Subsequent name: Fairwater
Official Number: 144695
Class: Escort Oiler
Pennant No: A208
Signal Letters: GDSM (1937)
Laid down:
Builder: Laings, Deptford Yard, Sunderland
Launched: 29 June 1920
Into Service: 16 January 1940
Out of service: 1947
Fate: Broken Up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: Around the outbreak of WW2, the Admiralty purchased three 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
29 June 1920 launched by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd., Deptford Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 667 named SCOTTISH AMERICAN for Tankers Ltd., London
August 1920 completed
27 August 1920 sailed Gravesend for Tampico
11 November 1920 sailed Brunswick GA for Tampico
2 December 1920 arrived at Philadelphia while on passage to Tampico
10 December 1920 sailed Newport News to Tampico
29 January 1921 sailed Port Said for Swansea
15 March 1921 arrived Swansea from Brunswick
26 May 1921 arrived at Port Said from Swansea
30 June 1921 arrived at Suez from Abadan
1 July 1921 sailed Port Said for Swansea
21 August 1921 arrived at Abadan from Swansea
26 August 1921 sailed Abadan
4 September 1921 arrived at Aden from Abadan sailing the same day
24 September 1921 arrived at Swansea from Abadan
2 October 1921 sailed from Swansea for Abadan
9 December 1921 arrived at Swansea from Abadan
16 March 1922 arrived at Abadan from Swansea
24 March 1922 sailed Abadan for Swansea
12 April 1922 the Shields Daily News newspaper reported –
24 May 1922 sailed Swansea
29 May 1922 when on passage from Swansea to Abadan passed Gibraltar
5 June 1922 arrived at Port Said
11 June 1922 sailed Aden for Abadan
10 July 1922 sailed Abadan for Suez
20 July 1922 passed Gibraltar
25 July 1922 berthed at Swansea from Abadan
13 September 1922 at Swansea
22 October 1922 arrived at Swansea from Abadan
14 November 1922 on passage from Swansea in radio contact with Lands End Radio
13 July 1923 berthed at Salt End Jetty, Hull from Tampico
16 July 1923 sailed from Salt End Jetty, Hull for Rotterdam in ballast
22 August 1923 sailed Port Arthur for Tampico
10 September 1923 at Tampico
22 September 1923 at Port Arthur
29 September 1923 sailed Tampico for LEFO
27 October 1923 at Rotterdam
4 November 1923 sailed Rotterdam
6 November 1923 when on passage to Colon radioed she was 55 nmiles east of Lands End
28 November 1923 sailed Balboa, Panama for Willmington
5 December 1923 at Port Arthur
24 January 1924 sailed Tampico for LEFO
23 February 1924 at Antwerp
25 February 1924 at Rotterdam
25 March 1924 at Rotterdam
16 April 1924 when on passage to Bermuda was in Wireless contact with Lands End Radio
17 April 1924 berthed at Rotterdam
9 May 1924 arrived at Tampico from Rotterdam
11 May 1924 sailed Tampico for LEFO
21 July 1924 at London
25 July 1924 to 27 July 1924 while berthed at the Nederlands Petroleum Asphalt Maats dock at Vlissingen, there was an enormous explosion and ensuing fire which caused major damage to the town and which necessitated her removal from the danger area
11 August 1924 passed Bermuda when on passage to Key West
20 August 1924 sailed Tampico
29 October 1924 sailed Tampico for Bayonne
27 November 1924 sailed Port Lobos for LEFO
20 December 1924 when on passage to Rotterdam was in radion contact with Niton Radio
21 December 1924 at Rotterdam
7 January 1925 Captain Percy Daniel appointed as Master
24 January 1925 wirelessed Lands End Radio when on passage to New Orleans
25 February 1925 sailed Tampico
25 March 1925 at Rotterdam
22 May 1925 at Rotterdam
2 April 1925 when on passage to New Orleans was in radio contact with Valentia
30 May 1925 when on passage to Bermuda was in radio contact with Valentia
30 June 1925 at New York
14 July 1925 sailed Tampico for Key West
21 July 1925 when on passage from Tampico for LEFO put into Charlestown SC this day with the main steam pump broken
23 August 1925 when on passage to Bermuda wirelessed Valentia
22 October 1925 at Rotterdam
3 November 1925 when on passage to Bermuda wirelessed Valentia
28 November 1925 sailed Tampico for LEFO
7 December 1925 passed Key West when on passage for LEFO
3 March 1926 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
