Previous name: Changchow III
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 184366
Class: RETAINER CLASS Armaments/Victualling Stores Issuing Ship
Pennant No: A280
Laid down:
Builder: Scotts’ Ship Building, Greenock
Launched: 31 July 1950
Into Service: 15 February 1951
Out of service: 18 August 1979 laid up at Rosyth
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: There were two ships in this Class, which had originally been built as cargo/passenger liners for their owners’ China – Hong Kong – Amoy – Indonesia trade. As built, the Promenade and Upper Decks on each side were for the exclusive use of 48 x First Class passengers for whom their was luxurious accommodation in 2-bert cabins. They also had a Card Room, Lounge, Veranda Lounge and 2 Dining Saloons for European and Chinese palates respectively. There were no Second Class passengers but a steep social drop in accommodation in 8 and 10 berth cabins for 320 Steerage Class passengers who also had their own Dining Saloon. Both ships proved surplus to requirements almost at once, as the trade at that time was overstocked with tonnage and the Chinese Communist Government stopped all immigration as soon as they came to power.. The Admiralty purchased both ships and after employing them for a while on charter work, they were converted into Armament Stores Issuing Ships, although they also carried a proportion of Victualling Stores too. They were eventually replaced by RFA’s FORT GRANGE and FORT AUSTIN
31 July 1950 launched by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd., Greenock as Yard Nr: 654 named CHANGCHOW III for China Navigation Co, London
15 February 1951 completed and after trials was chartered by Cie des Messageries Maritimes, France for their France – South Pacific – Sydney service
23 July 1951 at Marseilles No 1 Greaser Ting Ching Chong discharged dead – stroke
6 September 1951 at sea at 16°00S 117°49E passenger Louis Jacques Vaesen discharged dead – natural causes
17 September 1951 arrived at Sydney, NSW from Marseilles, France
26 September 1951 sailed from Sydney, NSW for Noumea
18 February 1952 arrived at Sydney, NSW from Marselles, France
27 February 1952 sailed Sydney, NSW for Noumea and Papeete
29 February 1952 purchased by the Admiralty but remained on charter
21 July 1952 berthed at Sydney, NSW from Noumea
26 July 1952 at Sydney, NSW but prevented from putting to sea due to severe weather
29 December 1952 berthed at Sydney, NSW from Noumea
3 January 1953 sailed from Sydney, NSW for Marseilles, France
March 1953 finally delivered to the Admiralty
25 April 1953 renamed RESURGENT and was again chartered out
Renamed Resurgent but lacking grey paint
2 October 1953 at Curaçao 2nd Cook Lo Chun discharged dead – natural causes
February 1954 she was offered for charter by the MoT until 04/55, with the possibility of an extension thereafter
1955 – 1957 on charter to British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London same name
July 1957 returned to Admiralty service
August 1957 taken in hand by Vickers Armstrong (Shipbuilders) Ltd. at Palmers Hebburn Yard for conversion into an Armaments Stores Issuing Ship for service with the Far East Fleet
2 August 1957 Captain Samuel Thomas RFA appointed as Temporary Master
3 August 1957 Mr William J Brown OBE DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 August 1957 berthed on Admiralty Quay, Hebburn, River Tyne
3 September 1957 berthed on Admiralty Quay, Hebburn, River Tyne
24 September 1957 berthed on Admiralty Quay, Hebburn, River Tyne
29 October 1957 berthed on Admiralty Quay, Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE DUKE
7 November 1957 berthed on Admiralty Quay, Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE DUKE
14 December 1957 alongside Palmers, Heburn Yard, River Tyne together with RFA’s TIDEREACH, WAVE EMPEROR and WAVE KNIGHT (1)
