Previous name:                          Empire Law

Official Number:                         169132

Class:                                         WAVE CLASS  Freighting Oiler (unmodified)  

Pennant No:                               X131 / A245

Signal Letters:                            GFWM (1944)

Laid down:                                 16 December 1942
Builder:                                       Furness Shipbuilding, Haverton Hill
Launched:                                  27 November 1943
Into Service:                               1946
Out of service:                            1958

Fate:                                           Broken 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 12000t 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.

27 November 1943 launched for the Ministry of War Transport by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill as Yard Nr: 357

March 1944 completed and was placed under the initial management of Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London

5 April 1944 sailed Middlesborough

7 April 1944 arrived at the River Clyde

13 April 1944 sailed from Belfast Lough to New York in escorted convoy UC019

14 April 1944 at 0500hrs began dropping astern from Convoy UC019. By 1400hrs began returning to the convoy and when 12 miles astern USS Robert E Peary (DE132) was detailed to escort her. By 2000hrs had rejoined the convoy

USS Robert E Peary (DE132)

23 April 1944 arrived at New York

3 May 1944 sailed from New York to Liverpool in convoy CU023. Empire Bounty (later to become RFA WAVE VICTOR) was in the same convoy. The convoy speed was 14 kts

13 May 1944 became a straggler from convoy CU023 and had to be escorted by USS Schmitt (DE676) to Liverpool

14 May 1944 arrived at Liverpool

1 July 1944 sailed from Liverpool to New York in convoy CU032. Empire Bounty (later to become RFA WAVE VICTOR) was in the same convoy

11 July 1944 anchored in Gravesend Bay, New York

12 July 1944 arrived at Philadelphia

15 JUly 1944 sailed from Philadelphia

18 July 1944 sailed from New York in convoy CU032

19 July 1944 reported by USS Commander of Destroyer Escort 6 that Empire Law became a straggler at 0630hrs but by 1030hrs was back on station while in convoy CU032

22 July 1944 suffered engine defects at 38°55N 48°50W and had to return to New York unescorted

5 August 1944 sailed from New York to the River Mersey in escorted convoy CU034. Empire Milner (later to become RFA WAVE LIBERATOR) was in the same convoy

14 August 1944 arrived at Stanlow

17 August 1944 sailed Liverpool to New York in escorted convoy UC034 arriving on 28 August 1944

4 September 1944 sailed New York to the River Mersey in escorted convoy CU038

6 September 1944 at Sea at 41°39N 62°02W Chief Officer Frank Wheatley discharged dead from asphyxiation

22 September 1944 sailed St Helens Roads to New York in convoy UC038B

25 September 1944 suffered boiler defects and returned to Milford Haven for repairs

27 September 1944 sailed Newport, Wales to New York in convoy UC039A

14 October 1944 sailed New York to Swansea in convoy CU043

29 October 1944 sailed St Helens Roads to New York in convoy UC043A

15 November 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy CU047 but suffered engine defects and was directed to returned to Boston by the US Escort Commander and  while escorted USS ATR8. Empire Protector  (later to become RFA WAVE PROTECTOR) was in the same convoy

24 November 1944 joined escorted convoy CU048 sailing from Boston to Thames Haven

26 November 1944 suffered engine defects and hove to. USS Slater (DE766) and USS Kirkpatrick (DE318) detailed to screen the ship until repairs could be made and then escort the ship to rejoin the convoy. If repairs were to take past 1600Z 30 November 1944 she was to be escorted to Fayal, Azores

15 December 1944 joined escorted convoy UC049A from Liverpool to New York

20 January 1945 sailed New York to Avonmouth in escorted convoy CU056

10 February 1945 sailed Barry Roads to New York in escorted convoy UC056A

7 March 1945 sailed New York to Cherbourg in escorted convoy CU061

14 March 1945 while crossing the Atlantic in escorted Convoy CU061 suffered heavy weather damage

2 April 1945 sailed Liverpool to New York in escorted convoy UC062B

16 April 1945 sailed New York to Liverpool in convoy CU066

2 May 1945 joined convoy UC066A sailing from Barry Roads to New York

25 May 1945 sailed New York for Le Harve in convoy CU072. Empire Protector (later to become RFA WAVE PROTECTOR) was in the same convoy

