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27)EMPIRE HAWK MoWT (SUB TAZZOLI)




Photo. www.shipsnostalgia.com By Bruce Carson



Built: 1919


Tonnage: 5,032 / 7,997 tons


Cargo: 6,989 tons general cargo including 3,500 tons coal and 2,200 tons army transport material


Route: New York & Trinidad for Table Bay & Alexandria


Sunk 12 DEC 42 by Italian submarine Tazzoli on pos. 05°56′N 39°50′W.


0 Dead


51 Survivors.


Empire Hawk was a 5,032 GRT cargo ship which was built by American International Shipbuilding Co, Hog Island, Philadelphia. Completed in 1919 as Coahoma County for the USSB. To American Diamond Lines Inc in 1931 and renamed Black Tern in 1932. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Hawk. 


On 11th December 42 Italian sub Tazzoli spotted British cargo Empire Hawk at coordinates 05º 56'N, 39º 50'W on her way to Alexandria via Capetown. Sub Tazzoli fired two torpedos but one was dud. the ship remained afloat and despite being hit, her defensive gunners managed to return fire. Four times the Italian sub fired torpedos against Empire Hawk which remained upright and returned fire. Finally four hours later the British merchant sank.  


Five days later on the 17th, thirty-one survivors were fished out by the steamer Cape Breton. The master and twenty survivors, reached the Brazilian coast on 25th December after fourteen days at sea. 


 

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