Previous name: Empire Metal
Subsequent name: N Tisar
Official Number: 168248
Class: 1st DALE CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: X104 / B 512 / A104
Laid down: 20 December 1940
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding, Haverton Hill
Launched: 18 November 1941
Into Service: 9 January 1942
Out of service: 21 July 1958 – laid up on the River Tyne
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
18 November 1941 launched by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton-Hill as Yard Nr: 339 named EMPIRE METAL for the MoWT
28 November 1941 Mr Charles M Morgan RFA (Lieutenant Commander (E) RNR) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 January 1942 at Middlesborough
9 January 1942 completed. Acquired by the Admiralty and renamed EAGLESDALE
19 January 1942 in collision with the British ss KINGSWOOD on the River Tees and was damaged above the waterline
ss KINGSWOOD
22 January 1942 sailed Middlesborough to the Tyne arrived the same day
February 1942 fitted for OAS trials
12 February 1942 sailed the Tyne to Methil Roads arriving the next day – to anchor
16 February 1942 sailed Methil in escorted convoy EN47 along with NAV BISON arrived the Clyde 19 February 1942
17 February 1942 passed Dunnet Head
19 February 1942 prepared for OAS trials in the Clyde area. Stowage for dept charges and removal of smoke float ignitors undertaken by Greenock Dockyard Co
20 February 1942 at Greenock
4 March 1942 having sailed Londonderry she commenced extensive OAS trials with German equipment from the captured supply ship GEDANIA fitted with rubber hoses and deck rollers.The success of these trials resulted in the general introduction of the rubber hose and deck rollers
9 March 1942 at Londonderry
17 March 1942 at Greenock
18 March 1942 Captain Frank P Hennin RFA appointed as Master
25 March 1942 sailed River Clyde in ballast in escorted convoy OS23 for Freetown and then Curaçao, Netherland Antilles arriving on 14 April 1942
22 April 1942 sailed Curaçao to Table Bay, South Africa due 19 May 1942
26 May 1942 sailed Capetown independently to Port Elizabeth arriving on 28 May 1942
30 May 1942 sailed Port Elizabeth independently to East London arriving 31 May 1942
12 June 1942 sailed East London independently to Durban arriving the next day
13 June 1942 sailed Durban independently to Mombasa arriving 22 June 1942
6 October 1942 sailed Diego Suarez independently to Mahe arriving on 10 October 1942
1 November 1942 Able Seaman Stephen Cavanagh, Fireman John Fish, Cook John Ireland, Steward Rex F Mitchell, Fireman John Morris, Ordinary Seaman William Mowbray, Ordinary Seaman Robert S Sanderson and Carpenter Harry Thompson all discharged dead – while being repatriated to the UK on s.s. Mendoza this ship was torpeoded and sunk in the Indian Ocean by German Submarine U-178 The survivors were picked up by the South African Naval whaler NIGEL and the American CAPE ALVA and were landed at Durban
Those who were lost are recorded with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial
3 March 1943 at Kilindini with HMAS NIZAM alongside being refuelled
HMAS NIZAM
18 March 1943 at Kilindini with HMAS NIZAM alongside being refuelled
31 March 1943 carried out trials of the British system of OAS
1 April 1943 sailed Mombasa independently to Bombay arriving on 14 April 1943
22 April 1943 to 8 June 1943 undergoing repairs at Bombay
11 June 1943 sailed Bombay in convoy BP83 to Bandar Abbas arriving on the 16 June 1943
16 June 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas independently to Abadan arriving on 18 June 1943
20 June 1943 sailed Abadan independently to Bandar Abbas arriving 22 June 1943
26 June 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in convoy PA43 to Aden arriving 3 July 1943
13 August 1943 Mr John B Russell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 October 1943 was at Mombasa
