Previous name: Empire Sheba
Official Number: 169897
Class: WAVE CLASS Freighting Oiler (unmodified)
Pennant No: X82 / B 525 / A182
Signal Letters: GSNX
Laid down: 23 March 1943
Builder: Harland & Wolff (Govan)
Launched: 6 April 1944
Into Service: 22 July 1944
Out of service: 1956 – laid up at Portsmouth, Hampshire
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 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 WAVEnomenclature. 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.
31 July 1942 ordered by MoWT
23 March 1943 laid down as EMPIRE SHEBA for the MoWT
28 January 1944 taken over by the Admiralty as the first of the WAVE Class – name cancelled
6 April 1944 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan as Yard Nr: 1222 G named WAVE KING.
27 March 1944 Mr Charles M Morgan RFA (Lieutenant Commander (E) RNR) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 June 1944 Captain John M Humphrey DSC RFA appointed as Master
21 July 1944 completed and taken over from the builders
RFA WAVE KING
4 August 1944 was nominated to join escorted convoy UC32 but did not join.
9 August 1944 sailed the Clyde to Liverpool and then to New York in escorted convoy UC33 arriving on the 20 August 1944
11 August 1944 suffered steering gear failure and fell out of her column in Convoy UC33. USS RIND (DD404) remained with ship for 2.5 hours while the ships engineers repaired the steering gear. Rejoined Convoy. USS RIND rejoined the Convoy patrolling astern.
27 August 1944 sailed New York to Liverpool and then onto the Clyde in escorted convoy CU27 arriving on the 8 September 1944
1 October 1944 sailed the Clyde to Port Said in escorted convoy KMF35 arriving on the 11 October 1944
13 October 1944 sailed from Port Said
25 October 1944 sailed Suez independently arriving at Aden on the 30 October 1944
30 October 1944 sailed Aden independently to Khor Kwai arriving 3 November 1944
3 November 1944 sailed Khor Kwai independently to Abadan arriving 5 November 1944
6 November 1944 sailed Abadan independently to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 14 November 1944
16 November 1944 sailed Colombo, Ceylon independently to Trincomalee arriving 17 November 1944
18 November 1944 in Operation Outflank – the Eastern Fleet Task Force from Trincomalee – with escorts
27 November 1944 conducted successful RAS trials with the battleship HMS KING GEORGE V using 2 x 5” buoyant hoses
17 December 1944 sailed with HMS’s WHELP and WAGNER – both RASed prior to joining up with Force 66 as part of Operation ROBSON
18 December 1944 RASed HMS WHIRLWIND during Operation ROBSON – the first naval participation in Operation Outflank
HMS WHIRLWIND
31 December 1944 together with RFA EMPIRE SALVAGE, HMS’s WESSEX and WAKEFUL to join Task Force 65
13 January 1945 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon with RFA EMPIRE SALVAGE and RFA ECHODALE with a RN Unit as Force 69 to take part in Operation Meridan – an air attack on the oil refineries at Palembang to put them out of action They were joined in the fuelling area south of Sumatra by RFA ARNDALE which was despatched from Freemantle two days later
16 January 1945 attached to the British Pacific Fleet – the Main Body as Force 69 sailed from Trincomalee. The underway replenishment group included RFA’s WAVE KING, ARNDALE, ECHODALE and EMPIRE SALVAGE escorted by the cruiser HMS CEYLON and the destroyer HMS URCHIN
RFA Wave King as part of the British Pacific Fleet
20 January 1945 formed part of the underway replenishment group supporting Operation Meridian One – the naval air strike on the Royal Dutch Oil refinery at Pladjoe, the largest and most important oil refinery in the Far East
7 February 1945 arrived Freemantle
13 February 1945 sailed Freemantle independently to Sydney, NSW arriving 20 February 1945
27 February 1945 in the company of RFA’s ARNDALE, CEDARDALE and Requisitioned Auxilary SAN ADOLPHI sailed Sydney, NSW escorted to Manus, Admiralty Islands by HMAS WHYALLA and arriving on 9 March 1945
15 March 1945 the British Pacific Fleet, retitled as Task Force 57 to fit in with US Navy practice, was directed to participate in Operation Iceberg – the invasion of Okinawa – and RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), BROWN RANGER, CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH were attached.
