SS Empire Defender

History
Name
  • Freienfels (1910–25)
  • Hadiotis (1925–28)
  • Felce (1928–40)
  • Empire Defender (1940–41)
Owner
Operator
  • DDG Hansa (1910–14)
  • Grahams & Co (1914–20)
  • director, India Office Shipping (1920–25)
  • Pnevmaticos, Rethymnis & Yannaghas (1925–28)
  • Achille Lauro fu Giochine & Co (1928–40)
  • The City Line Ltd (1940–41)
  • Stanhope Steamship Co. Ltd (1941)
Port of registry
BuilderJoh. C. Tecklenborg, Geestemünde
Yard number237
Launched20 September 1910
CompletedNovember 1910
Out of service14 November 1941
Identification
  • code letters QJVC (1910–14)
  • code letters JLGB (1914–25)
  • code letters NPCL (1928–33)
  • call sign IBVL (1934–40)
  • call sign GPJG (1941–41)
  • UK official number 139043 (1914–25, 1940–41)
Fatesunk by torpedo
General characteristics
Typecargo ship
Tonnage
  • 5,633 GRT (1910–40)
  • 5,649 GRT (1940–41)
  • 3,545 NRT
  • 8,705 DWT (1910–14)
  • 9,113 DWT (1925)
Length128.36 m (421 ft 2 in)
Beam16.80 m (55 ft 1 in)
Draught7.63 m (25 ft 0 in)
Depth9.52 m (31 ft 3 in)
Installed power2,300 ihp (1,700 kW)
PropulsionQuadruple-expansion steam engine
Speed11.5 kn (21.3 km/h)
Complement69 (as Freienfels)
SS Empire Defender is located in Tunisia
SS Empire Defender
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Approximate position of Empire Defender's wreck off Tunisia

Empire Defender was a 5,649 GRT cargo steamship that was built in 1910 as Freienfels by Joh. C. Tecklenborg in Geestemünde, Germany. She was seized by the United Kingdom in 1914, passing to the Admiralty. In 1920, she was passed to the Secretary of State for India.

She was sold to Greek owners in 1925 and renamed Hadiotis. In 1928, she was sold to Italian owners and renamed Felce. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Renamed Empire Defender, she served until 14 November 1941, when she was sunk by torpedo. Her sinking killed four members of her crew.