Official Number:                   159351

Laid down:

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

Launched:                             6 March 1928

Into Service:                          1940

Out of service:                      8 January 1943

Fate:                                       Torpedoed and sunk

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:

6 March 1928 launched by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd., Low Walker as Yard Nr: 1031 named Oltenia for Steaua Romana Soc. Anon., Constantza

April 1928 completed

21 April 1933 arrived at Avonmouth

22 May 1934 Lloyds Casualty Reports this day reported that the ship, while on passage from Constanza to London, had lost of blade from her propellor and therefore her arrival would be delayed

27 October 1937 arrived at Avonmouth

15 October 1938 arrived at Avonmouth

16 October 1938 sailed from Avonmouth

5 May 1939 arrived at Avonmouth from Constanza

1940 acquired by the Ministry of Shipping (British Taker Co Ltd., Managers) London and renamed Oltenia II and requisitioned for Admiralty service as an oiler

6 June 1941 sailed Belfast Lough in unescorted convoy BB30 to Swansea arriving the next day

25 June 1941 sailed Milford Haven joining escorted convoy OB339 to Halifax arriving 12 July 1941

22 July 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX140 to Loch Ewe arriving 6 August 1941

28 August 1941 sailed Southend in convoy EC66 to Loch Ewe arriving 1 September 1941. This was an unescorted convoy with 73 merchant ships

28 September 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX152 to Liverpool arriving 14 October 1941

29 March 1942 twice attacked by a four engined flying boat at 18.36N 83.33E and suffered some damage

1 November 1942 HMS MILFORD sailed Walvis Bay to escort OLTENIA II to Point Noire arriving 6 November 1942

HMS MILFORD

8 November 1942 sailed Point Noire to Lagos escorted by HMS TAMARISK arriving 12 November 1942

8 January 1943 torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U436 SW of the Canary Islands in position 27.59N 28.50W while on passage from Trinidad to Gibraltar as part of convoy TM1 carrying 9,086 tons of fuel oil and a consignment of 732 barrels of lubricating oil with the loss of seventeen lives. Forty three survivors were rescued by the destroyer HMS HAVELOCK and landed at Gibraltar