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RFA History
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Archived Stories
Rescued by the RFA in a hurricane
RFA Petroleum arrived five days late at Portsmouth on 2nd February 1914 with a cargo of oil from Port Arthur, Texas, USA after experiencing terrible weather during her passage home. (more…)
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The good ship Spahi and her cargo
By December 1942 the crew of RFA King Salvor were very busy helping to clear the sunken ships which littered the ports of North Africa. These ships had either been sunk through enemy action or by Allied Forces scuttling them…
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The Story of RFA Nucula
RFA Nucula, a tanker was built as the s.s. Hermione and completed in Newcastle by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co in September 1906 for C T Bowring & Co Ltd of London. She was completed as coal burning but converted in…
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How RFA Prestol sank RMS Queen Mary
How RFA Prestol ‘sank’ RMS Queen Mary Royal Navy ‘War Games’ training in 1937 was a far grander affair than to-days ‘Thursday War’. In July of that year Britain was at ‘war’ with ‘Blue’ whose naval forces had…
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And then 40 of the crew were executed
During World War 2 the Admiralty secured the services of a number of Norwegian tankers to supplement those under RFA command. These tankers were hired from their owners and placed under RFA management. They retained their Norwegian Masters and crews…
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Norwegian ships in RFA Service
Norwegian ships in RFA Service Sunset and evening starand one clear call for me!and may there be no moaning of the barwhen I put to sea But such a tide as moving seems asleeptoo full for sound and foamwhen that which…
View moreRFA Wave Victor catches fire
RFA WAVE VICTOR catches fire On Sunday 17 January 1954 shortly before 5.00pm RFA Wave Victor was sailing down the Bristol Channel in ballast from Swansea to Fawley, near Southampton. At 5.24pm she radioed she was on fire in…
View moreRFA Deployment in the 1960’s
RFA Deployment in the 1960’s One of the largest RFA deployments in the 1960’s was to support the Royal Navy’s peace-keeping force off Aden during December 1967 and January 1968. Britain handed over the former colony to an independent Arab…
View moreThe First RFA Hospital Ship
The first RFA Hospital ship was launched as s.s. Swansea at West Hartlepool by William Gray & Co as a cargo, passenger and cattle ship on the 8 June 1887 but by 1888 she had her name changed to…
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How a run ashore became a disaster
On 13 April 1925 at about 11.30pm on the River Medway off Upnor, Kent the ship’s boat of RFA Bacchus (1), containing 11 of the crew were returning from a run ashore, when it was struck by a motor…
View moreRescued by the RFA in a hurricane
RFA Petroleum arrived five days late at Portsmouth on 2nd February 1914 with a cargo of oil from Port Arthur, Texas, USA after experiencing terrible weather during her passage home.…
View moreThe good ship Spahi and her cargo
By December 1942 the crew of RFA King Salvor were very busy helping to clear the sunken ships which littered the ports of North Africa. These ships had either been…
View moreThe Story of RFA Nucula
RFA Nucula, a tanker was built as the s.s. Hermione and completed in Newcastle by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co in September 1906 for C T Bowring & Co Ltd of…
View moreHow RFA Prestol sank RMS Queen Mary
How RFA Prestol ‘sank’ RMS Queen Mary Royal Navy ‘War Games’ training in 1937 was a far grander affair than to-days ‘Thursday War’. In July of that year…
View moreAnd then 40 of the crew were executed
During World War 2 the Admiralty secured the services of a number of Norwegian tankers to supplement those under RFA command. These tankers were hired from their owners and placed…
View moreNorwegian ships in RFA Service
Norwegian ships in RFA Service Sunset and evening starand one clear call for me!and may there be no moaning of the barwhen I put to sea But such a tide as…
View moreRFA Wave Victor catches fire
RFA WAVE VICTOR catches fire On Sunday 17 January 1954 shortly before 5.00pm RFA Wave Victor was sailing down the Bristol Channel in ballast from Swansea to Fawley, near…
View moreRFA Deployment in the 1960’s
RFA Deployment in the 1960’s One of the largest RFA deployments in the 1960’s was to support the Royal Navy’s peace-keeping force off Aden during December 1967 and January 1968.…
View moreThe First RFA Hospital Ship
The first RFA Hospital ship was launched as s.s. Swansea at West Hartlepool by William Gray & Co as a cargo, passenger and cattle ship on the 8 June…
View moreHow a run ashore became a disaster
On 13 April 1925 at about 11.30pm on the River Medway off Upnor, Kent the ship’s boat of RFA Bacchus (1), containing 11 of the crew were returning from…
View more