Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Subsequent name: Petrola XIV Petrola 14
Official Number: 168059
Class: RANGER CLASS Fleet Attendant Oiler
Pennant No: X48 A163
Laid down: 12 October 1939
Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan
Launched: 22 August 1940
Into Service: 27 January 1941
Out of service: July 1973 – sold commercially
Fate: 24 January 1979 arrived Piraeus for breaking up.
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: The six ships in this Class were designed in the mid -1930’s by Rowland Baker as replacements for the 2000t BELGOL CLASS and were the first Admiralty designed tankers since the 1917 5000t FAST LEAF CLASS. As originally built, for camouflage purposes, they had canvas deckhouses, a dummy plate funnel forward, their foremast was on the starboard bow, the wheelhouse was offset to port, and in some cases their genuine funnel was cut low and was on the port quarter, fitted with a spark arrester. Originally armed with 1 x 4” LA, 1 x 12 pdr HA/LA and several Lewis guns, as the War progressed the armament fits altered and finally averaged 1 x 4” HA, 1 x 40mm Bofors and 4 x single 20mm Oerlikons. These vessels served extensively as Escort Tankers on the Russian Convoys, Norwegian coastal raids, Malta Convoys and with the British Pacific Fleet. Apart from GRAY RANGER which became a War Loss, the Class had exceptionally long Service lives and were finally replaced by the ROVER CLASS
6 August 1940 Mr Harry F Duce RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Harry F Duce RFA
22 August 1940 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan as Yard Nr 1046G named BLACK RANGER
3 January 1941 Captain Frederick G Drake RFA appointed as Master
27 February 1941 involved in collision with French Ship Mistral – the French destroyer suffered minor damage
FS Mistral
6 March 1941 under repair on the Clyde
10 April 1941 joined the Fleet Fuelling Service.
18 May 1941 arrived at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
22 May 1941 sailed from Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
24 May 1941 anchored at the River Clyde anchorage
4 June 1941 sailed from Tail of Bank
13 June 1941 sailed from Tail of Bank
15 July 1941 sailed from the River Clyde
17 July 1941 arrived Scapa Flow escorted by the Polish destroyer BURZA
22 July 1941 sailed from Scapa Flow as part of Force ‘Q’ and was involved in Operation ‘E.F.’ as Fleet oiler during carrier – borne attacks on enemy shipping adjacent to Kirkenes, Norway and Petsamo, Finland. Other RFA’s involved – RFA Aldersdale and RFA War Sudra escorted by HM destroyers ECHO and ECLIPSE to Seidisfjord on the East coast of Iceland
24 July 1941 arrived Seidisfjord
25 July 1941 with RFA GRAY RANGER she supported the carrier raids on Kirkenes, Norway and Petsamo in Finland in Operation E.F.
28 July 1941 during Operation E.F. refuelled HMS ADVENTURE
10 September 1941 arrived Scapa Flow in company with the troop transport LLANSTEPHAN CASTLE (11293/14) and escorted by the destroyer HMS ANTHONY
29 September 1941 sailed Hvalfiordur, on the SW coast of Iceland as part of the escorted Convoy PQ1, consisting of 10 other merchantships, escorted by the cruiser HMS SUFFOLK and other warships bound for Archangel
4 October 1941 joined the returning escorted Convoy QP1, the ex-Operation Dervishships consisting of 13 other merchantships, escorted by the destroyer HMS ANTHONY. The Convoy had sailed from Archangel on 28/09
7 October 1941 detached from the convoy and arrived the Clyde
9 October 1941 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy WN191 to Scapa Flow arriving 12 October 1941
11 October 1941 passed Dunnet Head
12 October 1941 to 16 October 1941 at anchor at Scapa Flow
25 October 1941 sailed Scapa Flow in unescorted convoy EC89 for the Clyde arriving at Loch Ewe on 26 October 1941 and sailing the same day for the Clyde arriving 28 October 1941
17 November 1941 a decision was made that the entire Class were unsuitable for OAS in the Atlantic
27 November 1941 sailed Tail of Bank
30 November 1941 under repair on the Tyne – completed 10 December 1941
22 December 1941 sailed Scapa Flow under escort as Force J to support Operation Anklet – the 2nd Commando raid on the Lofoten Islands
1 January 1942 returned to Scapa Flow on completion of Operation Anklet and remained in port at Scapa Flow until 18 March 1942
15 January 1942 Captain Leslie J Mack RFA appointed as Master
9 March 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS FROBISHER refuelling her
12 March 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS FROBISHER refuelling her – supplied 325 tons of FFO
18 March 1942 sailed Scapa Flow for Lerwick arriving the next day
