Official Number:                      164444

Builder:                                   Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn

Launched:                               2 February 1935

Pennant No:                            B520

Into Service:                            1939

Out of service:                         1945

Fate:                                        1957 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:

2 February 1935 launched by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd., Hebburn as Yard Nr: 593 named SAN AMBROSIO for Eagle Oil & Shipping Co Ltd., London. The same day the Sunderland Daily Echo reported …

April 1935 completed

16 April 1935 sailed from the River Tyne for sea trials

17 April 1935 arrived at the River Tyne back from sea trials

18 April 1935 sailed from the River Tyne for Tampico

28 May 1935 at Hull

17 August 1935 sailed from Aruba

7 September 1935 sailed from Plymouth for Puerto Mexico

15 December 1935 sailed Avonmouth for Plymouth

12 February 1936 sailed Avonmouth

11 March 1936 sailed Panama for Antofagasta, Chile

15 May 1936 sailed Aruba for Avonmouth

31 May 1936 berthed at Avonmouth

29 September 1936 at San Francisco

21 February 1937 berthed at Sheerness from Tampico with 3 DBS passengers

4 June 1937 berthed at Jarrow Oil Wharf, River Tyne from San Pedro

31 August 1937 sailed Avonmouth

24 November 1937 berthed at Preston from Avonmouth and Aruba

27 December 1937 while on passage loaded with gasoline off San Nicholas lost end tailshaft and propellor. Drifted. Radioed for assistance and was towed by the steamer Renata to Druifbaai, Aruba where she waited for towage to San Nicholas, Aruba

16 February 1938 at Manchester

25 March 1938 on passage to Aruba

18 June 1938 was 27 miles south of Lands end on passage to Los Angeles

14 July 1938 sailed from Los Angeles for the Panama Canal

21 July 1938 sailed Panama for the Lizard for orders

12 September 1938 sailed San Pedro for LEFO

19 November 1938 at San Francisco

16 December 1938 arrived at Avonmouth from San Francisco

24 December 1938 sailed from Preston for Curaçao

25 January 1939 passed Dover

17 February 1939 sailed the River Tyne for Texas City

1 May 1939 sailed Curaçao for Stockholm

13 July 1939 the Liverpool Daily Post reported –

19 July 1939 arrived at Falmouth

1939 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as an Escort Oiler and did valuable service on the Russian Convoys

25 September 1939 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy OB10 until dispersal on 28 September 1939 and then independently to Curaçao arriving on 12 October 1939

15 October 1939 sailed Curaçao independently to Halifax arriving on 25 October 1939

31 October 1939 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HXF7 to Liverpool arriving on 12 November 1939

22 November 1939 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy OB39 until dispersal on 25 November 1939 at 49.58°N 15.41°W and then independently to New York arriving on 7 December 1939

12 December 1939 sailed New York independently to Halifax arriving on 15 December 1939

19 December 1939 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HXF13 to the Clyde arriving on 30 December 1939

7 January 1940 sailed the Clyde independently to Eastham Locks arriving the next day

16 January 1940 sailed Manchester to Eastham Locks

20 January 1940 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy OB76 until disperal on 23 January 1940 and then independently to New York arriving on 8 February 1940

15 February 1940 sailed New York independently to Halifax arriving on 18 February 1940

22 February 1940 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX22 to Liverpool arriving on 9 March 1940

15 March 1940 sailed Eastham Locks

13 April 1940 sailed Liverpool but put back

14 April 1940 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy OB129 until dispersal on 18 April 1940 and then independently to Curaçao arriving on 30 April 1940

3 May 1940 sailed Curaçao independently to Bermuda arriving on 9 May 1940

11 May 1940 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX42 to Halifax where the convoy joined escorted convoy HX42 to Portland arriving 29 May 1940

31 May 1940 sailed Portland independently to London arriving 1 June 1940

7 June 1940 sailed Southend in convoy OA163GF to Falmouth arriving 9 June 1940

24 June 1940 in collision with mv Standella

5 July 1940 sailed Falmouth joining convoy OA178 from Southend until dispersal on 6 July 1940 and then independently to Aruba

