Official Number: 168231
Class: RANGER CLASS Fleet Attendant Oiler
Pennant No: X 42 / B 515 / A 152
Laid down: 23 September 1940
Builder: Caledon, Dundee
Launched: 22 August 1941
Into Service: 4 December 1941
Out of service:
Fate: 18 November 1962 ran aground when under tow – total loss.
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: The six ships in this Class were designed in the mid -1930’s by Rowland Baker as replacements for the 2000t BELGOL CLASSand were the first Admiralty-designed tankers since the 1917 5000t FAST LEAF CLASS. As originally built, for camouflage purposes, they had canvas deckhouses, a dummy plate funnel forward, their foremast was on the starboard bow, the wheelhouse was offset to port, and in some cases their genuine funnel was cut low and was on the port quarter, fitted with a spark arrester. Originally armed with 1 x 4” LA, 1 x 12 pdr HA/LA and several Lewis guns, as the War progressed the armament fits altered and finally averaged 1 x 4” HA, 1 x 40mm Bofors and 4 x single 20mm Oerlikons. These vessels served extensively as Escort Tankers on the Russian Convoys, Norwegian coastal raids, Malta Convoys and with the British Pacific Fleet. Apart from GRAY RANGER which became a War Loss, the Class had exceptionally long Service lives and were finally replaced by the ROVER CLASS
28 August 1939 ordered
23 September 1940 laid down
21 August 1941 launched by Caledon Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee as Yard Nr: 391 named GREEN RANGER
27 August 1941 at London registered as GREEN RANGER with a reference 207/41 in the Registry
24 October 1941 Mr J J Moore RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 November 1941 Captain Horace W Taylor RFA appointed as Master
4 December 1941 completed and joined the Fleet Fuelling Service as an Aviation Spirit Carrier. She was the Navy’s first large spirit carrier with white oil. She spent many years out East, based firstly at Mombasa
20 February 1942 scheduled to sail from Methil in escorted convoy EN49 to Oban but did not sail
23 February 1942 sailed Oban in escorted convoy OS20 to Freetown arriving 12 March 1942
15 May 1942 sailed Cape Town independently to Mombasa arriving 27 May 1942
18 July 1942 sailed Freetown independently to Takoradi arriving 24 July 1942
25 July 1942 sailed Takoradi independently to Lagos arriving 26 July 1942
12 August 1942 sailed Lagos independently to Cape Town arriving 23 August 1942
9 September 1942 sailed Cape Town independently to Mombasa arriving 21 September 1942
1 November 1942 24 of her Ratings, along with 29 Ratings from RFA EAGLESDALE and 1 Officer from RFA ARNDALE were being repatriated to the UK aboard the MOWT troopship ss MENDOZA when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-178 70 miles ENE of Durban in position 29°13 S 32°13 E whilst sailing independently from Mombasa to Durban – one of the Green Ranger’s crew – Able Seaman Sydney David Fawns Cochrane discharged dead. He is remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial
17 January 1943 as reported in the Admiralty War Diary of this date Green Ranger was to be converted from a spirit tanker to carry fuel oil. It was directed she sail to Bombay with a full load of aviation spirit for a refit, docking and the conversion work as it was not possible to undertake the work at Kilindini
1 February 1943 sailed Kilindini independently arriving Addu Atoll arriving 11 February 1943
14 February 1943 sailed Addu Atoll in escorted convoy A3 to Colombo arriving 18 February 1943
19 February 1943 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving on 21 February 1943
28 February 1943 sailed Trincomalee independently to Colombo arriving on 1 March 1943
2 March 1943 sailed Colombo in escorted convoy MB27 to Bombay arriving 6 March 1943
19 March 1943 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving 20 March 1943
15 April 1943 sailed Bombay independently to Bandar Abbas arriving 20 April 1943
21 April 1943 sailed Banda Abbas independently to Abadan arriving 23 April 1943
24 April 1943 sailed Abadan
28 April 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in convoy PA35 to Aden arriving 6 May 1943
6 May 1943 sailed Aden independently to Suez arriving 10 May 1943
12 May 1943 arrived and then sailed Port Said independently to Alexandria arriving 14 May 1943
15 May 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy MW28 to Malta arriving 21 May 1943
