Reproduced with permission of the MOD

Previous name:
Subsequent name:           Sir G  

Official Number:               334551                                                            

Class:                              SIR LANCELOT CLASS Landing Ship Logistics

Pennant No:                     L3027

Laid down:                        8 January 1966
Builder:                             Stephen, Linthouse
Launched:                         26 January 1967
Into Service:                     January 1970
Out of service:                  1 May 2003
Fate:                                 Scrapped in India 12 December 2005

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:   In December 1961 the following announcement was made: War Office Military Supply Ship: “A 6000t ocean-going twin screw military supply vessel has been ordered by the MOT from the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd at Govan, who are to develop the final specifications of the ship, which is expected to cost about £1 million. Building will start around February 1962 and the ship is expected to be in service late in 1963 or early in 1964. The design calls for a fast troop and vehicle carrier capable of discharging onto beaches. She will have bow and stern loading facilities for tanks and military vehicles, ramp loading hatches, cargo handling cranes and provision for carrying and launching pontoons. A helicopter will be carried aft, and on completion she will have a Merchant Navy crew and will be managed by the British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd.  In March 1963 it was announced that tenders were to be invited for a further two vessels at a cost of £2 million each and all three would then replace thirteen former Tank Landing Ships and would be part of an eventual Class of five or six ships, all of which would be named after Knights of the Round Table. The final three vessels were ordered in April 1965, and in December 1968 it was announced that as from January 1970, the management of these six vessels, as well as that of one ex-LST, would be transferred to the RFA

8 January 1966 laid down as LSL 04

26 January 1967 launched by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse as Yard Nr: 691 named SIR GERAINT for the Ministry of Transport

12 July 1967 completed and placed under management of British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd., London

1 June 1969 sailed Malta with the 3rd Parachute Regiment onboard to take part in Operation Express in the Cyprus area

16 December 1969 was berthed at Marchwood Military Port and loaded equipment for 52 Port Squadron RCT and awaited orders to sail to Tobruk with eight members of the Squadron. The orders were then cancelled and the troops disembarked and the equipment was discharged. The ship then sailed empty save for about 100 MWT packing cases

16 January 1970 berthed at Tobruk from the UK to load military cargo, ammunition and 43 vehicles during the withdrawl of British Forces from Libya

19 January 1970 sailed from Tobruk for the UK to discharge

5 February 1970 berthed at Tobruk from the UK to load military cargo, ammunition, 40 vehicles and 2 passengers during the withdrawl of British Forces from Libya

7 February 1970 sailed Tobruk for the UK to discharge

5 March 1970 management transferred to the RFA

24 March 1970 berthed at Tobruk from the UK to load military cargo, 48 vehicles and 327 passengers during the withdrawl of British Forces from Libya

28 March 1970 sailed with RFA EMPIRE GULL from Tobruk for the final withdrawl of British Forces from Libya

19 October 1970 berthed at Malta

25 January 1971 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her

3 May 1971 at Campbletown with HMS FEARLESS and HMS CAVALIER engaged in Exercise Moon Lady and involved the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rangers

6 May 1971 the embarked troops landed at the islands of Falster and Zeeland, Denmark for Army Exercises

26 January 1972 to 7 February 1972 along with HMS’s FEARLESS and RFA’s SIR BEDIVERE and SIR TRISTRAM she was part of the British Amphibious Task Force patrolling off British Honduras to provide an anti-invasion force

April 1972 freighted large quantities of service equipment and belongings from Malta following Mr Mintoff’s ultimatum and the evacuation of British forces from the island

6 December 1972 at Liverpool

25 May 1973 sailed from Malta

17 August 1973 at Pinto Wharf, Malta the steveadores being used to assist in the unloading of cargo claimed they had delayed the work through industrial action

22 October 1973 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

26 October 1973 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

28 November 1973 at Chatham

28 June 1974 at Marchwood Military Port

23 May 1976 until 7 June 1976 at Pitcairn Island, Pacific Ocean

1977 was the first ship to berth at the new ships berth at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus which had been built by a team from the Royal Engineers during 1976

May 1977 was in Operation Pallium – was deployed to Pitcairn Island with a detachment of Royal Engineers with machinery and materials to improve landing facilities in Botany Bay and to improve some roads

24 June 1977 to 29 June 1977 took part in the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead with eight other RFA’s and units of the Royal Navy and foreign navies. Carried Official guests from Southampton Ocean Terminal along the lines of ship being reviewed by HM the Queen and returned them to Southampton Ocean Terminal

