Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Previous name: Queensborough Park
Official Number: 175614
Class: CANADIAN FORT CLASS Stores Ship
Pennant No: X141 / B588 / A229
Laid down: 7 July 1944
Builder: West Coast Shipbuilding, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Launched: 28 September 1944
Into Service: 16 September 1947
Base Port: Malta (1952)
Out of service: April 1967 – laid up at Chatham
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, 16 ships were completed as Stores Issuing Ships as follows: 3 as Ammunition Carriers, 2 as Air Stores Issuing Ships, 2 as Naval Stores Issuing Ships and 9 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, 8 of these ships became RFA’s. They were only armed during WW2.
28 September 1944 launched as a “Victory” type by West Coast Shipbuilders, Vancouver as Yard Nr: 147 named QUEENSBOROUGH PARK for the Canadian Government ( Park Steamship Co, Montreal, Managers)
25 November 1944 completed as a refrigerated VSIS; acquired by the MoWT, renamed FORT DUQUESNE and placed under initial management of George Nisbet & Co, Glasgow
6 December 1944 sailed Victoria, Vancouver for Los Angeles arriving 11 December 1944
11 December 1944 sailed Los Angeles
25 December 1944 sailed Cristobal
3 January 1945 arrived at New York
3 January 1945 as Queensborough Park sailed in escorted convoy HX330 from New York to Tyne with a general cargo and lumber
17 January 1945 anchored at the Downs
18 January 1945 anchored at Southend sailing the 19 January 1945
21 January 1945 arrived at the River Tyne
14 February 1945 sailed from the River Tyne
17 February 1945 arrived at Gravesend
19 February 1945
25 February 1945 as Queensborough Park sailed in escorted convoy ON287 from the Clyde to sail independently to Panama
17 March 1945 at Cristobal
18 March 1945 sailed Balboa
11 May 1945 arrived at Los Angeles
15 May 1945 sailed from Los Angles
30 May 1945 arrived at Vancouver
21 July 1946 arrived Sydney, NSW from Hong Kong
20 October 1946 arrived at Sydney, NSW from Hong Kong
22 November 1946 sailed Sydney, NSW for Hong Kong with a cargo of 160 tons of frozen meat
22 February 1947 sailed Colombo with 12 passengers
19 March 1947 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound when on passage from Trincomalee, Ceylon to Plymouth
24 March 1947 arrived at Plymouth Sound from Hong Kong and Colombo bringing 12 passengers and 16 Active Service Ratings. Captain A K Sanderson was the ship’s Master
26 March 1947 the Daily Herald newspaper reported that –
28 March 1947 before Plymouth Magistrates’ Court sailor Lo Seng pleaded guilty to attempting to evade customs duty on 107,600 cigarettes. He was fined £100 or three months imprisonment and ordered to pay £1,574 customs duty. He was not allowed time to pay
2 April 1947 before Plymouth Magistrates’ Court sailor Yeung Hing charged with attempting to evade customs duty on 36,500 cigarettes. He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £533 14sh 9d customs duty. He was unable to pay and was sent to prison for 3 months
15 April 1947 having sailed Plymouth arrived Gravesend this day
1947 managers became Alfred Holt & Co, Liverpool
30 May 1947 the Hampshire Telegraph newspaper reported that –
30 July 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing eastwards
27 August 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
8 September 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour and passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westwards
10 September 1947 Mr Robert Blacklock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 September 1947 acquired by the Admiralty under RFA management
16 September 1947 took part in the Home Fleet Review on the Clyde along with RFA’s BLACK RANGER, PETROBUS and PRESTOL
6 October 1947 Captain Henry F Colbourne RFA appointed as Master
9 October 1947 at Barry
29 December 1947 Captain Leonard Elford RFA appointed as Master
Captain Leonard Elford RFA
3 February 1948 sailed Barry to Newport, Wales arriving the same day
24 February 1948 sailed Newport, Wales to Rosyth Dockyard
26 February 1948 passed Dunnet Head
