SS Western Maid Western Maid was a 5 , 760 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1918 by the Northwest Steel Company , Portland , Oregon , USA . She was built for the United States Shipping Board ( USSB ) , but was commissioned into the United States Navy on completion as USS " Western Maid , with the pennant number ID - 3703 . In 1919 she was decommissioned and returned to the USSB . In 1937 she was passed to the United States Maritime Commission . In 1940 she was transferred to the British Ministry of Shipping and renamed Empire Cormorant " , passing to the Ministry of War Transport ( MoWT ) in 1941 . In 1945 she was scuttled in the North Atlantic with a cargo of obsolete war " matériel " . Description . The ship was built in 1918 by Northwest Steel Co , Portland Oregon . Yard number 13 , she was launched in August 1918 , and completed that month . She had a depth of or and a draught of 24 feet 0½ inch ( 7 . 33 m ) . Her tonnages were , 5 , 139 tons under deck ; NRT 3 , 503 , . Her engine was a steam turbine made by the De Laval Steam Turbine Co of Trenton , New Jersey . It was rated at 594 NHP and drove her single screw propeller " via " double reduction gearing . This made her a comparatively fast freighter for her day , capable of up to . History . Originally laid down as " Aisne " for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique , she was taken over by the USSB and launched as " Western Maid " . On completion , the ship was passed to the United States Navy and commissioned on 17 August 1918 as USS " Western Maid " , with the pennant number ID - 3703 . She was operated by the Naval Overseas Transportation Service . The Official Number 120372 was allocated . " Western Maid " started her maiden voyage on 21 August 1918 , transporting a cargo of flour from Portland to Arica , Chile , and a cargo of nitrate s from Arica to New Orleans , Louisiana via the Panama Canal , arriving on 23 October . " Western Maid " departed New Orleans on 11 November , taking 6 , 082 tons of general cargo to New York , where she arrived on 17 November . On 10 January 1919 " Western Maid " was allocated to the War Department for use as a transport . That day , " Western Maid " was involved in a collision in New York Harbour . The owners of the other vessel attempted to sue the USSB for damages , but the case was dismissed as it was held that " Western Maid " was " engaged in public service " . She departed New York with a cargo of grain for Falmouth , Cornwall , United Kingdom for delivery to the Food Administration Grain Corporation or resale to Allied governments . Engine trouble forced a return to New York , and she resumed the voyage on 14 January . " Western Maid " called at Falmouth and Plymouth and then sailed to Rotterdam , Netherlands before returning to the United States , arriving at Baltimore , Maryland on 12 March 1919 . " Western Maid " was decommissioned on 20 March 1919 and returned to the USSB . By 1930 she had been allocated the United States Official Number 216754 and the Code Letters LKMT . In 1937 , she was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission . In 1940 , " Western Maid " was transferred to the British Ministry of Shipping and renamed " Empire Cormorant " . She was placed under the management of R Chapman & Son , Newcastle upon Tyne . Her port of registry was London and she bore the UK official number 168086 and Code Letters GNFF . In 1941 " Empire Cormorant " was transferred to the MoWT , remaining under the management of Chapman . " Empire Cormorant " was a member of Convoy HS 36 , which departed Halifax , Nova Scotia on 29 July 1942 and arrived at Sydney on 31 July . " Empire Cormorant " then joined Convoy SC 97 , which departed Halifax on 22 August and arrived at Liverpool , United Kingdom on 7 September . She was carrying general cargo bound for Cardiff , Wales . On 29 September 1943 , Spitfire Vb aircraft BM177 was loaded on board " Empire Cormorant " . It was delivered to Portugal on 19 October . " Empire Cormorant " was a member of Convoy MKS 31 , which departed Gibraltar on 23 November and arrived at Liverpool on 7 December . She was on a voyage from Casablanca , Morocco to the River Mersey with a cargo of phosphate s . On 3 January 1944 , cargo loaded on board " Empire Cormorant " included Spitfire Vb aircraft W3648 and BM176 . They were delivered to Portugal on 17 February . Scuttling . In 1945 " Empire Cormorant " was loaded with a cargo of obsolete chemical ammunition and on 1 October she was scuttled in the North Atlantic beyond the continental shelf , northwest of Ireland . Her wreck is at in of water . " Empire Cormorant " was one of four redundant cargo ships that the Admiralty used to dispose of chemical ammunition in the same area of the North Atlantic . The others were on 11 September and and on 30 October .