Previous name: Empire Flodden
Official Number: 180885
Class: WAVE CLASS Replenishment Oiler (modified)
Pennant No: X137 / A242
Signal Letters: GKRV
Laid down: 1 September 1944
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding Company, Haverton Hill
Launched: 19 February 1946
Into Service: 1 April 1946
Out of service: December 1969 – laid up
Fate: 1972 sold for breaking up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: A need for fast tankers to bring oil into the country had been envisaged early in the Second World War, but by the time the material had been collected and the Yards had space to build them, the need had largely passed and the original design of diesel-engined ships was abandoned. Instead, the standard 12,000t Class being built were given sharper bows and sterns and turbine engines with water tube boilers. In all, twenty one of this type were built and were offered to the Admiralty, who wanted faster tankers for the Pacific Fleet Train. The Admiralty took twenty of them (the final vessel being completed commercially for Oil and Molasses Tankers Ltd, London as BEECHWOOD) and renamed them with the WAVE nomenclature. Performance varied considerably from ship to ship and they underwent various modifications in their rigs for RAS work. The eight best ones were finally given an extensive refit, with extra accommodation added to the Bridge Deck and extra turbo cargo pumps and derricks to make them more satisfactory for Fleet work. Initially expensive to run, they recouped some of their expensive repair bills by earning revenues from charter work after the Korean War. From this Class was evolved the TIDE CLASS oilers.
1 September 1944 laid down
19 February 1946 launched by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill as Yard Nr: 378 named EMPIRE FLODDEN for the MoWT
April 1946 completed as WAVE BARON and was placed under the initial management of Gow, Harrison & Co Ltd., Glasgow
10 July 1946 sailed the River Tees
11 July 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south when on passage for Abadan
4 October 1946 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Bombay and Abadan
11 October 1946 sailed Bombay, India
16 October 1946 arrived at Abadan
18 October 1946 sailed Abadan for Hong Kong
30 October 1946 passed Singapore
17 November 1946 sailed Hong Kong for Colombo, Ceylon
27 November 1946 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
4 December 1946 at Abadan
6 December 1946 sailed Abadan for Malta
16 December 1946 sailed Suez
17 December 1946 sailed Port Said
27 December 1946 sailed Suez
5 January 1947 at Abadan
7 January 1947 sailed Abadan for Aden
13 January 1947 at Aden
22 January 1947 arrived at Abadan
23 January 1947 sailed Abadan for Port Said
3 February 1947 sailed Port Said for Malta
6 February 1947 arrived at Malta
13 February 1947 sailed Malta for Abadan
16 February 1947 arrived at Port Said
21 February 1947 passed Aden
27 February 1947 at Abadan
22 March 1947 at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
25 March 1947 passed Tail of Bank outbound
29 April 1947 sailed from Aden for Abadan
30 May 1947 sailed from Abadan
9 June 1947 arrived Suez from Abadan
10 June 1947 sailed from Port Said for Sheerness
8 July 1947 sailed from Suez
30 July 1947 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon
2 August 1947 arrived at Bombay from Trincomalee, Ceylon
8 August 1947 sailed from Bombay
15 August 1947 sailed Abadan for Land End
21 August 1947 passed Aden
25 August 1947 arrived at Suez from Abadan
26 August 1947 sailed Port Said for LEFO
1 September 1947 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
27 September 1947 arrived at Port Said from Falmouth
7 October 1947 berthed at Abadan
22 March 1948 Mr William E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William E Burke RFA
30 March 1948 Captain Sidney T Dunster OBE RFA appointed as Master
Captain Sidney T Dunster RFA
1 April 1948 transferred to Admiralty Director of Stores management
12 July 1948 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing westwards
3 August 1948 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing eastwards
7 August 1948 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing westwards
20 August 1948 arrived at Trinidad from Devonport
23 August 1948 sailed from Trinidad for LEFO
5 September 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
9 September 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
25 October 1948 sailed from Suez
13 December 1948 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing westwards
7 January 1949 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing eastwards
1 February 1949 arrived at Abadan
6 February 1949 sailed Abadan
7 March 1949 the Brisbane Telegraph reported –
9 March 1949 sailed Brisbane for Abadan
11 April 1949 sailed Abadan for LEFO
17 April 1949 sailed Aden
12 May 1949 arrived at the River Tyne from Rosyth
13 May 1949 alongside at Palmers Yard, River Tyne
18 May 1949 Captain Herbert W Flint RFA appointed as Master
23 May 1949 alongside at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne
27 May 1949 alongside at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne
30 May 1949 alongside at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne
2 June 1949 alongside at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne
13 June 1949 alongside at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne
15 June 1949 alongside at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE CHIEF
22 June 1949 alongside at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne
25 June 1949 alongside at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE CHIEF
27 June 1949 alongside at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne
6 July 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound
29 July 1949 sailed Abadan
7 August 1949 sailed Aden for Suez
12 August 1949 arrived at and then sailed from Port Said for LEFO
18 August 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound
28 August 1949 arrived at Abadan
29 August 1949 sailed Abadan
3 September 1949 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
13 September 1949 arrived at Port Said
25 September 1949 sailed Abadan for Port Said
3 October 1949 sailed Aden
11 October 1949 sailed Abadan
21 October 1949 arrived at Suez
25 October 1949 sailed Suez
28 October 1949 sailed from Port Said
2 November 1949 sailed Malta for Abadan
6 November 1949 sailed Suez
15 November 1949 arrived at Abadan
27 November 1949 sailed from Port Said
2 December 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
11 December 1949 Captain Frank A Shaw RFA appointed as Master
19 December 1949 sailed Suez
23 December 1949 arrived Aden
29 December 1949 arrived at Abadan
1 January 1950 sailed from Abadan for Rotterdam
18 January 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound
25 January 1950 Mr D F Gorrie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 January 1950 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing westwards
8 February 1950 arrived at Port Said while on passage from Falmouth to Abadan
18 February 1950 sailed Suez for Abadan
27 February 1950 arrived at Abadan
13 March 1950 sailed Port Said
25 March 1950 sailed Gibraltar for Abadan
12 April 1950 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Rotterdam
5 May 1950 sailed Pernis for Falmouth
26 May 1950 sailed from Curaçao
3 June 1950 in radio contact with the Cable & Wireless Radio Station on Bermuda
7 June 1950 arrived at Lisbon
16 June 1950 sailed from Fayal for Aruba
23 June 1950 in radio contact with the Cable & Wireless Radio Station on Bermuda
25 June 1950 arrived at Aruba
7 July 1950 arrived at Fayal
16 July 1950 while at sea off Peel, Isle of Man 2nd Engineer Frank Hodgson RFA was severely scalded on the face, chest and abdomen, arms and legs – he was clearing a tube in the engine room when the accident happended. The ship put into Peel Bay and the Peel life-boat was launched with a doctor on board. After treatment the Officer was placed in a ship’s life-boat, which was towed to the quayside by the life-boat. He was admitted to Noble’s Hospital, Douglas and detained
17 July 1950 the Hartlepool Northern Dail Mail reported that –
22 July 1950 berthed on the TIC Quay, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE RULER (1)
26 July 1950 berthed on the TIC Quay, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE RULER (1)
31 July 1950 berthed at Swan Hunter (Walker), River Tyne
17 August 1950 berthed at Swan Hunter (Walker), River Tyne
19 August 1950 berthed at Swan Hunter (Walker), River Tyne
6 September 1950 berthed at Swan Hunter (Walker), River Tyne
11 September 1950 berthed at Swan Hunter (Walker), River Tyne
19 September 1950 berthed on TIC (Hebburn) Quay, River Tyne
20 September 1950 sailed from the River Tyne. Captain Frederick L Finch RFA appointed as Master. Sailed passing Flamborough Head southbound
Captain Frederick L Finch RFA
kindly donated by Richard Finch
3 October 1950 sailed Curaçao for Gibraltar
16 December 1950 arrived at Abadan
19 December 1950 sailed Abadan for Fremantle, Australia
26 December 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
5 January 1951 mail from the Cocos-Keeling Islands could not be picked up by the RMS Orion as usual and so was collected by the Wave Baron and posted in Colombo, Ceylon endorsed with the cache ‘per Wave Baron’. Such envelopes are collectors items
The above cover was sold in Australia in 2006 for $1,900 (Aus)
6 January 1951 berthed at Fremantle, Western Australia
8 January 1951 sailed Fremantle, Western Australia for Colombo, Ceylon
17 January 1951 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
25 January 1951 berthed at Abadan
26 January 1951 sailed from Abadan
7 February 1951 arrived at Suez
8 February 1951 sailed Port Said
11 February 1951 passed Malta
13 February 1951 arrived at Aranci Bay
20 February 1951 arrived at Port Said
21 February 1951 sailed Suez
2 March 1951 at Abadan
4 March 1951 sailed Abadan for Gibraltar
10 March 1951 passed Aden
15 March 1951 sailed from Port Said
21 March 1951 arrived at Gibraltar
29 March 1951 arrived at Port Said
