RFA Dewdale (1)
Official Number: 168186
Class: 1st DALE CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: X51 / A151
Laid down: 29 December 1939
Builder: Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Launched: 17 February 1941
Into Service: 14 June 1941
Out of service: 6 May 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 for 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
17 February 1941 launched by Cammell Laird Ltd., Birkenhead as Yard Nr: 1054 named DEWDALE (1) for the MoWT and originally intended for management by Eagle Oil Transport Co Ltd., London.
5 March 1941 Mr Mortimer J Lawrence RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Mortimer J Lawrence RFA
28 April 1941 Captain Robert I Grimer RFA appointed as Master
Captain Robert I Grimer RFA
image taken in about 1919
14 June 1941 completed and acquired by the Admiralty. Operated as a tanker with limited LSG capability carrying 15 LCMs with accommodation for 150 military personnel.
16 June 1941 sailed Liverpool
17 June 1941 arrived at Inverary
16 July 1941 arrived the Clyde and between this date 13 September 1941 was in various ports in the N W Scotland area
8 August 1941 allocated to Exercise Leapfrog for Operation Pilgrim – the proposed action against the Canary Islands – along with RFA‘s ENNERDALE(1) and DENBYDALE
9 August 1941 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy WS8C to Scapa Flow along with RFA ENNERDALE and 17 other ships escorted by eight destroyers arriving the next day
12 August 1941 allocated to Operation Pilgrim
15 August 1941 Operation Pilgrim cancelled – sailed Scapa Flow to the Clyde arriving 17 August 1941
23 August 1941 at Greenock
11 September 1941 at Greenock
13 September 1941 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy OS6 to Freetown arriving 3 October 1941
October 1941 served with Force Q to the South Africa Station
23 October 1941 declared as not being suitable for use as a mobile oiler
26 January 1942 sailed Freetown in escorted convoy SL99 for Gibraltar arriving 8 February 1942
22 February 1942 sailed Gibraltar in escorted convoy HG79 for the Clyde arriving 7 March 1942
12 March 1942 at Tail of Bank
22 October 1942 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy KMS 1G with RFA DERWENTDALE for Algiers arriving 8 November 1942 for service during Operation Torch – the Allied Landings in French North Africa. Other RFA‘s involved were RFA’s ABBEYDALE, BROWN RANGER, DERWENTDALE (1), DINGLEDALE, ENNERDALE (1), NASPRITE and VISCOL. She was awarded the North Africa 1942-43 Battle Honour.
During Operation Torch her landing craft were used in the first assault waves during the North African landing
9 November 1942 arrived Bougie, Algeria to provide fuelling support to the Fleet
12 November 1942 bombed at Algiers together with the Dutch troopship MARNIX VAN SIN ALDEGONDE. Between 1000 and 1100hrs attacked by 30 German aircraft and shot down two Ju 88. At 1240hrs attacked by 6 German torpedo bombers. Two were shot down one being claimed by RFA DEWDALE. Reported in official reports that Dewdale’s gunnery efficiency saved the ship. (See LG 23 March 1949 page 1520). 1655hrs attacked again by torpedo bombers without being hit. The only damage caused was to the Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA. Sailed during the night.
