Official Number:                      168331

Laid down:

Builder:                                    Cammell, Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead

Launched:                               30 July 1942

Into Service:                            November 1942

Out of service:                         1945

Fate:                                         24 February 1959 arrived to be broken up 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 to augment the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

30 July 1942 launched by Cammell Laird & Co Ltd., Birkenhead as Yard Nr: 1068 named BRITISH PROMISE for British Tanker Co Ltd., London

9 November 1942 completed and was requisitioned for Admiralty Service, serving as an escort oiler. Name unchanged. Sailed Liverpool this day in escorted convoy ON145 to Halifax arriving 22 November 1942

21 November 1942 while on passage in convoy ON145 at 43.53N 55.02W during her maiden voyage was torpedoed and damaged by German Submarine U518 (Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann), No loss of life  

27 January 1943 sailed Londonderry independently to Loch Ewe arriving the next day

6 May 1943 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy XB50 to Boston arriving 8 May 1943

8 May 1943 sailed Boston independently to New York arriving the next day

14 May 1943 sailed Hampton Roads in escorted convoy UGS8A to Casablanca on 1 June 1943

3 June 1943 sailed escorted from Casablanca to Fedela

9 June 1943 sailed Casablanca joining escorted convoy GUS8 which passed Gibraltar on 9 June 1943 to Hampton Roads arriving 27 June 1943

30 June 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX246 to Belfast Lough arriving 13 July 1943

13 July 1943 sailed Belfast Lough in unescorted convoy BB309 to Milford Haven arriving the next day

29 July 1943 sailed Barry independently to Milford Haven arriving the same day

30 July 1943 sailed Milford Haven joining escorted convoy ON195 to New York arriving 13 August 1943

14 August 1943 sailed New York independently to Philadelphia arriving the next day

17 August 1943 sailed Philadelphia independently to New York arriving the next day

20 August 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX253 to Avonmouth arriving 5 September 1943

8 September 1943 sailed Avonmouth independently to Milford Haven arriving the next day

9 September 1943 sailed Milford Haven joining escorted convoy ON201 to New York arriving 24 September 1943

28 September 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX259 to Avonmouth arriving 14 October 1943

18 October 1943 sailed Avonmouth independently to Barry arriving the next day 

9 November 1943 Captain Frank J Goodshild appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Civil Division and Chief Engineer Officer Ernest A Hall, Third Engineer Officer Samuel R Brackenbridge and Sixth Engineer Officer Edwin E Clayton each awarded a Commendation all for services when the ship was torpedoed and damaged on her maiden voyage (see above) – details of the appointment and awards published in the London Gazette of this day

11 November 1943 sailed Barry to Milford Haven arriving the same day

12 November 1943 sailed Milford Haven joining escorted convoy ON211 to New York arriving 29 November 1943

2 December 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX269 to Avonmouth arriving 17 December 1943

21 December 1943 sailed Avonmouth independently to Milford Haven arriving the next day

23 December 1943 sailed Milford Haven and joined escorted convoy ON217 to New York arriving 10 January 1944

13 January 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX275 to Londonderry arriving 27 January 1944

29 January 1944 sailed Loch Ewe in unescorted convoy WN538 to Methil arriving 31 January 1944

5 February 1944 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN342 arriving 7 February 1944

24 February 1944 arrived at New York in escorted convoy ON223

1 March 1944 sailed New York independently to Hampton Roads arriving the next day

4 March 1944 sailed Hampton Roads in escorted convoy UGS35 to Augusta arriving 27 March 1944. RFA PRESTOL was also in this convoy

27 March 1944 sailed Augusta in unescorted convoy AH33 to Bari arriving on 29 March 1944

1 April 1944 sailed Bari to Brindisi arriving the next day

4 April 1944 sailed Brindisi in unescorted convoy HA34 to Augusta arriving 6 April 1944

9 April 1944 sailed Augusta and joined escorted convoy GUS36 ro Hampton Roads arriving 2 May 1944

10 May 1944 sailed New York independently to Hampton Roads arriving the next day

13 May 1944 sailed Hampton Roads in escorted convoy UGS42 to Casablanca arriving 23 May 1944

5 June 1944 sailed Casablanca in escorted convoy GUS41 to Hampton Roads arriving 19 June 1944

10 July 1944 sailed New York independently to Philadelphia arriving the next day

17 July 1944 sailed Philadelphia independently to New York arriving the same day then sailed New York also the same day in escorted convoy HX300 to the River Clyde arriving 2 August 1944 thence sailed the River Clyde independently to Loch Ewe arriving 10 August 1944

15 August 1944 sailed Loch Ewe in escorted convoy JW59 to the Kola Inlet arriving at Molotovsk 27 August 1944

28 September 1944 sailed Kola Inlet in escorted convoy RA60 to the River Clyde arriving 5 October 1940

13 October 1944 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy ON259 to New York arriving 29 October 1944

25 November 1944 sailed New York independently to Baltimore arriving 27 November 1944

4 December 1944 sailed Baltimore independently to New York arriving 6 December 1944

9 December 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX325 to the Clyde arriving 24 December 1944

27 December 1944 sailed the Clyde independently to Loch Ewe arriving 28 December 1944

30 December 1944 sailed Loch Ewe in escorted convoy JW63 to the Kola Inlet arriving at Molotovsk on 9 January 1945. RFA BLUE RANGER also sailed in this convoy

24 March 1945 sailed Southend in escorted convoy ON292 to New York arriving 8 April 1945

23 April 1945 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX353 to Liverpool arriving 8 May 1945

17 July 1947 at Abu Ail Engine Room Storekeeper Francis David Clement discharged dead from natural causes

28 May 1949 at 35°17N 18°18E Radio Officer Thomas Arnold Simons discharged dead from natural causes

15 November 1950 at Jules Colombani Hospital, Casablanca Chief Steward John Chapman Frederickson discharged dead from an overdose of drugs

17 February 1956 at 14°47N 42°13E General Servant Joao Menezes discharged dead having been lost overboard

1956 owners restyled as BP Tanker Co Ltd., London

20 February 1959 sold for scrap

24 February 1959 arrived Rosyth for demolition by Shipbreaking Industries Ltd.