Subsequent name: Honan Maru
Official Number: 144354
Class: WAR CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: Y7.339
Signal Letters: KDPT / GTQB / GLVW
Laid down:
Builder: Laings, Deptford Yard
Launched: 6 December 1919
Into Service: February 1920
Out of service: 28 February 1942
Fate: Constructive total loss
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. Eight hundred and twenty one vessels were ordered from U.K. yards and abroad and four hundred and sixteen were completed to Government order, two hundred and seveny nine were sold and transferred to private owners before completion and the remainder were cancelled. Of the four hundred and sixteen 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.
February 1920 completed for the Shipping Controller under the commercial management of Hunting & Sons Ltd, London
11 February 1920 berthed at Ballast Crane Berth, Sunderland
February 1920 Captain Archie Hadley as Master
Captain Archie Hadley
13 February 1920 sailed Sunderland for Trinidad via Hull
26 March 1920 at Barbados alongside HMS RENOWN refuelling her – supplied 3,031 tons FFO
HMS RENOWN
3 April 1920 sailed Trinidad for London
17 May 1920 passed Sand Key, Florida sailing west
22 May 1920 sailed Sabine, Texas
29 May 1920 sailed Kingston Jamaica
15 June 1920 sailed Tampico for Devonport
4 July 1920 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
31 July 1920 berthed at Puerto Mexico
2 August 1920 sailed Puerto Mexico for Devonport
25 August 1920 arrived at Hull
2 September 1920 sailed the River Tyne for Tampico
23 October 1920 berthed at Devonport from Tampico
26 October 1920 sailed Devonport for Houston, Texas
16 December 1920 sailed Invergordon for Beaumont, Texas
1921 transferred to Admiralty ownership but remained under commercial management
3 January 1921 arrived Bermuda from Invergordon with damage to her rudder post and propeller
25 January 1921 berthed at Port Arthur from Bermuda
28 January 1921 sailed Port Arthur for Devonport
16 February 1921 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
17 February 1921 berthed at Portland from Beaumont
20 February 1921 sailed Portland
14 March 1921 arrived at Port Arthur from Portland
7 April 1921 berthed at Queenstown, Ireland from Port Arthur
29 April 1921 radioed she was 12 n.miles South East of the Rebecca Shoals lighthouse (off Key West, Florida)
2 May 1921 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Queenstown, Ireland
3 May 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Devonport
8 May 1921 radioed she was 50 n.miles east of Cape Canaveral
10 May 1921 radioed she was 87 n.miles east of Hatteras
28 May 1921 arrived at Plymouth from Port Arthur
24 June 1921 Mr C H Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 July 1921 Captain George H Franklin RFA appointed as Master
24 July 1921 sailed London to New York
9 August 1921 arrived at New York with Captain George Harry Franklin RFA as Master. The ship had sailed from London with 34 crew
13 August 1921 sailed Philadelphia
23 August 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Devonport
19 September 1921 berthed at London from Rosyth
6 October 1921 arrived at Philadelphia
9 October 1921 sailed Philadelphia
20 October 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas
10 November 1921 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard and arrived at Plymouth from Port Arthur, Texas
19 December 1921 Mr Charles A Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Charles A Smith RFA
21 November 1921 the Western Morning News newspaper reported …
21 December 1921 sailed from Plymouth for Port Arthur and passed Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
17 January 1922 sailed Port Arthur for Portland
6 February 1922 passed Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
8 February 1922 berthed at Portland Harbour
22 February 1922 sailed Portland Harbour
17 March 1922 berthed at Port Arthur
10 April 1922 arrived the River Clyde from Port Arthur
15 April 1922 sailed the Clyde in ballast
5 May 1922 sailed Trinidad
22 May 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
24 May 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
26 June 1922 at Portsmouth Harbour
30 June 1922 sailed Portsmouth
18 July 1922 sailed Trinidad
3 August 1922 arrived at Greenock from Trinidad
9 August 1922 sailed the Clyde to Texas ports
30 August 1922 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from the Clyde
26 September 1922 berthed at Kingston, Jamaica
29 September 1922 sailed Kingston, Jamaica for Port Arthur, Texas
5 October 1922 sailed from Port Arthur
26 October 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour from Port Arthur
27 November 1922 at Portsmouth Harbour
11 December 1922 at Portsmouth and Mr Charles A Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 December 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
4 January 1923 sailed Trinidad for the Clyde
20 February 1923 sailed Baytown, Texas