20 March 1942 sailed Lerwick to Scapa Flow arriving the next day
21 March 1942 arrived at Scapa Flow and remained in port until 23 April 1942
24 April 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside USS Washington to refuel her
23 May 1942 was part of Force Q along with the destroyer HMS LEDBURY which joined Convoy PQ 16 which had sailed from Hvalfiordur on 21/05 and consisted of 36 merchantmen
25 May 1942 detached from Convoy PQ 16 after fuelling the destroyers arriving at Murmansk on 30 May 1942
27 May 1942 passed USS Wainwright – Comdestaskfor 99
16 July 1942 allocated to Convoy PQ 18
24 July 1942 with an escort, she acted as an en route fuelling station to some warships taking ammunition and stores to Northern Russia; stores needed by PQ 17’s surviving escort vessels
7 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside USS Tuscaloosa (CA37) refuelling her
19 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
2 September 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in escorted Convoy PQ18, consisting of 44 Allied merchantmen, along with RFA GRAY RANGER and RFA OLIGARCH as Force Q
13 September 1942 supported the westbound escorted Convoy QP14 bound from Archangel for Loch Ewe along with RFA OLIGARCH and RFA GRAY RANGER which consisted of 20 merchantmen arriving Archangel on 21 September 1942. Together with RFA’s GRAY RANGER and OLIGARTH acted as Escort Oilers during this convoy
26 September 1942 detached from convoy QP14 to Scapa Flow along with RFA OLIGARCH and the destroyers HMS BLANKNEYand HMS MIDDLETON
17 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
19 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her
28 October 1942 Acting Able Seaman Joseph McGillivray C/JX 312300 (DEMS Gunner) – missing presume killed. He is remembered with pride on the Chatham Naval Memorial
31 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her
20 November 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in unescorted convoy WN363 to Methil arriving 22 November 1942
22 November 1942 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS967 arrived the Tyne 23 November 1942
27 Novenver 1942 in the London Gazette of this day Captain Leslie J Mack RFA was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
30 November 1942 under repair at the River Tyne. The repairs were completed on 10 December 1942
1 January 1943 sailed the Tyne joining unescorted convoy FN906 to Methil arriving on the following day
4 January 1943 at Methil Roads
22 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND refuelling her with 150 tons of FFO
HMS NEWFOUNDLAND
1 February 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her
5 February 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND refuelling her with 300 tons of FFO
6 March 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND to reful her – supplied 382 tons of FFO and 17.5 tons of diesel oil
18 March 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her – 1,550 tons of FFO transfered. RFA Robert Middleton was also alongside delivering Naval Stores
16 April 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her – 420 tons of FFO transfered
3 July 1943 sailed Scapa Flow with HMS’s OBTURATE, ORWELL and ONSLOW for Skaalfjord, Faroe Islands
18 July 1943 sailed Skaalfjord, Faroe Islands for Scapa Flow with HMS’s OPPORTUNE, OBTURATE and ORWELL arriving the next day
10 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LONDON refuelling her
18 August 1943 with Scapa Flow exercised replenishment astern with HMS CEYLON using the bouyant hose method
28 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LONDON refuelling her
30 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS CEYLON refuelling her
HMS CEYLON
1 September 1943 Captain Ernest V Blyth RFA appointed as Master
Captain Ernest V Blyth RFA
5 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her – 486 tons of FFO transfered
18 September 1943 sailed Scapa Flow returning to the anchorage on 20 September 1943
1 October 1943 sailed Scapa Flow returning to the anchorage on 3 October 1943
26 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her – 724 tons of FFO supplied
4 January 1944 Mr Alexander Ballantyne OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 January 1944 sailed Scapa Flow returning to the anchorage on 31 January 1944
8 February 1944 sailed Scapa Flow to Sunderland arriving 10 February 1944
16 February 1944 at Sunderland Donkeyman Greaser A P Tracey logged for being found asleep during his hours of duty in the engine room. He was fined 10/- and warned that any future occurence would be dealt with in the Civil Court.
