RFA Nucula along side HMS Renown in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand
Previous name: Hermione, Soyo Maru, RN Oiler No: 73
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 123992
Class: Station Oiler
Pennant No: Y7.220
Laid down:
Builder: Armstrong Whitworth & Co.
Launched: 24 July 1906
Into Service: 1922 (as an RFA)
Out of service: 10 June 1937
Fate: Scuttled
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: Acquired from commercial owners in the early Twenties, this tanker had a very short life with the Admiralty before being transferred to the New Zealand Government as their Navy’s first oiler to provide afloat support for their new cruisers HMNZS’s DIOMEDE and DUNEDIN. Her main use was in transporting fuel oil from San Pedro in California to Auckland
24 July 1906 launched by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle as Yard Nr: 776 named HERMIONE for Oil Tank Steamship Co Ltd (C.T. Bowring & Co Ltd, Managers) Liverpool
September 1906 completed
16 October 1906 sailed Penarth for Philadelphia
31 October 1906 arrived at Philadelphia from Penarth
18 November 1906 the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherine’s Point, Isle of Wight reported that the ship, on passage from Philadelphia to London, was five miles south east of the Signal station flying a signal ‘Not Under Control’
15 December 1906 sailed Philadelphia for the UK
26 December 1906 off Fernando Noronha, Brazil
3 January 1907 sailed Las Palmas for Liverpool
27 February 1907 sailed Newport, Wales for Philadelphia
18 March 1907 sailed Philadelphia for Plymouth
8 July 1907 sailed London for Philadelphia
27 August 1907 arrived at Monte Video from Liverpool
11 November 1907 arrived at Liverpool from the River Plate
14 December 1907 sailed from Liverpool for the River Plate
1908 purchased by Toyo Kisen Kaisha, Yokohama and was renamed SOYO MARU
13 January 1908 berthed at Pacific Street Wharf, San Francisco on first voyage from the UK for her new owners carrying 7,600 cases of champagne. She had come under the charge of British Officers while her Japanese Officers remained onboard as passengers. All the ships tankers were filled with freight. One tank was filled with pebbles in sacks as ballast. A serious accident occured when a temporary tackle which had been rigged to assist in the removed of the sacks of ballast through the open tank lid. The hook attached to a block fell and hit the head of George Greeves, a long shoreman who sustained a fractured skull. Reported at length in the newspaper ‘The San Franciso Call’ of 14 January 1908
5 February 1908 legal action in the San Francisco Courts against the owners of the Soyo Maru for damage caused to part of the cargo which had been off loaded on her arrival at San Francisco
9 February 1908 sailed from Gaviota, California with a cargo of oil for Japan
10 March 1908 arrived at Yokohama, Japan
19 May 1908 arrived at Gaviota, California from Yokohama
27 May 1908 sailed Gaviota, California for Japan
19 June 1908 arroved Yokohama from Gaviota
1 October 1908 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Yokohama, Japan
5 December 1908 sailed Philadelphia for Avonmouth Dock
20 December 1908 arrived Avonmouth Dock
24 December 1908 sailed Avonmouth Dock for Kustendje
5 February 1909 arrived at Payta from Yokohama
5 March 1909 berthed at Honolulu, Hawaii from Lobitos, Peru for bunkers
6 March 1909 sailed Honolulu, Hawaii for Japan
6 July 1909 berthed at Honolulu, Hawaii from Lobitos, Peru for bunkers. Carrying a cargo of 5,913 tons of crude oil
9 July 1909 sailed Honolulu, Hawaii for Japan
18 January 1910 arrived Honolulu from Peru
23 June 1910 arrived at Colombo from New York for Yokohama
3 September 1910 sailed Teneriffe for Liverpool
15 May 1911 arrived at Port Said
8 October 1912 suffered an engine room fire in the Malacca Straits about 160 miles north of Singapore. The cargo, passengers and crew were safe – reported in the Hong Kong Telegraph of 11 October 1912