27 February 1948 arrived at Rosyth Dockyard
3 April 1948 sailed Rosyth Dockyard to Gibraltar arriving 12 April 1948
15 April 1948 sailed Gibraltar to Malta arriving 19 April 1948
4 July 1948 sailed Malta to Poros arriving 6 July 1948
11 July 1948 sailed Poros to Salonika arriving the next day
15 July 1948 sailed Salonika to Phalerum Bay arriving the next day
18 July 1948 sailed Phalerum Bay for Argostoli arriving the next day
27 July 1948 sailed Argostoli to Malta arriving 29 July 1948
12 September 1948 arrived at Naples, Italy
17 September 1948 sailed Naples, Italy
23 September 1948 arrived at Nice, France
22 October 1948 the Hampshire Telegraph reported –
16 March 1949 at Malta
16 July 1949 arrived at Rhodes
5 September 1949 Mr Reginald R Darroch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Reginald R Darroch RFA
9 to 15 September 1949 at Genoa as part of the Mediterranean Fleet’s Second Summer cruise with RFA BLUE RANGER
20 to 28 September 1949 at Aranei Bay as part of the Mediterranean Fleet’s Second Summer cruise in part with RFA BLUE RANGER and RFA ROWANOL
29 September to 4 October 1949 at Naples as part of the Mediterranean Fleet’s Second Summer cruise
5 to 10 October 1949 at Bizerta as part of the Mediterranean Fleet’s Second Summer cruise
12 October 1949 returned to Malta
17 November 1949 arrived at Dieppe
23 December 1949 at Sliema Creek, Malta moored alongside HMS GRAVELINES
28 December 1949 at Lazzarreto Creek, Malta moored alongside HMS GRAVELINES
31 December 1949 at Lazzarreto Creek, Malta moored alongside HMS GRAVELINES
6 July 1950 in W/T contact with the Cable & Wireless Ltd., radio station on Bermuda
13 September 1950 sailed Malta for Golfe Juan, France with His Grace Mgr. Michael Gonzi, Metropolitan Archbishop of Malta accompanied by Father Michael Licari Chaplain to His Grace as passengers
November to December 1950 fitted with a small helicopter landing platform by Malta Dockyard in preparation for forthcoming helicopter trials
3 December 1950 sailed Malta on completion of above for Hebburn-on-Tyne
19 December 1950 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BROOMDALE and WAVE DUKE
27 December 1950 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BROOMDALE and WAVE DUKE
30 December 1950 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BLACK RANGER, BROOMDALE and WAVE DUKE
2 January 1951 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BROOMDALE and WAVE DUKE
3 January 1951 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BROOMDALE and WAVE DUKE
10 January 1951 sailed Hebburn for Portland
11 January 1951 passed St Catherines Point sailing west bound
31 January 1951, 3 February 1951 and 4 February 1951 trials on RFA FORT DUQUESNE off Portland and Plymouth using Dragon Fly helicopters from RNAS Gosport and RNAS Culdrose. The trials were conducted with 705 Fleet Air Arm Squadron in the Channel using two Dragonfly HR1 helicopters. The helicopters used were VX598 and VZ963. The worst possible weather was found and 180 successful landings and take-offs were achieved
5 February 1951 berthed at Portsmouth
17 February 1951 conducted further helicopter trials with the destroyer HMS SAVAGE in the Portland / Plymouth areas while on passage from Portland to Gibraltar
16 July 1951 Captain Samuel Thomas RFA appointed as Master
28 July 1951 sailed Malta to the Red Sea and adjoining areas supporting RN ships in the area with refrigerated food
3 August 1951 the Hampshire Telegraph reported –
20 October 1951 sailed Aden to Suez
21 April 1952 with RFA BLUE RANGER and RN units, the pipe band of the Highland Light Infantry and a RAF Guard of seventy sailed Malta to visit Athens for a memorial ceremony to members of the Commonwealth Forces who had been killed in Greece during the Second World War.
23 to 26 September 1952 visited at Naples with HMS GLASGOW and other RN units during the Mediterranean Fleet’s Summer cruise
8 November 1952 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
1953 winner of the annual Bulawayo Cup for the most conspicuous efficiency in Fleet replenishment-at-sea in the Mediterranean area.