27 February 1923 passed Bermuda
24 April 1923 sailed Trinidad
24 May 1923 arrived at Las Palmas
9 June 1923 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
23 July 1923 sailed Tampico for Gibraltar
22 August 1923 sailed from Alexandria for Port Said
24 September 1923 sailed Curaçao
22 October 1923 arrived at Curaçao from St Vincent
8 November 1923 arrived at Las Palmas from Curaçao
11 November 1923 sailed from Las Palmas for Tampico
21 November 1923 the Admiralty Fuel and Stores Officer, Singapore advertised in the local newspapers –
1 December 1923 arrived at Tampico from Las Palmas
26 December 1923 sailed Tampico for Lisbon
16 January 1924 arrived at Lisbon from Tampico
10 February 1924 sailed Tampico for Southampton
4 March 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
5 March 1924 berthed at Southampton from Tampico
24 March 1924 Captain William T Williams RFA appointed as Master
Captain William T Williams RFA
9 May 1924 sailed from Tampico for Gibraltar
4 JUne 1924 at Malta
13 August 1924 sailed Tampico for Las Palmas
2 September 1924 arrived at Las Palmas from Tampico
23 September 1924 arrived at Curaçao
25 September 1924 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
27 October 1924 sailed from Plymouth for Abadan
27 November 1924 sailed from Abadan
20 December 1924 at Rangoon
25 January 1925 berthed at the oil wharf, Singapore from Abadan
29 January 1925 sailed Singapore to Abadan
7 March 1925 to 9 March 1925 berthed at the oil wharf, Singapore
17 April 1925 at Abadan
28 August 1925 Mr John H Collings RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 12 November 1925
Chief Engineer Officer John H Collings RFA
9 September 1925 sailed from Port Said
22 October 1925 berthed at the oil wharf, SIngapore
2 December 1925 Captain John Gow RFA appointed as Master
Captain John Gow RFA
3 December 1925 at Malta
12 July 1926 at Singapore in collision with a tug
25 December 1926 sailed Curaçao
12 February 1927 sailed Curaçao
25 March 1927 radioed she was 27 nmiles SW of the Smalls
11 April 1927 at Curaçao
10 May 1927 sailed Gibraltar
25 May 1927 sailed Curaçao
17 June 1927 sailed Rouen, France
2 July 1927 arrived at Curaçao
23 July 1927 sailed Lisbon
6 August 1927 sailed Curaçao
23 August 1927 sailed Las Palmas
1 September 1927 passed Barbados
6 September 1927 sailed Curaçao
17 September 1927 radioed she was 1,200 miles WSW of Lands End
3 October 1927 sailed Ellesmere Port
7 October 1927 passed Fayal
20 October 1927 at Curaçao
4 November 1927 radioed she was 900 miles off Lands End
9 November 1927 Mr George T Beed RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer George T Beed RFA
15 November 1927 sailed Falmouth
20 November 1927 passed Fayal
16 December 1927 at Abadan
3 March 1928 towed with a broken propeller shaft from Montserrat to Bermuda by RFA SERBOL
27 April 1928 berthed at Curaçao
9 May 1928 sailed Curaçao
24 May 1928 on passage to Shell Haven was 330 miles SSW of Valentia
28 May 1928 Captain William B Browne RFA appointed as Master
31 May 1928 sailed Shell Haven
16 June 1928 passed St Kitts bound for Curaçao
20 June 1928 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
9 July 1928 arrived at Ardrossan from Curaçao
11 June 1929 berthed at Gibraltar from Genoa in ballast for orders
18 July 1929 arrived at Ardrossan from Curaçao and Captain A D Davies RFA appointed as Master
19 July 1929 Mr Clifford N Ansell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 July 1929 sailed from Ardrossan for St. Kitts & Nevis
29 August 1929 berthed at Purfleet
10 September 1929 sailed Glasgow for Curaçao
23 September 1929 passed St Kitts when on passage to Curaçao
27 September 1929 arrived at Curaçao from Glasgow
4 November 1929 sailed from Colon, Panama
28 December 1929 passed Fayal when on passage to St Kitts
22 March 1930 berthed at the Oil Fuel Jetty, Avonmouth discharging her oil cargo having arrived from Curaçao
25 May 1930 arrived at Shell Haven from Curaçao
4 July 1930 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
27 July 1930 Mr William A Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 October 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
20 October 1930 at Portsmouth Carpenter Thomas Davies was disrated at sea on the grounds of incompetency to ordinary seaman. He was sentenced to twelve weeks imprisonment under the Merchant Shipping Act for neglet of duty. A similar sentence to run concurrently was passed on him for continued disobedience to orders
Press cutting from the Weston Morning News 21 October 1930
28 August 1930 arrived at Galveston
5 October 1930 passed Beachy Head for Portsmouth
4 December 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
12 December 1930 anchored off Ryde, Isle of Wight
2 January 1931 anchored off Ryde, Isle of Wight
4 January 1931 anchored off Ryde, Isle of Wight
5 January 1931 anchored off Ryde, Isle of Wight
6 February 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 March 1931 arrived at Jacksonville