4 September 1977 at Marchwood Military Port

6 October 1977 at Marchwood Military Port

11 January 1979 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

16 January 1979 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

7 March 1979 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

15 March 1979 sailed from Chatham Dockyard ino the River Medway

21 June 1979 in collision with the German tanker Tarpenbek in the English Channel 5.5 miles south west of Selsey Bill in thick fog. The Tarpenbek sank

German tanker mv Tarpenbek

22 June 1979 the Aberdeen Press and Journal newspaper reported …

30 May 1980 arrived at Glasgow from Belfast with 570 men of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots after a four month tour of duty in the province

7 August 1980 at a Board of Trade enquiry at Southampton into the above collision the Master of the Sir Geraint was deemed to be at fault

19 June 1981 secured to the Netley Buoys, Southampton Water

1 April 1982 at Devonport berthed alongside No: 1 jetty

2 April 1982 destoring ship prior to entering dry-dock

3 April 1982 restoring ship

4 April 1982 at Devonport loading 616 tons of bunkers, 76 tons of fresh water, ammunition and vehicles

5 April 1982 at Devonport loaded a further 141 tons of bunkers

6 April 1982 sailed Devonport for service during  Operation Corporate – the Falklands Conflict – with 450 Royal Marines and 3 Gazelle helicopters embarked

7 April 1982 the Amphibious Landing Group assembled at sea and other ships were  RFA’s SIR LANCELOT, SIR PERCIVALE, SIR GALAHAD (1), SIR TRISTRAM and  PEARLEAF (2)

11 April 1982 Amphibious Landing Group joined by RFA STROMNESS

19 April 1982 arrived and anchored off Ascension Island

24 April 1982 off Ascension Island berthed alongside RMAS TYPHOON supplying her with fresh water 

29 April 1982 sailed Ascension Island in company with RFA’s SIR GALAHAD (1), SIR LANCELOT, SIR PERCIVALE ,SIR TRISTRAM and PLUMLEAF (2) and HM ships FEARLESS, INTREPID and ANTELOPE with troops and stores for the Falkland Islands

8 May 1982 entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

11 May 1982 RASed with RFA PLUMLEAF (2) at 41°52S 32°31W receiving 312 tons of bunker fuel

21 May 1982 anchored in San Carlos Water with the Amphibious Landing Group

26 May 1982 sailed San Carlos Water

5 June 1982 in San Carlos Water berthed alongside RFA BLUE ROVER and received 405 tons of bunker fuel

8 June 1982 assisted in the salvage of her sister RFA SIR TRISTRAM which had grounded damaged in Fitzroy Creek after an Argentinian air attack

10 June 1982 anchored in Teal Inlet

12 June 1982 in San Carlos Water berthed alongside the STUFT mv Elk and also later RFA BLUE ROVER

13 June 1982 in Teal Inlet discharging cargo

14 June 1982 in San Carlos Water alongside RFA OLNA (3)

15 June 1982 in San Carlos Water berthed alongside the STUFT mv Elk

17 June 1982 anchored at Port Pleasant Water

19 June 1982 until 25 June 1982 at Port Pleasant Water with RFA SIR TRISTRAM berthed alongside

26 June 1982 at Port William berthed along STUFT mv Fort Toronto

28 June 1982 at Port Stanley berthed alongside STUFT mv Baltic Ferry

29 June 1982 at Port Stanley berthed alongside RFA SIR LANCELOT

30 June 1982 sailed from the Falkland Islands 

10 July 1982 arrived at Ascension Island berthed alongside STUFT mv ALVEGA loaded 190 tons of bunker fuel

11 July 1982 sailed Ascension Island for Marchwood Military Port

23 July 1982 berthed at Marchwood Military Port at the end of her Operation Corporate service

24 July 1982 discharged cargo and loaded 115 tons of fresh water

28 July 1982 sailed Marchwood Military Port to Devonport arriving the next day berthing in No: 4 basin

3 August 1982 at Devonport discharged 300 tons of bunker fuel

4 August 1982 at Devonport discharged remaining 70 tons of bunker fuel 

9 August 1982 at Devonport cold move to No 9 dry dock – ship in dockyard hands in refit

22 September 1982 at Devonport No: 9 dry dock flooded up – ship still in dockyard hands in refit 

10 June 1983 sailed from the Falkland Islands with, as part of its cargo, one Beech T34C Mentor aircraft which had been disabled by D Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment when they visited Pebble Island during Operation Corporate

