Official Number: 168280
Class: SPA CLASS Water Carrier
Pennant No: X 92 / A192
Laid down: 26 September 1940
Builder: Phillip & Sons, Dartmouth
Launched: 8 November 1941
Into Service: 24 April 1942
Out of service:
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: There were 6 ships in this Class, all coal-fired and all built to an Admiralty design. Originally intended for service with the RFA, several of them were transferred to Dockyard Service later in their careers and came under what was then the Port Authority service which in turn became the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service. Some of them were also employed by the Army at times, in bases where fresh water supplies were difficult to obtain. RFA SPABECK was for some years employed as a carrier of hydrogen peroxide fuel for experimental submarine engines, being specially converted for this task by Vickers Ltd and was based at Barrow, manned by RFA crews when not laid up between experiments.
October 1939 ordered
8 November 1941 launched by Philip & Son Ltd., Dartmouth as Yard Nr: 937 named SPA
28 November 1941 Mr John Ismay RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 April 1942 Captain Arthur E Craze RFA appointed as Master
24 April 1942 delivered at a cost of £84,450 including extras.
24 May 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in escorted convoy WN287 arriving at Methil on 26 May 1942 when the ship detached for Scapa Flow
4 July 1942 in collision with the cruiser HMS PHOEBE
HMS PHOEBE
18 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water.
21 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water.
22 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water.
24 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water.
25 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water.
28 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water.
30 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
6 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
7 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
9 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
10 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
11 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
13 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
15 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
19 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water – RFA Black Ranger was alongside also refuelling her
22 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water. RFA Mixol was also alongside refuelling her
23 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
25 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
30 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water. RFA Mixol was also alongside refuelling her
31 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water.
3 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
5 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
6 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
8 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
9 September 1942 in collision with the battleship HMS HOWE
10 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
11 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
13 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
14 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
15 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
18 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water. RFA Distol was alongside also refuelling her
19 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
20 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
22 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
26 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
27 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK supplying her with fresh water
28 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK supplying her with fresh water
30 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK supplying her with fresh water
1 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
2 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
5 October 1942 in collision with the battleship HMS KING GEORGE Vat Scapa Flow
23 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
24 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
26 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
27 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
28 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water. RFA PETRONEL was alongside the battleship at the same time also supplying her with fresh water
1 November1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
3 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
5 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
9 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water along with RFA PETRONEL
10 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water along with MFA Fred Everard (a hired RFA)
21 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
22 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
23 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
25 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
28 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
29 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
30 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water
2 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
3 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
4 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
5 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
8 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water
9 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
10 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water
14 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
14 December 1942 Mr John Ismay RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer John Ismay RFA
15 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V supplying her with fresh water
19 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water
20 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water
24 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water
27 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water
28 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE supplying her with fresh water
20 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
24 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND supplying her with 15 tons of fresh water
HMS NEWFOUNDLAND
25 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND supplying her with 75 tons of fresh water
27 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND supplying her with 65 tons of fresh water
30 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND supplying her with 50 tons of fresh water
22 February 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND supplying her with 40 tons of fresh water
7 March 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND supplying her with 30 tons of fresh water
3 April 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
HMS ANSON
25 June 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
26 June 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
9 July 1943 Captain Edward E Laurence RFA appointed as Master
4 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS CEYLON supplying her with fresh water
HMS CEYLON
8 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
10 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water. RFA BLUE RANGER was also alongside supplying 692 tons of FFO
11 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
12 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
13 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
16 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
18 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
20 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
21 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
22 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
23 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
30 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON supplying her with fresh water
3 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water
8 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water
12 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water
14 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water
16 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water
19 December 1943 at Scapa Flow in collision with HM Drifter MARIGOLD causing damage to both vessels. The Master – Captain Edward E Laurence RFA – was held entirely to blame for failing to keep a proper lookout and observing the rules of the road
20 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water
12 January 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with 65 tons of fresh water
17 January 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water
18 January 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water
21 March 1944 Greaser Daniel O’Leary, aged 53, discharged dead – through natural causes. Buried at the Royal Naval Cemetry, Lyness, Scapa Flow. Grave – Plot O Row I Grave 11
Greaser Daniel O’Leary RFA
17 August 1944 Captain David Cook RFA appointed as Master
20 August 1944 Captain John Walker RFA, aged 38, discharged dead. Buried at the Royal Naval Cemetry, Lyness, Scapa Flow. Grave – Plot H (North Border) Grave 8.
10 October 1944 at Lyness with Captain David Cook RFA as Master
13 October 1944 at Greenoch alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with 36 tons of fresh water
23 October 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with 24 tons of fresh water
24 October 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with 55 tons of fresh water
26 October 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with 45 tons of fresh water
25 May 1945 deployed on Fleet Attendance duties in the Firth of Forth
6 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth
16 July 1945 Captain Evan O Morris RFA appointed as Master. Previously had been the Master of RFA Spabeck
19 October 1945 at Rosyth
1 May 1946 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth sailing the same day having loaded a cargo of distilled water for Rosyth
27 July 1946 until 31 August 1946 at Harwich
18 November 1946 at Chatham
10 October 1949 at Greenock with Mr J A Johnstone RFA as Chief Engineer Officer
1 August 1970 on the Disposal List at Greenock and offered for sale in the Times of this day ‘as lying’
21 September 1970 purchased by H.G. Pounds Shipowners and Shipbreakers Ltd, Portsmouth for scrap, but resold to Irish breakers
9 October 1970 arrived Passage West, Cork, Eire for breaking up by Haulbowline Industries Ltd
Notes:
Her bell can be seen in the Chapel of St Nicholas, Langstone, Havant.