Subsequent name:                    OSAGE

Official Number:                        136733

Class:                                        FIRST 1000t  ATTENDANT CLASS Oiler

Pennant No:                              N88 /  X07 /  X24

Signal Letters:                           GRLV (1919)

Laid down:                                14 November 1913
Builder:                                      H.M. Dockyard, Devonport
Launched:                                 3 October 1914

Into Service:                              January 1915
Out of service:                           29 January 1920

Fate:                                          Sold to British commercial interests and renamed

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:   On the outbreak of WW1, the Admiralty embarked on a programme of tanker construction for the fledgling RFA Service and there were four ships in this Class, all of which were little more than powered barges. The early Swedish diesel engines in two of them gave endless trouble and ultimately, three of the Class were sold off at the end of the War as part of the Government Disposal Scheme. In April 1940, approval was given to build six 1,500 tons Fleet Attendant Tankers, of which two were intended to replace two of this Class and the rest to replace larger Fleet Attendant Tankers for freighting duties, but eventually to replace the other 1,000 tonners. As designed they were to have been 3,200 tons full load displacement, 263 ft (o.a.) x 38.5 ft x 16 ft, with steam engines developing 1,200 ihp giving a speed of 10 knots with 2,000 miles endurance. Cargo was to have been 1,500 tons of fuel oil, 100 tons of diesel oil and 50 tons of petrol. There were no slips available in the U.K. for building and building capacity was sought in Canada but the shipyards there could not cope either. In May 1940 the idea was abandoned.

 0 July 1912 the Portsmouth Evening News reported that the Admiralty were to build two oil fuel vessels at Devonport and they were to be named  RFA CAROL and RFA FEROL

5 July 1913 the Portsmouth Evening News reported

18 May 1914 the Western Morning News reported

3 October 1914 launched by H.M. Dockyard, Devonport as Yard Nr       named FEROL. Was built on a covered slip and was the first ship built at Devonport with internal combustion engines

16 December 1914 Lieutenant Percival Skone-Rees RNR appointed in command

Lieutenant Percival Skone-Rees RNR

14 January 1915 at Devonport loaded 370 tons FFO as cargo

18 January 1915 on trials at Devonport – returning to No 4 jetty

19 January 1915 at Devonport tug Salvo damaged the ship on her port side while casting off

20 January 1915 at Devonport tug Salvo caused further damage to her port side while coming alongside

24 January 1915 sailed Devonport initally for Scapa Flow – after leaving Plymouth Sound suffered a defect in her steering and anchored off Falmouth while repairs were effected

25 January 1915 sailed Falmouth but suffered further defects and put in Kingstown, Ireland for repairs these took several days

3 February 1915 at Kingstown, Ireland refuelled HMS LOYAL with 67 tons FFO, HMS LAWFORD with 57 tons of FFO and HMS LYDIARD with 70 tons of FFO

HMS LOYAL

9 February 1915 sailed Kingstown but suffered further engine defects – put into Liverpool for repairs

16 February 1915 sailed from Liverpool to Birkenhead – collided with the pier head damaging her plating in the region of the bows.

21 February 1915 sailed Birkenhead towards Scapa Flow

27 February 1915 at Loch Laxford suffered further engine defects – repairs under taken

1 March 1915 sailed Loch Laxford for Long Hope, Orkney Islands arriving on 4 March 1915

10 March 1915 at Long Hope went alongside and replenished the following RN ships – HMS NATAL with 700 gallons of lub oil. HMS COCHRANE with 435 gallons of lub oil and HMS ACHILLES with 445 gallons of lub oil

HMS ACHILLES

11 March 1915 at Long Hope alongside HMS CONQUEROR and refuelled her with 99 tons of FFO

HMS CONQUEROR

13 March 1915 at Long Hope alongside RFA KHARKI to load lub oil. While the two ships were alongside both were damaged

19 March 1915 at Long Hope came alongside HMS SHANNON to refuel her. While coming alongside her starboard aft davit was carried away. Refuelled HMS SHANNON with 400 galls of lub oil

HMS SHANNON

20 March 1915 at Long Hope alongside RFA KHARKI to load lub oil

24 March 1915 at Long Hope came alongside HMS FAULKNER and refuelled her with 12 tons of FFO

26 March 1915 at Long Hope while coming alongside HMS ROYALIST to refuel her Ferol’s starboard anchor made a hole in the side of the warship on her port side. ROYALIST then loaded 256 tons of FFO

10 July 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PHAETON refuelling her – supplied 45 tons of FFO

HMS PHAETON

15 July 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PHAETON refuelling her

4 August 1915 Engineer Lieutenant Wilfred Jefferies RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 November 1915 off Rosyth with HMTB No: 36 alongside refuelling her with FFO 

