View source for HMS Sainfoin

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Empire Crossbow.jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Sainfoin'' in [[Singapore]], 1945
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=|Ship flag=
|Ship class=[[Landing Ship, Infantry]]
|Ship name=*''Cape Washington'' (1943–44)
*''Empire Crossbow'' (1944)
*HMS ''Sainfoin'' (1944–46)
*''Empire Crossbow'' (1946–47)
*''Cape Washington'' (1947–64)
|Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Consolidated Steel Corporation]], [[Wilmington, California]]
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=30 November 1943
|Ship completed=31 January 1944
|Ship christened=
|Ship yard number=357
|Ship owner=*United States Maritime Commission (1943–44)
*Ministry of War Transport (1944)
*Royal Navy (1944–46)
*Ministry of Transport (1946–47)
*United States Maritime Commission (1947–64)
|Ship operator=*United States Maritime Commission (1943–44)
*Ministry of War Transport (1944)
*Royal Navy (1944–46)
*Ministry of Transport (1946–47)
*United States Maritime Commission (1947)
|Ship acquired=
|Ship maiden voyage=7 February 1944
|Ship commissioned=November 1944
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=September 1946
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=1948
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate=Sold for scrapping in 1964
|Ship homeport=*{{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} London (1944)
*{{flagicon|United Kingdom|naval}} [[Royal Navy]] (1944–46)
*{{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} London (1946–47)
*{{flagicon|United States}} United States (1947–64)
|Ship identification=*United Kingdom [[Official Number]] 169808 (1944, 1946–47)
*Code Letters MYMV (1944, 1946–47)
*{{ICS|Mike}}{{ICS|Yankee}}{{ICS|Mike}}{{ICS|Victor}}
*Pennant Number F183 (1944–46)
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship tonnage=*{{GRT|7,177}}
*{{NRT|4,823}}
*6,440 [[deadweight tonnage|DWT]]<!--{{convert|11650|LT|t}} (what is this figure??)-->
|Ship length=*{{convert|396|ft|5|in|m|2|abbr=on}} between perpendiculars
*{{convert|417|ft|9|in|m|2|abbr=on}} overall
|Ship beam={{convert|60|ft|1|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught=
|Ship depth={{convert|35|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=Two steam turbines, double reduction geared driving a single screw propeller
|Ship speed=*{{convert|16|kn|km/h}} (service)
*{{convert|18|kn|km/h}} (maximum)
|Ship range=
|Ship complement=
|Ship armament=*''Empire Crossbow'' and HMS ''Sainfoin'':
*1 × {{convert|4|in|0|adj=on}} gun
*1 × 12-pounder (3-inch (76&nbsp;mm)) gun
*12 × {{convert|20|mm|1|abbr=on}} [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] guns
*2 × {{convert|4.7|in|0|adj=on}} guns
*18 × LCA
|Ship troops=1,500
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Sainfoin''''' was a [[Landing Ship, Infantry|landing ship, infantry]] of the [[Royal Navy]] that was built in 1943 by [[Consolidated Steel Corporation]], [[Wilmington, California]], [[United States]] as the [[merchant vessel]] '''''Cape Washington'''''. She was transferred to the [[Ministry of War Transport]] in 1944 and renamed '''''Empire Crossbow'''''. Later that year, she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS ''Sainfoin'', with the [[pennant number]] F183. In 1946, she was returned to merchant service as ''Empire Crossbow''. She was transferred to the United States in 1947 and renamed ''Cape Washington''. The ship was then laid up until scrapped in 1964.

==Description==
The ship was built in 1944 by [[Consolidated Steel Corporation]], [[Wilmington, California]].<ref name=Ships>{{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1=W.H. |last2=Sawyer |first2=L.A. |year=1995 |title=The Empire Ships |page=not cited |publisher= Lloyd's of London Press Ltd |location= London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong |isbn=1-85044-275-4}}</ref> She was Yard Number 357.<ref name=C1>{{cite web |url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/wwii/c1cargoships.htm |title=C1 Cargo Ships |publisher=Shipbuilding History |access-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119055704/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/wwii/c1cargoships.htm |archive-date=19 November 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The ship was {{convert|396|ft|5|in|m|2}} long between perpendiculars,<ref name=S6/> {{convert|417|ft|9|in|m|2}} overall,<ref name=Pmars/> with a beam of {{convert|60|ft|1|in|m|2}}. She had a depth of {{convert|35|ft|0|in|m|2}}<!--, and a draught of {{convert|xx|ft|x|in|m|2}}-->.<ref name=S6/> She was assessed at {{GRT|7,177}},<ref name=Ships/> {{NRT|4,823}}.<ref name=S6/> Her [[deadweight tonnage|DWT]] was 6,440.<ref name=C1/>