17 March 1953 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
30 June 1953 Mr D Cameron RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 April 1954 arrived at Grand Harbour Malta with HMS’s EAGLE, FORTH, BARFLEUR and ROSEBUCK at the end of the Mediterrean Fleets Sping Cruise – all arrived one day later than planned
1954 winner of the annual Bulawayo Cup
15 October 1954 at Malta Donkeyman Salvatore Zahra discharged dead – heart failure – natural causes
31 March 1955 Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA appointed as Master
Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA
2 June 1955 together with HMS SHEFFIELD and other RN ships visited Alexandria, Egypt on a good will visit
2 September 1955 the Hampshire Telegraph newspaper reported –
1956 along with RFA OLNA (2) who played the German supply tanker ALTMARK, she starred in the film “Battle of the River Plate” where she played the German supply ship TACOMA that harboured Captain Langsdorff (played by Peter Finch) and his Crew following the scuttling of the pocket battleship GRAF SPEE off Montevideo in December 1939
29 August 1956 Mr Henry S Edwards RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Henry S Edwards RFA
17 November 1956 deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 22 December 1956 – the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal (1915) with the “Near East” Clasp
18 December 1956 at Port Said – HMS ANZIO berthed alongside for stores
1957 winner of the annual Bulawayo Cup
January 1957 involved with other RFAs in clearance work of the Suez Canal
11 November 1957 Captain William F Curlett RFA appointed as Master
12 February 1958 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
24 February 1958 Mr J B D Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 February 1958 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway
24 March 1958 arrived at Malta from the UK
1 April 1958 a fire was discovered onboard in a refrigerated cargo space. It was quickly brought under control by the Malta Dockyard Fire Brigade and the ship’s company. Fire described in the Times of Malta on 2 April 1958 as ‘minor’
27 October 1958 to 30 October 1958 off Malta involved in Exercise MEDASWEX26 together with RN units and RFA’s BLUE RANGER and TIDESURGE
25 January 1959 at St Lukes Hospital, Malta Donkeyman Greaser Emmanuel Buttigieg discharged dead – natural causes
1959 winner of the annual Bulawayo Cup along with RFA FORT LANGLEY
5 May 1959 sailed Valencia for Malta
8 May 1959 berthed at Malta
May 1959 together with RFA WAVE PRINCE and HMS DEFENDER and other RN units together with Italian Navy Units involved in exercise off Augusta
9 June 1959 east of Gibraltar RASed with HMS CENTAUR
17 June 1959 berthed at Malta after taking part in exercise Sardex with units of the Royal Navy and RFA’s FORT LANGLEY, WAVE VICTOR and WAVE SOVEREIGN
10 October 1959 with HMS BIRMINGHAM, HMS DAINTY, HMS DARING and HMS/m TALLY HO and RFA’s FORT LANGLEY and RFA TIDE AUSTRAL sailed Malta to take part in Anglo-Spanish exercises in the Western Mediterranean
HMS BIRMINGHAM
1960 winner of the annual Bulawayo Cup along with RFA TIDE AUSTRAL
11 March 1960 Mr F B Hobson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 March 1960 Captain William R Parker RFA appointed as Master
22 June 1960 arrived at Malta from Palmas Bay, Sardinia
7 July 1960 sailed Malta for Athens
4 November 1960 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
10 January 1961 off Malta RASed HMS BERMUDA with Naval Stores
4 April 1961 sailed Malta with HMS’s HERMES and SUPRISE
17 April 1961 sailed Malta for Exercises with RN and other Allied ships together with RFA’s WAVE BARON, TIDE AUSTRAL, SEA SALVOR and BROWN RANGER
3 July 1961 sailed from Malta east bound together with RFA’s FORT ROSALIE (1), BROWN RANGER, and WAVE KNIGHT (1)
24 April 1962 Captain Howard D Gausden DSO OBE RFA appointed as Master
1 June, 1962 berthed at Barcelona, Spain together with RFA FORT ROSALIE (1), RFA WAVE BARON and various RN units for an eight day visit
6 July 1962 together with HMS’s HERMES and SCORPION and RFA TIDEREACH visited Beirut, Lebanon
14 October 1962 at Devonport arrived from sea to Plymouth Sound
15 October 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 7 wharf
17 October 1962 at Devonport moved from No: 7 wharf to No: 1 jetty
24 October 1962 at Devonport moved from No: 1 jetty to sea
25 October 1962 Mr L Cochrane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 November 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 1 Jetty
19 November 1962 at Devonport moved from No: 1 Jetty to Plymouth Sound
11 February 1963 Captain Douglas S Norrington OBE RD RFA appointed as Master
11 September 1964 Captain Sydney E Clench RFA appointed as Master
4 January 1965 Her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her – see above
12 March 1965 while on passage from Hong Kong to Singapore RASed with HMS EAGLE
9 December 1965 together with RFA FORT LANGLEY berthed at Fremantle, Western Australia and secured to the North Wharf
11 December 1965 together with RFA FORT LANGLEY sailed from Fremantle to Carnarvon
5 April 1966 deployed with HMS’s ARK ROYAL, RHYL and LOWESTOFT supported by RFA TIDEFLOW and RFA PEARLEAF (2) in the Mozambique Channel
July 1966 Captain Charles Eric C Phipps RFA appointed as Master
4 October 1966 took part in Exercise Millsail – an advanced weapon exercise – in the Subic training areas, together with RFA’s TIDESPRING (1), RESURGENT and FORT ROSALIE (1) together with various RN and RAN units
10 January 1967 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
16 January 1967 in Chatham Dockyard berthed alongside RFA LYNESS
April 1967 placed in reserve at Chatham Dockyard
29 June 1967 arrived in the Scheldte for breaking up by Jos Boel et Fils at Tamise
Notes:
- Prior to RFA service was part of the British Pacific Fleet – hence the B pennant number