Official Number: 168092
Class: RANGER CLASS Fleet Attendant Oiler
Pennant No: X 69 / B 509 / A169
Laid down: 28 October 1939
Builder: Harland & Wolff, Govan
Launched: 12 December 1940
Into Service: 10 April 1941
Out of service: November 1974
Fate: Broken up in May 1975
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: The 6 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
28 August 1939 ordered
27 October 1939 laid down
1 November 1940 Mr Oscar Goodwin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 December 1940 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan as Yard Nr: 1048G named BROWN RANGER
22 March 1941 Captain Donald B C Ralph RFA appointed as Master
29 March 1941 at London registered as BROWN RANGER under reference 49/91 in the Registry
RFA BROWN RANGER at anchor in the Clyde in 1941 – with weapons
11 April 1941 completed. Joined the Fleet Fuelling Service
21 July 1941 sailed Gibraltar escorted by the destroyer HMS BEVERLEY to refuel destroyers engaged in Operation Substance – a relief supply convoy from the Clyde to Malta
22 July 1941 refuelled 10 of the escorts from Convoy WS 9C
23 July 1941 returned to Gibraltar
30 July 1941 sailed Gibraltar escorted by HMS AVON VALE (Force S)
HMS AVON VALE
31 July 1941 north of the Balearic Islands RAS’ed with HMAS NESTOR, HMS’s COSSACK and MAORI
2 August 1941 off the Balearic Islands RAS’ed with HMAS NESTOR, HMS’s COSSACK and MAORI
8 August 1941 to 10 August 1941 along with RFA’s DEWDALE (1), ENNERDALE (1) and DENBYDALE she was allocated for Exercise Leapfrog for Operation Pilgrim – the proposed action against the Canary Islands
24 September 1941 to 30 September 1941 sailed Gibraltar under RN escort as Force S in Operation Halberd – to supply fuel to the escorts of Convoy WS 11X – a supply convoy from the Clyde to Malta – under escort of the corvette HMS FLEUR DE LYS
16 November 1941 sailed Gibraltar as part of a convoy of 6 merchant ships escorted by five warships on Operation Chieftain – a diversion for Operation Crusader in the eastern Mediterranean
18 November 1941 ships returned to Gibraltar after nightfall
10 June 1942 undertook OAS trials
11 June 1942 sailed Gibraltar for Operation Harpoon under the escort of HMS’s COLTSFOOT and GERANIUM
12 June 1942 to 16 June 1942 In Operation Harpoon as Force Y – to supply fuel to the escorts of Convoy WS 19Z a supply convoy from the Clyde to Malta – escorted by the corvettes HMS COLTSFOOT and HMS GERANIUM
13 June 1942 refuelled HMS’s CAIRO, BADSWORTH, BLANKNEY, BEDOUIN, ITHURIEL, KUJAWIAK, MARNE, MATCHLESS and PARTRIDGE
HMS CAIRO
25 July 1942 sailed Algiers to Bone – joined convoy KMS 3G (a convoy from the Clyde to Bone) arriving on the next day
9 August 1942 sailed Gibraltar along with RFA DINGLEDALE for Operation Pedestal escorted by HMS’s COLTSFOOT, GERANIUM, JONQUIL, and SPIRAEA supported by the tugs HMS’s JAUNTY and SALVONIA
10 August 1942 to 15 August 1942 in Operation Pedestal – a supply convoy to Malta – as Force R (the main oiling group for the escorts to Convoy WS 21S) along with RFA DINGLEDALE under close escort of the corvettes HM ships COLTSFOOT, GERANIUM, JONQUIL and SPIRAEA. RFA ABBEYDALE was also in this Convoy
11 August 1942 assisted in refuelling 26 British destroyers and the cruiser HMS CAIRO. By the end of the RAS serials was down to 100 tons of FFO. In the London Gazette of this day on page 3504 Captain Donald B C Ralph RFA was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for Operations Style and Substance – convoy from Gibraltar to Malta between 21 July 1941 and 4 August 1941
12 August 1942 received 1,000 tons of FFO from RFA DINGLEDALE