31 May 1945 suffered heavy weather damage

5 June 1945 sailed Seine Estuary for Falmouth

8 June 1945 passed the Lloyd’s Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west

20 June 1945 sailed New York for Falmouth

12 September 1945 passed the Lloyd’s Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

14 September 1945 arrived Hartlepool (for refit?)

7 November 1945 sailed Hartlepool

11 November 1945 passed Gibraltar

17 November 1945 arrived Port Said

27 November 1945 arrived Abadan

1 December 1945 sailed Abadan for Lorenzo Marques arriving on 13 December 1945

16 December 1945 sailed Lorenzo Marques  to Beira arriving 18 December 1945

21 December 1945 sailed Beira to Abadan arriving 1 January 1946

3 January 1946 sailed Abadan to Suez arriving 12 January 1946

18 January 1946 sailed Port Said

24 January 1946 while on passage from Port Said to Falmouth passed Gibraltar

28 January 1946 arrived at Clyde Anchorage

6 February 1946 sailed the Clyde Anchorage passing Gibraltar on 10 February 1946 to Port Said

1 March 1946 arrive at Abadan

28 April 1946 passed St Catherines Point sailing west

17 May 1946 arrived at Abadan from Middlesborough

23 September 1946 sailed Gibraltar to Devonport

1 October 1946 arrived the River Tyne from Devonport

29 October 1946 berthed on the River Tyne at Hawthorne Leslie

12 November 1946 berthed on the TIC Quay, Hebburn

28 November 1946 sailed Trinidad

10 December 1946 at Portland, Dorset

1946 to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and renamed Wave Conqueror

26 December 1946 sailed Trinidad for the UK

6 February 1947 at Plymouth

19 February 1947 at Abadan

21 February 1947 sailed Abadan for Bombay

5 May 1947 at Glasgow

15 May 1947 sailed Pembroke Dock for Falmouth

16 May 1947 passed the Lloyd’s Signal Station on the Lizard sailing eastwards

20 May 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westwards

30 May 1947 arrived Trinidad from Falmouth

24 June 1947 at Plymouth

10 July 1947 arrived Trinidad from Devonport

22 July 1947 sailed Fayal for Devonport

31 July 1947 Chief Steward John Kincaid logged for deserting at Plymouth. He had signed on at Glasgow on 5 May 1947

6 August 1947 Pumpman M Halleron logged for deserting at Plymouth. He had signed on at Glasgow on 5 May 1947

7 August 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west

11 August 1947 arrived Fayal from Devonport

12 August 1947 sailed Fayal for Trinidad

20 August 1947 sailed from Trinidad

28 August 1947 Fireman/Greaser W Lunt discharged to the Royal Naval Hospital, HMS MALABAR, Bermuda sick suffering from TB. He had signed on at Plymouth on 1 August 1947

12 September 1947 sailed Bermuda for Trinidad

17 September 1947 arrived at Trinidad

28 September 1947 arrived at Fayal from Trinidad

29 September 1947 sailed from Fayal for the River Clyde

1 October 1947 arrived at the River Clyde

8 October 1947 at Glasgow

10 November 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west

25 January 1948 arrived at Fayal

1 February 1948 sailed Fayal

13 February 1948 arrived at Bermuda

29 March 1948 arrived at Curaçao from Glasgow

31 March 1948 sailed Curaçao for LEFO

13 April 1948 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master & Mr R N Foster RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 April 1948 manning taken over from Gow Harrison – now manned by the Director of Stores, Admiralty

