Official Number 165578
Class: 1st DALE CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: X 33 / B 507 / A 133
Laid down:
Builder: Swan Hunter, Neptune Yard, Wallsend
Launched: 5 August 1937
Into Service: September 1937
Out of service: 1960
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: Originally there were to have been 19 ships in this Class. The first 6 were purchased off the stocks from the British Tanker Co Ltd. whilst building at the instigation of the then Director of Stores, Sir William Gick, who was concerned at the age of the RFA Fleet and ships that were approaching the end of their economic lives. A further 2 ships were purchased from Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd for evaluation purposes. At the outbreak of WW2, a further 11 ships were acquired from the MoWT war programme although one of these, to have been named EPPINGDALE, which had been registered in London as EMPIRE GOLD on 21/02/43 and intended for transfer to the Admiralty for manning and management as an RFA and despite 5 Officers being appointed to her, the intended transfer was cancelled the following day and she thus never entered RFA service. 3 of this Class were converted into LSG’s and were then reconverted back into tankers at the end of the War
1936 ordered by the British Tanker Company Ltd., London
January 1937 laid down
5 August 1937 launched by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend as Yard Nr: 1516 named ARNDALE
RFA Arndale’s ships bell
6 August 1937 the Scotsman newspaper reported –
7 August 1937 the ships launch was also reported in the Times newspaper –
2 September 1937 Captain Reginald C E Neyroud RFA appointed as Master
27 September 1937 sailed on builders trials from Seaham Harbour
28 September 1937 completed
29 September 1937 maiden voyage from the Tyne – Trinidad – Gibraltar – Port Said
1 October 1937 reported by wireless she was 150 miles NW of Malin Head when on passage to Trinidad
18 December 1937 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
20 December 1937 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
1 January 1938 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
9 September 1938 arrived at the River Tyne from Portland
14 September 1938 Mr Frederick E Langer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Frederick E Langer RFA
19 September 1938 at Swan Hunters (Wallsend) , River Tyne
28 September 1938 sailed the River Tyne
3 October 1938 sailed Immigham for Scapa Flow
14 October 1938 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
18 October 1938 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for Abadan
15 December 1938 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand from Abadan
11 February 1939 Captain Thomas G Bennett RFA (Lieutenant Commander RN (rtd)) appointed as Master
20 April 1939 sailed Plymouth for the River Tyne later passing the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherines Point
25 April 1939 in refit at Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd on the Tyne together with RFA ABBEYDALE
26 April 1939 at the North Shields Board of Trade Shipping Office started signing on her crew
29 April 1939 in refit at Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd on the Tyne together with RFA ABBEYDALE
2 May 1939 at the North Shields Board of Trade Shipping Office completed signing on her crew
4 May 1939 berthed at Swan Hunter’s Yard at Wallsend on Tyne
10 May 1939 sailed on trials from Swan Hunters Yard, River Tyne returning the same day
12 May 1939 Mr Allan D Harris RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. Sailing the River Tyne for Sheerness
15 May 1939 passed Lands End for Port Said
3 August 1939 berthed at Garden Island, Sydney, NSW from Abadan
7 August 1939 sailed Garden Island, Sydney, NSW for Melbourne, Victoria
10 August 1939 arrived at Williamstown, Victoria, Australia to discharge
11 August 1939 sailed Williamstown Victoria
6 September 1939 sailed Colombo independently to Abadan arriving 15 September 1939
18 September 1939 sailed Abadan independently to Port Said arriving on 3 October 1939
11 October 1939 sailed Port Said in escorted convoy Blue.4 to Gibraltar arriving 21 October 1939
22 October 1939 sailed Gibraltar in escorted convoy HG4 to Portsmouth arriving 31 October 1939 with a cargo of FFO
31 October 1939 in collision with RFA DISTOL at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty..
2 November 1939 Captain Benjamin N Beasley RFA appointed as Master
9 November 1939 sailed Portsmouth Harbour and joined escorted convoy OA33 to dispersal then independently to Trinidad arriving on 29 November 1939