20 November 1942 suffered a direct bomb hit port side No 6 tank during an air attack at Bassin de Mustapha, Port d’Alger. There were no RFA fatalities. There was one RN crew member however who was killed – Stoker 2nd Class Reginald William Larkins P/KX 148166. He is buried in La Reunion War Cemetery, Bejaia, Algeria
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
21 November 1942 sailed Gibraltar in escoted convoy MKS1Y returning to Gibraltar two days later
13 December 1942 at Algiers DEMS Gunner Lance Sergeant Archibald Mortimer Bell discharged dead from an accident ashore. He is buried at Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery, Algiera in Grave 3. J. 10 (The CWGC Debt of Honour record shows Lance Sergeant Bell’s name as Archibald MacIntyre Bell)
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
29 December 1942 further damaged by a mine at Algiers
16 January 1943 to 21 March 1943 under repair at Algiers
March 1943 again bombed and damaged at Algiers
23 March 1943 sailed Bone in escorted convoy MKS10 arriving Liverpool for permanent repairs and for further conversion work as an LSG on 5 April 1943
11 May 1943 Captain Robert Grimer RFA and Chief Engineer Officer Mortimer J Lawrence RFA both awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Gunner George W Tribble 3251188 awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), Sergeant Archie McI Bell 2909212 was mentioned in despatches (postumously), 2nd Officer Leslie R Galloway RFA, Petty Officer Edward Ayton C/J 94299, Acting Seargeant William Maynard Ply 18397, Royal Marines, Cook William S Campbell RFA and Seaman Gerald R Joy RFA were eached mentioned in despatches – the awards and mentions were published in the Supplement of the London Gazette of this day page 2112
28 June 1943 repairs and conversion completed. Was now equipped with 4 gantry crane extensions which travelled the Main Deck on rails and lowered the 15 LCM(1′)s carried over the side in a 30 minute period. These LCM’s were 48.5 feet in length and of 36 tons complete with military transport vehicles and were stowed on rollers in 3 rows on deck with minimum interference to the original tanker function of the vessels. Initially no accommodation was provided for the LCM crews but later conversions saw the forehold and nos 8 and 9 tanks fitted with tween decks and altered to accommodate 150 additional personnel and extra accommodation was built on the bridge and boat decks aft for the personnel engaged in handling the vehicles
4 September 1943 Captain Leslie J Mack DSO RFA appointed as Master
30 September 1943 sailed the Clyde in convoy UA2 to the Azores arriving 9 October 1943
From: – Geoff Pringle at www.oldnautibits.com
25 October 1943 at Horta in the Azores to take part in Operation Alacrity – a secret plan to establish Allied bases in the Azores
5 November 1943 the Admiralty War Diary reports that DEWDALE and HMS BACHAQUERO (converted tanker into a LST) sailed this day from the Azores to the UK escorted by HMS’s HAVELOCK, WARWICK, VOLUNTEER, GODETIA and BUTTERCUP
HMS BACHAQUERO
4 December 1943 sailed Loch Ewe in unescorted Convoy WN 513 arrived Methil on 6 December 1943
2 February 1944 sailed Invergordon arriving at the Clyde the next day
13 February 1944 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy OS68KM in company with RFA’s ECHODALE and ENNERDALE (1) to Gibraltar arriving 25 February 1944
25 February 1944 sailed Gibraltar in escorted convoy KMS 42 along with RFA ECHODALE and HMS SALVAGE DUKE to Algiers arriving 27 February 1944
3 March 1944 sailed Algiers arriving Bougie the same day
4 March 1944 sailed Bougie in convoy UGS33 to Augusta arriving 9 March 1944
13 March 1944 sailed Naples in convoy NV26 to Augusta arriving 14 March 1944
17 March 1944 arrived at Malta GC
21 March 1944 sailed Malta GC in escorted convoy GUS34 to Bougie arriving 23 March 1944
