RFA Ennerdale (1)
Official Number: 169196
Class: 1st DALE CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: X 73 / A173
Laid down:
Builder: Swan Hunter, Low Walker Yard
Launched: 27 January 1941
Into Service: 11 July 1941
Out of service: March 1958
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 6 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
27 January 1941 launched by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend as Yard Nr: 1656 named ENNERDALE (1) for the MoWT
2 February 1941 Mr George T Beed RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer George T Beed RFA
23 June 1941 Captain Sidney T Dunster RFA appointed as Master
Captain Sidney T Dunster RFA
11 July 1941 completed and acquired by the Admiralty. Operated as a tanker with limited LSG capability
9 August 1941 sailed the Clyde in convoy WS8C for Scapa Flow arriving the next day – Operation Leapfrog – with landing ships KARANJA, ROYAL SCOTSMAN, ULSTER MONARCH, BACHAQUERO, MISOA, QUEEN EMMA, and PRINCE CHARLES , steamers NARKUNDA, WINCHESTER CASTLE, BATORY, ORMONDE, CLAN MACDONALD, MACHARDA, SUFFOLK, DUNEDIN STAR, SILVERTEAK, and POTARO, escorted by destroyers BULLDOG, INTREPID, ECHO, CHARLESTOWN, CASTLETON, WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA, and WITCH along with RFA‘s DEWDALE (1). This convoy was the force for the intended seizure of the Azores – the Operation was cancelled.
12 August 1941 allocated to Operation Pilgrim along with RFA DEWDALE (1)
15 August 1941 Operation Pilgrim cancelled sailed Scapa Flow to the Clyde arriving 17 August 1941
October 1941 with Force Q to the South Africa Station
23 October 1941 declared to be not suitable for use as a mobile oiler
18 January 1942 Fireman Robert Henry McDonough discharged dead. He is buried in Freetown (King Tom) Cemetery, Sierra Leone in Plot 4 Row F Grave 6
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
21 February 1942 sailed Freetown in convoy SL101 to the Clyde arriving on the 15 March 1942
13 May 1942 at Greenock
29 May 1942 sailed from the Clyde
7 June 1942 sailed from Belfast
12 June 1942 arrived at Portsmouth sailing the same day for Portland
17 July 1942 sailed from Portland arriving the same day at Portsmouth
22 July 1942 sailed from Portsmouth
23 July 1942 arriving at Falmouth
24 July 1942 sailed from Falmouth
27 July 1942 arrived at the Clyde
22 October 1942 sailed the Clyde in convoy KMS1G for service during Operation Torch – the Allied Landings in French North Africa. Other RFA’s involved were RFA’s ABBEYDALE, BROWN RANGER, DEWDALE (1), DERWENTDALE, DINGLEDALE, NASPRITE and VISCOL. Also SOBO which was carrying troops. She was awarded the North Africa 1942 Battle Honour – to Algiers arriving 8 November 1942
8 November 1942 arrived Algiers beach head and suffered defects in her Landing Craft handling gear. Was damaged during an air attack but suffered no casualties
21 November 1942 sailed Algiers in convoy MKS2 to Gibraltar with “RFA” British Lady arriving 24 November 1942 and then joined convoy MKS2A to the Clyde arriving 7 December 1942
28 December 1942 arrived Liverpool for repairs and further conversion work as an LSG
1942 was awarded the English Channel 1942 Battle Honour
13 March 1943 Captain A Edwards DSC RFA appointed as Master
16 March 1943 repairs and conversion completed. Was now fitted 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 vessel. Initially no accommodation was provided for the LCM crews but later conversions saw the fore hold 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 involved in handling the vehicles.