18 March 1945 at Manus, Admiralty Islands with HMAS KALGOORLIE alongside being refuelled
19 March 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands independently to Leyte arriving 26 March 1945
28 March 1945 to 30 March 1945 The British Pacific Fleet Train, designated Task Force 112 – included RFA’s ARNDALE, CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH
4 April 1945 with RFA WAVE MONARCH joined TF 57 and commenced refuelling RN & RAN warships
5 April 1945 with RFA ARNDALE sailed to Leyte Gulf escorted by HMAS PIRIE and HMAS TAMWORTH
14 April 1945 – Pacific – Task Force 57 – established a record at the time for the number of ships refueled in one day and pumped 5,050 tons of oil in 9 hours
15 April 1945 sailed Leyte Gulf escorted by HMAS TAMWORTH
23 April 1945 to 30 April 1945 the British Pacific Fleet and Fleet train were at San Pedro Bay for rest, recreation and storing along with the distilling ship RFA BACCHUS (2) and the water carrier RFA BROWN RANGER
3 May 1945 HMAS NAPIER, NEPAL, NIZAM and NORMAN and HMS PHESANT, (destroyers), screened the escort carriers STRIKER and RULER, and RFA’s WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH, in the Okinawa area.
6 May 1945 – 7 May 1945 elements of the British Pacific Fleet met up with the Tanker Group at Cootie One – 21°12N 128°44E – for fuelling. The Group included RFA’s CEDARDALE, WAVE KING & WAVE MONARCH and 2 other MFA oiler under the escort of HMS NORMAN
14 May 1945 refuelled HMS EURYALUS
15 May 1945 with Fleet Train in Area COOTIE RASing BPF ships with RN Frigates HMS WOODCOCK, HMS PHEASANT, Destroyers HMAS NIZAM, Escort Carriers HMS RULER and HMS STRIKER for defence of Fleet Train tankers RFA’s DINGLEDALE, ARNDALE, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH (Operation ICEBERG TWO). RASed with HMS EURYALUS
22 May 1945 at Cootie One together with RFA WAVE MONARCH met up with HM and HMA ships for fuelling purposes. HMAS NORMAN refuelled from RFA WAVE KING abeam and received 162 tons of FFO
5 June 1945 sailed Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands independently to Sydney NSW arriving 13 June 1945
16 June 1945 underwent repairs at Sydney, NSW
19 July 1945 sailed Sydney, NSW independently to Manus arriving 25 July 1945
July 1945 – Pacific – part of Task Unit 112
31 July 1945 at 0900 hours TF 37 RV’ed with Task Unit 112 which consisted of oilers HMS OLNA (later to become RFA OLNA (2)), RFA’s WAVE GOVERNOR and WAVE KING and the MV CARELIA, stores supply ships MV GLENARTNEY and MV CORINDA, ammunition issuing ship MV ROBERT MAERSK, escort carriers HMS’s CHASER, RULER and SPEAKER, the corvette converted to a radar and radio maintenance ship HMNZS ARBUTUS, escorted by destroyers NORMAN and NEPAL, sloops CRANE, PHEASANT, WOODCOCK and REDPOLE, frigates ODZANI and DERG and minesweeper HMAS PIRIE, in replenishment area, BRITISH TIZZY. At 1000 hours replenishment commenced. The weather in the area was less than ideal, with a heavy swell running caused by a succession of typhoons to the east of the area. However, because the British were now mastering replenishment at sea (RAS) the weather did not affect the operation as much as it would have done just a few weeks ago.HMS KING GEORGE V again refuelled by the abeam method and was able to take on fuel at 840 tons per hour. (KGV maximum fuel capacity 4100 tons, average capacity 3886 tons)
6 August 1945 HMS CRANE provide AA defence for HMS ARBITER,. HMS CHASER, HMS RULER. tankers RFA’s DINGLEDALE and WAVE KING and SAN AMADO, Stores Supply Ships GLENARTNEY, FORT WRANGELL during BPF replenishment with Destroyers HMAS’s NAPIER, NORMAN, NIZAM, frigate HMS BARLE, sloop HMS PHEASANT, minesweepers HMAS’s BALLARAT and BURNIE
14 August 1945 alongside USS Housatonic (AO35) to receive a pumpover of US Navy Special Fuel oil and AVGAS
USS Housatonic (AO35)
15 August 1945 cleared USS Housatonic
20 August 1945 sailed Manus independently to Tokyo Bay 5 September 1945
2 September 1945 – present in Tokyo Bay during the surrender signing together with RFA DINGLEDALE
10 September 1945 at Buckney Bay with HMAS PIRIE alongside to be refuelled
HMAS PIRIE
17 September 1945 at Buckner Bay, Okinawa transfered six survivors to USS Santa Fe (CL60) for medical treatment. The survivors had come from USS YMS421 (a US minesweeper) which had been lost in a typhoon having grounded and broken up on a local reef and had then been rescued by RFA Wave King
