Requisitioned Auxiliary – Athelviscount

 Athel Viscount

 

 

 Athel Viscount

 

Official Number:                        161118

Laid down:

Builder:                                    R Duncan & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow

Launched:                                24 July 1929

Into Service:                             1939

Out of service:                          1946

Fate:                                       30 August 1957  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:

24 July 1929 launched by R Duncan & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow as Yard Nr 391 for named ATHELVISCOUNT for United Molasses Co Ltd, London.

September 1929 completed

1939 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an oiler, name unchanged

1940 nominal ownership passed to Athel  Line Ltd, London name unchanged

31 August 1940 damaged by German bombs at Cammell Laird’s Shipyard on the Mersey and repaired

21 March 1942 torpedoed and damaged by U-202 in the Atlantic in position 38.46 N 55.44 W, 600 miles SE of Newfoundland and almost at the maximum range of the salvage tug sent to assist her. When the torpedo struck her,all of her engineers and some of the Deck Crew were carrying out emergency repairs in the engine room and all were killed

26 March 1942 the salvage tug reached her in storm conditions

5 April 1942 tug and tow finally reached St John’s, Nfld where she was secured to a buoy and she could not be dry- docked

9 April 1942 broke adrift in a storm and stranded at the harbour entrance.

23 May 1942 after being refloated she finally docked for cropping of plating and temporary repairs.

30 June 1942 sailed St John’s in tow for New York for permanent repairs to be carried out.

1942 transferred to the MoWT and renamed EMPIRE VISCOUNT and served as an Escort Oiler

22 December 1942 Captain Reginald G T Franklin, Third Officer Kenneth D Brymer and Cook Thomas Lang each awarded a Commendation for services when the ship was torpedoed in March 1942 – Published in the London Gazette of this day

1 January 1943 DEMS Gunner Petty Officer Walter Wilson Royal Navy C/JX 170751 awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for services when the ship was torpedoed in March 1942 – Published in the London Gazette of this day

12 April 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX234 to the Clyde arriving 28 April 1943

6 May 1943 sailed the Clyde and joined escorted convoy ON182 to New York arriving 21 May 1943

13 June 1943 sailed Hampton Roads in escorted convoy UGS10 to Oran arriving 5 July 1943

12 July 1943 sailed Bone in escorted convoy ET22 to Gibraltar arriving the next day

22 July 1943 sailed Gibraltar in escorted convoy GUS10 to New York arriving 9 August 1943

27 August 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX254 to Swansea arriving 12 September 1943

18 September 1943 sailed Swansea independently to Belfast arriving 20 September 1943

23 September 1943 sailed Belfast Lough in escorted convoy ON203 to New York arriving 9 October 1943. Acted as one of five Escort Oilers during this convoy

31 October 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX264 to the River Clyde arriving 17 November 1943. Acted as one of five Escort Oilers during this convoy

26 November 1943 sailed the River Clyde in escorted convoy ON213 to New York arriving 14 December 1943. Acted as one of three Escort Oilers during this convoy

29 December 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX273 to Liverpool arriving 14 January 1944. Acted as one of three Escort Oilers during this convoy

24 January 1944 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON221 to New York arriving 11 February 1944. Acted as one of two Escort Oilers during this convoy

1946 returned to her owners and name reverted to ATHELVISCOUNT

30 August 1957 arrived Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht for demolition