1 December 1939 sailed Trinidad independently to Halifax arriving on 11 December 1939
12 December 1939 sailed Halifax in convoy HX12 arrived Liverpool 27 December 1939.
31 December 1939 sailed the Clyde to Scapa Flow under the escort of destroyers HMS FEARLESS and HMS FURY
2 January 1940 sailed Scapa Flow independently to the Clyde arriving the next day
4 January 1940 sailed the Clyde independently to Scapa Flow arriving 6 January 1940
11 January 1940 sailed Scapa Flow independently to the Clyde arriving 13 January 1940
18 January 1940 at Greenock
25 Jan 1940 repairs Clyde
6 February 1940 sailed the Clyde independently to Liverpool arriving the next day
9 February 1940 sailed Liverpool to join convoy OGF 18 at sea onward to Gibraltar arriving on 17 February 1940 and then independently to Trinidad arriving on 27 February 1940
2 March 1940 sailed Trinidad independently to River Plate and then Port Stanley, Falkland Islands arriving on 6 April 1940
10 April 1940 sailed Port Stanley, Falkland Islands independently to Montevideo arriving 6 May 1940
7 May 1940 sailed Montevideo independently to Rio De Janeiro arriving 1 July 1940
5 July 1940 sailed Rio De Janeriro independently to Montevideo arriving 7 August 1940
August 1940 conducted OAS trials with the cruisers HMS HAWKINS and HMS CUMBERLAND in the South Atlantic
1 December 1940 sailed Trinidad independently to Montevideo arriving 30 December 1940
8 January 1941 received stocks of fuel from RFA BROOMDALE
27 April 1941 sailed Trinidad independently to Gibraltar arriving 15 May 1941
18 July 1941 sailed Gibraltar in escorted convoy HG68
5 August 1941 sailed Key West independently to New Orleans arriving 7 August 1941
30 August 1941 sailed New Orleans independently to Curacao arriving 6 September 1941
8 September 1941 request from the Admiralty to NOIC Trinidad for Arndale to sail to HMS Percival off Rio de Janerio area with sufficient 5″ hoses for RASing by the stirrup fuelling method.
6 December 1941 refuelled the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS QUEEN OF BERMUDA at an anchorage in the South Atlantic
HMS QUEEN OF BERMUDA
3 January 1942 sailed Rio De Janeiro independently to Montevideo arriving 19 January 1942
21 January 1942 sailed Montevideo independently to Rio De Janeiro arriving on 10 February 1942
14 February 1942 sailed Rio De Janeiro independently to Trinidad arriving 26 February 1942
28 February 1942 Mr Charles A Drummond RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Charles A Drummond RFA
17 March 1942 sailed Trinidad independently to New Orleans arriving 26 March 1942
26 March 1942 to 28 April 1942 at New Orleans for repairs
13 May 1942 sailed from Trinidad but had to put back for repairs
15 May 1942 sailed Trinidad independently to Cape Town arriving 9 June 1942
19 May 1942 at 8°48N 50°00W was challenged by US Atlantic Fleet Task Force 36 (USS Ranger) proved identity and was allowed to proceed
26 June 1942 sailed Cape Town independently to Mombasa arriving 9 July 1942
12 July 1942 sailed from Mombasa returning there on 23 July 1942
6 August 1942 sailed from Mombasa for Diego Suarez returning to Mombasa on 16 August 1942
1 November 1942 one of her Officers was being repatriated to the U.K., along with twenty four Ratings ex RFA GREEN RANGER and twenty nine Ratings ex RFA EAGLESDALE, aboard the MOWT troopship ss MENDOZA when the latter was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-178 in the Indian Ocean about 70 miles ENE of Durban in position 29°13S 32°13 E whilst on an independent voyage from Mombasa to Durban. Nine RFA Ratings were killed and eight were injured
11 November 1942 Captain Howard D Gausden DSO RFA appointed as Master
29 November 1942 sailed Mombasa independently to Durban arriving 11 December 1942