26 September 1945 sailed Okinawa under tow of the HMRT LARIAT for Hong Kong
HMRT LARIAT
1 October 1945 under repair at Hong Kong
26 October 1945 Second Cook and Baker Samuel Hannah appeared before the Standing Military Court, Hong Kong charged with theft of two loaves of bread from the ship on 19 October 1945. Hannah pleaded Guilty. Hannah was seen leaving the ship at 6.30pm with a parcel under his arm. He was stopped by the Chief Officer and two loaves of bread were found. He was fined $20. Seaman Samuel Smith Robinson was fined $30 or ten days imprisonment for disobeying a lawful command of an officer. He pleaded Guilty.
27 October 1945 Able Seaman Thomas Wheeler (Royal Navy) discharged dead having died from a fractured skull. He is buried in Sai Wan War Cemetery, Hong Kong.
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
31 October 1945 in port at Hong Kong
5 December 1945 in port at Hong Kong
1 January 1946 in the London Gazette of this day Captain John M Humphrey DSC RFA was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
3 April 1946 in port at Hong Kong
3 May 1946 in port at Hong Kong
26 May 1946 sailed Hong Kong to Abadan via Singapore (arrived on 31 May 1946)
7 June 1946 arrived Bombay – sailed 13 June 1946 arrived Abadan 19 June 1946
21 June 1946 sailed Abadan for Glasgow
3 July 1946 sailed Port Said
9 July 1946 passed Gibraltar
13 July 1946 arrived Old Kilpatrick to discharge
15 July 1946 sailed Old Kilpatrick to the Clyde
3 August 1946 Mr Charles M Martin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 August 1946 Captain William B Browne OBE RFA appointed as Master
28 August 1946 sailed the Clyde to Abadan
1 September 1946 passed Gibraltar
6 September 1946 arrived Port Said
13 September 1946 sailed Aden
19 September 1946 berthed at Abadan
21 September 1946 sailed Abadan to Bombay arriving 26 September 1946
28 September 1946 sailed Bombay
17 October 1946 arrived Sydney, NSW, Australia
29 October 1946 sailed Sydney, NSW, Australia
12 November 1946 arrived Colombo and sailed on 14 November 1946 to Abadan
21 November 1946 arrived at Abadan
23 November 1946 sailed Abadan to Port Said
3 December 1946 sailed Port Said to Malta
20 December 1946 sailed Malta to Port Said arriving on 23 December 1946
23 December 1946 in transit through the Suez Canal
2 January 1947 arrived at Abadan
4 January 1947 sailed Abadan to Singapore
17 January 1947 arrived at Singapore and sailed the same day to Kure
26 January 1947 arrived at Kure
4 February 1947 sailed Kure to Abadan arriving 25 February 1947
27 February 1947 sailed Abadan to Trincomalee
15 March 1947 arrived Abadan
12 April 1947 berthed at Invergordon
15 April 1947 sailed Invergordon for the River Clyde
30 April 1947 sailed the River Clyde for Abadan
3 May 1947 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
9 May 1947 sailed Port Said for Aden
14 May 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
21 May 1947 sailed from Abadan for Hong Kong
5 August 1947 at Hong Kong Captain Robert Morrison RFA discharged dead after suffering a heart attack
24 August 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
1 September 1947 Mr D F Gorrie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 September 1947 Captain Robert Grimer DSC MID RFA appointed as Master
Captain Robert Grimer DSC MID RFA
Image taken in about 1919
29 January 1948 sailed Abadan for LEFO
3 February 1948 passed Aden this day while on passage from Abadan
7 February 1948 arrived Suez
8 February 1948 sailed Port Said for LEFO
19 February 1948 berthed at Saltend, Hull from Abadan to discharge
23 February 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head
6 March 1948 arrived at Port Said – sailed the same day
15 March 1947 berthed at Abadan
18 March 1948 sailed Abadan
29 March 1948 arrived at Port Said – sailed the next day
7 April 1948 sailed Port Said
27 April 1948 berthed at Gibraltar
29 April 1948 sailed Gibraltar
24 June 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
29 June 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
5 July 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
29 September 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
30 September 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
