Lucigen before being purchased by the Admiralty
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 127965
Class: Tanker Depot Ship
Pennant No:
Signal Letters: HNQD (1919)
Laid down:
Builder: Armstrong Whitworth, Low Walker
Launched: 25 November 1908
Into Service: 1939
Out of service: 1946
Fate: Scuttled off Lagos
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: Around the outbreak of WW2, the Admiralty purchased 3 old tankers for depot ship and escort oiler work which were manned and managed by their former commercial owners although some RFA personnel were based onboard. None of them served in the post~War Fleet
Port of Registry Liverpool
25 November 1908 launched by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Low Walker, Newcastle as Yard Nr: 814 named LUCIGEN for Lucigen Steamship Co Ltd (H.E. Moss & Co, Managers) Liverpool
26 November 1908 Lloyds List reported –
February 1909 completed
6 March 1909 ran sea trials and was then laid up on the Tyne
Lucigen on her sea trials
© Tyne & Wear Archives Service
4 June 1910 the Shields Daily Gazette reported –
7 August 1910 in response to distress signals, she closed the Anglo Saxon Petroleum Ltd tanker Cardium in the Red Sea which had a serious stokehold fire and had lost all power. The Master sent a radio message on their behalf to request tug assistance and the tanker was later successfully towed to safety
Anglo Saxon Petroleum Ltd. tanker Cardium
27 November 1910 sailed for New York
28 November 1910 passed Cape Wrath sailing west bound
16 December 1910 sailed from New York for Venice
31 Januaary 1911 arrived at Venice
26 February 1911 sailed the River Tyne for New York
14 March 1911 arrived at New York
20 March 1911 sailed New York for Hamburg
13 April 1911 sailed the River Tyne for New York
22 April 1911 reported that at 45°10N 47°15W she had sighted two very large icebergs
27 April 1911 arrived New York from the Tyne
7 June 1911 arrived at Philadephia from the River Tyne
20 July 1911 arrived at New York
12 August 1911 sailed Belfast for Philadelphia
4 November 1911 sailed Leghorn for Novorossisk, Black Sea
30 December 1911 sailed New York for London
29 January 1912 sailed Savona
11 February 1912 sailed Novorossisk for Nordenham
4 March 1912 arrived at Nordenham
8 March 1912 sailed Bremen enroute to New York
24 March 1912 encountered heavy pack-ice in the North Atlantic and had to divert southwards for an hour to clear it
31 March 1912 finally arrived in New York from Nordenham
17 April 1912 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
10 June 1912 passed Teneriffe
12 June 1912 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
13 August 1912 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from the River Tyne
2 December 1912 sailed New Orleans for Portland
23 May 1913 sailed Norfolk, VA for Portsmouth
6 June 1913 berthed at Portsmouth from Port Arthur, Texas
8 July 1913 arrived Port Arthur, Texas from Cardiff
17 July 1913 sailed Norfolk VA for Portsmouth arriving on 31 July 1913
25 August 1913 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas
22 September 1913 sailed Portsmouth
11 October 1913 sailed Portsmouth for Port Arthur, Texas
5 November 1913 berthed at Portsmouth from Port Arthur, Texas
15 December 1913 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
2 February 1914 sailed Portsmouth for Spithead
3 February 1914 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
6 February 1914 entered dry dock at Cardiff
23 February 1914 arrived at Malta while on passage from Cardiff
27 February 1914 arrived at Port Said
10 June 1914 arrived at Suez from Abadan when on passage to Sheerness
8 August 1914 stopped by HMS ODIN and allowed to proceed
7 October 1914 off New York HMS SUFFOLK spoke to Lucigen and allowed her to proceed
HMS SUFFOLK
1915 Captain George H Davidson listed as Master and 1st Engineer R W Ibbotson listed as Chief Engineer Officer in records in the National Maritime Museum
1 August 1915 off the coast of the United States Ordinary Seaman John M Stewart discharged dead – natural causes. Remembered with pride on the Stornoway Memorial, Isle of Lewis
Stornoway Memorial, Isle of Lewis
30 September 1915 stopped by HMS OROTAVA, an Armed Merchant Cruiser, at 57°58N 11°30W and allowed to proceed
17 March 1916 at 58°25N 14°40W stopped by HMS GLOUCESTERSHIRE, an Armed Merchant Cruiser, and allowed to proceed
HMS GLOUCESTERSHIRE
15 April 1916 in dry dock on the River Tyne
21 April 1916 at North Shields 2nd Mate William Gilliland discharged dead from heart failure
24 Aprl 1916 the Newcastle Journal reported –
1 September 1916 at Abadan
24 October 1916 sailed Messina to Abadan arriving on 24 November 1916
1 February 1917 sailed from Aden
14 April 1917 in the Red Sea sailing southbound passed HMS PERTH
