Subsequent name: Basing Bank
Official Number: 143217
Class: WAR CLASS Freighting Tanker – 5 cargo tanks
Pennant No: Y7.326 / X84
Signal Letters: GBCM (1923)
Laid down:
Builder: Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland
Launched: 19 March 1919
Into Service: 1919
Out of service: 16 October 1947
Fate: Sold commercially
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: To combat the alarming losses of British merchant ships during WW1, the New Ministries and Secretaries Act was passed in December 1916, which provided for the appointment of a Shipping Controller with very wide powers “to take such steps as he thinks best for providing and maintaining an efficient supply of shipping”. On 20 December 1916, the first meeting of the Merchant Shipbuilding Advisory Committee took place where it was decided that an extensive shipbuilding programme should be started, the ships to be of a simple design and as far as possible to be of a standard type as regards hulls and engines. These new vessels for the Government were given a standard nomenclature, the prefix to their names being WAR. 821 vessels were ordered from U.K. yards and abroad and 416 were completed to Government order, 279 were sold and transferred to private owners before completion and the remainder were cancelled. Of the 416 completed to Government order, fifteen were transferred to Admiralty service as oilers. They were all modified versions of the A and B Class standard dry cargo ships, known as the Z Class. All had two large dry cargo holds, six of them had five cargo tanks and the remaining nine had seven cargo tanks, specially designed for the carriage of heavy fuel oil. Most of them were initially under commercial management.
19 March 1919 launched by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Deptford Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 675 named WAR PATHAN for the Shipping Controller
May 1919 completed at a cost of £161,009 and placed under initial management of Andrew Weir & Co Ltd, London. Her name is derived from the Eastern Iranian ethno-linguistic group with populations mainly in Afghanistan and western Pakistan
19 May 1919 arrived at the River Tyne from Sunderland
22 May 1919 sailed River Tyne for the White Sea and to Archangel in connection with the Archangel River Expeditionary Force
2 June 1919 at Murmansk HMS PEGASUS berthed alongside to be refuelled – 185 tons of FFO supplied
HMS PEGASUS
7 July 1919 at Murmansk HMS PEGASUS berthed alongside to be refuelled
25 July 1919 at Archangel HMS MANTIS berthed alongside to refuel
August 1919 returned to Archangel
11 August 1919 at Archangel HMS MANTIS berthed alongside to refuel – 34 tons of FFO issued. RFA’s ARO and BACCHUS (1) were also in port
16 August 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M24 berthed alongside to be refuelled
27 August 1919 at Archangel HMS MANTIS berthed alongside to refuel – 9 tons of FFO issued
29 August 1919 at Archangel HMS PEGASUS berthed alongside to be refuelled
31 August 1919 at Archangel alongside HMS EREBUS refuelling her with 360 tons FFO. HM Monitor M31 also alongside to be refuelled
HMS EREBUS during World War 2
2 September 1919 at anchor midstream off Archangel with HM Monitor M24 alongside her refueling – 600 gallons of FFO
6 September 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M23 berthed alongside to be refuelled
8 September 1919 at Archangel HMS MANTIS berthed alongside to refuel – 6½ tons of FFO issued
10 September 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M31 berthed alongside to be refuelled
13 September 1919 at Archangel HMS MANTIS berthed alongside to refuel – 10 tons of FFO issued
16 September 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M33 berthed alongside to be refuelled – 5 tons of FFO issued
19 September 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M23 berthed alongside to be refueled
24 September 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M33 berthed alongside to be refuelled – 4 tons of FFO issued
25 September 1919 at Archangel HMS MANTIS berthed alongside to refuel – 20 tons of FFO issued
26 September 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M31 berthed alongside to be refuelled
10 October 1919 sailed Murmansk for Rosyth
13 October 1919 Captain William H Fellows as Master
16 November 1919 at Reval (now Tallin – capital of Estonia) alongside HMS VINDICTIVE refuelling her with 273 tons of FFO
23 November 1919 at Bioko Sound, Baltic Sea HMS DAUNTLESS secured alongside to be refuelled – 140 tons FFO