16 August 1942 arrived at Gibraltar with HMS’s JONQUIL, GERANIUM, COLTSFOOT, SPIRAEA, JAUNTY, and RFA DINGLEDALE
24 September 1942 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
22 October 1942 to 17 November 1942 took part in Operation Torch – the Allied Landings in North Africa – and formed Force R along with RFA DINGLEDALE. Was awarded the North Africa 1942 Battle Honour. Other RFA’s involved were ABBEYDALE, DERWENTDALE (1), DEWDALE (1), DINGLEDALE, ENNERDALE (1), NASPRITE and VISCOL
30 October 1942 together with RFA DINGLEDALE sailed Gibraltar with HMS’s BOADICEA, PENN, PANTHER, and LOOKOUT for oiling at sea exercises with HMS’s FURIOUS, AURORA, CHARYBDIS, WESTCOTT, WISHART, COWDRAY, BRAMHAM, ACHATES, VANOC, VERITY, and O.R.P BLYSKAWICA
5 November 1942 sailed Gibraltar with an escort as Force R, the fuelling support for Force H comprising of HMS’s COREOPSIS, LOCH OSKAIG, IMPERIALIST, ARCTIC RANGER, and ST NECTAN. They were accompanied by the 4th Trawler Group (CAVA, OTHELLO, JULIET, and STROMA), the 5th Trawler Group (HOY, INCHOLM, MULL, and RYSA), and M/Ls 307, 238, 273, 283, 295, 336, 338, and 444 (T.O.N. II 122)
10 November 1942 Captain Donald B C Ralph DSC RFA awarded a Bar to his DSC in the London Gazette of this day for services during Operation Pedestal – a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta from 11 to 16 August 1942
15 November 1942 arrived at Gibraltar with HMS FURIOUS and escorting destroyers. HMS’s COREOPSIS, ARCTIC RANGER, ST NECTAN, LOCH OSKAIG and together with RFA DINGLEDALE
21 November 1942 sailed Gibraltar with RFA DINGLEDALE escorted by HMS’s VENOMOUS, WIVERN, VERITY, ENCHANTRESS, FLEETWOOD, COREOPSIS, JONQUIL, BRIXHAM, and POLRUAN to rendezvous with Convoy KMS3 and subsequently to sail with the convoy to Oran and Algiers
25 November 1942 sailed Algiers in escorted convoy KMS 3G
26 November 1942 arrived in Bone in escort convoy KMS 3G
1 December 1942 sailed Bone to Algiers arriving 2 December 1942 under escort
5 February 1943 Mr Harry G May RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 February 1943 Chief Officer John Cunningham RFA and Chief Engineer Officer Oscar Goodwin RFA both awarded a Mention in Despatches in the London Gazette of this day for services during Operation Pedestal – a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta from 11 to 16 August 1942
14 April 1943 Captain Henry F Colbourne RFA appointed as Master
20 May 1943 in Operation Husky – Naval Operation Orders dated this day – Appendix 1 – shows BROWN RANGER would be based at Malta together with RFA GREEN RANGER to provide Furnace Fuel Oil and part stowage for 100 Octane Spririt
13 June 1943 sailed Algiers
14 June 1943 arrived Gibraltar
18 June 1943 sailed Algiers in convoy KMS16 along with RFA’s ABBEYDALE and CELEROL arriving Malta 22 June 1943
10 August 1943 at Grand Harbour, Malta USS Benson moored alongside to refuel – supplied 22,134 gallons of FFO
12 September 1943 was disabled on the Clyde
30 September 1943 sailed Malta to Tripoli arriving on 2 October 1943
3 October 1943 sailed Tripoli to Malta arriving the next day
28 October 1943 sailed Malta to join escorted Convoy MKS 29 (Alexandria – Gibraltar) which also contained RFA PRESTOL for a while
3 November 1943 escorted convoy MKS 29 arrived Gibraltar
9 November 1943 arrived at Falmouth
10 November 1943 sailed from Falmouth
12 November 1943 radioed FOIC Greenock “Engines almost disabled. Request tug immediately. Position No: 8 Channel buoy, Clyde” Tug Stormking despatched from Cambletown. On arrival found that the engines had been repaired and escorted tanker to the Clyde boom.
