Previous name: Empire Mars
Official Number: 180153
Class: WAVE CLASS Freighting Oiler (unmodified)
Pennant No: X138 / A246
Signal Letters: GBRL (1945)
Laid down:
Builder: Laings, Deptford Yard, Sunderland
Launched: 16 November 1944
Into Service: 16 November 1946
Out of service: 30 April 1960
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, 21 of this type were built and were offered to the Admiralty, who wanted faster tankers for the Pacific Fleet Train. The Admiralty took 20 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 8 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.
16 November 1944 launched by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Deptford Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 755 named EMPIRE MARS for the MoWT. Cost £230,926.00 (source contract letter in Tyne & Wear Archives)
20 November 1944 towed from Sunderland to the Tyne arriving on 21 November 1944
17 January 1945 sailed the Tyne to Sunderland arriving on 21 January 1945
18 April 1945 sailed from the Tyne in convoy FS1785 to Southend arriving on 20 April 1945
22 April 1945 sailed Southend in a Liverpool convoy UC65A to New York arriving on 5 May 1945. This convoy also contained EMPIRE PALADIN (later RFA WAVE COMMANDER) and EMPIRE SALISBURY (later RFA WAVE MASTER)
10 May 1945 sailed New York in convoy CU69 to the Downs arriving 21 May 1945 passing Southend the same day and arriving Gravesend 25 May 1945 with EMPIRE PALADIN (later RFA WAVE COMMANDER) bound Liverpool
2 June 1945 sailed Gravesend independently to Delaware Capes arriving on 11 June 1945
15 June 1945 sailed Delaware Capes independently passing the Downs on 25 June 1945 and anchoring in the the Thames Estuary the next day. To the Isle of Grain to discharge.
25 June 1945 sailed the Isle of Grain to the Tyne arriving on 29 June 1945
30 June 1945 under repair on the Tyne which was completed on 1 September 1945
29 August 1945 engaged the balance of her crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
2 September 1945 sailed the Tyne to Curacao
19 September 1945 sailed Curacao to Cristobal arriving on 22 September 1945
22 September 1945 transited the Panama Canal
22 September 1945 sailed Balboa to Melbourne, Australia arriving 15 October 1945
19 October 1945 sailed Melbourne, Australia for Abadan arriving 6 November 1945
10 November 1945 sailed Abadan to Suez arriving on 19 November 1945
20 November 1945 sailed Port Said to Malta arriving on 23 November 1945
30 November 1945 sailed Malta to Suez arriving 4 December 1945
4 December 1945 sailed Suez to Abadan arriving 12 December 1945
7 December 1945 passed Aden
14 December 1945 sailed Abadan to Singapore arriving 25 December 1945
1 January 1946 at Singapore for repairs
1 March 1946 arrived at Hong Kong
18 July 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westbound from Devonport to Cardiff
8 August 1946 the Shields Daily News reported –
16 November 1946 acquired for the Admiralty and renamed Wave Duke
2 December 1946 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
7 January 1947 at Abadan
20 January 1947 sailed Port Said
30 January 1947 at Port Said
31 January 1947 sailed from Suez
9 February 1947 at Abadan
18 February 1947 arrived at Aden
20 February 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
28 February 1947 sailed Abadan for Colombo, Ceylon
3 March 1947 at Colombo, Ceylon
10 March 1947 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon
16 March 1947 at Abadan
26 March 1947 at Aden
28 March 1947 sailed from Aden
10 April 1947 passed Aden
15 April 1947 sailed Port Said
24 April 1947 sailed Port Said for Abadan
6 May 1947 sailed Abadan for Gibraltar
15 May 1947 at Suez
31 May 1947 arrived at the the River Tyne from Invergordon
12 June 1947 berthed at No: 2 Tier, Jarrow Straith, River Tyne
14 June 1947 sailed from the River Tyne for Abadan
15 June 1947 passed Dunnet Head sailing west bound
7 July 1947 sailed from Abadan for Gibraltar
20 July 1947 arrived Suez having sailed from Abadan
26 July 1947 sailed Malta for Abadan
29 July 1947 arrived at Port Said from Malta
30 July 1947 sailed from Suez
9 August 1947 arrived at Abadan from Malta
16 August 1947 passed Aden
22 August 1947 sailed from Port Said
25 August 1947 arrived at Malta
27 August 1947 sailed Malta for Abadan
30 August 1947 sailed from Suez
11 September 1947 sailed Abadan
23 September 1947 sailed from Port Said
4 October 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