4 April 1916 at Bo’ness alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 16 tons of FFO supplied

19 April 1916 at Bo’ness alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 37 tons of FFO supplied

1 May 1916 at Bo’ness alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 27 tons of FFO supplied

HMS FEARLESS

10 May 1916 at South Queensferry alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 42 tons of FFO supplied

22 May 1916 at South Queensferry alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 34 tons of FFO supplied

29 May 1916 at South Queensferry alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 32 tons of FFO supplied

12 June 1916 at Queensferry alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 34 tons of FFO supplied

8 July 1916 Lieutenant Charles H Noel RNR appointed in command

Lieutenant Charles H Noel RNR

6 August 1916 at Leith Roads alongside HMTB No: 35 refuelling her

22 August 1917 at Rosyth alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her

HMS GALATEA

12 October 1917 at Rosyth alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her

19 October 1917 at Rosyth alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her

1 January 1918 Lieutenant Allan H Furlong RNR appointed in command. He signed off on the 17 September 1918 when transfered to RFA CAROL

11 July 1918 Fireman S Birch logged as deserting. He had signed on on 3 June 1918

21 August 1918 in collision with RFA DISTOL both vessels considered to blame but the greater responsibility resting with RFA DISTOL

10 September 1918 the Police Gazette of this day listed among those who were wanted for Deserting or being Absentees from H M Services – Lieutenant Allan H Furlong RNR for desertion on 30 August 1918

24 September 1918 Lieutenant Charles A Shepherd RNR appointed in command

Lieutenant Charles A Sherherd RNR

25 October 1918 at Rosyth alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her

16 November 1918 berthed alongside HMS CARADOC which was anchored off Inch Keith, in the Forth and refuelled her with 113 tons FFO

17 November 1918 at Rosyth Dockyard berthed alongside HMS CARADOC to refuel her with 80 tons FFO

HMS CARADOC

26 November 1918 at Rosyth Dockyard berthed alongside HMS CARADOC to refuel her with 31 tons FFO

13 December 1918 at Rosyth Dockyard secured alongside HMS CASTOR

HMS CASTOR

1 January 1919 at anchor in the Firth of Forth – HMS TYPHOON and HMS SPEEDY came alongside to refuel

2 January 1919 at Firth of Forth anchorage came alongside RFA BURMA to load

3 January 1919 at Firth of Forth anchorage came alongside RFA MONTENOL to load. Then moved alongside HMS LION to refuel her

4 January 1919 at Firth of Forth anchorage came alongside RFA SLAVOL to load

6 January 1919 sailed Firth of Forth anchorage to Leith Docks

17 January 1919 while berthed at Leith Docks RFA RAPIDOL berthed alongside her.

22 April 1919 Lieutenant Charles H Noel RNR appointed in command (again)

26 April 1919 Donkeyman A Morris MMR 999360 logged as deserting. He had signed on on 20 April 1919

16 July 1919 Able Seaman John Cooke MMR 981246 logged as discharged to HMS EAGLET and deserted on route. He had signed on on 31 March 1919

6 October 1919 Mr G Nixon RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 January 1920 purchased by Anglo American Oil Co Ltd, London was renamed OSAGE and was re-engined  with 2 x 4 cyl Bolinder 16 “ x 18 “ diesel engines by J & C.G. Bolinder,  Stockholm. 410 bhp. Speed 8 knots. Twin screws

9 March 1920 at Leith awaiting repairs but these were delayed by industrial action by boilermakers and iron workers

10 November 1920 arrived at Albert Dock, Hull to discharge

15 December 1920 sailed from Albert Dock, Hull for London in ballast

10 January 1921 arrived at Grangemouth from London

14 February 1921 arrived at Dublin

23 May 1921 sailed from Albert Dock, Hull for London in ballast

2 June 1921 sailed Grangemouth for Thameshaven in ballast

13 June 1921 arrived Grangemouth from London

21 November 1921 sailed the Wear for London

12 December 1921 while en-route from Stockholm to the UK in ballast put into Brunsbuttelkoog with damage to her engine – repaired

1 March 1922 arrived at Sunderland from Hull

4 April 1922 arrived Grangemouth from Hull

2 December 1922 arrived at London from Wilhelmshaven

15 April 1923 arrived at Salt End Jetty from Leith in ballast sailing the same day for Grangemouth with a cargo of kerosine

7 May 1923 berthed at Grangemouth from Hull

10 May 1923 berthed at Salt End Jetty, Hull from Grangemouth in ballast sailing the same day for Grangemouth loaded with benzine

23 January 1924 in collision with the British steamer PETWORTH at Liverpool and both vessels were badly damaged Osage listing heavily damaged amidhips port side. When the collision occured some of her crew and workmen on board jumped onto the PETWORTH