25 March 1944 sailed Sunderland to Methil arriving the next day
26 March 1944 sailed Methil in convoy EN363 to Scapa Flow arriving on the next day
30 March 1944 in Operation Tungsten – carrier launched Fleet Air Arm attack on the German battleship TIRPITZ in Altenfjord – along with RFA BLUE RANGER
23 June 1944 Assistant Steward P Camis who was due to return from leave on 14 June 1944 failed to do so and was logged as deserting
5 July 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE refuelling her
13 July 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE refuelling her
19 July 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE refuelling her
30 August 1944 arrived Scapa Flow along with RFA BLUE RANGER on completion of Operation Goodwood- further synchronised air sorties flown against TIRPITZ
24 September 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE refuelling her
26 September 1944 at Lyness Carpenter W Henderson returned from leave three days late. He was logged a fine of £1 being 10/- per day for being absent and forfeitted one days leave and two days pay
27 September 1944 at Lyness Pumpman J Mackinnon returned from leave one day late. He was logged a fine of 10/- and forfeitted one days pay
5 October 1944 Captain Frederick G Drake RFA appointed as Master
6 December 1944 Mr George Bray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 February 1945 joined Convoy JW 64 which had sailed from from the Clyde on 02/02 to the Kola Inlet to the North of Murmansk escorted by the destroyer HMS SERAPIS and the corvette HMS DENBIGH CASTLE arriving at Kola Inlet on 15 February 1945
17 February 1945 sailed Kola Inlet in convoy RA64 consisting of 33 merchantmen to Scapa Flow arriving 27 February 1945
12 March 1945 involved in collision with HMS ONSLAUGHT while escort oiler to Russian Convoy JW 64. The RN ship suffered major damage to it bows but reached port. The tanker suffered slight damage to her port side and reported she was making little waterand a tug was not required – source Admiralty War Diary of 13 March 1945
16 April 1945 sailed the Clyde in convoy JW 66 consisting of 27 ships along with RFA BLUE RANGER to Kola Inlet arriving on the 25 April 1945 – convoy JW66 was the last wartime convoy to Russia. Refuelled Russian submarine chasers – astern method – using 3 inch buoyant petrol hose
29 April 1945 in Convoy RA 66 consisting of 27 merchantmen from the Kola Inlet to the Tail of the Bank along with RFA BLUE RANGER and supported Operation Judgement – the attack on the U-boat Depot Ship at Kilbutor arriving on the 7 May of that year detached to Scapa Flow
8 June 1945 entered Rosyth basin
9 August 1945 berthed at Dundee to discharge cargo
10 August 1945 sailed Dundee
16 August 1945 berthed at Grangemouth sailing later the same day
25 August 1945 Captain Ernest W J Rousell RFA appointed as Master
31 October 1945 at Rosyth
5 November 1945 sailed Rosyth to Leith arriving the same day
6 November 1945 sailed Leith
15 November 1945 arrived at Methil Roads and sailed the same day
16 November 1945 sailed the Downs to Portland arriving the next day
28 December 1945 HM King George VI inspected the Master, Officers and men of the MIXOL and the BLACK RANGER on the quarter deck of HMS RODNEY while reviewing the Home Fleet in the Firth of Forth off Rosyth
13 January 1946 at Portland
14 January 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherines Point sailing east bound
15 January 1946 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 January 1946 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour and passed the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherines Point sailing west bound
1 April 1946 at Portland
11 April 1946 at Portland / Portsmouth conducting OAS trials
15 April 1946 Mr Daniel S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 May 1946 Captain Robert I Grimer DSC MID RFA appointed as Master
Captain Robert I Grimer DSC MID RFA
Image taken in about 1919
8 July 1946 sailed Portland for Sheerness arrived 9 July 1946 then to Chatham Dockyard arriving on the 10 July 1946
11 September 1946 Mr Harry G May RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 September 1946 Captain Frederick S Harvey RFA appointed as Master
1 October 1946 at Portland
2 November 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
4 November 1946 arrived at Portland Harbour after refuelling numerous ships of the Home Fleet including HMS’s KING GEORGE V, IMPLACABLE, SUPERB, DIADEM, CLEOPATRA and DIADEM together with destroyers from 4th & 5th Destroyer Flotillas and USS Spokane (CL120)
HMS CLEOPATRA
20 January 1947 Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA appointed as Master
Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA
22 January 1947 at Portland alongside HMS SUPERB refuelling her
HMS SUPERB
1 April 1947 at Portland
30 July 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
16 September 1947 took part in the Home Fleet Review on the Clyde along with RFA‘s FORT DUQUESNE, PETROBUS and PRESTOL
26 September 1947 Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 September 1947 at Portland
14 October 1947 Captain Frank A Shaw RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
3 November 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
16 December 1947 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
22 December 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