20 May 1943 in Operation Husky – Naval Operation Orders dated this day – Appendix 1 – shows GREEN RANGER would be based at Malta together with RFA BROWN RANGER to provide Furnace Fuel Oil and part stowage for 100 octane spirit
3 June 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy XTG1 to Sousse arriving 10 June 1943
13 September 1943 refueled Italian Battleships “Italia” and “Vittorio Veneto” at Mersa Sarobh prior to them sailing to Alexandria
Italian Battleship Vittorio Veneto
14 October 1943 Captain George S Perry RFA appointed as Master
Captain George S Perry RFA
25 November 1943 in dry dock No 5 at French Creek, Malta
26 November 1943 Captain Horace W Taylor RFA discharged dead. He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium
18 December 1943 sailed Malta in escorted convoy UGS25 to Port Said arriving 21 December 1943
24 December 1943 sailed from Port Said
30 December 1943 arrived at Aden sailing the same day
6 January 1944 arrived at Abadan
7 January 1944 sailed Abadan independently to Colombo arriving 16 January 1944
16 January 1944 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving the next day
18 January 1944 C in C East Indies reported by signal to the Admiralty that Green Ranger had many defects and was unsuitable to join the British Pacific Fleet until she had a refit and was provided with modern oiling at sea gear. He intended to arrange for the ship to undergo a refit at Bombay which could last two months
3 March 1944 at Trincomalee Harbour, Ceylon alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her
7 April 1944 at Trincomalee Harbour, Ceylon USS Fanning (DD385) alongside to refuel
USS FANNING (DD385)
4 November 1944 Mr William E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William E Burke RFA
25 November 1944 sailed Trincomalee independently arriving the next day
10 December 1944 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee 12 December 1944
1 February 1945 sailed Trincomalee independently to Bombay arriving 6 February 1945
February/March/April 1945 undergoing repairs at Bombay
16 April 1945 sailed Bombay independently to Colombo arriving 19 April 1945
20 April 1945 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
26 April 1945 sailed Colombo independently to Darwin towing HMS BARBAIN arriving 15 May 1945. She was directed on arrival off Darwin to slip HMS BARBAIN to allow her to enter harbour under her own steam. It was estimated their SOA would be 10kts – details from the Admiralty War Diary
18 May 1945 sailed Darwin independently to Manus arriving 24 May 1945
RFA GREEN RANGER clearly showing her dummy funnel
© IWM (FL13587)
1 July 1945 at Manus in harbour with RFA RAPIDOL
11 July 1945 at Seeadler Harbour, Admiralty Islands HMAS BURNIE alongside for replenishment of water
HMAS BURNIE
1 August 1945 at Manus in harbour with RFA BACCHUS (2), RFA BROWN RANGER, RFA RAPIDOL, with RFA WAVE MONARCH
August 1945 was attached to the British Pacific Fleet along with RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), BISHOPDALE, BROWN RANGER, CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, EASEDALE, EMPIRE SALVAGE, RAPIDOL, SERBOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE GOVERNOR, WAVE KING, WAVE MONARCH and HMS (later RFA) OLNA (2)
30 August 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands together with RFA’s RAPIDOL and RFA SALVICTOR ogether with SAN SALVESTOR and escorted by HMAS’s GAWLER, LAUNCESTON and TAMWORTH to Hong Kong from ‘Position Cootie’ as TU 112.5.5 arriving on 9 September 1945
9 September 1945 in Hong Kong Harbour was in collision with HMS SWIFTSURE with the Royal Navy Cruiser suffering damage. Captain James Jolly RFA, the ships Master was cautioned to exercise more care in the future
13 October 1945 arrived Manus
17 November 1945 Captain Robert D Almond RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master. Remained in command until 9 March 1946
Captain Robert D Almond RFA
14 February 1946 arrived at Dreger (Papua New Guinea)
22 Febbruary 1946 sailed Dreger (Papua New Guinea) to Port Moresby arriving 24 February 1946
26 March 1946 arrived Bombay from Port Moresby
4 April 1946 sailed Bombay to Abadan arriving 8 April 1946
29 April 1946 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
12 June 1946 Captain Ernest W J Rousell RFA appointed as Master
23 August 1946 Mr Daniel S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 September 1946 was accidentally struck by a torpedo fitted with a dummy warhead in Portland Harbour
27 September 1946 the Hampshire Telegraph reported .
..