9 April 1951 sailed Suez
20 April 1951 arrived at Abadan
22 April 1951 sailed from Abadan for Invergordon
2 May 1951 arrived at Suez
3 May 1951 sailed Port Said
9 May 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Invergordon
13 May 1951 Captain Edmund H Butterworth RFA appointed as Master
Captain Edmund H Butterworth RFA
22 May 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
June 1951 – 27 July 1953 saw service during the Korean War along with 18 other RFA’s
1 June 1951 passed Aden
7 June 1951 arrived at Abadan
8 June 1951 sailed from Abadan
19 June 1951 arrived at Suez
20 June 1951 sailed Port Sail for a UK port
4 July 1951 arrived the River Tyne for Swan Hunters Yard (Wallsend)
5 July 1951 berthed at Swan Hunters Yard (Wallsend) in refit
14 July 1951 berthed at Swan Hunters Yard (Wallsend) in refit
27 July 1951 berthed at Swan Hunters Yard (Wallsend) in refit
31 July 1951 berthed at Swan Hunters Yard (Wallsend) in refit
2 August 1951 berthed at Swan Hunters Yard (Wallsend) in refit
7 August 1951 berthed at Swan Hunters Yard (Wallsend) in refit. Mr G F Mathews RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 August 1951 berthed at Swan Hunters Yard (Wallsend) in refit
6 September 1951 berthed at Swan Hunters Yard ((Wallsend) in refit
14 September 1951 berthed at Swan Hunters Yard (Wallsend) in refit
2 October 1951 arrived at Curaçao
15 October 1951 arrived at Gibraltar
17 October 1951 sailed from Gibraltar for Curaçao
28 October 1951 arrived at Curaçao
29 October 1951 sailed from Curaçao for Gibraltar
10 November 1951 sailed Gibraltar
13 November 1951 berthed at Malta with a cargo of FFO from Curaçao
14 November 1951 instead of discharging her FFO put to sea and RAS’ed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS 100 miles North West of Malta. The RAS took 8 hours and the Wave Baron returned to Dolphin Wharf, Malta
20 November 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
1 December 1951 arrived at Curaçao
10 December 1951 transitted the Panama Canal
1952 Awarded Battle Honour – Korea 1952
12 February 1952 at Taechong Do with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with 295 tons of FFO
15 February 1952 at Taechong Do with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with 219 tons of FFO
28 March 1952 sailed Singapore for Mena Al Ahmadi
2 May 1952 at Swansea (see note (2) below)
18 May 1952 arrived at Aruba
20 May 1952 sailed from Aruba
6 June 1952 sailed from Gibraltar for Singapore
13 June 1952 sailed from Suez
17 June 1952 sailed from Aden
28 June 1952 arrived at Singapore Roads
6 July 1952 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
10 July 1952 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Mena Al Ahmadi
20 July 1952 sail from Mena Al Ahmadi
31 July 1952 sailed from Port Said for the UK
6 August 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
12 August 1952 at Greenock (see note (2) below)
9 September 1952 arrived at Aruba
10 September 1952 sailed from Aruba for Gibraltar
29 September 1952 arrived at Hebburn on Tyne from Gibraltar
30 September 1952 discharged the crew at the South Shields Shipping Office
18 October 1952 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne for refit
25 October 1952 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne for refit
11 November 1952 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne for refit
25 November 1952 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne for refit
30 December 1952 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
6 January 1953 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
8 January 1953 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
6 February 1953 Captain Leonard Elford RFA appointed as Master
19 February 1953 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
26 February 1953 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
27 February 1953 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
3 March 1953 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
7 March 1953 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
21 March 1953 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
1 April 1953 Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA appointed as Master
Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA
4 April 1953 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
9 April 1953 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
18 April 1953 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA WAVE VICTOR
21 April 1953 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne together with RFA SERBOL
25 April 1953 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
20 May 1953 deployed in Naval Exercises with 38 other ships and 80 aircraft in the English Channel. Some of the ships involved were HMS’s BOXER and DUCHESS, the French ships FS’s Montcalm and Gloire and the French submarines Laubie and Sirene together with the Dutch warship HMNLS Soemba
2 July 1953 arrive Trinidad
9 July 1953 sailed Trinidad for Gibraltar
20 July 1953 arrived at Gibraltar from Trinidad