16 March 1943 sailed Liverpool independently to the Clyde arriving the next day
26 March 1943 sailed the Clyde in convoy OS45 as Escort Oiler along with RFA Fortol which later joined the convoy from St Vincent, Cape Verde Islands after RFA Ennerdale (1) collision on 5 April 1943 (see below)
5 April 1943 was in collision with the New Zealand Shiping Company liner ss RIMUTAKA and diverted to Gibraltar
ss RIMUTAKA
26 April 1943 arrived Walvis Bay.
29 April 1943 sailed Walvis Bay in convoy NC10 to Capetown arriving on 3 May 1943
5 May 1943 sailed Captetown independently to Aden arriving 22 May 1943
23 May 1943 sailed Aden independently to Suez arriving 28 May 1943
28 May 1943 in transit Suez Canal
30 May 1943 sailed Port Said independently to Alexandria arriving the next day
3 July 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy MWS36 for Operation Husky – the British element of the invasion of Sicily. Other RFA’s involved were RFA’s CEDARDALE, DERWENTDALE (1), NASPRITE and PEARLEAF (1). She was awarded the Sicily 1943 Battle Honour.
10, 11 and 12 July 1943 bombed off Sicily suffered sundry damage from near misses
12 July 1943 RASed HMS TETCOTT during Operation Husky
HMS TETCOTT
13 July 1943 Mr George T Beed RFA Chief Engineer Officer discharged dead having been killed by the bombing. He is buried in Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily in plot III Row B grave 6
Chief Engineer Officer George T Beed
Chief Engineer Officer George T Beed’s medals
15 July 1943 arrived Tripoli
17 July 1943 sailed Tripoli in convoy MKS18 to Gibraltar arriving 23 July 1943
23 July 1943 sailed Gibraltar in convoy MKS18G which also contained RFA DEWDALE(1) which merged with convoy SL133MK containing HMS ALLEGIANCE to Liverpool arriving on 5 August 1943 – in ballast
12 August 1943 sailed from Naples
17 August 1943 Captain Sidney Thomas Dunster RFA appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Civil Division for service during the North African Operations – published in the London Gazette of this day
28 August 1943 Mr Oscar Goodwin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 December 1943 Lieutenant James William Whittall RCNVR awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Chief Engineer Officer George Templeton Beed RFA awarded a postumous Mention in Despatches for services during Operation Husky – the Allied landings in Sicily in July 1943 – published in the London Gazette of this day
11 January 1944 Captain Alfred Edwards RFA and 2nd Officer Cyril Alexander RFA both awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). Petty Officer Walter Crotty P/J 37257 and Bombadier Rapheal Leonard Gerrish 1687318 Royal Artillery both awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM). Chief Officer Cecil Horace Granger RFA, Chief Steward Clarence Patrick Healey RFA, Pumpman Stephen Dear RFA, Boatswain Frederick William Diggins RFA, 2nd Pumpman Albert Millar RFA, Carpenter Edwin Freear Richardson BEM RFA, Petty Officer WIlliam Ian Musgrove D/JX 190519, Lance Bombadier James Alexander Campbell D/ 34032 Royal Artillery for services during Operation Husky – the Allied landings in Sicily in July 1943 – published in the London Gazette of this day
25 January 1944 sailed Inverary to the Clyde arriving the same day
13 February 1944 sailed the Clyde carrying 162 passengers in convoy OS68K which split RFA’s ENNERDALE and DEWDALE to Gibraltar, RFA ECHODALE onwards to Aden, into KMS42G which arrived Gibraltar on 25 February 1944
4 March 1944 sailed Bougie in convoy UGS33 to Malta arriving 7 March 1944
15 March 1944 sailed Augusta escorted to Malta arriving 17 March 1944
21 March 1944 sailed Malta in escorted convoy GUS34 which also contained RFA DEWDALE (1) to Bougie arriving on 23 March 1944
29 March 1944 sailed Bougie in convoy KMS45 which also contained RFA DEWDALE (1) to Augusta arriving 2 April 1944
2 April 1944 sailed Augusta in convoy VN31 along with RFA DEWDALE (1) to Naples arriving 4 April 1944
11 April 1944 sailed Augusta to Malta arriving the next day
15 April 1944 sailed Malta to Bizerta arriving 17 April 1944
21 April 1944 sailed Bizerta in convoy KMS47 arriving at Augusta on 23 April 1944
24 April 1944 sailed Augusta in convoy VN35 to Messina arriving the same day
3 July 1944 sailed Taranto escorted to Malta arriving the next day
7 July 1944 sailed from Malta for Augusta arriving 14 July 1944
16 July 1944 sailed from Augusta to Messina arriving the same day
12 August 1944 sailed Naples in convoy SM1B on Operation Dragon – the Allied invasion of southern France -carrying 14 Landing Craft, 4000 tons fuel oil, 1035 tons diesel and 2500 tons fresh water. The convoy comprised US HQ Ship USS BISCAYNE, RFA ENNERDALE (1), as a Landing Ship, US Tugs NARRAGANSETT and PINTO, British LST 13 (Converted for use as a Fighter Direction Tender, British Tanker EMPIRE FAY and 23 Landing Ships (Tank). Escort also included 5 Minesweepers, 4 US Navy Patrol Craft and a US Navy ATA. Other RFA’s involved were RFA’s CELEROL, DEWDALE (1) and NASPRITE.