2 February 1944 at Gourock alongside USS Lyon receiving 31,467 gallons of FFO
10 February 1944 sailed the Clyde to Belfast Lough
12 February 1944 sailed Belfast Lough to the Clyde
2 March 1944 at Loch Long moored alongside USS Barnett (ComTransDiv FIVE) to refuel her – supplied 162,200 gallons of FFO
15 March 1944 sailed the Clyde to Londonderry
17 March 1944 sailed Londonderry to Loch Ewe
18 March 1944 arrived at Loch Ewe
20 March 1944 sailed Loch Ewe in convoy WN 559 to Scapa Flow arriving on 21 March 1944
30 March 1944 sailed Scapa Flow, along with RFA BLUE RANGER, for Operation Tungsten – an attack on the German TIRPITZ in her Norwegian lair in Kåfjord together with HMS’s ROYALIST, SEARCHER, EMPEROR, PURSUER, FENCER, FURIOUS, JAMAICA, SHEFFIELD, VERULAM, VIRAGO, VIGILANT, SWIFT, and WAKEFUL
7 April 1944 arrived at Scapa Flow with RFA BLUE RANGER escorted by HMS’s PIORUN, JAVELIN, and ULYSSES
18 April 1944 sailed Scapa Flow to the Clyde arriving the next day
26 April 1944 at Loch Long alongside USS Dorothea L Dix (AP67) and refuelled her with 61,600 gallons of fuel oil and 6,552 gallons of diesel – in this ship’s log Brown Ranger is described as an ‘Oil Barge”
USS Dorothea L Dix (AP67) was a 11,800 ton transport ship
4 May 1944 sailed Loch Ewe in Convoy WN 578 (Loch Ewe – Methil)
6 May 1944 detached from Convoy WN 578 and arrived Scapa Flow
22 May 1944 at Loch Long alongside USS Thomas Jefferson (APA30) and refuelled her with 116,110 gallons of fuel oil and 6,000 gallons of diesel
USS Thomas Jefferson (APA30)
28 May 1944 sailed Oban to the Clyde arriving the next day
24 October 1944 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy OS93KM – the convoy split at sea
2 November 1944 arrived in Gibraltar in escorted convoy KMS 76G – sailed the same day to Port Said arriving on 12 November 1944
23 November 1944 sailed Port Said arriving Aden 1 December 1944
2 December 1944 sailed Aden to Abadan to load arriving on 9 December 1944
11 December 1944 sailed Abadan arriving Colombo 19 December 1944
28 December 1944 sailed Colombo to Fremantle, Western Australia arriving 14 January 1945
5 February 1945 sailed Fremantle to Sydney, NSW arriving 12 February 1945
24 February 1945 sailed Sydney, NSW to Manus, Papua New Guinea arriving on 3 March 1945
5 March 1945 refuelled HMAS PIRIE alongside
6 March 1945 at Seeadler Harbour with HMAS LAUNCESTON alongside being refuelled
HMAS LAUNCESTON
7 March 1945 at Manus, Papua New Guinea with HMAS KALGOORLIE alongside being refuelled
12 March 1945 at Seeadler Harbour with HMAS PIRIE alongside being refuelled
HMAS PIRIE
28 March 1945 took part in Operation Iceberg One – the British Pacific Fleet’s operations against Okinawa – where she acted as a Water Carrier along with RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH all of which formed Task Force 112 to support Task Force 57, the carrier task group. In spite of defects, the overworked and undermanned oilers with inexperienced crews supported the Task Group with 7 replenishment sorties
29 March 1945 sailed Manus, Papua, New Guinea arriving Leyte 6 April 1945
13 May 1945 at Leyte Cabin Boy Foster William Gibbens discharged dead having accidentally drowned when run down by an LCM (US) while swimming from the ship
23 May 1945 sailed Leyte to Manus, Papua New Guinea arriving 29 May 1945
31 May 1945 reproted as being inport at Manus, Papua New Guinea together with RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), CEDARDALE, FORT DUNVEGAN, GREEN RANGER, RAPIDOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH
July 1945 in an attempt to remedy the shortage of OAS equipment within Task Force 57, along with RFA BACCHUS (2) she was used as a carrier and issuing vessel for replacing lost and damaged hoses
5 July 1945 vat Seeadler Harbour, Admiralty Islands with HMAS BURNIE alongside for water and fuel
HMAS Burnie
12 July 1945 sailed Manus, Papua, New Guinea to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands arriving 1 August 1945
