Official Number: 180489
Class: WAVE CLASS Freighting Oiler (unmodified)
Pennant No: X103 / B 524 / A247
Signal Letters: GJKV (1945)
Laid down: 19 September 1943
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding, Haverton-Hill-on-Tees
Launched: 30 November 1944
Into Service: 8 March 1945
Out of service: 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, twentyone 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.
3 February 1943 ordered by MoWT
19 September 1943 laid down
November 1944 during construction the ship’s hull was painted on the port forward and starboard quarter with anti corrosive paint composition no: 173 – as a trial.
30 November 1944 launched by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill as Yard Nr: 362 named WAVE GOVERNOR for the Admiralty.
11 December 1944 Mr Alexander B McIntyre RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander (E) RNR (ret)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Alexander B McIntyre RD RFA
21 January 1945 Captain Stanley G Kent RFA appointed as Master
26 March 1945 sailed Middlesbrough to Southend arriving on 28 March 1945
31 March 1945 sailed in escorted convoy UC062A to New York having joined from Southend and arrived at New York on 11 April 1945
24 April 1945 sailed from New York in escorted convoy CU067 to Liverpool and then detached to the Clyde in what was described as a ‘USN Special’ arriving 4 May 1945
13 June 1945 sailed the Clyde independently
15 June 1945 arrived Belfast for fitting of armament and OAS facilities by Harland & Wolff Ltd then sailed to Curaçao arriving on 24 June 1945 to load
29 June 1945 sailed Curaçao independently to Cristobal arriving on 1 July 1945
2 July 1945 transited the Panama Canal
3 July 1945 sailed Balboa independently to Eniwetok arriving 23 July 1945
28 July 1945 refuelled HMAS PIRIE with a bouyant hose supplying 70 tons of FFO
HMAS PIRIE
August 1945 RFA’s attached to the logistics support group for the British Pacific Fleet included RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), BISHOPDALE, BROWN RANGER, CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, EASEDALE, EMPIRE SALVAGE, GREEN RANGER, RAPIDOL, SERBOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE GOVERNOR, WAVE KING, WAVE MONARCH and HMS (later RFA) OLNA (2)
11 September 1945 to 18 September 1945 at Hong Kong
24 September 1945 at Subic Bay – sailed 26 September 1945
11 October 1945 at Hong Kong with USS Conway (DD507) berthed alongside to refuel
USS Conway (DD507)