4 April 1931 sailed Trinidad
24 April 1931 arrived at Plymouth from Pembroke Dock
7 August 1931 passed Perim
16 August 1931 arrived at Suez
31 August 1931 passed Perim
5 September 1931 arrived at Suez from Abadan
9 September 1931 Captain J Martin-Smith DSC RFA (Acting Lieut-Commander RNR (Retd)) appointed as Master
21 September 1931 at Malta
6 October 1931 passed Perim
30 November 1931 at Portland
1 December 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
3 December 1931 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty together with RFA’s ELMOL and KIMMEROL
28 December 1931 at Portsmouth Harbour
1 January 1932 Mr R Watson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 January 1932 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
8 March 1932 sailed Aden
19 March 1932 sailed Abadan
15 June 1932 arrived at Port Said from Malta
7 July 1932 at the General Hospital, Abadan Messroom Steward Sam Yong discharged dead from meningitis. He had been signed off at Basra on 3 July 1932
23 July 1932 arrived Suez
24 July 1932 sailed Port Said
3 September 1932 sailed from Port Said
17 October 1932 arrived Suez from Abadan
22 November 1932 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard
30 November 1932 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherine’s Point
1 December 1932 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
6 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
7 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
8 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
9 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
12 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
14 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
16 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
22 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
23 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
31 December 1932 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
1 January 1933 Captain J Martin-Smith DSC RFA (Acting Lieut-Commander RNR (Retd)) appointed as Master
2 January 1933 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth
4 January 1933 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth
5 January 1933 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth
6 January 1933 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth
7 January 1933 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth
10 January 1933 in No: 15 dry dock at Portsmouth
16 January 1933 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty together with RFA KIMMEROL
17 January 1933 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty together with RFA KIMMEROL
19 January 1933 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
7 February 1933 at Constanza
6 March 1933 sailed Bombay
12 June 1933 sailed Abadan
18 July 1933 arrived at Port Said from Malta
17 September 1933 sailed Port Said
2 October 1933 sailed Abadan
28 October 1933 sailed Malta
6 November 1933 sailed Port Said
20 December 1933 berthed at Trincomali, Ceylon
21 December 1933 sailed from Trincomali, Ceylon
5 January 1934 sailed Abadan
20 January 1934 sailed Port Said
3 February 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
23 February 1934 in No:15 dry dock, Portsmouth Harbour
26 February 1934 Mr Frederick C Pavitt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 March 1934 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
14 March 1934 arrived at Sunderland
17 March 1934 sailed South Docks, Sunderland with a cargo of 6,000 tons of creosote
19 March 1934 passed St Catherine’s Head sailing west bound
20 March 1934 arrived at Plymouth
22 May 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
28 May 1934 Captain Richard D Williams RD RFA (Commander RNR (Ret)) appointed as Master
Captain Richard D Williams RD RFA
18 June 1934 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
30 July 1934 arrived at Suez from Abadan
14 August 1934 arrived at Port Said from Malta
19 August 1934 sailed from Port Said
16 September 1934 arrived Suez from Abadan
16 October 1934 arrived at Port Said from Portland
28 December 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
5 January 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
23 January 1935 at Trinidad
4 April 1935 sailed from Devonport
16 April 1935 sailed Port Said for Abadan
5 May 1935 sailed from Abadan
14 May 1935 passed Perim sailing north bound
16 May 1935 sailed from Port Said
6 June 1935 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
13 July 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
18 July 1935 sailed from Plymouth
31 August 1935 arrived Singapore and sailed the same day
3 October 1935 at Singapore
25 February 1936 at Abadan
2 March 1936 at Abadan
5 March 1936 sailed Abadan
26 July 1936 berthed at Sheerness
30 July 1936 arrived at the River Tyne from Sheerness
21 August 1936 sailed the River Tyne for Sheerness
22 August 1936 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing south bound
