Official Number:                       104299

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Willington Quay

Pennant Nr:                             Y3. 31

Launched:                               14 May 1896

Into Service:                            16 August 1914

Out of service:                         16 Mar 1918

Fate:                                      16 March 1918 torpedoed, damaged & declared a total loss

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:

24 July 1895 ordered 

14 May 1896 launched by Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Willington Quay as Yard Nr: 111 named Oilfield for Hunting SS Co Ltd., (Hunting & Sons, Managers) Newcastle

16 May 1896 the Lloyds List newspaper reported …

19 June 1896 ran trials and was delivered

21 June 1896 sailed on her maiden voyage from the River Tyne for Philadelphia

28 July 1896 sailed Rouen for Batoum

15 September 1896 arrived the River Tyne from Rouen, France

27 December 1896 berthed at Albert Edward Dock, Shields from Rouen. France

11 February 1897 sailed Pauillac

2 April 1897 sailed Albert Edward Dock, Shields for Philadelphia

2 March 1898 sailed the River Tyne for Philadelphia

21 July 1898 berthed at Wilmington

14 May 1899 berthed at Coble Dene Dock, Shields from Rouen, France

16 May 1899 sailed Coble Dene Dock, Shields

20 August 1899 at Marcus Hook, Delaware Fireman & Trimmer Alfred Edgell discharged dead – drowned

5 December 1899 stranded in the Bosphorous and was abandoned by her crew. A gang of Turks then raided the ship and stole quantities of clothing and personal effects

27 December 1899 sailed Dardenelles

13 December 1900 passed the Dardenelles while on passage from the River Tyne to Batum

7 August 1901 passed the Dardenelles while on passage from Rouen to Batum

14 December 1906 berthed at Philadelphia from the River Tyne

16 August 1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an oiler, name unchanged. Hire 8sh 9d p d w t to 31 December 1914 then £3,074 9sh 9d per month

10 October 1915 at 58.43N 11.14W intercepted by HMS HILARY while on passage from Invergordon to Philadelphia and allowed to proceed

31 December 1917 at 60.2N 16.5W sighted by HMS ALSATIAN seen to be flying the correct flag of the day and allowed to proceed

6 February 1918 at 37.4N 69.1W intercepted by HMS VIRGINIAN and allowed to proceed

16 March 1918 torpedoed and damaged by U90 some 15 miles NW of Cape Wrath while on passage from Grangemouth amd Methil to New York in ballast with the loss of 3 lives. She was beached near Stornoway but was declared a total loss