24 July 1940 sailed Aruba independently to Bermuda arriving 29 July 1940

30 July 1940 sailed Bermuda 30 July 1940 to Halifax arriving 2 August 1940

16 October 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX81 to Milford Haven arriving 2 November 1940

2 November 1940 sailed Milford Haven independently to Swansea arriving 4 November 1940

13 November 1940 sailed Swansea independently to Avonmouth arriving the next day

14 November 1940 under repair

12 December 1940 sailed Avonmouth independently to Milford Haven

18 December 1940 sailed Milford Haven joining Liverpool convoy OB261 until dispersal on 22 December 1940 and then independently to Curaçao arriving 5 January 1941

8 January 1941 sailed Curaçao independently to Bermuda arriving 14 January 1941

21 January 1941 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX104 to Liverpool arriving 9 February 1941. RFA DARKDALE also sailed in this convoy

20 February 1941 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy OB289 until dispersal on the 24 February 1941 and the independently to Halifax arriving 5 March 1941

6 March 1941 sailed Halifax independently to Curacao arriving on 14 March 1941

15 March 1941 sailed Curaçao independently to Halifax arriving 24 March 1941

27 March 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX117 to the Clyde arriving 15 April 1941 with a cargo of Diesol

23 April 1941 sailed the Clyde and joined escorted convoy OB314 from Liverpool until dispersal on 30 APril 1941 and then independently to Aruba arriving 14 May 1941

15 May 1941 sailed Aruba independently to Bermuda arriving 21 May 1941

25 May 1941 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX129 which joined escorted convoy HX129 on 31 May 1941 thence to Liverpool with a cargo of gas oil which arrived 12 June 1941

21 June 1941 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy OB338 until dispersal on the 3 July 1941 thence independently to New York arriving 7 July 1941. RFA DARKDALE also sailed in this convoy

9 July 1941 sailed New York independently to Halifax arriving on 12 July 1941

16 July 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX139 to Liverpool arriving 31 July 1941

6 August 1941 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON5 until dispersal on 14 August 1941 and thence independently to Mobile, Alabama arriving 26 August 1941

26 August 1941 sailed Mobil, Alabama independently to New Orleans arriving 15 September 1941

17 September 1941 sailed New Orleans independently to Halifax arriving 27 September 1941

28 September 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX152 to Liverpool arriving 14 October 1941 with a cargo of petrol

22 October 1941 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON29 to Reykjavik, Iceland arriving on 29 October 1941

9 November 1941 sailed Hvalfjord in convoy PQ3 escorted by HMS’s HAMLET and MACBETH to Archangel arriving 22 November 1941

November 1941 the Admiralty War Diary reported on page 1028 from HMS GOSSAMER that –

26 December 1941 sailed Archangel in escorted convoy QP4 returning to Archangel thence to Murmansk

13 January 1942 sailed Murmansk in escorted convoy QP5 until dispersal on 19 January 1942 thence independently to Reykjavik, Iceland arriving 24 January 194

21 February 1942 sailed Hvalfjord independently to Reykjavik, Iceland

10 February 1942 sailed Reykjavik, Iceland joining in escorted convoy ON65 from Liverpool until dispersal on 19 February 1941 thence independently to Mobile, Alabama arriving 6 March 1942

18 October 1942 sailed Scapa Flow escorted by HMS CHIDDINGFOLD for Sedisfjordur, Iceland

24 October 1942 arrived at Sedisfjordur, Iceland

27 November 1942 at Sedisfjordur, Iceland with tanker Culpepper alongside receiving a pump over

30 November 1942 sailed Sedisfjordur, Iceland to Scapa Flow arriving 3 December 1942 – was escorted by HMS BRITOMART

5 December 1942 sailed under escort from Scapa Flow to the Clyde arriving 7 December 1942

19 Decenber 1942 sailed the Clyde and joined escorted convoy ON155 to New York as escort oiler arriving 6 January 1943

14 January 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX223 to the Clyde as escort oiler arriving 1 February 1943