31 December 1957 alongside Palmers, Heburn Yard, River Tyne together with RFA’s TIDEREACH, WAVE COMMANDER, WAVE EMPEROR and WAVE KNIGHT (1)
21 January 1958 alongside Palmers, Heburn Yard, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE KNIGHT (1) and RFA TIDERACE (1)
11 February 1958 alongside Palmers, Heburn Yard, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE KNIGHT (1)
13 February 1958 alongside Palmers, Heburn Yard, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE KNIGHT (1) and RFA TIDERACE (1)
22 February 1958 alongside Palmers, Heburn Yard, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE KNIGHT (1)
29 March 1958 alongside Palmers, Heburn Yard, River Tyne
1 May 1958 Captain E Payne RFA appointed as Master
15 May 1958 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA OLNA (2)
29 May 1958 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne
5 July 1958 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne
15 July 1958 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA ROBERT MIDDLETON
25 July 1958 the Shields Daily News reported –
2 August 1958 conducted RAS trials off the Tyne with the frigate HMS BLACKWOOD
HMS BLACKWOOD
28 August 1958 sailed from the Tyne on completion of her conversion
Setember 1958 trials and then to Cairn Ryan for ammunition storing
8 October 1958 at Plymouth
9 October 1958 sailed for the Far East
11 October 1958 berthed at Gibraltar
12 October 1958 sailed Gibraltar for Singapore
17 November 1958 sailed Aden
19 December 1958 arrived at Hong Kong
21 December 1958 in exercises off Hong Kong with HMS’s CEYLON, CHEVIOT, CAVALIER and CARDIGAN BAY together with RFA’s RELIANT and TIDESURGE (1)
Christmas 1958 at Hong Kong
3 January 1959 Mr Reginald R Darroch RFA appointed Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Reginald R Darroch RFA
4 January 1959 sailed from Hong Kong for Singapore
28 January 1959 RASed HMS CARDIGAN BAY off Singapore
February 1959 storing at Singapore
24 February 1959 RASed with HMAS MELBOURNE
13 March 1959 undertook a RAS with HMAS VOYAGER
14 March 1959 berthed at Fremantle, Australia with HMS CHICHESTER, HMS CHEVIOT and HMAS VOYAGER
18 March 1959 sailed Fremantle
24 March 1959 undertook a RAS with HMAS VOYAGER and other RN and RAN warships
31 March 1959 at Singapore for maintenance
6 April 1959 off Singapore RASed with HMAS ANZAC – 5 tons of ammunition supplied
7 April 1959 undertook a RAS with HMAS VOYAGER
14 April 1959 to 28 April 1959 took part in the SEATO exercise ‘Sea Demon’
18 April 1959 off Johore Shoal Buoy RASed with HMAS ANZAC
23 April 1959 heavy jackstay transfer to HMAS’s ANZAC and VOYAGER
27 April 1959 undertook a RAS with HMAS VOYAGER
28 April 1959 at Manilla
4 May 1959 at Singapore
25 May 1959 with HMS’s ALBION and CHICHESTER crossed the Indian Ocean
June 1959 at Durban and Mombassa
July 1959 at Aden and the Persian Gulf with HMS CENTAUR and 1st Destroyer Squadron
RFA RESURGENT
August 1959 at Karachi
11 August 1959 sailed Karachi
13 August 1959 to 21 August 1959 took part in exercise ‘JET 59’
August 1959 to Trincomalee to de-ammunition the damaged HMS HOGUE
27 August 1959 at Penang
September 1959 at Hong Kong
October 1959 at Trincomalee handing over to RFA RETAINER
30 November 1959 moved from Plymouth Sound to 1 Saltash Trot
11 December 1959 moved from 1 Saltash Trot to No: 5 Basin W at Devonport Dockyard
18 December 1959 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master
Captain Walter L Holtam RFA
14 January 1960 in No: 5 Basin at Devonport Dockyard
27 January 1960 Captain Joe Dines RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
1 February 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 5 basin to No: 9 dock
21 March 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 9 dock to No: 5 basin
