Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Subsequent name: Berrio
Official Number: 339224
Class: ROVER CLASS Small Fleet Tanker
Pennant No: A270
Laid down:
Builder: Swan Hunter, Hebburn
Launched: 11 November 1969
Into Service: 15 July 1970
Out of service: March 1993
Fate: Sold out of Service
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: In 1967, tenders were invited for what eventually turned out to be 5 ships in this Class. Owing to unsatisfactory performance from the original engines, which had been a political decision, the first three ships in the Class were re-engined in 1974. The final two ships differed slightly from the earlier three and had improved accommodation standards and different stern anchor arrangements
9 July 1969 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
11 November 1969 launched by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd, Hebburn as Yard Nr: 8 named BLUE ROVER. The Lady Sponsor was Mrs Haynes, the wife of Rear Admiral W.A. Haynes CB, OBE who was Director General Dockyards and Maintenance
9 March 1970 two plumbers were killed in a fire in a fuel tank which was under construction. Lawrence Burdis (aged 24) and John Kinkaid (aged 21) had died when the fire broke out. The fire took 30 firemen 2 hours to extinguish
10 March 1970 the Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported the above thus –
10 March 1970 the Birmingham Post also reported the above fire thus –
15 July 1970 completed and accepted 3 months later than the original planned date
11 November 1970 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
5 January 1971 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
February 1971 supported the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA in the Pacific
23 February 1971 visited Pitcairn Island during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to the island
August 1972 in Project Stornoway – the RAF Station fuelling tanks there required 1,500 tons of Avtur in preparation for a major Nato Exercise. The ship anchored offshore and effected delivery of the fuel through a specially constructed 2½ mile long pipeline in a 22½ hour long operation
22 May 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 2 June 1973
19 July 1973 at Portland
26 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 1 October 1973
11 October 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 13 October 1973
24 October 1973 at Portsmouth
12 December 1973 visited Pitcairn Island, Pacific. Whilst escorting the Royal Yacht in the Pacific she suffered a major engine room fire and had to be towed to Tahiti by BRITANNIA to effect temporary repairs before returning home to the U.K.
Under tow of the Royal Yacht Brittania
1 April 1974 at North Shields, River Tyne
April 1974 was re-engined with 2 x 16 cyl Pielstick 400 x 460mm diesel engines by Crossley Premier Engines Ltd., Manchester. 15360 bhp. Speed now 19½ knots
24 March 1975 at Portsmouth (see note 1)
11 May 1975 at Faslane (see note 1)
5 June 1975 at Portsmouth (see note 1)
25 April 1976 carried out abeam refuelling trials, which involved just the connection of hoses, with the British merchant tanker BRITISH ESK
13 May 1976 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 3rd Cod War until 1 June 1976
September 1977 lost her rudder off Bergen and was towed to Rosyth under the escort of HMS SALISBURY
23 August 1978 alongside at Portsmouth
26 August 1978 open to the public during Portsmouth Navy Days – 4,429 people came onboard
27 August 1978 open to the public during Portsmouth Navy Days – 7,529 people came onboard
28 August 1978 open to the public during Portsmouth Navy Days – 8,929 people came onboard
29 August 1978 sailed Portsmouth for Portland to be the Portland tanker – RASed with the Dutch warship HNLMS Friesland
30 August 1978 refuelled the Dutch warship HNLMS Zeeland the berthed alongside at Portland
4 September 1978 sailed Portland
6 September 1978 berthed alongside at Portland to load cargo
7 September 1978 at Portland the head cook signed off, his replacement refused to sign on and the 2nd cook took over but threatened to leave on arrival at Faslane
9 September 1978 berthed alongside at Faslane
10 September 1978 working with the American NR-1 atomic powered submarine in the Irish Sea
