RFA Wave Knight (1)
Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Previous name: Empire Naseby
Official Number: 180875
Class: WAVE CLASS Replenishment Oiler (modified)
Pennant No: X139 / A249
Signal Letters: GKVP (1946)
Laid down:
Builder: Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland
Launched: 22 October 1945
Into Service: 28 January 1947
Out of service: 1964
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 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.
23 October 1945 launched by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 764 named EMPIRE NASEBY for the MoWT
3 December 1945 sailed Sunderland in tow of the tugs Fulwell, President and Hendon to the River Tyne arriving the same day
7 December 1945 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
15 February 1946 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
4 April 1946 sailed the River Tyne to Sunderland
31 May 1946 completed and placed under initial management of Tankers Ltd, London. Sailed Sunderland to the Tyne arriving the same day
8 June 1946 sailed the Tyne, passed Prawle Point 9 June 1946,
12 June 1946 passed Gibraltar
18 June 1946 arrived Suez
22 June 1946 at Aden sailing the same day to Abadan
29 June 1946 sailed Abadan to Bombay arriving 4 July 1946
6 July 1946 sailed Bombay to Trincomalee arriving 10 July 1946
19 July 1946 sailed Trincomalee to Abadan
28 July 1946 sailed Abadan to Suez arriving on 10 August 1946
12 August 1946 reported engine trouble
27 August 1946 arrived and sailed Port Said to Malta
4 September 1946 passed Gibraltar arriving at the Downs and Sheerness on 9 September 1946
11 September 1946 sailed Sheerness to the River Tyne arriving 15 September 1946
21 October 1946 sailed the Tyne passing Gibraltar on 26 October 1946 and arrived at Port Said 31 October 1946
1 November 1946 sailed Suez but put back with engine trouble arriving at Port Said 17 November 1946
27 November 1946 sailed Port Said to Gibraltar
5 December 1946 sailed Gibraltar to Sheerness arriving on 11 December 1946
11 December 1946 sailed The Downs
16 December 1946 passed the Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north
17 December 1946 arrived at the Tyne from Sheerness berthing at North Eastern Marine
23 December 1946 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
31 December 1946 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
4 January 1947 Mr William J Brown OBE DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 January 1947 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
17 January 1947 still berthed at North Eastern Maine, River Tyne using the name Wave Knight (1)
27 January 1947 Captain Frederick S Harvey RFA appointed as Master
Captain Frederick S Harvey RFA as an Apprentice
28 January 1947 berthed at the N E Marine, River Tyne. Transferred to Admiralty management and renamed WAVE KNIGHT (1)
6 February 1947 berthed at the N E Marine, River Tyne
7 February 1947 undertook engine trials off the River Tyne and then made fast to the Mercantile Buoys in the River Tyne
8 February 1947 berthed at the N E Marine, River Tyne
14 February 1947 sailed the River Tyne to Portland arriving on 16 February 1947
16 February 1947 sailed Portland to Gibraltar arriving 19 February 1947
19 February 1947 sailed Gibraltar to Port Said arriving 24 February 1947
25 February 1947 after transit of the Suez Canal sailed arriving Aden on 1 March 1947
1 March 1947 sailed Aden to Abadan arriving 7 March 1947
1 April 1947 arrived at Port Said from Abadan and sailed, passing Gibraltar on 7 April 1947
11 April 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing eastwards and later berthed at Devonport
17 April 1947 sailed Devonport to Killingholme passing Spurn Head on 18 April 1947
22 April 1947 arrived the River Tyne
23 April 1947 berthed on Jarrow Oil Wharf, River Tyne
26 April 1947 moved berth to TIC Hebburn Quay
5 May 1947 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
19 May 1947 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
12 June 1947 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
14 June 1947 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
23 June 1947 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
26 June 1947 sailed the River Tyne for engine trials
28 June 1947 berthed on the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne
2 July 1947 sailed the Tyne for Abadan
4 August 1947 sailed Port Said
7 August 1947 arrived at Malta
17 August 1947 passed Gibraltar sailing west for Curaçao