14 June 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 5 basin to No: 9 dock
24 June 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 9 dock to No: 5 basin
11 July 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 5 basin to No: 5 wharf
28 July 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 5 wharf to Plymouth Sound and then to Cawsands Bay
29 July 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 1 jetty
5 August 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 1 Jetty to Saltash trot
8 August 1960 at Devonport moved from Saltash trot to Plymouth Sound
September 1960 RASed with HMS ARK ROYAL in the English Channel
8 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Saltssh trot
12 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Saltash trot to Plymouth Sound
5 May 1961 RASed with HMAS QUEENBOROUGH
26 June 1961 sailed Singapore with RFA’s RELIANT (2), TIDEREACH and HMS VICTORIOUS together with other RN units
July 1961 saw service during Operation Vantage – the Kuwait Crisis – along with 12 other RFA’s
3 October 1961 arrived at Plymouth Sound and berthed on ‘D’ Buoy
7 October 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Capital Ship Trot
15 October 1961 Mr W E Young RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 October 1961 at Devonport moved from Capital Ship Trot to No: 5 basin
25 October 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 5 basin to No: 9 dock
24 November 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 9 dock to No: 5 basin
5 December 1961 Captain F G Edwards OBE RFA appointed as Master
15 December 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 5 basin to No: 5 wharf
19 December 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 6 wharf to Plymouth Sound on F Buoy
20 December 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 6 wharf
28 December 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 6 wharf to 1 Capital Ship Trot
1 January 1962 at Devonport moved from 1 Capital Ship Trot to Plymouth Sound
14 February 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound on ‘D’ Buoy to sea
May 1962 Seaman Francis John Clark discharged dead
15 June 1962 together with HMS ARK ROYAL and other RN and RAN warships involved in Exercise Potluck off Hong Kong
16 June 1962 berthed at Hong Kong
17 June 1962 sailed from Hong Kong. The Medical Officer of HMAS PARRAMATTA transferred by light jackstay to assist the ships Doctor with a case of suspected appendicitis
18 June 1962 RAS’ed with HMNZS TARANAKI and HMAS PARRAMATTA off Okinawa
21 June 1962 while on passage from Hong Kong to Singapore with RFA’s RELIANT (2) and WAVE MASTER and RN, RAN and RNZN ships took part in Exercise Homerun. RFA WAVE MASTER RAS’ed with all the ships
27 June 1962 RAS’ed with HMAS PARRAMATTA
24 August 1962 the Royal Australian Navy ‘Navy News’ newspaper reported –
July 1963 accompanied the carrier HMS VICTORIOUS from the U.K. – Far East along with RFA’s RELIANT (2), TIDESPRING and WAVE RULER (1)
17 July 1963 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
24 September 1963 at Mombassa, Keyna – Ambrose Ryan, Civilian Naval Stores clerk, discharged dead after dying in hospital from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident in a game park some three weeks before
31 March 1964 Mr Charles H Gurr RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 April 1964 Captain Alistair C Gibson RFA appointed as Master
1 May 1964 at Plymouth (see note 1)
30 July 1965 at Milford Haven (see note 1)
8 August 1965 to11 August 1965 took part in the Clyde Royal Review along with RFA‘s BLACK RANGER, OLYNTHUS (2), ROWANOL and WAVE PRINCE
27 August 1965 Mr J W Stuart RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
August 1965 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne for a refit
