Subsequent name: Invercorrie
Official Number: 142412
Class: SECOND 1000 t CREOSOL CLASS Harbour Oiler
Pennant No: X 47
Laid down:
Builder: William Gray & Co., Hartlepool (South Yard)
Launched: 14 November 1917
Into Service: May 1918
Out of service: Sold out of Service
Fate: 1920 Sold to commercial interests
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: On the outbreak of WW1, the Admiralty embarked on a further programme of tanker construction for the newly-formed RFA Service. Eventually there were eighteen ships in this Class, twelve of which were named after trees with the OL suffix, while the remainder had names connected with the oil industry also with the OL suffix. Four of the Class were diesel engined and were sold after the Armistice but the rest, being triple expansion steamers, had long and successful lives
14 November 1917 launched by Wm. Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool as Yard Nr: 890 named PALMOL
28 December 1917 Engineer Lieutenant Alexander Ballantyne RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 March 1918 Lieutenant Henry J B Popplewell RNR appointed in command. Previous he had served on RFA VITOL as Chief Officer. Left the ship on 20 November 1919 to take command of RFA SERBOL
Lieutenant Henry J B Popplewell RNR
28 May 1918 at West Hartlepool sailed on builders trials and returned to Fish Quay, Hartlepool
30 May 1918 sailed West Hartlepool to Killingholme to load cargo arriving the next day
RFA Palmol in Razzle Dazzle paint
1 June 1918 loaded 1,000 tons of FFO as cargo
8 June 1918 sailed and broke down with a defective engine – towed to Immingham
10 June 1918 sailed Immingham originally to Belfast
12 June 1918 while on passage near the Tongue Light collied with the Trawler Minesweeper HMS PLYM. The minesweeper’s port quarter was damaged. PALMOL’s hull was damaged and was making water in the fore peak tank.
13 June 1918 port lifeboat discovered on fire – one oar charred, the sail and boom was burnt through. The boat was damaged inside by fire being caused by burning fuel discharging from the ships funnel.
19 June 1918 towed into Milford Haven with engine defects
20 June 1918 starboard life boat put into the water and found to be leaking badly
27 June 1918 both life boats returned after repairs
29 June 1918 sailed Milford Haven to Queenstown arriving on 30 June 1918
3 July 1918 sailed Queenstown under escort to Bere Haven – moored alongside USS Bushnell (AS2) to replenish
USS Bushnell (AS2)
5 July 1918 sailed Bere Haven to Dublin arriving on 6 July 1918 to discharge
7 July 1918 Pumpman James McCarthy received head injuries as a result of a drunken brawl onboard – conveyed to a Dublin Hospital for treatment. Donkeyman James G Youds returned on board drunk, he brought liquor onboard against regulations, he was abusive and insulting to Officers and Engineers having interferred with the safe working of the main engine. He threatened to sink the ship before her arrival at the next port. He refused to leave the engine room upon the orders of the Chief Engineer Officer. He was arrested onboard by officers of the Dublin Metropolitan Police and was detained pending a Naval Escort arriving from Kingstown
Donkeyman James G Youds
8 July 1918 Donkeyman James G Youds appeared before a Court Martial at Kingstown and was convicted. He was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment. He had signed on the ship on 6 May 1918. Sailed Dublin to Milford Haven. The engine was found to be overheating and was unable to proceed. The ship berthed at Cardiff Docks for engine repairs. The ship’s dazzel painting was over painted in Admiralty grey.
