Official Number:                      166255  

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Odense Staalskibsvft A.P. Moller, Odense

Launched:                               29 October 1938

Into Service:                            1939

Out of service:                         1945

Fate:                                      1961 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 October 1938 launched by Odense Staalskibsvft A.P. Moller, Odense as Yard Nr: 77 named LUCELLUM for Astrakhan Steamship Co Ltd ( H.E. Moss & Co, Managers) Liverpool

December 1938 completed

1939 – 1945 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Escort Oiler, name unchanged

27 December 1939 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HXF14 to Liverpool with a cargo of petrol arriving 8 January 1940

26 January 1940 sailed in escorted convoy OG16F which formed at sea this day to Gibraltar arriving 1 February 1940

17 March 1940 sailed Gibraltar in escorted convoy HG23F to Liverpool arriving 26 March 1940

25 June 1940 sailed Freetown in escorted convoy SL37 to Liverpool arriving 28 December 1940

11 February 1941 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX109 which merged with escorted convoy HX109 to Liverpool with a cargo of AVGAS arriving 4 March 1941

28 March 1941 sailed the River Clyde and joined escorted convoy OB303 from Liverpool until it dispersed on 3 April 1941 then sailed independently to Aruba

6 May 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX125A to Liverpool with a cargo of petrol arriving 22 May 1941

8 June 1941 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy OB331 until it dispersed on 19 June 1941 and then independently to New York City

1 August 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX142 to Liverpool with a cargo of petrol arriving 18 August 1941

30 August 1941 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON 11 until it was dispersed on 11 September 1941 and then independently to Aruba

5 October 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX153 to Liverpool with a cargo of AVGAS arriving 19 October 1941

26 October 1941 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON30 until dispersal on 9 November 1941 and then independently to New York City

3 December 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX 163 for Liverpool with a cargo of petrol

19 December 1941 bombed by German aircraft and damaged when five miles from Bardsey Island. Was towed into Hollyhead. Six crew and two gunners were killed on the tanker. Four are remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial and two DEMS Gunners are remembered with pride on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and Bosun Edwin Velen is buried in South Shields (Harton) Cemetery in Section L grave 9483 

Image courtesy of Brian Watson

1 January 1942 Bosun Edwin Velen awarded a posthumous British Empire Medal, Civil Division, in the New Years Honours List 1942. Details published in the London Gazette of this date

14 April 1942 Chief Officer William P Murray awarded a Commendation for services when the ship was bombed and damaged. Details published in the London Gazette of this date

4 June 1943 Chief Steward Charles Prince awarded the British Empire Medal, Civil Division, in the Birthday Honours List 1943. Details published in the London Gazette of this date

4 January 1944 Captain John B Swenson appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Civil Division, in the New Years Honours List 1944. Details published in the London Gazette of this date

21 January 1945 Fireman and Greaser Harold William Morrell discharged dead. He is buried in grave M C of E 778 at Preston (New Hall) Cemetery

Fireman & Greaser Harold William Morrell

19 January 1947 at Middlesborough 4th Engineer Officer William Stoddart Anderson discharged dead having drowned

7 May 1948 at sea Able Seaman Samuel Adams discharged dead having fallen overboard and being lost

3 September 1951 at Fremantle, Western Australia Able Seaman Alfred William Hackett discharged dead – missing presumed drowned

1955 purchased by K Salvesen & Sonner, Kragero,Norway, converted into an ore carrier and was renamed ASTURIA

5 October 1961 while on passage from Sorel to Immingham she ran aground off Cap a la Roche, St Lawrence River and was badly damaged.

9 October 1961 was refloated and condemned as a CTL

6 December 1961 sailed Halifax, N.S. in tow for Dutch breakers but ……

30 December 1961 after resale to Spanish breakers, arrived Barcelona for demolition.