5 March 1948 arrived at the River Tyne from Invergordon – berthing at the Jarrow Oil Wharf
8 March 1948 sailed the River Tyne
10 March 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
11 March 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
12 March 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
13 March 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
14 March 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
15 March 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
16 March 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
17 March 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
19 March 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
20 March 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
1 April 1948 at Rosyth
18 June 1948 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
30 June 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
6 July 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
15 July 1948 at Barry, South Wales
26 July 1948 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
28 July 1948 Mr S Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 January 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
8 January 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
31 January 1949 sailed Portland with RN units to Gibraltar and the Mediterranean on the Home Fleet’s Spring Cruise
18 March 1949 Captain Percivale H Brooke OBE RFA appointed as Master
Captain Percivale N Brooke OBE RFA
25 May 1949 at the Moray Firth RASed with HMS SUPERB
3 June 1949 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS SUPERB refuelling her
29 June 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
30 June 1949 off Mounts Bay, Penzance together RFA FORT BEAUHARNOIS and 107 warships of the British, French, Netherlands and Belgian Navys headed by HMS IMPLACABLE
4 July 1949 sailed with units of the Western Union from off Penzance for Naval exercises and past the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
12 July 1949 Mr Albert J R Emerson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 July 1949 passed Flamborough Head sailing southbound from Rosyth to Sheerness
25 July 1949 Captain John M Humphrey OBE DSC RFA appointed as Master
11 November 1949 joined the Home Fleet at Portland for 10 days of Exercises off the south Coast
8 December 1949 took in tow the Greek steamer Nikos T which was adrift 80 miles of the River Tyne with defective steering
Press report from Evening Telegraph 8 December 1949
15 January 1950 Mr David L S Hood DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 May 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
11 May 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
12 May 1950 the Hampshire Telegraph reported –
15 May 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
21 May 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
2 June 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
5 June 1950 berthed at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel depot, River Clyde from Portland
29 June 1950 at Dunfermline Police Court, Fife a sailor from the ship appeared charged with having committed a breach of the peace in Alexander Road, Rosyth overnight. He pleaded guilty. The burgh prosecutor alleged that the seaman was a ‘Peeping Tom’ looking through residents bedroom windows. The seaman was fined 30/- or 10 days imprisonment
26 July 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
27 July 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
11 September 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
5 December 1950 Mr A Ballantyne OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 December 1950 Captain Leslie J Mack DSO RFA appointed as Master
21 December 1950 berthed at Immingham
28 December 1950 sailed Immingham
29 December 1950 arrived at the River Tyne from Immingham
30 December 1950 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BROOMDALE, FORT DUQUESNE and WAVE DUKE
11 January 1951 passed Dover sailing west bound
16 January 1951 joined units of the Home Fleet for their Spring Cruise to Gibraltar where units of the Mediterranean Fleet will join for exercises in the Western Mediterranean. Returned to the UK in the middle of March
20 January 1951 arrived at Gibraltar
25 April 1951 Captain Frank C Holt RFA appointed as Master
24 June 1951 Captain Herbert W Flint RFA appointed as Master
6 July 1951 Captain Griffith O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master
18 October 1951 RASed (astern) HMS St AUSTELL BAY in the Atlantic at 38 57.20N 9 59W
31 October 1951 RASed (abeam) HMS St AUSTELL BAY off Gibraltar
16 November 1951 RASed (astern) HMS St AUSTELL BAY off Gibraltar
9 January 1952 Seaman Edward Francis Fitzgerald discharged dead from Bronco Pneumonia. He is buried in Moascar War Cemetery near Ismalia, Egypt – Plot 13 Row E Grave 4
1 April 1952 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
10 August 1952 Mr John C Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 March 1953 with HMS THESEUS, HMS BROADSWORD and HMS CROSSBOW visited Funchal, Maderia
HMS Theseus
19 March 1953 visited Lisbon, Portugal with various units of the Home Fleet
25 March 1953 Captain Sydney S F Dalgleish OBE RFA appointed as Master
29 March 1953 was involved in the rescue of nine of the crew of ss Mountcharles which sank in heavy seas in the Bristol Channel.
