Empire Commerce
British Motor tanker
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| Name | Empire Commerce | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 3,722 tons | ||
| Completed | 1943 - Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | Hadley Shipping Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | Sunderland | ||
| Date of attack | 1 Oct 1943 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | A total loss by U-410 (Horst-Arno Fenski) | ||
| Position | 37° 19'N, 6° 40'E - Grid CJ 7718 | ||
| Complement | 51 (0 dead and 51 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | MKS-26 | ||
| Route | Bona (30 Sep) - Algiers | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in April 1943 for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) | ||
| Notes on event | Between 00.00 and 00.03 hours on 1 Oct 1943, U-410 fired five single torpedoes at convoy MKS-26 east of Bougie, heard five detonations and observed one ship sinking. The resulting report indicated the sinking or torpedoing of four ships totalling 31.000 grt. 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 HMS Alisma (K 185) (Lt G. Lanning, RANVR) and landed at Algiers. | ||
| On board | We have details of 2 people who were on board. | ||
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