27 August 1947 arrived at Curaçao from Malta
28 August 1947 sailed Curaçao
9 September 1947 berthed at Avonmouth from Curaçao to discharge
12 September 1947 sailed Avonmouth for Newport, Gwent
24 September 1947 sailed Newport, Gwent for Trinidad
4 November 1947 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
15 November 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
1 December 1947 sailed from Port Said for Abadan from Portland
13 December 1947 sailed Abadan for Singapore
31 December 1947 sailed Singapore for Bombay
16 January 1948 sailed Bombay, India for Abadan
20 January 1948 arrived Abadan from Bombay, India
22 January 1948 sailed from Abadan for Malta
3 February 1948 sailed from Port Said
6 February 1948 berthed at Malta from Abadan
8 February 1948 sailed Malta
11 February 1948 arrived at Port Said from Malta
15 February 1948 passed Aden
10 March 1948 sailed Malta for Haifa
14 March 1948 sailed Haifa for LEFO
20 March 1948 while on passage from Haifa to LEFO passed Gibraltar this day
17 May 1948 while on passage from Devonport to Abadan passed Gibraltar
23 May 1948 sailed from Suez
1 June 1948 berthed at Abadan
3 June 1948 sailed from Abadan for Gibraltar
20 June 1948 sailed Gibraltar for the UK
29 June 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
5 August 1948 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
15 August 1948 Captain Leslie J Mack DSO RFA appointed as Master
16 September 1948 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
1 November 1948 arrived at Abadan from Rosyth
3 November 1948 sailed from Abadan
9 November 1948 arrived at Aden from Abadan
11 November 1948 sailed Aden for Abadan
28 November 1948 arrived at Suez
30 November 1948 sailed Port Said
5 December 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Lyness
16 December 1948 berthed on the TIC (Heburn) Quay, River Tyne
17 December 1948 berthed on the TIC (Heburn) Quay, River Tyne
23 December 1948 berthed on the TIC (Heburn) Quay, River Tyne along with RFA WAVE RULER (1)
28 December 1948 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne
30 December 1948 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne
31 December 1948 sailed from Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne for Abadan
5 January 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
11 January 1949 arrived at Port Said
15 January 1949 sailed from Suez
24 January 1949 arrived Abadan
25 January 1949 sailed from Abadan
11 February 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
17 February 1949 arrived at Saltend, Hull from Abadan
23 February 1949 off Gibraltar engaged in exercises with HMS VANGUARD, HMS SUPERB and HMS REWARD
28 February 1949 arrived at Port Said
1 March 1949 sailed Suez for Abadan
10 March 1949 arrived at Abadan
12 March 1949 sailed from Abadan for Singapore
6 April 1949 arrived at Abadan
8 April 1949 sailed Abadan for LEFO
14 April 1949 arrived at Aden
17 April 1949 sailed from Aden
21 April 1949 arrived at Suez
23 April 1949 sailed Port Said
28 April 1949 sailed from Gibraltar
18 June 1949 Mr J S Aitken RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 July 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
19 July 1949 arrived at Port Said
30 July 1949 arrived at Abadan
12 August 1949 sailed Port Said
15 August 1949 arrived Malta from Abadan
17 August 1949 sailed from Malta for Abadan
20 August 1949 arrived Port Said
22 August 1949 sailed Suez for Abadan
31 August 1949 arrived at Abadan
2 September 1949 sailed Abadan for Trincomalee, Ceylon
9 September 1949 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
16 September 1949 at Trincomalee, Ceylon Apprentice Barry Lockett discharged dead – drowned
11 October 1949 arrived at Singapore
24 October 1949 sailed from Singapore
5 November 1949 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
15 November 1949 sailed Abadan for Colombo, Ceylon
22 November 1949 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
10 December 1949 berthed Chowder Bay, Sydney, Australia from Abadan to discharge
13 December 1949 Seaman John McClure discharged dead. While the ship was in the Captain Cook Dry Dock at Sydney, NSW, Australia he fell while working in the boiler room, He was buried in Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park Cemetery, Botany on the 15 December 1949 in Grave 689
21 December 1949 sailed Sydney, Australia for Abadan
4 January 1950 arrived at SIngapore
31 January 1950 arrived at Singapore
16 February 1950 berthed at Abadan
18 February 1950 sailed Abadan for Singapore