August 1945 was attached to the British Pacific Fleet along with RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), BISHOPDALE, CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, EASEDALE, EMPIRE SALVAGE, GREEN RANGER, RAPIDOL, SERBOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE GOVERNOR, WAVE KING, WAVE MONARCH and HMS (later RFA) OLNA (2)
1 September 1945 sailed Eniwetok, Marshal Islands arriving Tokyo, Japan 11 September 1945
29 September 1945 sailed Tokyo, Japan to Shanghai, China arriving 5 October 1945
DEMS Gunners on RFA Brown Ranger, 1945
8 October 1945 Chief Officer Walter D Smith RFA appointed as Acting Master until 7 December 1945
8 December 1945 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
28 December 1945 sailed Shanghai, China
29 April 1946 grounded on a shoal in the Dover Strait causing no damage. At a subsequent enquiry Captain Sigwart RFA was blamed for poor navigation
13 May 1946 Mr J J Moore RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 May 1946 sailed Kure for Yokohama
17 August 1946 sailed Hong Kong
25 September 1946 sailed from Gibraltar for the Nore
28 November 1946 Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA appointed as Master
19 December 1946 RASed with HMS VANGUARD while she was on passage from Gibraltar to Portsmouth at 50° 22N 1° 31W
20 December 1946 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
30 December 1946 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for Trinidad
10 February 1947 RASed with HMS VANGUARD off Freetown while the battleship was carrying HM the King and Queen with other members of the Royal Family to South Africa. Supplied 1,000 tons of FFO
HMS VANGUARD
12 June 1947 Captain Richard L Barber MID RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master and Mr Alexander Ballantyne OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 February 1948 Mr Albert J R Emerson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 April 1948 Captain Edward E Laurence RFA appointed as Master
9 August 1948 in the Naval Headquarters, Trincomalee Captain Horace T T Bayliss DSO MID Royal Navy, Captain-in-Charge, Ceylon presented to Second Officer Denis F Clarke RFA (Lieutenant Commander Royal Naval Reserve) of RFA Brown Ranger the RNR Reserve Decoration
8 March 1949 Mr Henry S Edwards RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Henry S Edwards RFA
August 1949 towed HMS LANDGUARD (ex US Coastguard Cutter Shoshone) from Trincomalee to Singapore.
3 November 1949 took part in Flotilla Exercise with various RN units off Hong Kong. RASed with HMS WHITESAND BAY
18 December 1949 Mr N T Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 March 1950 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
25 April 1950 berthed at Hong Kong. Also in port was RFA MAINE (4)
25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953 saw service during the Korean War along with 18 other RFA’s and was awarded the Korea 1950-52 Battle Honour
22 July 1950 at Sasebo, Japan with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled
26 July 1950 at Sasebo, Japan with HMAS SHOALHAVEN alongside being refuelled
10 August 1950 at Sasebo, Japan with HMS MOUNTS BAY alongside being refuelled
2 November 1950 at Sasebo, Japan with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled
12 November 1950 at Sasebo, Japan refuelled HMS MOUNTS BAY alongside
23 November 1950 at Sasebo, Japan with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled
22 December 1950 at Inchon refuelled HMS THESEUS
15 April 1951 to 25 April 1951 supported HMS CHARITY, RFA SALVALOUR and the seized tanker Yung Hao between Hong Kong and Singapore and RASed them on three occasions
25 May 1951 at Hong Kong with HMAS MURCHISON being refuelled alongside
26 June 1951 Captain W R Holt OBE DSO RFA appointed as Master
21 July 1951 at Kure with HMAS MURCHISON being refuelled alongside
7 August 1951 Mr A Thompson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
8 September 1951 alongside USS Orleck (DD886) refuelling her with 1010 barrels of fuel oil
10 September 1951 escorted through the Shimoneseki Straits by HMAS MURCHISON