14 March 1943 her ex Captain, being repatriated to the U.K. aboard the Canadian Pacific liner EMPRESS OF CANADA, was killed when the latter was torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine LEONARDO DA VINCI in the South Atlantic approx 420 miles SSW of Cape Palmas in position 01°13S 09°57W whilst sailing independently on a voyage from Durban to Takoradi and the U.K
14 March 1943 at Durban Pumpman Sheik Allee Mohamed Jaffar discharged dead – liver cancer
17 March 1943 in the Admiralty War Diary the equipment of RAS equipment to an Oiler was discussed and it was suggested that RFA Arndale be so fitted during a refit –
29 June 1943 docked in the dry dock at Durban, South Africa
12 July 1943 undocked from the dry dock at Durban, South Africa
14 July 1943 Mr Harold M Pearson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 July 1943 off Durban during sea trials found necessary for additional work on main engine pistons – source Admiralty War Diary
29 August 1943 sailed Abadan to Bandar Abbas
3 September 1943 arrived at Bandar Abbas
8 September 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in unescorted convoy PB55 to Bombay arriving 14 September 1943
15 September 1943 sailed Bombay in escorted convoy BM65 to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 20 September 1943
27 September 1943 sailed Colombo, Ceylon
16 November 1943 sailed Addu Atoll in unescorted convoy XC10 to Colombo, Ceylon arriving on 19 November 1943
19 December 1943 sailed Colombo, Ceylon in unescorted convoy JC30 to Trincomalee arriving on 22 December 1943
11 March 1944 met HMS CEYLON in the Palk Straits to undertake refuelling trials. The trials were not successful
HMS CEYLON
24 March 1944 in the Indian Ocean together with RFA’s EASEDALE and EAGLESDALE and guarded by HNLMS Tromp rendezvoued with HMS’s RENOWN and QUEEN ELIZABETH, four cruisers and six destroyers to refuel
9 April 1944 sailed Trincomalee to Colombo arriving 11 April 1944
12 April 1944 sailed Colombo in unescorted convoy JC44A to Trincomalee arriving 14 April 1944
21 April 1944 refuelled USS Cummings (DD365) alongside at Trincomalee
USS Cummings (DD365)
27 April 1944 met HMS CEYLON to undertake refuelling trials using the double trough method. The trials were not successful and superficial damage was caused to the tanker
30 April 1944 sailed Trincomalee as Task Force 67, together with R.F.A.’s EAGLEDALE, ECHODALE, APPLELEAF (1), PEARLEAF (1), and BACCHUS (2), escorted by HMS LONDON (Senior Officer, Captain .V. Symonds-Taylor, DSC, RN), HMS ROTHERHAM and HMNLS VAN GALEN for Operation TRANSOM. HMS FINDHORN joined the force off the harbour entrance
30 May 1944 collision and engine defects
11 June 1944 sailed Colombo in unescorted convoy MB74C to Bombay arriving 15 June 1944
15 July 1944 repairs Brisbane
28 August 1944 in collision with the cruiser HMS CEYLON during OAS operations
15 September 1944 sailed Abadan to Bombay arriving 22 September 1944
22 September 1944 sailed Bombay to Colombo arriving 26 September 1944
26 September 1944 sailed Colombo to Trincomalee arriving 28 September 1944
3 November 1944 sailed Colombo in unescorted convoy JC66 to Trincomalee arriving 5 November 1944
20 November 1944 while on passage to Fremantle, Western Australia RASed HMAS’s TOOWOOMBA, BURNIE, MARYBOROUGH and LISMORE astern
27 November 1944 while on passage to Fremantle, Western Australia RASed HMAS’s TOOWOOMBA, BURNIE, MARYBOROUGH and LISMORE astern
1 and 2 December 1944 on passage to Fremantle, Western Australia being escorted by HMAS’s TOOWOOMBA, BURNIE, MARYBOROUGH and LISMORE
12 December 1944 at Fremantle, Western Australia with HMAS BUNBURY alongside to refuel
HMAS BUNBURY
14 December 1944 at Fremantle, Western Australia with HMAS BUNBURY alongside to refuel
21 December 1944 Mr Reginald R Darroch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Reginald R Darroch RFA
26 December 1944 sailed Gage Roads, Fremantle in company of USS Isabel (PY70) to Onslow arriving 30 December 1944
1 January 1945 sailed Exmouth Gulf to Freemantle arriving 9 January 1945