5 October 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
31 October 1948 arrived at Abadan – sailed the next day
22 April 1949 arrived Melbourne, Victoria, Australia from Abadan to discharge
26 April 1949 sailed Melbourne, Victoria, Australia for Abadan in ballast
16 May 1949 at Bombay
24 July 1949 at Darwin, Northern Territories the ship’s Volley Ball team played a Polish Nationals team and lost by 17 goals to 15
12 August 1949 arrived Abadan from Colombo, Ceylon
13 September 1949 sailed Abadan
18 September 1949 sailed Aden for LEFO
26 September 1949 sailed Port Said
8 October 1949 arrived at Hull from Abadan
11 October 1949 sailed Hull for the River Tyne in ballast
14 October 1949 berthed at Hebburn on Tyne
15 October 1949 the Daily Herald reported …
29 October 1949 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA BROOMDALE
5 November 1949 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
9 November 1949 Captain Albert E Curtain OBE RD RFA (Commander RNR (ret)) appointed as Master
10 November 1949 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
16 November 1949 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit and Mr Harry G May RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 November 1949 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
27 November 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south when on passage from the River Tyne to Abadan
15 January 1950 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand
12 February 1950 arrived at Abadan
23 February 1950 arrived at Suez
24 February 1950 arrived at Port Said
2 March 1950 sailed Port Said
8 March 1950 arrived at Gibraltar
11 March 1950 sailed from Gibraltar for Trinidad
21 March 1950 arrived Trinidad
22 March 1950 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
24 March 1950 in radio contact with the Cable & Wireless Radio Station on Bermuda
3 April 1950 following the sight of white rockets being fired some 30 miles north east of the Bishops Rock lighthouse together with four other ships and the St. Mary’s lifeboat from the Isles of Scilly searched for who or what was in distress. An RAF Coastal Command Lancaster was also scrambled to aid in the search but nothing was found
15 April 1950 in dock at Hull
17 April 1950 sailed Immingham to Abadan in ballast
19 April 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
7 May 1950 arrived at Abadan
10 May 1950 sailed Abadan for Simonstown, South Africa
27 May 1950 berthed at Simonstown, South Africa
22 June 1950 sailed Abadan
29 June 1950 at Bombay
3 July 1950 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon for Singapore
7 July 1950 sailed Singapore Roads
12 July 1950 arrived at Hong Kong
14 July 1950 sailed Hong Kong for Singapore
24 July 1950 at Suez
25 September 1950 sailed from Suez
4 October 1950 arrived at Abadan
6 October 1950 sailed Abadan for Gibraltar
17 October 1950 sailed Port Said
23 October 1950 arrived at Gibraltar
25 October 1950 sailed Gibraltar for Abadan
30 October 1950 arrived at Port Said
31 October 1950 sailed Suez
10 November 1950 arrived at Abadan
11 November 1950 sailed Abadan
21 November 1950 arrived at Suez
28 November 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
19 December 1950 berthed at N E Marine, River Tyne with RFA WAVE COMMANDER for repair or refit
27 December 1950 berthed at N E Marine, River Tyne with RFA WAVE COMMANDER for repair or refit
2 January 1951 berthed at N E Marine, River Tyne with RFA WAVE COMMANDER for repair or refit
3 January 1951 berthed at N E Marine, River Tyne with RFA WAVE COMMANDER for repair or refit
10 January 1951 berthed at N E Marine, River Tyne with RFA WAVE COMMANDER for repair or refit
12 January 1951 berthed at N E Marine, River Tyne with RFA WAVE COMMANDER for repair or refit
16 January 1951 berthed at N E Marine, River Tyne for repair or refit
23 January 1951 berthed at N E Marine, River Tyne for repair or refit
24 January 1951 berthed at N E Marine, River Tyne for repair or refit
1 February 1951 berthed on the River Tyne for repair or refit
8 February 1951 sailed from the River Tyne for Abadan
1 March 1951 arrived at Abadan
7 April 1951 arrived at Suez
9 April 1951 sailed Port Said
15 April 1951 arrived at Gibraltar
29 April 1951 sailed Suez for Abadan
9 May 1951 sailed Abadan for Singapore
3 June 1951 arrived at Abadan
