Official Number:                    180026                                                        

Class:                                    SPA CLASS Water Carrier

Pennant No:                          X127 / A224

Laid down:                            16 September 1943
Builder:                                  Phillip, Dartmouth
Launched:                             24 August 1944
Into Service:                         12 December 1944

Base Port:                             Malta (1952)
Out of service:                      1977
Fate:                                     13 September 1977 – arrived Briton Ferry for breaking 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.

24 August 1944 launched by Philip & Son Ltd, Dartmouth as Yard Nr: 1073 named SPABROOK

 27 November 1944 Captain Arthur E Craze RFA appointed as Master

28 November 1944 Mr Henry J Sheepwash RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

12 December 1944 delivered at a cost of £78,712. Spent most of her service based on Malta

19 July 1945 docked at Rosyth prior to proceeding abroad

8 August 1946 arrived at Malta with water from Augusta, Sicily to discharge. Sailed the same day back to Augusta

21 August 1946 arrived at Malta with water from Augusta, Sicily to discharge

20 June 1947 the Hampshire Telegraph reported –

26 June 1947 Captain Charles N  Rennels RFA  appointed as Master

3 July 1947 Mr George H Came RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 May 1948 used to supply fresh water supplies to Malta from Augusta, Sicily and Tripoli – arrangements discussed in Malta Legislative Assembly, Valetta, Malta on this day

9 July 1949 Mr Lawrence H Earley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

19 December 1952 arrived at Malta from Port Said

30 December 1953 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway and to sea

3 February 1954 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

23 September 1954 passed Dover sailing west bound

4 January 1956 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

5 January 1956 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

8 March 1956  entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

9 March 1956 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

19 March 1956 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway for distilled water

20 March 1956 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

5 April 1956 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway

6 April 1956 sailed from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway

13 August 1956 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway berthing in No: 5 dock

18 January 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from 4A Lynher Trot to No: 1 jetty

19 January 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 1 jetty to No: 1 dock

22 February 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 1 dock to No: 4 jetty

23 February 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 4 jetty to No: 2 jetty outboard of LC22

1 March 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 2 jetty to 5B Lynher Trot outboard of RFA FRESHLAKE

7 September 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from 5B Lynher Trot to No: 4 jetty outboard of RFA ADVICE

9 September 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 4 jetty to No: 2 jetty outboard of HMS BARGLOW

15 September 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 2 jetty to No: 4 jetty and then No: 1 basin

26 September 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 1 basin to No: 1 jetty

30 September 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 1 jetty to No: 1 basin

19 October 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 1 basin to No: 4 jetty

14 December 1960 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 1 basin to 5B Lynher Trot on LC21

19 April 1961 at Devonport Dockyard moved from 5B Lynher Trot to No 2 jetty on LC22

21 April 1961 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No 2 jetty on LC22 to Shallow Dock

20 June 1961 at Devonport Dockyard moved from Shallow Dock to No: 1 basin

9 October 1961 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 1 basin to No: 2 jetty

17 October 1961 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 2 jetty to No: 1 jetty

23 October 1961 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 2 jetty to Looking Glass trot 2

17 November 1961 at Devonport Dockyard moved from Looking Glass trot 2 to No: 3 jetty

20 November 1961 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 3 jetty to Plymouth Sound

July 1977 sold to T.W. Ward Ltd for scrap

13 September 1977 arrived Briton Ferry for demolition