Trafford

Originally named the Cape Lobos, was built in 1944, her gross register
tonnage was 7,177, she was 417ft long, 60ft wide and could make 15 knots.  
Immediately upon launch she was transferred to the British Ministry of War
Transport and re-named Empire Javelin, being used as an infantry landing
ship.

Just in time to join in the D-Day operations, she left Portland harbour on
the 05/06/44 with over 1,300 American troops and 20 landing craft on board,
heading for Omaha beach, taking part in the second assault wave. 

South-east of the Isle of Wight, travelling from Southampton to Le Havre,
during the afternoon of the 28/12/44 she was torpedoed by U-772 and sunk.  
 The ship was again carrying 1,448 American troops across the Channel and
began to sink almost as soon as the second torpedo struck.   The crew and
troops were rescued by LSTs and the French frigate L'Esaramouche that was
escorting the Empire Javelin. Although no comfort to the relatives of those
that were lost, remarkably only 7 lives were lost.

The U-772 that had claimed five Allied vessels totally 35,000 tons over the
Christmas period, was finally tracked down and sunk by a Royal Canadian Air
Force Wellington Bomber of 407 Squadron.    The wreck now lies 20 miles NNE
of Point Barfleur in a general depth of 56 metres.