15 January 1945 sailed Fremantle to join Force 69 consisting of RFA’s ECHODALE, EMPIRE SALVAGE and WAVE KING in the Underway Replenishment Group for Force 63 – the Main Body for Operation Meridian 1 – along with an unidentified oiler and escorted by the cruiser HMS CEYLON
24 January 1945 Force 63 (supported by Force 69 which included RFA’s ECHODALE, EMPIRE SALVAGE and WAVE KING) in Operation Meridian 1 – the naval air strike on the Royal Dutch Oil Refinery at Pladjoe, the largest and most important oil refinery in the Far East
29 January 1945 Operation Meridian 11- Force 63 supported by an underway replenishment group – conducted a second strike against the Standard Oil Refinery at Soengi Gerong, the second largest refinery in the Far East
15 January 1945 sailed Fremantle to join Force 69 in Operation Meridian returning to Freemantle on 7 February 1945
6 February 1945 Captain Percivale H Brooke RFA appointed as Master
Captain Percivale H Brooke RFA
9 February 1945 sailed Fremantle to Sydney NSW arriving 18 February 1945
27 February 1945 sailed Sydney NSW escorted to Manus, the American base in the Admiralty Islands, in company with RFA WAVE KING arriving 9 March 1945
15 March 1945 British Pacific Fleet, re-titled as Task Force 57 took part in Operation Iceberg – the invasion of Okinawa – RFA ARNDALE and six other RFA’s attached. Also refuelled HMAS’s LAUNCESTON and PIRIE alongside
HMAS LAUNCESTON
19 March 1945 sailed Manus in company of RFA WAVE KING and RFA BACCHUS (2) to Leyte arriving 26 March 1945
28 March 1945 to 30 March 1945 in spite of defects the overworked and undermanned oilers with inexperienced crews supported Task Force 112 with seven replenishment sorties. Other RFA’s involved were RFA’s BACCHUS (2) (distilling ship), BROWN RANGER (water tanker), CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH
29 March 1945 together with RFA DINGLEDALE sailed from Leyte to area ‘Midge’ escorted by HMAS PIRIE
5 April 1945 during Operation Iceberg at 19°14N 125°57E at sea HMS BLACK PRINCE keeping station on her. Then together with RFA WAVE KING escorted by HMAS PIRIE back to Leyte
23 April 1945 at Leyte Gulf with HMS BLACK PRINCE alongside to be refuelled
23 April 1945 to 30 April 1945 with the British Pacific Fleet and the Fleet Train at San Pedro Bay for rest, maintenance and storing
May 1945 took part in Operation Iceberg (2) during which nine oilers made eighteen sorties and refuelled the British Pacific Fleet on five occasions
10 May 1945 and 11 May 1945 refuelled HMAS NEPAL supplying 75 tons of FFO and HMS EURYALUS astern
12 May 1945 HMS WOODCOCK provided air defence for HMS SPEAKER, HMS RULER, tankers RFA ARNDALE, AASE MARSK, SAN AMADO and RFA DINGLEDALE, with destroyer HMS NEPAL, sloop HMS PHEASANT and Royal Australian Navy minesweepers.
15 May 1945 with Fleet Train in Area COOTIE RASing BPF ships with RN Frigates HMS WOODCOCK, HMS PHEASANT, Destroyers HMAS NIZAM, Escort Carriers HMS RULER and HMS STRIKER for defence of Fleet Train tankers RFA DINGLEDALE RFA ARNDALE, RFA WAVE KING and RFA WAVE MONARCH (Operation ICEBERG TWO)
20 May 1945 sailed Leyte under escort to Manus arriving 28 May 1945
30 May 1945 reported by the Naval Officer in charge at Manus that ARNDALE was in port this day together with RFA’s BACCHUS (2), FORT DUNVEGAN, BROWN RANGER, GREEN RANGER, CEDARDALE, RAPIDOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH
6 June 1945 sailed Manus to Brisbane arriving 15 June 1945
12 June 1945 Fourth Engineer Officer Samuel Teversham RFA discharged dead – accidentally shot in the neck
August 1945 attached to the British Pacific Fleet along with RFA’s BACCHUS (2), BISHOPDALE, BROWN RANGER, CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, EASEDALE, GREEN RANGER, RAPIDOL, SERBOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE GOVERNOR, WAVE KING, WAVE MONARCH plus HMS (later RFA) OLNA
August 1945 badly damaged by fire – repaired at Brisbane.