14 August 1944 arrived at her assigned beach head
16 August 1944 at Catoctin with USS Plunkett (DD431) alongside to refuel
USS Plunkett (DD431)
19 August 1944 in the Gulf of St Tropez with USS Benson (DD421) and USS Niblack (DD424) both alongside to refuel
5 February 1945 sailed Malta independently to Naples arriving 7 February 1945
7 April 1945 sailed Naples independently to Augusta arriving 8 April 1945
9 April 1945 sailed Augusta independently to Alexandria arriving 13 April 1945
17 April 1945 sailed Alexandria independently to Port Said arriving the next day
18 April 1945 Suez Canal transit
19 April 1945 sailed Suez independently to Aden arriving 24 April 1945
24 April 1945 sailed Aden independently to Bombay arriving on 30 April 1945
13 June 1945 sailed Colombo
14 June 1945 Chief Officer Donovan John Shedlock Newton RFA and Chief Steward Clarence Patrick Healey RFA both mentioned in despatches in the Birthday Honours List and published in the London Gazette of this day
2 July 1945 sailed Cochin
14 August 1945 sailed Trincomalee independently to Madras arriving the next day
27 October 1945 sailed Bombay to Colombo arriving 2 November 1945
2 November 1945 sailed Colombo to Singapore arriving 8 November 1945
24 November 1945 sailed Singapore to Penang arriving 26 November 1945
3 December 1945 sailed Penang for Singapore and enroute was requested to collect 4 spare Landing Craft off the entrance to the Perak River and transport them to Singapore
5 December 1945 entered a mine field while on passage in the Malacca Strait between Penang and Port Swettenham. Suffered damage but made her way to Singapore for repairs. There were no injuries
6 December 1945 the Aberdeen Press & Journal reported –
7 December 1945 Captain William W Peddle RFA appointed as Master
11 December 1945 on board HMS SUSSEX a Board of Enquiry was held on the direction of the Flag Officer, Malaya. The Commanding Officer of HMS SUSSEX was the President of the Board and he sat with two other Royal Naval Officers. The Board of Enquiry found that the Master of RFA ENNERDALE (1) was in no way to blame for his ship being routed through a mine field. The routing through the minefield was through a number of errors by Royal Naval Officers and not through neglet
10 March 1946 Captain Leonard Elford RFA appointed as Master
30 March 1946 at Singapore while in port was damaged by fire.
8 April 1946 sailed Singapore to Bombay
17 April 1946 sailed passing Aden arriving Port Said
4 May 1946 sailed Port Said to Gibraltar arriving 11 May 1946
16 May 1946 sailed Gibraltar to Devonport arriving 22 May 1946
May 1946 repairs finally completed at Devonport during which her gantry gear was removed and she was reconverted into a tanker. With her sisters RFA’s DERWENTDALE (1) and DEWDALE (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 utilizing the extra accommodation for carrying 12 passengers at a time until the deficiency of passenger berths was made up by new commercial tonnage.