The ship was propelled by two [[steam turbine]]s of 12,000 [[nominal horsepower|nhp]] total. They were [[Double reduction gearing|double reduction geared]], driving a single screw propeller. They could propel her at a maximum speed of {{convert|18|kn|km/h}}, with {{convert|16|kn|km/h}} being the normal service speed. The turbines were built by [[Westinghouse Electric Company|Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co]], [[Essington, Pennsylvania]].<ref name=S6>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p6 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage6.html|access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref>

==History==
Built as the merchant vessel ''Cape Washington'', the ship was launched on 30 November 1943,<ref name=Colledge/> and completed on 31 January 1944 as the landing ship ''Empire Crossbow''.<ref name=Ships/><ref name=Pmars/> She was transferred to the British [[Ministry of War Transport]] under the [[Lend-Lease]] scheme.<ref name=S6/> The [[Official Number]] 168908 and [[Code Letters]] MYMV were allocated. Her port of registry was [[London]].<ref name=ID>{{cite web |url=http://convoyweb.org.uk/signal/index.html?search_all.php~signalmain |title=Signal Letters Database |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=5 May 2011}} (Enter MYMV or Empire Crossbow in relevant search box)</ref> ''Empire Crossbow'' departed from Wilmington on her maiden voyage on 7 February 1944. She sailed via the [[Panama Canal]] to [[Bermuda]], sustaining some damage in storms in the [[Caribbean]]. At Bermuda, it was estimated that repairs would take 14 days to complete. ''Empire Crossbow'' joined a convoy and departed Bermuda on 24 February, the day she had arrived there. She arrived at [[Greenock]], [[Renfrewshire]] on 6 March.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |last=Baker |first=Derek |date=28 August 2005 |title=Crewing an LST from the USA to the UK. Part 2 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/41/a5361941.shtml |url-status=dead |access-date=5 May 2011 |publisher=BBC People's War |archive-date=19 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419201407/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/41/a5361941.shtml }}</ref> ''Empire Crossbow'' departed the [[River Clyde]] on 26 March and sailed via [[Milford Haven]], [[Pembrokeshire]] and [[Weymouth Bay]], [[Dorset]] to the [[Cowes|Cowes Roads]], of the [[Isle of Wight]], arriving on 30 March.<ref name=Port>{{cite web |url=http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=EMPIRE%20CROSSBOW~armain |title=EMPIRE CROSSBOW |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref>

During [[Operation Overlord]] (the [[D-Day]] landings), ''Empire Crossbow'', under the command of Captain Alexander Rodger,<ref name=Times290455>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Captain A. Rodger |date=29 April 1955 |page=15 |issue=53207 |column=C }}</ref> carried A and B Company, [[Hampshire Regiment]], with C and D company on {{SS|Empire Arquebus||2}}. They were landed on [[Gold Beach]]. The Hampshires achieved their objective to capture [[Le Hamel, Lower Normandy|Le Hamel]] and [[Arromanches-les-Bains|Arromanches]], [[Lower Normandy]]. ''Empire Crossbow'' lost three [[Landing Craft Assault]]s (LCAs) during the landings.<ref name=S5>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p5 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage5.html|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> She then returned to Southampton, sailing on 7 June as a member of Convoy EWP 1, which arrived at the [[Seine Bay]] on 8 June.<ref name=EWP1>{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/misc/index.html?yy.php?convoy=EWP.1!~miscmain |title=Convoy EWP.1 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> On 29 June,'' Empire Crossbow'' embarked aircrew from [[507th Fighter Squadron]] at [[Southampton]], [[Hampshire]] and landed them at [[Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer]], Lower Normandy.<ref name=Fiveohseven>{{cite web |url=http://www.winkton.net/pages/june19~1.htm |title=June 1944 |publisher=John Levesley |access-date=5 May 2011 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928095758/http://www.winkton.net/pages/june19~1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In September, ''Empire Crossbow'' embarked troops from the 2nd Battalion, [[Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry]] at Arromanches and took them to Southampton, from where they were to go to [[Bulford Camp]], on [[Salisbury Plain]], [[Wiltshire]].<ref name=Preston>{{cite web |url=http://www.pegasusarchive.org/varsity/robert_preston.htm |title=Lieutenant Robert Stoddart Preston |publisher=Pegasus Archive |access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref>

''Empire Crossbow'' was transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS ''Sainfoin'' in November 1944.<ref name=Colledge>{{Cite Colledge2006|page=113}}</ref> She was named after the racehorse [[Sainfoin (horse)|Sainfoin]], the winner of the [[1890 Epsom Derby]].<ref name=S4>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p4 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage4.html|access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> Her armament consisted 1 × {{convert|4|in|0|adj=on}} gun, 1 × 12-pounder (3-inch (76.2&nbsp;mm)) gun, 12 × {{convert|20|mm|1|abbr=on}} [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] guns,<ref name=Colledge/> and 2 × {{convert|4.7|in|0|adj=on}} guns. She also carried 18 LCAs and could accommodate 1,500 troops.<ref name=S7/>