HMS DAUNTLESS
28 November 1919 at Reval (now Tallin – capital of Estonia) alongside HMS DRAGON refuelling her
HMS DRAGON
10 December 1919 at Reval (now Tallin – capital of Estonia) alongside HMS VINDICTIVE refuelling her with 320 tons of FFO
27 September 1920 Captain F A Smith as Master
Alongside RN (?) warship
1 October 1920 arrived at Killingholme sailed the same day
23 October 1920 arrived Tampico from the River Tyne
25 October 1920 sailed Tampico for the UK
15 November 1920 arrived at Spithead from Tampico
16 November 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Dockyard
19 November 1920 sailed from Portsmouth Dockyard for Tampico
1921 RFA managed but commercially manned by Andrew Weir & Co., London
14 January 1921 arrived St Michaels from Invergordon sailing the same day for Beaumont
20 January 1921 while on passage from Invergordon to Beaumont answered an emergency signal from the ss Parnahyba which had suffered engine defects and took the vessel in tow
ss Parnahyba
27 January 1921 arrived at Bermuda towing the Brazillian steamer Parnahyba so she could effect repairs
29 January 1921 refuelled her bunkers at Bermuda
7 February 1921 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Invergordon
11 February 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Devonport
4 March 1921 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
7 March 1921 sailed Plymouth for Port Arthur, Texas passing the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
28 March 1921 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Plymouth. On the same day RFA WAR SUDRA arrived from Sheerness
31 March 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Devonport
20 April 1921 arrived Plymouth from Port Arthur, Texas
24 April 1921 sailed Plymouth for Minatitlan
9 June 1921 arrived at Sheerness from Puerto Mexico
28 July 1921 sailed the River Tyne for Trinidad
4 September 1921 arrived at Sheerness from Trinidad
7 September 1921 sailed Sheerness for Puerto Mexico
21 October 1921 arrived at Killingholme from Puerto Mexico
7 November 1921 sailed Killingholm for Trinidad
30 November 1921 sailed Trinidad for a UK port
19 December 1921 arrived at Glasgow from Trinidad
22 January 1922 arrived Port Arthur, Texas from the Clyde
14 February 1922 arrived at Plymouth from Port Arthur, Texas
16 March 1922 arrived at Trinidad from Devonport
7 April 1922 arrived Devonport from Trinidad
19 April 1922 sailed Queenstown for Cardiff
5 June 1922 sailed Devonport
22 October 1922 arrived at Port Said from Gibraltar
23 October 1922 sailed Suez for Abadan
23 November 1922 arrived at Suez from Abadan
24 November 1922 sailed Port Said for Devonport
8 December 1922 sailed Devonport for Tampico
17 February 1923 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Devonport
19 February 1923 sailed Port Arthur for Devonport
26 March 1923 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
28 March 1923 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for Trinidad
12 April 1923 arrived at Trinidad from Portsmouth
9 May 1923 from the River Clyde arrived at Tampico
5 June 1923 sailed Tampico for the UK
5 September 1923 at Gibraltar
19 September 1923 from Gibraltar for Portsmouth passed Sagres
24 September 1923 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
11 October 1923 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
12 October 1923 arrived at Plymouth
21 November 1923 the Admiralty Fuel & Store Officer at Singapore published a notice in the local newspapers –
8 December 1923 sailed Devonport for Tampico
30 December 1923 arrived at Tampico
27 January 1924 arrived at Gibraltar from Tampico
22 February 1924 while on passage from Gibraltar to Port Arthur, Texas, USA in water ballast when, in the Port Arthur ship canal one mile below Keith Lakes Gully, she was involved in a collision with the ss Tamarac
10 April 1924 arrived at Devonport
9 May 1924 Captain John H Jones RFA appointed as Master and Mr R Watson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain John H Jones RFA
14 May 1924 sailed Devonport for Portland
1 July 1924 sailed from Gibraltar
21 July 1924 sailed Gibraltar while on passage from Brindisi to Port Arthur, Texas
9 August 1924 arrived at Port Arthur from Brindisi
1 September 1924 sailed Gibraltar while on passage from Port Arthur, Texas to Genoa
18 September 1924 arrived at Port Said
13 October 1924 passed Perim
18 October 1924 arrived at Suez from Abadan
13 November 1924 arrived Trinidad
16 November 1924 sailed Trinidad for Devonport
