RFA CRENELLA
Previous name: Montcalm, HMS Audacious
Subsequent name: Rey Alfonso, Anglo Norse, Polar Chief, Empire Chief
Official Number: 106869
Class: Dummy Battleship / Storeship / Oiler
Pennant No: X 04 / X 71 / Y7.143
Signal Letters: PTDS (1911)
Laid down:
Builder: Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow.
Launched: 17 May 1897
Into Service: 18 November 1916
Out of service: 1919
Fate: 1952 scrapped
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: Some official lists, marked as “Lists of RFA’s” show a number of vessels as having spent some time as RFA’s during the First World War. These records are extremely sketchy and some of these vessels were “Yard Craft”, partially or wholly Dockyard manned, partly by RNR or Reserve Fleet personnel. Some of the Depot Ships staffed by skilled civilian Dockyard workers were for a time White Ensign. The Director of Stores was understood to have been concerned with their manning and operationally they remained under Admiralty control
17 May 1897 Launched by Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Jarrow as Yard Nr 724 named Montcalm for African Steamship Co (Elder, Dempster & Co, Managers) Liverpool
25 May 1897 Lloyds List newspaper reported …
August 1897 completed
3 September 1897 maiden voyage from Avonmouth to Montreal. Carried 12 x 2nd Class passengers
14 September 1897 sailed Montreal for Avonmouth arriving 27 September 1897
1 October 1897 sailed Avonmouth for Montreal
27 November 1897 arrived at Avonmouth from Montreal
1898 chartered by Atlantic Transport Line for 13 months
19 September 1898 at Montreal Able Seaman Hugh Jones discharged dead from injuries sustained after falling into the hold
13 November 1898 first voyage for ATL Bristol – New York – London
24 December 1898 first voyage for ATL from London to New York
3 June 1899 sailed Gravesend for New York
30 June 1899 passed the Isles of Scilly while on passage from New York to London
18 November 1899 sailed London for New York
3 January 1900 sailed New York for London
24 January 1900 last voyage for ATL having completed 11 round voyages on charter
11 February 1900 arrived at New York from London
27 February 1900 Lloyds List newspaper reported –
27 April 1900 arrived Cape Town with Yeomanry remounts
13 June 1900 first voyage New Orleans to Cape Town as a Boer War Transport and completed 6 round voyages
5 September 1900 the Sheffield Daily Telegraph reported –
1 April 1901 1st Mate O C Fitzgerald discharged dead from injuries sustained when he hit his head on iron work on the ship
22 November 1901 at Tonro Hospital, New Orleans Surgeon Philo H Banks discharged dead from Typhoid Fever
June 1902 first voyage Avonmouth to Montreal and completed 4 round voyages
10 December 1902 last voyage Liverpool to St John N.B
6 April 1903 acquired by Canadian Pacific Railway Co, Liverpool and converted to carry 70 x 2nd Class and 1800 x 3rd Class passengers
