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Archived Stories
The tanker that was light years ahead
In the early 1960’s whilst Cliff Richard was strutting his stuff, skirts were getting shorter and hair was getting longer the Ministry of Transport asked Yarrow’s Admiralty Research Department to seek tenders for the installation of a nuclear reactor power…
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RFA Racer and a few bars of Gold
This tale of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary relates to the history of an early RFA ship with a wooden hull and a set sails as well as a steam engine for propulsion. It details the effects of warfare in World…
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RFA Sprucol’s lucky escape
In January 1918 RFA Sprucol, one of the Admiralty designed 1,000 ton class of oilers, was completed at the shipyard of Short Brothers, Pallion, Sunderland. As a brand new coastal and harbour tanker, the ship was badly needed to service…
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Gulf War Part 1: Operation Vantage
In 1961, the President of Iraq, Abd al-Karim Qasim, had claimed that Kuwait was part of his country and he announced that Iraq was going to annexe Kuwait. President of Iraq, Abd al-Karim Qasim On 27…
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Sir Tristram sails again
(Well not quite an LSL, more a CBL) On the 30th October 2009 an enterprising young man from Northern Ireland will attempt to sail his car-boat, yes I did say car-boat and what’s more it is home made! from…
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RFA War Mehtar Coastal Convoys
During the Second World War vast amounts of essential materials were moved by convoy, and when we think of the merchant ships on these convoys, we tend to think of those vessels plying the Atlantic, Mediterranean as well as the…
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And then the Second Mate shot an AB
On 11 January 1952 RFA War Hindoo was along side in Singapore Naval Base with HMS Comus berthed outboard of her. The Royal Naval ships crew had to cross the deck of the RFA to gain access to their…
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When is a Wave not a Wave
At the beginning of 1943 the Admiralty decided that it needed more tankers to support the Royal Navy, so a decision was made to acquire two 15 knot tankers that were being built by Harland and Wolff, these tankers were…
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The Crash of BOAC Comet Yoke Peter and RFA Sea Salvor
The De Havilland Comet aircraft was introduced into commercial service on the 2 May 1952 when the first of the nine Mk 1 Comets operated by B.O.A.C. (what later became the long haul division of British Airways) flew from London…
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The loss of RFA Darkdale
RFA Darkdale, a Dale class tanker based on a pre-war Shell design, was launched at Glasgow on the 30 July 1940 and after completion and trials sailed on her first freighting voyage from the Clyde on 21 November of…
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The tanker that was light years ahead
In the early 1960’s whilst Cliff Richard was strutting his stuff, skirts were getting shorter and hair was getting longer the Ministry of Transport asked Yarrow’s Admiralty Research Department to…
View moreRFA Racer and a few bars of Gold
This tale of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary relates to the history of an early RFA ship with a wooden hull and a set sails as well as a steam engine…
View moreRFA Sprucol’s lucky escape
In January 1918 RFA Sprucol, one of the Admiralty designed 1,000 ton class of oilers, was completed at the shipyard of Short Brothers, Pallion, Sunderland. As a brand new coastal…
View moreGulf War Part 1: Operation Vantage
In 1961, the President of Iraq, Abd al-Karim Qasim, had claimed that Kuwait was part of his country and he announced that Iraq was going to annexe Kuwait.…
View moreSir Tristram sails again
(Well not quite an LSL, more a CBL) On the 30th October 2009 an enterprising young man from Northern Ireland will attempt to sail his car-boat, yes I did…
View moreRFA War Mehtar Coastal Convoys
During the Second World War vast amounts of essential materials were moved by convoy, and when we think of the merchant ships on these convoys, we tend to think of…
View moreAnd then the Second Mate shot an AB
On 11 January 1952 RFA War Hindoo was along side in Singapore Naval Base with HMS Comus berthed outboard of her. The Royal Naval ships crew had to cross…
View moreWhen is a Wave not a Wave
At the beginning of 1943 the Admiralty decided that it needed more tankers to support the Royal Navy, so a decision was made to acquire two 15 knot tankers that…
View moreThe Crash of BOAC Comet Yoke Peter and RFA Sea Salvor
The De Havilland Comet aircraft was introduced into commercial service on the 2 May 1952 when the first of the nine Mk 1 Comets operated by B.O.A.C. (what later became…
View moreThe loss of RFA Darkdale
RFA Darkdale, a Dale class tanker based on a pre-war Shell design, was launched at Glasgow on the 30 July 1940 and after completion and trials sailed on her…
View more