4 May 1926 berthed at Thames Haven from Curaçao with two DBS. Captain H B Paterson was the Master
4 January 1927 in wireless contact with Gibraltar when on passage to Abadan
11 January 1927 arrived at Port Said from Southampton when passage to Abadan
12 January 1927 sailed from Suez
18 January 1927 sailed Aden for Abadan
8 February 1927 passed Perim when on passage to Swansea
15 February 1927 sailed Port Said
26 February 1927 passed Sagres when on passge to Swansea
4 March 1927 at Grangemouth
15 March 1927 45 miles east of Niton when on passage to Abadan
21 March 1927 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound for Abadan
4 April 1927 passed Perim
27 April 1927 passed Perim when on passage to Swansea
3 May 1927 sailed Port Said for Swansea
20 May 1927 at Grangemouth
27 May 1927 at Falmouth
3 June 1927 passed the Lloyds SIgnal Station on the Lizard for Abadan
17 June 1927 sailed from Suez for Abadan
21 June 1927 passed Perim when on passage to Abadan
16 July 1927 passed Perim when on passage to Swansea
22 July 1927 sailed from Port Said
31 July 1927 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
1 August 1927 passed Sagre when on passage to Swansea
6 August 1927 at Swansea
15 August 1927 when on passage to St Pedro was 160 miles SW Valentia
3 September 1927 sailed Colon for San Pedro
3 October 1927 at Panama
20 October 1927 sailed from San Pedro for Shanghai
25 November 1927 sailed Shanghai for San Pedro
23 December 1928 sailed from Port Said
6 January 1929 Assistant Steward John Sidney Allen discharged dead with a prostatic abcess and septicaemia
22 February 1929 berthed at Liverpool from Curaçao with one stowaway passenger
4 June 1929 caught fire while off the coast of Uruguay while on a voyage from Curaçao to Buenos Ayres. The radio was destroyed by fire
7 June 1929 the Yorkshire Evening Post reported that …
21 October 1929 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing northbound
6 December 1929 sailed from Port Said when on passage from Abadan to Grangemouth
16 December 1929 passed Sagres when on passage from Abadan to Grangemouth
25 December 1929 berthed at Grangemouth from Abadan with a cargo of crude oil
30 December 1929 sailed Grangemouth for Abadan in ballast
19 January 1930 passed Perim
29 January 1930 sailed from Abadan for LEFO
5 April 1930 sailed New Orleans for Thames Haven
29 June 1930 arrived at Rotterdam
23 July 1930 arrived at Curaçao from Rotterdam
25 September 1930 in W/T communications with the Cable & Wireless Station on Bermuda
22 October 1930 passed Gibraltar sailing east for Trieste
24 December 1930 when on passage to Curaçao reported she was 220 nmiles SSW of Valentia
30 December 1930 at 40°36N 16°45W 2nd Engineer Officer William John Pelton discharged dead from heart failure – he was found dead in bed. He had only signed on on 22 December 1930
14 January 1931 sailed Curaçao for Gibraltar
14 February 1931 passed Gibraltar when on passage to Curaçao
1 March 1931 at Trinidad
23 May 1931 at Curaçao
14 July 1931 at the Hospital, Aruba Able Seaman William Foulkes discharged dead with shock following an operation
16 July 1931 sailed Aruba for LEFO
2 August 1931 when on passage to Hamburg, Germany reported she was 90 miles WSW of Lands End
25 August 1931 when on passage to Curaçao reported by radio to St. Kitts
2 September 1931 sailed Curaçao for Buenos Aires
22 October 1931 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
16 November 1931 berthed at Aberdeen from Curaçao
19 November 1931 arrived at the River Tyne
11 December 1931 sailed from the River Tyne
13 December 1931 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
30 December 1931 at Curaçao
Scottish American in No: 6 Dock, Smiths Docks, North Shields
from the John Bage collection
1932’s laid up at Appledore during the Shipping Depression
30 November 1935 at Bideford Magistrates’ Court Ships Engineer John Joseph Doyle pleaded Not Guilty to stealing various brass and copper fittings from the ship and another vessel laid up in the River Torridge. He was convicted and sentenced to 6 months hard labour
Press cutting from Western Morning News 2 December 1935
17 May 1936 off Bideford, Devon caught fire – fire confined to oil in the bilges – extinguished – little apparent damage