13 October 1945 at Hong Kong with HMAS BENDIGO and HMAS CASTLEMAINE alongside to be refuelled
HMAS BENDIGO
13 November 1945 sailed Hong Kong independently to Singapore arriving 17 November 1945
21 November 1945 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
6 December 1945 arrived at Hong Kong
15 January 1946 at Hong Kong
24 January 1946 Captain Thomas Elder DSC RFA appointed as Master
25 January 1946 sailed Singapore to Bombay, India arriving on 2 February 1946
10 February 1946 sailed Bombay, India to Abadan arriving 20 February 1946
22 February 1946 sailed Abadan to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 2 March 1946
2 March 1946 arrived Colombo, Ceylon
8 April 1946 at Kure sailed to Singapore 15 April 1946
21 April 1946 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong arriving 25 April 1946
2 June 1946 at Taikoo Dock, Hong Kong Steward Santan Furtado discharged dead having drowned
10 July 1946 sailed Hong Kong to Colombo arriving 19 July 1946
20 July 1946 sailed Colombo to Abadan arriving 28 July 1946
30 July 1946 sailed Abadan to Hong Kong arriving 15 August 1946
11 October 1946 sailed Hong Kong to Singapore arriving 15 October 1946
19 October 1946 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong arriving 24 October 1946
29 October 1946 sailed Hong Kong, passed Singapore on 3 November 1946 arriving at Colombo, Ceylon on 8 November 1946
9 November 1946 sailed Colombo to Bombay arriving 13 November 1946
6 December 1946 sailed Bombay to Abadan arriving on 10 December 1946
12 December 1946 sailed Abadan to Aden arriving 17 December 1946
20 December 1946 sailed Aden to Abadan arriving 25 December 1946
26 December 1946 sailed Abadan.
10 January 1947 sailed Port Said
16 January 1947 passed Gibraltar
22 January 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
28 January 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
29 January 1947 arrived at the River Tyne from Portsmouth
30 January 1947 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
6 February 1947 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
8 February 1947 berthed on Wallsend Slipway & Engineering, River Tyne
15 February 1947 Mr J A McKenzie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 February 1947 berthed on Wallsend Slipway & Engineering, River Tyne for refit or repairs together with RFA DERWENTDALE (1)
20 February 1947 berthed on Wallsend Slipway & Engineering, River Tyne for refit or repairs
3 April 1947 berthed on Wallsend Slipway & Engineering, River Tyne for refit or repairs
16 April 1947 berthed on Wallsend Slipway & Engineering, River Tyne for refit or repairs
23 April 1947 berthed on Wallsend Slipway & Engineering, River Tyne for refit or repairs
26 April 1947 berthed on Wallsend Slipway & Engineering, River Tyne for refit or repairs
28 April 1947 sailed from the River Tyne for trials
29 April 1947 arrived at the River Tyne after trials
2 May 1947 passed the Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound
9 May 1947 berthed at Killingholme to discharge
10 May 1947 sailed Killingholme
8 July 1947 passed the Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north bound
15 July 1947 berthed on the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE MONARCH
25 July 1947 berthed on the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE MONARCH
11 August 1947 Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA appointed as Master
Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA
14 August 1947 arrived River Tyne after trials
30 August 1947 arrived at Curaçao to load
1 September 1947 sailed Curaçao to the Mersey
19 September 1947 arrived at Eastham to discharge
21 September 1947 sailed Eastham in ballast for Curaçao
3 October 1947 arrived at Curaçao to load
7 October 1947 sailed from Curaçao
5 November 1947 sailed from Port Said for Bombay
10 November 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
25 November 1947 sailed Bombay
30 November 1947 arrived at Abadan from Bombay
4 December 1947 sailed from Abadan
15 December 1947arrived at Suez from Abadan
27 December 1947 berthed at Avonmouth to discharge
31 December 1947 sailed Avonmouth in ballast for Curaçao
17 January 1948 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
18 February 1948 sailed Aruba for the UK
18 May 1948 Captain Iden W J Hall RFA appointed as Master
Captain Iden W J Hall RFA
30 May 1948 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
4 June 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
3 July 1948 sailed Port Said
11 July 1948 sailed from Gibraltar for Abadan
26 July 1948 arrived at Abadan
28 July 1948 sailed from Abadan
29 July 1948 at sea Oilman Sk Sulleyman Abdul Gafour discharged dead having died from heat stroke
8 August 1948 arrived at Suez from Abadan
15 August 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing west
24 August 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east
29 August 1948 arrived at Port Said from Portland
5 September 1948 sailed Suez
8 September 1948 passed Aden
13 September 1948 arrived at Abadan
26 March 1949 sailed Abadan
5 April 1949 arrived Suez
6 April 1949 sailed Port Said for LEFO
22 April 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing eastwards
24 April 1949 arrived at the River Tyne
