Empire Javelin
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Class and type: | C1-S-AY1, Landing Ship Infantry |
| Name: |
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| Owner: | MoWT |
| Operator: | Blue Star Line |
| Port of registry: |
 London
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| Builder: | Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, CA |
| Launched: | 25 October 1943 |
| Completed: | January 1944 |
| Identification: |
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| Fate: | Sunk on 28 December 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: |
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| Length: | 396.5 ft (120.9 m) |
| Beam: | 60.1 ft (18.3 m) |
| Depth: | 35.0 ft (10.7 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × steam turbines, single screw |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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SS Empire Javelin was an Infantry Landing Ship or "LSI (Large)" in service with the UK in the latter part of the Second World War. Launched on 25 October 1943, she was a United States Maritime Commission C1-S-AY1 subtype, one of thirteen similar ships built by Consolidated Steel Corporation.
SS Empire Javelin served as a troop ship in Operation Overlord, including "D-Day" on 6 June 1944. She was lost on 28 December 1944 while en convoy to France with 1,483 troops aboard somewhere around the midpoint between Southampton, England, and Le Havre, France. It is unknown whether she was sunk by U-322, active in the area on the same day, or struck a mine.
SS Empire Javelin was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California as the Cape Lobos, and transferred under the terms of lend lease on completion in January 1944. She was bareboat chartered by the War Shipping Administration to the Ministry of War Transport and managed by Blue Star Line.
The ship sailed from Portland Harbour anchorage on 5 June 1944, destined for Dog Green Omaha Beach, Normandy, after embarking troops of the 1st Battalion 116th Infantry regiment of US 29th Division by landing craft from Weymouth, Dorset. Most notably, the ship carried members of Company A, 116th Infantry, who were from Bedford, Virginia. Bedford is the home of the United States' National D-Day Memorial. 551st Landing Craft Assault (LCA) Flotilla crewed by Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) of Combined Operations was based aboard Empire Javelin on D-Day. Six of the eighteen LCAs of 551st LCA Flotilla were lost on D-Day, with the remainder being severely damaged.
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