5 September 1936 arrived at Port Said
16 October 1936 the Perth Daily News reported …
The War Sirdar had berthed at Darwin this day
1 March 1937 berthed at Gibraltar from Abadan and Port Said to discharge cargo
27 July 1937 transferred to Admiralty management and manning as an RFA at Alexandria
27 August 1937 at Alexandria
3 October 1937 at Alexandria
25 April 1938 towed the boom gate vessel HMS SOUTHGATE from Singapore to Trincomalee, Ceylon
27 June 1938 berthed on the River Tyne at Wallsend from Sheerness
2 July 1938 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit
11 July 1938 Captain Ernest V Blyth RFA appointed as Master still berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
12 July 1938 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit
14 July 1938 sailed from Wallsend Slipway on the River Tyne for Chatham
26 July 1938 sailed from Chatham
1 August 1938 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
20 September 1938 Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appointed as Master and Mr David L Walls RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain Bernard Tunnard RFA
6 January 1939 sailed Sheerness for Chatham
19 January 1939 passed Ushant
24 January 1939 passed Gibraltar
13 March 1939 at Gibraltar
18 March 1939 sailed Gibraltar
27 April 1939 sailed Gibraltar
8 May 1939 arrived at the River Tyne from Invergordon and berthed at Hawthorn Leslie at Hebburn
13 May 1939 berthed at Hawthorn Leslie at Hebburn on Tyne
25 May 1939 discharged the crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
1 June 1939 berthed at Hawthorn Leslie at Hebburn on Tyne
7 June 1939 berthed at Hawthorn Leslie at Hebburn on Tyne. Captain Albert V Barton RFA appointed as Temporary Master and signed on a fresh crew at the South Shields Shipping Office
10 June 1939 Captain Benjamin N Beasley RFA appointed as Master
Captain Benjamin N Beasley RFA
9 June 1939 sailed the River Tyne for Sheerness
17 July 1939 when on passage to Portland radioed she was 870 nmiles SW of Land’s End
25 July 1939 at Chatham – Captain Murray W Westlake RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Murray W Westlake RFA
28 July 1939 Mr William H A Lawson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William H A Lawson RFA
4 August 1939 berthed at Sheerness
5 August 1939 sailed from Sheerness
11 August 1939 in W/T contact with Gibraltar
21 September 1939 at Singapore
24 September 1939 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
3 October 1939 arrived at Hong Kong
6 October 1939 Mr Evan M Phillips RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Evan M Phillips RFA
8 November 1939 sailed Hong Kong for Singapore
13 November 1939 arrived Singapore
15 November 1939 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
22 November 1939 arrived Hong Kong
30 November 1939 sailed Hong Kong for Singapore
6 December 1939 arrived at Singapore
10 December 1939 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
20 December 1939 arrived at Hong Kong
26 December 1939 sailed Hong Kong for Singapore
3 January 1940 arrived Singapore
6 January 1940 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
14 January 1940 arrived Hong Kong sailing the same day for Singapore
24 January 1940 arrived Singapore
31 January 1940 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
8 February 1940 arrived at Hong Kong
13 February 1940 sailed Hong Kong for Singapore
20 February 1940 arrived Singapore
24 February 1940 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
2 March 1940 allocated as the China Station Fleet Oiler
4 March 1940 arrived Hong Kong
10 August 1940 sailed Hong Kong for Singapore
16 August 1940 arrived at Singapore
26 August 1940 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
3 September 1940 arrived at Hong Kong
10 September 1940 sailed Hong Kong for Singapore
17 September 1940 arrived at Singapore
About 26 September 1940 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
3 October 1940 arrived at Hong Kong
12 October 1940 sailed Hong Kong towing HMS CRICKET (gunboat) – due to a typhoon both ships were recalled arriving 15 October 1940. They sailed again on 18 October and arrived at Singapore on the 24th of the month
2 December 1940 arrived at Singapore from Hong Kong
16 April 1941 sailed Penang for Singapore
19 April 1941 arrived at Singapore
10 January 1942 sailed Melbourne in convoy MS1 to Singapore escorted by HMAS HOBART and HMS’s TENEDOS and STRONGHOLD arriving on 31 January 1942
24 February 1942 – Tanjong Priok, Netherlands East Indies HMAS PERTH alongside and refuelled. During refuelling subjected to air attack, no hits, no injuries
25 February 1942 – Tanjong Priok, Netherlands East Indies, a stern view of WAR SIRDAR after being righted following damage by further Japanese bombing. Cargo transferred to RFA FRANCOL. She was unable to fuel HMAS HOBART (right foreground), Preventing that cruiser from taking part in the disastrous battle of the Java Sea – note the 4 inch gun aft.
