Official Number: 180002
Class: CANADIAN FORT CLASS Stores Ship
Pennant No: B579 / A160
Laid down:
Builder: Burrard, North Vancouver, Canada
Launched: 28 June 1944
Into Service: 19 March 1951
Out of service: 1968
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: After the outbreak of WW2, the first cargo vessels built in Canada for the War Effort were the “North Sands” type, the hulls of which conformed to original British working drawings supplied by the North Sands Shipyard of J.L.Thompson & Sons at Sunderland. Following experience gained from these ships, improved versions with a more economic operation were introduced. These were the ”Victory” and “Canadian” types. The “Victory” type was an oil burner and two water tube boilers were substituted for the original 3 Scotch boilers. Because of the then concerns about oil fuel supplies, the “Canadian” type had coal bunkers and alternate oil fuel capacity installed, but with a reversion to the original 3 Scotch boilers of the “North Sands” type. In 1943, when the shipping situation in the Pacific was becoming acute, the British Government ordered that a number of the ships of the Canadian building programme be completed as Stores Issuing Ships whose intended task would be to follow and victual naval units as part of the British Pacific Fleet Train. In all, sixteen ships were completed as Stores Issuing Ships as follows: three as Ammunition Carriers, two as Air Stores Issuing Ships, two as Naval Stores Issuing Ships and nine as refrigerated Victualling Stores Issuing Ships. All were managed by commercial companies with vast experience of Far Eastern Waters as Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries with Merchant Navy Crews and a detachment of Stores Staff from the Victualling Division of the Admiralty under a Commander. On the refrigerated ships, the refrigerated space was in the tween decks and amounted to 111,480 cubic feet in 25 chambers. The lower holds were used for non-perishable items of stores, clothing, etc. After WW2, eight of these ships became RFA’s. They were only armed during WW2.
28 February 1944 launched as a “Victory” type by Burrard Dry Dock Co Ltd., Vancouver as Yard: Nr: 206 named FORT DUNVEGAN for the MoWT
14 April 1944 completed as a refrigerated VSIS and placed under initial management of Ellerman and Bucknall Steamship Co Ltd., London
27 April 1944 sailed Vancouver independently arriving Los Angeles on 1 May 1944
2 May 1944 sailed Los Angeles independently arriving Sydney, NSW on 26 May 1944
5 June 1944 sailed Sydney, NSW independently to Melbourne arriving two days later
13 June 1944 sailed Melbourne independently to Colombo, Ceylon arriving on 5 July 1944
10 August 1944 sailed Colombo, Ceylon independently arriving Trincomalee, Ceylon two days later
13 September 1944 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon independently to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 15 September 1944
19 October 1944 sailed Colombo independently arriving Freemantle, W Australia 4 November 1944
7 November 1944 sailed Freemantle, W Australia independently arriving Sydney NSW 16 November 1944
30 November 1944 sailed Sydney NSW independently arriving Vancouver 30 December 1944
22 March 1945 sailed Vancouver independently via Williams Head arriving Los Angeles 29 March 1945
30 March 1945 sailed Los Angeles independently arriving at Sydney NSW 21 April 1945
16 May 1945 sailed Sydney NSW independently arriving at Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands on 24 May 1945
31 May 1945 anchored at Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands – included in the Naval Base return of ships in the harbour
1 July 1945 anchored at Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands – included in the Naval Base return of ships in the harbour
2 July 1945 at Seeadler Harbour, Admiralty Islands with HMAS BURNIE alongside for victualling stores
HMAS BURNIE
4 July 1945 and 5 July 1945 at Seeadler Harbour, Admiralty Islands with HMAS KALGOORIE alongside loading victualling stores
11 July 1945 at Seeadler Harbour, Admiralty Islands with HMAS BURNIE alongside for victualling stores
27 July 1945 arrived at Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands
1 August 1945 sailed Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands independently arriving Sydney NSW on 9 August 1945
14 August 1945 undergoing repairs at Sydney, NSW which were completed on 21 September 1945
11 October 1945 sailed Sydney NSW independently arriving Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands 18 October 1945