4 January 1944 sailed Seychelles independently to Colombo arriving 12 January 1944
26 January 1944 under going repairs at Colombo
3 February 1944 sailed Colombo in convoy CX17 to Addu Atoll arriving 6 February 1944
7 February 1944 sailed Addu Atoll independently to Colombo arriving 14 February 1944
11 March 1944 at Trincomalee with HMAS CESSNOCK alongside to refuel
24 March 1944 at 8°05S 81°48E RASed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH supplying her with 710 tons of FFO and together with RFA’s ARNDALE and EASEDALE also RASed other RN warships
26 March 1944 RASed with HMAS NAPIER supplying 310 tons of FFO
9 April 1944 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon independently to Colombo arriving 11 April 1944
26 April 1944 sailed Colombo, Ceylon in unescorted convoy JC46 to Trincomalee along with RFA’s APPLELEAF(1) and ECHODALE arriving 28 April 1944
30 April 1944 sailed Trincomalee under escort. On this day TF 67, consisting of the oilers RFA’s EAGLESDALE (as Force Commodore), ECHODALE, ARNDALE, APPLELEAF (1), PEARLEAF (1) and the distilling ship RFA BACCHUS (2), escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS’s LONDON and SUFFOLK had sailed from Trincomalee Harbour on Operation TRANSOM. Off the Harbour entrance the frigate HMS FINDHORN joined TF 67. Course had then been set for Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia. TF 67 had arrived at Exmouth Gulf on 12/5/44
25 October 1944 sailed Bombay independently to Abadan arriving 31 October 1944
2 November 1944 sailed Abadan independently to Colombo arriving 11 November 1944
15 November 1944 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee 17 November 1944
13 January 1945 sailed Chittagong in convoy RK3A to Akyab, Burma arriving 14 January 1945
20 January 1945 off Akyab Harbour, Burma refuelled HMAS NAPIER
23 January 1945 off Akyab Harbour, Burma refuelled HMAS NORMAN
6 March 1945 sailed Trincomalee independently to Colombo arriving 8 March 1945
6 April 1945 sailed Trincomalee independently to Colombo and RASed with HMS/m SIRDAR and HMS MEADOWSWEET
8 April 1945 arrived at Colombo
14 April 1945 sailed Colombo to Freemantle
April 1945 RASed HMS MEADOWSWEET which had sailed from Fremantle, Western Australia on 6 April 1945 while escorting HMS/m SIRDAR for Trincomalee, Ceylon and which arrived on 23 April 1945
27 April 1945 RASed tugs towing AFD 18 and 20 from Colombo
5 May 1945 arrived at Fremantle, Australia
15 May 1945 Mr Wilfred C Shortland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 May 1945 sailed Freemantle independently to Colombo arriving 1 June 1945
9 June 1945 sailed Colombo independently to Darwin arriving 26 June 1945
27 June 1945 sailed Darwin independently to Manus arriving 8 July 1945 joining RFA’s GREEN RANGER, BACCHUS (2) and BROWN RANGER
12 July 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands
1 August 1945 at sea off Saipan in convoy with RFA CEDARDALE and escorted by HMAS LAUNCESTON
HMAS LAUNCESTON
1 September 1945 at Manus, Admiralty Islands with RFA’s BROWN RANGER, SERBOL and ss FORT LANGLEY later to become RFA FORT LANGLEY
9 September 1945 while at Manus refuelled HMAS NORMAN alongside
13 September 1945 at Manus Harbour grounded when moving alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE
September 1945 spare propeller shafts for the ship and RFA EASEDALE supplied by Wm Beardmore & Co Ltd and despatched to Colombo (15.9.45) and to SNSO Rosyth (30.10.45)
16 September 1945 at Seeadler Harbour, Admiralty Islands with HMAS HOBART alongside being refuelled
28 September 1945 at Manus with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled
21 October 1945 sailed Manus independently to Sydney, NSW
30 October 1945 arribed at Sydney, NSW
27 December 1945 2nd Officer R C Rogers RFA and Miss Joyce Mills of Moree Station, Yass, NSW were married at St James’ Church, Sydney NSW. The reception was held onboard.
