SS Empire Endurance

Alster in 1929
History
Name	Alster (1928–40) Empire Endurance (1940–41)
Namesake	Alster, a tributary of the river Elbe in Germany
Owner	Norddeutscher Lloyd (1927–40) Kriegsmarine (1940) Ministry of War Transport (1940–41)
Operator	Norddeutscher Lloyd (1928–40) Kriegsmarine (1940) Booth Steamship Co Ltd (1940–41)
Port of registry	Bremen, Germany (1928–33) Bremen (1933–40) Kriegsmarine (1940) Middlesbrough, United Kingdom (1940–41)
Route	Germany - Australia (1928–40)
Builder	Deschimag Werk Vulcan, Hamburg
Yard number	211
Launched	5 January 1928
Completed	25 February 1928
Out of service	20 April 1941
Identification	UK official number 164841 (1940–41) code letters QMHG (1928–34) call sign DOEO (1934–40) call sign GMJJ (1940–41)
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk by U-73, 20 April 1941
General characteristics
Type	Cargo liner
Tonnage	8,514 GRT 5,328 NRT 12,000 DWT
Length	509.9 ft (155.42 m)
Beam	63.6 ft (19.39 m)
Depth	30.9 ft (9.42 m)
Installed power	6,500 ihp (4,800 kW) 1,000 NHP
Propulsion	triple-expansion steam engine low-pressure steam turbine single screw
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h)
Crew	As Alster: 1928-30: 69 + 12 passengers 1930-40: 69 + 16 passengers April 1940: 80 As Empire Endurance: 90

Empire Endurance was a 8,514 GRT steam cargo liner that was built in 1928 as Alster by Deschimag Werk Vulkan, Hamburg, Germany for the shipping company Norddeutscher Lloyd. In the years leading up to the Second World War Alster carried cargo and passengers between Germany and Australia. After the outbreak of war she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a supply ship.

Alster was captured off Norway on 10 April 1940 by the British destroyer HMS Icarus. Initially serving under the original name as a repair, supply and cargo ship in Norway, she was later passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Endurance. She served until 20 April 1941 when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-73 south-east of the islet of Rockall in the North Atlantic Ocean.