Official Number: 125769
Laid down:
Builder: Wm Gray & Co, West Hartlepool
Launched: 21 January 1909
Pennant No: Y.7.35
Into Service: 27 August 1914
Out of service: 1918
Fate: Wrecked 1940
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA
Career Data:
21 January 1909 launched by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend on Tyne as Yard Nr: 823 named Danubian for Petroleum Steamship Co Ltd., (Lane & MacAndrew Ltd., Managers) London
22 January 1909 Lloyds List newspaper reported …
March 1909 completed
31 December 1909 berthed on Eccles Oil Wharf
4 January 1910 sailed Eccles Oil Wharf for Port Arthur, Texas. On clearing the Manchester Ship Canal in fog, in the Mersey, in collision with the paddle steamer Duke of Leinster of Dublin. The Duke of Leinster returned to the Manchester Ship Canal damaged while the Danubian proceeded
27 October 1913 arrived London from Port Arthur, Texas
2 February 1914 sailed Newport News for London
2 April 1914 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Rotterdam and Hamburg
12 August 1914 challenged by HMS CAESAR in the English Channel east bound to London Docks
HMS CAESAR
27 August 1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Oiler Transport – name unchanged
29 August 1914 while on passage from London to Texas stopped by HMS VENUS and allowed to proceed
16 September 1914 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas
18 November 1914 at 40°09N 68°01W challenged by HMS SUFFOLK – allowed to proceed
21 November 1914 at Halifax, Nova Scotia with HMS PRINCESS ROYAL berthed alongside. Refuelled the warship with 295 tons of FFO
HMS PRINCESS ROYAL
30 November 1914 at Halifax, Nova Scotia with HMS PRINCESS ROYAL berthed alongside
24 December 1914 at Halifax, Nova Scotia with HMS PRINCESS ROYAL berthed alongside. Refuelled the warship with 321 tons of FFO
17 April 1915 at Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia 3rd Pumpman and Donkeyman James Cole discharged dead – natural causes
17 June 1915 challenged by HMS HILDEBRAND while on passage from South Shields to Sabine
7 April 1916 off Stornaway boarded by HMS GLOUCESTERSHIRE checked and allowed to proceed
HMS GLOUCESTERSHIRE
22 April 1916 when on passage from the River Forth to Texas stopped and boarded by HMS GLOUCESTERSHIRE checked and allowed to proceed
5 September 1916 and 7 September 1916 at St Vincent, Porto Grande a working party onboard from HMS SUTLEJ
26 September 1916 at St Vincent, Porto Grande a working party from HMS KING ALFRED transferred stores
7 October 1916 at St Vincent, Porto Grande a working party from HMS HIGHFLYER delivered stores
HMS HIGHFLYER
9 October 1916 and 10 October 1916 at St Vincent, Porto Grande a working party onboard from HMS DONEGAL
21 October 1916 at St Vincent, Porto Grande a working party from HMS KING ALFRED transferred stores to s.s. Cressington Court
4 November 1916 at St Vincent, Porto Grande an armed guard from the battleship HMS SWIFTSURE boarded to quell a disturbance
1 December 1916 at Sierra Leone a working party from HMS SWIFTSURE delivered stores
20 March 1917 off Ras Marbut mined. Anchored in 5 fathoms west of Examination Anchorage, making no water.
21 March 1917, 22 March 1917, 26 March 1917 to 28 March 1917, 30 March 1917 and 2 April 1917 diving parties from HMS ODIN and HMS CLIO examined the hull
9 April 1917 sailed in the company of HMS ODIN to Perim
10 April 1917 arrived off Perim
June 1917 owners and their 7-ship Fleet purchased by British Tanker Co Ltd., London, name unchanged although nominal owners remained unchanged
December 1917 owners became British Tanker Co Ltd., London
13 February 1918 at St Georges Hospital, Bombay Carpenter Thomas Holm Gunn discharged dead – smallpox
29 January 1919 at Alexandria Deck Topas Camitho Dias discharged dead – natural causes
1919 renamed by her owners British Knight
9 February 1919 arrived at Aden
5 March 1920 arrived at Aden from Suez
3 April 1920 sailed Aden for Port Said
31 May 1920 arrived at Pensacola from Thames Haven
4 June 1920 arrived at Port Arthur
2 September 1920 arrived at Port Said from the River Tyne while on passage to Abadan
1929 purchased by Skibs A/S “Ranvik” (Lars Thorsen, Manager), Sandefjord and renamed RANVIK
ss Ranvik
1938 purchased by Leonardo Arrivabene Soc Anon, Venice – renamed C ARRIVABENE
4 January 1940 wrecked 2 miles south of Fedola, Morroco. Scrapped locally
Notes:
The seven ships purchased by the British Tanker Co Ltd., from Petroleum Steamship Co Ltd., were as follows – all were requisitioned for Admiralty service as Oilers: –
CARPATHIAN renamed BRITISH PEER
DANUBIAN renamed BRITISH KNIGHT
PINNA renamed BRITISH EARL
ROCK LIGHT renamed BRITISH VISCOUNT
ROUMANIAN renamed BRITISH BARON
SERVIAN renamed BRITISH MARQUIS
TEREK renamed BRITISH DUKE
She was the 1st of 2 ships to bear the name British Knight in the BTC Fleet