Empire Blanda
A British cargo ship requisitioned during World War II, torpedoed and sunk in the South Atlantic in 1941.
At a glance
The Empire Blanda was a 5,593-ton cargo vessel built in Scotland in 1919. Originally launched as the Nile, it passed through several owners and names before being requisitioned by the British Ministry of Transport of War in 1940. The ship met its end when German U-boat U-69 torpedoed it on 19 February 1941 in the South Atlantic.
History
Built by Lithgows Ltd in Port Glasgow as building number 715, the ship launched on 30 September 1919 and completed in November. Originally named Nile, it served merchant routes until sold to a Yugoslavian company in 1930. Renamed Sokol in 1933, it changed hands again in 1939 to a Panamanian company and became Rio Grande. The British government requisitioned the vessel in 1940 during World War II and renamed it Empire Blanda, part of the Empire fleet of wartime acquisitions. Less than a year later, German submarine U-69 attacked and sank the ship.
What you see
Empire Blanda measured 423 feet 5 inches in length with a beam of 56 feet and a depth of 28 feet 7 inches. The ship was powered by a triple-expansion steam engine built by JG Kincaird Ltd of Greenock, featuring cylinders of 27, 45, and 75 inches in diameter. With this machinery, the vessel could achieve a speed of 11 knots, typical for merchant cargo ships of the era.
Cultural significance
Empire Blanda represents the broad operational history of British merchant shipping during the Second World War. The ship’s sinking by U-69 exemplifies the losses sustained by Allied vessels during the Battle of the Atlantic, when German submarines targeted supply convoys. The wreck remains a testament to the dangers faced by cargo ship crews in contested waters.
Key facts
- Built: Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow, 30 September 1919
- Tonnage: 5,593 TSL
- Length: 423 feet 5 inches (129.06 m)
- Beam: 56 feet (17.07 m)
- Depth: 28 feet 7 inches (8.71 m)
- Speed: 11 knots
- Sunk: 19 February 1941 by U-boat U-69
- Coordinates: −31.2369107, −22.6525868
Practical information
The wreck of Empire Blanda lies in the South Atlantic Ocean. Access is restricted to specialist diving or research expeditions. No visitor facilities are available at the wreck site.
Getting there
The ship sank in open ocean waters in the South Atlantic, south of the equator. Reaching the wreck requires maritime expedition or deep-sea research capability.
Sources & resources
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