29 July 1936 was 565 miles south west of Valentia when on passage to the River Thames
29 September 1936 was 150 miles west of Land’s End when on passage to Curaçao
27 November 1936 on passage to Curaçao
12 February 1937 at Liverpool
18 February 1937 Mr William D Hewitt appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William D Hewitt
26 April 1937 passed Istanbul for Genoa
1 July 1937 at Port Said
16 August 1937 sailed Port Said for Haifa
29 August 1937 passed Gibraltar for Pauillac
12 September 1937 at Falmouth
7 October 1937 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
4 December 1937 when on passage to Aruba in radio contact with Portishead
7 January 1938 when on passage to Curaçao radioed she was 100 nmiles SW of Lands End
11 January 1938 at Barton
4 February 1938 at Curaçao
8 February 1938 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
3 March 1938 sailed Glasgow for Adrossan
7 March 1938 at Liverpool
1 April 1938 when on passage to St Kitts for orders radioed she was 150 nmiles SW of Valentia
7 April 1938 on passage to Curaçao
11 May 1938 berthed at Shellhaven
30 May 1938 at Curaçao
1 June 1938 sailed Curaçao
19 June 1938 passed Gibraltar when on passage to Spezia
22 June 1938 berthed at Spezia
2 July 1938 passed Gibraltar when on passage to Curaçao
18 July 1938 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
31 July 1938 when on passage to Rotterdam radioed she was 100 miles west of Valenta
15 August 1938 when on passage to St Kitts radioed she was 30 south east of Niton
1 September 1938 at Curaçao
5 September 1938 sailed Curaçao for Dakar
17 September 1938 berthed at Dakar
25 September 1938 at Liverpool
7 October 1938 sailed Abadan for LEFO
25 October 1938 when on passage to Rotterdam radioed she was 50 miles west of Niton
1 November 1938 at the River Tyne
1 December 1938 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
13 December 1938 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
15 December 1938 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
31 December 1938 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
11 January 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
3 March 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
25 April 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
29 April 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
1 June 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
5 June 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
19 June 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
20 June 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
23 June 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
30 June 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
3 July 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
4 August 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
8 August 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
11 August 1939 in Mercantile Dry Dock, River Tyne
4 October 1939 sailed the River Tyne to Southend arriving 7 October 1939
7 October 1939 sailed Southend in escorted convoy OA 17 until it dispersed on 11 October 1939 and then independently to Trinidad arriving 26 October 1939. The Vice Commodore of the convoy was the ship’s Master
31 October 1939 sailed Trinidad independently to Freetown arriving on 15 November 1939
19 November 1939 sailed Freetown independently to Trinidad arriving 30 November 1939
4 December 1939 sailed Trinidad independently to Halifax arriving on 16 December 1939
20 December 1939 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX13 arrived Scapa Flow on 6 January 1940 with a cargo of FFO
9 January 1940 Convoy HN7 of 2 British, 19 Norwegian, 5 Swedish, 8 Finnish and 4 Estonian ships departed Bergen escorted by destroyers HMS’s KASHMIR, KHARTOUM, KANDAHAR and TARTAR. The destroyer HMS FORESTER departed the Clyde on the 8th and joined the convoy at sea. HMS MAORI departed the Clyde on the 9th to relieve HMS TARTAR HMS’s GLASGOW, EDINBURGH and convoy HN.7 arrived safely at Methil on the 12th. HMS KHARTOUM took the west coast section of five ships, and escorted tankers SCOTTISH AMERICAN and RFA ARNDALE to the Clyde arriving 13 January 1940