13 July 1918 sailed Cardiff Docks but engine defects stopped the sailing and the ship anchored in Barry Roads.
16 July 1918 engine spare parts arrived and were fitted
17 July 1918 sailed Barry Roads to Falmouth under escort arriving the next day
18 July 1918 at Falmouth was found to have engine defects and was in need of cylinder oil which arrived on 20 July 1918
21 July 1918 sailed Falmouth to Portland arrived on 22 July 1918
22 July 1918 sailed Portland under escort to Port Victoria, Sheerness arriving 23 July 1918 to load cargo
26 July 1918 moved by tug ‘Robust’ to No 10 buoy, Sheerness for engine repairs
28 July 1918 sailed Sheerness to Dover arriving the same day
29 July 1918 sailed Dover to Dunkirk Roads – anchored
30 July 1918 to 4 August 1918 anchored at Dunkirk Roads refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
5 August 1918 sailed Dunkirk Roads to Dover to reload cargo and arrived the same day
6 August 1918 sailed Dover to Dunkirk Roads, moored alongside HMS VELOX to refuel her and then moved to an anchorage
HMS VELOX
7 August 1918 to 11 August 1918 anchored at Dunkirk Roads refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
12 August 1918 sailed Dunkirk Roads to Dover (NE Pier) to load cargo
13 August 1918 sailed Dover to Dunkirk Roads – anchored
14 August 1918 to 18 August 1918 anchored at Dunkirk Roads refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
18 August 1918 sailed Dunkirk Roads to Dover to moor alongside RFA Elderol and load cargo
19 August 1918 sailed Dover to Dunkirk Roads – anchored
20 August 1818 to 23 August 1918 anchored at Dunkirk Roads refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
24 August 1918 at Dover refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
25 August 1918 at Dover alongside RFA PLUMLEAF (1) loading cargo
26 August 1918 to 28 August 1918 at Dover alongside the oiler ss British General loading cargo and refuelling Royal Naval Ships alongside
ss British General
30 August 1918 sailed Dover to Dunkirk Roads – anchored
31 August 1918 to 5 September 1918 anchored at Dunkirk Roads refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
5 September 1918 sailed Dunkirk Roads to Dover to load cargo
6 September 1918 sailed Dover to Dunkirk Roads to 14 September 1918 refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
14 September 1918 sailed Dunkirk Roads to Calais Roads
15 September 1918 sailed Calais Roads to Sheerness to load cargo
16 September 1918 sailed Sheerness to Dover
17 September 1918 at Dover discharging cargo into ss British General then sailed to Sheeness to load cargo
18 September 1918 sailed Sheerness to Dover discharging cargo into ss British General
20 September 1918 sailed Dover to Portsmouth
22 September 1918 to 24 September 1918 at Portsmouth loading cargo from HMT Vologda and refuelled Royal Naval Ships alongside together with RFA BATTERSOL
25 September 1918 sailed Portsmouth to Plymouth arriving the next day
26 September 1918 at Plymouth alongside RFA TURMOIL (1) when she suffered a fire in the engine room. Extinguished.
27 September 1918 at Plymouth RFA BLACKOL alongside discharging into Palmol. RFA TURMOIL (1) also moored alongside discharging part of her cargo into Palmol
28 September 1918 at Plymouth refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
29 September 1918 at Plymouth RFA BLACKOL alongside discharging her cargo into Palmol
30 September 1918 at Plymouth RFA TURMOIL (1) alongside discharging her cargo into Palmol and then she refuelled Royal Naval Ships alongside
1 October 1918 at Plymouth RFA BLACKOL alongside discharging her cargo into Palmol
4 October 1918 and 5 October 1918 at Plymouth refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
6 October 1918 at Plymouth RFA BLACKOL alongside discharging her cargo into Palmol
7 October 1918 at Plymouth refuelling various Royal Naval Ships alongside
8 October 1918 at Plymouth RFA BLACKOL alongside discharging her cargo – 124 tons FFO – into Palmol. Also refuelled one Royal Naval Ship alongside – 195 tons FFO
9 October 1918 at Plymouth RFA BLACKOL alongside discharging her cargo – 264 tons FFO
11 October 1918 at Plymouth HMS ORIOLE alongside discharging her fuel into Palmol
12 October 1918 at Plymouth RFA BLACKOL alongside discharging her cargo into Palmol and then she refuelled Royal Naval Ships alongside
13 October 1918 at Plymouth RFA BLACKOL alongside discharging her cargo into Palmol
14 October 1918 to 30 November 1918 at Plymouth RFA BLACKOL alongside discharging her cargo into Palmol and then she refuelled Royal Naval Ships and a number of US ships alongside
1 December 1918 at Devonport on the oil quay at Turnchapel
5 December 1918 at Devonport moved from the oil quay at Turnchapel to alongside ss Masconomo. Was in collision with the port anchor of ss Masconomo suffering damage to the hull. After fuelling anchored off.
6 December 1918 at Devonport moved to Plymouth Sound alonside USS George G Henry to refuel her
USS George G Henry
9 December 1918 at Devonport moored to a buoy with HMS’s Minion, Osiris, Obdurate and Obedient alongside
10 December 1918 at Devonport RFA BLACKOL moored alongside and pumped over 152 tons of FFO
11 December 1918 at Devonport moved with a tug to alongside RFA RED DRAGON in No 3 Dock. Commenced to pump her cargo into Red Dragon.