20 June 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Killingholme
22 August 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
3 October 1951 in radio contact with the Cable & Wireless Radio Station on Bermuda
6 November 1951 sailed Gibraltar
6 December 1951 Mr Charles Scott DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 January 1952 Captain Howard D Gausden DSO RFA appointed as Master
9 January 1952 at Devonport moved by RFA CAREFUL to No 9 berth
14 January 1952 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
4 February 1952 Mr J W Ritchie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 March 1952 passed through the Panama Canal
30 April 1952 arrived Singapore
7 May 1952 sailed Singapore for Mena Al Ahmadi
19 May 1952 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi
29 May 1952 arrived at Suez
30 May 1952 sailed from Port Said
5 June 1952 Mr J Wilson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 June 1952 passed Fayal
5 July 1952 arrived at Aruba
20 July 1952 arrived at Malta
31 August 1952 sailed from Port Said for Singapore
1 September 1952 sailed Suez
21 September 1952 sailed from Pulo Bukom
27 September 1952 refuelled HMAS HAWKESBURY at 20°22S 115°40E prior to Operation Hurricane (explosion of an atomic weapon in HMS PLYM off Monte Bello island)
HMAS HAWKESBURY
29 September 1952 at 35 miles NE of Montebello Island RASed (Astern) with HMAS’s SYDNEY, TOBRUK, SHOALHAVEN and MACQUARIE. HMAS SYDNEY received 772 tons of FFO and 15,000 gallons of AVGAS
30 September 1952 at 35 miles NE of Montebello Island RASed with HMAS MURCHISON
3 October 1952 arrived from Colombo, Ceylon with fuel for Royal Australian Naval ships patrolling off Montebello shortly after the first atomic weapon was tested there – Operation Hurricane
10 October 1952 arrived at Pulo Bukom
20 October 1952 sailed from Pulo Bukom
1 November 1952 arrived at Bahrein
2 November 1952 sailed from Bahrein
9 November 1952 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Singapore
8 December 1952 sailed Singapore for California
30 December 1952 sailed Honolulu for Los Angeles, CA
22 February 1953 arrived at Singapore Roads
6 March 1953 sailed Singapore Roads
18 March 1953 sailed from Mena al Ahmadi for LEFO
24 March 1953 passed Aden
16 April 1953 in refit at Wallsend on Tyne and Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
17 April 1953 at South Shields Shipping Office discharged the crew
18 April 1953 berthed on the Admiralty Quay
21 April 1953 in refit at Swan Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne together with RFA WAVE MONARCH
5 May 1953 in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
30 May 1953 in refit at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
12 July 1953 sailed from Port Said for Mena Al Ahmadi
13 July 1953 sailed from Suex
2 August 1953 arrived at Suez
9 August 1953 sailed from Gibraltar
2 September 1953 sailed Trinidad for Gibraltar
16 September 1953 arrived at Gibraltar
21 September 1953 at Gibraltar Donkeyman Greaser Ernest Popham missing presumed drowned – logged as discharged dead
23 September 1953 sailed Gibraltar for Trinidad
8 October 1953 sailed Trinidad for Gibraltar
22 October 1953 sailed Gibraltar for Malta
26 October 1953 arrived at Malta
31 October 1953 sailed from Malta
4 November 1953 berthed at Gibraltar
5 December 1953 sailed from Gibraltar for Malta
10 December 1953 arrived at Malta
21 December 1953 sailed from Malta for Mena Al Ahmadi
25 December 1953 sailed from Suez
4 January 1954 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi
14 January 1954 arrived at Suez
15 January 1954 arrived at Port Said
17 January 1954 sailed Port Said
23 January 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound for Swansea
26 January 1954 Mr J A Swallow RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 February 1954 arrived at Suez
8 March 1954 arrived at Suez
9 March 1954 sailed from Port Said for the UK
15 March 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Swansea
28 April 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound for the Persian Gulf
5 May 1954 sailed from Suez
18 August 1954 passed Dover sailing west bound
30 October 1954 Chief Cook Percy Daniel discharged dead at 15°09N 51°46E buried at sea – apparently natural causes