16 January 1940 purchased by the Admiralty.
29 February 1940 sailed Glasgow independently to Liverpool arriving on 2 March 1940
3 March 1940 sailed Liverpool Bar in escorted Convoy OB 103 along with RFA CEDARDALE – dispersed in the Atlantic and then independently to Trinidad arriving 22 March 1940
21 March 1940 subject to an Admiralty Fleet Order –
25 March 1940 sailed Trinidad independently to Halifax arrived 5 April 1940
10 April 1940 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX 34 for Scapa Flow
27 April 1940 while in escorted convoy HX 34 the German submarine U.13 ( Kaptainleutenant Max-Martin Schulte) at 2326hrs at 58°41N 4°40W torpedoed with one torpedo and damaged her west of Pentland Firth. She was towed to Loch Eribol by decoy ship RFA LOOE (steamer HMS BEAULY) and armed boarding vessel HMS NORTHERN REWARD. Destroyers HMS’s DELIGHT, DIANA, IMPERIAL en route to Scapa Flow were diverted to assist on the 28th. minesweeping trawler HMS JUNIPER stood by while 8,200 tons, the entire cargo less 1000 tons of oil, which had been lost, was pumped into the tanker OIL PIONEER for return to Scapa Flow. Transfer was completed on 2 May. The tanker was able to leave Loch Eribol on 5 May with tug ST MELLONS and trawler HMS JUNIPER for North Shields arriving four days later.There were no fatalities
7 May 1940 arrived Methil Roads
8 May 1940 sailed from Rosyth
9 May 1940 arrived at the River Tyne
26 July 1940 Captain Archie N Lough, Chief Engineer Officer Hubert S Law and First Radio Officer Sydney Parcell each awarded a Commendation for services when the ship was torpedoed and damaged. Details appeared in the London Gazette of this date
3 August 1940 sailed from the Tyne To Methil in unescorted Convoy FN240 having been repaired arriving the next day
10 August 1940 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 248 arrived at Sheerness on 12 August 1940
15 August 1940 sailed Southend in unescorted Convoy FN 253 to Methil arriving 17 August 1940
19 August 1940 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
26 August 1940 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 263 to Southend arriving 28 August 1940
29 August 1940 sailed Southend in unescorted Convoy FN 266 to Methil arriving 31 August 1940
6 September 1940 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 274 to Southend arriving the next day
19 October 1940 sailed Southend in unescorted Convoy FN 312 to Methil arriving on 21 October 1940
26 October 1940 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 320 to Southend arriving 28 October 1940
15 November 1940 sailed Southend in unescorted Convoy FN 335 to Methil along with British Lady arriving 17 November 1940
27 December 1940 sailed Reykjavik in unescorted convoy RU 2 to Loch Ewe arriving 1 January 1941
1941 to 1944 served as an RFA Escort Oiler
3 January 1941 sailed Sheerness for Southend
5 January 1941 sailed Southend in unescorted Convoy FN 376 to Methil arriving 7 January 1941
7 January 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 381 to Tyne arriving 9 January 1941
9 January 1941 sailed the Tyne in unescorted Convoy FN 378 to Methil arriving the next day
17 January 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
21 January 1941 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
23 January 1941 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
3 February 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 403 to the Tyne arriving the next day
10 February 1941 sailed the Tyne in unescorted Convoy FN 403 to Methil arriving the same day
13 February 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
16 February 1941 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
18 February 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
20 February 1941 sailed Rosyth for Grangemouth arriving the same day
22 February 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
21 March 1941 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
28 March 1941 sailed Grangemouth arriving at Methil Roads the same day
29 March 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 450 to the Tyne arriving the next day
10 April 1941 under repair at Newcastle – completed on 24 April 1941
9 May 1941 sailed the Tyne in unescorted Convoy FN 464 to Methil and Grangemouth arriving 11 May 1941
