Official Number: 168256
Class: 1st DALE CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: X105 / A105
Laid down: 15 February 1941
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding, Haverton Hill
Launched: 18 December 1941
Into Service: 12 February 1942
Out of service: 5 February 1959 – laid up at Devonport
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 from 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
15 December 1941 Mr William C Elliott RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 December 1941 launched by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton-Hill as Yard Nr: 340 named EASEDALE for the MoWT
31 January 1942 Captain Frederick G Drake RFA appointed as Master
12 February 1942 completed and acquired by the Admiralty
22 February 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN50(2) in ballast and detached to Loch Ewe arriving the next day
26 February 1942 joined escorted convoy ON71 from Belfast Lough
8 March 1942 convoy dispersed – to Curaçao
19 April 1942 berthed at Cape Town
25 April 1942 sailed in Convoy Y from Durban, South Africa to Diego Suarez arriving 5 May 1942 – all ships in this convoy were for Operation Ironclad and included RFA DERWENTDALE (1) during the passage all destroyers and small craft were refuelled by RFA EASEDALE – some 23 ships
16 July 1942 Mr L Cowell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 July 1942 sailed Diego Suarez for Kilindini with the AMC CHITRAL as escort and accompanied by RFA BACCHUS (2)
4 August 1942 arrived at Kilindini
21 August 1942 in the London Gazette of this day on pages 3716 and 2717 Captain Frederick G Drake RFA was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Bosun John Robert Andrew White was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and Chief Engineer Officer William C Elliott RFA was mentioned in despatches
Bosun John R A White DSM
3 September 1942 sailed Mombasa in Convoy F for service during Operation Stream – at Majunga, Madagascar and Operation Jane – at Tamatave, Madagascar arriving 10 September 1942
10 September 1942 at Majunga, Madagascar with HMAS NIZAM alongside being refuelled
27 September 1942 sailed Tamatave independently to Diego Suarez arriving 2 November 1942
30 October 1942 one of her Ratings, being repatriated to the U.K. aboard the Elder Dempster steamer ABOSSO was killed when the latter was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-575 in the North Atlantic approx 700 miles NW of the Azores in position 48°30 N 28°50W whilst on an independent voyage from Cape Town to Liverpool
2 November 1942 arrived Diego Suarez
2 December 1942 sailed Diego Suarez independently to Mauritius arriving 6 December 1942
7 December 1942 sailed Mauritius independently to Diego Suarez arriving 10 December 1942
30 January 1943 sailed Diego Suarez independently to the Seychelles arriving 2 February 1943
17 February 1943 at the General Hospital, Seychelles Butler Joaquim Cardozo discharged dead with a fractured skull
24 February 1943 sailed the Seychelles independently to Abadan arriving 7 March 1943
9 March 1943 sailed Abadan independently to Bandar Abbas arriving 13 March 1943
16 March 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas independently to Mombasa arriving 28 March 1943
19 June 1943 sailed Mombasa independently to Diego Suarez arriving 24 June 1943
27 June 1943 sailed Diego Suarez independently to the Seychelles arriving 30 June 1943
4 July 1943 sailed the Seychelles independently to Bombay arriving 12 July 1943
8 September 1943 sailed Bombay in convoy BP94 to Bandar Abbas arriving on 13 September 1943
13 September 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas independently to Abadan arriving 15 September 1943
16 September 1943 sailed Abadan independently to Bandar Abbas arriving 19 September 1943
24 September 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in convoy PB57 arriving at Bombay on 30 September 1943
9 October 1943 sailed Bombay in convoy BP98 to Bandar Abbas arriving on 14 October 1943
14 October 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas independently to Abadan arriving 15 October 1943
18 October 1943 sailed Abadan independently
28 October 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in convoy PB61 arriving at Bombay on 1 November 1943
15 November 1943 at Bombay with HMAS BATHURST alongside being refuelled
12 December 1943 at Bombay with HMAS BATHURST alongside being refuelled
27 December 1943 at Bombay with HMAS CESSNOCK alongside being refueled
6 January 1944 sailed Bombay in escorted convoy BM81 arriving at Colombo on 11 January 1944
30 January 1944 sailed in unescorted convoy JC35 and detached to Trincomalee arriving 1 February 1944
15 February 1944 at Trincomalee with HMAS BATHURST alongside being refuelled
18 February 1944 Mr Frederick W Howell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Frederick W Howell RFA
25 February 1944 sailed Trincomalee in convoy CJ17 to Colombo arriving 27 February 1944
15 March 1944 sailed Calcutta in unescorted convoy JC40A arriving at Colombo on 17 March 1944
24 March 1944 in the Indian Ocean together with RFA’s ARNDALE and EAGLESDALE and guarded by HNLMS Tromp rendezvoued with HMS’s RENOWN and QUEEN ELIZABETH, four cruisers and six destroyers to refuel them all