1 March 1950 arrived at Seletar
2 March 1950 arrived at Singapore
10 March 1950 sailed from Seletar for Abadan
15 April 1950 sailed Abadan for Auckland, New Zealand
13 May 1950 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand
16 May 1950 sailed Auckland, New Zealand for Abadan
4 June 1950 berthed at Colombo, Ceylon
5 June 1950 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
14 June 1950 arrived at Abadan
16 June 1950 sailed Abadan for Suez
26 June 1950 arrived at Suez from Abadan when on passage to LEFO
27 June 1950 sailed from Port Said
3 July 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
6 July 1950 passed Ushant
7 July 1950 Captain Herbert W Flint RFA appointed as Master
19 July 1950 sailed Malta
23 July 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
27 July 1950 berthed at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde from Malta
11 October 1950 sailed Glasgow to Abadan in ballast
16 October 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
February 1951 to 27 July 1953 saw service during the Korean War along with 18 other RFA’s and was awarded the Korea 1951-53 Battle Honour
February 1951 off Korea RASed with HMCS’s SIOUX, CAYUGA, NOOTKA and ATHABASKAN
26 February 1951 off Clifford Island, Western Korea RASed with HMAS BATAAN
HMAS BATAAN
27 February 1951 off Tokechok To LSM 419 transferred stores from the ship to the US Shoran Station
28 February 1951 off Inchon RASed with HMAS BATAAN
19 March 1951 off Western Korea RASed with HMAS BATAAN
22 May 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne from Rosyth
24 May 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
28 May 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
31 May 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
1 June 1951 Captain Bertram Tunnard RFA appointed as Master
13 June 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
21 June 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne in refit at the same time was RFA WAVE LIBERATOR
3 July 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
5 July 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
9 July 1951 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
14 July 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
18 July 1951 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
20 July 1951 sailed from the River Tyne on trials
5 August 1951 Mr Reginald R Darroch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Reginald R Darroch RFA
18 August 1951 arrived at Malta
23 August 1951 sailed Malta for Cyprus
26 August 1951 arrived at Khrysokhu Bay, Cyprus
7 September 1951 arrived at Kyrenia
29 September 1951 berthed at Malta
1 October 1951 sailed from Malta for Gibraltar
October 1951 with RFA BLUE RANGER supported Exercise Symphonic Deux with units of the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the French Navy
16 October 1951 sailed Cannes for Gibraltar
20 October 1951 sailed Gibraltar for Curaçao
30 October 1951 arrived at Curaçao
31 October 1951 sailed from Curaçao
20 November 1951 sailed Malta for Curaçao
23 November 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Curaçao
19 December 1951 arrived at Malta
5 January 1952 sailed Malta to Curaçao
20 January 1952 arrived at Aruba
4 February 1952 arrived at Malta
8 February 1952 sailed Malta for Gibraltar and Devonport
12 February 1952 sailed Gibraltar
23 February 1952 sailed Trinidad
24 February 1952 arrived at Curaçao
9 March 1952 sailed from Gibraltar
10 March 1952 sailed Gibraltar for Port Said
16 March 1952 arrived at Port Said
6 April 1952 sailed Curaçao
20 April 1952 Captain B Smith RFA appointed as Master
17 May 1952 sailed from Curaçao
30 May 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing east
6 June 1952 passed Malta and arrived at Augusta sailing later the same day
11 June 1952 sailed Augusta for Aden
27 June 1952 sailed from Port Said
7 July 1952 arrived at Augusta
10 July 1952 sailed from Augusta
15 July 1952 sailed from Suez
19 July 1952 arrived at Aden
21 July 1952 sailed Aden for Mena Al Ahmadi
26 August 1952 arrived at the River Tyne from Antwerp
30 August 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit or for repair
6 September 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit or for repair
10 September 1952 Captain Leonard Elford RFA appointed as Master
18 September 1952 Mr J A Swallow RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 October 1952 engaged a crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