Press Cutting from the Yorkshire Evening Post of 30 March 1953
9 April 1953 in refit at Immingham
27 April 1953 Mr William H Macfarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William H MacFarlane RFA
15 June 1953 Captain Joe Dines RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master and took part in the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead along with other RFA’s in Line ‘K’
4 October 1953 Officers and Crew of the ship’s boat which was used for the rescue off Padstow received awards from the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation
5 October 1953 the Times newspaper reported …
5 February 1954 the Shields Daily News reported …
8 February 1954 RASed with HMS OBTURATE
12 February 1954 at Gibraltar in collision with the Dockyard tug Driver
13 February 1954 the Shields Daily News reported –
26 February 1954 with HMS EAGLE and other RN Units visited Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria
12 March 1954 at Gibraltar alongside HMS IMPLACABLE to refuel her
HMS IMPLACABLE
26 April 1954 Captain J W Cunningham RFA appointed as Master
11 May 1954 sailed from Palmers, Heburn on Tyne where she had been in refit. RFA’s EAGLESDALE and WAVE SOVEREIGN were also at the same Yard at the same time
8 July 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
15 January 1955 Mr A J Daniel RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 January 1955 at Sheerness
1 February 1955 at Tilbury
3 March 1955 at Rosyth
5 March 1955 berthed on Tyne Dock, River Tyne
23 March 1955 sailed Magilligan to sea
19 May 1955 at Portland with HMS OBDURATE secured alongside to refuel and overnight
1 June 1955 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound
14 July 1955 berthed at Immingham from Invergordon
1 October 1955 Captain Douglas G Cox OBE RFA appointed as Master
29 January 1956 Captain A Jackson OBE RFA appointed as Master
14 March 1956 Mr Thomas L Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 May 1956 the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail reported …
13 July 1956 at Portland with HMS OBDURATE alongside being refuelled
3 October 1956 Captain Edward E Laurence RFA appointed as Master
17 November 1956 Mr J B D Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
March 1957 involved in an accident with a frigate HMS TERMANGANT in Rothesay Bay, Bute. The tanker suffered minor damage. The frigate was holed
2 March 1957 berthed on No: 1 Tier, River Tyne
25 March 1957 the Shields Daily News reported that –
4 June 1957 Mr V J Paflin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 August 1957 Captain William R Town RFA appointed as Master
18 August 1957 arrived at Malta
29 October 1957 arrived at Cyprus
2 September 1958 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 11 September 1958
25 September 1958 defuelled the Reserve Fleet at Barrow and then deployed to Portland to serve as the first FOST work-up tanker
10 October 1958 Captain Nicholas B J Stapleton RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Nicholas B J Stapleton RD RFA
21 October 1958 berthed at Devonport
13 December 1958 Mr C D Reid RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 December 1958 berthed at Plymouth
29 January 1959 at Portland
17 April 1959 Captain Charles E C Phipps RFA appointed as Master
1 May 1959 Mr W B Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 May 1959 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north bound for Hartlepool
27 May 1959 sailed from Hartlepool for Londonderry
8 August 1959 in Portsmouth Harbour Pumpman Thomas Henry Stewart discharged dead having suffered a heart attack
4 September 1959 the Hampshire Telegraph newspaper published a lengthy article by their Naval correspondent concerning the Royal Navy’s actions off Iceland when involved in the Cod Wars. The article contained one paragraph concerning the actions of RFA tankers deployed to support the Royal Navy ships –
19 December 1959 moved from Plymouth Sound to Millbay Docks
2 January 1960 moved from Millbay Docks, Plymouth to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty outboard of RFA TIDEREACH
5 January 1960 moved from outboard of RFA TIDEREACH on Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 5 Basin, Devonport Dockyard
14 January 1960 moved from No: 5 Basin, Devonport Dockyard to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty outboard of RFA TIDEREACH
15 January 1960 sailed from outboard of RFA TIDEREACH on Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to sea during which was in collision with tug RFA CAREFUL
29 March 1960 Captain S C Dunlop MBE RFA appointed as Master
31 March 1960 Mr A M Evans RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 November 1960 involved in a collision with H.M.S/m THULE during an exercise off Portland Bill. Slight damage to the submarine. No damage to Black Ranger
19 November 1960 the Times newspaper reported –
1 December 1960 sailed Portland
13 December 1960 off Portland RASed with HMS GRAFTON – supplied 53 tons FFO
21 February 1961 Mr D Meikle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 March 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Millbay Docks
7 April 1961 at Devonport moved from Millbay Docks to Plymouth Sound
24 May 1961 off Portland RASed with HMS BERMUDA
29 May 1961 off Portland RASed with HMS BERMUDA
16 June 1961 Captain S E Clench RFA appointed as Master
3 July 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Millbay Docks
9 July 1961 at Devonport moved from Millbay Docks to Plymouth Sound
8 August 1961 at Portsmouth
9 September 1961 at Portland Dockyard
12 September 1961 off Portland RASed with HMS BERMUDA
14 September 1961 off Portland a boarding party from HMS BERMUDA ‘captured’ RFA BLACK RANGER for exercise
9 October 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Millbay Docks
6 December 1961 at Plymouth
11 December 1961 at Devonport moved from Millbay Docks to Plymouth Sound and later to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
13 December 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
12 January 1962 off Portland RASed with HMS BERMUDA
29 January 1962 at Portland Dockyard
3 March 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Millbay Docks
13 March 1962 at Devonport moved from Millbay Docks to No: 6 wharf
14 March 1962 at Devonport moved from No: 6 wharf to Plymouth Sound
5 April 1962 Mr R C Veitch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 April 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to West Mud Moorings on RFA GREEN RANGER and later to Millbay Docks
