RFA Spabeck

 

Spabeck

 

 

Previous name:                       Rivulet
Subsequent name: 

Official Number:                      169535                                                                        

Class:                                    SPA CLASS Water Carrier

Pennant No:                            X19 / A227

Laid down:                              14 May 1943
Builder:                                   Phillip, Dartmouth   
Launched:                               21 June 1943
Into Service:                            3 September 1943
Out of service:                         March 1966 – laid up at Devonport
Fate:                                         Broken up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

 

Background Data:  There were six 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.

 

21 June 1943 launched by Philip & Son Ltd, Dartmouth as Yard Nr: 1054 named RIVULET

 22 July 1943 Mr Henry J Sheepwash RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 August 1943 Captain Arthur E Craze RFA appointed as Master

 

A_E_Craze

Captain Arthur E Craze RFA
courtesy of Graham Henshaw

 

3 September 1943 delivered at a cost of £75,188 and renamed SPABECK

7 October 1943 sailed Loch Ewe in unescorted convoy WN490 to Methil arriving the next day

16 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water

22 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water

27 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water

15 January 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA supplying her with fresh water

21 July 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE supplying water

22 July 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE supplying water

23 July 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE supplying water

24 July 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE supplying water

29 July 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS INDEFATIGABLE supplying water

4 August 1944 sailed Barry in escorted convoy EBC 63 along with RFA ROBERT DUNDAS to Seine Bay 

8 August 1944 sailed Barry in escorted convoy EBC 66 arriving Seine Bay 10 August 1944 (Detached for Portsmouth)

28 November 1944 Mr George H Came RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

March 1945 at J Russell, London being prepared for foreign service

14 July 1945 Captain Frank C Holt RFA appointed as Acting Master

 

 Captain Frank Holt

Captain Frank C Holt RFA

29 September 1945 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north

19 November 1946 Chief Officer Thomas G Williams RFA appointed as Acting Master

21 July 1947 Captain Henry W Colman RFA appointed as Master and Mr K U Rapley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

7 January 1948 Captain D A C Butler RFA appointed as Master

16 December 1948 Captain G O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master

19 June 1949 Mr David L S Hood DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1955 – 1958 became based at Messrs Vickers Armstrong Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness where she was converted for the carriage of high test hydrogen peroxide fuel for the experimental  submarines HMS EXPLORER and HMS EXCALIBUR. This technology was finally made redundant by the advent of the nuclear-powered submarine. The ship carried 111 tons of HTP and 17 tons of Avcat. After conversion she was reclassed by Lloyds Reg as +100A1 peroxide carrier

24 February 1956 Captain de V Moulds RFA appointed as Master

30 March 1956 Mr Kenneth I J George RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

22 May 1957 Captain W J H Roberts RFA appointed as Master

9 September 1957 Mr J H Mills RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 March 1958 at Glasgow

19 March 1958 at Campbelltown

27 June 1958 Captain E D J Evans RFA appointed as Master

10 December 1958 Mr C E Prentis RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 January 1960 Captain George Robson RFA appointed as Master

23 August 1960 Captain Sydney E Clench RFA appointed as Master

21 November 1960 berthed at Campbeltown New Quay with HMS/m EXPLORER berthed outboard of her

2 December 1960 berthed at Faslane

15 December 1960 berthed at AFD Jetty, Faslane with HMS/m EXPLORER berthed outboard of her

20 December 1960 berthed at AFD Jetty, Faslane with HMS/m EXPLORER berthed outboard of her

4 April 1961 Captain O J Coulthard RFA appointed as Master

27 June 1961 sailed from Faslane

29 July 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Millbay Docks

22 August 1961 at Devonport moved from Millbay Docks to Plymouth Sound

25 August 1961 berthed at Faslane with HMS/m EXPLORER berthed outboard of her

29 October 1961 Mr E S Brazier RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

30 December 1961 berthed at Faslane with HMS/m EXPLORER berthed outboard of her

6 January 1962 sailed from Faslane to sea

9 January 1962 berthed at Campbeltown New Quay with HMS/m EXPLORER berthed outboard of her

11 January 1962 berthed at Campbeltown New Quay with HMS/m EXPLORER berthed outboard of her

13 January 1962 berthed at Campbeltown New Quay with HMS/m EXPLORER berthed outboard of her

29 June 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound Millbay Docks

8 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Millbay Docks to Plymouth Sound

7 March 1963 Mr E T Rees RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 November 1963 Captain William H G Hine RFA appointed as Master

29 March 1966 offered for sale in the Times of this date ‘as lying’ at Devonport Dockyard

 

Spabeck for sale

 

12 May 1966 sailed Plymouth under tow for Belgian ship breakers having been sold for £10,875

13 May 1966 certificate cancelled and British Registry closed

14 May 1966 arrived Antwerp enroute to Willebroek for breaking up