21 May 1903 sailed Swansea
13 August 1903 arrived Avonmouth from Montreal
31 August 1903 sailed Bristol to Montreal with 11 passengers. Captain A E Evans was Master
26 May 1904 at 0410hrs while on passage from Montreal to Bristol passed the Old Head of Kinsale
1 February 1905 arrived at Avonmouth Docks from St John, NB
25 August 1905 arrived at Bristol Roads from Montreal
7 July 1906 while on passage from Avonmouth to Montreal passed Cape Ray
17 October 1906 berthed at Liverpool from Montreal
22 August 1907 arrived on the Mersey from Montreal and then sailed for Avonmouth
7 December 1907 sailed Avonmouth for St. Johns, N.B.
19 August 1908 sailed Barry Dock to Montreal with 3 passengers. Captain C W Hodder was Master
22 September 1908 sailed Avonmouth for Montreal with 2 passengers. Captain C W Hodder was Master
3 November 1908 sailed Avonmouth for Montreal with 1 passenger. Captain C W Hodder was Master
6 December 1908 arrived at Greenock
7 March 1909 on passage from St. John, New Brunswick for Avonmouth pass the Old Head of Kinsale
8 June 1909 on passage from Montreal to Avonmouth passed Brow Head
11 October 1909 arrived Avonmouth from Montreal
7 November 1909 on passage from Avonmouth to Montreal passed Quebec
28 December 1909 having sailed Avonmouth for Montreal signalled Brow Head by wireless
10 March 1910 arrived Avonmouth from St. John, New Brunswick
7 April 1910 sailed St. John, New Brunswick for Avonmouth
18 July 1910 arrived Quebec from Avonmouth
16 September 1910 at Sea Able Seaman John Logue discharged dead having committed suicide
22 April 1911 arrived at Falmouth
28 July 1911 arrived at Avonmouth from Montreal
9 July 1912 while on passage from Montreal to Avonmouth passed the Fastnet this day
5 October 1912 arrived Avonmouth Dock from Montreal
20 March 1913 at Rodney Slip, St John, New Brunswick Fireman Thomas Ford discharged dead having accidentally drowned
8 February 1913 arrived St John, New Brunswick from Liverpool
11 March 1913 arrived at Greenock
14 May 1913 sailed Montreal for Liverpool
16 June 1913 while on passage from from Avonmouth to Montreal arrived Quebec
3 July 1913 arrived Avonmouth from Montreal
2 August 1913 sailed Montreal for Avonmouth
7 November 1913 arrived Avonmouth from Montreal
August 1914 requisitioned for service as a B.E.F. Transport
30 September 1914 berthed at Quebec from London
24 October 1914 arrived at Gravesend from Montreal
28 October 1914 taken up by the Admiralty as the dummy battleship HMS Audacious
6 July 1915 DBS Squadron disbanded; became a store ship
29 January 1916 purchased by the Admiralty as a store ship and later converted to be a tanker – renamed RFA CRENELLA. Only owned by the Admiralty for about 20 months
21 May 1916 at Montreal Trimmer Thomas Bennett discharged dead having accidentally drowned
26 October 1916 conversion completed; management transferred to Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London
18 November 1916 renamed CRENELLA
8 January 1917 at sea Chief Steward Charles James Raven discharged dead – found missing presumed drowned
21 March 1917 at approx 51.32N 10.17W (by DR) escorted by HMS JESSAMINE
11 October 1917 ownership transferred to the Shipping Controller
26 November 1917 while in ballast enroute from Queenstown to the USA was torpedoed by German submarine U101 (Kapitänleutnant Karl Koopman) when 146 miles west of Queenstown, Ireland at 49.47N, 10.58W but managed to reach port with standing by and giving damage control assistance which kept Crenella from sinking.
USS Cushing II (DD55)
1 August 1918 attacked by submarine off SW Ireland but torpedo missed its target
22 September 1918 at 27°06N 79°59W Fireman and Trimmer Richard McKinnon discharged dead – drowned
19 December 1918 passed Key West
6 March 1919 sailed Glasgow to the Gareloch in ballast
16 August 1919 to 26 September 1919 supported the UK and American minesweepers engaged in clearing the 50,000 mines laid over an area of 6,000 square miles in the North Sea between Scotland and Norway in the Northern Barrage in an attempt to prevent the egress of German submarines during WW1 assisted by RFA‘s ASPENLEAF, HICKOROL and PETRONEL
26 November 1919 purchased by Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London and retained same name
14 July 1920 sailed Tampico for LEFO
19 October 1920 purchased by Velefa Steamship Co Ltd (Runciman (London) Ltd, Managers) London name unchanged
13 June 1921 70 nmiles north of Key West, Florida
17 June 1921 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Rouen, France
5 July 1921 60 nmiles west of Sand Key
26 August 1921 sailed from Port Arthur, Texas for a British port
20 June 1923 purchased for £24,000 by A/S Larvik Hvalfaugerselsk (Chr. Nielsen & Co A/S, Managers) Larvik, fitted out as a whaling depot ship and renamed Rey Alfonso
6 February 1925 arrived off Brixham from Huelva sailing the same day for Haugesund
1925 purchased by H.M. Wrangell & Co A/S, Haugesund name unchanged.
