| Name: | EMPIRE FRANKLIN |
| Type: | Cargo Ship |
| Launched: | 28/04/1941 |
| Completed: | 06/1941 |
| Builder: | J Readhead & Sons Ltd |
| Yard: | South Shields |
| Yard Number: | 522 |
| Dimensions: | 7292grt, 5111nrt, 432.4 x 56.7 x 34.6ft |
| Engines: | T3cyl (25, 42 & 71 x 48ins), 435nhp |
| Engines by: | J Readhead & Sons Ltd |
| Propulsion: | 1 x Screw |
| Construction: | Steel |
| Reg Number: | 168649 |
| History: | |
| 19/06/1941 | Ministry of War Transport (Hall Brothers Steamship Co Ltd, managers), South Shields |
| 1945 | Bank Line Ltd, Glasgow; renamed HAZELBANK |
| 1957 | Cia Naviera Nuevo Mundo SA, Panama City; renamed IRINICOS |
| 1960 | Paleocrassas Bros & Partners, Piraeus |
| 1963 | Salinas Cia Naviera SA, Panama City; renamed IRIS II |
| 15/02/1967 | Broken up |
| Comments: | Soon after completion converted to a CAM (Catapult Aircraft Merchantman) ship |
| Equiped with a Hawker Hurricane fighter that could be launched but not recovered | |
| Used to shoot down German aircraft that were shadowing convoys & homing in U-Boats | |
| 15/02/67: Broken up at Hong Kong by Ming Hing & Co |
Above photo shows EMPIRE FRANKLIN after CAM conversion. Photo is courtesy of Kevin Blair
Photo as HAZELBANK is courtesy of Stuart Smith
Photo as IRINICOS is copyright of Charlie Hill
Photo as IRINICOS is courtesy of Stuart Smith