12 February 1946 arrived at Sydney, NSW – disarmed at Woolwich Dockyard, Sydney NSW
19 April 1946 arrived River Tyne for refit from Sheerness
27 April 1946 Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appointed as Master
6 May 1946 berthed at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering, River Tyne
29 May 1946 berthed at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering, River Tyne
June 1946 Captain Henry F Colbourne RFA appointed as Master
4 July 1946 berthed at Newcastle Quay, River Tyne with HMS TURMOIL (later to become RFA TURMOIL (2))
6 July 1946 still berthed at Newcastle Quay, River Tyne with HMS TURMOIL (later to become RFA TURMOIL (2))
12 July 1946 sailed the River Tyne
1 August 1946 sailed from Aden
10 August 1946 sailed from Abadan
14 August 1946 arrived at Muscat
1 September 1946 sailed Bombay for Abadan
3 September 1946 had to put back to Bombay
22 September 1946 arrived at Abadan
26 September 1946 sailed Abadan for Geraldton, Western Australia
12 November 1946 sailed Port Said for Abadan
25 November 1946 berthed at Abadan
27 November 1946 sailed Abadan for Port Said
11 December 1946 sailed from Port Said
18 January 1947 sailed Gibraltar
26 January 1947 arrived at Port Said
27 January 1947 sailed Port Said for Abadan
2 February 1947 passed Aden
12 February 1947 sailed from Abadan for Trincomalee, Ceylon
19 March 1947 while on passage from Abadan to LEFO passed Aden this day
26 March 1947 sailed from Port Said for Lands End
4 April 1947 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
9 April 1947 at Portland
18 April 1947 arrived at the River Tyne from Sheerness
18 June 1947 sailed Port Said
24 July 1947 Captain William R Parker RFA appointed as Master
12 September 1947 arrived Trinidad from Cardiff
6 October 1947 to 1 November 1947 boiler cleaning and engine defects at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow
13 October 1947 Mr Lionel W Pool RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 November 1947 arrived at Trinidad from Barrow
26 November 1947 sailed from Trinidad
17 December 1947 Captain Raymond V Boodle RFA appointed as Master
Captain Raymond V Boodle RFA
15 February 1948 sailed Aruba for the UK
4 March 1948 passed Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
6 March 1948 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 15 October 1950
9 April 1948 arrived at Abadan from London. The Hampshire Telegraph reported …
12 April 1948 sailed Abadan
27 April 1948 sailed from Bombay
8 May 1948 sailed from Abadan
16 May 1948 on passage from Abadan passed Aden
23 May 1948 sailed from Port Said
30 May 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing west
7 June 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
21 July 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
2 August 1948 arrived at Port Said from Portsmouth
4 August 1948 sailed from Suez
16 August 1948 sailed from Karachi
20 August 1948 arrived at Abadan from Karachi
23 August 1948 sailed Abadan for Malta
4 September 1948 at Port Said from Abadan
10 September 1948 arrived at Malta from Abadan
24 September 1948 at Port Said
25 September 1948 sailed Suez
22 October 1948 at Port Said
12 November 1948 at Port Said
31 January 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing north bound
7 February 1949 to 17 February 1949 at Newcastle on Tyne
24 March 1949 at Bombay, India
17 April 1949 arrived at Macquarie Point Oil terminal, Hobart, Tasmania to discharge 10,000 tons of FFO. She had arrived from Abadan via Bombay where the crew had been changed
22 April 1949 due to sail from Hobart – delayed until the 23 April 1949
23 April 1949 sailed but had to return the same day when 100 miles out from Hobart with an engine defect
25 April 1949 sailed again from Hobart, Tasmania to Colombo for boiler cleaning
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RFA Eaglesdale – Photograph Courtesy of the Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania
May 1949 at Colombo, Ceylon for special docking and underwater inspection
6 June 1949 at Abadan
2 July 1949 berthed at Gibraltar
11 July 1949 at Rosyth
19 July 1949 arrived Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne from Rosyth
