SSEmpire Javelin served as a troop shipinOperation Overlord, starting with the initial landings on the beaches on 6 June 1944 ("D-Day").[1] She was lost on 28 December 1944 while in convoy to France with 1,483 troops aboard somewhere around the midpoint between Southampton, southern England, and Le Havre, France.[2] She may have been torpedoed by German submarine U-322, active in the area on the same day,[3] or struck a mine.[4]
Empire Javelin arrived in Portsmouth late in the summer of 1943 where she took delivery of 18 British designed Thornycroft Landing Craft Assault (LCA's). Sailing north, the Merchant Navy and Royal Navy crews spent many weeks in training off Holy Loch in Scotland, practicing raising and lowering her LCA's and firing her protective anti-aircraft guns in preparation for D-Day.[citation needed]
L'Escarmouche, a Free French that rescued the survivors of Empire Javelin
Loss, December 28th, 1944
Empire Javelin embarked 1,483 US servicemen at Southampton for Le Havre, France on 28 December 1944. She was in convoy with USS LST-325 and escorted by the Free French frigate L'Escarmouche. In the English Channel on the afternoon of the 28th there was an explosion without warning at 50°5′N1°0′W / 50.083°N 1.000°W / 50.083; -1.000; at least 20 people died and 20 more injured.[10] The L'Escarmouche was called alongside once the extent of the damage had been assessed, and for approximately an hour the men on board the Empire Javelin jumped from the ship. HMS Hargood arrived to assist, standing off nearby on submarine watch. Two minutes after the last man jumped off, there was a large explosion and the ship began settling by the stern. About 10 minutes later she was completely submerged.[10][11]
Empire Javelin on sea trials in Holy Loch, 1943
Initially it was thought that the ship had been torpedoed by German submarine U-772,[12] but it was later revealed that U-772 was sunk earlier that month.[13] Another U-boat, U-322, was active in the area on the same day, and was sunk on the next day south of Weymouth.[3] There is no definitive proof of what sank the Empire Javelin although she was probably sunk by a mine.[4]
^Schoichet's account of the sinking of Empire Javelin: [1]"Noon of December 28 found us approaching the half way mark in the channel...Suddenly, without warning, the whole world erupted."
United Kingdom
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