Official Number: 162473
Laid down:
Builder: Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Deptford Yard, Sunderland
Launched: 29 May 1930
Into Service: 1939
Out of service: 1945
Fate: 1955 scrapped
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:
29 May 1930 launched by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Deptford Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr 712 named LONGWOOD for Oil & Molasses Tankers Ltd ( John I. Jacobs & Co Ltd, Managers) London
11 July 1930 the Buckinghamshire Examiner newspaper reported …
August 1930 completed
1 March 1933 at Vickers Armstrong Walker, River Tyne in refit
1939 – 1945 requisitioned by the Admiralty as an Escort Oiler
28 September 1939 sailed Gibraltar in convoy Green 3 to Alexandria arriving 7 October 1939
11 November 1939 sailed Port Said in convoy HG8 to Portsmouth arriving 30 November 1939
9 February 1940 sailed Gibraltar in convoy HG18 to Liverpool arriving 19 February 1940
31 January 1942 while on passage from Abadan to Colombo was torpedoed 10 miles 290° from
the Colombo fairway buoy but reached harbour safely
10 December 1943 sailed from New York in escorted convoy HX270 as an escort oiler. Arrived at Liverpool on 26 December 1943
5 February 1944 sailed from New York in escorted convoy HX278 as an escort oiler. Arrived at Liverpool on 20 February 1944
18 April 1944 sailed from New York in escorted convoy HX288 as an escort oiler. Arrived at Liverpool on 4 May 1944
19 May 1944 sailed from Liverpool in escorted convoy ON237 to New York arriving 3 June 1944
11 July 1944 Captain Theodore Blanch, Senior Second Engineer Officer George Douglas, Junior Third Engineer Officer Richard S Allen, Senior Fourth Engineer Officer Leicester M E Calvert, Senior Radio Officer Roderick W Currie and Pumpman Thomas Heddles each awarded a Commendation for services when the ship was torpedoed and damaged. Details were published in the London Gazette of this date
17 August 1944 sailed from New York in escorted convoy HX304 as an escort oiler. Arrived at Liverpool on 1 September 1944
13 September 1944 sailed from Liverpool in escorted convoy ON253 to New York arriving 28 September 1944
11 January 1945 sailed from the Kola Inlet in escorted convoy RA63 to Loch Ewe arriving on 21 January 1945. RFA BLUE RANGER was also in this convoy
11 September 1945 Petty Officer Peter Abbott RN, Able Seaman William J Chaplin RN, Able Seaman Basil Jones RN, Able Seaman Edward S Paul RN, Able Seaman John H Williams RN, Able Seaman William J Wiswell RN, Able Seaman Charles Wood RN, Bombadier John Gibbens, Royal Artillery, Gunner Albert Isherwood, Royal Artillery, Gunner John Laing, Royal Artillery, Gunner Patrick Norton, Royal Artillery and Gunner William Ticehurst, Royal Artillery each awarded a Commendation for volunteering to save the ship when the main machinery broke down during North Russian Convoy RA63 in January 1943. Details were published in the London Gazette of this date
16 October 1945 Captain Theodore Blanch, Chief Officer John Williams, Second Officer Brian Platt, Third Officer Frederick Bollingbroke, Chief Engineer Officer George Douglas, Assistant Engineer James Paterson, First Radio Officer Roderick W Currie, Chief Steward Alexander McBain, Carpenter Harry Whiteside, Fireman Paul Bernier, Fireman William J Powell and Cook Herbert Tweedieeach awarded a Commendation for volunteering to save the ship when the main machinery broke down during North Russian Convoy RA63 in January 1943. Details were published in the London Gazette of this date
10 June 1955 arrived Blyth for demolition by Hughes Bolckow Shipbreakers Ltd