29 April 1949 berthed at TIC (Hebburn) Quay, River Tyne in refit and Captain William B Browne OBE RFA appointed as Master
2 May 1949 berthed on the River Tyne at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering in refit
9 May 1949 berthed on the River Tyne at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering in refit
14 May 1949 berthed on the River Tyne at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering in refit
23 May 1949 berthed on the River Tyne at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering in refit
27 May 1949 berthed on the River Tyne at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering in refit
2 June 1949 berthed on the River Tyne at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering in refit
13 June 1949 berthed on the River Tyne at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering in refit
21 June 1949 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
1 July 1949 arrived at Port Said
2 July 1949 sailed Suez
13 July 1949 sailed Abadan
23 July 1949 arrived at Suez
24 July 1949 sailed Port Said for LEFO
30 July 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
2 August 1949 passed Ushant
6 August 1949 berthed at Killingholme from Abadan to discharge
8 August 1949 sailed Saltend, Killingholme in ballast for Abadan
13 August 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
19 August 1949 arrived at Port Said
20 August 1949 sailed Suez
24 August 1949 passed Aden
29 August 1949 arrived at Abadan
31 August 1949 sailed Abadan for Malta
12 September 1949 sailed Port Said
18 September 1949 sailed Malta for Port Said
21 September 1949 arrived at Port Said
10 October 1949 sailed from Abadan for Darwin, Northern Territories, Australia
23 October 1949 arrived at Darwin, from Abadan
1 November 1949 sailed Darwin for Colombo, Ceylon
29 November 1949 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
7 December 1949 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon for Abadan
27 December 1949 arrived at Port Said
5 January 1950 sailed Port Said for Malta
8 January 1950 arrived at Malta
14 January 1950 arrived at Port Said
15 January 1950 sailed Suez
27 January 1950 arrived Abadan
29 January 1950 sailed from Abadan
10 February 1950 sailed from Port Said
16 February 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
26 February 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
4 March 1950 arrived at Port Said
7 March 1950 arrived at Suez
18 March 1950 sailed from Abadan
24 March 1950 passed Aden
30 March 1950 sailed Port Said
5 April 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
11 April 1950 berthed at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot from Abadan
21 April 1950 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
23 July 1950 sailed Abadan for Malta
5 August 1950 sailed Port Said
8 August 1950 arrived at Malta
11 August 1950 sailed from Malta
14 August 1950 arrived at Port Said
25 August 1950 arrived at Abadan
27 August 1950 sailed from Abadan
6 September 1950 arrived at Suez
13 September 1950 passed Malta
5 November 1950 berthed at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot from Abadan
9 November 1950 sailed Old Kilpatrick Oil fuel depot for Abadan in ballast
15 November 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
21 November 1950 arrived at Port Said
27 November 1950 passed Aden
3 December 1950 arrived at Abadan
7 December 1950 and 8 December 1950 anchored off Abadan
19 December 1950 arrived at Suez
20 December 1950 sailed Port Said
26 December 1950 sailed from Malta for Abadan
29 December 1950 arrived at Port Said
8 January 1951 sailed Suez
19 January 1951 arrived at Abadan
20 January 1951 sailed Abadan for Singapore
29 January 1951 arrived at Bombay, India
10 February 1951 sailed Bombay, India
19 February 1951 sailed Singapore
21 February 1951 Greaser D Munro appeared before the Singapore First Police Court when he missed his ship and was prosecuted for being absent without leave. He pleaded Guilty and was fined $10
3 March 1951 berthed at Gladstone, Queensland for engine repairs and fresh water while on passage from the Persian Gulf to New Zealand
9 March 1951 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand
15 March 1951 sailed Auckland, New Zealand for Abadan
31March 1951 arrived at Singapore
7 April 1951 at Singapore Naval Base Able Seaman Donal Grant discharged dead – drowned
8 April 1951 sailed Singapore for Abadan
19 April 1951 arrived at Abadan
27 April 1951 sailed from Abadan for Malta
7 May 1951 arrived at Suez
9 May 1951 sailed Port Said
12 May 1951 berthed at Malta
21 May 1951 sailed Suez
1 June 1951 sailed Abadan for Aden
8 June 1951 arrived at Aden
28 June 1951 arrived at Aden
3 July 1951 sailed from Aden
14 July 1951 arrived at Gibraltar
July 1951 berthed at Gladstone, Queensland
29 August 1951 Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appoitned as Master
17 September 1951 Captain George S Perry RFA appointed as Master
5 November 1951 arrived Chowder Bay, Mosman, NSW, Australia from Balboa to discharge
9 November 1951 sailed Chowder Bay, Mosmon, NSW, Australia for Curaçao
5 December 1951 Mr J B Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 December 1951 Captain Francis J King RFA appointed as Master
14 January 1952 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
14 March 1952 arrived at and then sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta the same day
