Official Number:                      166464

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow

Launched:                               22 March 1938

Into Service:                           1939

Out of service:                        1945

Fate:                                       January 1964  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:

22 March 1938  launched by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow as Yard Nr 907 named DAVILA for Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London

May 1938   completed

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

1 October 1939 sailed Cape Town independently to Curacao arriving 20 October 1939

23 October 1939 sailed Curacao independenty to New York arriving 2 November 1939

8 November 1939 sailed New York and joined convoy HXF8 at sea arriving Dover on 21 November 1939

26 November 1939 sailed Southend in convoy FN42 to Hull arriving the next day

18 December 1939 sailed and joined convoy FS56 sailing from the Tyne to Southend. Arrived at Southend the next day

19 December 1939 sailed Southend in convoy OA56 until dispersal on 21 December 1939 and then independently to New Orleans arriving 9 January 1940

12 January 1940 sailed New Orleans independently to Halifax arriving 21 January 1940

22 January 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX17 to Le Harve arriving 7 February 1940

12 February 1940 sailed Le Harve independently to Rouen arriving 14 February 1940

18 February 1940 sailed Rouen independently to Spithead arriving 22 February 1940

24 February 1940 sailed from St Helen’s Roads and joined convoy OA97 until dispersal on 26 February 1940 and then independently to Curacao arriving 12 March 1940

13 March 1940 sailed Curacao independently to Halifax arriving 22 March 1940

25 March 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX30 to Liverpool arriving 8 April 1940

14 April 1940 sailed Liverpool in convoy OB129 until dispersed on 18 April 1940 and then independently to Trinidad arriving 1 May 1940

2 May 1940 sailed Trinidad independently to Puerto La Cruz arriving the next day

5 May 1940 sailed Puerto La Cruz independently to Bermuda

11 May 1940 sailed Bermuda in Convoy BHX42 joining convoy HX42 on 17 May 1942 to Pauillac arriving 28 May 1940

5 June 1940 sailed Pauillac independently to Cardiff arriving 10 June 1940

24 June 1940 sailed Cardiff independently to Milford Haven arriving the next day

26 June 1940 sailed Milford Haven to join convoy OB174 until dispersal on 30 June 1940 and then independently to Curacao arriving 12 July 1940

15 July 1940 sailed Curacao independently to Bermuda arriving 19 July 1940

22 July 1940 sailed Bermuda in convoy BHX60 to Halifax joining convoy HX60 on 27 July 1940 sailing to Avonmouth arriving 9 August 1940

14 August 1940 sailed Avonmouth independently to Milford Haven

16 August 1940 sailed Milford Haven joining convoy OB199 until dispersal on 20 August 1940 then sailing independently to Curacao

4 September 1940 sailed Curacao independently to Bermuda arriving 8 September 1940

12 September 1940 sailed Bermuda in convoy BHX73 to Halifax joining convoy HX73 on 17 September 1940 sailing to the Clyde arriving 27 September 1940

8 April 1942 off Boston in collision with USS Wilkes (DD441) when the tankers bow struck the destroyer, port side, by the boiler room. The US destroyer was escorted to Boston by HMS VANOC

USS Wilkes (DD441) in 1942

11 June 1942 Chief Engineer Officer Ernest V Pollard appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Civil Division in the Birthday Honours List 1942. Details published in the London Gazette of this date

27 October 1942 Captain Alfred G E Short awarded a Commendation for reasons not stated. Details published in the London Gazette of this date

1 July 1945 arrived at the Naval Base, Manus, Admiralty Islands – sailed the next day

19 July 1945 at Subic Bay, Phillipines USS Broadwater (APD139) berthed alongside and refuelled. USS Mariveles (IX197) berthed alongside and refuelled

23 July 1945 at Subic Bay, Phillipines USS Salamonie (AO26) alongside for pumpover

26 July 1945 at Subic Bay, Phillipines USS San Fransisco (CA38) berthed alongside and refuelled

27 July 1945 at Subic Bay, Phillipines USS Nashville (CL43) berthed alongside and refuelled.

22 August 1945 arrived at the Naval Base, Manus, Admiralty Islands

28 August 1945 at Humboldt Bay, Hollandia, New Guinea USS Kane (APD18) berthed alongside and refuelled 

9 January 1946 Pumpman William H Carrick awarded the British Empire Medal Civil Division in the New Years Honours List 1946. Details published in the London Gazette of this date

24 January 1949 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon for Singapore

1955  owners restyled as Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (Shell Tankers (UK) Ltd, Managers)  London, name unchanged

25 January 64 arrived Bilbao for demolition by Spanish ship breakers