11 November 1912 the Globe (an English newspaper) reported that –
6 December 1912 – Hong Kong press reports indicate that the fire damage (see above) is extensive around the poop
14 February 1914 sailed Southampton for Port Arthur, Texas
7 April 1915 requisitioned by the Shipping Controller (F.C. Strick, Managers) and was renamed NUCULA and served as R.N. Oiler Nr: 73 until 15 August 1915
29 September 1917 managers became Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London and served as R.N. Oiler Nr: 220. with name unchanged
13 April 1918 berthed at New York having sailed from Liverpool. Captain Bernard Charles Wilton as Master with 56 crew
10 September 1918 berthed at New York having sailed from Plymouth Captain George William Ferris as Master with 56 crew
23 November 1918 berthed at Galveston from New York
13th December 1918 sailed Gravesend for Philadelphia
8 January 1919 at Marus Hook, Philadelphia Fireman Yin Leong discharged dead from natural causes. He had signed on on 7 November 1917 at Singapore
January 1919 was stated to be in very poor condition and was recommended for disposal by the Director of Transport. The Admiralty approved expenditure of £50,000 to refit her for retention and she was purchased on their behalf by Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London, remaining under their management
11 January 1919 sailed Philadelphia for Falmouth
23 March 1919 arrived at New Orleans from London
18 April 1919 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
19 April 1919 arrived at Falmouth from New Orleans (reported in the New York Tribute newspaper on 20 April 1919)
18 July 1919 sailed Gravesend via Grangemouth to Philadelphia
12 August 1919 reported by radio to Lloyds at Lerwick passing drifting mines at 69°55N 13°40E and at 65°05N 12°11E
25 September 1919 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
23 October 1919 and 24 October 1919 at Port of Spain, Trinidad moored alongside HMS RENOWN to refuel her – supplied 3,709 tons of FFO
8 December 1919 arrived at Trinidad from Thames Haven
17 March 1920 in Channel Dry Dock at Newport
19 May 1920 arrived at Galveston, Texas from Port Talbot
13 June 1920 arrived at Sheerness from Galveston
5 July 1920 arrived at Port Said from Sheerness
11 August 1920 at Suez Chief Steward J E Smith discharged dead – drowned
29 October 1920 arrived Suez from Abadan. RFA WAR BHARATA also arrived the same day and also from Abadan
10 November 1920 at Suez Fireman Ah Sang discharged dead with beri beri. He signed on at Singapore on 14 October 1920
28 December 1920 Lloyds Telegrams reported that Nucula was in collision with the British steamer British Emperor outside of the Bussorah Bar, Euphrates. Damage was reported to be serious
ss British Emperor
25 February 1921 sailed Port Said for Thameshaven
31 March 1921 sailed from Sheerness for Port Arthur, Texas
25 April 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas to the Clyde
16 May 1921 arrived at Greenock from New Orleans
21 May 1921 sailed Glasgow in ballast for a Texan port
11th June 1921 arrived at Port Arthur from the Clyde
26 July 1921 sailed the Clyde for Port Arthur
10 August 1921 berthed at Port Arthur, Texas
16 August 1921 arrived at Beaumont, Texas
19 August 1921 sailed Beaumont, Texas for Devonport
7 September 1921 arrived at Queenstown, Ireland for Haulbowline from Port Arthur
12 September 1921 sailed Queenstown for Beaumont, Texas
3 October 1921 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Queenstown, Ireland
7 October 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Sheerness
29 October 1921 arrived at Sheerness from Port Arthur, Texas
6 December 1921 sailed Sheerness for Beaumont, Texas
30 December 1921 arrived at Port Arthur from Sheerness
29 January 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
3 February 1922 sailed Portsmouth for Port Arthur, Texas
26 February 1922 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Portsmouth
10 March 1922 berthed alongside at Bermuda Dockyard
15 March 1922 sailed Bermuda Dockyard