25 October 1945 sailed Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands independently arriving Hong Kong 4 November 1945
11 November 1945 at Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong Quartermaster & Able Seaman Kenneth MacPhail discharged dead – drowned
4 January 1946 sailed Hong Kong to Singapore arriving 11 January 1946
27 January 1946 sailed Singapore to Sydney, NSW arriving 15 February 1946
20 February 1946 sailed Sydney, NSW to Newcastle, NSW returning to Sydney, NSW on the 22 February 1946
5 March 1946 sailed Syndey, NSW to Hong Kong
21 August 1946 arrived at Sydney, NSW, Australia with two Chinese youths, aged 15 and 16, who had stowed away on board at Hong Kong some three weeks previously. The youths appeared before the Children’s Court and were remanded in custody at the Long Bay Detention Centre to await return to Hong Kong
27 September 1946 a Chinese cook onboard applied to the Water Police Court, Sydney, NSW to be allowed to have his contract recinded. The case was adjourned until 30 December 1946 on the condition that the cook could not be discharged – except lawfully – until the case was heard
28 September 1946 the Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners’ Advocate reported –
19 October 1946 sailed Sydney, NSW for Townsville
21 October 1946 berthed at Townsville – the Townsville Daily Bulletin newspaper reported –
22 October 1946 sailed Townsville for Singapore arriving 3 November 1946
3 November 1946 to 22 November 1946 at Singapore discharging stores
14 December 1946 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Trincomalee, Ceylon
16 December 1946 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
1946 to 1948 placed in reserve
26 May 1948 arrived at Malta from Colombo, Ceylon
22 June 1948 berthed at Sheerness from Colombo and Malta with 21 passengers. Captain Thomas L Vaughan was Master
Captain Thomas L Vaughan
26 September 1948 arrived the River Tyne from Sheerness
2 October 1948 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
27 October 1948 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
26 November 1948 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
17 December 1948 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
28 December 1948 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
30 December 1948 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
31 December 1948 acquired by the Admiralty
17 January 1949 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
18 January 1949 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
27 January 1949 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
1 March 1949 berthed at Dunston, River Tyne at the same time as RFA C614
21 March 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
29 April 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
2 May 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
23 May 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
24 May 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
27 May 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
30 May 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
13 June 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
15 June 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
22 June 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
27 June 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
16 August 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
31 August 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
8 September 1949 still berthed at Dunston, River Tyne
19 March 1951 transferred to RFA management. Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA appointed as Master and Mr G A Calvert appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA
11 August 1951 Captain Stanley G Kent OBE RFA appointed as Master
Captain Stanley G Kent OBE RFA
7 October 1951 first Commodore’s Broad Pennant of Commodore Stanley G Kent OBE RFA hoisted on RFA Fort Dunvegan this day at Rosyth in the presence of Admiral Sir Philip Vian, Commander in Chief Home Fleet. The Tatler reported the event in its edition of 24 October 1951 –
21 November 1951 acted as the ‘convoy’ during Naval exercises off Gibraltar
3 December 1951 at Lisbon secured to the Naval Jetty with HMS St AUSTELL BAY alongside of her. Supplied Naval Stores to the warship
11 December 1951 passed the Llloyds Signal Station on the Lizard
23 January 1952 arrived at Chatham Dockyard. Mr Mortimer J Lawrence OBE DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer.
