Official Number: 165594
Class: 1st DALE CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: X 68 / B 508 / A168
Signal Letters: GXZX (1937)
Laid down: 29 December 1936
Builder: Harland & Wolff, Govan
Launched: 2 September 1937
Into Service: 3 November 1937
Out of service: December 1959
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: Originally there were to have been nineteen ships in this Class. The first six were purchased off the stocks fro 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 two ships were purchased from Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd for evaluation purposes. At the outbreak of WW2, a further eleven 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 five Officers being appointed to her, the intended transfer was cancelled the following day and she thus never entered RFA service. Three of this Class were converted into LSG’s and were then reconverted back into tankers at the end of the War
11 August 1936 ordered by the British Tanker Company Ltd, London
2 September 1937 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan as Yard Nr: 973 G named BROOMDALE for the Admiralty by Mrs Kell wife of Mr J C Kell, Assistant Director of Stores, Admiralty
RFA Broomdale being launched
3 September 1937 the Aberdeen Press and Journal newspaper reported …
20 October 1937 Captain Reginald J Harland RFA appointed as Master
3 November 1937 completed
19 January 1938 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
21 January 1938 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
4 February 1938 involved in collision with P&O cargo passenger ship ‘Ruahine’ at Glasgow while under going trials – berthed at Greenock later for repairs
Press report from the Western Daily Press of 5 February 1938
16 February 1938 berthed at Gibraltar in ballast while on passage from Greenock to Abadan
5 July 1938 Mr Alexander Ballantyne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 July 1938 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
31 July 1938 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
2 August 1938 arrived at Greenock
8 August 1938 sailed Greenock for Abadan
22 October 1938 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour from Abadan
25 October 1938 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour, passed the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherine’s Point and then passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard westbound the next day
28 October 1938 arrived at Glasgow from Portsmouth
16 November 1938 Captain Cyril F Cunningham RFA appointed as Master
Captain Cyril F Cunningham RFA
17 December 1938 Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA appointed Master
Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA
15 April 1939 passed Gibraltar
20 July 1939 arrived on the River Tyne from Rosyth
31 July 1939 berthed at Wallsend Slipway
2 August 1939 at North Shields, River Tyne
4 August 1939 Captain John H Jones RFA appointed Master
Captain John H Jones RFA
10 August 1939 arrived at the River Tyne and berthed at North Eastern Marine’s Yard
11 August 1939 on the River Tyne at Wallsend Slip Way
12 August 1939 sailed from the River Tyne
13 August 1939 anchored at Invergordon
18 August 1939 at Scapa Flow with HMS MATABELE alongside being refuelled
21 August 1939 at Scapa Flow with HMS’s MATABELE and PUNJABI alongside being refuelled
15 September 1939 at Loch Ewe – HMS SHARPSHOOTER alongside to be refuelled
HMS SHARPSHOOTER
17 September 1939 at Loch Ewe with HMS MATABELE alongside being refuelled
HMS MATABELE
20 September 1939 at Loch Ewe with HMS MATABELE alongside being refuelled
2 October 1939 at 0935hrs 18 August 1939 at Scapa Flow with HMS MATABELE alongside being refuelled
3 October 1939 at Scapa Flow with HMS MATABELE alongside being refuelled
28 November 1939 sailed the Clyde with RFA BIRCHOL (1) for Loch Ewe escorted by HMS’s KINGFISHER and SHELLDRAKE
16 December 1939 escorted by HMS BRITOMART