6 October 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
19 December 1947 sailed Suez
30 December 1947 sailed from Swansea
10 January 1948 arrived at Port Said
29 January 1948 Mr George McBain RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. He remained on the ship until 18 December 1950
13 March 1948 sailed Curaçao
15 April 1948 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
29 July 1948 was involved in a collision in thick fog about 50 miles south east of Land’s End with the British steamer Esperance Bay which was bound for Brisbane, Australia. Both vessels suffered slight damage and no one was hurt. The Esperance Bay returned to Southampton for examination
ss Esperance Bay
30 July 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
4 August 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for Plymouth
15 August 1948 Captain William B Browne OBE RFA appointed as Master
2 September 1948 Captain Ernest W J Rousell RFA appointed as Master
5 October 1948 passed the signal station at Gibraltar sailing eastwards
10 October 1948 arrived at Malta from Devonport
20 October 1948 passed Aden for Abadan
24 December 1948 passed Aden
7 April 1949 passed Aden
21 April 1949 sail from Port Said
13 May 1949 sailed from Abadan
24 May 1949 arrived at Suez
4 June 1949 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
9 June 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
20 June 1949 sailed Suez
7 July 1949 passed Aden
13 July 1949 arrived at Port Said sailing later the same day for Malta
19 July 1949 sailed from Malta for Port Said
30 July 1949 sail from Suez
21 August 1949 arrived at Suez
22 August 1949 sail from Port Said
25 August 1949 arrive at Malta
29 August 1949 sail Malta for Abadan
31 August 1949 arrive Port Said from Malta
1 September 1949 sail Suez
4 September 1949 passed Aden
12 September 1949 sail Abadan for Port Said
24 September 1949 sailed Port Said
12 October 1949 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
3 November 1949 Captain Richard L Barber MID RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
29 November 1949 Captain Frank A Shaw RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR Retd) appointed as Master
13 December 1949 Captain Richard L Barber MID RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
14 December 1949 at Devonport
19 December 1949 passed Gibraltar when on passage from Devonport
22 December 1949 arrived at Malta
23 December 1949 sailed Malta for Abadan
26 December 1949 arrived at Port Said
27 December 1949 sailed Suez for Abadan
3 January 1950 Captain Percivale H Brooke OBE RFA appointed as Master
Captain Percivale H Brooke OBE RFA
8 January 1950 sailed Abadan for Adelaide
19 January 1950 reported as being within wireless range of Australia
26 January 1950 while on passage to Adelaide and Melbourne from Abadan anchored in Gage Roads, Fremantle to land a sick seaman. Having landed the seaman continued with her voyage to Adelaide
30 January 1950 berthed at Adelaide
3 February 1950 arrived Melbourne, Australia from Abadan to discharge
7 February 1950 sailed Melbourne for Abadan
25 February 1950 at Colombo, Ceylon
16 April 1950 at Port Said
22 May 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
27 May 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
4 June 1950 arrived at Port Said
15 June 1950 sailed Suez
25 June 1950 arrived at Abadan
25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953 saw service during the Korean War along with 18 other RFA‘s
9 July 1950 while on passage from Abadan to Devonport arrived at Port Said
19 July 1950 at Plymouth
26 July 1950 arrived at Gibraltar
1 August 1950 from Devonport arrived at Port Said
2 August 1950 arrived at Suez
12 August 1950 berthed at Abadan
20 August 1950 passed Aden
26 August 1950 sailed Port Said
29 August 1950 arrived at Malta
19 September 1950 arrived at Abadan
3 October 1950 arrived at Port Said
8 November 1950 sailed Suez
11 December 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 December 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
17 December 1950 arrived at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne
19 December 1950 at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne together with RFA BROOMDALE and RFA FORT DUQUESNE
21 December 1950 Mr H C A Brain RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 December 1950 at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne at the same time as RFA’s BROOMDALE and FORT DUQUESNE