29 March 1944 sailed Bougie in convoy KMS45 in company with RFA ENNERDALE (1) to Augusta arriving 2 April 1944 whereas the Convoy continued on to Port Said, arriving there on 6 April 1944
2 April 1944 sailed Augusta in company with RFA ENNERDALE (1) in escorted convoy VN31 to Naples arriving on 4 April 1944
12 April 1944 sailed Naples in convoy NV32 to Messina arriving the next day
1 May 1944 sailed Augusta in convoy AH40 to Taranto arriving the next day
20 July 1944 sailed Malta GC
31 July 1944 at Castellamere Bay in collision with USS Lyon (AP71) minor damage sustained
USS Lyon (AP71)
12 August 1944 sailed Naples in convoy SM1A in Operation Dragoon – the Allied invasion of the south of France – carrying 14 Landing Craft, fuel oil, diesel and fresh water. Other RFA’s involved were RFA’s CELEROL, ENNERDALE (1) and NASPRITE
15 August 1944 arrived at her assigned beachhead and was near missed by a glider bomb
17 August 1944 off La Chretienne, France with USS Speed (AM 116) alongside to refuel – received 15,907 gallons of diesel oil
USS SPEED
19 August 1944 Cape Drammont, France with USS Boyle (DD600) and USS Champlin (DD601) alongside to refuel
26 August 1944 arrived at Naples sailing the same day to Messina
27 August 1944 arrived at Messina
29 August 1944 sailed from Messina and arrived at Augusta the same day
1 September 1944 sailed from Augusta returning there 4 September 1944 and then at Malta the next day
17 October 1944 Mr William J Littledale MBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 January 1945 arrived at Malta GC
11 January 1945 sailed Malta GC independently to Salonika arriving 14 January 1945
22 January 1945 sailed Salonika
28 February 1945 sailed Malta GC independently to Alexandria arriving 3 March 1945
3 March 1945 to 15 March 1945 undergoing repairs at Alexandria
13 May 1945 sailed Alexandria independently to Augusta arriving 16 May 1945
18 May 1945 sailed Augusta independently to Port Said arriving 22 May 1945
23 May 1945 sailed Suez independently to Aden arriving 28 May 1945
28 May 1945 sailed Aden independently to Bombay arriving 3 June 1945
3 June 1945 at Bombay under repair
11 August 1945 2nd Officer John Wilson Thompson RFA discharged dead
2nd Officer John W Thompson RFA
He drowned and is buried in Trincomalee War Cemetery in Plot I Row B Grave 5
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
15 August 1945 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon independently to Madras arriving 17 August 1945
28 August 1945 sailed Trincomalee with HMS KEDAH, HMHS AMARAPOORA and 26 LCI (L)’s as part of Operation Tiderace – the occupaption of Singapore
25 September 1945 first RFA to enter Singapore after it’s liberation.
2 October 1945 sailed Colombo, Ceylon independently to Bombay arriving 6 October 1945
4 October 1945 Captain George F Rutter RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain George F Rutter RFA
13 October 1945 sailed Bombay to Singapore
27 October 1945 sailed Singapore independently to Bombay arriving 7 November 1945
26 November 1945 sailed Bombay to Cochin
1 December 1945 sailed Cochin independently to Colombo arriving 3 December 1945
4 December 1945 sailed Colombo independently to Singapore arriving 9 December 1945
11 December 1945 sailed Singapore to Port Swettenham
17 December 1945 arrived at Singapore
7 January 1946 sailed Singapore to Cochin arriving 17 January 1946
21 January 1946 arrived Colombo and then to Bombaby arriving 1 February 1946
27 February 1946 sailed Bombay to Singapore arriving 10 March 1946
15 April 1946 arrived at Batavia from Singapore
27 April 1945 arrived at Singapore from Batavia
2 May 1946 sailed Singapore to Colombo arriving 12 May 1946
19 May 1946 sailed Colombo to Abadan
6 July 1946 berthed in Portsmouth Harbour from the Far East to have her four landing craft gantries removed. It was reported in the Hampshire Telegraph & Post and Naval Chronicle newspaper of the 12 July 1946 that the ships crew could deploy the gantries and unload 15 landing craft in 23 minutes.