8 December 1924 arrived at Glasgow from Trindad
16 February 1925 at Marseilles ship damaged when blown against a quay in bad weather. The Shields Gazette reported this –
4 July 1925 Captain A D Davies RFA appointed as Master
25 August 1925 sailed Port Said for Malta
12 October 1925 arrived at Glasgow
10 January 1926 arrived at Aberdeen to discharge a cargo for Shell-Mex Ltd
January 1926 struck submerged wreckage en route to Trinidad and knocked the top of her propeller off
22 February 1926 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
23 February 1926 berthed at Devonport with a cargo of oil from Trinidad
26 February 1926 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
24 April 1926 at Fayal, Azores
3 June 1926 sailed Plymouth for Falmouth
9 July 1926 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
13 July 1926 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
15 December 1926 at approximately 38.9N 32.40W Bosun William Hughes ‘disappeared’ – discharged dead
5 January 1927 arrived at Plymouth from Killingholm
6 January 1927 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 February 1927 while berthed in No: 3 Dock, South Yard, Devonport a Dockyard employee – Frederick George Dure – fell from a stage and was injured. Conveyed to the Royal Naval Hospital
1 March 1927 sailed Devonport for Abadan
13 April 1927 berthed at the oil wharf, Kepple Harbour, Singapore for bunkers
22 October 1927 arrived at Plymouth from Pembroke Dock
30 October 1927 sailed Plymouth for Abadan
11 November 1927 arrived at Port Said on passage to Abadan
17 February 1928 sailed Glasgow for Port Arthur, Texas in ballast
20 April 1928 Captain William C Meikle RFA appointed as Master
29 June 1928 arrived at Beaumont from Devonport
7 July 1928 sailed from Port Arthur for Devonport
30 July 1928 arrived at Newport from Pembroke Dock in ballast
7 November 1928 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
8 November 1928 Captain Joseph C Gibson RFA appointed as Master
17 November 1928 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
14 December 1928 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
20 December 1928 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
6 January 1929 sailed for Trinidad from Portsmouth Harbour
April 1929 transferred to Admiralty management and manning as an RFA
2 April 1929 Mr Edward B Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Edward B Morton RFA
9 July 1929 alongside the oil wharf at Singapore
3 September 1929 arrived at Jaffa and refuelled HMS’s COURAGEOUS, SUSSEX and VETERAN
5 September 1929 arrived at Haifa and refuelled HMS’s BARHAM and WANDERER
6 September 1929 sailed from Haifa for Malta for repairs
10 September 1929 at Malta
25 September 1929 Mr R Watson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 October 1929 passed Perim sailing east bound for Abadan
15 November 1929 sailed from Malta for Abadan
26 November 1929 passed Perim
5 January 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
25 January 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Dockyard
16 March 1930 undergoing repairs at Portsmouth Dockyard
5 May 1930 at Abadan Fireman’s Cook Cheong Leng discharged dead apparently from syphilis
1 July 1930 alongside the oil wharf at Singapore
20 December 1930 arrived at Plymouth from Abadan
29 Dec 1930 Captain Wm Alfred Wooster RFA appointed as Master
Captain Wm Alfred Wooster RFA
19 February 1931 passed Perim sailing north bound
17 March 1931 berthed at Gibraltar
26 March 1931 sailed from Gibraltar
8 July 1931 alongside the oil wharf at Singapore
6 October 1931 arrived at Plymouth from Abadan
8 October 1931 sailed Plymouth for Sheerness
16 October 1931 Mr William D Hewitt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William D Hewitt RFA
7 February 1932 sailed Plymouth
8 August 1932 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour from Abadan
17 August 1932 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
29 August 1932 berthed at Malta
21 October 1932 berthed at Malta
2 November 1932 berthed at Port Said
21 December 1932 berthed at Malta
15 February 1933 sailed from Port Said for Devonport
4 May 1933 sailed from Gibraltar
21 September 1933 passed Perim sailing North
30 April 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour from Abadan
2 May 1934 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
5 June 1934 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing west
21 November 1934 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing east