14 May 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 489 to the Tyne arriving 15 May 1941
17 May 1941 sailed the Tyne in unescorted Convoy FN 467 to Grangemouth arriving 18 May 1941
22 May 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 496 to Purfleet arriving 24 May 1941
23 May 1941 passed Flamorough Head sailing south bound
25 May 1941 arrived at Gravesend
27 May 1941 sailed from Gravsend and anchored at Southend
29 May 1941 sailed Southend in escorted Convoy EC 26 to the Clyde arriving 3 June 1941
30 May 1941 passed Spurn Head
2 June 1941 arrived at Immingham
5 June 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS 508 to Spurn Head arriving the next day
6 June 1941 sailed Spurn Head and rejoined unescorted Convoy FS508 arriving at Southend on the next day
10 June 1941 sailed Southend in unescorted Convoy FN 478 to Methil arriving 12 June 1941
16 June 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 508 to Southend via Spurn Head arriving the 18 June 1941
21 June 1941 arrived at Sheerness
22 June 1941 anchored off Southend
23 June 1941 sailed Southend in escorted Convoy EC 37 to Methil arriving 24 June 1941
25 June 1941 arrived at Grangemouth
27 June 1941 sailed from Grangemouth
28 June 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 528 to Southend via Spurn Head for Immigham arriving the 30 June 1941
5 July 1941 sailed Southend in Convoy EC 42 for Invergordon arriving 8 July 1941
11 July 1941 sailed Invergordon in Convoy WN 151 to Methil arriving 12 July 1941
12 July 1941 arrived at Invergordon
13 July 1941 involved in a collision – further details unknown
18 July 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 545 to Southend arriving on 20 July 1941
25 July 1941 sailed Southend to the Tyne in Convoy EC50 arriving the next day
29 July 1941 entered Newcastle for repairs
10 September 1941 repairs completed
11 September 1941 sailed the Tyne and joined Convoy FN 561 to Methil arriving the same day
13 September 1941 sailed from Grangemouth for Rosyth
20 September 1941 sailed from Grangemouth for Rosyth
28 September 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy EC 78 (a Clyde bound Convoy) to Kirwall arriving the next day
1 October 1941 sailed Kirkwall in Convoy EC 79 to Loch Ewe arriving the next day
9 October 1941 arrived Hvalfjord, Iceland as part of Convoy ON 23 for fleet attendance duties and subsequently for use as a hulk when new storage was completed
19 October 1941 ETA Seidis Fiord with the escorts HMS ELM and HMS WINDERMERE
25 October 1941 sailed Hvalfjord escorted to Reykjavik arriving the next day. Her cargo amounted to 7629 tons of FFO
26 October 1941 returned to Hvalfjord
28 November 1941 HMS SOREL alongside being refuelled
29 November 1941 at about 0200hrs still with HMS SOREL alongside in gale force winds she dragged her anchor grounded on the north shore of Hvalfjord some 5 miles inside the boom and 2½ miles to the seaward of the western end of the Fleet anchorage which was at the head of the Fjord. The ship was damage with a hole in No: 3 port tank with about 8 tons of FFO leaking. HMS SOREL cast off. HM Rescue Tug TENACITY attended and towed the ship from the position where she had grounded to a safe anchorage. The ships tanks were trimmed and she was brought onto an even keel
HM Rescue Tug TENACITY
7 December 1941 reported by NOB Iceland as being at Hvalfjord with RFA WAR BHARATA
27 December 1941 sailed Reykjavik in unescorted convoy RU2 to Oban and then joined Convoy WN 225 to Methil arriving 2 January 1942
7 January 1942 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy FS693 to the Tyne arriving the next day
6 February 1942 sailed the Tyne and joined unescorted Convoy FN624 to Methil arriving the next day
8 February 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN 44 to Loch Ewe
9 February 1942 passed Dunnet Heaad
10 February 1942 arrived Loch Ewe and anchored
17 February 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in Convoy UR 13 to Reykjavik arriving on 22 February 1942
20 March 1942 sailed Reykjavik in escorted Convoy PQ13 to Murmansk as Escort Oiler arriving on 31 March 1942
21 May 1942 sailed Kola Inlet in Convoy QP 12 to Reykjavik as Escort Oiler arriving on 29 May 1942
24 November 1942 sailed Reykjavik escorted to Seidisfjord ariving the 26 November 1942 to relieve San Ambrosio
