Previous name: Shell Dezoito
Subsequent name: Berta CSM
Official Number: 167387
Class: Fleet Attendant Oiler
Pennant No:
Signal Letters: GDMG
Laid down:
Builder: Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Launched: 30 June 1927
Into Service: 16 January 1940
Out of service: 29 September 1945
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: She was originally one of thirty ships in a Class which became known as “mosquitoes” which were designed for service on Lake Maracaibo with trunk decks and a small bridge amidships. She became one of the miscellaneous craft acquired by the Admiralty during WW2 and was mainly employed in the Plymouth area. She was returned to commercial owners at the end of hostilities
30 June 1927 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast as Yard Nr: 798 named BERTA for Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London
14 July 1927 completed and transferred to N.V. Curacaosche Scheepvaart Maatschappij, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles
12 July 1938 sailed from Blyth
9 October 1938 berthed at King Georges Wharf, Dundee
1939 transferred to Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co (Lisbon) and renamed SHELL DEZOITO
21 May 1939 sailed Curaçao for Falmouth arriving 11 June 1939
8 July 1939 sailed Falmouth to Lisbon to be used as a bunkering vessel there
5 December 1939 sailed Lisbon to Falmouth arriving 10 December 1939
3 January 1940 in refit at Falmouth
12 January 1940 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Fleet Attendant Oiler under RFA manning
15 January 1940 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 21 May 1940 when injured by enemy bombing
Chief Engineer Officer Frederick O Brims RFA
16 January 1940 was renamed RFA Berta
18 January 1940 at Falmouth Captain Alfred Edmonds RFA appointed as Master
23 January 1940 sailed Falmouth to Devonport at the end of her refit
1 February 1940 sailed Plymouth to Dover arriving the next day
9 February 1940 sailed Dover to Plymouth arriving the next day
14 February 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
19 February 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
20 February 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Portsmouth to Dover arriving 22 February 1940
2 March 1940 sailed from Dover to Portsmouth Harbour arriving the next day
4 March 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to Dover arriving the next day
15 March 1940 sailed from Dover to Portsmouth Harbour arriving the same day
17 March 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to Dover arriving the next day
24 March 1940 sailed from Dover to Portsmouth Harbour arriving the next day
26 March 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to Dover arriving the next day
7 April 1940 sailed from Dover to Portsmouth Harbour arriving the next day
9 April 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to Dover arriving the same day
10 April 1940 sailed from Dover to Portsmouth Harbour arriving the next day
12 April 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to Dover arriving the same day
14 April 1940 sailed from Dover to Portsmouth arriving the same day
15 April 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to Dover arriving on 16 April 1940
17 April 1940 sailed from Dover to Portsmouth Harbour arriving the next day
22 April 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
26 April 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
1 May 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
11 May 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
13 May 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
15 May 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 May 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
20 May 1940 bombed off Beachy Head and damaged – Chief Engineer Officer injured – discharged from ship
21 May 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
23 May 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
25 May 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
3 June 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
18 June 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
21 June 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
25 June 1940 Captain Percivale H Brooke RFA appointed as Master
Captain Percivale H Brooke RFA
28 June 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
25 October 1940 Mr William H A Lawson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William H A Lawson RFA
16 December 1940 at Plymouth Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appointed as Master
22 February 1941 at Dartmouth Captain William Curlett RFA appointed as Master
25 February 1941 at Plymouth Captain Albert V Barton RFA appointed as Master
Captain Albert V Barton RFA
1941 Captain Stanley C Kernick RFA appointed as Master
18 April 1941 sailed Dartmouth for Belfast Lough arriving on 20 April 1941
20 April 1941 sailed Belfast Lough to Glasgow arriving on 3 May 1941
6 May 1941 to 27 May 1941 at Dartmouth
20 May 1941 at Dartmouth Captain Howard D Gausden RFA appointed as Master
Captain Howard D Gausden RFA
(early in his career)
25 July 1941 sailed Dartmouth to Plymouth arriving the same day
28 July 1941 sailed Plymouth to Dartmouth arriving the same day