17 July 1946 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 October 1946 Captain Leonard Elford RFA appointed as Master
Captain Leonard Elford RFA
30 December 1946 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 31 March 1947
31 January 1947 sailed Devonport to Trinidad
1 February 1947 three miles south of Plymouth breakwater was in collision with mv Eemstroom – suffered no damage but returned to port with a defective fuel pump. The Eemstroom which had been on passage from Bristol to Amsterdam sustained considerable damage above the water line but continued
3 February 1947 sailed Plymouth
24 February 1947 sailed Trinidad to Invergordon arriving 15 March 1947
20 March 1947 sailed Invergordon to Falmouth passing the Lizard on 24 March 1947
5 April 1947 Mr George C Dunning RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 April 1947 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing West
22 April 1947 while on passage from Falmouth to Abadan passed Gibraltar
5 May 1947 sailed Aden this day for Abadan
12 May 1947 sailed Abadan for Falmouth
3 July 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
8 July 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
21 July 1947 Mr Ciriaco G McFadzean RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 September 1947 called at Gibraltar when on passage from Swansea to Abadan
22 September 1947 Captain Alfred Edwards DSC RFA discharged dead. He is buried in Mary Tavy (St Mary) Churchyard to the east of the Church
16 November 1947 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing West
10 December 1947 Mr Wilfred C Shortland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 December 1947 Captain A Spencer RFA appointed as Master
12 February 1948 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
7 August 1948 berthed at King George Dock, Killingholme
12 August 1948 sailed King George Dock, Killingholme for Abadan
2 January 1949 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
7 January 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
11 January 1949 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing west
17 January 1949 Captain Percival H Brooke OBE RFA appointed as Master
19 February 1949 floated out of dry dock at Glasgow
1 April 1949 sailed Suez
15 August 1949 sailed Abadan for LEFO
16 July 1949 berthed at the Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde to discharge
21 July 1949 sailed from the Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde for Abadan
18 September 1949 sailed Port Said
22 September 1949 passed Malta when on passage from Abadan to LEFO
3 October 1949 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour. Captain Donovan J S Newton MID RFA appointed as Master
11 October 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
6 January 1950 berthed at Wellington, New Zealand from Abadan
9 January 1950 sailed Wellington, New Zealand for Colombo, Ceylon
18 March 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
30 March 1950 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing East
3 April 1950 berthed on TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
13 April 1950 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
18 April 1950 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
25 April 1950 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
3 May 1950 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
16 May 1950 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA BISHOPDALE
26 May 1950 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA BISHOPDALE
9 June 1950 passed Flamorough Head sailing southbound
17 June 1950 sailed from Gibraltar east bound for Abadan
26 June 1950 sailed from Suez
1 July 1950 sailed Aden for Abadan
9 July 1950 arrived at Abadan from the River Tyne
11 July 1950 sailed Abadan for Port Said
22 July 1950 sailed Aden for Port Said
27 July 1950 arrived at Suez
29 July 1950 arrived at Port Said
6 August 1950 sailed Port Said for Bombay
20 August 1950 sailed Bombay
29 August 1950 in the Persian Gulf Carpenter Ebrahim Abdoola discharged dead from heat stroke
17 September 1950 while enroute from Abadan to Rosyth with a cargo of FFO and Diesel and some 60 miles off Malta Quartermaster Sheik Hoosein Baba died through apparent natural causes. The ship diverted to Malta. He is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta
Image courtesy of British War Graves
18 September 1950 sailed Grand Harbour, Malta for Rosyth
29 September 1950 Mr John H Dawe RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer John H Dawe RFA
13 October 1950 berthed at Immingham Dock