9 October 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit or for repair
17 October 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
26 October 1952 arrived at Port Said
28 October 1952 sailed Suez
29 January 1953 at Sasebo, Japan with HMAS ANZAC alongside being refuelled
HMAS ANZAC
10 February 1953 a serious case of food poisoning occured on board resulting that a refuelling of HMS GLORY had to be cancelled and the ship had to be sailed by officers from HMS BIRMINGHAM for one day
HMS BIRMINGHAM
11 Ferbruary 1953 at Yongpyong Do, Korea refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside
12 February 1953 off Korea RAS’ed with HMS CHARITY, USS HANNA and USS COLLETT. then sailed escorted by USS COLLETT to the Hajeu station
18 February 1953 off Korea in the Hajeu station RAS’ed with USS HANNA
27 February 1953 off Korea RAS’ed with HMAS ANZAC
5 March 1953 at Yongpyong Do, Korea refuelled HMAS ANZAC and HMAS CONDAMINE alongside
6 March 1953 RAS’ed with HMS BIRMINGHAM protected by HMAS ANZAC and two frigates
9 March 1953 at Yongpyong Do, Korea refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside
13 March 1953 at Yongpyong Do, Korea refuelled HMAS ANZAC and HMAS CONDAMINE alongside
15 March 1953 sailed from Yongpyong Do, Korea escorted by HMAS ANZAC and anchored at Taechong Do, Korea with HMNZS HAWEA and HNMS JOHAN MAURITS VAN NASSAU berthed alongside to refuel. Sailed later the same day for Sasebo, Japan escorted by HMCS HAIDA
31 March 1953 at Yongpyong Do, Korea with HMS CHARITY alongside being refuelled
1 April 1953 at Yongpyong Do, Korea with HMAS ANZAC alongside being refuelled – she received 385 tons of FFO
12 April 1953 at Yongpyong Do, Korea refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside
15 April 1953 at Yongpyong Do, Korea refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside
11 June 1953 at Taechong Do, Korea refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside
13 June 1953 while on passage to Hong Kong RAS’ed with HMAS ANZAC
1 July 1953 at Taechong Do, Korea refuelled HMAS CULGOA alongside
18 July 1953 sailed Singapore Roads for Mena Al Ahmadi
30 July 1953 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Antwerp
10 August 1953 sailed Port Said
16 August 1953 passed Gibraltar
13 October 1953 arrived at Portland from Hebburn on Tyne
14 October 1953 Mr K Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 October 1953 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
22 October 1953 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s WAVE MASTER and ARNDALE
3 November 1953 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA ARNDALE
6 November 1953 Captain Samuel Thomas RFA appointed as Master
5 December 1953 sailed the River Tyne for Trinidad
20 December 1953 sailed Trinidad for the UK
14 November 1954 exercised with HMS’s CARDIGAN BAY and COCKADE off the coast of Malaysia
24 March 1955 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit at the same time as RFA RETAINER and RFA DEWDALE (1)
19 April 1955 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit at the same time as RFA RETAINER and RFA DEWDALE (1)
14 May 1955 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit at the same time as RFA RETAINER and RFA DEWDALE (1)
19 May 1955 at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
30 May 1955 Mr William J Brown OBE DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Office
25 June 1955 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend on Tyne together with RFA DEWDALE (1) and TIDEREACH
9 August 1955 berthed at Palmers Heburn on Tyne together with RFA’s WAVE SOVEREIGN and OLNA (2)
23 August 1955 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s WAVE BARON & WAVE CHIEF
25 August 1955 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE BARON
1 September 1955 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE BARON. Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
8 September 1955 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne
5 October 1955 passed the Lloyds SIgnal Station on Flamborough Head sailing southbound for Malta
21 December 1955 sailed Bahrein for Malta
25 March 1956 with RFA FORT SANDUSKY sailed from Singapore being escorted by HMNZS’ Kaniere and Pukaki to take part in exercise Monsoon
6 April 1956 sailed from Singapore for Hong Kong
14 August 1956 arrived at Bahrein
23 October 1956 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing northbound for the River Tyne
18 November 1956 Captain D A C Butler RFA appointed as Master