March 1947 reconversion to a tanker completed at Portsmouth and resumed normal RFA duties. With her sisters RFA’s DERWENTDALE (1) and ENNERDALE (1) they all retained the extra accommodation on the boat decks aft and at the request of the MoT they were kept on the Trinidad / UK run carrying oil for the Navy but with the extra accommodation utilized for the carriage of twelve passengers at a time until the deficiency of passenger berths was made up with new commercial tonnage
15 March 1947 The Sphere news magazine published drawings of various merchant ships which had a wartime conversion for military duties –
14 August 1947 while on passage from Abadan to Devonport passed Gibraltar this day
27 August 1947 Mr J B D Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 October 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north
3 November 1947 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne from Rosyth for repairs
11 November 1947 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for repairs at the same time as RFA WAVE LAIRD
18 November 1947 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for repairs at the same time as RFA WAVE LAIRD
20 November 1947 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan via Malta
21 January 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
2 February 1948 Captain Sydney T Dunster RFA appointed as Master
26 February 1948 at El Ballah, Egypt Tindal Bagallee Bahadur discharged dead from leukaemia
10 May 1948 Captain Geoffrey B A Livesey RFA appointed as Master
27 June 1948 sailed from Bombay for Sydney, NSW, Australia
24 July 1948 arrived Sydney, NSW, Australia
5 August 1948 passed Thursday Island
23 August 1948 arrived at Bombay from Sydney, NSW, Australia
2 September 1948 sailed from Bombay
9 September 1948 sailed Abadan for Port Said
17 September 1948 passed Aden
24 September 1948 arrived at Port Said sailing the same day
1 October 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for the River Clyde
18 October 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
25 October 1948 arrived at Port Said
26 October 1948 sailed Suez
1 November 1948 passed Aden
8 November 1948 arrived at Abadan
9 November 1948 sailed Abadan for Aden
22 November 1948 arrived at Suez
2 December 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
21 December 1948 sailed Cardiff to Trinidad with 3 passengers
9 January 1949 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
3 March 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn, River Tyne
19 March 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn, River Tyne
21 March 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn, River Tyne
23 March 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn, River Tyne
31 March 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA BISHOPSDALE
7 April 1949 sailed from the River Tyne but had to put back with engine trouble
26 April 1949 sailed from Trinidad
12 May 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
13 May 1949 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
17 May 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
21 May 1949 sailed Gibraltar for Abadan
28 May 1949 arrived Port Said
4 June 1949 sailed Suez
9 June 1949 passed Aden
15 June 1949 arrived at Bombay
17 June 1949 sailed Bombay for Abadan
24 June 1949 arrived at Abadan
26 June 1949 sailed Abadan for Port Said
10 July 1949 arrived Suez from Abadan
11 July 1949 arrived at Port Said
25 July 1949 while on passage from Abadan to Devonport passed Gibraltar this day
29 July 1949 Mr George Bray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 August 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
18 August 1949 sailed from Trinidad for LEFO
28 August 1949 while on passage from Trinidad passed Fayal this day
7 September 1949 sailed Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde for Trinidad in ballast
17 October 1949 berthed on the Oil Fuel Jetty at Portsmouth Harbour
24 October 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
25 November 1949 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
28 January 1950 Captain R Grimer DSC RFA appointed as Master
31 January 1950 berthed at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde to discharge after a voyage from Point a Pierre, Trinidad with 5 passengers
27 April 1950 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master
Captain Walter L Holtam RFA
4 May 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
8 June 1950 arrived at Port Said
29 June 1950 sailed Glasgow to Trinidad with 8 passengers
16 July 1950 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
1 August 1950 berthed at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde to discharge after a voyage from Point-a-Pierre, Trinidad with 10 passengers
24 August 1950 sailed Trinidad
28 November 1950 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand
27 April 1951 berthed at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde to discharge after a voyage from Point-a-Pierre, Trinidad with 14 passengers
7 June 1951 berthed at Sheerness to discharge after a voyage from Point-a-Pierre, Trinidad with 9 passengers
27 June 1951 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
19 July 1951 Captain R Grimer DSC RFA appointed as Master
24 July 1951 on passage from Rosyth to the River Tyne and berthed at Palmers, eEbburn on Tyne
27 July 1951 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs or refit
31 July 1951 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs or refit
7 August 1951 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs or refit
30 August 1951 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs or refit
6 September 1951 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs or refit
14 September 1951 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs or refit
28 September 1951 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for repairs or refit
4 October 1951 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE MONARCH for repairs or refit
11 October 1951 sailed from Hebburn on Tyne to Point-a-Pierre, Trinidad with 8 passengers
29 October 1951 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
14 November 1951 passed the Lizard
29 November 1951 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE MONARCH
18 December 1951 sailed Bermuda for Trinidad
16 January 1952 arrived at Gibraltar
2 February 1952 arrived at Aden
7 February 1952 sailed Aden
15 February 1952 sailed from Bombay, India
21 February 1952 arrived at Mena Al Ahmadi
3 March 1952 sailed from Aden
24 March 1952 berthed at Swansea from Mena Al Ahmadi with 1 passenger
25 March 1952 Mr C Jeremiah RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 May 1952 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad
21 June 1952 Ships Writer William John Wilson discharged dead having drowned at Valetta, Malta. He is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta
Image courtesy of British War Graves with thanks
10 July 1952 arrived at Trinidad
19 July 1952 sailed from Trinidad
13 August 1952 arrived Malta
21 August 1952 arrived Port Said
24 August 1952 arrived at Suez
6 September 1952 sailed Bahrein for Aden
24 September 1952 arrived Mena Al Ahmadi
27 September 1952 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi
9 October 1952 arrived at Suez
11 October 1952 sailed Port Said
25 October 1952 arrived at Dunkirk
27 October 1952 sailed from Dunkirk for Cardiff
13 November 1952 Captain Russell G Edmonds RFA appointed as Master
9 July 1953 arrived at Singapore
5 October 1953 arrived at Chowder Bay, Mosman, NSW, Australia from Ras Tanura to discharge
27 December 1953 Captain Frank A Shaw RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
31 December 1953 Mr J E Kennedy RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 September 1954 arrived Chowder Bay, Mosman, NSW, Australia from Bahrein to discharge
16 September 1954 sailed Garden Island, Sydney, NSW, Australia for Colombo, Ceylon
5 December 1954 Captain D A C Butler RFA appointed as Master
8 December 1954 Mr S Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 February 1955 sailed Bermuda for Trinidad
12 February 1955 sailed Trinidad for the UK
15 March 1955 Mr Charles Scott DSC RFA appointed as relieving Chief Engineer Officer
17 March 1955 alongside at Palmers, Hebburn together with RFA RETAINER which was fitting out
19 March 1955 alongside at Palmers, Hebburn together with RFA RETAINER which was fitting out
24 March 1955 alongside at Palmers, Hebburn together with RFA RETAINER which was fitting out and RFA WAVE KNIGHT (1) which was in refit
30 March 1955 Captain William R Parker RFA appointed as Master
14 April 1955 alongside at Palmers, Hebburn together with RFA RETAINER which was fitting out and RFA WAVE KNIGHT (1) which was in refit
19 April 1955 alongside at Palmers, Hebburn together with RFA WAVE KNIGHT (1) in refit
2 June 1955 berthed on the River Tyne
25 June 1955 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend on Tyne together with RFA’s WAVE KNIGHT (1) and TIDEREACH
11 July 1955 Captain Samuel Thomas RFA appointed as Master
15 July 1955 engaged Officers at the Newcastle Shipping Office
3 August 1955 sailed the River Tyne on trials
10 August 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
19 August 1955 sailed from Suez
1 September 1955 arrived at Abadan
10 September 1955 arrived at Bombay
15 September 1955 berthed at Trincomalee, Ceylon
17 September 1955 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon for Bahrein
26 September 1955 arrived at Bahrein
28 September 1955 sailed Bahrein for Malta
10 October 1955 arrived at Suez
11 October 1955 sailed from Port Said
15 October 1955 arrived at Malta
17 October 1955 sailed Malta for Port Said