27 February 1942 sailed in Convoy from Tanjong Priok in Batavia to Tjilatjap, along with RFA FRANCOL, the depot ship HMS ANKING filled with Australian troops, the minesweeper MMS 51 escorted by the Australian sloop HMAS YARRA and the Indian sloop HMIS Jumna
28 February 1942 bombed and set on fire – stranded on Agenielien Island at Batavia 12°39N 109°37E. An attempt was made by HMAS WOLLONGONG (a minesweeper) to tow the WAR SIRDAR off the reef without success. The order was given to abandon ship. All hands landed safely on Jung Island.
1 March 1942 declared a total loss. All hands were taken off by a Dutch minesweeper
March 1942 salvaged by Japanese forces and renamed Honan Maru
16 October 1942 arrives at Singapore
17 October 1942 sailed from Singapore
19 October 1942 arrived at Palembang, Sumatra and loads cargo
23 October 1942 sailed from sailed Palembang, Sumatra
24 October 1942 berthed at Singapore to discharge cargo
3 December 1942 sailed from Singapore
5 December 1942 berthed at Palembang, Sumatra
6 December 1942 sailed Palembang, Sumatra
16 December 1942 sailed Palembang, Sumatra
18 December 1942 arrived at Singapore to discharge cargo
21 December 1942 sailed Singapore
22 December 1942 arrived Palembang, Sumatra
25 December 1942 arrived at Fremantle
2 January 1943 sailed Palembang, Sumatra
5 January 1943 arrived at Singapore to discharge cargo
7 January 1943 sailed Singapore
9 January 1943 arrived Palembang, Sumatra
11 January 1943 sailed Palembang, Sumatra
13 January 1943 arrived at Singapore to discharge cargo
16 January 1943 sailed Singapore for Palembang, Sumatra
17 January 1943 arrived Palembang, Sumatra
20 January 1943 sailed Palembang, Sumatra
25 January 1943 arrived at Singapore to discharge cargo
29 January 1943 sailed Singapore
31 January 1943 berthed at Palembang, Sumatra and loaded fuel
1 February 1943 sailed from Palembang, Sumatra
3 February 1943 arrived at Singapore and discharged cargo
7 February 1943 sailed Singapore
8 February 1943 berthed at Palembang, Sumatra and loaded fuel
12 February 1943 sailed from Palembang, Sumatra for Singapore
14 February 1943 arrived at Singapore and discharged cargo
2 January 1944 sailed from Singapore
3 January 1944 berths at Palembang to load cargo
8 January 1944 sailed from Palembang
10 January 1944 arrived at Singapore and discharged cargo
15 January 1944 sailed from Singapore
28 March 1945 as a Japanese tanker US Submarine Bluegill (SS242) during her 5th war patrol attacked her and she was beached at Cape Varella, Nha Trang on what was at the time French Indo China. 12°40N, 109°30E
29 March 1945 attacked again by USS Bluegill.
5 April 1945 crew from USS Bluegill landed and completed destruction of her with demolition charges and incendiaries
USS Bluegill (SS242) entering Pearl Harbour in June 1945