16 March 1922 the Bermudan Royal Gazette newspaper reported …
22 March 1922 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Bermuda
25 March 1922 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Devonport
2 May 1922 shortly after arrival from Port Arthur, Texas extensively damaged from a collision with the British m.v. CALCHAS off Old Kilpatrick on the River Clyde
ss CALCHAS
10 May 1922 sailed Old Kilpatrick for Port Arthur
June 1922 transferred to Admiralty management for service as an oiler on the China Station
14 June 1922 Captain John R Gorrie RFA appointed as Master
Captain John R Gorrie RFA
20 June 1922 Radio Officer Arthur R Winter RFA signed on this day. He had previously sailed as a Radio Officer on RFA RUTHENIA
Radio Officer Arthur R Winter RFA
22 June 1922 berthed at Devonport Dockyard
`5 July 1922 sailed Plymouth
24 July 1922 when on passage to Yokohama passed Malta this day
4 August 1922 arrived at Aden sailing the same day for Yokohama
10 September 1922 berthed at Hong Kong. The Officer of the Guard from HMS BLUEBELL boarded
11 October 1922 it was reported in the Straits Times of this date in Singapore that NUCULA had taken over from RFA PEARLEAF (1) and that PEARLEAF would be returning to England
RFA Nucula in dry dock
26 March 1923 at Hong Kong with HMS MOTH berthed alongside
28 March 1923 at Hong Kong with HMS TARANTULA berthed alongside to refuel
12 April 1923 at Hong Kong
21 April 1923 arrived at Wei-Hai-Wei
11 May 1923 at Wei-Hai-Wei berthed alongside HMS DURBAN
HMS DURBAN
15 June 1923 at Wei-Hai-Wei alongside HMS DURBAN to refuel her
16 June 1923 at Wei-Hai-Wei alongside HMS DESPATCH to refuel her
20 June 1923 sailed Wei-Hai-Wei
1 August 1923 at Wei-Hai-Wei stores party from HMS DURBAN working onboard
14 August 1923 arrived at Wei-Hai-Wei. A working party from HMS DESPATCH came onboard
1 September 1923 while at Wei-Hai-Wei a signal was received which ordered her to Nagasaki to act as the Base Oiler there during the Yokohama Earthquake Relief Operations
8 September 1923 arrived at Wei-Hai-Wei and berthed on HMS CARLISLE to refuel her. Later moved and anchored
9 September 1923 at Wei-Hai-Wei with HM Submarines L5, L15, L19 and L33 berthed alongside to refuel
11 September 1923 sailed from Wei-Hai-Wei
29 September 1923 at Nagasaki, Japan with HMS DESPATCH berthed alongside – supplied the warship with 120 tons of FFO
HMS DESPATCH
November 1923 returned to Hong Kong on completion of Relief Operations at Nagasaki following the Yokohama Earthquake
19 November 1923 at Hong Kong secured to No: 2 buoy
3 December 1923 Captain Richard D Williams RFA appointed as Master
Captain Richard D Williams RFA
11 January 1924 at Hong Kong with HMS DIOMEDE berthed alongside
22 January 1924 at Hong Kong with HMS DESPATCH berthed alongside – supplied the warship with 535 tons of FFO
13 February 1924 arrived at Hong Kong and secured to No: 2 buoy
17 February 1924 at Aden
22 February 1924 at Bombay, India
23 February 1924 Mr Richard M Marrack RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. He had previously served on RFA DREDGOL
25 February 1924 at Colombo, Ceylon
1 March 1924 Captain Cyril F Haughton RFA appointed as Master. The ship was at Singapore
Captain Cyril F Haughton RFA
24 March 1924 at Hong Kong
5 April 1924 sailed from Singapore
1924 fuelled ships of the Special Service Squadron led by the Battle Cruiser HMS HOOD on their world tour and accompanied them to Australia and New Zealand
24 May 1924 at Suva, Fiji alongside HMS HOOD refuelling her – supplied 1,049 tons of FFO to the warship
26 May 1924 at Suva, Fiji alongside HMS REPULSE to refuel her
HMS REPULSE
27 May 1924 transferred to the New Zealand Government at Suva as a Naval Oiler, and was converted for European manning at a cost of £2,500. Was transferred at a rate of £16,500 per annum. Her name was unchanged
5 June 1924 arrived Auckland for the first time. Between 06/09/24 and 23/10/47 she visited Auckland 28 times
11 June 1924 the New Zealand Herald reported …