3 September 1941 Captain Thomas G Bennett MID RFA (Lieutenant Commander RN (ret)) appointed as Master
15 September 1941 Mr William E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William E Burke RFA
18 September 1941 at Dartmouth, Devon as ‘harbour oiler’ during bombing raid. Ship not hit but a lighter was sunk and numerous casualties ashore and one at BRNC
4 October 1941 sailed Dartmouth to Plymouth arriving the 6 October 1941
7 October 1941 sailed Plymouth to Dartmouth arriving the same day
21 December 1941 Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master
12 February 1942 sailed Plymouth for Dartmouth then back to Plymouth again arriving on 15 February 1942
17 February 1942 sailed Plymouth to Dartmouth arriving the next day
9 March 1942 sailed Dartmouth to Plymouth arriving the same day
16 July 1942 sailed Dartmouth to Plymouth arriving the next day
18 September 1942 while moored close to the RN College suffered the effects of a German air raid. The air raid caused one coal hulk to sink, a collier and a ML to be damaged and Berta to report that diesel oil and fuel oil had contaminated each other and water was found to have contaminated both. Source Admiralty War Diary for this day
23 December 1942 at Plymouth Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master
Captain William H Green RFA
17 April 1943 at Dartmouth Captain Sydney T Dunster RFA appointed as Master
21 April 1943 Mr James Wade-Thomas RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RNR (Ret)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 28 April 1944
24 August 1943 at Dartmouth Captain Charles F Smith RFA appointed as Master until 26 August 1943 – placed on leave and discharged as medically unfit for further service
Captain Charles F Smith RFA
7 September 1943 at Dartmouth Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA appointed as Master until 25 November 1943 when he took command of RFA Echodale
Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA
14 October 1943 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 6 November 1943
7 December 1943 at Dartmouth Captain Herbert W Flint RFA appointed as Master
20 January 1944 at Plymouth
1 February 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon Donkeyman Greaser William John Lawrence RFA, who had signed on on 3 January 1944, was discharged sick to his home address and later admitted to Redruth Hospital where he died on 7 July 1946. He was buried in Saint Illogan Parish Churchyard, Illogan, Cornwall
11 February 1944 to 13 February 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC 552 moored alongside
USS PC 552
17 February 1944 to 19 February 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC 552 moored alongside
6 March 1944 to 8 March 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC 552 moored alongside
19 March 1944 to 21 March 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC 552 moored alongside
23 March 1944 to 29 March 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC 552 moored alongside
31 March 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC 552 moored alongside
17 April 1944 to 18 April 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon with USS PC552 moored alongside
22 April 1944 to 25 April 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon with USS PC552 moored alongside
26 April 1944 to 27 April 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon with USS PC552 moored alongside. USS PC552 sailed to undertake convoy escort at 17:45hrs 27 April 1944
28 April 1944 Mr Graham W Martin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 5 July 1944
Chief Engineer Officer Graham W Martin RFA
28 April 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC552 returned from convoy escort duty and moored alongside until 30 April 1944
5 May 1944 to 8 May 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC 552 moored alongside
26 May 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC 619 moored alongside
1 June 1944 and 2 June 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC619 moored alongside
3 June 1944 at Dartmouth, Devon USS PC 552 and USS PC 619 moored alongside and refuelled
5 July 1944 at Falmouth
17 August 1944 at Carrick Roads, Falmouth USS McCormick (DE223) moored alongside to be refuelled
8 September 1944 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master
16 December 1944 at Milford Haven Captain Stanley C Kernick RFA appointed as Master and USS Earl K Olsen (DE765) moored alongside to be refuelled
31 December 1944 at Milford Haven USS Dale W Peterson (DE337) moored alongside to be refuelled
8 January 1945 Mr James Wade-Thomas RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RNR (Ret)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer – serving as such until 19 June 1945
17 January 1945 at Milford Haven USS Gillette (DE681) and USS Henry R Kenyon (DE683) moored alongside to be refuelled
18 January 1945 at Milford Haven USS Gillette and USS Henry R Kenyon sailed from alongside for the Greenoch
27 March 1945 at Milford Haven Captain Francis J King RFA appointed as Master
29 September 1945 ceased to be an RFA and returned to N.V. Curacaosche Scheepvaart Maatschappij, Willemstad as BERTA reverted to the Dutch Flag until 1954
1954 to 1961 ownership moved to Shell Tankers NV
2 February 1962 arrived Flushing for demolition by N.V. Simons Metalhandel