Official Number:                   165780

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Erilsbergs Mekanista Verkstad A/B, Gothenburg

Launched:                             20 July 1939

Into Service:                          10 February 1940

Out of service:                        WW2

Fate:                                        8 January 1954 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:

20 July 1939 launched by Eriksbergs Mekanista Verkstad A/B, Gothenburg as Yard Nr: 289 named Pontfield for Hunting Steamship Co Ltd., (Hunting & Son, Managers) Newcastle

20 October 1939 when partially completed was handed over to a British Crew who sailed her through the German blockade in the Skaggerak to Bergen

18 December 1939 sailed Bergen remaining in Norweigian waters

21 December 1939 sailed from Norweigian waters in convoy HN5 with 25 other merchant ships and five escorts to Methil arriving 24 December 1939

27 December 1939 sailed Methil independently to the River Tyne arriving the same day

10 February 1940 completed on the River Tyne and requisitioned for Admiralty service and served as an escort oiler – name unchanged. Sailed this day the River Tyne joining convoy TS92 to Southend arriving 12 February 1940

13 February 1940 sailed the Downs in convoy OA91 until dispersal on 16 February 1940 and then independently to Port Arthur arriving 8 March 1940

11 March 1940 sailed Port Arthur independently to Halifax arriving 19 March 1940

21 March 1940 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX29 to Southend arriving 5 April 1940 with a cargo of petrol

12 April 1940 sailed Southend in unescorted convoy OA128GF which reformed as unescorted convoy OG26F on 14 April 1940 and then independently to Port Arthur, Texas arriving 6 May 1940

8 May 1940 sailed Port Arthur, Texas independently to Bermuda arriving 15 May 1940

19 May 1940 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX44 which joined escorted convoy HX44 on 25 May 1940 and then sailed to the Solent arriving 5 June 1940 with a cargo of petrol

22 June 1940 sailed St. Helens Roads and joined in escorted convoy OA172 until dispersal on the 25 June 1940 – then independently to Port Arthur, Texas arriving on 11 July 1940

15 July 1940 sailed Port Arthur, Texas indepedently to Bermuda arriving 23 July 1940

25 July 1940 sailed Bermuda independently to Halifax arriving 29 July 1940

28 August 1940 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX69 to the River Clyde arriving 11 September 1940

27 September 1940 sailed the River Clyde and joined escorted convoy OB220 until dispersal on 1 October 1940 then independently to Cape Town arriving 24 October 1940

25 October 1940 sailed Cape Town independently to Abadan arriving 16 November 1940

21 November 1940 sailed Abadan independently to Aden arriving 29 November 1940

3 December 1940 sailed Aden in escorted convoy BN10 to Suez arriving 10 December 1940

15 December 1940 sailed Port Said in escorted convoy MW.5B to Malta arriving 20 December 1940 – Operation HIDE

10 January 1941 sailed Malta in escorted convoy ME6 to Alexandria arriving 13 January 1941. RFA PLUMLEAF (1) also sailed in this convoy

15 September 1941 was mined N of Cromer in position 52.03N 01.20.30E, broke in two and the forepart sank although the stern section was salved and was towed into Salt End then later towed by the tugs Krooman and Stalwart and escorted by HMS’s STRATMORE and STRATGARRY with fighter protection to the River Tyne for repairs

June 1942 a new forepart was added by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend and she re-entered service for Field Tank Steamship Co Ltd., (Hunting & Son, Managers), Newcastle – name unchanged

9 January 1943 grounded twice at Murmansk but now refloated – Source Admiralty War Diary of this date – page 346

2 November 1944 and 3 November 1944 at Avant Port, Bizerte Harbour, Tunisia with USS Conasauga (AOG 15) alongside receiving a pumpover of diesel fuel – 13,057.4 barrels

18 May 1945 arrived at Oran

24 August 1945 arrived at and sailed from Bermuda

1947 owners now Northern Petroleum Tank Steamship Co Ltd., (Hunting & Son, Manager) Newcastle – name unchanged

10 April 1948 berthed at Outer East Station Pier, Melbourne from Bahrein to discharge cargo

7 May 1949 arrived Fremantle, Western Australia from Abadan to discharge cargo

11 May 1949 berthed at North Wharf, Fremantle, Western Australia for repairs

19 January 1951 berthed at Fremantle, Western Australia from Abadan

29 July 1951 sailed Sydney, NSW for the USA

20 October 1951 sailed Sydney, NSW

3 November 1951 off Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia suffered engine defects restricting the ships ability to steer. The ships Master was Captain Hooker – source Barrier Miner Newspaper, Broken Hill, NSW

23 December 1951 sailed Fremantle, Western Australia

24 April 1959 arrived Split for demolition by Brodospas