25 February 1943 withdrawn from Convoy JW53 to Hvalfiord for repairs
5 March 1943 sailed Sidisfjord escorted to Hvalfjord arriving 7 March 1943
7 March 1943 at Hvalfjord with HMS’s WATCHMAN and ROCKINGHAM alongside being refuelled
16 March 1943 windlass repaired – ready for sea
28 March 1943 sailed Hvalfjord escorted to Reykjavik arriving the next day
30 March 1943 sailed Reykjavik in unescorted Convoy RU68 to Loch Ewe with RFA BELGOL and then in Convoy WN 411 to Methil arriving 6 April 1943
9 April 1943 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 1085 to the Tyne arriving the next day for repairs
17 June 1943 repairs completed
25 June 1943 sailed the Tyne and joined Convoy FN 1056 to Methil arriving the next day
27 June 1943 sailed Methil in Convoy EN 248 to Loch Ewe arriving 29 June 1943
28 June 1943 assigned to carry out trials with new depth charge equipment while in escorted convoy ONS12
4 July 1943 sailed Loch Foyle and joined escorted convoy ONS12 as Escort Oiler to Halifax arriving 18 July 1943
18 July 1943 sailed from Halifax in escorted convoy XB64 to Cape Cod Canal arriving 20 July 1943
29 July 1943 sailed Halifax to Sydney CB in unescorted convoy HS99
30 July 1943 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy SC138 as Escort Oiler to Belfast Lough arriving 12 August 1943. SHe also carried spare Depth Charges
12 August 1943 sailed Belfast Lough independently to Milford Haven arriving on 14 August 1943
16 August 1943 sailed Milford Haven and joined Convoy KMS 24 G to Gibraltar as escort oiler arriving on 30 August 1943
2 September 1943 at Gibraltar was found to have a defective suction line – water leaking into the fuel oil
7 September 1943 sailed Gibraltar in Convoy OS 54 as escort oiler. Detached to join Convoy SL 136 as Escort Oiler. Returned to Gibraltar on 15 September 1943
22 September 1943 sailed Gibraltar in Convoy GC38 to Casablanca arriving the next day escorted by HMS ISIS and USS PC 482
24 September 1943 and 25 September 1943 at Casablanca with USS Niobrara (AO72) alongside engaged in a pump over – 44,637 barrels of oil transfered
USS Niobrara (AO72)
25 September 1943 completed pump over with USS Niobrara (AO72)
27 September 1943 sailed Casablanca and joined Convoy OS 55 as escort oiler until detached to Convoy SL 137 as escort oiler arrived Gibraltar 6 October 1943
8 November 1943 sailed Gibraltar to join Convoy OS 57 as escort oiler to Freetown arriving 19 November 1943
22 November 1943 sailed Freetown in Convoy SL141 together with MKS 32 as escort oiler arriving the Clyde 16 December 1943
31 December 1943 assigned to operate from Gibraltar sailing with alternate MKS convoys transferring at sea to corresponding KMS
4 January 1944 sailed the Clyde and joined Convoy OS64KM / KMS38G as escort oiler arriving at Gibraltar 17 January 1944
22 January 1944 sailed Gibraltar in Convoy MKS 37G as escort oiler and then joining Convoy KMS 40G arriving atGibraltar 7 February 1944
7 February 1944 under repair at Gibraltar – completed 21 February 1944
21 February 1944 sailed Gibraltar and joined Convoy OS69KM / KMS43G as escort oiler returning to Gibraltar on the 6 March 1944. HMS SALVONIA (to become RFA SALVONIA) was also in this convoy
22 March 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to Gibraltar on 6 April 1944
21 April 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to Gibraltar on 6 May 1944
20 May 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to Gibraltar on 6 June 1944
9 June 1944 at Gibraltar Dockyard under going repairs which were completed on 19 June 1944
20 June 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to Gibraltar on 4 July 1944
10 July 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to the Clyde on 21 July 1944
11 August 1944 sailed the Clyde for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic and joined escorted convoy ON248S arriving at New York on 28 August 1944
31 August 1944 sailed New York City in escorted convoy HX306 as escort oiler to Londonderry arriving on 17 September 1944. She also carried spare Depth Charges for the escorts
30 September 1944 sailed Londonderry for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic in escorted convoy ONS33 arriving at Halifax and then onwards to Cape Cod Canal on 15 October 1944