15 February 1943 sailed the Clyde and joined escorted convoy UC1 to Curaçao arriving 6 March 1943

12 March 1943 sailed Curaçao in unescorted convoy TAG47 to Guantanamo arriving 15 March 1943

15 March 1943 sailed Guantanamo in unescorted convoy GN47 to New York arriving 23 March 1943

25 March 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX231 to Londonderry arriving 9 April 1943

13 April 1943 sailed Londonderry joining escorted convoy ON178 to New York as escort oiler arriving 2 May 1943

7 May 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX238 to the Clyde as escort oiler arriving 22 May 1943

24 May 1943 sailed the Clyde joining escorted convoy ON186 to New York as escort oiler arriving 7 June 1943

4 June 1943 Captain Frederick A Kennett appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Civil Division and Storekeeper William Wright awarded the British Empire Medal – Civil Division both in the Birthday Honours List 1943. Details published in the London Gazette of this day

Captain Fred A Kennett OBE

8 July 1943 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX247 to the Clyde as escort oiler arriving 22 July 1943

25 July 1943 sailed the Clyde joining escorted convoy ON194 to New York as escort oiler arriving 7 August 1943

6 August 1943 while on passage in convoy ON194 was in collision with British ship Accrington

13 August 1943 sailed New York independently to Hampton Roads arriving the next day

16 August 1943 sailed Hampton Roads in escorted convoy UGS15 to Bizerta arriving 6 September 1943

9 September 1943 sailed Bizerta

15 September 1943 at Palermo Harbour, Sicily with USS Benson (DD421) alongside being refuelled – she received 32,362 gallons of FFO

16 January 1944 sailed the Clyde for Milford Haven arriving 18 January 1944

19 January 1944 sailed Milford Haven for the Clyde for repairs

13 February 1944 sailed Greenock

2 March 1944 sailed in escorted convoy RA57 to Kola Inlet.  Acted during this convoy as one of the two escort oilers

11 March 1944 sailed Loch Ewe

15 March 1944 sailed Greenock for the Clyde anchorage

27 April 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX289 to Liverpool arriving 13 May 1944. Acted during this convoy as one of the escort oilers

10 June 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX295 to Liverpool arriving 24 June 1944. Acted during this convoy as one of the escort oilers. RFA EMPIRE SALVAGE also sailed in this convoy

27 June 1944 sailed from Falmouth in unescorted convoy ECM16 to Seine Bay arriving the next day

23 July 1944 sailed Boston in unescorted convoy BX117 to Halifax arriving 25 July 1944

10 August 1944 sailed Loch Ewe in unescorted convoy WN619 to Methil arriving 12 August 1944

13 August 1944 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS1543 to Southend arriving 15 August 1944

13 March 1945 berthed at Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands

17 March 1945 deployed from Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands with RFA CEDARDALE and requisitioned tanker San Adolopho as Task Unit 112.12 escorted by HMS’s WHIRLWIND, FINDHORN and CRANE

28 March 1945 RASed with HMS VICTORIOUS supplying 350 gallons of petrol and 623 tons of FFO

14 April 1945 during Operation Iceberg at 21°05N 128°29E alongside HMS BLACK PRINCE to refuel her

HMS BLACK PRINCE

30 May 1945 at Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands alongside HMS HOWE to refuel her with RFA GREEN RANGER on the battleships other side also refuelling her

30 June 1945 at Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands

31 July 1945 sailed Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands with Requisition Auxiliary San Adolfo escorted by HMAS’s GERALDTON, IPSWICH and HMS USK to rendevouz with HMS PHESANT at 36.50N 152.00E on 8 August 1945

13 August 1945 together with RFA WAVE EMPEROR, HMS OLNA (to later become RFA OLNA (2)) and requisitioned tankers San Adolpho and San Amado RASed HMS’s RULER, CRANE, PHEASANT, FINDHORN, USK and BARLE together with RAN units. This was to become the final RAS of units of the British Pacific Fleet during War Operations

