Requisitioned Auxiliary – Gulf Crest

 

 GULFCREST 

 

Official No:                              225390

Builder:                                   American Brown Boveri Elc. Corp. Camden NJ

Laid down:                      5 February 1925

Launched:                               27 February 1926

Into Service:                            WW2

Out of service:                         1946

Fate:                                      Broken up 20 November 1954

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

 

Background Data:   One of a group of additional American-flagged ships which served as Escort Oilers during WW2

 

Career Data:

5 February 1925 laid down

27 February 1926 launched by American Brown Boveri Elec. Corp., Camden, NJ as yard Nr: 304 named Gulf Crest for Gulf Refining Co. Inc., Port Arthur

April 1926 completed

1936 owners restyled as Gulf Oil Corporation of Pennsylvania, Port Arthur/Philadelphia – name unchanged

1942 oweners became US WSA – name unchanged

WW2 served as an Escort Oiler – name unchanged

18 May 1943 sailed Halifax in convoy SC131 to Loch Ewe arrived 30 May 1943. Was one of four tankers in this convoy who acted as Escort Oilers

9 June 1943 sailed Londonderry in convoy ONS10 to Halifax arriving 27 June 1943. Was one of three tankers in this convoy who acted as Escort Oilers. Gulfcrest also carried 60 depth charges to issue to escorts which required them

Gulf Crest RAS fitment

Astern RAS equipment fitted
© IWM (A 18497)
 
Deck cargo on Gulf Crest
 
Gulf Crest’s Deck Cargo on 3 August 1943
© IWM (A 18500)

3 September 1943 sailed Halifax in convoy SC141 to Loch Ewe arriving 16 September 1943 Was one of seven tankers in this convoy who acted as Escort Oilers

1946 returned to her howners – name unchanged

1954 purchased by Nereus Shipping Co S.A., Honduras and renamed Crest

20 November 1954 arrived at Inverkeithing for demolition by T W Ward Ltd