1 July 1924 berthed at Melbourne, Australia from Auckland
3 July 1924 sailed Melbourne, Australia for Singapore
24 July 1924 the New Zealand Government budget presented to the New Zealand parliament recorded the fee for the hire of the Nucula charged by the Admiralty was £16,500 per annum
7 September 1924 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand from Suva
September 1924 a wooden chest the property of a member of the crew was stolen from the ship while it was berthed at the Sheerlegs Wharf, Devonport, Auckland. The chest was found floating in the harbour with part of its contents missing
(Hawera & Normanby Star, 10 October 1924). Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/24737203
9 May 1925 sailed Auckland, New Zealand for San Pedro, California
11 June 1925 sailed San Pedro, California
9 July 1925 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand
10 July 1925 the New Zealand Herald reported …
2 October 1925 the Sydney Daily Telegraph reported …
21 November 1925 at Auckland, New Zealand Chief Engineer Officer Richard Marrack RFA discharged dead – heart failure
22 November 1925 Mr Harold R Bullimore RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 November 1925 Captain Arthur W Beardsall RFA appointed as Master
12 May 1926 the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy advertised in the New Zealand Evening Post for a 3rd and 4th Engineer Officers – the advert was similar to that pictured below (1936)
17 September 1926 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand from San Pedro
16 October 1926 sailed from Wei-Hai-Wei
2 November 1926 sailed Auckland, New Zealand for San Pedro
21 March 1927 and the 5 April 1927 the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy advertised in the New Zealand Evening Post for a 2nd Officer – the adverts were similar to that pictured below (1936)
29 April 1927 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand from San Pedro
16 July 1927 at Nukuhiva refuelled HMNZS DUNEDIN
22 July 1927 the ship’s quartermaster Richard Jessup was seen to throw himself overboard while the ship was on passage from Papeete after receiving bad news concerning a serious medical condition. A three hour search failed to find him – discharged dead
27 October 1927 the Auckland Star newspaper reported …
7 December 1927 the San Pedro News Pilot newspaper reported –
28 December 1927 sailed San Pedro for Auckland, New Zealand
18 January 1928 arrived at Auckland, New Zealand from San Pedro
23 February 1928 at Samoa in support of HMNZS DUNEDIN and HMNZS DIOMEDE. The warships mission was to round up troublesome Mau Suva for Auckland, New Zealand
3 April 1928 arrived at Auckland, New Zealand from Suva
2 September 1928 at Suva
4 September 1928 sail from Suva for Auckland, New Zealand
6 July 1929 sailed Sydney, NSW, Australia for New Zealand having refuelled HMNZS’s DUNEDIN and DIOMEDE
22 August 1929 at Auckland, New Zealand HMNZS alongside and refuelled
1930 the Admiralty approval was given to the New Zealand Government to sub-charter her to commercial firms for time or voyage charters
14 November 1930 crew members refused to sign new ships articles
17 November 1930 the crew walked off the ship in dispute over manning levels. They were replaced by RNZN sailors from the Naval training ship HMNZS PHILOMEL
1 January 1931 her transfer rate was reduced to £3,250 per annum
15 January 1931 berthed at Garden Island, Sydney, NSW Australia from San Francisco to discharge – this was reported the next day in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper –
RFA NUCULA sails from Sydney, NSW, Australia
23 January 1931 arrived at Auckland, New Zealand from sydney, NSW, Australia
2 May 1931 berthed at San Franciso, Calafornia from Auckland
16 June 1931 arrived at Auckland, New Zealand from Sydney, NSW
13 July 1931 Captain G Attwood RFA appointed as Master
15 July 1931 sailed for Bora Bora, Society Islands to refuel HMS DIOMEDE
15 September 1931 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand
16 September 1931 sailed Auckland, New Zealand for San Francisco, USA to load
30 June 1932 sailed Los Angles CA for Wellington, New Zealand
5 August 1932 floated out of dry dock at Auckland
8 December 1932 at Auckland members of the crew saw a yacht ‘Ramona’ overturn. A signal was sent to HMS DIOMEDE who lauched a sea boat and rescued the yacht’s crew
14 January 1933 entered Devonport for refit and the Auckland Star newspaper reported …
17 March 1933 in Calliope Dry Dock, Auckland, New Zealand
4 July 1933 sailed Auckland
11 July 1933 at Suva, Fiji alongside HMNZS DUNEDIN refuelling her
HMNZS DUNEDIN
3 August 1933 sailed San Francisco, USA for Auckland, New Zealand
26 August 1933 in collision with HMAS AUSTRALIA and lost an anchor while alongside the cruiser refuelling her at Russell. The anchor was recovered by divers and the Nucula suffered no damage. HMAS AUSTRALIA suffered hull damage which required dockyard repairs
30 August 1933 the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported …
4 April 1934 sailed Auckland for Colombo and the Persian Gulf to load
11 April 1934 suffered engine troubles while en-route from New Zealand to Abadan. Diverted to Sydney, NSW for repairs
12 April 1934 the New Zealand Herald reported …
12 April 1934 sailed Sydney, NSW to continue to Abadan
15 May 1934 sailed Abadan for Auckland, New Zealand
June 1934 during a voyage from Abadan to Auckland, she suffered major damage to her superstructure off the NE coast of Australia in a cyclone and nearly sank in the huge seas. Extensive repairs were required on arrival Auckland
17 July 1934 arrived at Suva, Fiji from Auckland, New Zealand
2 October 1934 arrived at Sydney, NSW from Borneo – arrival reported in the Sydney Morning Herald of 3 October 1934
18 October 1934 berthed at Auckland for self maintenance
20 October 1934 The Press newspaper reported …
27 October 1934 sailed Auckland, New Zealand for the Persian Gulf
11 November 1934 at Syndey, NSW off Garden Island
10 May 1935 entered refit at Auckland
4 July 1935 sailed San Fransico California
13 July 1936 arrived at Suva, Fiji from San Pedro, CA
31 July 1936 the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy advertised in the New Zealand Evening Post for a Chief Officer and a Third Officer
19 August 1936 refueled HMNZS ACHILLES at Nuhuhiva in Marquesas
2 September 1936 sailed Los Angles for Auckland
20 January 1937 berthed mid stream at Auckland
7 April 1937 berthed at Auckland from San Pedro
17 April 1937 at Auckland, New Zealand while going alongside HMAS SYDNEY to refuel her she was caught heavily by a rip tide and hit the cruiser causing damage to HMAS SYDNEY’s port side propeller and forcing her into the wharf causing further damage to her quaterdeck. Nucula was not damaged.
Also refuelled alongside HMAS’s SWAN, VENDETTA and STUART
19 April 1937 the Tasmanian Advocate newspaper reported –
16 May 1937 sailed Los Angeles California for Auckland
10 June 1937 arrived Auckland from California for the last time as a seagoing concern as the cruisers HMNZS DIOMEDE and DUNEDIN were about to leave NZN service so NUCULA became redundant
6 July 1937 laid up and used as a storage hulk at Shoal Bay, Waitemata Harbour.
13 April 1938 berthed at Devonport
16 October 1940 the New Zealand Evening Post reported …
28 May 1943 at Auckland, New Zealand with USS Bridge (AF1) alongside
31 May 1943 at Queens Wharf, Auckland, New Zealand USS Hunter Liggett (APA14) alongside to refuel – supplied with 5,129 barrels of fuel oil
USS Hunter Liggett (APA14)
January 1947 her remaining fuel was pumped ashore and she was offered for sale
April 1947 purchased by A.C. Radcliffe Ltd, Auckland for £1,520 name unchanged
23 October 1947 after being stripped of all re-usable equipment, she was towed out to sea by the tugs WILLIAM C DALDY and CORALIE
24 October 1947 the tug YTL 622 towed her to position 36°20S 176°00E and scuttled eleven miles ENE of Cuvier Island in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand in deep water