8 August 1953 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn from Portsmouth
22 August 1953 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn
25 August 1953 sailed Palmers, Hebburn for Swansea
11 November 1953 sailed Trinidad for Cristobal
15 November 1953 sailed Balboa
10 December 1953 RAS’ed with HMNZS BLACK PRINCE and HMS SHEFFIELD in the Pacific
11 December 1953 the Sydney Sun newspaper reported …
12 December 1953 the Melbourne Argus newspaper reported …
23 December 1953 arrived Chowder Bay, Mosman, NSW Australia
26 December 1953 sailed Chowder Bay, Mosman, NSW Australia for Trincomalee, Ceylon
10 January 1954 arrived Trincomalee, Ceylon
12 January 1954 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
3 February 1954 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
15 February 1954 sailed Hong Kong for Bahrein
3 March 1954 sailed Bahrein for Malta
13 March 1954 arrived at Port Said
18 March 1954 sailed Malta for Naples
22 March 1954 sailed Naples for Gibraltar
30 March 1954 sailed Gibraltar
19 April 1954 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne from Rosyth
22 April 1954 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne and discharged the crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
26 April 1954 Mr J Wilson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 May 1954 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne with RFA BISHOPDALE and RFA WAVE VICTOR
13 May 1954 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne with RFA WAVE VICTOR
20 May 1954 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne with RFA WAVE VICTOR
22 May 1954 engaged a crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
25 May 1954 sailed the River Tyne for Sheerness. The same day the Shields Daily News reported …
9 June 1954 passed Dover sailing east bound
1 July 1954 sailed from Trinidad for Dublin, Ireland
16 July 1954 sailed from Dublin, Ireland
27 July 1954 was in refit at the Greenock Dockyard Company, Port Glasgow
31 August 1954 Fireman James Black discharged dead from a fractured skull. The ship was alongside at Point a Pierre, Trinidad. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Paradise Cemetery, San Fernando, Trinidad
Paradise Cemetery, San Fernando – image taken by Jerome Lee, RFAHS member
15 September 1954 berthed at Rosyth from Trinidad. Police Officers boarded the ship from both the Fife Constabulary and the Admiralty Constabulary
Press report from the Aberdeen Evening Press of 15 September 1954
16 September 1954 Captain Joe Dines RD RFA appointed as Master
21 September 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Flamborough Head sailing south bound – she signalled she was on passage to Portland
1 October 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
9 October 1954 sailed Suez
13 October 1954 arrived at Aden
14 October 1954 sailed from Aden for Bahrein
19 October 1954 arrived at Bahrein
21 October 1954 sailed from Bahrein
31 October 1954 sailed Port Said for Malta
3 November 1954 arrived at Malta
6 November 1954 sailed from Malta for Bahrein
10 November 1954 arrived at Port Said
26 November 1954 arrived at Bahrein
29 November 1954 sailed Bahrein for Port Said
4 December 1954 passed Aden
8 December 1954 arrived at Suez
11 December 1954 sailed Port Said for Bahrein
12 December 1954 sailed from Suez
16 December 1954 sailed Aden for Bahrein
20 December 1954 arrived at Bahrein
1 January 1955 the Portsmouth Evening News newspaper reported …
3 January 1955 sailed Suez for Aden
7 January 1955 arrived at Aden
10 January 1955 sailed Aden for the Persian Gulf
15 January 1955 arrived at Bahrein
17 January 1955 sailed Bahrein
25 January 1955 arrived at Ras Tanura
13 February 1955 sailed Port Said
6 March 1955 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
27 June 1955 arrived at Aruba
10 July 1955 sailed Gibraltar
17 July 1955 sailed Malta for Trinidad
20 July 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Trinidad
29 July 1955 arrived at Trinidad
20 August 1955 arrived at the River Tyne from Portsmouth
23 August 1955 berthed at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA’s WAVE CHIEF & WAVE KNIGHT (1)
25 August 1955 berthed at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE KNIGHT (1)
1 September 1955 berthed at Palmers Hebburn, River Tyne
15 October 1955 sailed Trinidad for Gibraltar
26 October 1955 arrived at Gibraltar
1 November 1955 sailed Gibraltar for Malta
4 November 1955 berthed at Malta
5 November 1955 sailed from Malta for Port Said
8 November 1955 sailed from Port Said
11 November 1955 sailed from Suez
14 November 1955 arrived at Aden
15 November 1955 sailed from Aden
22 November 1955 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi
3 December 1955 sailed from Port Said
9 December 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
26 April 1956 Mr F Barclay RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 May 1956 arrived at Bermuda
28 May 1956 sailed Bermuda for the UK
1 July 1956 sailed from Curaçao for St Thomas
3 July 1956 sailed St Thomas for LEFO