Chief Engineer Officer Mortimer J Lawrence OBE DSC RFA
5 February 1952 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the Medway River
17 May 1952 berthed at Malta from Trincomalee, Ceylon
27 June 1952 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
18 August 1952 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
29 August 1952 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the Medway River
24 September 1952 berthed at Malta
1 October 1952 sailed Malta with Vice Admiral G A B Hawkins MVO DSC as a passenger for the UK. Vice Admiral Hawkins had just handed over the appointment as Flag Officer, Malta and Admiral Superintendent, H M Dockyard, Malta
30 October 1952 arrived at Chatham Dockyard
5 November 1952 at Chatham Dockyard RFA C624 berthed alongside to refuel her
5 January 1953 Mr William H Macfarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 April 1953 at Plymouth
1 June 1953 Radio Officer Arthur Reginald Winter RFA appointed as an Additional Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military Division) (MBE) vide the London Gazette of the day on page 2948
15 June 1953 took part in the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead along with other RFA’s in Line H
RFA Fort Dunvegan’s crew – June 1953
29 June 1953 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
10 July 1953 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
21 October 1953 at Chatham
21 December 1953 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
8 January 1954 sailed Chatham Dockyard
1 February 1954 Admiral Lord Mountbatten visited the ship to bid farewell to Commodore Kent RFA who was due to retire after 46 years in the Service.
18 February 1954 arrived Portsmouth Dockyard with six Gibraltar apes as part of its cargo for onward transportation to Belfast Zoo. The Apes had been named Daisy, David, Dick, Madison, Malcolm and Michele. They had been cared for while onboard by Cadets J Pettitt and J C S Lovell
19 February 1954 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Rosyth
5 March 1954 at Rosyth
18 May 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
19 May 1954 when on passage from Chatham to Gibraltar anchored at Spithead after a fault was found in an engine room feed pipe. A new pipe was collected from Portsmouth Dockyard, fitted and the ship resumed its passage
13 July 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
11 August 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound
12 August 1954 entered Chatham Dockyard from the Medway River
20 August 1954 Captain Cyril F Cunningham RFA appointed Master
Captain Cyril F Cunningham RFA
1 September 1954 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
14 December 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound
16 December 1954 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
3 January 1955 at Chatham Dockyard with RFA TEAKOL (2) berthed alongside
6 January 1955 moved from Chatham Dockyard to Folly Buoys to load explosives
8 January 1955 having loaded sailed to sea
25 February 1955 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
3 March 1955 within Chatham Dockyard refuelled by RFA ROWANOL alongside
10 March 1955 arrived Gibraltar
12 March 1955 sailed Gibraltar for Malta
16 March 1955 arrived at Malta
30 March 1955 sailed from Gibraltar for the UK
5 May 1955 arrived at Gibraltar
7 May 1955 sailed from Gibraltar
11 May 1955 berthed at Malta
21 May 1955 sailed Malta for the UK
24 May 1955 berthed at Gibraltar
29 June 1955 passed Dover sailing west bound
4 July 1955 arrived Gibraltar
27 July 1955 sailed from Malta
11 August 1955 Captain Frank P Hennin OBE RFA appointed as Master
2 October 1955 at Leith the ship was damage by ss Mersus
16 December 1955 berthed at Chatham Dockyard
28 December 1955 Mr Charles Scott DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 January 1956 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
1 February 1956 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
7 April 1956 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
24 May 1956 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
27 July 1956 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
8 August 1956 at Chatham Dockyard
15 August 1956 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
2 October 1956 Mr Oscar Goodwin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 October 1956 at Chatham Dockyard being refuelled by RFA C624
10 November 1956 deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 16 November 1956 – the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal (1915) with the “Near East” Clasp
31 December 1956 Mr William J Brown OBE DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 March 1957 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
10 May 1957 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
24 August 1957 arrived at Devonport
29 August 1957 Mr J B D Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 September 1957 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