20 September 1945 sailed Brisbane independently to Manus arriving 29 September 1945
28 September 1945 before arrival at Manus in radio contact with HMAS WARRAMUNGA
30 September 1945 sailed Manus independently to Hong Kong arriving 14 October 1945
2 December 1945 sailed Kilindri for Durban
2 January 1946 Seaman Ali Saleman discharged dead. He is remembered with pride on the Forces Memorial Wall, Niche 42SA of Rookwood Crematorium, Sydney, NSW, Australia
3 March 1946 sailed Gibraltar to the Tyne arriving 11 March 1946
13 March 1946 to 12 June 1946 refit on the Tyne at Swan Hunters (Walker)
26 March 1946 Flag Officer Western Area BPF signalled ‘Glad to observe the very smart appearance of Arndale when alongside Ason. The ship is a picture and does you all credit’
12 June 1946 sailed the Tyne for Port Said arriving 27 June 1946
1 July 1946 sailed Port Said to Aden arrived 9 July 1946 and then to Abadan
19 July 1946 sailed Abadan to Singapore arrived 4 August 1946
18 August 1946 sailed Singapore to Abadan arriving 3 September 1946
5 September 1946 sailed Abadan to Trincomalee arriving 16 September 1946
28 September 1946 sailed Trincomalee to Abadan arriving 9 October 1946
10 October 1946 sailed Abadan to Malta arrived 29 October 1946
4 November 1946 sailed Malta to Abadan arriving about 22 November 1946
23 November 1946 sailed Abadan for Singapore but didn’r arrive there as planned
27 November 1946 at Bandar Abbas for engine repairs which were completed by 29 November 1946
25 March 1947 while on passage from Abadan to Devonport passed Gibraltar this day
9 August 1947 at 31°55N 44°43W at sea Pumpman Abbas Baba discharged dead having suffered a suspected heart attack
19 August 1947 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
4 October 1947 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
29 October 1947 reported that the ship had allegedly caused damage when entering Newport Docks on 28 October 1947
29 November 1947 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
15 December 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard west bound
16 December 1947 Captain Frank A Shaw RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
22 December 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard steaming west bound
18 May 1948 at Plymouth. Mr Ronald C Putt RFA appointed as Relief Chief Engineer Officer
20 May 1948 Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA appointed as Master
Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA
13 July 1948 on passage from Plymouth to Abadan reached Port Said this day
20 July 1948 sailed Aden for Abadan
3 September 1948 while on passage from Devonport to Abadan passed Gibraltar this day
10 Setember 1948 arrived at Port Said
15 September 1948 sailed Suez for Abadan
27 September 1948 berthed at Abadan
31 March 1949 sailed Port Said
12 June 1949 Captain William B Browne OBE RFA appointed as Master
10 July 1949 Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appointed as Master
12 July 1949 Mr Alexander Ballantyne OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 October 1949 Captain Robert H Venning RFA appointed as Master
29 November 1949 sailed from Curaçao for LEFO
13 July 1950 arrived at Abadan
1 August 1950 arrived at Suez
10 August 1950 Captain Thomas Elder DSC RFA appointed as Master
11 August 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
12 August 1950 Mr John C Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 August 1950 passed Flamborough Head sailing north bound
25 October 1950 sailed from the River Tyne
1 November 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
5 November 1950 sailed from Malta
9 November 1950 arrived at Port Said
10 November 1950 sailed Suez
25 November 1950 sailed Abadan for Aden
6 December 1950 sailed Aden for Abadan
14 December 1950 arrived at Abadan
1 January 1951 sailed from Port Said
13 January 1951 sailed Gibraltar for Trinidad
2 March 1951 sailed Trinidad for Bermuda
9 March 1951 arrived Bermuda
13 March 1951 sailed Bermuda for Trinidad
19 March 1951 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
22 April 1951 arrived at Port Said
11 May 1951 arrived at Abadan
13 May 1951 sailed from Abadan
3 June 1951 arrived at Singapore
7 June 1951 sailed from Singapore
29 June 1951 anchored at the Abadan Bar
11 July 1951 arrived at Aden
5 August 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west for Invergordon
23 August 1951 Captain James H Chant RFA appointed as Master
21 September 1951 sailed Curaçao
16 October 1951 arrived at the River Tyne from Lyness
25 October 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
31 October 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
11 November 1951 Mr Harry G May RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 November 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
30 November 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
1 December 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
3 December 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
6 December 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
20 December 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
28 December 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
10 January 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
15 January 1952 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
19 January 1952 radioed she was in need of assistance in heavy weather while in the North Sea off the East coast of Scotland but when a destroyer reached her she reported she was out of danger. Her engine room was flooded. Taken in tow arriving at Rosyth Dockyard on 21 January 1952. The Portsmouth Evening News newspaper reported –
21 January 1952 the Sunderland Daily Echo reported –
23 February 1952 at Imperial Dock, Leith Lascar 2nd Class Hussain Dawood discharged dead – he suffered a heart attack