11 July 1956 arrived Fayal
16 July 1956 pass Fort Gilkicker
17 August 1956 arrived Falmouth
18 August 1956 arrived at Devonport
13 September 1956 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
27 September 1956 sailed Malta
10 October 1956 sailed from Malta for Gibraltar
13 October 1956 arrived at Gibraltar
14 October 1956 sailed from Gibraltar
24 October 1956 arrived at Curaςao
1 January 1957 passed Dover west bound
10 May 1957 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA RETAINER
15 May 1957 Captain Albert E Curtain OBE RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
28 May 1957 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA RETAINER
18 June 1957 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA RETAINER
2 July 1957 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA RETAINER
1957 – 1960 supported Operation Grapple – the British H-bomb tests at Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean – along with 16 other RFA’s
20 July 1957 berthed at the Naval Yard, River Tyne
22 August 1957 berthed at the Naval Yard, River Tyne
27 August 1957 berthed at the Naval Yard, River Tyne
16 October 1957 Captain G B A Livesay RFA appointed as Master
29 October 1957 in refit at Palmers, Jarrow on Tyne
16 November 1957 deployed on Operation Grapple and carried 194 tons 4cwt of cargo to Christmas Island
7 May 1958 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
16 May 1958 arrived at Aden
22 May 1958 arrived at Suez
23 May 1958 sailed Port Said
21 July 1958 arrived at Curaçao
23 July 1958 sailed from Curaçao for LEFO
4 August 1958 arrived at Portsmouth
13 August 1958 sailed from Portsmouth
17 August 1958 passed Fayal
24 August 1958 arrived at Curaçao
8 September 1958 arrived Greenock
13 September 1958 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 29 September 1958
4 October 1958 arrived at the River Clyde at the Admiralty Oil Fuel Depot at Old Kilpatrick
10 October 1958 Mr P K Coles RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 November 1958 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 27 November 1958
4 December 1958 arrived at the River Tyne from Rosyth berthing at the Wallsend Clipway
5 December 1958 discharged the crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
15 December 1958 signed on a crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
18 December 1958 sailed the River Tyne for Rosyth
1 January 1959 at Rosyth
20 January 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 6 February 1959
11 February 1959 at Rosyth
9 March 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until the end of the month
27 March 1959 arrived at Rosyth
1 April 1959 sailed from Rosyth for the River Tyne arriving the same day
2 April 1959 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
13 April 1959 sailed the River Tyne for Rosyth
14 April 1959 arrived at Rosyth
20 April 1959 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
25 April 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until the middle of May 1959
13 May 1959 arrived at Leith Docks
5 June 1959 sailed from Rosyth for Invergordon
24 June 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 11 July 1959
22 July 1959 at Plymouth
27 July 1959 Mr Harry G May RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 September 1959 the Hampshire Telegraph newspaper published a lengthy article by their Naval correspondent concerning the Royal Navy’s actions off Iceland when involved in the Cod Wars. The article contained one paragraph concerning the actions of RFA tankers deployed to support the Royal Navy ships –
18 September 1959 moved from Devonport Dockyard North Lock to No: 5 Basin W
1 October 1959 at Devonport Dockyard moved from No: 5 Basin W to Plymouth Sound
2 October 1959 moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 9 Buoy
5 October 1959 moved from No: 9 Buoy to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Pier
7 October 1959 moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Pier to ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound later sailing to sea
1 November 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 25 November 1959
3 December 1959 Captain Edward E Laurence RFA appointed as Master
22 December 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 6 January 1960
18 January 1960 Captain Ronald V Warren DSC RFA appointed as Master
9 February 1960 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 22 February 1960
22 February 1960 berthed at Invergordon
1 March 1960 at Leith Docks during a boiler clean
11 March 1960 in collision with the tug ENERGY
22 March 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
23 March 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 9 wharf
24 March 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 9 wharf to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
30 March 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
20 April 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
21 April 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 8 wharf
