List of Empire ships - K

The Empire ships were a series of ships in the service of the British Government. Their names were all prefixed with "Empire". Mostly they were used during World War II by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), who owned the ships but contracted out their management to various shipping lines. Those suffixed with the names of British rivers (e.g. Empire Orwell) had been seized from the Germans at the end of World War 2. Some ships requisitioned during the Suez Crisis were also given the Empire prefix. They were acquired from a number of sources. Many were built for the MoWT, others obtained from the United States, still others were captured or seized from enemy powers.

Empire Kamal was a 7,862 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bremer Vulkan Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Vegesack. Launched in 1938 as Hohenfels for Hansa Line, Bremen. Scuttled on 25 August 1941 at Bandar Shapur, Iran. Raised and seized as a war prize. To MoWT and renamed Empire Kamal. Allocated in 1944 to the Dutch Government and renamed Van Ruisdael. Sold in 1947 to Vereenigde Nederland Scheepsvaart and renamed Ridderkerk. Scrapped in September 1962 at Hong Kong.

Empire Kangaroo was a 6,219 GRT (9,600 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearny, New Jersey. Completed in January 1919 as Mercer for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Kangaroo. Sold in 1946 to Donaldson Brothers, Glasgow and renamed Parthenia. Sold in 1949 to P Mazzella, Naples and renamed Erminia Mazzella. Sold in 1951 to A Onorato, Naples and renamed Pina Onorato. Scrapped in August 1958 in Spezia, Italy.

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