4 July 1983 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

14 August 1986 on the River Tyne

25 September 1984 was awarded her Falkland Islands 1982 Battle Honour at Marchwood by Mr A Kemp DST (SF)

27 December 1984 at Marchwood Military Port

3 January 1985 berthed stern to at Millbay Docks, Plymouth. Completed loading and sailed

7 January 1985 berthed at Andelsnes, Norway, discharged stores and vehicles – sailed Andelsnes

9 January 1985 berthed at Oslo, Norway, discharged stores and sailed

17 January 1985 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

20 January 1985 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

21 January 1985 berthed on Zeebrugge Mole to discharge cargo

22 January 1985 completed cargo discharge and sailed from Zeebrugge

25 January 1985 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

27 January 1985 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

30 January 1985 berthed at Granvin, Norway discharged cargo and sailed 

1 February 1985 berthed at Marchwood Military Port and loaded cargo

8 February 1985 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

17 February 1985 berthed at the Container Terminal, Halifax

18 February 1985 & 19 February 1985 discharged cargo at Halifax

20 February 1985 sailed Halifax

9 August 1985 entered Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

12 August 1985 sailed from Port Stanley, Falkland Island

17 August 1985 at San Calos alongside Scottish Eagle and bunkered

27 August 1985 anchored at King Edward Point, South Georgia

3 September 1985 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

10 September 1985 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

12 October 1985 sailed from Port Stanley, Falkland Islands with the Governor – Sir Rex Hunt and Lady Hunt as passengers

10 March 1986 at Marchwood Military Port

21 June 1986 at Marchwood Military Port

7 July 1987 Captain Brian J Waters RFA appointed as Master

Captain Brian J Waters RFA

31 August 1988 together with all the other LSL’s with the exception of RFA SIR LANCELOT was involved in Exercise Teamwork 88

12 September 1988 during Exercise Teamwork 88 with a full load of troops embarked, she ran aground about 22:45 local time near Kvalholmen at the entrance to the Hemnefjorden in Norway. German and Dutch minesweepers tried to pull her off, but only succeeded in turning her through 180 degrees. The tide fell and left her stuck fast. A decision was made to wait for high tide, but new attempts the following morning again proved unsuccessful

13 September 1988 further participation in the Exercise was cancelled and RMAS SALMASTER was sent to Norway from the UK to assist her. Divers found the LSL to have an 18 ft. split in her hull that required patching by SALMASTER’s crew, before she could be refloated by two Nato minesweepers and a tug which finally pulled her clear about 1400 local time and she anchored nearby before being taken for emergency docking at Alesund a few days later. Various stores, guns and ammunition were loaded into SALMASTER for return to the UK. She entered the floating dry dock at Fiskerstrand near Alesund for temporary repairs before proceeding to the Tyne for refit and permanent repairs

RMAS SALMASTER – A186

11 December 1990 at Marchwood and Captain Pat Thompson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

Captain Pat Thompson RFA

15 June 1991 at Antwerp

4 January 1992 together with RFA’s SIR GALAHAD (2) and SIR TRISTRAM sailed Devonport for Exercises off Norway

27 April 1992 arrived at Wallsend, River Tyne

10 July 1992 at North Shields and Captain Pat Thompson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

26 January 1993 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

19 April 1993 arrived at Devonport sailing the same day with RFA SIR TRISTRAM

1 May 1993 Captain David Gerrard RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

Captain David Gerrard RFA

4 May 1993 arrived at Milbay Docks, Plymouth sailing the same day in company with RFA’s SIR BEDIVERE and SIR TRISTRAM

2 July 1993 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

20 September 1993 berthed at Portsmouth Dockyard

9 October 1993 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

1 December 1993 berthed at Split

6 December 1993 Captain (E) Edward M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 December 1993 alongside at Split

April/May 1994 participated in Exercise Dynamic impart 94 in the the Mediterrean with RFA’s SIR GALAHAD (2) and SIR TRISTRAM

3 June 1994 at Portland and Captain Pat Thompson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

13 June 1994 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

15 June 1994 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

23 June 1994 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

10 July 1994 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

29 July 1994 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

30 September 1994 alongside at Marchwood Military Port

7 October 1994 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

3 November 1994 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

8 November 1994 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

8 December 1994 whilst on passage from Antwerp to Marchwood Military Port, she had to divert to Dover to carry out emergency repairs to her bow doors