Press report from the Dundee Courier of the 24 January 1924

24 April 1924 arrived at Salt End Jetty, Hull from Aberdeen in ballast

28 April 1924 sailed the River Wear for Grangemouth

17 May 1924 arrived Aberdeen from Grangemouth

30 May 1924 arrived Aberdeen from Grangemouth with a cargo of motor spirit

12 August 1924 arrived at Salt End Jetty, Hull from Sunderland in ballast

4 September 1924 arrived at Aberdeen from Sunderland

23 November 1924 sailed Grangemouth to Hull in ballast

2 April 1925 berthed at Salt End Jetty, Hull in ballast from London

24 April 1925 sailed Salt End Jetty, Hull for Aberdeen

28 May 1925 arrived at Hull Roads from Aberdeen in ballast

2 June 1925 arrived at Grangemouth from Hull with a cargo of motor spirit

20 August 1925 arrived at Grangemouth from Hull with a cargo of motor spirit sailing the same day for Aberdeen

25 August 1925 sailed Salt End Jetty, Hull with a cargo of motor spirit

28 August 1925 arrived at Grangemouth sailing the same day for Aberdeen

30 May 1926 sailed Salt End Jetty, Hull in ballast for Grangemouth

2 October 1926 sailed Aberdeen

17 January 1927 sailed Grangemouth for Inverness

15 February 1927 arrived Saltend Jetty, Hull and loaded cargo sailing the same day for Grangemouth

17 February 1927 arrived at Grangemouth from Hull with a cargo of motor spirit

4 March 1927 sailed Grangemouth for Aberdeen

22 May 1927 arrived the River Wear from Hull

1 August 1927 sailed Hull for Grangemouth

10 August 1927 arrived at Grangemouth from Hull with a cargo of motor spirit

5 January 1928 berthed at Aberdeen with a cargo of motor spirit

6 January 1928 sailed Aberdeen for London in ballast

16 January 1928 arrived at Hull Roads in ballast

20 January 1928 sailed Grangemouth with a cargo of motor spirit

1928 managers became J. Hamilton

26 March 1928 arrived at Grangemouth from Hull via Sunderland

14 May 1928 berthed at Grangemouth from Hull

14 December 1928 sailed Hull for Sunderland

3 January 1929 arrived at Hull from Lynn berthing at Saltend Jetty

12 January 1929 arrived at Grangemouth from Hull

13 January 1929 sailed Grangemouth for Aberdeen with a cargo of motor spirit arriving the next day

20 January 1929 arrived at Grangemouth from Hull via Sunderland with a cargo of motor spirit

20 April 1929 berthed at Aberdeen from Grangemouth with a cargo of motor spirit

15 June 1929 having sailed from Aberdeen had to put back through engine trouble

16 June 1929 sailed from Aberdeen for Hull in ballast

28 June 1929 sailed Grangemouth for Hull in ballast

1 July 1929 arrived the River Wear from Hull, sailing the same day for Grangemouth

13 July 1929 arrived at Aberdeen from Sunderland

25 July 1929 sailed from Aberdeen

31 July 1929 arrived at Aberdeen from Sunderland

12 September 1929 sailed Grangemouth in ballast for Hull

30 September 1929 sailed Aberdeen to Hull in ballast

3 October 1929 arrived at Hull (Alexandra Dock)

19 October 1929 berthed at Alexandra Dock, Hull

26 January 1930 arrived in Hull Roads from the River Tyne

28 January 1930 sailed Hull to Grangemouth

31 January 1930 sailed Grangemouth for Hull in ballast

3 February 1930 berthed at Salt End Jetty, Hull from Grangemouth

4 February 1930 sailed Salt End Jetty, Hull for Sunderland

12 February 1930 arrived at Aberdeen

13 March 1930 sailed Hull for Grangemouth with a cargo of motor spirit

21 March 1930 sailed Hull for Grangemouth with a cargo of motor spirit

23 October 1930 berthed at Salt End Jetty, Hull in ballast

25 October 1930 arrived at Aberdeen from Grangemouth

26 October 1930 sailed Aberdeen in ballast for Hull

29 October 1930 sailed Salt End Jetty, Hull for Sunderland

16 January 1931 sailed Grangemouth with a cargo of motor spirit

5 April 1931 sailed from Hull for Grangemouth

1931 managers became P.J. Wolfe

14 May 1932 arrived at Hull in ballast berthing on the  Salt End Jetty from Grangemouth

6 August 1932 arrived at Hull from Purfleet berthing on the Salt End Jetty

20 August 1932 berthed at Grangemouth from Hull

10 September 1932 sailed the River Wear for Hull

30 November 1932 sailed the River Wear for Aberdeen

6 January 1933 arrived at Grangemouth from Hull via Sunderland

10 April 1933 sailed Aberdeen to Hull in ballast

24 April 1933 berthed at the Oil Berth, South Docks, Sunderland

7 July 1933 berthed at Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of 315 tons of motor spirit and 220 tons of kerosene