21 November 1956 Mr J E Kennedy RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 December 1956 sailed Sheerness for Curaçao with 3 passengers
18 July 1957 sailed Portsmouth for Rosyth
21 July 1957 arrived at Rosyth
23 July 1957 Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer David C Leathley RFA
27 August 1957 arrived at Southampton
2 September 1957 sailed Southampton for Portland
3 September 1957 passed Fort Gilkicker on the Solent
14 September 1957 arrived at Devonport
16 September 1957 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westbound for the River Clyde
29 September 1957 anchored at Tail of Bank off Greenock
7 October 1957 sailed from Tail of Bank off Greenock
23 October 1957 arrived at Curaçao
25 October 1957 sailed from Curaçao
26 November 1957 discharged the crew at the Newcastle Shipping Office
1957 to 1960 supported Operation Grapple – the British H-bomb test at Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean – along with 16 other RFA’s
4 December 1957 Captain James H Chant RFA appointed as Master
14 December 1957 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s RESURGENT, TIDEREACH (1) and WAVE COMMANDER
31 December 1957 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s RESURGENT, TIDEREACH and WAVE EMPEROR
2 January 1958 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s RESURGENT, TIDEREACH and WAVE EMPEROR
21 January 1958 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s RESURGENT, TIDERACE (1) and WAVE KNIGHT (1)
11 February 1958 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s RESURGENT, TIDERACE (1)
13 February 1958 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s RESURGENT, TIDERACE (1)
14 February 1958 Mr Wallace G Downing RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 February 1958 completed engaged a crew at the Newcastle Shipping Office
22 February 1958 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
29 April 1958 berthed at Singapore with RN, RAN, RNZN, and other Allied units prior to sailing for Operation Ocean Link
3 May 1958 sailed from Singapore
June 1958 RASed with HMS CARDIGAN BAY
9 July 1958 arrived at Mobassa
19 July 1958 sailed from Mombassa for Durban
30 July 1958 arrived at Aden
5 August 1958 sailed from Aden
15 August 1958 arrived at Aden
13 September 1958 Humanitarian Aid – in company with HM ships BULWARK, PUMA, LOCH KILLISPORT, LOCH ALVIE and ST BRIDES BAY she assisted in the salvage of the m.v. MELIKA and m.v. FERNAND GILBERT which had collided and were on fire in the Gulf of Oman. MELIKA was towed to Muscat by HMS BULWARK,whilst FERNAND GILBERT, initially taken in tow by ST BRIDE’S BAY, was towed to Karachi by HMS LOCH KILLISPORT
21 September 1958 arrived at Muscat
23 September 1958 arrived at Bahrein
28 September 1958 arrived at Abadan from Aden
29 September 1958 sailed Abadan
5 October 1958 sailed Aden
11 October 1958 arrived at Port Said sailing the same day
17 October 1958 sailed from Suez
22 October 1958 arrived at Aden
27 October 1958 anchored off Muscat
29 October 1958 sailed from Muscat
1 November 1958 sailed Abadan
8 November 1958 arrived at Aden
13 November 1958 sailed from Aden for Malta
19 November 1958 sailed Port Said
22 November 1958 sailed from Cyprus
11 December 1958 arrived at Malta
17 December 1958 sailed Malta to Gibraltar – arriving 21 December 1958
12 February 1959 sailed Gibraltar for LEFO
11 May 1959 arrived at Portsmouth
13 May 1959 arrived at Southampton
20 May 1959 deployed from Southampton for duties in support of Operation Grapple on Christmas Island with 2 tons 11.25 cwt of cargo
1 June 1959 sailed from Trinidad for Cristobal and the Panama Canal
8 August 1959 arrived at Bahrein
10 August 1959 sailed from Bahrein for Kuwait
16 September 1959 arrived Abadan
17 December 1959 Mr G Thompson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
January 1960 Captain G O W Evans RFA appointed as Master
8 February 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 9 wharf
12 February 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 9 wharf to Plymouth Sound
31 May 1960 Captain Cyril Alexander DSC RFA appointed as Master
14 June 1960 Donkeyman Greaser Spiridione Borg discharged dead. He is buried in Portland Royal Naval Cemetery, Portland, Dorset
Donkeyman Greaser Spiridione Borg
24 June 1960 berthed in Malta having sailed from the UK
17 July 1960 arrived at Malta from Famagusta, Cyprus
4 August 1960 Mr J P Mair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty. RFA BIRCHOL (2) moved from Plymouth Sound to go alongside.