22 April 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 8 wharf to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
25 April 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
29 April 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 9 buoy
6 May 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 9 buoy to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
7 May 1960 Mr V J Cooney RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 May 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
21 June 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Milbay Docks
7 July 1960 arrived at Grand Harbour, Malta from Gibraltar
16 July 1960 sailed Malta to sea for exercises
20 July 1960 sailed Malta to Messina
27 July 1960 arrived at Grand Harbour, Malta
29 July 1960 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
7 August 1960 back at Malta
9 August 1960 sailed Malta for Plymouth
16 August 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Milbay Docks
23 August 1960 at Devonport moved from Milbay Docks to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty. RFA EDDYNESS berthed outboard of her
24 August 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
September 1960 engaged in Exercise Sword Thrust within the Arctic Circle with HMS’s HERMES, ARK ROYAL, GAMBIA and four destroyeres
12 September 1960 at Rosyth
4 October 1960 at Greenock
8 December 1960 Captain Basil V Dobbie RFA appointed as Master
10 January 1961 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 22 January 1961
24 January 1961 berthed at Invergordon
26 January 1961 sailed from Invergordon
13 March 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
14 March 1961 while berthed on Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty RFA BIRCHOL berthed outboard of her
15 March 1961 at Devonport RFA BIRCHOL cast off and RFA WAVE BARON moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
26 March 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
27 March 1961 while berthed on Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty RFA BLUE RANGER berthed outboard of her
28 March 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 6 buoy
6 April 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 6 buoy to Plymouth Sound
17 April 1961 sailed Malta for exercises with RN and other Nato Allies together with RFA TIDE AUSTRAL, RFA BROWN RANGER, RFA SEA SALVOUR and RFA FORT DUQUESNE
5 June 1961 off Iceland RASed (stern) with HMS DUNCAN – 90 tons of FFO supplied
9 June 1961 off Iceland RASed with HMS DUNCAN
11 June 1961 off Iceland RASed with HMS DUNCAN – 50 tons of FFO supplied
15 June 1961 off Iceland Surgeon Lieutenant from HMS DUNCAN transferred to undertake surgery on the Ships Writer the ship RASed with HMS DUNCAN
19 June 1961 off Iceland RASed with HMS DUNCAN
14 July 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot
17 July 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot to Plymouth Sound
14 August 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot
17 August 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot to Plymouth Sound
29 August 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 9 wharf
30 August 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 9 wharf to Plymouth Sound
8 September 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot
9 September 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot to Plymouth Sound
7 March 1962 the Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported that …
28 May 1962 sailed Malta with RFA FORT DUQUESNE and RFA FORT ROSALIE (1) together with HMS BLAKE and other RN units to visit Barcelona
1 June 1962 to 7 June 1962 berthed at Barcelona
9 June 1962 to 13 June 1962 berthed at Palma, Majorca
14 June 1962 at Gibraltar where CID Officers from New Scotland Yard boarded to take passage to HMS BELFAST which was in the Atlantic returning home from Trinidad to investigate allegations of drug smuggling on the cruiser. Some $3,000,000 worth of heroin and opium had been discovered onboard after the ship had sailed from Honolulu in May 1962
HMS BELFAST
15 June 1962 the Daily Mirror newspaper reported …
19 June 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot
5 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Gravesend mooring
9 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Gravesend mooring to Plymouth Sound
10 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot
11 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot to No: 6 wharf
13 July 1962 at Devonport moved from No: 6 wharf to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot
16 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot to Plymouth Sound
8 August 1962 in collision with the tanker THORNESS
4 September 1962 at Bermuda Deck Storekeeper Donald William Williamson discharged dead – having suffered a fractured skull in a fall. He was buried at St. Paul’s Church, Paget, Bermuda
Above three images kindly taken, donated & © Martin Buckley
8 September 1962 the Bermuda Recorder reported that –
25 September 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot
26 September 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Depot to Plymouth Sound
16 October 1962 Captain David P Kindersley RFA appointed as Master
24 January 1963 Captain Alistair C Gibson RFA appointed as Master
1 February 1963 Mr J B Jackson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 March 1963 entered Plymouth Sound from the sea later moving alongside Yonderbury Oil Fuel Pier
20 March 1963 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Pier to sea
30 March 1963 entered Plymouth Sound from the sea later moving alongside Yonderbury Oil Fuel Pier
30 October 1963 sailed Malta for exercises – in collision with HMT SEA GIANT at No: 3 Buoy, Grand Harbour
HMT Sea Giant
12 November 1963 sailed Malta for the UK
20 January 1964 Commodore (E) J A MacPherson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 February 1964 sailed from Immingham after refit to Devonport to load
20 April 1964 in collision with HMT SEA GIANT at Grand Harbour
April 1964 Mediterrean Station tanker
24 June 1964 sailed Malta for Argostoli
8 October 1964 in collision with HMS PORTCULLIS at Grand Harbour, Malta
17 November 1964 in the Indian Ocean off Karachi RAS’ed HMS MOWHAWK
19 December 1964 Mr Ronald C Putt MID RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 December 1964 Captain E D J Evans RFA appointed as Master
18 January 1965 at Newcastle on Tyne
20 January 1965 Captain Charles E C Phipps RFA appointed as Master
23 January 1965 sailed the River Tyne for Portland arriving 25 January 1965
1 February 1965 sailed Portland on exercises returning to Portland on 8 February 1965
10 February 1965 sailed Portland on exercises arriving the River Clyde the next day
15 February 1965 sailed the River Clyde on exercises arriving at Lough Foyle on 17 February 1965
19 February 1965 sailed Lough Foyle for Trinidad arriving 3 March 1964
5 March 1965 sailed Trinidad for the Falkland Islands arriving 24 March 1965
30 March 1965 sailed the Falkland Islands for Trinidad arriving 14 April 1965
16 April 1965 sailed Trinidad for Bermuda arriving 20 April 1965
22 April 1965 sailed Bermuda for Trinidad arriving 26 April 1965
27 April 1965 sailed Trinidad for Freetown arriving 6 May 1965
8 May 1965 sailed Freetown for Malta arriving 17 May 1965
8 June 1965 sailed Malta for RASing returning 17 May 1965
29 June 1965 in collision with the ferry Cleddau Queen at Milford Haven
Ferry Cleddau Queen
11 September 1965 at Plymouth
12 September 1965 at Plymouth
16 October 1965 at Bowling
20 October 1965 Mr L Cochrane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 December 1965 at Portsmouth
1 February 1966 sailed Malta for the UK
12 April 1966 in collision with the Coaling Jetty at Portland and Mr K O’Neill RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 April 1966 at Chatham Dockyard
5 May 1966 at Greenock
9 August 1966 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
5 October 1966 Captain Archibald Murchie RFA appointed as Master
15 December 1966 Mr D G P Wells RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 January 1967 Captain David P Kindersley RFA appointed as Master
10 June 1967 along with RFA LYNESS RAS’ed with HMS VICTORIOUS
27 to 31 January 1968 supported HM ships in abortive search for the missing Israeli submarine Dakar
25 March 1968 Captain R J Lockwood RFA appointed as Master
19 April 1968 Mr V J Cooney RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 January 1969 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
15 August 1969 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
28 October 1969 arrived at Devonport for the last time
December 1969 destored and laid up Devonport
5 February 1972 placed on disposal list and offered for sale ‘as lying’ at Devonport Dockyard in the Times of this day
March 1972 purchased for £ 6,500 by N.V. Intershitra, a Dutch Trading House then again resold.
23 April 1972 arrived at Bilbao in tow for breaking up by Revalorizacion de Materials SA
Notes:
- The Israeli submarine DAKAR was originally HMS TOTEM and was one of 3 “T” Class acquired by Israel. The others were HMS TRUNCHEON which was handed over to the Israeli Navy at Gosport on 9 January 1968 renamed DOLPHIN and HMS TURPIN renamed LEVIATHAN in 1965..They underwent a major refit and DAKAR commissioned into the Israeli Navy on 10 November 1967. She was on her way from the U.K. to Haifa when she was lost on 26 January 1968.. Although a full-scale “Subsmash” routine was carried out, no trace of the DAKAR or her crew of 69 was found, until February 1969 when a distress buoy from the lost submarine was found by an Arab on the beach about 4 miles north of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. The wreck of the submarine was found on 28 May 1999 at a depth of 2,950 metres. The conning tower was salvaged in October 2000 and underwent a process of preservation before being placed near the harbour that was her last intended destination. The conning tower was dedicated at the Israel Naval Museum in Haifa on 31 May 2003
- From the Discharge Book of Fred W J Raddon