19 October 1944 sailed New York independently to Hampton Roads arriving the next day
22 October 1944 sailed Hamnpton Roads independently to New York arriving the next day
25 October 1944 sailed New York independently to Boston arriving the next day
29 October 1944 sailed Boston in unescorted convoy BX131 to Halifax arriving 31 October 1944
2 November 1944 sailed Halifax for convoy escort oiler duties in escorted convoy SC160 returning to Londonderry on 16 November 1944. She also carried 70 spare Depth Charges for the escorts
29 November 1944 sailed Londonderry for convoy escort oiler duties in the North Atlantic to Halifax (see below)
22 December 1944 suffered heavy weather damage during the voyage from Londonderry to Halifax under repair at Halifax until 16 February 1945
3 January 1945 Bosun Charles Drew awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) in the New Years Honours List 1945 – details published in the London Gazette of this date
16 February 1945 sailed Halifax in Convoy SC167 as Escort Oiler arriving at Liverpool 2 March 1945
8 March 1945 sailed Methil in unescorted Convoy EN 479/2 to Loch Ewe arriving 10 March 1945
12 March 1945 sailed Liverpool in Convoy ONS 44 as Escort Oiler – arrived Halifax 31 March 1945
4 April 1945 Able Seaman James Armistice Scott discharged dead. He is buried in Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery – section J R C Grave 2773
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
6 April 1945 sailed Halifax in Convoy SC 172 as Escort oiler to Liverpool arriving 22 April 1945
25 April 1945 undergoing repairs at the Clyde which were completed on 1 May 1945
2 May 1945 sailed the Clyde in Convoy ONS 49 as Escort Oiler. Arrived Halifax 18 May 1945 and then in convoy XB164 to Cape Cod Canal arriving on the 19 May 1945
30 May 1945 sailed New York independently to Ostend arriving on the 14 June 1945 and then to Rotterdam arriving the next day
19 June 1945 sailed Rotterdam independently to Falmouth arriving on 21 June 1945
21 June 1945 further repairs undertaken on the ship completed on 23 June 1945
23 June 1945 sailed Falmouth independently to New York arriving on 6 July 1945
12 July 1945 sailed New York independently to Port Arthur, Texas arriving on 21 July 1945
23 July 1945 sailed Port Arthur, Texas independently to Tampa, FL arriving on 26 July 1945
29 July 1945 sailed Tampa, FL independently to Newhaven arriving on 10 August 1945
12 August 1945 sailed Newhaven independently to Tuxpan arriving 22 August 1945 then to New York arriving 30 August 1945
1 September 1945 sailed New York independently to Tampa, FL arriving 10 September 1945
14 September 1945 sailed Tampa, FL independently to Havana, Cuba arriving 16 September 1945
19 September 1945 sailed Havana, Cuba independently to New York arriving 1 October 1945
4 October 1945 sailed New York independently to Curacao arriving 11 October 1945
12 October 1945 sailed Curacao independently to Sheerness arriving 31 October 1945 then to London arriving 2 November 1945
16 October 1945 Captain James Domonic Donovan OBE awarded Commendation for Brave Conduct, Chief Officer Ernest Charles Scales appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for oiling operations in the North Atlantic – details were published in the London Gazette of this day
11 June 1946 arrived River Tyne from Rosyth
12 June 1946 at Smith Dock, River Tyne for repairs
15 June 1946 at the North Shields Shipping Office discharged the crew and signed on a new crew
20 June 1946 sailed the River Tyne for Curaçao
10 August 1946 sailed the River Tees for Curaçao
24 February 1947 at 17°18N 54°38W Donkeyman Robert Blyth Fleming discharged dead – natural causes
27 March 1947 passed the Dover Signal Station sailing west
1947 resold to her former owners, name unchanged
26 July 1947 arrived at Santiago from Liverpool
21 January 1948 at Nuevitas Bay, Cuba Engineroom Storekeeper James Henry Burger discharged dead with myocardial failure
20 February 1948 at Saltend, Hull discharging cargo
15 May 1948 Pumpman Bruno Beaumont discharged dead by asphyxiation by molasses gas accelerated by chronic bronical congestion
1949 – purchased by Cia Atlantica y Pacifica S.A, Panama and renamed FAIRWATER
2 December 1953 the Sunderland Daily Echo reported that –
18 January 1954 arrived Trieste for breaking up.