8 May 1917 while on passage from Abadan to Aden was sighted by HMS BRAMBLE
12 July 1917 at Deal Infirmary Fireman F P Warren discharged dead from pneumonia
28 June 1918 sighted by HMS PERTH which was shown in her ships log as the Perim patrol
15 July 1918 while in a convoy from Milo to Corfu escorted by HMS COLNE parted company from the convoy and sailed direct to Corfu
HMS COLNE
23 July 1919 berthed at Liverpool from New Orleans
10 August 1919 sailed Barry
25 August 1919 entered Norfolk – reported in the New York Tribune 26 August 1919 – sailing later the same day
6 September 1919 sailed New Orleans
15 September 1919 cleared Norfolk for London – reported in the New York Tribune 16 September 1919
30 September 1919 passed the Lizard while on passage from New Orleans to London – reported in the New York Tribune of 2 October 1919
25 November 1919 arrived at Le Harve, France – reported in the New York Tribune 29 November 1919
22 March 1920 sailed Norfolk – reported in the New York Tribune 23 March 1920
19 April 1920 sailed New York for Portland – reported in the New York Tribune of 20 April 1920
21 May 1920 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
27 May 1920 berthed at Antwerp from New York – reported in the New York Tribune 28 May 1920
1 June 1920 sailed Hull for New York – reported in the New York Tribune 2 June 1920
18 June 1920 sailed Norfolk VA – reported in the New York Tribune 19 June 1920
29 June 1920 arriven Port Arthur, Texas from the River Tyne
31 August 1920 berthed at Port Eads – reported in the New York Tribune of 1 September 1920
5 September 1920 sailed Port Eads for Calais and Dunkirk via Norfolk – reported in the New York Tribune 6 September 1920
24 December 1920 entered dry dock at Millbay, Plymouth for refit
28 December 1920 the Western Morning News reported –
7 January 1921 sailed Plymouth for New York
26 January 1921 at 43°40N 64°15W Fireman Jesse Wonacott discharged dead from heart failure
Fireman Jesse Wonacott
28 January 1921 arrived at New York from Plymouth
30 March 1921 sailed Port Eads to Le Harve – reported in the New York Tribune 31 March 1921
12 June 1921 arrived at Norfolk from Baton Rouge – reported in the New York Tribune 13 June 1921
28 June 1921 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
23 July 1921 arrived at Newport News from Rouen – – reported in the New York Tribune 24 July 1921
25 July 1921 sailed Newport News for New Orleans – reported in the New York Tribune 26 July 1921
4 August 1921 sailed New Orleans for Le Havre but returned
5 August 1921 sailed New Orleans
11 August 1921 sailed Norfolk for Le Havre
25 August 1921 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
1 October 1921 the Scotsman newspaper reported …
14 April 1922 sailed Rotterdam for Baton Rouge
14 May 1922 sailed New Orleans for Cette
19 June 1922 passed Constantinople for Novorossisk
15 July 1922 at Hamburg the Rouen
18 November 1922 at Swansea
6 May 1923 at Hamburg, Germany
28 June 1923 sailed Thames Haven for New York
16 July 1923 at New York
24 August 1923 sailed New York for Helsingfors
11 October 1923 sailed the River Tyne for Beaumont, Texas
16 November 1923 sailed Beaumont, Texas for Amsterdam
21 March 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
30 March 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
22 April 1924 arrived New Orleans from Southampton
14 May 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
22 May 1924 arrived on the River Tyne
8 June 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
28 June 1924 arrived at New Orleans from the River Tyne
18 October 1924 on passage to Dunkirk
24 October 1924 sailed Southampton for Tampico
12 December 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
12 January 1925 arrived at Halifax from the River Tyne
24 May 1925 at Constantinople Galley Boy William Thomas Welch discharged dead from natural causes
15 June 1925 at Hamburg
10 November 1925 sailed the River Tyne for Key West for orders
15 June 1926 sailed from New Orleans for Le Harve
15 September 1926 at 3.51am when 170 nmiles south west of Valentia radioed she was bound for Hull
18 September 1926 when 96 nmiles west of the Isle of Wight radioed she was bound for Hull
28 September 1926 arrived at Granton from Hull
1 October 1926 sailed Granton for Rotterdam
23 March 1927 sailed Constantinople
2 December 1927 sailed Port Said for Constanza
2 February 1928 sailed from the Tyne in ballast for New York with a crew of 40 aboard. The Master was Captain W B Simpson
5 February 1928 lost her rudder in the Atlantic to the NW of Cape Wrath. Sent out radio messages reporting her predicament and giving her position. The crew set about rigging a sail, using the two funnels as a mizzen which allowed them to run before the wind for a while.