September 1947 ship grounded. Captain Rousell severley warned concerning his error of judgement
25 October 1947 Mr A B Tate RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 October 1947 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
21 September 1948 arrived at Singapore
25 November 1948 Captain William G Gilmore RFA appointed as Master
14 April 1949 the Malaya Tribune in Singapore reported …
4 August 1949 Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Harry F Duce DSC RFA
7 October 1949 the Straits Times of Singapore reported –
9 February 1950 Captain E Payne RFA appointed as Master
18 April 1950 at Sasebo, Japan alongside HMS JAMAICA refuelling her
19 April 1950 sailed from Sasebo, Japan
25 June 1950 to the 27 July 1953 saw service during the Korean War along with 18 other RFA’s and was awarded the Korea 1951-52 Battle Honour. Became part of the British Fleet Train as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet and formed Task Force 77 based at Sassebo, Japan
6 July 1950 refuelled HMS TRIUMPH at Okinawa, Japan along with RFA FORT CONSTANTINE which supplied the aircraft carrier with stores
HMS TRIUMPH
1 August 1950 at Sasebo, Japan with HMAS SHOALHAVEN alongside being refuelled
26 September 1950 the Dundee Evening Telegraph newspaper reported –
6 January 1951 Mr J G Simpson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 March 1951 at Sasebo, Japan moored alongside USS Orleck (DD 886) refuelling her – the US ships log shows she received 150,472 gallons of fuel oil
USS Orleck (DD 886)
13 June 1951 received contaminated AVGAS fuel off loaded from HMS GLORY which had come from RFA WAVE PREMIER
19 June 1951 at Japan refuelled RAN and US warships
27 June 1951 refuelled HMS GLORY
25 September 1951 at Kure, Japan berthed alongside HMS OCEAN and refuelled her
14 October 1951 at Inchon together with RFA WAVE PREMIER refuelled RN warships including HMS THESEUS
HMS THESEUS
29 October 1951 escorted to the west coast of Korea by HMAS MURCHISON
2 November 1951 off Mogudeki Island with HMAS MURCHISON alongside being refuelled
18 November 1951 at Sasebo, Japan Assistant Steward Ng Tsui Chung discharged dead from natural causes while being treated on RFA Maine (4)
23 November 1951 at Fox Anchorage refuelled USS Edmonds alongside
24 February 1952 at Sasebo with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with 65 tons of FFO
29 February 1952 Captain Frederick G Evans RFA appointed as Master
18 March 1952 refuelled HMS GLORY
3 April 1952 at Taechong Do with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with 310 tons of FFO
5 April 1952 refuelled HMS GLORY and HMAS WARRAMUNGA
20 May 1952 in the London Gazette of this day on page 2788 Captain Eric Payne RFA was awarded a ‘Mention in Dispatches’
9 June 1952 at Taechong Do with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with 180 tons of FFO
25 September 1952 at Kure, Japan refuelled HMS OCEAN alongside
14 October 1952 at Sasebo, Japan refuelled HMS OCEAN with AVGAS alongside
October 1952 at Sasebo, Japan the Masters and Officers of RFA’s WAVE SOVEREIGN and GREEN RANGER and the then MFA FORT LANGLEY received an RPC from the Wardroom of HMS OCEAN
Awarded the Battle Honour Korea 1951 – 1952
11 June 1953 at Kure, Japan with HMAS CULGOA berthed alongside and refuelled
18 August 1953 at Kure, Japan with HMAS CULGOA berthed alongside and refuelled
7 September 1953 Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 November 1953 at Kure, Japan with HMAS CULGOA berthed alongside and being refuelled
6 November 1953 at Kure, Japan HMAS CULGOA slipped
11 December 1953 Captain Hubert G Carkeet RFA appointed Master
22 December 1953 Mr Allan D Harris RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 January 1954 at Taedong Do HMAS MURCHISON berthed alongside and was refuelled