27 September 1951 at Kure, Japan together with various RN & RAN ships and the Hospital Ship RFA MAINE (4)
8 December 1951 RASed with HMAS SYDNEY and her destroyer screen HMS COMUS, HMCS SIOUX and HMAS TOBRUK off Korea
9 December 1951 RASed with USS Munro (DE422) off Korea then detached to Sasebo, Japan
4 January 1952 RASed with HMAS SYDNEY off Korea
8 February 1952 at Taechong Do with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with 190 tons of FFO
11 February 1952 at Taechong Do with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with 209 tons of FFO
30 June 1952 at Taechong Do with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with 237 tons of FFO
20 July 1952 at Taechong Do with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with FFO
12 August 1952 at Taechong Do with HMS OCEAN and HMCS CRUSADER alongside being refuelled
19 August 1952 carried out Anti-submarine exercises with HMS CARDIGAN BAY, HMCS IROQUOIS, NOOTKA, HMNZ ROTOITI, Columbian frigate CAPITAN TONO, and US submarine USS CHAN
18 September 1952 Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Harry F Duce DSC RFA
23 September 1952 at Sasebo, Japan with HMAS ANZAC alongside being refuelled and receiving fresh water
13 April 1953 at Hong Kong Mess Boy Loo Cheng Ah discharged dead – natural causes
6 September 1953 Mr J G Simpson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 April 1954 arrived at Immingham
4 May 1954 passed Flamborough Head Signal Station when on passage to Rosyth
13 May 1954 passed Flamborough Head Signal Station when on passage to Invergordon
3 August 1954 Captain Stanley S Maddock RFA appointed as Master
Captain Stanley S Maddock RFA
kindly donated by his daughter Mrs Gillian Pickard
10 August 1954 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway and berthed alongside HMS CHEQUERS
12 August 1954 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
16 December 1954 alongside at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne together with RFA SURF PIONEER
17 December 1954 Mr David Meikle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer David Meikle RFA
28 December 1954 alongside at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne
30 December 1954 alongside at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne
4 January 1955 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne and engaged a crew at the North Shields Shipping Offive
22 February 1955 Mr Wallace G Downing RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 April 1955 Captain Stanley S Maddock RFA discharged dead. He is buried in Clayhall Lane Naval Cemetery, Gosport, Hampshire.
16 August 1955 Captain Albert V Barton RFA appointed as Master
Captain Albert V Barton RFA
1 September 1955 Mr I M Macfarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 March 1956 Mr G C Arthur RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 November 1956 deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 21 December 1956 – the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal (1915) with the “Near East” Clasp
7 November 1956 at Suez – HMS PUNCHER attempted to berth alongside – failed
8 November 1956 at Suez – HMS PUNCHER berthed alongside
9 November 1956 at Suez HMS PUNCHER slipped from alongside and sailed to sea for passage to Malta
24 December 1956 entered Grand Harbour, Malta with RFA TIDEREACH, RFA WAVE VICTOR and RFA WAVE LIBERATOR after covering with RN units the Anglo-French Forces withdrawl from Port Said
12 September 1957 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
15 November 1957 Captain Alfred M Uglow RFA appointed as Master
Captain Alfred M Uglow RFA – image taken in 1920 when as Deck Apprentice
12 January 1958 Captain B H Lawrence RFA appointed as Master
14 January 1958 Mr J S Aitken RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 January 1958 sailed from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound moving later to ‘F’ Buoy to adjust compasses (if required) then returned to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
