Official Number:                      148155

Laid down:

Builder:                                  Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast

Launched:                              24 November 1927

Into Service:                           1939

Out of service:                        1945

Fate:                                     September 1953 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:

24 November 1927 launched by Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast as Yard Nr: 494 named CHESAPEAKE for Anglo American Oil Co Ltd (F.J. Wolfe, Manager) London

January 1928 completed

6 August 1931 at New Orleans while coming up the River struck a submerged object and damaged her propeller. Source Lloyds Casualty Report

9 March 1932 at 48.46N 19.44W reported towing British motor tanker Cheyenne which had reported that one of her propeller blades had dropped off. Source Lloyds Casualty Report

26 April 1933 sailed Stanlow to Bowling but put back after leaving Eastham due to engine breakdown. Source Lloyds Casualty Report

12 December 1933 at Belfast when in Alexandra Dry Dock undergoing repairs by Workman Clark & Co. Fire broke out onboard which was extinguished by the Brigade. The Officers cabins and pantry were destroyed. Source Lloyds Casualty Report

3 October 1937 berthed at London from San Pedro de Macoris with 2 DBS

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

17 September 1939 sailed Trinidad independently to Jamaica arriving 21 September 1939

26 September 1939 sailed Jamaica in convoy KJ2 to Avonmouth arriving 19 October 1939

25 October 1939 sailed Avonmouth independently to Swansea arriving the same day

10 January 1939 sailed Swansea independently to Milford Haven arriving the next day

1940  manager now R.A. Carder, London

12 January 1940 sailed Milford Haven and joined convoy OB70 from Liverpool of which RFA ALDERSDALE was part. This convoy was reformed as convoy OG14 until dispersal and then independently to Curacao arriving 28 January 1940

30 January 1940 sailed Curacao independently to Aruba arriving the next day

2 February 1940 sailed Aruba independently to Halifax arriving 13 February 1940

22 February 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX22 to Le Harve arriving 8 March 1940

14 March 1940 sailed Rouen independently to Southampton arriving 17 March 1940

28 March 1940 sailed St Helens Roads to join convoy OA118 which reformed at sea on 29 March 1940 into convoy OG24F thence to Gibraltar arriving 4 April 1940

5 April 1940 sailed Gibraltar independently to Aruba arriving 17 April 1940

19 April 1940 sailed Aruba independently to Halifax arriving 1 May 1940

4 May 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX40 to Liverpool arriving 19 May 1940

15 June 1940 sailed Liverpool in convoy OB168 which reformed on 17 June as convoy OG34F thence independently to Aruba arriving 5 July 1940

10 July 1940 sailed Aruba independently to Bermuda arriving 17 July 1940

8 September 1940 sailed Bermuda in convoy BHX72 and was detached to Halifax on 13 September 1940 and arrived on 16 September 1940

12 October 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX80 to Belfast Lough arriving 26 October 1940

2 November 1940 sailed Belfast Lough independently to Barry arriving 5 November 1940

13 November 1940 sailed Barry independently to Swansea arriving the next day

17 November 1940 sailed Swansea independently to Milford Haven arriving the same day

20 November 1940 bombed, straffed and damaged by enermy aircraft off the Lizard

19 December 1940 sailed the Solent independently to Dartmouth arriving the next day

21 December 1940 sailed Dartmouth independently to Milford Haven arriving the next day

27 December 1940 sailed Milford Haven joining convoy OB266 from Liverpool with dispersed on 1 January 1941 and then sailed independently to New York arriving 17 January 1941

4 February 1941 Gunner John Madle awarded a Commendation for services when the ship was attacked by enemy aircraft off the Lizard – published in the London Gazette of this date

1 April 1941 attacked by German aircraft when on passage 15 miles north of the Smalls. Attacked later the same day when 10 miles SW of St. Goven’s Head and badly damaged by German bombing

3 April 1941 anchored in Walton Bay

26 May 1942 Chief Officer Arthur Cook awarded a Commendation for services when the ship was attacked by enemy aircraft off the West coast of Wales – published in the London Gazette of this date

18 October 1945 Chief Engineer Officer Alexander John McKeand discharged dead. He is buried at Mochrum Parish Churchyard, Wigtownshire in section F grave 24A

24 June 1946 Captain Thomas L Jones appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Civil Division in the Birthday Honours List 1946 – published in the London Gazette of this date

1950 owners restyled as Esso Petroleum Co Ltd, London and renamed ESSO ABERDEEN

28 September 1953 arrived Faslane for demolition by Metal Industries (Salvage) Ltd