18 October 1950 sailed Immingham Dock to Trinidad with 8 passengers
6 November 1950 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
9 August 1951 the Western Mail newspaper reported …
18 September 1951 at Barry Lascar Seaman Hassan Ali discharged dead – apparent natural causes – collapsed
3 February 1952 2nd Engineer Officer Alfred Hugh Griffiths RFA discharged dead – he died at Dartmouth & Kingsmere Hospital, Dartmouth, Devon from natural causes
19 March 1952 Mr John A MacPherson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 March 1952 berthed at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde after a voyage from Trinidad with 11 passengers
26 September 1952 Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA appointed as Master
Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA
21 October 1952 sailed from Suez
1 November 1952 arrived at Bahrein
3 November 1952 sailed from Bahrein for Bombay
10 November 1952 sailed Bombay
15 December 1952 arrived at Singapore
3 January 1953 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
6 January 1953 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon for Fao
15 January 1953 sailed from Fao
24 January 1953 sailed from Aden
30 January 1953 sailed Port Said for Port de Bouc, France
23 February 1953 sailed from Aden
4 March 1953 sailed Fao for Aden
19 March 1953 arrived at Suez
9 April 1953 sailed from Malta
14 April 1953 sailed at Suez
6 May 1953 arrived at Aden
12 May 1953 arrived at Suez
18 May 1953 arrived at Port de Bouc, France
25 May 1953 arrived at Malta
29 May 1953 sailed from Malta for Port Said
5 June 1953 sailed from Suez
27 June 1953 arrived at Aden
28 June 1953 sailed from Aden
4 July 1953 arrived at Suez
5 July 1953 sailed from Port Said for Port de Bouc, France
12 July 1953 arrived at Port de Bouc, France
14 July 1953 sailed Port de Bouc, France for Malta
30 July 1953 sailed Suez
4 August 1953 arrived at Aden
8 August 1953 sailed from Aden
23 August 1953 arrived at Singapore Roads
24 August 1953 sailed Singapore Roads for Sasebo, Japan
7 September 1953 arrived at Sasebo, Japan
9 October 1953 berthed at Singapore
14 October 1953 sailed Singapore Roads for Bombay
24 October 1953 arrive at Bombay
26 October 1953 sailed Bombay
2 November 1953 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for LEFO
18 November 1953 sailed Port Said
21 November 1953 berthed at Gibraltar
25 November 1953 Captain James H Chant RFA appointed as Master
28 November 1953 sailed Gibraltar for Swansea
3 December 1953 Mr R Blacklock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 January 1954 Mr R B Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 July 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
30 July 1954 sailed Malta
1 August 1954 arrived at Naples
3 August 1954 sailed Naples for Port Said
8 August 1954 arrived at Port Said
10 August 1954 sailed Suez
22 August 1954 sailed Aden for Bahrein
29 August 1954 arrived at Bahrein
4 September 1954 arrived at Bombay
6 September 1954 sailed Bombay
10 September 1954 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon
29 September 1954 arrived at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia from Bahrein
4 October 1954 sailed Melbourne, Victoria to Colombo, Ceylon
24 October 1954 sailed Colombo, Ceylon
28 October 1954 arrived at Bombay
4 November 1954 Captain Douglas S Norrington RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
5 November 1954 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Gibraltar for orders
23 November 1954 arrived at Suex
3 December 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Stanlow
5 January 1955 Captain John M Humphrey DSC OBE MID RFA appointed as Master
27 February 1955 Mr Daniel S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 August 1955 Captain S T Dunster OBE RFA appointed as Master
6 September 1955 pass Gibraltar sailing east bound
19 February 1956 Mr B C Jeremiah RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 February 1956 Captain Allistoun MacQuire-Samson RFA appointed as Master
28 May 1956 Mr J McJ Lumsden RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 June 1956 Captain George S Perry RFA appointed as Master
Captain George S Perry RFA
8 October 1956 at Falmouth Pumpman Amir Husain discharged dead – natural causes
16 November 1956 Donkeyman Greaser Sk Oomer Sk Ahmed discharged dead – apparently natural causes – buried at sea
11 February 1958 sailed to a Panamanian vessel Areti with damaged steering in the Atlantic in high seas while on a voyage from the West Indies to Plymouth and relieved RAF Shackleton aircraft from St Mawgan, Cornwall.