3 February 1955 passed Gibraltar east bound when on passage from Swansea to Ras Tanura
3 July 1955 arrived at Malta from Swansea
24 to 29 July 1955 Engineers from HMS LOCH LOMOND and HMS FLAMINGO assisted with feed pump problems in the Persian Gulf. Wave King then sailed to Mina Al Ahmadi to complete repairs and even later salvage money was paid to the RN ships crew
21 October 1955 at the Newcastle Shipping Office discharged the crew
24 October 1955 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
25 October 1955 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne along with RFA WAVE PRINCE
5 November 1955 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne along with RFA WAVE PRINCE
8 November 1955 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne along with RFA’s WAVE PRINCE and WAVE SOVEREIGN
1 December 1955 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne along with RFA’s WAVE PRINCE and WAVE SOVEREIGN
3 January 1956 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE PRINCE
10 January 1956 Mr J A Ferguson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 January 1956 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
3 February 1956 engaged a crew at the Newcastle Shipping Office
9 February 1956 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne along with RFA’s WAVE PRINCE and OLNA (2)
14 February 1956 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound for Sheerness
23 March 1956 arrived at Gibraltar
26 March 1956 sailed from Gibraltar
21 April 1956 while alongside the Admiralty Oil Fuel depot at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde. Pumpman Frederick William Saunders discharged dead – natural causes – massive stroke
22 April 1956 sailed from the Admiralty Oil Fuel depot at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde for the Persian Gulf
3 June 1956 sailed Providence for Curaçao
9 June 1956 sailed Curaçao for Cristobal
21 June 1956 sailed Curaçao for Savannah
27 June 1956 sailed from Savannah
12 July 1956 sailed from Bostion for Curaçao
18 July 1956 sailed Curaçao
31 July 1956 arrived at Rio de Janerio
3 August 1956 sailed from Rio de Janerio
9 August 1956 struck a rock off Sao Luis de Maranhao, Brazil and was badly damaged. After refloating, she returned for repairs to the River Tyne via Trinidad
13 August 1956 sailed Trinidad
27 August 1956 discharged the crew at the Newcastle Shipping Office
28 August 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s WAVE RULER (1) and TIDEREACH
1 September 1956 berthed on the River Tyne
9 October 1956 berthed at Smiths Dock, River Tyne with RFA WAVE VICTOR
16 October 1956 berthed at Smiths Dock, River Tyne with RFA WAVE VICTOR
7 November 1956 Captain E E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
19 November 1956 Mr Ciriaco G McFadzean RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 June 1957 engaged a crew at North Shields Shipping Office
August 1957 grounded off Round Point Shoal, Trincomalee Harbour, Ceylon
14 September 1957 a board of enquiry found that Captain Le Sage was at fault and was reprimanded
6 October 1957 Captain A Jackson OBE RFA appointed as Master
6 January 1958 at 12°52N 43°16E Assistant Steward Lau Kwok Kuen discharged dead – missing at sea – presumed drowned
6 April 1958 arrived at Bombay towing RFA Wave Chief
29 June 1958 Mr Kenneth I J George RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 October 1958 sailed from Southampton
10 November 1958 arrived at Abadan
13 January 1959 sailed Malta to Abadan
20 January 1959 at sea at 16°16N 41°20E Bosun Chow Sing Foo and Seaman Lee Yao Ming both discharged dead having died from asphyxia. Both were buried at sea.
March 1960 purchased by H.G. Pounds Ltd, Portsmouth then resold to BISCO for £65,000 for scrap
16 April 1960 arrived under tow from Portland – tug Merchantman – at Barrow in Furness for breaking up.
Notes:
1. Early in her career, she suffered serious stern gland trouble off Okinawa and had to be towed to Hong Kong through a typhoon for repairs and she spent almost a year out of commission. A new shaft was fitted there in May 1949.
2. When TF 57 arrived at the fuelling area in April 1945 she established a record for the number of ships fuelled in one day and pumped over 5050 tons of fuel in a period of nine hours.
3. Was part of the British Pacific Fleet Train – hence the B-pennant number