Norjerv was a cargo ship that was built in 1919 as West Islip by Ames Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Seattle, Washington, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). In 1928, she was sold and renamed Golden Rod. A further sale in 1935 saw her renamed Willhilo. She was renamed Indianan after a sale in 1937. In 1940, she was transferred to the Ministry of Supply (MoS) and renamed Empire Eagle, passing later that year to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1942, she was transferred to the Norwegian Government and renamed Norjerv, serving until June 1944 when she was transferred to the British Government. In July 1944, she was sunk as a blockship at Juno Beach, Calvados, France to reinforce Gooseberry 4.
Description
The ship was built in 1919 by Ames Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Seattle, Washington. She was yard number 17.
The ship was long, with a beam of . She had a depth of , and a draught of . As built, she was assessed at , .
The ship was propelled by a 369 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of , and diameter by stroke. The engine was built by Ames. It drove a single screw propeller and could propel the ship at .
History
Pre-war
West Islip was built in 1919 for the United States Shipping Board. She was launched on 24 June, and the United States Official Number 218782 was allocated. She was in service by October, arriving at Shanghai, China on 20 October from Seattle. In 1928, she was sold to the Oceanic & Oriental Steam Navigation Co, San Francisco, California and was renamed Golden Rod. The Code Letters LSNC were allocated and her port of registry was San Francisco. On 6 February 1931, Golden Rod ran aground at the mouth of the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada. She was refloated the next day and sailed to Seattle.
In 1935, Golden Rod was sold to the Williams Steamship Co Inc, New York and renamed Willhilo. In 1937, Willhilo was sold to the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co and was renamed Indianan. The Code Letters KIKX were allocated and her port of registry was New York.
World War II
In 1940, Indianan was transferred to the MoS. Indianan departed from Cristóbal, Panama on 31 March 1940 for New York, arriving on 10 April. She departed three days later for Baltimore, Maryland, where she arrived on 15 April. She departed five days later for Tampa, Florida, arriving on 26 April and then sailing three days later for Bermuda, where she arrived on 5 May. Indianan was a member of Convoy BHX 41, which departed from Bermuda on 7 May 1940 and joined Convoy HX 41 at sea on 13 May. She was carrying a cargo of phosphates. Convoy HX 41 had departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 8 May and arrived at Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom on 23 May. Indianan was bound for Garston, Liverpool.
Indianan was renamed Empire Eagle. The MoS became the MoWT later that year. The United Kingdom Official Number 167583 and Code Letters GLJC were allocated. She was placed under the management of Runciman (London) Ltd and her port of registry was changed to London. She was assessed as , . Empire Eagle was a member of Convoy OB 186, which departed from Liverpool on 20 July and dispersed at sea on 22 July. Her destination was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she arrived on 8 August. She departed a week later and sailed to Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where she arrived on 20 August. Empire Eagle departed on 25 August as a member of Convoy SC 2, which arrived at Liverpool on 10 September. She was carrying a cargo of scrap iron and steel, bound for Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, which was reached by detaching from the convoy and sailing to the Clyde, where she arrived on 10 September. She sailed for Barrow-in-Furness two days later, arriving on 15 September.