28 December 1939 Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA appointed Master
5 January 1940 to 30 January 1940 at Scapa Flow
6 February 1940 HMS DISCOVERY II moored alongside to refuel and for an overnight berth
21 February 1940 at Methil Roads
23 February 1940 at Scapa Flow with HMS DISCOVERY II moored alongside to refuel and for an overnight berth
6 April 1940 at Scapa Flow
3 May 1940 sailed Scapa Flow to Harstad in unescorted Convoy HK1 arriving on 9 May 1940. The convoy, in addition, was composed of the tanker BRITISH GOVERNOR and steamers NARVA, ASIS CROMARTY FIRTH, EMILE JAVARY and the cable ship LASSO
16 May 1940 HMS COVENTRY secured alongside and the ship sustained damage from enemy bombing – one casualty – discharged to Hospital ship ATLANTIS for treatment and passage to the U.K. The ship was attacked by 4 dive bombers in quick succession, two very near misses holed her on the port side, though not severely. She was also machine gunned. It is believed these bombers were Junkers Ju.88’s. By this time, H.M.S. COVENTRY’s ammunition was very nearly expended – she sailed for Harstad
HMS COVENTRY
20 May 1940 sailed from Lavang Fiord for Harstad
23 May 1940 sailed with ss NARVA, ss META, ss CALUMET, ss MARINA and Norwegian ss CLIO from Harstad unescorted
30 May 1940 arrived at Greenock
20 June 1940 at the Clyde for repairs which started on 25 June 1940
16 July 1940 at Greenock sailed for Trinidad arriving on 31 July 1940
23 August 1940 in the London Gazette of this day on page 5200 Chief Engineer Officer Alexander Ballantyne RFA was appointed an Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Second Engineer Officer William John Littledale RFA and 2nd Engineer Officer William Herbert Victor Davis RFA were both appointed as Members of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). Un-gazetted awards of the Lloyd’s Bravery Medal were made to each Officer
11 October 1940 at Montevideo
14 November 1940 at Rio de Janerio
3 December 1940 sailed from Montevideo
14 December 1940 refuelled the cruiser HMS CUMBERLAND at an anchorage in the South Atlantic
HMS CUMBERLAND
22 December 1940 returned to the Falkland Islands to load more fuel
8 January 1941 transferred stocks of fuel to RFA ARNDALE off the River Plate
25 January 1941 arrived Curaçao
28 January 1941 sailed Curaçao
19 February 1940 sailed from Trinidad
13 March 1941 arrived Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
22 April 1941 arrived Rio de Janeiro – sailed the next day
5 May 1941 arrived Trinidad
2 June 1941 sailed Trinidad to the Falklands Islands
6 July 1941 arrived Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
22 July 1941 arrived Montevideo
27 July 1941 supplied ammunition to HMS ALCANTARA (Source Admiralty War Diary Page 512)
HMS ALCANTARA
1 September 1941 arrived Rio de Janeiro sailed two days later
3 October 1941 arrived Montevideo – sailed the next day for New Orleans, then Curacao then …
3 November 1941 arrived Trinidad sailed two days later for Curacao
8 November 1941 sailed Curaçao
15 November 1941 arrived New Orleans
10 December 1941 sailed New Orleans
16 December 1941 arrived Curaçao to load and sailed the next day
20 December 1941 arrived Trinidad
6 January 1942 sailed Trinidad
2 February 1942 arrived Montevideo
8 February 1942 sailed from Montevideo
9 February 1942 the Aberdeen Press & Journal newspaper reported …
2 March 1942 sailed Montevideo to Cape Town arriving on 17 March 1942
23 March 1942 sailed from Cape Town for Addu Atoll
April 1942 Mr William J Littledale MBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William J Littledale MBE RFA
18 April 1942 in port at Bombay and replenished carriers HMS FORMIDABLE and HMS INDOMITABLE with aviation fuel
26 April 1942 sailed from Bombay for the Seychelles
3 May 1942 arrived at Mahe, Seychelles
7 May 1942 sailed from Mahe, Sychelles
June 1942 was allocated Fleet Attendant duties in the Seychelles, Ceylon and Bombay.
