Official Number:                      168333     

Class:                                      FRESH CLASS Water Carrier

Pennant No:                            X120

Laid down:                              18 March 1942
Builder:                                    Lytham Shipbuilding, Lytham

Launched:                               15 July 1942
Into Service:                            14 November 1942
Fate:                                        Broken Up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  There were fourteen vessels in this Class, designed by H.M. Dockyard, Devonport to the order of the RFA. The design was based on that of the earlier BLOSSOM and FOUNTAIN CLASSES but with an additional salvage and fire-fighting capability. They were originally operated by the Director of Victualling and were maintained at RN bases in the U.K. and Mediterranean where they were employed principally in replenishing warships’ freshwater supplies and also, from time to time, in fire fighting and salvage work. A total of 236 tons of fresh water could be carried in six tanks. Most of them saw only limited service under the RFA ensign, manned by RFA crews working under Board of Trade (Home Trade) Agreements, before being transferred to the control of the Captains of the Dockyards on Yard Craft Agreements. In 1959 they were brought under the authority of the newly-formed Port Auxiliary Service which in turn became the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service. Originally all coal-fired, four of the Class were converted to oil-burning in 1961

15 July 1942 launched by Lytham Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, Lytham as Yard Nr: 870 named FRESHLAKE for the Admiralty (Director of Stores)

19 October 1942 Captain William G Aubert appointed as Master

14 November 1942 completed at a cost of £29,333 and was taken over by the RFA

9 January 1943 Mr J B Hatcher appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 June 1943 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN238 arriving at Loch Ewe two days later

22 June 1944 Captain William C Muir RFA appointed as Master

8 August 1944 sailed Reykjavik in unescorted convoy RU130 arriving at Loch Ewe 12 August 1944

17 October 1944 Captain Thomas O Lewis RFA appointed as Master 

21 October 1944 Captain Edward Hyndman RFA appointed as Master

27 October 1944 Captain Robert Cranford RFA appointed as Master

7 November 1944 while going alongside Lyness Pier collided with m/v Prettiwell causing damage to the motor vessel

23 November 1944 Captain William L Gibson RFA appointed as Master

24 November 1944 when midway between Dunluce Castle and Rinnigall Pier, Lyness collided with MFV 1501 causing damage

1944 to 1945 based at Iceland

1945 based at Scapa Flow

1945 to 1960 based at Devonport

4 August 1945 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

22 February 1946 ceased to be classed as an RFA and was taken over by the Director of Fuelling

31 July 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

7 February 1953 assisted RFA RIPPLEDYKE and from the 17 February 1953 RFA EDDYCLIFF in the supply of water to the area around Sheerness, Kent after serious flooding

29 January 1960 at Devonport on No: 5 Lynher Trot

29 September 1960 at Devonport on No: 5 Lynher Trot

10 May 1961 at Devonport moved from Lynher Trot to No: 3 basin

23 May 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 3 basin to No: 4 basin

24 May 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 4 basin to Plymouth Sound under tow

27 July 1961  moved from the River Medway into Chatham Dockyard

3 August 1961 moved from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

4 August 1961 moved from the River Medway into Chatham Dockyard

24 August 1961 moved from the River Medway into Chatham Dockyard

13 September 1961 moved from the River Medway into Chatham Dockyard

20 September 1961 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

13 December 1961 at Chatham Dockyard berthed on HMS HARDY

13 April 1962 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

9 August 1962  sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

10 August 1962 sailed from the River Medway into Chatham Dockyard

1963 to 1979 based at Chatham and on the Clyde

16 September 1963 entered No: 7 dry dock at Chatham Dockyard

21 January 1964 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway for ‘river trials’ before returning later to Chatham Dockyard

5 February 1964 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

4 March 1964 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway towing C821 to the Hulk PHILOL

5 March 1964 moved from the River Medway into Chatham Dockyard

13 October 1964 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway and the Water Berth

14 October 1964 moved from the River Medway into Chatham Dockyard berthing on HMS CAMBRIAN

29 October 1964 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway and returned

15 December 1964 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

16 December 1964 returned from the River Medway into Chatham Dockyard berthing on HMS CAMBRIAN

17 December 1964 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

16 January 1965 at Chatham Dockyard moved alongside HMS BLACKPOOL on her arrival from sea

10 May 1965 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

24 June 1965 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway then to Harwich

21 July 1965 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway returning on the same day

20 August 1965 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

20 December 1965 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

12 January 1966 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway returning on the same day

13 April 1966 at Chatham Dockyard moved from No: 3 basin into No: 8 dry dock

8 December 1966 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

14 December 1966 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway later returning to the River Medway

22 December 1966 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

3 January 1967 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

5 January 1967 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

13 January 1967 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

16 January 1967 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

9 February 1967 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway returning on the same day

16 May 1967 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

9 February 1968 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

2 December 1968 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

7 March 1974 towed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

4 July 1977 at Chatham Dockyard alongside HMS/M CONQUEROR

1979 on the Disposal List at Chatham

18 December 1979 purchased by Gerassinos Phetouris, Piraeus for further service but …

9 August 1980 reported to be lying at the Queensborough Yard of Liguria Maritime Ltd for demolition

August 1980 Broken Up

Notes:

Was used in a film about the German invasion of the Channel Islands in which she appeared as a refugee boat