HMS Sainfoin (F183)

HMS Sainfoin in Singapore, 1945
History
Name	Cape Washington (1943–44) Empire Crossbow (1944) HMS Sainfoin (1944–46) Empire Crossbow (1946–47) Cape Washington (1947–64)
Owner	United States Maritime Commission (1943–44) Ministry of War Transport (1944) Royal Navy (1944–46) Ministry of Transport (1946–47) United States Maritime Commission (1947–64)
Operator	United States Maritime Commission (1943–44) Ministry of War Transport (1944) Royal Navy (1944–46) Ministry of Transport (1946–47) United States Maritime Commission (1947)
Builder	Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California
Yard number	357
Launched	30 November 1943
Completed	31 January 1944
Commissioned	November 1944
Decommissioned	September 1946
Maiden voyage	7 February 1944
Out of service	1948
Homeport	London (1944) Royal Navy (1944–46) London (1946–47) United States (1947–64)
Identification	United Kingdom Official Number 169808 (1944, 1946–47) Code Letters MYMV (1944, 1946–47) Pennant Number F183 (1944–46)
Fate	Sold for scrapping in 1964
General characteristics
Tonnage	7,177 GRT 4,823 NRT 6,440 DWT
Length	396 ft 5 in (120.83 m) between perpendiculars 417 ft 9 in (127.33 m) overall
Beam	60 ft 1 in (18.31 m)
Depth	35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
Propulsion	Two steam turbines, double reduction geared driving a single screw propeller
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h) (service) 18 knots (33 km/h) (maximum)
Troops	1,500
Armament	Empire Crossbow and HMS Sainfoin: 1 × 4-inch (102 mm) gun 1 × 12-pounder (3-inch (76 mm)) gun 12 × 20 mm (0.8 in) anti-aircraft guns 2 × 4.7-inch (119 mm) guns 18 × LCA

HMS Sainfoin was a landing ship, infantry of the Royal Navy that was built in 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California, United States as the merchant vessel Cape Washington. She was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport in 1944 and renamed Empire Crossbow. Later that year, she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS Sainfoin, with the pennant number F183. In 1946, she was returned to merchant service as Empire Crossbow. She was transferred to the United States in 1947 and renamed Cape Washington. The ship was then laid up until scrapped in 1964.