28 April 1962 at Devonport moved from Millbay Docks to Plymouth Sound
16 August 1962 Captain A S McWIlliam RFA appointed as Master
Captain A S McWIlliam RFA
11 September 1962 off Portland RASed with HMAS SUPPLY and supplied 413 tons of FFO
October 1962 off Portland RASed with HMS TROUBRIDGE
12 November 1962 at Portland
17 December 1962 at Immingham
25 January 1963 at Immingham
4 February 1963 Captain P T Taylor RFA appointed as Master
1 March 1963 at Portland Dockyard
2 May 1963 sailed at short notice from Portland to Iceland to support HM ships in the area
15 June 1963 at Portland Dockyard
15 July 1963 Able Seaman D J N Potter discharged dead. He is buried in Clayhall Royal Naval Cemetery, Gosport
24 July 1963 at Portland Dockyard
31 March 1964 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
12 June 1964 berthed at Portland (see note 3)
30 July 1964 involved in spraying oil slicks in the English Channel.
4 August 1964 Mr R J D’Souza RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 November 1964 Captain Cyril G Butterworth RFA appointed as Master
4 January 1965 the Times newspaper reported
8 August 1965 to 11 August 1965 took part in the Clyde Royal Reviewalong with RFA‘s OLYNTHUS(2), RESURGENT, ROWANOL and WAVE PRINCE
10 November 1965 Captain G P A MacDougall RFA appointed as Master
7 December 1965 Mr D Meikle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 May 1966 Mr Ronald C Putt MID RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Ronald C Putt MID RFA
25 May 1966 sailed Portland on exercises returning 3 June 1966
3 June 1966 sailed Portland to Gibraltar arriving 7 June 1966
13 June 1966 sailed Gibraltar to Portland arriving 17 June 1966
17 June 1966 day sailing from Portland each day on exercises until 30 August 1966
30 August 1966 Captain John H McLoughlin RFA appointed as Master
1 September 1966 day sailing from Portland each day on exercises until 30 November 1966
December 1966 day sailing from Portland each day on exercises until 21 December 1966 then berthed at Swansea for refit
11 February 1967 Mr N Bothwell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 May 1968 Captain J P Gould RFA appointed as Master
29 June 1968 Mr M J Burgess RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 May 1969 Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA appointed as Master
Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA
23 June 1969 sailed from Brunshüttel, Germany
30 December 1969 at Portland
23 January 1970 at Portland
13 February 1970 alongside at Portland with RFA GREEN ROVER berthed outboard of her
2 March 1970 at Portland with RFA BROWN RANGER berthed alongside of her
7 March 1970 at Portland with RFA BROWN RANGER berthed alongside of her
18 March 1970 to 22 March 1970 at Portland with RFA BROWN RANGER berthed alongside of her
10 April 1970 at Portland with RFA BROWN RANGER berthed alongside of her
17 April 1970 at Portland with RFA BROWN RANGER berthed alongside of her
26 June 1970 at Portland with RFA BROWN RANGER berthed alongside of her
