SS British Corporal

British Corporal was a 6,972 GRT tanker that was built in 1922 by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow, Northumberland, United Kingdom. She was built for the British Tanker Company.

In 1940, she was damaged in an attack by German E-boats. She was transferred to the British Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Corporal. She returned to service in 1942 following repairs, but was torpedoed and sunk on 18 August by GS U-598 off the coast of Cuba.

Description
The ship was built in 1922 by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Co Ltd, Jarrow, Northumberland. She was 440 ft long, with a beam of 57 ft. She had a depth of 33 ft and a draught of 26 ft. She was assessed at 6,972 GRT. 4,072 NRT. Her DWT was 10,817.

The ship was propelled by two steam turbines, double reduction geared and driving a single screw propellor. The turbines were built by Palmers.

History
British Corporal was built for the British Tanker Company. She was launched in May 1922. The United Kingdom Official Number 146561 and Code Letters KMDG were allocated. Her port of registry was London. She was employed on routes between the United Kingdom and the Middle East, as shown by her occasional mentions in The Times in connection with one of her crew being stabbed to death in Port Said, Egypt, in October 1928, and a report of her having trouble with her condenser at Port Said in February 1932. In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to GFJV. On 6 November 1934, British Corporal ran aground at Swansea, Wales. She was refloated the next day undamaged.

At 05:15 on 6 August 1937, British Corporal was attacked by three Spanish Nationalist aircraft when she was 30 nmi west of Algiers, Algeria (36.88333°N, 2.86667°W), whilst on a voyage from Abadan, Iran, to the United Kingdom with a cargo of petrol. The attack lasted an hour, with both bombs and machine guns being used. British Corporal was only slightly damaged, with her radio being put out of action for a time. The Italian steamship SS Mongioia was also attacked. None of the crew of British Corporal were injured. Following the incident, she put into Algiers. Two reconnaissance aircraft were despatched from Algiers to search for the attackers. The French SS Djebel Amour and Greek SS K Ktistakis were attacked off Algiers the following day. On departing from Algiers, British Corporal was escorted by HMS Hussar (J82).

Following the attack, the British Government made diplomatic protests to Spanish anti-Government forces then involved in the Spanish Civil War. Rear-Admiral Wells, of the Third Cruiser Squadron, raised the issue with naval authorities at Palma, Majorca, who admitted that their aircraft had been involved. They claimed the ship had not been displaying any colours, which was denied by the British. This information was passed back to London, which ordered British Ambassador to Spain Sir Henry Chilton to raise the issue at the Nationalist headquarters in Salamanca. Markings on the aircraft that attacked British Corporal were those of Nationalist forces. General Franco denied that his aircraft had been involved, and further denied that the naval authorities in Palma had admitted involvement. The French Government announced that it would provide escort for French ships sailing between Algeria and Marseilles. The British stated that prompt assistance would be given by the Royal Navy to any British ship under attack. They also informed the Spanish that any aircraft attacking British shipping was liable to be shot down.

During the Second World War, British Corporal was a member of a number of convoys. She was a member of Convoy HX 80, which departed Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 15 March 1942 and arrived at Liverpool on 27 March. She was carrying a cargo of aviation fuel. From HX 80, British Corporal joined Convoy UR 18, which departed from Loch Ewe on 27 March and arrived at Reykjavík, Iceland, on 7 April. She then joined Convoy PQ 14, which departed from Reykjavík on 8 April and arrived at Murmansk, Soviet Union, on 19 April. Due to thick fog and pack ice, British Corporal left the convoy to return to Iceland, joining Convoy QP 18 for the return and arriving at Akureyri on 18 April. British Corporal joined Convoy RU 22, which departed Reykjavík on 7 May and arrived at Loch Ewe on 11 May. She was to proceed to Methil, Fife, for orders.

British Corporal was a member of Convoy OA 178. On 4 July 1940, British Corporal was attacked by S-Boats S-20 and S-26 in the English Channel (50.21667°N, -2.58333°W), being hit in the stern by a torpedo. Later that day, she was dive-bombed by Junkers Ju 87 aircraft of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 and severely damaged. British Corporal was anchored at Portland, Dorset, and later towed to Southampton, Hampshire, arriving on 20 July. She had been on a voyage from Hull, Yorkshire, to Abadan and was in ballast. Following the attack, the Germans claimed that they had sunk a 12,000 ton tanker and a 6,000 ton merchant ship, whereas in fact they had damaged British Corporal and SS Hartlepool, a 5,000 ton merchant ship.

British Corporal was taken over by the MoWT and repaired, remaining under the management of her former owners. She was a member of Convoy ON 14, which departed Liverpool on 7 September 1941 and Loch Ewe on 10 September 1941. The convoy dispersed at sea on 15 September. British Corporal was bound for New York, United States. She was commended by the Convoy Commodore for her good signalling and station keeping.

In 1942, the ship was renamed Empire Corporal. She was a member of Convoy ON 106, which departed Loch Ewe on 23 June 1942, bound for New York. On 9 August 1942, Empire Corporal departed Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, for Key West, Florida. She was carrying a cargo of 4,532 tons of petrol and 4,745 tons of white spirit. She joined Convoy TAW 12J. At 11:57 on 14 August, Empire Corporal was struck by a torpedo that had been fired by GS U-598 and sank off Barlovento Point, Cuba (21.75°N, -76.16667°W) with the loss of six of her crew of 55, including ten DEMS gunners. The survivors were picked up by USS PT-498 and transferred to USS Fletcher (DD-445). They were landed at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Those lost on Empire Corporal are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.