23 January 1958 sailed from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound moving later to ‘D’ Buoy to adjust compasses
24 January 1958 sailed from ‘D’ Buoy to Plymouth Sound
1959 was working in waters around Cyprus during the emergency there along with RFA BLUE RANGER
16 June 1959 berthed at Malta from off Cyprus
23 November 1959 met up with HMS Gambia off Malta and transferred to her the Band of the Royal Highland Regiment which she had brought from Cyprus for a memorial service on the island of Volos at the grave side of those 17 killed on HMS Devonshire in a turret explosion on the 26 July 1929 and who were buried on Volos over the next three days
11 December 1959 berthed at Malta
9 January 1960 sailed Malta for the West Indies
11 January 1960 Mr J G Simpson RFA as Chief Engineer Officer
23 January 1960 was under the orders of Flag Officer Royal Yachts
20 April 1960 Mr C D Reid RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 August 1960 arrived at Malta from Cyprus
9 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Milbay Docks
16 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Milbay Docks to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty. RFA BIRCHOL (2) then berthed outboard of her
19 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
25 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
26 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
3 October 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
November 1960 became Clyde Port Oiler under the control of Flag Officer Submarines
2 December 1960 at Tail of Bank with HMS EXMOUTH moored alongside
5 December 1960 berthed at Faslane – sailed later in the day
7 December 1960 at Faslane berthed alongside HMS ADAMANT – sailed at 16.00hrs
14 December 1960 Captain Alfred M Uglow RFA appointed as Master until 23 January 1961
31 December 1960 arrived at Plymouth Sound from sea
1 January 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Milbay Docks
13 January 1961 at Devonport moved from Milbay Docks to Plymouth Sound
17 April 1961 sailed Malta for Exercises with RN and other Allied ships together with RFA WAVE BARON, RFA TIDE AUSTRAL, RFA SEA SALVOR and RFA FORT DUQUESNE
20 May 1961 arrived at Tenerife, Canary Islands
3 July 1961 sailed from Malta east bound together with RFA’s FORT ROSALIE (1), FORT DUQUESNE, and WAVE KNIGHT (1)
24 January 1962 Mr H W Jackinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 January 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Millbay Docks
2 February 1962 at Devonport moved from Millbay Docks to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
3 February 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
19 February 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
21 February 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 6 buoy
26 February 1962 at Devonport moved from No: 6 buoy to Plymouth Sound
22 June 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 1 jetty
26 June 1962 at Devonport moved from No: 1 jetty to Plymouth Sound
20 September 1962 sailed Malta
18 March 1963 Mr R W Cann RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 April 1963 Captain Archibald M M Telfer RFA appointed as Master
Captain Archibald M M Telfer RFA
14 January 1964 Mr J G Simpson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 January 1964 at Plymouth
25 March 1964 arrived at Portland after supporting the 17 Frigate Squadron in the West Indies
22 June 1964 at Swansea
28 June 1964 Captain J Gulesserian RFA appointed as Master
11 November 1964 at Malta
6 February 1965 sailed Devonport to support the RNR-manned Coastal Mine Sweepers HMS’s MERSEY, NORTHUMBRIA, St. DAVIDS and WARSHASH sailing to Maderia, Cape Verde Islands, Trinidad, Grenada, St. Vincent, Antigua, Barbados, British Guiana, Bermuda and the Azores
3 April 1965 berthed at Devonport
3 June 1965 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway together with RFA WAVE CHIEF
9 August 1965 at Portland
27 October 1965 at Portland
1 November 1965 Mr W B Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 January 1966 off Portland RASed with HMS RELENTLESS