September 1970 in reserve at Devonport
24 October 1970 Mr Ronald C Putt MID RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 November 1970 sailed Portland to Tilbury arriving 2 November 1970 for refit at the West India Dock by London Graving Dock Company Ltd
22 December 1970 sailed West India Dock for Chatham Dockyard arriving the next day
23 December 1970 arrived at Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
1 January 1971 sailed Chatham Dockyard into the Medway River and thence to Rotterdam arriving the next day
3 January 1971 sailed Rotterdam for Faslane arriving 5 January 19711
11 January 1971 sailed Faslane for Invergordon arriving 14 January 1971
15 January 1971 sailed Invergordon for Finnart arriving the next day
18 January 1971 sailed Finnart to Invergordon arriving 20 January 1970
25 January 1971 sailed Invergordon to Faslane arriving 28 January 1971
2 February 1971 sailed Faslane to Tail O’Bank arriving 4 February 1971
9 February 1971 sailed Tail O’Bank on exercises arriving at Faslane 26 February 1971
1 March 1971 sailed Faslane for Exercises in the Clyde Exercise Area until 31 March 1971
1 April 1971 sailed Faslane for further exercises returning 8 April 1971
29 June 1971 sailed Faslane for exercises returning 5 July 1971
7 July 1971 sailed Faslane for exercises returning 12 July 1971
23 July 1971 sailed Faslane to Loch Striven returning to Faslane
28 July 1971 sailed Faslane for Sea Inspection, RAS with HMS CONSORT(?) returning to Faslane
6 August 1971 sailed Faslane for exercises returning to Faslane 31 August 1971
1 September 1971 sailed Faslane for exercises in the Clyde Exercises area until returning to Portland
1 December 1971 sailed for Loch Striven then to Immingham arriving 3 December 1971
3 December 1971 at Immingham in refit until 6 January 1972
6 January 1972 sailed Immingham for Portland arriving 3 January 1972
13 January 1972 sailed Portland for exercises until 25 January 1972
26 January 1972 sailed Portland for Faslane arriving the next day
28 January 1972 sailed Faslane returning 1 February 1972
3 February 1972 sailed Faslane for exercises until 23 May 1972
6 August 1972 on the River Clyde
March 1973 laid up at Portsmouth
April 1973 on the Disposal List
5 May 1973 offer for sale ‘as lying’ at Portsmouth Dockyard by the Department of Trade in an advert in The Times
July 1973 sold to Diana Sg & Tdg Corp SA of Greece and renamed PETROLA XIV. Registered at Piraeus
October 1976 renamed PETROLA 14 same owner same port of registry – Arrived at Jeddah for service as a static storage vessel
19 January 1979 static storage vessel service ended
24 January 1979 arrived Piraeus in tow of the Greek tug PETROLAS OCEAN MASTER
May to August 1983 broken up in at Piraeus, Greece by Chalivdeboriki Ltd
Notes:
1. She was deployed on the Clyde as Base Oiler in the latter years of her life before deploying to Portland, where she was finally replaced by RFA GREY ROVER.
2. Was replaced at Jeddah by PETROLA 16
3. From the Discharge Book of Geoff Cushnet