12 February 1928 the German tug Seefalke took her in tow. Still in atrocious weather conditions. The tow parted and three of the crew of the tanker were injured although not seriously. The ship drifted for 14 to 15 hours to within 18 miles of the Skerryvore Rocks before the tow was reconnectedand and the vessel made the Clyde
German tug Seefalke
16 February 1928 at 55°31N 6°39W Fireman & Trimmer William Drysdale discharged dead from natural causes
Fireman William Drysdale
17 February 1928 arrived at Greenock in tow of the German tug Seefalke and was berthed at Princess Pier with her ensign at half mast. The ship’s rudder was broken
18 February 1928 the Dundee Courier reported –
28 February 1928 towed to Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan for a new stern post and rudder to be fitted
17 October 1928 arrived at Los Angeles from the River Tyne
22 January 1929 arrived Falmouth having passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard
31 August 1929 while entering Cardiff Docks under tow of tugs Eagle and Falcon the tug Eagle was in collision with a steam collier Alice. The Eagle sank and the Alice was damaged. The Eagle subsequently raised. The collision was later subject to litigation in the Admiralty Division of the High Court on 21 January 1930 when it was found that the Alice was on the wrong side of the channel and was solely to blame – stated case (1930) 36 Ll.L.Rep. 12 refers
3 November 1929 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
9 December 1929 sailed from Norfolk, Virginia for Dublin, Eire
16 February 1930 sailed from Lisbon for Barry Roads
13 April 1930 suffered storm damage while crossing the Atlantic from New Orleans to Le Havre – radio room washed away
29 April 1930 the Nottingham Evening Post reported –
28 May 1930 sailed Tuapse for Le Havre
21 June 1930 sailed the River Tyne for Philadelphia
28 August 1930 sailed Philadelphia
13 September 1930 laid up on the River Tyne
13 October 1932 berthed at No: 13 Smiths Dock, North Shields, River Tyne
26 January 1934 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne laid up
6 June 1934 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne laid up
28 November 1934 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne laid up
2 January 1935 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne laid up
13 September 1935 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne laid up
24 July 1936 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne laid up
26 September 1936 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne laid up
14 October 1936 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne laid up
24 March 1937 the Sunderland Daily Echo & Shipping News reported –
16 April 1937 loading Russian oil at Batum in the Black Sea for Avonmouth
29 April 1937 sailed Istanbul for Avonmouth
16 May 1937 berthed at Avonmouth
17 May 1937 sailed Avonmouth
29 September 1937 arrived at Dublin from Aruba
9 October 1937 sailed from King’s Dock, Swansea for Port Arthur
16 January 1938 arrived at Killingholme, Hull discharging 3,500 tons of petrol from Aruba
26 January 1938 arrived at Sunderland South Docks to discharge 3000 tons of petrol from Aruba
27 January 1938 berthed on the Oil Berth, Sunderland
30 January 1938 sailed Sunderland for the River Tyne
4 March 1938 at Bermuda
14 April 1938 arrived at Falmouth
3 June 1938 arrived at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
7 July 1938 in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne at the same time and location as RFA WAR SIRDAR
12 July 1938 in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne at the same time and location as RFA WAR SIRDAR
1 December 1938 still in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
6 December 1938 still in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
13 December 1938 still in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
15 December 1938 still in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
16 March 1939 still in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
1 April 1939 still in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
25 April 1939 still in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
29 April 1939 still in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
17 June 1939 sailed the River Tyne
20 June 1939 at Greenock
September 1939 purchased by the Admiralty for service as a Depot Ship
17 October 1939 was scheduled to sail in Convoy 21 from the UK – did not sail
20 October 1939 the Liverpool Ech newspaper reported –
1 January 1940 sailed Harwich to the River Tyne independently arriving 2 January 1940
3 January 1940 under repair at Newcastle
10 February 1940 and 12 February 1942 sailed the Tyne twice but returned the same day on each occasion
14 February 1940 sailed the Tyne in unescorted convoy FS96 to Southend arriving two days later
17 February 1940 anchored at The Nore
18 February 1940 sailed River Thames to Trinidad arrived 10 March 1940 to load
25 February 1940 Greaser John H Rivers discharged dead from injuries received during heavy weather. The location of this death is recorded in the Register of Deaths of Seaman as ‘At Sea’
10 March 1940 arrived at Trinidad
17 March 1940 sailed Trinidad to Freetown arrived 2 April 1940
8 April 1940 sailed Freetown to Trinidad arrived 20 April 1940 to load
1 May 1940 in port at Trinidad – engines defective
29 May 1940 sailed Trinidad to Freetown due to arrive 11 June 1940 but eventually entered Freetown on 18 June 1940 with engine defects
27 June 1940 sailed Freetown to Lagos, Nigeria arriving 3 July 1940
17 October 1940 at Lagos, Nigeria with HMS DEVONSHIRE alongside to refuel
HMS DEVONSHIRE
July 1941 Engines not very effective. Spent the remainder of WW2 at Lagos, Nigeria as a stationary fuelling hulk / depot ship
1946 was stripped of all useable equipment as she was now unseaworthy
June 1946 was towed out to sea by the Nigerian Marine tug LAGOS ATLAS (507 grt/blt 1918) and was expended as a target by explosives and gunfire
Nigerian Marine tug LAGOS ATLAS ex HMS SPRY a STOIC class of Admiralty Tugs
Notes:
Was a sister to RFA DELPHINULA