21 October 1955 arrived at Port Said
9 November 1955 berthed at Bahrein
10 November 1955 sailed from Bahrein
21 November 1955 arrived at Suez
23 November 1955 sailed Port Said
1 December 1955 passed Gibraltar west bound
11 December 1955 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
17 December 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
21 December 1955 arrived at Malta
23 December 1955 sailed Malta
28 December 1955 sailed Banias
6 January 1956 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
10 January 1956 at sea at 46°18N 08°31W General Servant Miguel Fernandes discharged dead – lost overboard presumed drowned
14 January 1956 arrived at Antwerp
26 January 1956 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
10 February 1956 sailed Port Said
13 February 1956 arrived at Banias
23 February 1956 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Antwerp
29 February 1956 passed Flushing
5 March 1956 sailed Antwerp
18 March 1956 arrived at Malta
2 April 1956 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
8 April 1956 arrived at Antwerp
11 April 1956 sailed from Antwerp for Sheerness
17 April 1956 passed Ushant
21 April 1956 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
24 April 1956 sailed Malta
1 May 1956 sailed from Suez
13 May 1956 sailed from Bahrein
28 May 1956 sailed Port Said
4 June 1956 sailed from Malta for Port Said
26 June 1956 arrived at Bahrein
29 June 1956 sailed from Bahrein for Port Said
14 July 1956 arrived at Suez
16 July 1956 arrived at Port Said
18 July 1956 sailed from Suez
8 August 1956 arrived at Bahrein
10 August 1956 sailed from Bahrein for Aden
26 August 1956 sailed Mombasa for Cape Town
11 September 1956 sailed from Cape Town for Freetown, Sierra Leone
25 September 1956 arrived at Freetown, Sierra Leone
30 September 1956 sailed from Freetown, Sierra Leone for Curaçao
13 October 1956 arrived at Curaçao
10 November 1956 deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 19 November 1956 – the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal (1915) with the “Near East” clasp
26 November 1956 at sea at 36°24N 2°20W Junior Engineer Officer Arthur Thomas Roberts discharged dead – disappeared at sea presumed drowned
18 December 1956 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
30 December 1956 Mr R E Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 January 1957 Captain Douglas N J Williams RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Douglas N J Williams RD RFA
12 March 1957 arrived at Recife
21 March 1957 sailed from Recife for Cape Town, South Africa
8 April 1957 sailed Cape Town, South Africa for the Seychelles
26 April 1957 at the Seychelles
5 June 1957 berthed at Simonstown, South Africa
17 June 1957 sailed Simonstown, South Africa for the Seychelles
14 July 1957 arrived Trincomalee, Ceylon sailing later the same day for Singapore
21 July 1957 arrived Singapore Roads
26 July 1957 sailed Singapore for Colombo, Ceylon
27 August 1957 arrived at Manus
29 August 1957 sailed from Manus
8 September 1957 arrived at Suva, Fiji
22 September 1957 passed Thursday Island
8 October 1957 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
12 October 1957 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon for Singapore
24 October 1957 sailed Singapore for Trincomalee, Ceylon
31 October 1957 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceyton
26 November 1957 arrived at Aden
3 December 1957 arrived at Suez
4 December 1957 sailed Port Said
9 December 1957 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
10 December 1957 arrived at Malta
12 December 1957 sailed from Malta for Augusta, Italy
14 Deccember 1957 arrived at Augusta
23 December 1957 sailed Algiers
31 December 1957 arrived at Suez
6 January 1958 Captain George F Rutter OBE RD RFA (Commander RNR Rtd) appointed as Master
12 March 1958 Captain Frank C Holt RFA appointed as Master
Captain Frank C Holt RFA
29 August 1958 Mr I M Macfarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 December 1958 arrived at Suez
6 May 1959 laid up at Portland for disposal.
20 October 1959 offered for sale ‘as lying’ at Porland Harbour in the Times of this date
Sold for scrap to Netransmar Cie. SA for £65,000
23 December 1959 arrived for breaking up at Antwerp by J.de Smedt.
RFA Dewdale (2)
Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Previous name: Edenfield
Subsequent name: Edenfield, World Field
Official Number: 305439
Class: 2nd DALE CLASS Mobile Bulk Tanker
Pennant No: A219
Laid down:
Builder: Harland & Wollf, Belfast
Launched: 5 March 1965
Into Service: 14 August 1967
Out of service: September 1977