25 August 1952 arrived at the River Tyne from Falmouth
30 August 1952 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend, River Tyne in refit or for repair
6 September 1952 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend, River Tyne in refit or for repair
2 October 1952 engaged a crew at North Shields Shipping Office
7 October 1952 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend, River Tyne in refit or for repair
24 October 1952 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
7 November 1952 sailed Curaçao
8 November 1952 sailed from Trinidad for the River Plate
24 November 1952 arrived at Buenos Aires, Argentina
2 December 1952 sailed Montvideo for Curaçao
15 December 1952 arrived at Curaçao
16 December 1952 sailed Curaçao
26 December 1952 arrived at Fayal
27 December 1952 sailed Fayal for Liverpool
18 January 1953 arrived at Malta
21 January 1953 sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta
24 January 1953 arrived at Port Said
1 February 1953 sailed Port Said for Ras Tanura
14 February 1953 sailed from Ras Tanura
26 February 1953 arrived at Singapore Roads
10 March 1953 grounded at Suruga Bay, Japan. Refloated by discharging some of her crude oil cargo into the sea
29 May 1953 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi for Rotterdam
10 June 1953 arrived at Suez
11 June 1953 sailed Port Said
16 June 1953 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
20 June 1953 arrived at Pernis
23 June 1953 sailed from Rotterdam for Southampton
26 June 1953 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
16 July 1953 arrived at Fayal
17 July 1953 sailed from Fayal
28 July 1953 arrived at Houston
29 July 1953 sailed from Houston
8 August 1953 sailed Sydney, Nova Scotia
12 August 1953 arrived at New York
21 August 1953 sailed Lake Charles
2 September 1953 sailed Sydney, Nova Scotia
4 September 1953 sailed Corner Brook for Halifax
11 September 1953 sailed Halifax
24 September 1953 arrived at New York
29 September 1953 sailed from New York for Lake Charles
4 October 1953 arrived at Lake Charles
14 October 1953 arrived at Sydney, NS
1 November 1953 arrived at Lake Charles
11 November 1953 arrived Sydney, NS sailing later the same day
14 November 1953 sailed Sydney, NS for Punta Carden
18 December 1953 sailed Philadelphia for Lake Charles
17 October 1954 sailed from Aden
25 November 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound
3 December 1954 arrived the River Tyne from Sheerness
13 December 1954 transfered crew with RFA OLNA (2)
2 January 1955 arrived Port Said
9 January 1955 sailed Port Said
11 January 1955 sailed Suez
20 January 1955 arrived at Bombay
23 January 1955 sailed Bombay
30 January 1955 arrived at Mena Al Ahmadi
10 February 1955 arrived at Suez
13 February 1955 sailed from Port Said
6 March 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
12 March 1955 arrived at Port Said
20 March 1955 sailed from Port Said
21 March 1955 sailed Suez
29 March 1955 sailed from Aden for Mena Al Ahmadi
6 April 1955 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi for LEFO
19 April 1955 arriving at Suez and after transit of the Suez Canal later sailed from Port Said
5 May 1955 Captain J Bottomley RFA appointed as Master. On sailing Sheerness was in collision with HMS GRENVILLE – no damage
HMS GRENVILLE
11 May 1955 Mr Frederick B Hobson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 July 1955 arrived Port Said
10 July 1955 sailed from Suez
20 July 1955 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for LEFO
30 July 1955 sailed Suez
8 August 1955 sailed Port Said
14 August 1955 sailed Malta
18 August 1955 sailed from Gibraltar for the Isle of Grain
25 December 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing east
17 April 1956 arrived on the Clyde at Glasgow
27 April 1956 Mr William J Brown OBE DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 December 1956 Mr D F Gorrie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 June 1957 thirteen crew members on route from Pakistan to join the ship which was in refit at Falmouth went down with influenza on arrival at London Airport and were detained in Denton Hospital and Thurrock Hospital – source the Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London (1957)
16 June 1957 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master
Captain Walter L Holtam RFA
26 August 1957 arrived at Devonport
30 August 1957 sailed Devonport for St Kitts for orders
13 September 1957 sailed Trinidad for Las Palmas
22 September 1957 arrived at Las Palmas
6 October 1957 sailed Curaçao for Jacksonville
10 October 1957 arrived at Jacksonville
12 October 1957 sailed Jacksonville for Curaçao
25 October 1957 sailed Curaçao for Punta Cardon
27 October 1957 sailed from Punta Cardon for New York
3 November 1957 sailed New York for Curaçao
November 1957 the Lascar crew ‘jumped ship’ and refused to sail her. A Trinidadian crew were signed on at Port of Spain, Trinidad
November 1957 the Trinidad Guardian newspaper reported –
9 December 1957 arrived at Rio de Janerio
12 December 1957 sailed from Rio de Janerio for Curaçao
20 December 1957 at Salinas
31 December 1957 Humanitarian aid – sailed Singapore carrying relief supplies to Trincomalee after Ceylon had been battered by a typhoon.
