Requisitioned Auxiliary – El Ciervo

 

El Ciervo

 

El Ciervo

 

Official Number:                   146706

Builder:                                  Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd., High Walker

Launched:                              5 October 1922

Into Service:                           1939

Out of service:                        1945

Fate:                                        23 October 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:

 

5 October 1922 launched by Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd., High Walker as Yard Nr: 985 named Tricentrol for Trinidad Oilfields Ltd., London

March 1923 completed

1926 purchased by Lobitos Oilfields Ltd., (C T Bowing & Co Ltd., Managers) Liverpool and renamed El Ciervo

21 September 1927 berthed at Burnham Wharf, Evans Bay, Wellington, New Zealand being the first tanker to discharge at this new facility

1939 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an oiler / Escort Oiler – name unchanged

22 September 1939 sailed Montevideo together with three other merchant ships and escorted by HMS EXETER and HMS HAVOCK. The convoy dispersed at dusk with one merchant ship and HMS HAVOCK sailing to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands with troops for the defence of the Falkland Islands

3 August 1942 subject to an air attack by the German Airforce 7n miles off Start Point. The ships Master was Captain William John Davis

4 March 1943 sailed Liverpool as Escort Orider in escorted convoy ONZ171 to Halifax arriving 23 March 1943

16 April 1943 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy SC127 to Liverpool arriving 3 May 1943 with a cargo of FFO

17 May 1943 sailed Liverpool as Escort Oiler in escorted convoy ONS8 arriving Halifax 1 June 1943

16 June 1943 sailed Halifax as Escort Oiler in escorted convoy S134 to Liverpool arriving 1 July 1943

26 July 1943 sailed Liverpool as Escort Oiler in escorted convoy ONS14 to Halifax arriving 9 August 1943

21 August 1943 sailed Halifax as Escort Oiler in escorted convoy SC140 to Liverpool  arriving 5 September 1943

26 September 1943 sailed Liverpool as Escort Oiler in escorted convoy ONS19 to Halifax arriving 14 October 1943

17 November 1943 sailed Liverpool as Escort Oiler in escorted convoy ONS23 to Halifax arriving 2 December 1943. Two other Escort Oilers were deployed in this convoy – Athel Prince and Oilreliance

March 1950 laid up at Liverpool

1950 purchased for £30,000 by Stevinson, Hardy & Co Ltd., renamed Bratton and was transferred to Bratton Tanker Co Ltd.

23 October 1953 arrived at Preston for demolition by T W Ward Ltd