She was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California as the Cape St Vincent, and transferred under the terms of lend lease shortly after being completed in January 1944 under the name Empire Arquebus.[4] She was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport and operated by Donaldson Bros & Black Ltd. Empire Arquebus was a member of Convoy CU 15, which sailed from New York on 22 February 1944. She was carrying a cargo of fish and personnel. Empire Arquebus transferred to Convoy HX 280 at sea on 29 February.[5] Convoy HX 280 arrived at Liverpool on 9 March.[6]
In January 1945 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and commissioned as HMS Cicero, under which name she served out the remainder of the war,[4] although it would appear that she remained named as Empire Arquebus. In 1945, Empire Arquebus was used to transport troops from Sydney and Brisbane via New Ireland, New Britain and Manus to Ponam. During this journey, the ship was infested by flying beetles which had got aboard in bales of tobacco.[9] The ship arrived at Ponam on 25 March 1945.[10] Surplus to requirements after the war's end, she was returned to the Ministry of War Transport in September 1945, which returned her to Donaldson Bros & Black under her original name of Empire Arquebus.[4][11]
Postwaredit
Empire Arquebus sailed with Donaldson Bros & Black until 1946, when she was returned to the US Navy.[4] She was laid up until being sold to the Egyptian company Société Misr de Navigation Maritime[2] in November 1946, taking the new name Al Sudan.[4][11] She sailed with them for the next few years, making voyages carrying pilgrims to Jeddah, and at times operating under charter.[8] She made a number of voyages to Australia.[8]
She was taken over by the Egyptian Government in 1959, during the period of nationalisation, and by 1961 was part of the nationalised United Arab Maritime Company, who proceeded to operate her for the next 12 years.[8][11] In 1973 she returned to being owned by an Egyptian company, this time the Egyptian Navigation Company.[12] She was sold for scrapping in 1980, and laid up at Suez.[11] She spent several years in this state, but work was finally started in July 1984 and she was completely broken up by 28 March 1987.[8]
Official Number and code lettersedit
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.
Plowman, Peter (2006). Australian Migrant Ships 1946-1977. Rosenberg Publishing. ISBN1-877058-40-8.
Finch, Ted (2001). "EMPIRE - A". THE 'EMPIRE' SHIPS. mariners-l.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
Haworth, R (2006). "Search result for "1169819"". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
cicero, f170, other, ships, with, same, name, cicero, cicero, infantry, landing, ship, service, with, royal, navy, during, late, stages, second, world, history, namecape, vincent, 1944, empire, arquebus, 1944, cicero, 1945, empire, arquebus, 1945, sudan, 1946,. For other ships with the same name see HMS Cicero HMS Cicero was an infantry landing ship in service with the Royal Navy during the late stages of the Second World War History NameCape St Vincent 1944 Empire Arquebus 1944 45 HMS Cicero 1945 Empire Arquebus 1945 46 Al Sudan 1946 80 OwnerUnited States Navy 1944 Ministry of War Transport 1944 45 Royal Navy 1945 Ministry of War Transport 1945 46 United States Navy 1945 46 Societe Misr de Navigation Maritime Egypt 1946 59 Egyptian Government 1959 61 United Arab Maritime Company Egypt 1961 73 Egyptian Maritime Company 1973 80 OperatorOwner operated except Donaldson Bros amp Black 1944 5 1945 46 Port of registryUS Navy 1943 44 London 1944 45 Royal Navy 1945 London 1945 46 US Navy 1946 Egypt 1946 80 BuilderConsolidated Steel Corporation Wilmington California Launched16 November 1943 CompletedJanuary 1944 CommissionedJanuary 1945 Out of serviceReturned to Ministry of War Transport in September 1945 IdentificationIMO number 5007728 UK Official Number 169819 1944 45 1945 46 1 Egyptian Official Number 104 1946 2 Code Letters MYMS 1944 45 1945 46 1 Code Letters SUDS 1946 2 FateReturned to US Navy in 1946 Decommissioned and sold into civilian service in November 1946 Sold for scrapping in 1980 Broken up by 28 March 1987 General characteristics Tonnage7 177 GRT 4 823 NRT 3 Length396 ft 5 in 120 83 m 1 Beam60 ft 1 in 18 31 m 1 Depth35 ft 10 67 m 1 Propulsion2 x Steam turbines Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Co Essington Philadelphia double