SS Empire Bairn
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | SSEmpire Bairn (1941–48) |
| Owner: | Ministry of War Transport (1941–44) |
| Operator: | Bulk Oil Steamship Co Ltd (1941–48) |
| Port of registry: |
 Glasgow (1941–48) |
| Builder: | Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow |
| Yard number: | Yard 67 |
| Launched: | 23 October 1941 |
| Completed: | December 1941 |
| Identification: |
|
| History | |
 India
|
|
| Name: | HMIS Chilka |
| Commissioned: | 1948 |
| Renamed: | INS Chilka, 26 January 1950 |
| Decommissioned: | 1976 |
| Fate: | Scrapped 1977 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 813 GRT |
| Length: | 193 ft (58.83 m) |
| Beam: | 30 ft 7 in (9.32 m) |
| Depth: | 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m) |
| Propulsion: | 1 x triple expansion steam engine (D Rowan & Co Ltd, Glasgow) 139 hp (104 kW) |
| Speed: | 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h) |
Empire Bairn was an 813-ton coastal tanker built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).
She spent the Second World War plying the Mediterranean Sea. Her uneventful wartime career is unusually well documented for a small cargo ship. After the war, she was sold to the Indian Navy in 1948 and commissioned as a harbour tanker HMIS Chilka, becoming INS Chilka when India became a republic in 1950. She was decommissioned in 1976 and was scrapped in 1977.
Empire Bairn—"Bairn" means "child"—was built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Company Ltd, of Glasgow, as yard number 67. She was launched on 23 October 1941 and completed in December 1941. She was operated under the management of the Bulk Oil Steamship Co Ltd.
After completion in December 1941, SS Empire Bairn would have undertaken sea trials. She is first recorded at Oban, Argyllshire in late December 1941. She took part in a number of convoys during the Second World War.
Empire Bairn was a member of Convoy WN 225 which sailed from Oban on 30 December 1941 and arrived at Methil, Fife on 2 January 1942.Empire Bairn was a member of Convoy EN 65 which sailed from Methil on 30 March 1942 and arrived at Oban on 1 April.
Empire Bairn is next recorded as being a member of Convoy BB 172 which sailed from Belfast Lough on 9 May and arrived at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire the next day. She joined at Holyhead, Anglesey on 9 May and arrived at Avonmouth, Gloucestershire on 11 May.
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