HMS ''Sainfoin'' sailed to Greenock to embark [[Royal Marines]] from 553 [[flotilla]]. She then sailed to [[Bombay]], [[British India|India]], where she received orders to sail to [[Karachi]], India. ''Sainfoin'' participated in troop landing exercises in preparation for [[Operation Zipper]].<ref name=S9/> She landed troops in [[Rangoon]], [[Burma]], in June 1945.<ref name=S11>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p11 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage11.html|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> She proceeded to [[Penang]], [[Port Dixon]], and [[Port Swettenham]], [[British Malaya|Malaya]]; the Port Swettenham landings took place on 9 September.<ref name=S11/> She proceeded to [[Medan]], [[Indonesia]], and [[Singapore]].<ref name=S9>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p9 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage9.html|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> On 3 October, ''Sainfoin'' anchored at [[Emmahaven]], Indonesia, where the cmmanders-in-chief of the [[Japan]]ese forces in [[Sumatra]] signed the surrender document on {{HMS|Persimmon}}.<ref name=S11/>

On 16 October 1945,<ref name=Times171045/> during ''Sainfoin{{'}}s'' voyage back to the United Kingdom, ''Sainfoin'' received a distress call from the [[hospital ship]] {{SS|Takliwa}}, which was carrying 820 repatriated [[prisoners of war]] from [[Hong Kong]] to [[Madras]], India. It took ''Sainfoin'' four hours to reach ''Takliwa'',<ref name=S13/> which had run aground at [[Indira Point]], [[Great Nicobar]], and caught fire.<ref name=Times171045>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Ex-Prisoner's Ship in Flames |date=17 October 1945 |page=3 |issue=50275 |column=C }}</ref> Using her LCAs, ''Sainfoin'' rescued all 1,083 people on board ''Takliwa'', as well as the [[ship's cat]]. During the rescue, three of ''Sainfoin{{'}}s'' LCAs were lost.<ref name=S13/> ''Sainfoin{{'}}s'' mascot, a [[baboon]] named Mortimer,<ref name=S22>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p22 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage22.html|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> took a liking to the cat. On arrival at Bombay, the cat promptly went ashore.<ref name=S13>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p13 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage13.html|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> Mortimer's intended fate was to be given to a [[zoo]] in the United Kingdom, but he grew too big and dangerous, so he was euthanased before ''Sainfoin'' reached the United Kingdom.<ref name=S22/>

Post-war, ''Sainfoin'' assisted in mopping up operations in the [[Dutch East Indies]]. On one occasion, a pregnant woman went into labour whilst men from ''Sainfoin'' were assisting in one such operation. She was transferred to the ship for medical attention. A healthy baby boy was born on board. He was given the name Sainfoin.<ref name=S25>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p25 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage25.html|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> ''Sainfoin'' was at Singapore when the news came through that she was to be paid off. She sailed the following day;<ref name=S26>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p26 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage26.html|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> her destination was Greenock. A number of her crew volunteered for service on the voyage to return the ship to the United States, but their request was denied.<ref name=S28>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p28 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage28.html|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref>

HMS ''Sainfoin'' was returned to merchant service, with the name reverting to ''Empire Crossbow'' in September 1946.<ref name=S7>{{cite web|title=Sainfoin's War, p7 |first1=W J ("Walt")|last1=Mitchell |first2 =Colin |last2=Buckenham |publisher=Data Tech |location=Diss |year=2007 |url=http://www.datatechdtp.co.uk/html/swpage7.html|access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> She was returned to the United States in September 1946 and re-entered merchant service under her original name, ''Cape Washington'', the following year.<ref name=Ships/> She was laid up in the [[James River]] until 1964, when she was sold on 1 December for [[United States Dollar|$47,206]] to Peck Iron & Metal Co for dismantling.<ref name=Pmars>{{cite web |url=https://pmars.marad.dot.gov/DisposalCard/All/5876_AF.jpg |title=Front of Card 1 |publisher=United States Maritime Administration |access-date=5 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510043128/https://pmars.marad.dot.gov/DisposalCard/All/5876_AF.jpg |archive-date=10 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> ''Cape Washington'' was scrapped at [[Portsmouth, Virginia]].<ref name=Ships/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Type C1-S ships}}
{{Empire ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sainfoin}}
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:Type C1-S ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Empire ships]]
[[Category:Ministry of War Transport ships]]
[[Category:Troop ships of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Operation Overlord]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United States]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of the United States]]