1943
Completed	December 1943
Out of service	2 July 1944
Identification	United Kingdom Official Number 169737 Code Letters MYMJ
Fate	Struck a mine and sank
General characteristics
Tonnage	7,177 GRT 4,823 NRT
Length	396 ft 5 in (120.83 m)
Beam	60 ft 1 in (18.31 m)
Depth	35 ft (10.67 m)
Propulsion	Steam turbines, double reduction geared driving a single screw
Armament	1 × 4 in gun 1 × 12 pdr gun 12 × 20mm guns

Empire Broadsword was a Type C1-S-AY-1 infantry landing ship built in 1943 as Cape Marshall. She was renamed Empire Broadsword before completion and entering into service for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She had a short career, entering service in December 1943 and being sunk by a mine in July 1944.

The ship was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California as yard number 348. She was launched on 16 August 1943 as Cape Marshall.^[1] She was 396 feet 5 inches (120.83 m) long, with a beam of 60 feet 1 inch (18.31 m) and a depth of 35 feet (10.67 m). She was propelled by two steam turbines which drove a single screw via double reduction gearing. The steam turbine were manufactured by Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Corp, Essington, Pennsylvania.^[2]

The ship was transferred under the terms of lend lease shortly after being completed in 1943 under the name Empire Broadsword.^[3] She was chartered by the MoWT, and was operated under the management of Cunard White Star Line^[2]

Empire Broadsword was mined and sunk off Normandy on July 2, 1944, while supporting the allied invasion of Europe.^[4] Her position is 49°25′N 0°54′W / 49.417°N 0.900°W / 49.417; -0.900.^[1] Seventy survivors were rescued by USS PC-1225.^[5] The wreck lies on its starboard side in 27 metres (89 ft) of water and is now a dive site.^[6] Those lost on Empire Broadsword are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.^[7]

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Empire Broadsword had the UK Official Number 169737 and used the Code Letters MYMJ.^[2]

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.