Namesake York Castle Yard number 372 Launched 29 September 1944 Draft 4.11 m | Port of registry United Kingdom Completed December 1944 Length 77 m Builder Ferguson Shipbuilders | |
Name HMS York Castle (1944)
SS Empire Comfort (1944-55) Owner Admiralty (1944)
Ministry of War Transport (1944-45)
Ministry of Transport (1945-55) | ||
SS Empire Comfort was a 1,333 GRT convoy rescue ship which was launched in 1944 as HMS York Castle a Castle-class corvette, but was renamed Empire Castle and converted for merchant service before completion.
Ferguson Brothers Ltd, Glasgow as yard number 372. She was launched on 20 September 1944. The ship was 252 feet (76.81 m) long, with a beam of 36 feet (10.97 m) and a draught of 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 m).
History
The ship was completed in December 1944 as Empire Comet for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was placed under the management of Ellerman City Line. Empire Comfort was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.
Convoy OS 113 departed the Clyde and The Downs on 25 February 1945. It dispersed at sea on 1 March 1945. Empire Comfort made her first voyage as a convoy rescue ship as a member of this convoy.
Convoy MKS 85G departed Gibraltar on 24 February 1945 bound for the United Kingdom. Empire Comfort was employed as a convoy rescue ship for this convoy.
Convoy OS 116 departed from the Clyde and The Downs on 12 March 1945. It dispersed at 42°57′N 11°45′W on 17 March. Empire Comfort was a member of this convoy.
Convoy MKS 88G departed from Casablanca, Morocco on 11 March 1945 bound for the United Kingdom. Empire Comfort was employed as a convoy rescue ship for this convoy.
Convoy OS 121 departed from the Clyde on 7 April 1945 and dispersed at sea on 14 April. Empire Comfort was employed as a convoy rescue ship for this convoy.>
Convoy MKS 93G departed from Gibraltar on 5 April 1945 bound for the United Kingdom. Empire Comfort was employed as a convoy rescue ship for this convoy.
In 1948, Empire Comfort was in the Mediterranean where she was working under the control of the Middle East Command. Empire Comfort was used as a troopship between Port Said, Egypt and Famagusta, Cyprus and also between Port Said and Tobruk, Libya. She was used in this role from July 1948 to at least February 1949. In 1954, Empire Comfort was laid up at Falmouth, Cornwall. In June 1955, Empire Comfort, along with Empire Lifeguard and Empire Peacemaker were offered for sale "as lying at Falmouth". In July 1955, she was sold to Belgian buyers and towed to Antwerp. It was intended that she would be converted for service in the Belgian Congo, but she was scrapped in December 1955 at Ghent.