22 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
26 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
28 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
24 February 1961 on passage from Pireaus to Malta RASed with HMS BERMUDA
9 June 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
12 June 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
13 June 1961 RASed with HMS’s KEPPEL and GRAFTON which were on passage from Portland to Lisbon. HMS GRAFTON was supplied with 64 tons of FFO
14 June 1961 engaged in exercise with HMS KEPPEL
15 June 1961 in the Bay of Biscay RASed astern with HMS’s KEPPEL and GRAFTON – HMS GRAFTON supplied with 50 tons of FFO
3 July 1961 sailed Malta with RFA FORT DUQUESNE, FORT ROSALIE (1) and BROWN RANGER for Kuwait to give support for British Forces after Iraq forces threatened to invade Kuwait.
18 August 1961 returned to Malta with RFA FORT ROSALIE after visiting Ajaccio and Rapallo
25 October 1961 at Plymouth and Mr Ronald C Putt MID RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Ronald C Putt MID RFA
26 October 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Graves End Mooring
7 November 1961 at Devonport moved from Graves End Mooring to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
8 November 1961 at Devonport onYonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty with RFA BIRCHOL (2) berthed outboard of her
9 November 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 9 wharf
10 November 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 9 wharf to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to be rejoined by RFA BIRCHOL (2)
13 November 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 9 wharf
14 November 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 9 wharf to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
15 November 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 9 wharf
16 November 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 9 wharf to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty. RFA EDDYNESS berthed alongside her on Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
20 November 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
21 November 1961 sailed Plymouth for Lough Foyle arriving 23 November 1961
25 November 1961 sailed Bangor Bay for Lough Foyle arriving 30 November 1961
30 November 1961 sailed Lough Foyle for Devonport arriving 2 December 1961
2 December 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty and Captain J Coull RFA appointed as Master
5 December 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 1 jetty
14 December 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 1 jetty to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty. RFA EDDTFIRTH berthed outboard of her
15 December 1961 at Devonport RFA EDDYFIRTH moved from outboard of her before she moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
16 December 1961 sailed Plymouth Sound to Malta arriving 23 December 1961
28 December 1961 sailed Malta to Aden arriving 5 January 1962
7 January 1962 sailed Aden to Ras Tanura arriving 13 January 1962
14 January 1962 sailed Ras Tanura for Suez arriving 24 January 1962
25 January 1962 after transitting the Suez Canal sailed Port Said to Gibraltar arriving 31 January 1962
2 February 1962 sailed Gibraltar for Malta arriving 5 February 1962
15 February 1962 sailed Malta for RAS exercises returning to that port the next day
19 February 1962 sailed Malta for RAS exercises returning to that port on 1 March 1962
2 March 1962 sailed Malta for Gibraltar arriving 5 March 1962
8 March 1962 sailed Gibraltar
10 March 1962 to 11 March 1962 received 7,380 tons of furnace fuel oil and 995 tons of diesel fuel oil in 18 hours from RFA ORANGELEAF (2) in the North Atlantic during very bad weather.
13 March 1962 to 29 March 1962 during this period she refuelled 55 ships of the Canadian, French and Netherlands Navies. This included 13 night sorties and 19 occasions during which 2 ships were refuelled simultaneously
17 March 1962 at Gibraltar Chief Engineer Ronald C Putt MID RFA admitted to the British Military Hospital for treatment until 30 March 1962. Mr Harry G May RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 April 1962 sailed Gibraltar for Portsmouth arriving 7 April 1962
9 April 1962 sailed Portsmouth for the River Tyne arriving the next day for refit at Smiths Dock
17 May 1962 Captain Basil V Dobbie RFA appointed as Master
16 June 1962 arrived Malta from Gibraltar
23 June 1962 sailed Malta for Crete
25 July 1962 arrived at Malta from Tobruk
5 November 1962 at 11°56N 60°20E RAS’ed with HMAS’s TEAL, IBIS, CURLEW, GULL and SNIPE while the Australian Naval ships were on passage from Portsmouth to Sydney, NSW
17 January 1963 sailed Malta for Taranto, Italy with RFA FORT SANDUSKY
28 January 1963 sent to assist a 85 ton trawler Ekede which had radioed she was in trouble in heavy seas 20 miles south east of Delimara Point, Malta. The trawler was escorted into Marsalokk Harbour
29 January 1963 the Birmingham Daily Post reported that –
26 February 1963 at Malta
2 April 1963 arrived at Malta
9 April 1963 Mr C M Collis RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 April 1963 arrived Malta from Barcelona, Spain
May 1963 Pumpman Carmelo Ellul presented with the British Empire Medal by H.E. The Governor of Malta onboard after 43 years service.
