Empire Bruce was a prototype 7,459 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1941 by Sir J Laing & Sons for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).

[5] At 12:39 on 18 April 1943, Empire Bruce was struck in the stern by a torpedo fired from U-123, under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Horst von Schroeter.

The ship was carrying a cargo of 9,141 tons of linseed from Buenos Aires, Argentina to the United Kingdom via Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The entire crew of 42, and seven DEMS gunners were rescued by minesweeper HMS MMS 107.

Empire Bruce had the UK Official Number 168918 and used the Code Letters BCPJ.