13 February 1958 arrived Devonport for disposal
March 1958 laid up at Devonport
17 July 1958 offered for sale by the Department of Tranport in the Times newspaper ‘as lying’ at Devonport
subsequent to which the ship was sold to British Iron & Steel Corporation
14 April 1959 arrived under the tow of the tug Welshman at Faslane in the Gareloch to be broken up by Shipbreaking Industries Ltd
RFA Ennerdale (2)
Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Previous name: Naess Scotsman
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 305869
Class: 2nd DALE CLASS Mobile Bulk Tanker
Pennant No: A213
Laid down:
Builder: Kieler Howaldt, Kiel
Launched: 31 August 1962
Into Service: 1968
Out of service: 1 June 1970
Fate: Wrecked and sunk
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: On 13 July 1967, the MOD (N) announced that it had taken up from trade 3 large tankers on bareboat charter to the RFA for an initial period of 7 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 3 vessels were all basic hull vessels with bridge, accommodation and machinery aft, and all 3 underwent limited modifications, being fitted with an astern fuelling rig and an abeam reception facility to receive rigs from Fleet Tankers. All 3 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
30 August 1963 launched by Kieler Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel as Yard Nr 1132 named NAESS SCOTSMAN for Anglo-Norness Shipping Co Ltd (Naess Denholm & Co Ltd, Managers) London
August 1964 completed
mv NAESS SCOTSMAN before her RFA service
July 1967 chartered by the Admiralty
October 1967 arrived on the Tyne for modifications by Vickers Ltd Shipbuilding Group, Hebburn
1 January 1968 Captain D deV Moulds RFA appointed as Master
February 1968 modifications completed
13 February 1968 Mr J Brett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
11 February 1969 at HMS TERROR sports ground Ennerdale ‘A’ 6 a side Football team beat a team from HMAS DUCHESS ‘C’ 2 goals to 0. Ennerdale ‘A’ 6 a side Football team lost to a team from HMAS DUCHESS ‘B’ 3 goals to 0.
14 February 1969 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
28 June 1969 sailed Cape Town for Tristan da Cunha
30 June 1969 was diverted to refuel the South African destroyer SAS SIMON VAN DER STEL en route to Gough Island in the South Atlantic to search for two missing South African meteorologists.
SAS SIMON VAN DER STEL at anchor off Gough Island
Embarked volunteers from Tristan Da Cunha to assist in the search and in hazardous weather conditions, the bodies of the two missing South African meteorologists were found within 2 hours
4 July 1969 RASed with SAS SIMON VAN DER STEL astern in the South Atlantic
15 July 1969 returned to Cape Town
July 1969 the Ship’s Company were awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for their valuable assistance above
16 January 1970 called at RAF Gan
6 March 1970 called at RAF Gan
14 April 1970 to 15 April 1970 was one of three RFA ships on Indian Ocean / South Atlantic standby in alternative splashdown positions for APOLLO XIII, the others being RFA’s TIDEFLOW and TARBATNESS
1 June 1970 whilst outbound from Port Victoria, Mahe in the Seychelles Islands to refuel the frigate HMS ANDROMEDA she struck an uncharted pinnacle of rock in position 04°30S 55°31E which opened up her starboard side and she heeled over very quickly and settled on the bottom with her stern section submerged and her bow in the air fortunately without any loss of life
16 June 1970 RFA STROMNESS arrived from Singapore with embarked salvage equipment and to act as a communications link and a base for the newly-created NLO (Mahe)
18 June 1970 message was received from MoD (Navy) stating that it was impractical to salvage her and that her oil fuel tanks were to be ruptured so as to release her cargo whilst the SE Monsoon was favourable to carry the oil away from the islands
25 June 1970 an airborne method of delivering explosives was devised and her No 2 port wing tank was blown wide open
2 July 1970 by this date all port wing tanks had been ruptured and internal bulkheads had fractured thus allowing more oil to escape
17 July 1970 it was assessed that all FFO had been released from the wreck, all starboard wing and bunker tanks had been ruptured and the supply of mortar bombs and demolition charges had all been used up
19 July 1970 HMS/m CACHALOT arrived with the original intention of firing ten torpedoes into the wreck to disperse it more but this plan was later abandoned
22 July 1970 after ten torpedoes had been transferred from HMS/m CACHALOT to RFA STROMNESS where the warheads were separated, these were subsequently placed on or near the wreck by helicopter and six of them successfully detonated
30 July 1970 RFA STROMNESS laid a new wreck buoy at the scene and sailed Mahe. The wreck now lies in 3 sections in 30 fathoms of water and is a popular diving attraction
Notes:
1. RFA Ennerdale (2) was one of the 17 tankers which were employed in the Mozchan on Beira Patrol duties