15 June 1963 Captain R R Lockwood RFA appointed as Master
5 January 1964 to 12 January 1964 engaged in Home Fleet exercises
31 January 1964 at Plymouth
13 February 1964 to 15 February 1964 at Devonport
16 February 1964 sailed from Devonport to Trinidad
29 February 1964 rendevouzed with HMS JAGUAR off Rio de Janario
28 April 1964 at Malta
8 May 1964 at Plymouth
1964 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her.
20 August 1964 after a period of lay-up at Devonport she was placed on the Disposal List and was offered for sale “as lies Devonport“ in The Times newspaper of this day after negotiations to sell her to India fell through
September 1964 purchased by Scrappingco, Willebroek for scrap
16 October 1964 sailed Plymouth in tow for the breakers.
19 October 1964 arrived Antwerp Roads enroute to the breakers at Willebroek.
RFA Wave Knight (2)
RFA Wave Knight (2) tank deck
Courtesy of and copyright © The Royal Gazette, Bermuda
Subsequent name:
Class: Wave Class Large Fleet tanker
Pennant No: A389
Signal Letters: GWBU
Laid down: 22 May 1998
Builder: BAE Systems, Barrow
Launched: 29 September 2000
Into Service: 8 April 2003
Crew Number: 62
Out of service:
Fate:
Background Data:
In June 1995 approval was given to invite tenders for the construction of two new Auxiliary Oilers to replace the ageing OL Class tankers. The full Invitation to Tender was issued the following year and the £200 million contracts were placed in March 1997. The ships were built in twelve modular sections which were then joined together. In the case of WAVE KNIGHT (2), the cargo tankage was built at Harland and Wolff in Belfast, the 1,000 tonne stern block was built at Cammell Laird in Newcastle and transported by sea around to Barrow while the funnel came from Appledore Shipbuilders in North Devon. WAVE RULER (2) was constructed almost entirely at Govan but with some of the steel work coming from Barrow.
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
September 1995 approval given to invite tenders.
10 October 1995 draft Invitation to tender issued.
2 February 1996 the Invitation to Tender was announced.
26 June 1996 full Invitation to Tender issued.
12 March 1997 ordered.
22 May 1998 laid down in a joint ceremony performed by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach which also included the keel-laying of the amphibious assault ship HMS ALBION
October 1999 original launch date.
September 2000 original completion date to replace RFA OLWEN (2)
28 September 2000 named WAVE KNIGHT (2) by Lady Guthrie, wife of General Sir Charles Guthrie, Chief of the Defence Staff. Launching was delayed by a day due to high winds.
29 September 2000 launched by BAe Systems Marine at the Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited complex at Barrow-in-Furness as Yard Nr: 1119 named WAVE KNIGHT (2). She became the largest ship to be launched at Barrow since the carrier HMS INVINCIBLE in 1977
6 August 2001 Captain Alan T Roach RFA appointed Trials Master
7 September 2001 arrived Inchgreen Dry Dock at Greenock for pre-trials work to be carried out.
19 January 2002 suffered minor damage following loss of hydraulic pressure during ballast transfer operations while in the Inchgreen Dry Dock at Greenock preparing for Contractor’s Sea Trials.