3 January 1995 berthed and sailed from Devonport

January 1995 Captain Richard L Williams RFA was in command

10 January 1995 berthed at Devonport

25 January 1995 berthed and sailed Devonport

3 March 1995 at Kristiansund, Norway

13 March 1995 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

20 March 1995 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

28 March 1995 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

9 April 1995 at Marchwood Military Port

21 April 1995 berthed and sailed from Devonport

16 May 1995 anchored in Plymouth Sound

17 May 1995 sailed from Plymouth Sound

20 May 1995 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

May 1995 engaged in Exercise Destined Glory 95

June 1995 Captain N A Jones RFA was in command and engaged in JMC952

15 June 1995 arrived at Devonport

11 July 1995 sailed from Devonport

14 July 1995 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

14 September 1995 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

11 October 1995 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

19 October 1995 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

29 October 1995 arrived at Plymouth Sound for work up

15 December 1995 arrived at Devonport

29 January 1996 arrived at Devonport

12 February 1996 sailed from Devonport

19 March 1996 arrived at Devonport

4 April 1996 sailed Devonport

15 April 1996 arrived at Millbay Docks, Plymouth

16 April 1996 sailed from Milbay Docks, Plymouth

31 July 1996 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

3 August 1996 arrived at Devonport

19 September 1996 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

26 September 1996 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

16 October 1996 at Greenock and Captain Alan T Roach RFA appointed in command

Captain Alan T Roach RFA

18 November 1996 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

19 November 1996 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

16 January 1997 sailed U.K. as part of Task Group 327.01 – the Ocean Wave 97 Deployment to the Far East led by the carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS – along with RFA’s DILIGENCE, FORT AUSTIN, FORT GEORGE, OLNA (3), SIR GALAHAD (2) and SIR PERCIVALE

1 February 1997 transitted the Suez Canal southbound

18 February 1997 at Cochin

20 March 1997 at Singapore

24 April 1997 at Singapore

17 June 1997 at Manila

7 July 1997 at Singapore

August 1997 Captain Jeremy R J Carew OBE RFA was in command

15 August 1997 at Cape Town

May 1998 on passage to Cyprus

1998 during a voyage from the UK to Texas she encountered very heavy weather which allowed water to enter her bow door space through a hole in the top. As a result all of  the Class were fitted with CCTV

25 July 1999 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

27 August 1999 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

11 December 1999 arrived Marchwood Military Port to unload after Exercise Bright Star off the coast of Egypt

May 2000 to July 2002 during this period she was part of Operation Palliser- support to British forces in Sierra Leone – along with RFA’s SIR TRISTRAM and SIR PERCIVALE at different times. She arrived at Freetown in 04/01

18 May 2000 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta. Temporary Acting Captain (E) Mike New RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

30 June 2000 at Marchwood Military Port

12 July 2000 at Portsmouth Dockyard

30 July 2000 at Marchwood Military Port

3 September 2000 sailed Devonport as support ship to HMS’s MIDDLETON, PEMBROKE & SANDOWN

5 October 2000 at Marchwood Military Port

28 April 2001 at Marchwood Military Port

14 May 2001 arrived Devonport for FOST training

5 May 2001 at Marchwood Military Port

23 May 2001 to 24 May 2001 berthed at Santa Cruz, Spain

19 July 2001 Temporary Acting Captain (E) Mike New RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 October 2001 Captain Roger Robinson-Brown RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

Captain Roger Robinson-Brown RFA

25 December 2001 at Freetown, Sierra Leone

25 January 2002 Captain (E) Robert Settle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 July 2002 finally sailed from Freetown at the end of Operation Silkman

6 August 2002 arrived Marchwood for the very last time

16 September 2002 arrived Portsmouth for lay up at extended readiness

1 May 2003 was officially withdrawn from service and was handed over to DRSO for disposal

January 2005 purchased by Babcock Support Services

9 April 2005 laid up at Southampton along with RFA SIR PERCIVALE awaiting disposal

9 July 2005 at Marchwood Military Port purchased by Malvern Shipping Corporation (Regency Projects Ltd, Managers) Panama and renamed SIR G. Was repaired by new owners to bring her back into Class

11 October 2005 sailed Marchwood to Middlesborough

16 October 2005 at Middlesbrough to load scrap prior to sailing to Pakistani breakers

22 December 2005 arrived at Gadani Beach, Balochistan, Pakistan for breaking up by Bismillah Maritime Breakers

Notes:

Was named after one of the 35 Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian legend. The son of Erbin, he became King of Dumnonia (Devon) and was finally killed by the Saxons