HMS RELENTLESS
April 1966 engaged with HMS FEARLESS in the Joint Navy, Army & Royal Air Force Exercise Strip Willow in the Barry Buden training area on the North Coast of the Firth of Tay – which involved the pumping ashore of 350 tons of Aviation Fuel into a 5 mile pipe line to an emergency airfield
9 June 1966 Captain A W Stanley RFA appointed as Master
8 July 1966 arrived at Malta
20 June 1966 Mr P W Jacobs RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 August 1966 off Singapore engaged in RAS practice with HMAS DIAMANTINA
RFA BROWN RANGER
1 September 1966 engaged in exercises with HMS/m ANDREW and HMS VERULAM
4 September 1966 RASed with HMS DAMPIER
10 September 1966 with RFA TIDEPOOL RAS’ed HMS DAMPIER and HMAS DIAMANTINA
19 September 1966 when 60 nmiles SW of Pratas Reef RASed with HMAS DIAMANTINA followed by HMS DAMPIER
31 October 1966 RASed with HMS DAMPIER and HMAS DIAMANTINA
12 December 1966 at the RAF Hospital, Aden Chief Steward James Houlton discharged dead from heart failure. He is buried in the Silent Valley Military Cemetary, Aden in Section 1, Row B Grave 9
29 December 1966 Captain Henry Carr RFA appointed as Master until 23 November 1967
Captain Henry Carr RFA
kindly donated by his son Robert Carr
16 March 1967 Mr K O’Neill RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 August 1968 Captain G Bray MBE RFA appointed as Master
14(?) November 1968 together with RFA RETAINER involved in a search for a Wasp Helicopter from Portland which had crashed into the sea off Torquay
1 January 1970 alongside at Grand Harbour Malta
2 January 1970 sailed Malta
3 January 1970 berthed at Augusta, Italy and loaded 2,237 tons of AVCAT
4 January 1970 berthed at Malta and discharged AVCAT cargo
5 January 1970 discharged 470 tons of FFO cargo
9 January 1970 entered No: 2 dry dock at Malta
14 January 1970 the dry dry dock was flooded up and she was berthed on the Dolphins Berth loading 510 tons of FFO
15 January 1970 sailed Malta
16 January 1970 alongside at Augusta, Italy and loaded 2,295 tons of diesel as cargo. Sailed Ausgusta
20 January 1970 arrived at Gibraltar and alongside on 41/42 berths
21 January 1970 to 24 January 1970 in Gibraltar exercise area
25 January 1970 alongside on 22 berth at Gibraltar
26 January 1970 to 10 February 1970 in Gibraltar exercise area
4 February 1970 RASed with HMS MINERVA
11 February 1970 berthed at Tangiers, Morroco
12 February 1970 at Gibraltar alongside RFA WAVE RULER (1) on No: 21 berth
19 February 1970 sailed Gibraltar
22 February 1970 berthed at the coaling pier at Portland
24 February 1970 sailed Portland
25 February 1970 berthed at No 3 Jetty, Isle of Grain and loaded 2,279 tons of diesel. Sailed from the Isle of Grain
26 February 1970 berthed alongside at Portland
2 March 1970 at Portland with RFA BLACK RANGER berthed alongside
4 March 1970 at Portland with HMS/m ACHERON berthed alongside
6 March 1970 deployed to the Portland Exercise Area
7 March 1970 at Portland with RFA BLACK RANGER berthed alongside
12 March 1970 at Portland with HMS/m ACHERON berthed alongside
18 March 1970 to 22 March 1970 at Portland with RFA BLACK RANGER berthed alongside
23 March 1970 deployed to the Portland Exercise Area
8 April 1970 sailed Portland
9 April 1970 berthed at Rotterdam on Berth 31 loading 2,119 tons of diesel
10 April 1970 sailed Rotterdam to Portland and berthed alongside RFA BLACK RANGER
14 April 1970 deployed to the Portland Exercise Area returning to Portland and berthing along RFA BLACK RANGER
15 April 1970 and 16 April 1970 deployed to the Portland Exercise Area
17 April 1970 at Portland berthed alongside RFA BLACK RANGER
21 April 1970 sailed Portland
23 April 1970 berthed at the Loch Striven Oil Fuel Jetty
24 April 1970 loaded 2,298 tons of AVCAT
25 April 1970 sailed Loch Striven Oil Fuel Jetty
27 April 1970 berthed at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty and discharged cargo sailing the same day
29 April 1970 berthed at the Loch Striven Oil Fuel Jetty and loaded 1,361 tons of AVCAT