26 March 1944 Captain Samuel Thomas RFA appointed as Master
5 April 1944 berthed at Trincomalee, Ceylon USS Cummings (DD365) and USS Dunlap (DD384) alongside to refuel
15 April 1944 berthed at Trincomalee, Ceylon USS Fanning (DD385) alongside to refuel
USS FANNING (DD385)
17 August 1944 to 27 August 1944 escorted by the Netherlands Cruiser Tromp while aircraft attacked targets on Sumatra
22 August 1944 RAS’ed HMS KEYNA during Operation Banquet (air strikes at Padang and at Emmerhaven as a diversion during US operations in New Guinea)
9 November 1944 sailed Trincomalee independently to Colombo arriving 10 November 1944
30 November 1944 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving 2 December 1944
19 March 1945 sailed Abadan independently to Colombo arriving 30 March 1945
3 April 1945 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee
8 April 1945 sailed Trincomalee under RN escort
11 April 1945 to 16 April 1945 ships of Force 63 (including the Battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth – with her escort frigate HMS LOSSIE.) refuelled from Force 70 which was Easedale plus an RN escort
26 April 1945 deployed with RFA OLWEN in Force 69 for replenishment of Task Force 63 destroyers deployed in the Andaman Sea to prevent any Japanese naval interference during cover of landings at Rangoon (Operation BISHOP) under the escort of HMS PALADIN
10 May 1945 sailed Trincomalee under RN escort
August 1945 attached to the British Pacific Fleet along with RFA’s BACCHUS (2), BISHOPDALE, BROWN RANGER, CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, GREEN RANGER, RAPIDOL, SERBOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE GOVERNOR, WAVE KING, WAVE MONARCH and HMS (later RFA) OLNA
September 1945 spare propeller shafts for the ship and RFA EAGLESDALE supplied by Wm Beardmore & Co Ltd and despatched to Colombo (15.9.45) and to SNSO Rosyth (30.10.45)
16 to 19 October 1945 in dry dock at Colombo, Ceylon
20 December 1945 arrived at Tokyo Bay
16 February 1946 Mr John B Russell OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 February 1946 arrived at Hong Kong from Singapore – vibrations and whipping was having a bad effect on seams and rivetting of 2, 3 and 4 tanks, leaking 2 and 3 tank seams
18 September 1946 in refit at Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Co. River Tyne
23 September 1946 Captain Archibald Hobson DSC RFA appointed as Master
Captain Archibald Hobson DSC RFA
16 October 1946 berthed on the River Tyne
21 October 1946 berthed on the River Tyne
12 November 1946 sailed the River Tyne on trials from Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company
13 May 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
13 June 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
24 October 1947 to 12 November 1947 at Mazagdon Dock, Bombay for annual refit
9 April 1948 the Hampshire Telegraph reported …
27 May 1948 sailed Suez
3 June 1948 sailed from Port Said
16 September 1948 berthed at Glasgow
17 September 1948 Captain George F Rutter RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain George F Rutter RFA
15 November 1948 sailed the River Tyne for Aberdan via Aden
27 November 1948 arrived at Port Said
26 December 1948 arrived at Port Said
9 February 1949 at Simonstown, South Africa
15 March 1949 berthed at Bombay
21 March 1949 berthed at Colombo
31 March 1949 arrived at Abadan
2 April 1949 sailed Abadan
10 April 1949 passed Aden
16 April 1949 while on passage from Abadan to LEFO sailed Port Said this day
19 April 1949 passed Malta
23 April 1949 passed Gibraltar west bound
3 May 1949 berthed at Rosyth
11 May 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
18 May 1949 arrived at Port Said
27 May 1949 sailed from Suez
10 June 1949 sailed Abadan for LEFO
19 June 1949 passed Aden
25 June 1949 sailed from Port Said
29 June 1949 passed Malta
3 July 1949 arrived at Gibraltar
7 July 1949 sailed Gibraltar for Abadan
16 July 1949 sailed from Suez
28 July 1949 arrived at Abadan
30 July 1949 sailed Abadan for Malta
21 August 1949 sailed from Malta for Port Said
25 August 1949 arrived at Port Said
3 September 1949 sailed Suez
16 September 1949 arrived at Abadan
17 September 1949 sailed Abadan for Port Said
5 October 1949 sailed Port Said
6 October 1949 sailed from Suez
12 October 1949 arrived at Port Said
20 October 1949 sailed from Abadan
3 November 1949 sailed Port Said
19 November 1949 to 31 December 1949 at Rosyth, Scotland for docking and annual refit
1 December 1949 Mr R B Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 December 1949 Captain Richard L Barber MID RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master until 12 December 1949
1 February 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
8 February 1950 arrived at Port Said
10 February 1950 sailed from Suez
14 February 1950 passed Aden
21 February 1950 arrived at Abadan
23 February 1950 sailed from Abadan
9 March 1950 arrived at Seletar
14 March 1950 sailed Seletar for Bombay, India
22 March 1950 berthed at Bombay, India
31 March 1950 sailed from Bombay, India
8 April 1950 sailed Abadan for Malta
15 April 1950 passed Aden
18 May 1950 arrived at Port Said
1 June 1950 arrived at Abadan
3 June 1950 sailed Abadan for Suez
21 June 1950 sailed Port Said
30 June 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound
7 July 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
11 July 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
19 July 1950 passed Malta
2 August 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing eastbound
18 August 1950 sailed from Suez
23 August 1950 sailed from Aden
9 September 1950 sailed from Aden
14 September 1950 arrived at Suez
15 September 1950 sailed Port Said
19 September 1950 passed Malta
9 October 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
31 January 1951 Mr David L S Hood DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. Underwent complete engine refit at Glasgow
2 February 1951 Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appointed as Master
25 June 1951 Captain Frederick L Finch RFA appointed as Master
Captain Frederick L Finch RFA
kindly donated by Richard Finch
20 July 1951 at sea at 23°51N 59°12W Donkeyman Greaser Shirajudeen Hussain discharged dead. Apparent natural causes. Buried at sea
28 August 1951 arrived at Curaçao
29 August 1951 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
18 September 1951 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
13 November 1951 arrived at Curaçao
19 November 1951 sailed Balboa
16 December 1951 at 30°07N 168°34E Lascar Oomer Abdul Rehman discharged dead through natural causes
13 March 1952 berthed at TIC (Hebburn), River Tyne
18 March 1952 berthed at TIC (Hebburn), River Tyne
19 March 1952 berthed at TIC (Hebburn), River Tyne
28 March 1952 berthed at Palmer’s Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA WAVE DUKE
29 March 1952 in collision with ss City of Pretoria at Palmer’s Hebburn – suffered damage to the shell plating, OAS pipelines and connections
3 May 1952 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No 9 berth by RFA CAREFUL
2 June 1952 at sea at 37°15N 10°24E Lascar Seaman 2nd Class Ebrahim Fackeerkhan discharged dead. Presumed suicide by drowning
8 August 1952 Captain Frank P Hennin OBE RFA appointed as Master
4 March 1953 sailed Suez
1 July 1953 Mr Philip E Bassadona RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 August 1953 while berthing alongside the North Wall at Rosyth grounded. No blame attributed to the Master
20 December 1953 arrived at Bombay
24 January 1954 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
11 March 1954 in collision with HMS EAGLE at Gibraltar
14 July 1954 Mr B C Jeremiah RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 August to 13 October 1954 at Mount Stuart’s, Newport for refit and special survey and alterations to reduce hull vibrations. Considerable repairs to cargo tanks – susequest sea trials revealed substantial improvements
16 September 1954 Captain Sidney P Sice appointed as Master
25 October 1954 arrived at Malta when on passage from Newport to the Persian Gulf
4 April 1955 arrived at Suez
25 April 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
3 May 1955 arrived at Port Said
20 July 1955 sailed from Bombay for Mena Al Ahmadi
11 August 1955 arrived at Suez
23 August 1955 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
14 September 1955 arrived at Aruba
12 October 1955 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
16 November 1955 Mr A B Tate RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 December 1955 passed Dover sailing east bound
24 August 1956 arrived at Singapore
5 September 1956 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon for Singapore
11 September 1956 arrived at Singapore
16 September 1956 sailed from Singapore for Trincomalee, Ceylon
8 December 1956 sailed from Singapore for Trincomalee, Ceylon
13 December 1956 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
16 December 1956 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon for Hong Kong
11 January 1957 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
8 February 1957 sailed Bahrein for Aden
17 February 1957 arrived at Aden
1 March 1957 sailed from Bahrein for Simonstown, South Africa
20 March 1957 berthed at Simonstown, South Africa
24 March 1957 sailed from Simonstown for the Persian Gulf
13 April 1957 sailed Ras Tanura for Simonstown, South Africa
18 April 1957 Captain Herbert W Flint RFA appointed as Master
5 May 1957 berthed at Simonstown, South Africa
15 June 1957 Mr N Bothwell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 July 1957 arrived at Singapore Roads
29 July 1957 arrived Kobe, Japan
3 August 1957 sailed Kobe, Japan for Singapore
31 August 1957 sailed Ras Tanura for Kawasaki
1 October 1957 arrived at Yokohama, Japan
4 October 1957 sailed from Yokohama, Japan
24 October 1957 arrived at Bombay, India
12 December 1957 sailed from Bombay, India
19 December 1957 sail Fao for Bahrein
27 December 1957 sailed Aden for LEFO
1 January 1958 arrived at Suez
2 January 1958 arrived at Port Said
10 January 1958 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
31 January 1958 arrived at Malta
18 February 1958 arrived at Bandar-Mashour
19 February 1958 sailed from Bandar-Mashour for Suez
20 March 1958 sailed from Swansea for Barry
16 December 1958 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
5 February 1959 laid up at Devonport
7 May 1959 offered for sale in ‘The Times’ lying ‘as is’ at Portland
18 February 1960 purchased by ESCESO SPRL, Brussels for service as a storage hulk
7 March, 1960 arrived Willebroek, Belgium to be broken up