18 September 1965 Captain Nicholas B J Stapleton RD RFA appointed as Master
Captain Nicholas B J Stapleton RD RFA
17 March 1966 along with RFA’s RELIANT(2) and TIDEPOOL was in support of the destroyer HMS CAMBRIAN and the frigate HMS PLYMOUTH on the Beira Patrol in the Mozambique Channel
6 July 1966 Captain J D G Gray RFA appointed as Master
26 August 1966 Mr W E Young RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 October 1966 commenced to take part in Exercise Millsail – an advanced weapon exercise – in the Subic training areas, together with RFA’s TIDESPRING, FORT DUQUESNE and FORT ROSALIE together with various RN and RAN units
31 October 1966 berthed Sydney, NSW, Australia
7 December 1966 Captain J Gulessarian RFA appointed as Master
13 June 1967 Mr G R Henderson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
11 October 1967 to 25 January 1968 part of TF 318 – the Aden Task Force formed to cover the final British withdrawal from the area codenamed Operation Magister along with 9 other RFA’s and she took part in the final Fleet Review with 5 of the other RFA‘s involved
13 January 1968 Captain J H McLoughlin RFA appointed as Master
1 April 1968 Mr J P Mair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 December 1968 at Liverpool
14 March 1969 Humanitarian aid – a Catering Boy aboard developed appendicitis in the South Atlantic and the Ship’s Surgeon radioed for assistance in conducting the necessary operation. A rendezvous was made with the Russian CHELUSKIN about 600 miles NW of Ascension Island and the operation was conducted by two Russian Surgeon Commanders with the Ship’s Doctor acting as anaesthetist
23 May 1970 visited RAF GAN
June/July 1970 Beira Patrol
8 December 1970 at Plymouth
10 January 1971 at Portland
February 1971 visited Jamestown, St. Helena
6 June 1971 in the South China Sea responded to a radio message for medical assistance from a Singapore registered cargo vessel ‘Ocean Mercury’ when a seaman Yeung Siu Fun who had suffered a stroke. Treated onboard by the ship’s doctor and then conveyed to a Singapore Hospital for treatment arriving on 7 June 1971
12 February 1972 with HMS TRIUMPH visited Recife, Brazil on good will visit
30 March 1972 sailed Malta with RFA WAVE CHIEF and HMS BULWALK. RASed with HMS BULWALK off the island
31 August 1973 at Devonport unloaded a 3 engined Junkers 52 aircraft donated by the Portuguese Government for the Imperial War Museum
8 October 1973 Humanitarian aid – she came across the blazing and abandoned Cypriot-registered vessel NEJMA whilst on passage from La Spezia boarded her, extinguished the blaze and then towed the heavily damaged ship to Majorca
10 October 1973 the Liverpool Echo newspaper reported –
20 July 1974 at Hong Kong
25 August 1974 at Rosyth
25 September 1974 at Rosyth
22 October 1974 arrived at Plymouth Sound and berthed on ‘D’ Buoy
28 October 1974 at Plymouth
20 March 1975 at Gan, Indian Ocean
13 June 1975 at Rosyth
24 July 1975 at Newcastle – see note 3
20 January 1976 at Wellington, New Zealand – self maintenance period – sailed 2 February 1976
27 April 1976 at Plymouth
28 June 1976 at Plymouth
27 January 1977 at Portland Dockyard
28 March 1977 on the River Tyne
27 April 1977 on the River Tyne
28 April 1977 sailed the River Tyne for Rosyth arriving the next day
11 May 1977 moved from Rosyth Dockyard to an achorage to load ammunition
17 May 1977 sailed the Forth to the Atlantic off Lands End for exercises
21 May 1977 anchored in Mounts Bay
23 May 1977 anchored in Plymouth Sound
31 May 1977 sailed Plymouth for further exercises off Lands End
8 June 1977 arrived at Portland for work-up
13 June 1977 sailed Portland and RAS’ed with RFA STROMNESS and a Dutch ship. Exercises with HMS DEVONSHIRE and was towed by RFA STROMNESS
23 June 1977 FOST and RN staff on-board. RAS’ed with RFA BLACK ROVER
1 July 1977 sailed Portland