United States Navy Submarine NR-1
18 September 1978 headed for Holy Loch for submarine repairs
19 September 1978 anchored off Holy Loch
6 October 1978 during further work with the American NR-1 atomic powered submarine she broke down again – returned to Faslane
9 October 1978 alongside at Faslane
17 October 1978 refuelled at Loch Striven and then sailed
19 October 1978 RASed with HMS YARMOUTH
22 October 1978 on buoy at Faslane
24 October 1978 deck landing practice with a Sea King helicopter
25 October 1978 RASed with HMS AVENGER
26 October 1978 RASed with HMS’s NORFOLK and ESKIMO
1 November 1978 arrived at Faslane
3 November 1978 sailed Faslane
15 November 1978 at Faslane
20 November 1978 sailed Faslane to Loch Striven
21 November 1978 sailed Loch Striven to work with HMS/m COURAGEOUS
23 November 1978 RASed with HMS ABDIEL and worked with HMS/m COURAGEOUS
3 December 1978 arrived at Faslane
5 December 1978 sailed Faslane
6 December 1978 RASed with HMS FIFE
7 December 1978 RASed with HMS FIFE again
8 December 1978 berthed at Faslane
11 December 1978 sailed Faslane to work with HMS/m ONSLOUGHT
13 December 1978 anchored at Spithead
14 December 1978 berthed at Portsmouth
10 January 1979 sailed Portsmouth as tanker to the Royal Yacht in a Middle East deployment
14 January 1979 arrived at Gibraltar with HMY BRITANNIA and HMS ACTIVE
16 January 1979 sailed Gibraltar
18 January 1979 RASed with HMS ACTIVE
19 January 1979 RASed with HMY BRITANNIA and HMS ACTIVE
21 January 1979 RASed with HMY BRITANNIA and HMS ACTIVE
22 January 1979 anchored off Alexandria
24 January 1979 sailed Alexandria for Port Said
25 January 1979 arrived Port Said
26 January 1979 commenced transit of the Suez Canal at 0200hrs
27 January 1979 exit Suez Canal at about 0600. RASed with HMY BRITANNIA and HMS ACTIVE
30 January 1979 RASed with HMS ACTIVE
31 January 1979 followed HMS ACTIVE to Bandra Abbas, Iran to standby for evacuation of civilians
2 February 1979 RASed with HMS ACTIVE and RFA TARBATNESS
4 February 1979 arrived Khor al Qusvai for a banyan
6 February 1979 RASed with HMY BRITANNIA, HMS ACTIVE and USS’s Talbot and Blandy
7 February 1979 berthed alongside at Kuwait opposite HMY BRITANNIA
14 February 1979 sailed Kuwait
15 February 1979 arrived Sitra, Bahrain fuel jetty
16 February 1979 berthed alongside at Manama Bahrain
19 February 1979 sailed Bahrain
20 February 1979 RASed with HMY BRITANNIA and HMS ACTIVE
21 February 1979 arrived at Doha, Qatar
22 February 1979 sailed from Doha, Qatar
23 February 1979 arrived Dubai, UAE
27 February 1979 sailed Dubai, UAE and stopped at Khor al Qusvai Island for another banyan
28 February 1979 arrived at Muscat, Oman
3 March 1979 HRH the Prince Philip visited Blue Rover
4 March 1979 sailed Muscat, Oman RASed with HMY BRITANNIA and RFA TARBATNESS
13 March 1979 RASed with HMY BRITANNIA and HMS ACTIVE
14 March 1979 transit the Suez Canal northbound
16 March 1979 RASed RFA Olna (3)
17 March 1979 RASed with HMY BRITANNIA
18 March 1979 arrive at Naples and anchored off
21 March 1979 RASed with HMY BRITANNIA. Flag Officer Royal Yacht visited BLUE ROVER for lunch
23 March 1979 berthed at Palma
26 March 1979 sailed from Palma
27 March 1979 passed Gibraltar
31 March 1979 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
23 April 1979 sailed from Chatham Dockyard ino the River Medway
8 July 1979 at Falmouth
11 June 1980 between Iskenderum, Turkey and Port Said engaged in pump over with RFA OLWEN (2)
24 July 1980 RASed with RFA RESOURCE (2)
18 September 1980 alongside at Sasebo together with RFA OLWEN (2) and HMS ALACRITY
November 1980 together with RFA BRAMBLELEAF (3) deployed on the Armilla Patrol supporting HMS’s ANTRIM and NAIAD
24 May 1981 at Genoa, Italy
16 April 1982 sailed Portsmouth for service during Operation Corporate – the Falklands Conflict
26 April 1982 arrived Ascension Island and then sailed again that same day
2 May 1982 entered the TEZ (Total Exclusion Zone) around the Falkland Islands
4 May 1982 joined up with RFA’s TIDESPRING and APPLELEAF (3) escorted by the destroyer HMS ANTRIM and the frigate HMS PLYMOUTH
6 May 1982 detached from the Group with RFA APPLELEAF (3) and headed for South Georgia escorted by the frigate HMS PLYMOUTH