3 February 1958 Captain Alfred M Uglow RFA appointed as Master until 21 March 1959
20 January 1958 arrived at Stanlow
24 January 1958 sailed Stanlow for Falmouth
25 January 1958 arrived at Falmouth
12 March 1958 moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
15 March 1958 moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
18 March 1958 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
27 March 1958 arrived at Port Said
19 April 1958 sailed Abadan
30 April 1958 arrive at Suez
4 May 1958 arrived at Malta
23 May 1958 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi
2 June 1958 arrived at Suez
3 June 1958 sailed from Port Said
9 June 1958 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
14 June 1958 arrived at Hamburg
3 July 1958 Mr E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 July 1958 in refit at Smiths Dock Co Ltd., River Tyne – RFA SOMERSBY was also present in the same ship yard at the same time
26 August 1958 in refit at Smiths Dock Co Ltd., River Tyne – RFA SOMERSBY was also present in the same ship yard at the same time
30 September 1958 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound for Malta
3 October 1958 arrived at Malta
5 October 1958 sailed from Malta
9 October 1958 sailed from Suez
19 October 1958 sailed Abadan
29 October 1958 arrive at Suez
3 November 1958 arrived at Malta
7 November 1958 sailed Malta for Aden
22 November 1958 sailed from Banda Mashur
1 December 1958 arrived Suez
2 December 1958 sailed from Port Said
8 December 1958 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
22 December 1958 sailed Swansea
27 December 1958 sailed Tail of Bank for Trinidad
9 January 1959 sailed Trinidad to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
21 February 1959 sailed from Trinidad for Bermuda
25 February 1959 arrived at Bermuda
27 February 1959 sailed from Bermuda for Trinidad
4 March 1959 sailed from Trinidad
17 March 1959 arrived at Greenock
19 March 1959 berthed alongside at the Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
22 March 1959 sailed from the Clyde Anchorage
3 April 1959 arrived at Trinidad
12 April 1959 sailed from Trinidad
17 April 1959 sailed from St Kitts
29 April 1959 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head north bound
30 April 1959 destored and laid up at Rosyth
14 August 1959 offered for sale in ‘The Times’ lying ‘as is’ at Rosyth
2 June 1960 for the second time offered for sale in ‘The Times’ lying ‘as is’ at Rosyth
20 July 1960 purchased by BISCO for £64,500 for scrap
9 August 1960 handed over to Shipbreaking Industries Ltd at Rosyth
22 August 1960 breaking up commenced
Notes:
1. Early in her career she grounded in Tsuruga Bay, Japan and was refloated with some bottom damage.
2. In January 1945 her Master suggested that abeam-method working parties on the lower deck during OAS operations were in danger and their working ability was severely affected in heavy weather. He recommended that a spar deck be constructed on a level with the flying bridge capable of taking all OAS trough-method gear and winches. This was the forerunner to the RAS deck of today.
3. Was part of the British Pacific Fleet Train – hence the B-pennant number