SS Empire Dorado Empire Dorado was a design 1019 cargo ship that was built in 1920 as Tolosa by Atlantic Corporation , Portsmouth , New Hampshire , United States for the United States Shipping Board ( USSB ) , passing to the United States Maritime Commission ( USMC ) in 1937 . She was sold to the United Kingdom in 1940 , passed to the Ministry of War Transport ( MoWT ) and renamed " Empire Dominica " . She served until November 1941 , when she was in collision with another ship . Although taken in tow , she subsequently sank . Description . The ship was built in 1920 by Atlantic Corporation , Portsmouth , New Hampshire . She was yard number 8 . The ship was long , with a beam of . She had a depth of . As built , she was assessed at 5 , 500 GRT . The ship was propelled by a 359 nhp triple expansion steam engine , which had cylinders of , and diameter by stroke . The engine was built by Atlantic Corporation . It drove a single screw propeller . History . " Tolosa " was launched in 1920 and completed in September of that year . She was built for the USSB . The United States Official Number 220353 and Code Letters MBCN were allocated . Her port of registry was Portsmouth , New Hampshire . On 20 March 1923 , the Italian steamship requested assistance when she was off Saint Pierre and Miquelon . " Tolosa " respoded from away . In 1937 , ownership passed to the USMC . In 1940 , " Tolosa " was sold to the MoWT and was renamed " Empire Dorado " . She was operated under the management of Runciman ( London ) Ltd . The United Kingdom Official Number 168017 and Code Letters GLZX were allocated . Her port of registry was London . She was assessed at 5 , 595 GRT , 3 , 373 NRT . " Empire Dorado " was due to have been a member of Convoy HX 59 , which departed from Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada , on 19 July and arrived at Liverpool , Lancashire on 3 August . She did not sail with the convoy , nor with HX 60 , She sailed with Convoy HX 61 , which departed on 27 July and arrived at Liverpool on 11 August . She was carrying a cargo of pig iron bound for Glasgow , but was ordered to return to Halifax . Although due to sail with convoys HX 63 , HX 64 , HX 65 and HX 66 , she eventually joined Convoy HX 67 , which departed on 20 August and arrived at Liverpool on 4 September . " Empire Dorado " was a member of Convoy OB 239 , which departed from Liverpool on 4 November 1940 . The convoy returned to Oban , Argyllshire , arriving on 8 November . The reason for the return was that reports were received on 6 November by British Naval Intelligence that was operating in the Atlantic Ocean . After the convoy scattered , " Admiral Hipper " called for air support . A squadron of Focke - Wulf Fw 200 Kondors was despatched from Kiel to join " Admiral Hipper " and her battle group in the attack on Convoy HX 84 . As they flew to their destination , OB 239 was spotted and attacked on 8 November . " Empire Dorado " was bombed when she was west of Ireland ( ) , killing three crew . " Empire Dorado " issued an SOS , stating that all her lifeboats had been smashed and that she was slowly sinking . She was towed by to the Clyde for repairs . Those killed serving on board " Empire Dorado " are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial . " Empire Dorado " was due to have been a member of Convoy ON 19 , which departed from Liverpool on 21 September 1941 and dispersed at sea on 7 October . She was to have been in ballast , bound for Baltimore , Maryland , United States , but did not join the convoy . She departed from the Clyde on 28 September 1941 , joining Convoy ON 21 , which had departed from Liverpool that day and dispersed at on 14 October . She proceeded to Halifax , arriving on 18 October . She sailed from Halifax on 2 November for Sydney , Cape Breton , arriving two days later . " Empire Dorado " was to have joined Convoy SC 52 , which departed from Sydney on 29 October and returned to Sydney on 5 November , but she did not sail with the convoy . She joined Convoy SC 53 , which departed on 4 November and arrived at Liverpool on 24 November . She was carrying general cargo bound for Manchester , Lancashire . On 20 November , " Empire Dorado " collided with the Greek cargo ship . Although taken in tow by a Royal Navy ship , she sank on 22 November at . All crew were evacuated before the ship sank .