12 December 1918 continued to pump over her cargo to RFA RED DRAGON and then moved to RFA PEARLEAF (1) to load. Having loaded sailed to Portland arriving on 13 December 1918 to discharge
14 December 1918 sailed Portland to Devonport arriving the next day
15 December 1918 alongside the oil quay at Turnchapel to load
17 December 1918 RFA PETRONEL alongside to be refuelled with 40 tons of FFO
26 December 1918 at the oil quay at Turnchapel – moved to Plymouth Sound alongside USS Steed and USS Munsio to refuel them both. Afterwards moved alongside RFA BLACKOL at Devonport for the night
27 December 1918 alongside RFA BLACKOL loading cargo from her
6 January 1919 at Devonport loaded 30 tons of fresh water
8 January 1919 sailed Devonport for Dover arriving alongside the Eastern Arm of Dover Docks on 11 January 1919
11 January 1919 sailed Dover to the River Humber arriving the next day and anchored off
14 January 1919 sailed from anchorage in the River Humber to Killingholme arriving the same day
15 January 1919 sailed Killingholme to King George’s Dock, Hull arriving the same day
16 January 1919 sailed Hull to the River Humber anchorage arriving the same day
20 January 1919 sailed River Humber anchorage to Immimgham arriving the same day
21 January 1919 sailed Immingham to Grimsby arriving 23 January 1919
1 February 1919 at Grimsby for repairs to the windlass at Alexandra Dock
3 February 1919 Engineer Lieutenant Jonathan E Green RNR appointed Chief Engineer Officer
18 February 1919 sailed Grimsby to Immingham arriving the same day – made fast the the Eastern Jetty.
19 February 1919 at Salt End Jetty, Hull loading cargo
21 February 1919 sailed Hull for Killingholme arriving the same day – to discharge
28 February 1919 sailed Killingholme to Harwich. Anchored off the Cromer Light overnight.
5 September 1919 on 16 buoy at Devonport with RFA BLACKOL alongside her – transferred 639 tons of FFO as cargo
9 September 1919 on 9 buoy at Devonport with C81 alongside her – transferred 368 tons of FFO as cargo
10 September 1919 on No 10 buoy at Devonport with RFA PETRONEL berthed alongside her
11 September1919 refuelled RFA PETRONEL
12 September 1919 at Devonport HMS’s WOLSEY, WINCHESTER, WHITLEY and SPLENDID alongside to be refuelled – 263 tons of FFO issued
16 September 1919 at Devonport C81 alongside and transferred 199 tons of FF as cargo. HMS Gabriel alongside to be refuelled and received 185 tons FFO
18 September 1919 at Devonport HMS P22 alongside for fuel – 28 tons of FFO supplied
19 September 1919 at Devonport HMS’s MARTIAL and SUMAREZ alongside for fuel. 62 tons and 280 tons supplied respectively
HMS MARTIAL
20 September 1919 at Devonport RFA BLACKOL alongside with 600 tons of FFO as cargo
10 November 1919 at Devonport RFA ELDEROL alongside to take off all cargo – 159 tons of FFO – all tanks empty
18 November 1919 destored ammunition and guns
20 November 1919 crew paid off and discharged to HMS EAGLET and Officers to the Ministry of Shipping. The Master, 2nd Engineer, 2 seamen, 2 greasers and 1 cook remained as a maintenance party
19 January 1920 berthed in No: 11 Dock at Devonport
29 January 1920 sold to British Mexican Petroleum Co Ltd (Andrew Weir & Company., Managers) and renamed Invercorrie
11 May 1920 at Swansea Captain William W Eliott appointed as Master
1920 owners became Andrew Weir & Co, London – name unchanged
1923 re-engined with 2 x T.3 cyl 09” 15” & 25” – 18” steam engines by McKee & Baxter, Glasgow. 82 nhp
31 January 1923 at Swansea Captain William Fraser appointed as Master
1923 transferred back to British Mexican Petroleum Co Ltd., (Andrew Weir & Co., Managers) London name unchanged
17 May 1923 at Glasgow Captain Harold M Durrant appointed as Master
13 June 1923 from Swansea berthed at Avonmouth for bunkers
28 June 1923 at Liverpool Captain Silvester Platts appointed as Master
28 October 1924 at Liverpool Captain Joseph Mann appointed as Master
30 October 1924 sailed Liverpool for Aruba
1925 transferred to Lago Shipping Company (Same managers) London name unchanged
21 July 1925 at Aruba Captain George D M Reid appointed as Master
24 October 1927 at Aruba Captain W Craig appointed as Master
27 October 1927 at Aruba Captain G Frederick Hygrell appointed as Master
5 January 1928 at Aruba Captain Robert A Thomson appointed as Master
25 February 1928 at Aruba Captain Robert C Loraine appointed as Master
1931 sold to Lago Petroleum Corp., Maracaibo, Venezuela name unchanged
2nd quarter 1938 dismantled locally and the hulk was scuttled near Maracaibo