1927 purchased by Anglo Norse Co ( Hans Borge, Manager ) Tonsberg and renamed ANGLO NORSE. Was based at the South Sandwich Islands fitted with 4 x 50 ton derricks for the decking of whales for flensing
as Anglo Norse
8 November 1927 arrived at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands from Las Palmas
5 October 1928 arrived at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands from Newport, Monmouthshire
August 1929 purchased by Falkland Whaling Co Ltd, Jersey and renamed POLAR CHIEF
September 1939 laid up at Tonsberg, Norway but escaped to the UK before German troops invaded that country
8 December 1939 departed Norwegian Waters in Convoy HN 5 to the Clyde arriving on 25 December 1939
10 January 1940 sailed the Clyde independently to Liverpool arriving the next day
16 January 1940 sailed Liverpool in convoy OB73 and then independently to Curacao arriving on 5 February 1940
6 February 1940 sailed Curaçao independently to South Georgia arriving 2 March 1940
9 March 1940 sailed South Georgia independently to Aruba arriving 31 March 1940
2 April 1940 sailed Aruba independently to Halifax arriving 13 April 1940
14 April 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX35 with a cargo of FFO to the Downs arriving 29 April 1940
27 July 1940 sailed Southend in convoy FN234 to Methil arriving 29 July 1940
30 July 1940 sailed Methil in convoy OA192 which dispersed on 3 August 1940 sailed independently into Liverpool the same day
6 August 1940 sailed Liverpool independently to Barry arriving 8 August 1940
15 August 1940 sailed Barry independently to the Clyde
2 October 1940 sailed the Clyde independently to Barry arriving 4 October 1940
8 October 1940 sailed Barry independently to the Clyde arriving 10 October 1940
21 October 1940 sailed the Clyde independently to Barry arriving 24 October 1940
19 November 1940 sailed Barry independently to the Clyde arriving on 28 November 1940
1 December 1940 sailed the Clyde independently to Barry arriving 3 December 1940
13 December 1940 sailed Barry independently to the Clyde arriving 15 December 1940
27 December 1940 sailed the Clyde in convoy OB 265 which dispersed on 30 December 1940 and then independently to Curacao arriving 18 January 1941
11 March 1941 sailed Curacao independently to Halifax arriving 24 March 1941
11 April 1941 sailed Halifax independently to New York arriving 17 April 1941
2 July 1941 acquired by the MoWT under management of Chr. Salvesen & Co, Leith
8 July 1941 sailed New York independently to Halifax arriving 11 July 1941
27 July 1941 sailed Halifax in convoy HX141 to Belfast Lough arriving 10 August 1941
13 August 1941 sailed Belfast Lough in convoy BB61 to Avonmouth arriving 15 August 1941
23 August 1941 sailed Avonmouth independently to Milford Haven arriving the next day
25 August 1941 sailed Milford Haven and joined convoy ON10 which dispersed on the 11 September 1941 and then sailed independently to New York arriving 16 September 1941
16 October 1941 sailed New York independently to Halifax arriving 19 October 1941
22 October 1941 Sailed Halifax in convoy HX 156 arriving Belfast Lough 4 November 1941
9 November 1941 sailed Belfast Lough in convoy BB 98 to Avonmouth arriving 12 November 1941
17 November 1941 renamed Empire Chief
as Empire Chief during WW2
9 December 1941 sailed Avonmouth independently to Milford Haven arriving 11 December 1941
12 December 1941 sailed Milford Haven independently to Belfast Lough arriving the next day
14 December 1941 sailed Belfast Lough in convoy ON46 along with RFA DELPHINULA the convoy then dispersed and she sailed independently to Reykjavik arriving 22 December 1941
January 1942 ran aground at Reykjavik, Iceland was refloated and temporarily repaired allowing her to reach the UK for permanent repair
8 July 1942 sailed Reykjavik in tow to the Tyne arriving 15 July 1942
17 February 1942 sailed the Tyne and joined convoy FN946 to Methil arriving the next day
25 March 1943 sailed New York in convoy HX231 arriving at Belfast Lough on 10 April 1943 with a cargo of fuel oil
10 April 1943 sailed Belfast Lough in convoy BB278 to Avonmouth arriving 12 April 1943
15 April 1943 sailed Avonmouth independently to Barry arriving the same day
29 April 1943 directions from the Admiralty – Polar Chief was not to be fitted for oiling at sea due to stability problems – Admiralty War Diary
20 May 1943 sailed Barry independently to Milford Haven arriving 22 May 1943