27 December 1950 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BROOMDALE and FORT DUQUESNE
30 December 1950 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BLACK RANGER, BROOMDALE and FORT DUQUESNE
2 January 1951 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BROOMDALE and FORT DUQUESNE.
3 January 1951 berthed on the River Tyne at Palmers Yard, Hebburn at the same time as RFA’s BROOMDALE and FORT DUQUESNE. Captain Percival H Brooke OBE RFA appointed as Master
10 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne at the same time as RFA BROOMDALE and RFA ECHODALE
12 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne at the same time as RFA BROOMDALE and RFA ECHODALE
16 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne at the same time as RFA BROOMDALE and RFA ECHODALE
18 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne at the same time as RFA BROOMDALE
23 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne at the same time as RFA BROOMDALE
24 January 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard at Hebburn, River Tyne
1 February 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard at Hebburn, River Tyne
8 February 1951 sailed from the River Tyne for Abadan
20 February 1951 sailed Suez
2 March 1951 arrived at Abadan
3 March 1951 sailed Abadan for Aden
8 March 1951 arrived at Aden
18 March 1951 arrived at Abadan
21 March 1951 sailed Abadan for Port Said
31 March 1951 sailed Port Said
7 April 1951 sailed Gibraltar for Port Said
13 April 1951 arrived at Port Said
17 April 1951 arrived at Aden
21 April 1951 sailed Aden for Port Said
24 April 1951 arrived at Suez
5 May 1951 sailed from Suez
8 May 1951 passed Aden
14 May 1951 arrived at Abadan
26 May 1951 sail Aden for Abadan
31 May 1951 arrived Abadan
2 June 1951 sailed Abadan for Singapore
3 July 1951 in Singapore outer Roads
26 July 1951 arrived at Wellington, New Zealand
2 March 1952 Captain William G Gilmore RFA appointed as Master
6 March 1952 arrived the River Tyne
12 March 1952 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on the River Tyne for repairs or refit
18 March 1952 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on the River Tyne for repairs or refit
28 March 1952 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on the River Tyne for repairs or refit at the same time as RFA EASEDALE
29 March 1952 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on the River Tyne for repairs or refit at the same time as RFA EASEDALE
19 April 1952 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on the River Tyne for repairs or refit
1 May 1952 sailed from the River Tyne for Curaçao
6 August 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
18 September 1952 sailed from Swansea
3 January 1953 at Portland, Maine, USA Lascar Seaman Rama Raghow discharged dead – natural causes – heart attack
18 April 1953 Captain Stanley C Kernick RFA appointed as Master
27 April 1953 Mr Lionel W Pool RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 May 1953 arrived Smith’s Dock for refit on the River Tyne from Avonmouth
19 May 1953 berthed at Smith’s Dock for refit
12 June 1953 at North Shields Shipping Office signed on new members of the crew
24 June 1953 sailed the River Tyne for Sheerness
21 July 1953 sailed Ras Tanura for Bombay, India and Australia
26 July 1953 arrived at Bombay, India
28 July 1953 sailed Bombay, India
31 July 1953 sailed from Bombay, India for Colombo, Ceylon
2 August 1953 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon for Darwin, Australia
12 August 1953 berthed at Darwin, Australia
28 August 1953 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Bombay, India
6 September 1953 sailed Bombay, India
12 September 1953 sailed Ras Tanura
23 September 1953 sailed Singapore Roads to Kure, Japan
14 October 1953 sailed Singapore Roads for Trincomalee, Ceylon
18 October 1953 arrived Trincomalee, Ceylon
20 October 1953 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
22 November 1953 in the Arabian Sea Seaman 1st Class Baboo Sonya discharged dead – drowned
7 December 1953 arrived at Suez
8 December 1953 sailed from Port Said for LEFO
14 December 1953 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
13 January 1954 at Swansea Secunny Email Eusoff discharged dead – natural causes
8 February 1954 passed Ushant
15 February 1954 arrived at Port Said
22 February 1954 sailed Suez
10 March 1954 sailed from Aden for Suez
14 March 1954 arrived at Suez
21 March 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
9 April 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
12 April 1954 passed Malta
17 April 1954 sailed Suez
27 April 1954 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for LEFO
4 May 1954 sailed from Aden
15 May 1954 passed Gibraltar on passage to Swansea
27 May 1954 passed the Lloyds SIgnal Station at Dover sailing east bound
28 May 1954 arrived at the River Tyne from Swansea and discharged her crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
3 June 1954 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit at the same time as RFA WAVE PROTECTOR
24 June 1954 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit at the same time as RFA WAVE PROTECTOR
28 June 1954 Mr Robert A Higgie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Robert A Higgie RFA
1 July 1954 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit at the same time as RFA WAVE PROTECTOR