20 July 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
27 July 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
16 August 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
17 August 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
18 August 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
22 August 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
30 August 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA BROOMDALE
31 August 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA BROOMDALE
2 September 1949 Captain Douglas S Norrington RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
8 September 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA BROOMDALE
10 September 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
16 September 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head steaming southwards
24 September 1949 sailed Gibraltar for Abadan
1 October 1949 arrived at Port Said
3 October 1949 sailed Suez
15 October 1949 arrived at Abadan
18 October 1949 sailed Abadan for Colombo, Ceylon and Sydney, NSW, Australia
27 October 1949 berthed at Colombo, Ceylon
20 November 1949 arrived Sydney, NSW, Australia from Abadan
24 November 1949 sailed Sydney, NSW, Australia for Abadan
12 December 1949 arrived at Singapore
20 December 1949 sailed from Singapore
6 January 1950 sailed Abadan
13 January 1950 sailed Abadan for Trincomalee, Ceylon
24 January 1950 arrived Trincomalee, Ceylon
4 February 1950 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
15 February 1950 berthed at Abadan
17 February 1950 sailed Abadan for Trincomalee, Ceylon
27 February 1950 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
3 March 1950 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
16 March 1950 to 24 March 1950 at Bombay for engine repairs
25 March 1950 sailed Bombay
31 March 1950 arrived at Abadan
2 April 1950 sailed Abadan for Malta
11 April 1950 passed Aden
16 April 1950 arrived at Suez
26 April 1950 sailed from Malta
30 April 1950 arrived at Port Said
1 May 1950 sailed Port Said for Abadan
17 May 1950 sailed Abadan for Port Said
9 June 1950 passed Gibraltar when on passage from Abadan for Plymouth
21 June 1950 to 26 June 1950 at Plymouth
July 1950 underwent A & As during refit at Devonport
10 July 1950 Mr J Mel. Lumsden RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 September 1950 at Devonport Engine Room Cassab Gooland Sarwar Hoosein discharged dead from natural causes
6 September 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
13 September 1950 arrived at Port Said
15 September 1950 while on passage from Plymouth to Abadan sailed Suez this day
26 September 1950 berthed at Abadan
28 September 1950 sailed Abadan
November 1950 more engine repairs – Hayes (Pembroke Dock) Ltd
7 November 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
11 March 1951 sailed Malta for Abadan
14 March 1951 arrived at Port Said
23 March 1951 sailed Suez
4 April 1951 arrived at Abadan
6 April 1951 sailed Abadan for Singapore
22 April 1951 arrived at Singapore
26 April 1951 sailed from Singapore for Abadan
15 May 1951 arrived at Abadan
26 May 1951 sailed Colombo, Ceylon
7 June 1951 arrived at Hong Kong
8 July 1951 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon for Aden
21 July 1951 sailed Aden for the UK
27 July 1951 arrived at Suez
29 July 1951 sailed from Port Said
6 August 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
21 August 1951 to 4 October 1951 annual refit by Mount Stuarts drydock, Newport
30 October 1951 sailed Curaçao
14 November 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound for Malta
18 November 1951 landed an injured seaman at Bighi Hospital, Malta following an accident on board when he crushed his fingers
19 November 1951 sailed Malta for Aden
23 November 1951 arrived at Port Said
25 November 1951 sailed from Suez
30 November 1951 arrived at Aden
4 December 1951 sailed from Aden
10 December 1951 arrived at Bombay
11 December 1951 sailed from Bombay
19 December 1951 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Gibraltar
26 December 1951 arrived at Aden
1 January 1952 sailed Port Said
4 February 1952 Captain Thomas Elder DSC RFA appointed as Master
24 February 1952 sailed Curaçao
10 March 1952 sailed Gibraltar for Malta