23 May 1943 sailed Milford Haven and joined the Liverpool to New York convoy ON186 arriving New York 7 June 1943
15 June 1943 sailed New York in convoy HX244 arriving at Liverpool on 30 June 1943 with a cargo of fuel oil
7 August 1943 sailed New York in convoy HX251 arriving at Belfast Lough on 22 August 1943 with a cargo of fuel oil
22 August 1943 sailed Belfast Lough in convoy BB317 to Swansea arriving 25 August 1943
30 August 1943 sailed Swansea independently to Barry arriving the next day
16 October 1943 sailed Barry independently to Milford Haven arriving the same day
17 October 1943 sailed Milford Haven to join the Liverpool to New York convoy ON 207 to New York arriving 3 November 1943
13 November 1943 sailed New York in convoy HX266 arriving at the Clyde on 26 November 1943 with a cargo of fuel oil
9 December 1943 sailed the Clyde to join the Liverpool to New York convoy ON215 but returned to the Clyde on the 14 December 1943
23 December 1943 sailed the Clyde and joined the Liverpool to New York convoy ON 217 arriving New York on 10 January 1944
12 January 1944 sailed New York in convoy NG410 to Guantamano Bay arriving 18 January 1944
18 January 1944 sailed Guantamano in convoy GAT112 to Aruba arriving 21 January 1944
22 January 1944 sailed Aruba in convoy AW142 to Curacao arriving the next day
26 January 1944 sailed Curacao in convoy TAG111 to Guantamano arriving 29 January 1944
29 January 1944 sailed Guantamano in convoy GN112 to New York arriving 5 February 1944
22 February 1944 sailed New York independently to Aruba arriving 29 February 1944
2 March 1944 sailed Aruba to Curacao arriving the same day
6 March 1944 sailed Curacao in convoy TAG119 to Guantamano arriving 9 March 1944
9 March 1944 sailed Guantamano in convoy GN119 to New York arriving 17 March 1944
6 April 1944 sailed New York in convoy NG427 to Guantamano arriving 14 April 1944
14 April 1944 sailed Guantamano in convoy GAT129 to Aruba arriving 17 April 1944
18 April 1944 sailed Aruba independently to Guantamano arriving 20 April 1944
23 April 1944 sailed Guantamano in convoy GN128 to New York arriving 1 May 1944
6 May 1944 sailed New York in convoy NG433 to Guantamano arriving 12 May 1944
12 May 1944 sailed Guantamano in convoy GAT135 to Aruba arriving 15 May 1944
16 May 1944 sailed Aruba independently to New York arriving 23 May 1944
13 August 1944 sailed New York independently to Houston arriving on 21 August 1944
22 August 1944 sailed Houston independently to Charleston SC arriving on 28 August 1944
30 August 1944 sailed Charleston SC in convoy KN334 to Portland ME arriving 2 September 1944
6 September 1944 sailed Portland ME independently to New York arriving the next day
8 September 1944 sailed New York in convoy NG458 – was detached from this convoy and sailed independently to Aruba arriving 15 September 1944
20 September 1944 sailed Guantamano in convoy GN158 to Hampton Roads arriving 26 September 1944
28 September 1944 sailed Hampton Roads independently to New York arriving the next day
3 May 1945 sailed New York in convoy HX354 arriving at Liverpool on 18 May 1945 with a cargo of fuel oil and acids
5 October 1945 sailed Curacao independently to Swansea arriving 25 October 1945
27 October 1945 sailed Swansea independently to Barry arriving the same day
3 August 1946 purchased by South Georgia Co Ltd ( Chr. Salvesen & Co, Managers) Leith and renamed POLAR CHIEF
24 August 1947 berthed at Avonmouth from South Georgia unloading 620 tons of whale bone meal, whale oil, sperm oil and salted whale livers. She also carried FFO from Aruba
29 August 1947 sailed Avonmouth to Cardiff
29 April 1952 arrived for breaking up at Dalmuir by W H Arnott Young & Co
22 June 1952 the partially-demolished ship arrived Troon for final demolition by West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co Ltd.
23 June 1952 final demolition commenced
27 August 1952 hulk beached
12 January 1953 demolition finally completed
Notes:
1. When Elder Dempster sold their Canadian interests (Beaver Line) to the Canadian Pacific Railway Co for the sum of £1,417,500, a total of 14 ships plus 3 tugs were involved in the deal and these were as follows: LAKE CHAMPLAIN (RUTHENIA), LAKE ERIE (SAXOL), LAKE MANITOBA, LAKE MICHIGAN, MILWAUKEE, MONTCALM (CRENELLA), MONTEAGLE, MONTEREY, MONTEZUMA (ABADOL), MONTORT, MONTREAL, MOUNT ROYAL (RANGOL), MOUNT TEMPLE & MONTROSE and the 3 Liverpool tugs AFRICAN, BEAVER & OTTER