30 September 1957 sailed Gibraltar for Malta
4 October 1957 arrived at Malta
20 October 1957 arrived at Gibraltar
21 October 1957 sailed Gibraltar for Devonport
7 November 1957 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
15 November 1957 at Chatham Dockyard lighter C92 berthed alongside
20 November 1957 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the Medway River
1 December 1957 arrived Malta
11 December 1957 sailed from Malta
16 December 1957 arrived Gibraltar sailing later the same day for Rosyth
23 December 1957 arrived Rosyth
23 May 1958 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
10 June 1958 sailed from Chatham Dockayrd into the River Medway
25 July 1958 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
6 December 1958 Captain Edward E Laurence RFA appointed as Master
20 December 1958 Mr T J W Humphreys RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 January 1959 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
4 February 1959 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound for Chatham
6 February 1959 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
20 February 1959 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
25 March 1959 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
16 April 1959 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
27 May 1959 the Western Mail newspaper reported …
4 June 1959 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
20 August 1959 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
2 September 1959 berthed at Malta from Gibraltar
24 September 1959 moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 1 Jetty at Devonport
5 October 1959 moved to Plymouth Sound from No: 1 Jetty at Devonport and sailed
7 October 1959 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
23 October 1959 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway and then passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
17 November 1959 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
26 November 1959 moved to Plymouth Sound from No: 1 Jetty at Devonport and sailed
7 December 1959 moved to Plymouth Sound from No: 1 Jetty at Devonport
10 December 1959 Mr David C Leathley OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer David C Leathley OBE RFA
14 December 1959 Captain Frank A Shaw OBE RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
30 December 1959 at Chatham Dockyard
1 January 1960 Mr F Barclay RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 January 1960 sailed Chatham Dockyard to Malta and Singapore with 7 passengers
1960 converted at Hong Kong into a temporary Air Stores Issuing Ship
8 October 1960 sailed Singapore for Trincomalee
14 October 1960 off Trincomalee passed mail to HMAS VAMPIRE by light jackstay
23 January 1961 Mr L Cochrane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 May 1961 RASed with HMAS QUEENBOROUGH
6 June 1961 Captain Frank C Holt RFA appointed as Master
Captain Frank C Holt RFA
23 June 1961 customs officers and naval police searched the ship at Singapore and found 50 pounds weight of raw opium. No arrests were made
July 1961 converted at Hong Kong into a NS/VSIS and saw service during Operation Vantage – the Kuwait Crisis – along with 12 other RFA’s
6 August 1961 at 8.41N 109.16E Donkeyman Greaser Chong Sau discharged dead from natural causes
24 August 1961 at Singapore customs officers and police stopped a taxi on way to the ship containing three Hong Kong Chinese crew together with 22 pounds weight of raw opium
29 March 1962 Mr B W Edwards RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 April 1962 while on passage to Manila RAS’ed with HMAS MELBOURNE
10 September 1962 off Brisbane, Australia together with RFA’s WAVE MASTER, WAVE RULER (1), HMS and HMAS ships engaged in Operation Tuckerbox (II)
30 March 1963 Mr N Bothwell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
23 October 1963 Captain C G D Barker RFA appointed as Master
28 June 1964 Captain William H G Hine RFA appointed as Master
7 October 1964 Mr I M McFarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 December 1964 together with RFA TIDESURGE RASed with HMS CENTAUR
HMS CENTAUR
17 November 1965 Captain Walter Gibb MBE RFA appointed as Master
12 June 1966 together with RFA’ s FORT LANGLEY and TIDESPRING (1) at anchor off the eastern side of Pu Tioman
5 August 1966 Mr J P Mair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 February 1967 light jackstay transfer with HMS RETENTLESS during the Beira Patrol
29 April 1967 heavy jackstay transfer with HMS RETENTLESS during the Beira Patrol
RFA Fort Duvegan at Aden in April 1967
10 September 1967 Captain Archibald Murchie RFA appointed as Master
15 September 1967 Mr L Cochrane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
February 1968 with other RFA’s deployed to support RN ships during the Aden peace keeping operation at the hand over to an independent administration
1968 Broken up at Kaohsiung
Notes:
- Prior to RFA Service was part of the British Pacific Fleet – hence the B pennant number