SS Empire Crossbill Empire Crossbill was a 5 , 463 GRT Design 1013 cargo ship that was built in 1919 by Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation , San Pedro , California , United States for the United States Shipping Board ( USSB ) . She was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission ( USMC ) in 1937 and the Ministry of Transport ( MoT ) in 1941 , serving until she was torpedo ed and sunk on 11 September 1942 by in the Atlantic Ocean while a member of Convoy SC 42 . Description . The ship was built in 1919 by Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation , San Pedro , California . She was Yard Number 11 . The ship was long between perpendiculars , with a beam of . She had a depth of , and a draught of . She was assessed at 3 , 750 GRT , 3 , 411 NRT . Her DWT was 6 , 800 . 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 Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation . History . " West Amargosa " was built for the USSB . She was completed in March 1919 , The United States Official Number 217631 and Code Letters LQBW were allocated . " West Amargosa " was chartered by United American Lines until 1921 , operating the Plymouth - Gibraltar - Tunis - New York route . With the change of Code Letters in 1934 , she was allocated KLCP . In 1937 , she was transferred to the USMC and laid up as part of the reserve fleet . In 1940 , " West Amargosa " was transferred to the MoWT . She was initially operated under the management of Sir W . Reardon Smith & Sons . Management was later transferred to John Morrison & Co Ltd , Newcastle - upon - Tyne . " West Amargosa " was due to join Convoy HX 119 , which departed from Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada on 6 April 1941 and arrived at Liverpool , Lancashire on 22 April . She was recorded as carrying a cargo of scrap iron bound for Middlesbrough , Yorkshire . Instead , she joined Convoy SC 28 , which departed from Halifax on 9 April and arrived at Liverpool on 28 April . Her destination was now given as West Hartlepool , Co Durham . She left the convoy at the Clyde , joining Convoy WN 228 , which departed the Clyde on 1 May and arrived at Methil , Fife on 5 May . " West Amargosa " was renamed " Empire Crossbill " . She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 168177 and Code Letters MLNP . Her port of registry was London . < / ref > She departed Middlesbrough on 30 May for the Tyne , returning to Middlesbrough on 2 June and departing the same day for the Tyne again . On 10 June , she joined Convoy EC 31 , which had departed from Southend , Essex on 9 June and arrived at Loch Ewe on 14 June . She then joined Convoy OB 334 , which departed from Liverpool on 11 June and arrived at Halifax on 25 June . She left the convoy at St John ' s , Newfoundland on 24 June . " Empire Crossbill " departed St . John ' s that day for Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , United States , arriving on 2 July . " Empire Crossbill " departed Philadelphia on 22 August for Halifax , where she arrived on 25 August , departing the same day for Sydney , Cape Breton , Canada . " Empire Crossbill " was a member of Convoy SC 42 , which departed Sydney on 30 August 1941 and arrived at Liverpool on 15 September . She was stated to be carrying 6 , 686 tons of steel and four tons of relief goods , although it is also stated that she was carrying a cargo of explosives . At 03 : 11 GMT on 11 September , " Empire Crossbill " was torpedo ed and sunk by at . All 38 crew , ten DEMS gunners and her single passenger were killed . Those lost on " Empire Crossbill " are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial , London .