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Official Number: 166345
Laid down:
Builder: Odense Staalskibsvaerft ved A P Moller, Odense
Launched: 9 October 1937
Into Service: 1939
Out of service: 1945
Fate: 23 May 1953 broken up in Japan
Background Data: One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 to augment the ships of the RFA.
Career Details:
9 October 1937 launched by Odense Staalskibsvaerft ved A P Moller, Odense as Yard Nr: 67 named Sovac for Standard Transportation Co Ltd., London
January 1938 completed
1939 – 1945 requisitioned for Admiralty service and served as an Escort Oiler name unchanged but owners now Socony-Vacuum Transportation Co Ltd., London
15 September 1939 sailed Galveston independently to New Orleans arriving the next day
23 February 1941 sailed Liverpool in convoy OB290
26 February 1941 with other shipping of convoy OB290 attacked and bombed by six aircraft at 54N 17W. Damaged but continued on voyage. Reported in the Admiralty War Diary of the day on page 400
27 February 1941 convoy ON290 dispersed and thence sailed independently to Philadelphia arriving 12 March 1941
26 November 1943 sailed New York in convoy HX268 carrying 60 spare depth charges for the escort. Suffered engine defects and returned arriving New York 27 November 1943
10 October 1944 sailed New York in convoy HX313, carrying spare depth charges for the escort, to Liverpool arriving 24 October 1944. Suffered weather damage to one lifeboat and davit. Numerous ships in this convoy suffered damage or loss of ships equipment or cargo through the bad weather. Fully reported in the Admiralty War Diary of 22 October 1944 on page 657
29 August 1945 near Harbour of Refuge in Delaware Bay sighted a body floating at sea. Reported to US Naval authorities who recovered the body – a pilot from a local Naval Air Station who had crashed into the sea on 13 August 1945
23 May 1953 arrived Shimizu for demolition by Japanese ship breakers