reduction geared to 1 screw 1 Armament1 4 in gun 1 12 pdr gun 12 20mm guns Contents 1 Career 1 1 Wartime 1 2 Postwar 2 Official Number and code letters 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksCareer editWartime edit She was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation Wilmington California as the Cape St Vincent and transferred under the terms of lend lease shortly after being completed in January 1944 under the name Empire Arquebus 4 She was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport and operated by Donaldson Bros amp Black Ltd Empire Arquebus was a member of Convoy CU 15 which sailed from New York on 22 February 1944 She was carrying a cargo of fish and personnel Empire Arquebus transferred to Convoy HX 280 at sea on 29 February 5 Convoy HX 280 arrived at Liverpool on 9 March 6 She took part in the Normandy landings carrying Mk3 Landing Craft Support Medium 78 109 and 112 of the 542 Landing Craft Assault Flotilla and troops from the Hampshire Regiment to Gold Beach After the Normandy Landings Empire Arquebus was laid up in the Clyde 7 Empire Arquebus later served in the Pacific 8 In January 1945 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and commissioned as HMS Cicero under which name she served out the remainder of the war 4 although it would appear that she remained named as Empire Arquebus In 1945 Empire Arquebus was used to transport troops from Sydney and Brisbane via New Ireland New Britain and Manus to Ponam During this journey the ship was infested by flying beetles which had got aboard in bales of tobacco 9 The ship arrived at Ponam on 25 March 1945 10 Surplus to requirements after the war s end she was returned to the Ministry of War Transport in September 1945 which returned her to Donaldson Bros amp Black under her original name of Empire Arquebus 4 11 Postwar edit Empire Arquebus sailed with Donaldson Bros amp Black until 1946 when she was returned to the US Navy 4 She was laid up until being sold to the Egyptian company Societe Misr de Navigation Maritime 2 in November 1946 taking the new name Al Sudan 4 11 She sailed with them for the next few years making voyages carrying pilgrims to Jeddah and at times operating under charter 8 She made a number of voyages to Australia 8 She was taken over by the Egyptian Government in 1959 during the period of nationalisation and by 1961 was part of the nationalised United Arab Maritime Company who proceeded to operate her for the next 12 years 8 11 In 1973 she returned to being owned by an Egyptian company this time the Egyptian Navigation Company 12 She was sold for scrapping in 1980 and laid up at Suez 11 She spent several years in this state but work was finally started in July 1984 and she was completely broken up by 28 March 1987 8 Official Number and code letters editOfficial Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers Empire Arquebus had the UK Official Number 169819 and used the Code Letters MYMS 1 Al Sudan had the Egyptian Official Number 104 and used the Code Letters SUDS 2 Notes edit a b c d e f g LLOYD S REGISTER STEAMERS AND MOTORSHIPS PDF Plimsoll Ship Data Retrieved 23 December 2008 a b c d Register of Ships Aa Al Gilbert Provost Archived from the original on 14 July 2008 Retrieved 8 January 2009 Register of Ships Em Ex Gilbert Provost Archived from the original on 16 June 2010 Retrieved 19 April 2011 a b c d e Colledge Ships of the Royal Navy p 70 CONVOY CU 15 Warsailors Retrieved 8 January 2009 CONVOY HX 280 Warsailors Retrieved 8 January 2009 524 LCA FLOTILLA combinedops com Retrieved 8 January 2009 a b c d e Plowman Australian Migrant Ships p 9 The reminiscences of Telegraphist Kenneth Peterkin Royal Navy Research Archive Retrieved 8 January 2009 Operations at Ponam Admiralty Islands Royal Navy Research Archive Retrieved 8 January 2009 a b c d EMPIRE A mariners l co uk Retrieved 24 November 2008 1169819 Miramar Ship Index Retrieved 24 November 2008 References editColledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 Plowman Peter 2006 Australian Migrant Ships 1946 1977 Rosenberg Publishing ISBN 1 877058 40 8 Finch Ted 2001 EMPIRE A THE EMPIRE SHIPS mariners l co uk Retrieved 24 November 2008 Haworth R 2006 Search result for 1169819 Miramar Ship Index Retrieved 24 November 2008 External links editPhoto of Empire Arquebus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Cicero F170 amp oldid 1214673115, 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