22 May 1952 Mr S Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
August 1952 main engine repairs, Port Said
30 September 1952 at 7°06N 82°0E Lascar Seaman Hussain Ali discharged dead – apparently through heart failure – buried at sea
8 January 1953 Captain Stanley C Kernick RFA appointed as Master
16 February 1953 Mr Ciriaco G McFadzean RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 July 1953 Captain D A C Butler RFA appointed as Master
27 March 1954 at the Newcastle Shipping Office discharged the ships officers
5 April 1954 Captain James H Chant RFA appointed as Master until 13 April 1954
6 April 1954 at Palmers, Hebburn in refit
22 April 1954 at Palmers, Hebburn in refit at the same time as RFA WAVE SOVEREIGN
27 April 1954 at Palmers, Hebburn in refit at the same time as RFA WAVE SOVEREIGN
6 May 1954 at Palmers, Hebburn in refit at the same time as RFA WAVE SOVEREIGN
9 May 1954 before Wallsend Magistrates’ Court Donkeyman Thambi Arputham Pillai from the ship pleaded Guilty to being drunk at Back Benton Way, Wallsend on 2 May 1954 – he was fined 10/-
11 May 1954 at Palmers, Heburn in refit at the same time as RFA’s BLACK RANGER and WAVE SOVEREIGN
24 May 1954 at the Newcastle Shipping Office engaged a crew
30 May 1954 sailed from the River Tyne
2 August 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
1 October 1954 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
29 November 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound
28 August 1955 sailed from Port Said
7 February 1956 at Mestre, Venice, Italy Seaman 1st Class Ismail Adam discharged dead from burns
31 May 1956 to 10 August 1956 annual refit at Prince of Wales Dry Dock, Swansea
3 June 1956 Mr W C Shortland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
8 November 1956 deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 24 November 1956 – the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal (1915) with the “Near East” Clasp
29 November 1956 Captain Leslie G Rowling DSC RFA appointed as Master
28 March 1957 Mr Frederick B Hobson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 May 1957 arrived at and later the same day sailed from Curaçao
4 June 1957 arrived at Baltimore
7 July 1957 arrived at St Michaels
15 July 1957 sailed St Michaels for LEFO
22 July 1957 arrived at N Waterweg
27 July 1957 sailed N Waterweg
29 July 1957 arrived Leith
10 September 1957 Captain Edmund H Butterworth RFA appointed as Master
Captain Edmund H Butterworth RFA
24 April 1958 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
21 July 1958 arrived the River Tyne from Rosyth
22 July 1958 she discharged her crew at the South Shields Shipping Office and was laid up on the Admiralty Quay. RFA WAVE DUKE was also berthed on the Admiralty Quay at the same time
26 August 1958 berthed on the Admiralty Quay. RFA WAVE DUKE was also berthed on the Admiralty Quay at the same time
23 October 1958 berthed on Admiralty Quay, Hebburn on Tyne. RFA WAVE DUKE was also berthed on there at the same time
22 November 1958 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, Hebburn on Tyne
16 December 1958 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA TIDEREACH
6 January 1959 berthed on Admiralty Quay, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA TIDEREACH
15 and 22 January 1959 offered for sale in The Times on these dates ‘as lying’ at Admiraly Quay, Hebburn on Tyne
5 March 1959 laid up berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
2 April 1959 laid up berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
9 June 1959 laid up berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
11 August 1959 laid up berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
18 August 1959 laid up berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
November 1959 sold to Soc Misr de Nav Maritime SAE, renamed as N Tisar and the registration changed to Egypt
26 November 1959 sailed in tow from the Tyne after sale for £65,000
29 November 1959 after resale, arrived Hamburg for breaking up by Eisen u.Metall KG Lehr & Co
Notes:
1. Served as a RAS oiler with the Eastern Fleet and at the Cape between 1943 and 1946.
2. Was part of the British Pacific Fleet Train – hence the B-pennant number