30 April 1970 sailed Loch Striven Oil Fuel Jetty
2 May 1970 at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty berthed outboard of RFA TIDEPOOL. Discharged AVCAT cargo ashore
4 May 1970 sailed Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
6 May 1970 berthed at the Loch Striven Oil Fuel Jetty and loaded 2,246 tons of AVCAT
7 May 1970 sailed Loch Striven Oil Fuel Jetty
8 May 1970 berthed at Invergordon Oil Fuel Jetty and discharged 1,114 tons of AVCAT
9 May 1970 sailed Invergordon Oil Fuel Jetty
10 May 1970 berthed at the Loch Striven Oil Fuel Jetty and loaded 1,068 tons of AVCAT and sailed the same day
13 May 1970 berthed at Invergordon Oil Fuel Jetty and discharged 1,068 tons of AVCAT and sailed the same day
15 May 1970 berthed at the Loch Striven Oil Fuel Jetty and loaded 802 tons of AVCAT and sailed the same day
17 May 1970 berthed at Invergordon Oil Fuel Jetty and discharged 1,934 tons of AVCAT
18 May 1970 sailed Invergordon Oil Fuel Jetty
20 May 1970 anchored at Portland Harbour
21 May 1970 sailed Portland
28 May 1970 berthed at Augusta, Italy and loaded 2,206 tons of AVCAT
29 May 1970 sailed Augusta, Italy and berthed at Malta
30 May 1970 at Malta discharged 2,206 tons of AVCAT and sailed
31 May 1970 berthed at Augusta, Italy and loaded 2,191 tons of AVCAT
1 June 1970 sailed Augusta, Italy and berthed at Palatorial Wharf, Malta. Discharged 2,191 tons of AVCAT ashore
5 June 1970 sailed Malta
8 June 1970 berthed at Gibraltar on Number 20 berth
10 June 1970 sailed Gibraltar
16 June 1970 anchored off Funchal, Maderia
19 June 1970 berthed at the NATO Oil Jetty at Rio Tejo, Lisbon
20 June 1970 at Rio Tejo, Lisbon loaded 1,464 tons of AVCAT
21 June 1970 sailed Rio Tejo, Lisbon
24 June 1970 berthed at Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty, Devonport and discharged 1,464 tons of AVCAT
25 June 1970 sailed Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty, Devonport
26 June 1970 arrived at Portland and berthed alongside RFA BLACK RANGER
29 June 1970 sailed Portland to the Portland Exercise Area
1 February 1971 RAS’ed with HMS MINERVA in the South Atlantic
30 November 1971 the Aberdeen Press & Journal reported –
9 July 1972 at Portland
1 September 1972 at Portsmouth
14 February 1973 at Portland
5 May 1973 at Invergordon
1973 presented with a Meritorious Unit Commendation by the U.S. Navy’s Chief of Naval Personnel in recognition of her contribution to a joint US / UK oceanographic operation ( Task Group 81.3 ) in the North Atlantic
1974 her last major duty was supporting HM ships on Pitcairn Island Patrol during the French nuclear tests in that area
20 June 1974 visited Pitcairn Island, Pacific when on passage from Panama together with RFA SIR PERCIVALE
17 September 1974 visited Pitcairn Island, Pacific delivering stores sent by the New Zealand Government. The crew received fruit from grateful islanders
November 1974 was destored and laid up at Portsmouth
February 1975 placed on the Disposal List
8 February 1975 advertised for sale by the Department of Trade ‘as lying’ at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth in the Times newspaper of this day
April 1975 purchased by Manuel Hevia Gonzales, Gijon.
21 May 1975 sailed Devonport in tow of Spanish tug INIGO-LOPEZ-TAPIA for scrap
28 May 1975 arrived at Gijon, Spain for breaking up by Desguaces Hevi
Notes:
1. After the North Africa Landings she became Port Oiler at Bone for a few weeks and escaped damage during numerous air raids. She then proceeded to Algiers for additional anti-aircraft guns to be fitted. This took several months and during this time she acted as Port Oiler there.
2. After her Mediterranean service she proceeded to join the British Pacific Fleet and was at the Leyte operations being used as a Water Carrier.
3. Took part in the re-occupation of Hong Kong and Shanghai and was then in Japan for some months before returning to the UK to accompany the battleship HMS VANGUARD on the Royal Tour to South Africa
4. Was part of the British Pacific Fleet train – hence the B-pennant number