29 September 1933 arrived Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of 400 tons of petrol

9 December 1933 arrived at the River Wear from Hull

10 December 1933 sailed from the River Wear for Aberdeen

7 February 1934 berthed at Hull from London with a cargo of motor spirit

10 March 1934 sailed Aberdeen to Sunderland with a cargo of motor spirit

14 March 1934 arrived Sunderland and berthed on Home Wharf

18 March 1934 sailed from Sunderland for London

11 May 1934 in collision at Butterman’s Bay, Harwich with sailing barge Jock. No damage to the Osage but considerable damage to the bow of Jock – reported in the Casualty List, Times 12 May 1934

12 June 1934 arrived River Wear from Hull with a cargo of oil

4 September 1934 arrived River Wear from Hull with a cargo of petrol

19 April 1935 arrived Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of petrol

23 April 1935 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south

9 May 1935 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south

15 May 1935 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north

25 May 1935 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south

1 June 1935 arrived at the River Tees

22 June 1935 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north

9 July 1935 arrived Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of 520 tons of petrol

1 August 1935 arrived Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of 980 tons of petrol

12 August 1935 arrived Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of 230 tons of petrol

28 August 1935 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north

22 September 1935 arrived at the River Wear

22 October 1935 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south

10 January 1936 sailed from Sunderland for London (light)

24 February 1936 arrived at Sunderland

30 March 1936 arrived the River Tees from Ipswich

20 June 1936 arrived Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of 320 tons of petrol

23 July 1936 arrived at Sunderland from Hull

21 August 1936 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south

5 December 1936 arrived at Sunderland from Hull

23 December 1936 arrived Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of 710 tons of petrol

24 March 1937 arrived at the River Tees in ballast from Ipswich

25 May 1937 berthed at Sunderland from Aberdeen in ballast

17 June 1937 berthed on the Oil Berth, South Dock, Sunderland

8 July 1937 berthed on the Oil Berth, South Dock, Sunderland

24 August 1937 arrived Sunderland from Hull with 287,000 gallons of petrol

18 September 1937 arrived at the River Wear from Hull

19 September 1937 sailed from the River Wear – part cargo – for Aberdeen

9 October 1937 arrived at Aberdeen from Hull

29 October 1937 arrived Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of petrol

27 November 1937 arrived at Aberdeen from Hull

4 December 1937 arrived at Hull

10 December 1937 arrived Sunderland from Hull with a cargo of petrol

11 January 1938 berthed in the South Docks, Sunderland on the oil berth

12 January 1938 the Sunderland Daily Echo reported …

24 February 1938 arrived at Aberdeen from Middlesborough and Sunderland

15 April 1938 arrived at Sunderland and berthed on the Oil Berth

28 April 1938 arrived at the River Wear

31 July 1938 sailed the River Tees for Thameshaven passing the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing south bound

4 August 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing north bound

1 September 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing north bound for Sunderland

6 September 1938 at North Eastern Marine, Sunderland under repair

8 December 1938 sailed from the River Wear for Aberdeen

9 December 1938 arrived at Aberdeen from Hull via Sunderland with a cargo of petrol

12 December 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing south bound

26 December 1938 arrived at Aberdeen from Hull

27 December 1938 sailed Aberdeen for Hull

5 January 1939 sailed River Tees for Avonmouth

22 February 1939 sailed from Gravesend

15 March 1939 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing north bound

21 March 1939 arrived at Gravesend from Thames Haven

2 April 1939 arrived in the River Wear from Hull

21 April 1939 at Smith Dock, River Tyne

22 April 1939 sailed from the River Tyne for the River Tees

9 June 1939 berthed at Avonmouth from Thames Haven

18 June 1939 arrived the River Wear from Hull

1 July 1939 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west

7 July 1939 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

22 July 1939 sailed from Grangemouth for Middlesborough

25 July 1939 arrived at Grangemouth from Billingham

30 July 1939 sailed from Gravesend for Hull

1 August 1939 arrived at the River Tees sailing the same day to Thameshaven with a cargo of petrol

8 August 1939 berthed at Salt End Quay, Hull in ballast from Ipswich

18 December 1940 bombed and sunk 4nm NE Arklow Light Vessel off County Wicklow, Eire at 54º 52.2 N 01º 39.3 west while on passage from Belfast to Foynes with a cargo of petrol