27 November 1934 Captain Alexander H Hardy RFA appointed as Master
2 February 1935 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
4 February 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to Plymouth arriving the next day
13 February 1935 Mr James E Hawthorn RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 February 1935 went to the assistance of s.s. Ottinge off Ushant which had broken down and issued a May Day call
Press report from Western Morning News 23 February 1935
11 April 1935 at Royal Air Force Hospital, Aden Donkeyman Thomas Walter Riley discharged dead from pneumonia – entry in the Deaths at Sea Register records this seamans name as Walter Thomas Riley. He was buried in Maala Cemetery, Aden
1 June 1935 arrived at Invergordon to discharge
8 June 1935 arrived at Plymouth from Invergordon
1 July 1935 Mr Frederick E Langer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 July 1935 Mr Alexander B McIntyre RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 June 1936 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
22 June 1936 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
7 July 1936 sailed Falmouth passing Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard to Trinidad – a stowaway Norman Elston was discovered on board. On return to Devonport he was prosecuted before Torpoint Magistrates’ Court, pleaded Guilty and was fined and ordered to pay costs
9 August 1936 arrived at Plymouth from Trinidad
12 August 1936 Mr Frederick W Howell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 August 1936 the Nottingham Evening Post reported –
13 August 1936 sailed Plymouth
25 October 1936 arrived at Swansea from Trinidad
26 October 1936 Mr Matthew Blair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 October 1936 sailed Swansea
3 December 1936 arrived Swansea
8 December 1936 sailed Swansea
18 January 1937 sailed Swansea
1 March 1937 Mr John Cook RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 March 1937 berthed at Swansea at Kings Dock
23 April 1937 sailed Plymouth for Cardiff
4 May 1937 in Mountstuart Dry Dock at Cardiff
11 May 1937 sailed Cardiff
12 August 1937 sailed Malta
13 October 1937 berthed at Malta
27 October 1937 passed Gibraltar west bound
6 November 1937 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo
10 January 1938 at Glasgow
20 February 1938 broke down some 300 miles North West of the Azores with the main steering engine shaft having broken while enroute from Trinidad to Devonport. The ship had to heave to and effect emergency repairs. Later reported by radio that she had fitted hand steering wires and was underway at half speed
23 February 1938 the Western Morning News newspaper reported –
26 February 1938 arrived at Plymouth
28 February 1938 the Western Morning News newspaper further reported –
1 March 1938 sailed Plymouth for Trinidad
4 April 1938 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo
19 May 1938 berthed at Sheerness
24 May 1938 arrived at the River Tyne from Sheerness
18 June 1938 sailed Sheerness for Trinidad
22 July 1938 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing east
11 November 1938 arrived at Invergordon from Trinidad
12 November 1938 Captain William J Shipton RFA appointed as Master
Captain William J Shipton RFA
16 November 1938 sailed Invergordon
31 December 1938 sailed Sheerness for Abadan
1 January 1939 Captain Nathan Colbridge RFA appointed as Master
Captain Nathan Colbridge RFA
6 January 1939 sailed from Sheerness
11 April 1939 Fireman John Joseph Connor discharged dead from natural causes. He is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta. Fireman Connor had signed on on 5 January 1939
20 April 1939 arrived at Gibraltar
7 June 1939 sailed Plymouth and passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound for Greenock
29 June 1939 at Tail of the Bank
7 July 1939 together with RFA WAR SUDRA joined 15 other ships laid up in the Gareloch
25 July 1939 together with RFA WAR SUDRA joined 15 other ships was still laid up in the Gareloch
1 November 1939 Captain Samuel Thomas RFA appointed as Master
27 August 1940 Captain Frederick G Drake RFA appointed as Master
3 September 1940 Mr Alexander B McIntyre RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander (E) RNR (Ret)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 October 1940 Mr Joseph S Harrison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 November 1940 at a Buoy off Rock Ferry Pier Head, River Mersey HMS RHODODENDRON alongside to be refuelled – details in the Admiralty War Diary of this day Page 783