11 May 1948 AB B Gillman logged for deserting at Newport. He had signed on at Cardiff on 20 April 1948

15 May 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound

3 June 1948 sailed from Abadan

16 June 1948 sailed from Port Said

22 June 1948 while on passage to Devonport passed Gibraltar sailing west

11 July 1948 passed Malta

14 July 1948 arrived at Port Said from Devonport

3 August 1948 sailed Aden for Abadan

6 August 1948 arrived at Aden (put back)

20 August 1948 sailed Aden for Abadan

28 August 1948 arrived Abadan from Devonport to load

27 September 1948 sailed from Abadan for the UK

26 October 1948 sailed from Gibraltar when on passage from Abadan to Devonport

13 January 1949 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master

Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA

5 March 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound

9 March 1949 arrived Port Said

11 March 1949 sailed Port Said

12 March 1949 sailed Suez for Abadan

22 March 1949 arrived at Abadan from Devonport

23 March 1949 sailed Abadan for LEFO

16 April 1949 berthed at Saltend Dock, Hull from Abadan to discharge

22 May 1949 arrived at Suez

5 June 1949 sailed Gibraltar

12 June 1949 sailed from Suez

22 June 1949 arrived at Abadan

24 June 1949 sailed Abadan for LEFO

5 July 1949 arrived at Suez

7 July 1949 sailed Port Said

18 July 1949 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master

1 August 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound

7 August 1949 arrived at Port Said

8 August 1949 sailed Suez

18 August 1949 arrived at Abadan

20 August 1949 sailed Abadan to Suez arriving 5 September 1949

7 September 1949 sailed Port Said for Malta when on passage from Abadan to LEFO

16 September 1949 sailed Malta for the UK

17 October 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound

23 October 1949 arrived Port Said from Falmouth

16 November 1949 arrived at Suez

18 November 1949 sailed Port Said

21 November 1949 arrived at Malta

28 November 1949 sailed from Suez

16 December 1949 arrived at Aden

21 December 1949 sailed Port Sudan for Abadan

1950 took on charge an Usher & Cole marine chronometer c1894 serial No: ZAA0100 which had previously been held on charge by HMS RAMBLER, HMS PENGUIN, HMS LION,  HMS DEVONSHIRE and RFA ELDEROL. Held on charge until 1951

12 February 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound

19 February 1950 Captain Robert D Almond RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master

Captain Robert D Almond RFA

29 April 1950 arrived Port Said while on passage from Devonport to Abadan

1 May 1950 sailed from Suez to Abadan

11 May 1950 arrived Abadan

5 June 1950 sailed Abadan for Singapore

June 1950 joined HMS COSSACK, HMS JAMAICA and HMAS SHOALHAVEN at the RAN naval base at Kure, Japan.

28 June 1950 HMS’s TRIUMPH and COSSACK arrived at Kure from Hong Kong and berthed alongside and were refuelled. Having refuelled HMS TRIUMPH moved alongside a jetty to discharge four Seafire and two Firefly aircraft which were all defective.

Involved in supporting Allied ships in the Korean War as part of the West Coast Support Group. Task Group 96.8

29 September 1950 while on passage from Devonport to Abadan passed Gibraltar sailing east bound

5 October 1950 arrived Port Said when on passage from Devonport to Abadan

18 October 1950 arrived at Abadan from Devonport

7 November 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound

29 December 1950 arrived Abadan

8 January 1951 at Gage Roads, Fremantle, Western Australia from Abadad

12 January 1951 berthed at Fremantle, Western Australia to discharge

26 March 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west

5 April 1951 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

6 April 1951 arrived the River Tyne  and berthed at Swan Hunters Wallsend

8 April 1951 Mr W E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

10 April 1951 berthed on the River Tyne on the TIC Hebburn Quay

11 April 1951 Captain Robert H Venning RFA appointed as Master

21 April 1951 berthed on the River Tyne at Swan Hunters Wallsend

24 April 1951 berthed on the River Tyne at Swan Hunters Wallsend

28 April 1951 berthed on the River Tyne at Swan Hunters Wallsend

28 May 1951 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

6 June 1951 passed Gibraltar

22 December 1951 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for LEFO

23 May 1952  whilst anchored off Immingham, she was hit by the Norwegian vessel BELRAY and was badly damaged aft.

27 May 1952 was towed to the River Tyne at North Shields for repairs by Smith’s Dock Co. Ltd.

3 June 1952 discharged the crew at the North Shields Shipping Office, River Tyne

21 June 1952 Mr J H Young RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 July 1952 at Smith’s Dock Co. Ltd., River Tyne