20 July 1942 sailed Mahe, Seyschelles
28 July 1942 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
29 July 1942 sailed Colombo to Trincomalee in escorted convoy JC3 together with RFA APPLELEAF(1) arriving on 31 July 1942
3 August 1942 sailed Trincomalee as part of one of three dummy convoys used in Operation Stab – a diversionary operation to invade the Andaman Islands and thus take attention away from the US invasion of Guadacanal . Sailed at 0400Z revered course at 1700Z back to Trincomalee. Also in this dummy convoy was RFA APPLELEAF (1) and two other merchant ships with RIN and RN escort ships
5 August 1942 arrived at Colombo
2 December 1942 sailed Colombo to Bombay in convoy MB19 arriving 7 December 1942. The convoy escort was HMS OVERDALE WYKE and HMS St ANTHONY. The convoy consisted of only two ships and Captain C R Rosen RFA was the Convoy Commodore
10 December 1942 sailed from Bombay to Abadan arriving on 16 December 1942
22 December 1942 sailed Bandar Abbas to Bombay in convoy PB18 arriving 28 December 1942
29 December 1942 sailed Bombay in escorted Convoy BM 36
3 January 1943 detached from escorted Convoy BM36 and arrived Colombo
4 January 1943 Captain Percivale H Brooke RFA appointed as Master
Captain Percivale H Brooke RFA
3 February 1943 sailed Colombo in Convoy C 42
7 February 1943 convoy C42 arrived Addu Atoll
9 February 1943 at Addu Atoll refuelled HMS QUEEN OF BERMUDA alongside
13 February 1943 sailed Addu Atoll
25 February 1943 arrived Abadan
3 March 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in Convoy PB29 arriving Bombay 9 March 1943. The convoy commodore – Commodore Hare RNR – sailed as such in RFA BROOMDALE
16 March 1943 sailed Bombay in escorted Convoy BM46 (Bombay – Calcutta)
21 March 1943 detached from escorted Convoy BM46 and arrived Colombo
24 March 1943 sailed Colombo in Convoy C45 escorted by HMS TULIP arrived Trincomalee on 26 March 1943
14 May 1943 Mr Henry S Edwards RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Henry S Edwards RFA
9 April 1943 sailed Trincomalee to Colombo arriving two days later
11 April 1943 sailed Colombo in Convoy MB32 arriving Bombay 16 April 1943
17 April 1943 sailed Bombay in Convoy BP76A arrived Bandar Abbas 21 April 1943
24 April 1943 arrived Abadan from Bandar Abbas
26 April 1943 sailed Abadan to Bandar Abbas arriving 29 April 1943
4 May 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in Convoy PB39 to Bombay arriving 10 May 1943
5 July 1943 sailed Bombay in Convoy BP86 arrived Bandar Abbas 10 July 1943
12 July 1943 arrived Abadan from Bandar Abbas
15 July 1943 sailed Abadan to Bandar Abbas arriving 18 July 1943
22 July 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in Convoy PB49 arriving Bombay 28 July 1943
30 July 1943 sailed Bombay in escorted Convoy BM58 arrived Colombo 4 August 1943
5 August 1943 sailed Colombo to Trincomalee arriving 7 August 1943
11 August 1943 sailed Trincomalee arrived Colombo 13 August 1943
19 August 1943 sailed Colombo in Convoy MB 44 arrived Bombay 24 August 1943
30 August 1943 sailed Bombay in Convoy BP93 to Bandar Abbas arriving 10 September 1943
16 September 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in Convoy PB56 arrived Bombay 21 September 1943
24 September 1943 sailed Bombay in escorted Convoy BM67 to Colombo arriving 29 September 1943
1 October 1943 sailed Colombo in escorted convoy JC24 arriving Trincomalee 4 October 1943
7 October 1943 sailed Trincomalee arriving Colombo 9 October 1943
25 October 1943 sailed Colombo for Bombay with escort
1 November 1943 sailed Bombay in convoy BP101 to Bandar Abbas and Abadan arriving on 8 November 1943
9 November 1943 having loaded sailed Abadan for Bombay
19 November 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in convoy PB64 arriving Bombay 26 November 1943
27 November 1943 sailed Bombay in escorted convoy BM76 to Colombo
2 December 1943 arrived Colombo in escorted convoy BM76 from Bombay
6 December 1943 sailed Colombo in escorted convoy JC28A arriving Trincomalee on 9 December 1943
21 December 1943 sailed from Trincomalee to Colombo arriving 24 December 1943
30 December 1943 under going repairs at Colombo – completed 4 January 1944
6 January 1944 sailed Colombo for Addu Atoll in convoy CX15 arriving on 9 January 1944
16 January 1944 sailed Addu Atoll in convoy XC14 arriving Colombo on 19 January 1944
4 February 1944 sailed Colombo in convoy MB64 to Bombay arriving on 9 February 1944
14 April 1944 was slightly damaged when the ammunition ship Fort Stikine blew up in harbour at Bombay, India. One of her Lascar Ratings was injured
9 June 1944 sailed independently to Colombo arriving 12 June 1944
21 June 1944 sailed Colombo to Trincomalee
28 August 1944 accidentally torpedoed by HMS/m SEVERN in Trincomalee Harbour, Ceylon. The ship had two tanks damaged and lost a quantity of oil into the harbour. There was no fire but Pumpman Sk Hussain Sk Ali was discharged dead with head injuries. Repairs took several months to complete before she could re-enter service.