15 January 1954 Mr John C Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
11 February 1954 at Taedong Do HMAS MURCHISON berthed alongside and was refuelled
19 February 1954 at Taedong Do HMAS MURCHISON berthed alongside and was refuelled
15 March 1954 at Taedong Do HMAS MURCHISON berthed alongside and was refuelled
4 June 1954 arrived at Malta while on passage from the Far East to the UK flying a paying off pennant
16 June 1954 berthed at Immingham from Gibraltar
31 August 1954 passed the Lloyds SIgnal Station at Dover sailing west bound
28 November 1954 Mr George Bray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer George Bray RFA (image taken in 1918)
10 December 1954 subject to TV report entitled ‘Operation Escort’ on the English Channel
February 1955 Captain A H Mackenzie RFA appointed as Master
8 September 1955 arrived at Immingham from Hamburg
22 September 1955 Captain Frank S Samson RFA appointed Master
Captain Frank S Samson RFA
29 November 1955 sailed Malta with RFA BLUE RANGER and HMS ARK ROYAL for Toulon
8 December 1955 arrived at Malta with RFA BLUE RANGER and HMS ARK ROYAL from Toulon
5 March 1956 Captain Henry O L’Estrange DSC RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master and Mr J Ross RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 July 1956 was chartered for supplying fuel to US and Canadian Arctic stations accompanied by the ice breaker D’Iberville
19 February 1957 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
6 June 1957 arrived River Tyne berthing on the Jarrow Oil Wharf
13 June 1957 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound for Shell Haven
18 June 1957 arrived at Immingham
8 July 1957 berthed at Houston
26 July 1957 arrived at Sheerness
31 July 1957 in collision with the Norwegian ship BUCCANEER in fog off Beachy Head, but managed to reach Southampton safely
3 August 1957 the Eastbourne Herald newspaper reported –
6 September 1957 Captain George Robson RFA appointed as Master
12 September 1957 Mr E Smeaton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 September 1957 sailed Southampton for Christmas Island
24 September 1957 put into the River Tagus, Lisbon with engine trouble
1957 to 1958 supported Operation Grapple – the British H-bomb test at Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean – along with 16 other RFA’s
18 September 1957 deployed on Operation Grapple carrying 125 tons 18.25 cwt of cargo to Chrismas Island
14 April 1958 RASed with HMS CARDIGAN BAY while she was on passage from Hong Kong to Bankok
17 April 1958 RAS’ed with HMS St. BRIDES BAY while the RN ship was on passage between Hong Kong and Sasebo
1958 to 1962 laid up in Operational Reserve at Devonport
29 September 1960 at Devonport moved from 2 Lynher Trot alongside RFA NASPRITE to 2 West Mud moorings alongside RFA SURF PIONEER
22 June 1961 at Devonport moved from 2 West Mud moorings to Millbay Docks
20 July 1961 at Devonport moved from Millbay Docks to 2 West Mud moorings alongside RFA SURF PIONEER
18 November 1962 whilst on her way from Reserve to refit at Cardiff in tow of the tug CASWELL in a Force 8 gale, the tow broke and was blown ashore off Mansley Cliff, North Devon. Her Crew of 7 were rescued by breeches buoy. The Coastal Salvage Vessel RFA SWIN attended and the navigational equipment, radios and three lifeboats were salvaged
8 December 1962 she broke in two overnight and became a total loss
June 1963 the wreck was sold to a Mr Robb, Newcastle for a reported £1,000 and some salvage was undertaken.
5 July 1963 her Registry was closed
Notes:
1. Was part of the British Pacific Fleet Train – hence the B-pennant number
2. The Minister of Transport’s Shield was awarded to the Hartland (Devon) Lifesaving Apparatus Co for affording the best wreck service in 1962/63