30 March 1952 at Leith Pumpman Abdool Oosman discharged dead – he suffered a heart attack
1 April 1952 Mr J Edge RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 September 1952 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
20 September 1952 arrived at Portsmouth
15 November 1952 Captain Edmund H Butterworth RFA appointed as Master
Captain Edmund H Butterworth RFA
7 March 1953 sailed Singapore Roads for Colombo, Ceylon
14 March 1953 sailed Colomo, Ceylon for Mena Al Ahmadi
24 March 1953 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Antwerp
7 April 1953 sailed from Suez
23 April 1953 arrived at Antwerp
29 April 1953 sailed from Antwerp
1 May 1953 in refit at Hebburn on Tyne
2 May 1953 berthed at the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne
9 May 1953 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
19 May 1953 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
4 July 1953 still in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA OLNA (2) & RFA WAVE VICTOR
7 July 1953 still in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA OLNA (2) & RFA WAVE VICTOR
11 July 1953 still in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA OLNA (2) & RFA WAVE VICTOR
14 July 1953 still in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA OLNA (2)
30 July 1953 still in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA OLNA (2)
11 August 1953 alongside at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s ROBERT DUNDAS and OLNA (2)
22 October 1953 still in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne at the same time as RFA’s WAVE KNIGHT (1) and WAVE MASTER
2 November 1953 Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 November 1953 still in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne at the same time as RFA’s WAVE KNIGHT (1)
9 November 1953 sailed the River Tyne for Grangemouth
12 February 1954 arrived at Bahrein from Swansea
7 June 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound
2 October 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
9 November 1954 Captain Frank P Hennin OBE RFA appointed as Master
21 November 1954 Mr A J Daniel RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
January 1955 to February 1956 on charter to London Overseas Freighters Ltd, London
10 January 1955 Captain F G Edwards RFA appointed as Master
11 January 1955 Mr William H Macfarlane MIMarE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 February 1955 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi for Gibraltar
9 March 1955 arrived at Spezia
13 March 1955 sailed from Spezia
31 March 1955 arrived at Bombay
3 April 1955 sailed from Bombay
11 April 1955 arrived Mena Al Ahmadi
18 April 1955 arrived Aden
25 April 1955 arrived at Suez
26 April 1955 sailed from Port Said
9 May 1955 Mr Reginald R Darroch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 May 1955 arrived at Stanlow
24 May 1955 sailed the River Tees for the USA via Ymuiden
27 May 1955 sailed Ymuiden for Willimington
26 June 1955 sailed Galveston for Curaçao
4 July 1955 arrived at Curaçao
1 August 1955 arrived New York
1 September 1955 sailed Trinidad for Las Palmas
2 October 1955 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
13 February 1956 arrived at the River Tyne from Sheerness
15 February 1956 discharged the crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
28 February 1956 Captain A H Mackenzie RFA appointed as Master
13 March 1956 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne with RFA’s ECHODALE and SURF PIONEER
31 March 1956 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne with RFA SURF PIONEER
10 April 1956 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing southbound. Signalled she was bound for Curaçao
3 June 1956 arrived at Trinidad
28 June 1956 anchored off Spurn Head
6 November 1956 Mr E Smeaton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 November 1956 Mr T H Purvis RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 March 1957 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
2 November 1957 Mr T J W Humphrey RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 November 1957 discharged her crew at the North Shields Shipping Marine Office
7November 1957 engaged a crew at the North Shields Shipping Marine Office
16 November 1957 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne – refit
21 March 1958 sailed from Plymouth Sound to No: 5 wharf in Devonport Dockyard and berthed on HMS CUMBERLAND
24 March 1958 sailed from No: 5 wharf in Devonport Dockyard on HMS CUMBERLAND to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
27 March 1958 sailed from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
10 October 1958 Mr W Ditchburn RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 December 1958 arrived the River Tyne and berthed on the tank cleaning berth
6 Janaury 1959 berthed at the Wallsend Shipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
12 January 1959 Captain George Robson RFA appointed as Master
29 January 1959 at the North Shields Shipping Office, River Tyne engaged officers
31 January 1959 berthed at the Wallsend Shipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
12 August 1959 at Rosyth
31 August 1959 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
4 December 1959 advertised for sale ‘as lying’ at Rosyth Dockyard by the Ministry of Transport in the Times newspaper of this day
March 1960 sold to Belgian breakers
12 April 1960 arrived at Willebroek, Belgium for breaking up by Sadeica Cie Anonyme. Brussels
Notes:
1. She was originally destined to be one of a Class of what was to become 93 tankers over a 15 year period, the lead ship of this Class being launched at Newcastle as BRITISH FAMEon19 June 1936
2. A member of the British Pacific Fleet – hence the ‘B’ pennant number