Fitted with gantry posts and derricks for Replenishment at Sea. The first RFA to have conical tank heating coils.
21 October 1944 at Trincomalee. Mr Ronald C Putt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 January 1945 sailed Trincomalee to Colombo arriving two days later
31 January 1945 sailed Colombo to Aden in convoy JA3/2 arriving 12 February 1945
16 February 1945 sailed Aden to Suez arriving 24 February 1945
25 February 1945 transitted the Suez Canal to Port Said arriving the next day
17 March 1945 sailed Port Said independently to Malta arriving 24 March 1945
28 March 1945 sailed Malta to Gibraltar independently arriving 3 April 1945
13 April 1945 sailed Gibraltar to Falmouth in Convoy XK22 arriving 20 April 1945
20 April 1945 sailed Falmouth to Milford Haven arriving the next day
21 April 1945 sailed Milford Haven arriving Glasgow 23 April 1945
23 April 1945 at Barclay Culre Elderslie for damage repairs until August 1945
17 July 1945 Captain Russell G Edmonds RFA appointed as Master
25 July 1945 Mr J B D Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 August 1945 sailed the Clyde to Port Said independently arriving on 5 September 1945
30 September 1945 Able Seaman Raymond Harrison P/JX 701460 (DEMS gunner) discharged dead. He is buried in Seghill (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Seghill, Northumberland in Section H3 Grave 32
9 November 1945 arrived Shanghai, China
14 November 1945 arrived Tokyo on Fleet Attendant duties
5 December 1945 at Yohohama with HMAS ARUNTA alongside being refuelled
14 December 1945 at Yohohama with HMAS ARUNTA alongside being refuelled
21 December 1945 sailed from Tokyo Bay for Shanghai, China
20 January 1946 at Shanghai, China Chief Steward John Sampson discharged dead – died of rabies in Hospital ashore
12 March 1946 sailed Hong Kong
2 June 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
10 June 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard westbound
18 June 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
18 July 1947 Mr George S G Russell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer George S G Russell RFA
31 July 1947 Captain Russell G Edmonds RFA appointed as Master
18 August 1947 in refit on the Clyde along with RFA’s WAVE CHIEF, WAVE EMPEROR and WAVE PROTECTOR
14 March 1948 at 14°10N 42°43E Chief Engineer Officer George Strutherd Gunn Russell RFA discharged dead having been found missing and presumed lost overboard
19 March 1948 Mr N T Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 July 1948 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
14 February 1949 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
4 March 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north bound
23 June 1949 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
10 July 1949 Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA appointed as Master
24 August 1949 arrived on the River Tyne from Sheerness
26 August 1949 berthed on the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE PROTECTOR
30 August 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA EAGLESDALE
31 August 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA EAGLESDALE
8 September 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA EAGLESDALE
13 September 1949 Mr William J Brown OBE DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 September 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA EAGLESDALE
20 September 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs
3 October 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs
8 October 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs
29 October 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs together with RFA WAVE KING
3 November 1949 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
27 February 1950 passed Flamorough Head sailing southbound
11 March 1950 arrived at Port Said
12 March 1950 sailed Suez
23 March 1950 berthed at Abadan
25 March 1950 sailed Abadan for Singapore
10 April 1950 sailed Seletar for Abadan
26 May 1950 berthed at Fremantle, Australia to discharge from Abadan
29 May 1950 sailed Fremantle, Australia to Colombo
8 June 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
25 June 1950 sailed Abadan
10 July 1950 arrived at Port Said
14 July 1950 sailed from Port Said
20 July 1950 arrived at Port Said
3 August 1950 sailed Abadan for Singapore
19 August 1950 arrived at Singapore
22 August 1950 sailed Singapore for Abadan
6 September 1950 arrived at Abadan
21 September 1950 arrived at Suez
30 September 1950 sailed from Port Said for Abadan
5 October 1950 passed Aden
14 October 1950 sailed Abadan for the UK
28 October 1950 sailed Port Said
6 November 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound
8 November 1950 Mr Harold M Pearson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 Novmber 1950 arrived at Palmers Yard, River Tyne from Rosyth