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: On 13 July 1967, the MOD (N) announced that it had taken up from trade three large tankers on bareboat charter to the RFA for an initial period of seven years. The reasons for the charter of such large and, by naval standards, unconventional vessels was generally accepted as a combination of political failures and by the Admiralty’s continuing need to ensure Fleet logistics support east of Suez. The political failures related to the closure of the Suez Canal following the 1967 Arab / Israeli War and the foreseeable ending of the Aden base with its resultant loss of fuel storage facilities. They were originally classed as Mobile Bulk Tankers, but this was later amended to Mobile Reserve Tankers. Although not sister ships, these three vessels were all basic hull vessels with bridge, accommodation and machinery aft, and all three underwent limited modifications, being fitted with an astern fuelling rig and an abeam reception facility to receive rigs from Fleet Tankers. All three provided support on the Beira Patrol and were replenished ‘On Station’ by Support Tankers owing to their size which precluded them loading at naval installations
5 March 1965 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast as Yard Nr: 1659 named EDENFIELD for Hunting (Eden) Tankers Ltd (Hunting & Sons Ltd, Managers) Newcastle
2 July 1965 completed
7 January 1967 in collision off Beachy Head with the East German SAALE and took off some of her crew. The Saale was beached on the Mother Bank two miles west of Ryde, Isle of Wight on fire
mv Saarl on fire after the collision
8 August 1967 Mr S P Awati RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 August 1967 chartered by the Admiralty and sailed to Birkenhead for modifications by Cammell Laird & Co
14 August 1967 Captain Alistair C Gibson RFA appointed as Master
20 September 1967 sailed Birkenhead on completion of conversion and renamed DEWDALE. Sailed to Trinidad to load before proceeding via Cape Town to take up her operational service in the Indian Ocean as the first DALE to do so
11 October 1967 to 25 January 1968 was part of Task Force 318 – the Aden Task Force formed to cover the final British military withdrawal from the area, codenamed Operation Magister,along with 9 other RFA’s
16 March 1968 Mr P W Scott RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
March 1968 sailed in company with RFA PLUMLEAF (2) & RFA WAVE CHIEF from the River Tyne to Devonport
9 August 1968 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
10 September 1968 Captain R W Wilkinson RFA appointed as Master
4 April 1969 off Java Head RASed with HMAS’s DERWENT and DUCHESS
April 1970 visited Jamestown, St. Helena
14 June 1970 arrived at Mahe, Seychelles with 269 drums of oil dispersant for use after the sinking of RFA ENNERDALE (2) on 1 June 1970
18 June 1970 sailed Mahe, Seychelles
16 March 1972 at Invergordon
20 March 1972 at Invergordon while discharging cargo it was found that about 30 tons of oil had escaped into the Cromarty Firth due to a valve being reportedly blocked with coral
8 August 1972 at Birkenhead
10 January 1973 at Torbay engaged in pumpover with RFA PLUMLEAF (2)
30 May 1973 whilst serving on Beira Patrol duties she reported suffering a crankshaft seizure 50 miles south of Durban and was completely immobilised and was drifting. A commercial salvage tug which had sailed from Durban in the hope of lucrative employment arrived at her position early the next morning and was shortly afterwards joined by a second tug
31 May 1973 RFA BAYLEAF (2), which had been ordered to turn back on her passage from the Gulf to the U.K. via Simonstown arrived at DEWDALE’s position at 1600 Z
1 June 1973 RFA TARBATNESS, on passage from the Mozambique Channel to East London, arrived at the position at 0130 Z. She took DEWDALE in tow and 13 hours later they arrived at an anchorage off Durban where the tow was slipped. DEWDALE then underwent temporary repairs in Durban before proceeding to the U.K. at reduced speed escorted by RFA BLUE ROVER
22 August 1973 at Invergordon
12 November 1973 at Gibraltar moved from Gibraltar Bay to 48 berth in the Dockyard with the assistance of RFA CONFIDANT alongside RFA CHERRYLEAF (3) for a pumpover to CHERRYLEAF of 5,784 tons of FFO and 12,096 tons of Diesel
7 December 1973 at Cape Town
July 1974 – from Force 4 – Captain Herbert J C Wheatley RFA was in command. Having completed a refit at Falmouth in late June 1974 sailed to Ras Tannura to load cargo
Captain Herbert J C Wheatley RFA
June 1975 Captain David P Kindersley RFA in command
14 February 1977 at Invergordon
September 1977 withdrawn from RFA service and was returned to her owners’ subsidiary Field Tank Steamship Co Ltd and name reverted to EDENFIELD
mv Edenfield after her RFA Service
May 1978 purchased by Donath Shipping Co, Piraeus and renamed WORLD FIELD
24 June 1982 sailed Jeddah for Taiwanese breakers
6 August 1982 arrived Kaohsiung for demolition
12 August 1982 demolition begun by Nan Hor Stel Enterprise Co
20 October 1982 demolition completed
Notes:
- Was one of the 17 tankers employed in the Mozchan on Beira Patrol duties