9 May 1982 arrived Cumberland Bay, South Georgia to act as Station Tanker there
28 May 1982 sustained slight damage while refuelling the ferry NORLAND
29 May 1982 sailed South Georgia to rendezvous with the Task Group
31 May 1982 entered San Carlos Water
2 June 1982 sailed San Carlos Water.
4 June 1982 entered San Carlos Water
5 June 1982 was relieved at South Georgia by RFA PEARLEAF (2). At San Carlos Water RFA SIR GERAINT berthed alongside and refuelled – she received 405 tons of bunker fuel
6 June 1982 sailed San Carlos Water
7 June 1982 RASed with STUFT BP Tanker British Test receiving AVCAT in the TRALA (Tug, Repair and Logistics area)
10 June 1982 entered San Carlos water after replenishment from STUFT BP Tanker British Test
12 June 1982 sailed San Carlos Water
19 June 1982 in San Carlos Water RFA ENGADINE berthed alongside – 160 tons of bunkers supplied to her
28 June 1982 sailed Falkland Islands for home
17 July 1982 arrived back U.K. on completion of Operation Corporate duties
18 November 1983 in Operation Offcut – naval support to British troops in the multi-national force in the Lebanon along with RFA’s GREY ROVER, BRAMBLELEAF (3) and later RELIANT (3)
21 April 1984 at Rosyth
19 June 1984 at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
17 August 1984 was presented with her Falkland Islands 1982 Battle Honour at Faslane by Mr A Kemp DST(SF)
25 October 1984 at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
6 April 1985 at Plymouth
25 July 1985 at Plymouth
28 December 1985 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
25 March 1986 at Portland
27 October 1986 at Gibraltar
14 August 1987 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
29 August 1987 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
6 January 1988 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
18 March 1988 at Rosyth
22 May 1988 at Corpus Christie, Texas
6 October 1988 at Portsmouth
24 October 1988 at River Tyne
30 January 1989 at Portsmouth
5 May 1989 at Portland
6 July 1989 at Portland
12 December 1989 at East Cove, Falkland Islands
5 August 1990 at Glasgow
9 January 1991 Captain Pat Thompson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Pat Thompson RFA
14 January 1991 at Middlesborough
8 March 1991 at Middlesborough
29 March 1991 at Invergordon
9 February 1993 arrived Devonport to commence destore for disposal
22 February 1993 sailed Devonport
23 February 1993 arrived Portsmouth for final destore then disposal
March 1993 was purchased by the Portuguese Navy for £5.5m
31 March 1993 officially handed over to the Portuguese Navy at Portsmouth and was renamed NRP BERRIO (A 5210)
6 April 1993 sailed Portsmouth for Falmouth for a brief refit before re-entering service with her new owners
1995 took part in Operation “Sharp-Guard” in the Adriatic Sea
1998 took part in Operation Crocodile (Operação Crocodilo) as part of the Portuguese naval task force that rescued foreign nationals caught in the civil conflicts in Guinea Bissau
1 July 2004 anchored in Plymouth Sound
8 July 2004 anchored in Plymouth Sound
4 April 2005 took part in Exercise ‘Nifa 2005’ with units of the Spanish. French and Portugal Navies in the North Atlantic
25 September 2006 RASed with HMCS IROQUOIS
2007 at Ponta Delgada, Azores islands, Portugal
31 August 2008 alongside at the Alfeite Naval Base, Lisbon
9 July 2009 berthed at Rota, Spain
3 February 2012 alongside at the Alfeite Naval Base, Lisbon
8 March 2012 involved in Naval Exercises off Lisbon RASing with NRP BARTOLOMEU DIAS and NRP VASCO DA GAMA
9 March 2012 berthed at Lisbon
15 May 2012 alongside at the Alfeite Naval Base, Lisbon
2012 took part in Operation Manatee ready to evacuate Guinea-Bissau nationals and friendly countries
16 July 2013 at Setubal, Portugal
6 April 2014 at Cova da Piedade, Portugal
6 May 2014 sailed from Lisbon
12 September 2014 alongside at the Alfeite Naval Base, Lisbon
3 October 2014 sailed from Lisbon
25 March 2015 in the North Atlantic passing USS Farragut (DDG99)
10 June 2016 arrived at Cova da Piedade
22 June 2016 sailed Cova da Piedade arriving at Lisbon later the same day
10 January 2017 berthed at Lisbon
26 July 2017 sailed Cova da Piedade returning there later the next day
27 July 2017 arrived at Lisbon
2 August 2017 at anchor at Lisbon
19 October 2018 sailed Cova da Piedade, Portugal
4 December 2018 sailed Cova de Piedade, Portugal
7 December 2018 arrived at Cova de Piedade, Portugal
1 August 2019 sailed from Rota, Spain
3 August 2019 arrived at Cova de Piedade, Portugal
Notes:
1. Locations kindly provided by T Perrier RFA (retired) from his Discharge Book
2. NRP = Navio de Republica Portuguese = Portuguese Republic Ship