29 August 1945 sailed Leyte Gulf escorted by HMAS BURNIE for Subic Bay

1 September 1945 arrived Subic Bay escorted by HMAS BURNIE, sailing the same day for Hong Kong

4 September 1945 arrived Hong Kong

9 September 1945 off Kowloon, Hong Kong with HMAS LAUNCESTON alongside being refuelled

HMAS LAUNCESTON

15 September 1945 at Hong Kong with HMAS BENDIGO alongside to refuel

HMAS BENDIGO

19 September 1945 arrived Subic Bay

30 September 1945 at Hong Kong with HMAS BURNIE alongside to refuel

10 October 1945 off Kowloon, Hong Kong with HMAS LAUNCESTON alongside being refuelled

3 December 1945 sailed Hong Kong independently to Singapore arriving 10 December 1945

11 December 1945 sailed Singapore independently to Abadan arriving 26 December 1945

28 December 1945 sailed Abadan to Colombo arriving 9 January 1946

13 January 1946 sailed Colombo

14 January 1946 at noon at Colombo returned to the ships owners Eagle Oil & Co

25 January 1946 sailed Abadan

2 February 1946 passed Aden

8 February 1946 arrived Suez sailing the same day for Canal transit and arriving at Port Said 9 February 1946

17 February 1946 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound

23 February 1946 sailed the Downs to Sheerness assiving the same day

3 March 1946 sailed Sheerness to the River Tyne arriving the next day for repairs

21 March 1946 berthed in Middle Docks, River Tyne

7 June 1946 sailed the River Tyne to Houston, Texas arriving 28 June 1946

11 June 1946 Signalman John Stuart Royal Navy D/JX340814 awarded a Mention in Despatches in the Wind-up of the war in the Far East. Details published in the London Gazette of this day

24 June 1946 Carpenter Edwin C A Rogers awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) in the Birthday Honours List 1946 published in the London Gazette of this day

30 June 1946 sailed Houston for Hamburg, Germany

18 July 1946 passed Dover

23 July 1946 sailed Hamburg, Germany

25 July 1946 passed St Catherine’s Point

8 August 1946 arrived at Aruba

10 August 1946 sailed Aruba to Curaçao

13 August 1946 sailed Curaçao

1 October 1946 Captain Albert R Hicks and Chief Engineer Officer James McD Sayer both appointed as Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Civil Division and 1st Officer Ronal Auric appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) – Civil Division published in the London Gazette of this day

Captain Albert R Hicks OBE

8 October 1946 Pumpman Joseph J Davis, Bosun Jack Nichol and Second Officer Geoffrey W Pollard all awarded a Mentioned in Despatches for the wind up of the war in the Far East. Details published in the London Gazette of this day

4 November 1946 at Haifa

21 November 1946 sailed Haifa for Port Said

22 December 1946 sailed from Port Said

11 January 1947 the Falkirk Herald newspaper reported on Court proceedings involving a crew member from the ship

28 January 1947 berthed in Middle Dock, River Tyne

11 June 1947 sailed Bowling

27 August 1947 while bound for Hamburg set off a mine near the entrance to the River Elbe. Her engines were put out of action and she had to be towed into port

20 May 1948 arrived at Houston, Texas from the River Tyne

20 September 1948  sailed Curaçao for LEFO

9 April 1949 arrived at Abadan

1 May 1949 passed Gibraltar

1 August 1949 sailed Abo for Helsinki

8 April 1950 at Greenwells Quay, Sunderland

25 April 1950 sailed Hartlepool for Curaçao

10 July 1950 arrived at Curaçao

10 April 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound

15 November 1951 sailed Curaçao for Bergen

31 January 1952 arrived at the River Tyne berthing on Middle Docks Ltd.

22 April 1952 sailed the River Tyne for Curaçao

26 December 1953 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound

5 July 1956 berthed at Swan Hunter, Walker, River Tyne

13 October 1957 arrived Preston for demolition by T.W. Ward Ltd

Note: – Was part of the British Pacific Fleet hence the ‘B’ Pennant number