22 November 1950 at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne
19 December 1950 Captain Francis J King RFA appointed as Master. Berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s FORT DUQUESNE and WAVE DUKE
27 December 1950 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s FORT DUQUESNE and WAVE DUKE
30 December 1950 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BLACK RANGER, FORT DUQUESNE and WAVE DUKE
2 January 1951 berthed in refit on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s FORT DUQUESNE and WAVE DUKE
3 January 1951 berthed in refit on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s FORT DUQUESNE and WAVE DUKE
6 January 1951 berthed in refit on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s FORT DUQUESNE and WAVE DUKE
10 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard in refit on the River Tyne at the same time as RFA ECHODALE and RFA WAVE DUKE
12 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard in refit on the River Tyne at the same time as RFA ECHODALE and RFA WAVE DUKE
16 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard in refit on the River Tyne at the same time as RFA ECHODALE and RFA WAVE DUKE
18 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard in refit on the River Tyne at the same time as RFA WAVE DUKE
23 January 1951 berthed on the River Tyne in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA WAVE DUKE
24 January 1951 berthed on TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
1 February 1951 arrived the River Tyne for trials
16 April 1951 arrived at Palmers Yard, River Tyne from Rosyth
21 April 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, River Tyne
24 April 1951 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
15 November 1951 Mr John C Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 February 1952 Captain Leonard Elford RFA appointed as Master and Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain Leonard Elford RFA
13 July 1952 Mr A Ballantyne OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 August 1952 Captain Thomas H Card OBE RFA appointed as Master
8 July 1952 Mr R E Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 May 1953 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
16 September 1953 sailed Melbourne for Singapore
16 October 1953 berthed at Melbourne, Australia from Bahrein
19 October 1953 sailed Melbourne, Australia
22 December 1953 at sea at 50°01N 02°07.30W Radio Officer Jeffrey Barton Flick discharged dead – found missing presumed drowned
8 June 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound and Captain Robert I Grimer DSC MID RFA appointed as Master
Captain Robert I Grimer DSC MID RFA
image taken in about 1919
22 February 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
6 March 1955 arrived Suez
9 March 1955 arrived Port Said
18 March 1955 arrived Ras Tanura
20 March 1955 sailed from Ras Tanura for Trincomalee, Ceylon
31 March 1955 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
3 April 1955 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
15 May 1955 sailed Bombay for Bahrein
31 May 1955 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
25 June 1955 arrived at Sydney, NSW, Australia
13 July 1955 passed Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia
30 July 1955 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
13 August 1955 sailed from Abadan
25 August 1955 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
15 September 1955 arrived Bahrein sailing later to Mena Al Ahmadi
3 October 1955 sailed from Port Said
12 October 1955 sailed Gibraltar for Swansea
7 November 1955 Captain Russell G Edmonds RFA appointed as Master
14 July 1956 while under charter to Shell and flying the Red Ensign at Edgewater, New Jersey while discharging one Hong Kong Seaman jumped ship. The US Immigration fined the ship’s agents on behalf of the Master $1,000 US for breach of the US Immigration Act
21 July 1956 Mr W Ditchburn RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 February 1958 Captain Albert V Barton OBE RFA appointed as Master
6 March 1958 Mr W B Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 July 1958 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand
1959 laid up at Devonport
20 October 1959 offered for sale ‘as lying’ at Devonport in the Times of this date
26 October 1959 moved from Gravesend Moorings on HMS CUMBERLAND to No: 3 West Mud on RFA ABBEYDALE
November 1959 sold to Messrs Deckers & Wirtz, Antwerp for scrap but was resold
2 January 1960 arrived Bruges, Belgium for breaking up by Van Heyghen Freres
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 FAME on 19 June 1936.
2. Was the first RFA to be fitted with a pair of gantry kingposts and net defence derricks for OAS experiments. Later she became the first tanker to be fitted with conical heating coils in her cargo tanks.
3. Served with the British Pacific Fleet hence the B – pennant number.