4 July 1977 passed Gibraltar
5 July 1977 stopped between 0900 – 1100 to replace 4 fuel inlet valves
8 July 1977 arrived Malta – anchored off Marsaxlokk
12 July 1977 sailed Malta
15 July 1977 arrived Iskenderum, Turkey
18 July 1977 sailed Iskenderum
19 July 1977 ship stopped at 1400 to change another fuel inlet valve
20 July 1977 anchored at Souda Bay, Crete until 1500 then berthed alongside
23 July 1977 sailed Souda Bay
25 July 1977 stopped yet again to change fuel inlet valve
28 July 1977 arrived at Gibraltar
29 July 1977 sailed Gibraltar
2 August 1977 berthed at Rosyth – No 3 berth
15 August 1977 moved to anchorage
22 August 1977 sailed Rosyth
24 August 1977 anchored
25 August 1977 berthed at Rosyth
3 September 1977 sailed Rosyth and RAS’ed with HMS’s DIOMEDES and SHEFFIELD
6 September 1977 stopped to change fuel inlet valves again
8 September 1977 stopped to change fuel inlet valves again
9 September 1977 Hurricane Clara off Bermuda prevented the ship berthing there
11 September 1977 anchored off Bermuda
12 September 1977 sailed Bermuda suffering engine troubles again. RAS’ed with HMS HERMES
15 September 1977 alongside at Mayport Naval Base. Florida along with HMS HERMES. Moved off jetty to allow RFA TIDEREACH to go alongside. Also in post was HMS ANTRIM and the USS Roosevelt. The RN, RFA and US Navy ships had visited Mayport to be pat of a 10 ship Task Group taking part in exercies
21 September 1977 sailed Mayport
23 September 1977 between 0600 nand 1800 RAS’ed with all ships in the Task Group
24 September 1977 alongside at Norfolk, VA
28 September 1977 sailed Norfolk, VA and RAS’ed with RFA STROMNESS
29 September 1977 RAS’ed with RFA STROMNESS again
1 October 1977 RAS’ed with HMS ARROW. On exercise – ship blacked out in the evening
3 October 1977 RAS’ed with RFA TIDEREACH
9 October 1977 RAS’ed with HMS DIOMEDES
10 October 1977 RAS’ed with RFA TIDEREACH and HMS KENT
11 October 1977 RAS’ed with HMS HERMES
12 October 1977 anchored off Lisbon alongwith other NATO ships
16 October 1977 sailed Lisbon
17 October 1977 involved in Exercise Ocean Safari until 28 October 1977
22 October 1977 off the North coast of Spain to meet the Task Group.
24 October 1977 RAS’ed with HMS ARROW
26 October 1977 headed out into the Atlantic
31 October 1977 anchored off Rosyth
18 January 1978 at Plymouth
3 February 1978 at Rosyth (see note 1)
11 February 1978 at Portland
21 April 1978 at Bermuda (see note 1)
24 June 1978 at Plymouth (see note 1)
10 July 1978 at Plymouth
15 August 1978 at Long Beach, California
1 October 1978 at San Francisco, California (see note 1)
15 December 1978 at South Shields, River Tyne
8 January 1979 at South Shields, River Tyne
9 March 1979 at Plymouth
13 July 1979 conducted her final operational RAS with the carrier HMS BULWARK
18 August 1979 arrived Rosyth to destore.
September 1979 sailed Rosyth for Bermuda, Mayport before transiting the Panama Canal. On arrival in the Pacific she visited San Diego, San Francisco, Prince Rupert (BC), Vancouver, Keyport (Seattle), before returning via the Panama Canal, Bermuda, Devonport and Rosyth to destore and pay off in December 1979
December 1979 laid up for disposal
18 March 1981 sold to Davies & Newman Ltd, London for £189,000 on behalf of Asturamerican Shipping Co Inc, Panama and was then resold to Desguaces Vige S.A, San Estaban for scrap
5 May 1981 sailed Rosyth in tow of the Panamanian-registered Spanish tug SUZANNE M
13 May 1981 arrived Avilez where some superstructure was removed to lighten her
15 May 1981 arrived for breaking up at San Esteban de Pravia, Spain by Desguaces Vige
Notes
1. Locations kindly provided by Bosun George Collings RFA (Retired) from his Discharge Book
2. Was one of the 11 store ships employed in the Mozchan on Beira Patrol duties
3. Location kindly provided by T Perrier RFA (retired) from his Discharge Book