5 July 1954 engaged a crew at the North Shields shipping office
14 July 1954 sailed the River Tyne for Bahrein
30 December 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
13 January 1955 two RAF Shackleton aircraft were reported overdue from a training flight over the Atlantic. Diverted to join in the search for them
6 February 1955 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound
14 June 1955 arrived at the River Tyne from Portland
25 June 1955 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne
12 October 1955 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon for Bombay
11 January 1956 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master
Captain Walter L Holtam RFA
17 March 1956 arrived at Port Said
15 July 1956 Mr A M Evans RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 August 1956 arrived at the River Tyne
3 August 1956 at Newcastle Merchant Shipping Office discharged the ships officers
16 August 1956 berthed at Swan Hunter (Walker), River Tyne
28 August 1956 berthed at Swan Hunter (Walker), River Tyne
1 September 1956 berthed at Swan Hunter (Walker), River Tyne
3 September 1956 at Newcastle Merchant Shipping Office engaged the ships officers
9 October 1956 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
16 October 1956 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
7 February 1957 Captain Allistoun M Macquire-Samson RFA appointed as Master
25 March 1957 sailed Houston for the U.K. with a full cargo of oil and struck a submerged wreck in the Houston Channel and sustained damage. She was still in the Channel 2 weeks later having transhipped her cargo to RFA DERWENTDALE (1)
5 June 1957 arrived at the River Tyne berthing on the Jarrow Oil Wharf from Salt End
7 June 1957 the Officers were discharged at the South Shields Shipping Office
17 October 1957 arrived at the River Tyne berthing on the Admiraltry Buoys
29 October 1957 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne with RFA RESURGENT
7 November 1957 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne with RFA RESURGENT
16 November 1957 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne with RFA WAVE EMPEROR
14 December 1957 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne with RFA WAVE EMPEROR
24 December 1957 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne with RFA WAVE COMMANDER
27 December 1957 Mr J P Mair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 January 1958 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne with RFA WAVE COMMANDER
15 March 1958 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne with RFA WAVE COMMANDER
21 March 1958 South East of Tyne Piers Seaman 1st Class Abdoolla Hasson discharged dead – found hanged
29 March 1958 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
22 April 1958 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne with RFA TIDEREACH
27 May 1958 still berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne but now without RFA TIDEREACH
5 July 1958 still berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
22 July 1958 still berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne but now with RFA EAGLESDALE
28 July 1958 Captain John M Humphrey DSC OBE MID RFA appointed as Master
29 July 1958 berthed on Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
26 August 1958 still berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne with RFA EAGLESDALE Captain Edmund H Butterworth RFA appointed as Master
Captain Edmund H Butterworth RFA
23 October 1958 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne together with RFA EAGLESDALE
6 November 1958 Mr F Barclay RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 November 1958 sailed from the River Tyne for Trinidad
18 December 1958 arrived at Milford Haven
19 December 1958 berthed at Pembroke Dock
22 December 1958 sailed Pembroke Dock to Aruba
4 January 1959 sailed Aruba for Invergordon
28 January 1959 sailed from Portsmouth
29 January 1959 arrived at Plymouth
7 February 1959 sailed from Plymouth
18 February 1959 arrived at Trinidad
21 February 1959 sailed from Trinidad
5 March 1959 passed Dover sailing east bound
8 March 1959 arrived at Rosyth
11 March 1959 sailed from Rosyth for Trinidad
12 March 1959 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound
24 March 1959 arrived at Trinidad
26 March 1959 sailed from Trinidad for the UK
8 April 1959 arrived at the Oil Fuel Depot at Old Kilpatrick on the River Clyde
10 April 1959 arrrived at Glasgow
18 April 1959 arrived at Lough Foyle, Northern Ireland
20 April 1959 sailed from Londonderry for Trinidad
1 May 1959 arrived at Trinidad
2 May 1959 sailed from Trinidad for Gibraltar
13 May 1959 arrived at Gibraltar
16 May 1959 sailed from Gibraltar
19 May 1959 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
24 May 1959 arrived at Port Said
25 May 1959 sailed from Suez
5 June 1959 sailed Abadan for Singapore
8 August 1959 arrived at Suez
9 August 1959 sailed from Port Said
13 August 1959 arrived Malta from Bahrein
18 August 1959 sailed Malta for the UK
30 April 1960 destored and laid up at Devonport
1961 still laid up but had been moved to Rosyth
1 October 1962 at Devonport moved, under tow, from Plymouth Sound to West Mud moorings
1 November 1969 offered for sale ‘as lying’ at Devonport Dockyard in the Times of this day
25 December 1969 arrived Bilbao, Spain for breaking up by Hierros Ardes