Empire Commerce
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| Name | Empire Commerce | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 3.722 tons | ||
| Completed | 1943 - Sir J. Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | Hadley Shipping Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 1 Oct, 1943 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | A total loss by U-410 (Horst-Arno Fenski) | ||
| Position | 37.19N, 06.40E - Grid CJ 7718 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 51 (0 dead and 51 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | MKS-26 | ||
| Route | Bona (30 Sep) - Algiers | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Built for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) | ||
| Notes on loss | On 1 Oct, 1943, U-410 fired five single torpedoes at the convoy MKS-26 east of Bougie and observed one ship sinking and heard four more detonations. The resulting report indicated the sinking or torpedoing of four ships totalling 31000 tons. In fact, two ships were sunk, the Fort Howe and Empire Commerce. The Empire Commerce (Master James Leo Fitzpatrick) completely burned out and drifted ashore eight miles east of Philippeville, Algeria. The master, 39 crew members, seven gunners and four passenger (service personnel) were picked up by the British corvette HMS Alisma (K 185) (Lt G. Lanning RANVR) and landed at Algiers. | ||
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