HMS RHODODENDRON
18 November 1940 arrived at Liverpool
27 December 1940 sailed from Liverpool
5 June 1941 in port at Liverpool
11 June 1941 Captain Thomas C Robinson RFA (Lieutenant Commander RN (Rtd) appointed as Master
14 June 1941 Degausing equipment fitted
27 June 1941 at Loch Ewe
5 October 1941 at Liverpool
13 October 1941 sailed from Liverpool
20 October 1941 at Loch Ewe during a gale ship fouled and damaged in the bows. Other RN ships sunk, grounded and/or damaged
9 December 1941 Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master
Captain William H Green RFA
6 June 1942 Chief Engineer Officer Joseph S Harrison RFA discharged dead
22 October 1942 at Loch Ewe. Admiralty directed that any spare FFO onboard was to supplied to Kaia Knudsen – vide Admiralty War Diary Page 1142 of this day
22 December 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in unescorted convoy WN375
24 December 1942 arrived at Methil
22 February 1943 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN198 to Loch Ewe arriving two days later
1 June 1943 Mr George C Dunning RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer George C Dunning RFA
12 January 1944 Captain Robert T Duthie DSC FRGS FRAS RFA appointed as Master
Captain Robert T Duthie DSC FRGS FRAS RFA
23 February 1944 grounded while loading at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde – no damaged sustained
1 March 1944 sailed Loch Ewe in unescorted convoy WN551 to Methil arriving two days later
16 March 1944 in collision with HMS JAMAICA
17 May 1944 Mr Harold R Bullimore RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RN (Ret)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 December 1944 Captain Stanley G Kent RFA appointed as Master
19 January 1945 Captain William W Peddle RFA appointed as Master
2 July 1945 at Greenock.
3 July 1945 Mr Ronald C Putt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. Remained as Chief Engineer Officer until 14 November 1945
25 July 1945 sailed Greenock to Belfast arriving the same day
29 July 1945 sailed Belfast to Greenock arriving the same day
1 August 1945 sailed Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot
6 August 1945 arrived at Rotterdam
9 August 1945 sailed Rotterdam
12 August 1945 arrived Grangemouth
14 August 1945 sailed Grangemouth to Sheerness ariving 17 August 1945
20 August 1945 sailed Sheerness to Victoria Docks, London for refit
16 October 1945 four lifeboats replaced – old lifeboats were condemned
18 October 1945 sailed London to Sheerness arriving the same day
20 October 1945 sailed Sheerness to Hamburg arriving 23 October 1945
25 October 1945 sailed Hamburg to Sheerness ariving 29 October 1945
5 November 1945 sailed Sheerness to Grangemouth arriving 10 November 1945
14 November 1945 sailed Grangemouth arriving the Oil Wharf, South Shields, River Tyne the same day
15 November 1945 Captain Murray W Westlake DSC RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Murray W Westlake DSC RD RFA
17 November 1945 arrived at Grangemouth
18 November 1945 sailed from Grangemouth
23 November 1945 passed Flamborough Head
16 May 1946 Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 June 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westwards
22 June 1946 Mr Harold R Bullimore RFA (Lieutenant Commander (E) Royal Navy (retd)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 July 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
12 September 1946 at Plymouth
22 November 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing eastwards
30 November 1946 sheltered in Mounts Bay
18 December 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing eastwards
14 February 1947 transferred to the MOT for disposal
18 April 1947 purchased by Bulk Storage Co Ltd (P. Bauer, Manager) London name unchanged
18 May 1947 while berthed at East Dock, Millbay, Plymouth undergoing a refit a fire broke out onboard. Prompt action by the Donkeyman G Gilbert who fought the blaze with fire extinguishers prevented the blaze assuming serious proportions
20 June 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westwards
8 July 1947 arrived at Trinidad from Falmouth
10 October 1947 the ship was renamed Basingbank. Owned by Basinghall Shipping Co Ltd
3 June 1948 sailed Curacao for LEFO
24 June 1948 sailed Saltend, Hull
1949 laid up on the River Tyne.
July 1949 purchased by R. de Corte and towed to Antwerp for scrap
March 1950 scrapped Antwerp