4 August 1952 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

21 November 1952 arrived at Grangemouth

24 August 1953 Captain William  W Peddle RFA appointed as Master

Captain William W Peddle RFA

27 September 1953 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound

10 November 1953 Mr C A Herbert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 March 1954 arrived at Chowder Bay, Monson, NSW Australia to discharge

31 March 1954 sailed Chowder Bay, Monson, NSW, Australia

16 May 1954 sailed from Malta for Swansea

22 May 1954 Mr J A Ferguson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 May 1954 Captain G W Webster RFA appointed as Master

30 May 1954 Mr Harry G May RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

9 June 1954 passed Gibraltar when on passage from Swansea to the Persian Gulf

20 September 1954 arrived River Tyne from Thames Haven

21 September 1954 at the South Shields Shipping Office discharged the crew

25 September 1954 berthed at Swan Hunter – Walker, River Tyne

28 September 1954 berthed at Swan Hunter – Walker, River Tyne

12 October 1954 at the Newcastle on Tyne Shipping Office engaged a crew

19 October 1954 sailed the River Tyne for Sheerness

19/20 February 1955 a Customs search of the ship while anchored off the Singapore Naval Base resulted in the seizure of about $22,000 worth of opium which was found hidden in one of the tanks. The drug was first class Persian opium. No one was arrested.

4 May 1955 at Sheerness while made fast to No: 4 buoy was fouled by HMS GRENVILLE which caused damage to the warship 

11 July 1955 Captain William R Parker RFA appointed as Master

15 October 1955 arrived River Tyne from Swansea berthing Swan Hunters (Walker) in refit

25 October 1955  berthed at Swan Hunters (Walker), River Tyne in refit

5 November 1955 berthed at Swan Hunters (Walker), River Tyne in refit

8 November 1955 berthed at Swan Hunters (Walker), River Tyne in refit

14 November 1955 Mr J B Morgan RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 November 1955 at the Newcastle on Tyne Shipping Office engaged a crew

29 November 1955 sailed from the River Tyne but had to put back

2 November 1956 deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 4 November 1956 – and the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal (1915) with the “Near East” Clasp

5 December 1956 Mr Daniel S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

5 December 1956 the Shields Daily News reported –

6 December 1956  at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne

14 December 1956 discharged the crew at the Noth Shields Shipping Office, River Tyne

15 December 1956 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne

27 December 1956 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne

5 January 1957 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne

10 February 1957 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne

26 February 1957 sailed from Trinidad for Portland

7 May 1957 arrived at Groton, Connecticut, USA

9 May 1957 sailed from Groton, Connecticut, USA for Curaçao

25 May 1957 sailed from Curaçao

16 June 1957 arrived at N Waterweg

13 August 1957 berthed Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne

9 November 1957 at Jacksonville, Florida, USA Seaman Kwan Ng Han discharged dead – drowned

31 December 1957 final arrival Sheerness

4 January 1958 destored, laid up at Sheerness and was transferred to the MoT for disposal

August 1958 engines in a defective condition; placed on the Disposal List at Sheerness

19 August 1958 advertised for sale ‘as lying’ at H.M. Dockyard, Sheerness in the Times of this date by the Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation

December 1958 sold commercially to H G Pounds, Portsmouth and became an oil hulk at Le Havre, France

6 April 1960 left Le Havre in tow enroute to Italian breakers was replaced as a fuel hulk by RFA  WAVE MONARCH

23 April 1960 arrived for breaking up at Spezia by CN del Golfo