26 January 2002 suffered minor damage when she touched the dock wall during gales.
February 2002 original in-service date
7 April 2002 to 9 April 2002 berthed at El Ferrol, Spain
17 June 2002 sailed Greenock on Contractors’ Sea Trials.
29 August 2002 entered Inchgreen Dry Dock at Greenock on completion of Sea Trials
10 September 2002 Captain Alan T Roach RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Alan T Roach RFA
15 October 2002 completed.
16 October 2002 handed over on the Clyde.
30 October 2002 sailed from Loch Striven jetty.
4 November 2002 first arrival at Devonport
December 2002 with RFA WAVE RULER (2) at Portland for post acceptance maintenance and defect rectification
15 December 2002 at Portland
7 January 2003 sailed from the River Tyne
17 January 2003 first arrival at Portsmouth
7 February 2003 at Portland
20 February 2003 sailed Devonport for Portsmouth arriving later the same day
27 February 2003 sailed Portsmouth
28 February 2003 returned to Portsmouth
21 March 2003 sailed Devonport
23 March 2003 alongside at Portsmouth
31 March 2003 to 24 April 2003 FOST Training
9 May 2003 together with HMS CUMBERLAND, British Customs and Spanish Aduana Officers was involved in the stopping of a former German torpedo boat – renamed ‘Cork’ and arresting eight South American citizens together with the seizing 3.6 of tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated £152 million
12 May 2003 RASes with RFA WAVE RULER (2)
19 May 2003 sailed Portsmouth
31 May 2003 at Portland
24 June 2003 involved in a Towing Exercise in the English Channel with HMS INVINCIBLE
23 July 2003 represented the RFA at the presentation by the Queen of New Colours to the RN aboard the LPD HMS OCEAN in Plymouth Sound along with RFA’s ARGUS and SIR BEDIVERE
25 August 2003 to 28 July 2003 at Loch Striven to load cargo for forthcoming APT (N) deployment
28 July 2003 sailed Loch Striven for Portland
August 2003 sailed Portland and assumed APT (N) duties
September 2003 seized 116lbs marijuana in the Caribbean on the British-flagged yacht ANNA KATERINA worth an estimated £152,000
26 October 2003 at Barbados. Captain Alan T Roach RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
November 2003 involved with HMS MANCHESTER in the recovery of forty two bales of cocaine while on anti drugs patrol in the Caribbean worth an estimated £42 million
HMS MANCHESTER
January 2004 to June 2004 on APT (N) duties supporting HMS MONMOUTH
27 January 2004 seized 650 kgs of cocaine in the Caribbean worth an estimated £26 million while operating with the US Coastguard cutter TAMPA
February 2004 Captain Kevin Rimmel RFA in command
20 February 2004 at Castries, St Lucia
29 April 2004 at Portland
3 June 2004 arrived at Portsmouth on completion of APT (N) Duties
5 June 2004 in ceremonial departure from Portsmouth for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day celebrations
13 June 2004 at Portland
17 to 26 August 2004 at Leith to assist FOSNI in hosting the Edinburgh Tattoo
30 August 2004 assumed FOST tanker duties
15 October 2004 at Glen Mallen
4 November 2004 sailed Loch Striven
6 November 2004 berthed at Falmouth for 42 days of repairs and general maintenace by A & P including hull painting
20 December 2004 sailed Falmouth for Loch Striven
31 December 2004 at Garelochead
9 January 2005 anchored at Tail of the Bank, Clyde
March 2005 deployed on APT (N) duties to replace RFA WAVE RULER (2)
March 2005 seized an assessed 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean worth an estimated £40 million – the drugs were jettisoned by the smugglers.
27 April 2005 at Mayport
10 May 2005 sailed Antigua while supporting HMS LIVERPOOL and THEN HMS CUMBERLAND on APT (N) duties
12 May 2005 with HMS LIVERPOOL 400 lbs cannabis; 0.998 tonnes cocaine; further 0.3 tonnes (assessed) jettisoned by smugglers in the Caribbean worth an estimated £53 million
22 August 2005 at Miami, Florida and Captain Alan T Roach OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
July 2005 along with the destroyer HMS LIVERPOOL was put on standby in the West Indies to assist during Hurricane Emily
October 2005 Captain (E) Ian Schumacker RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
October 2005 with HMS CUMERBERLAND seized 1.756 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean worth an estimated £70 million
2005 awarded the RFA Centenary Wedgewood Bowl
20 December 2005 returned to Portsmouth on conclusion of APT (N) duties
31 December 2005 at Portsmouth
30 January 2006 sailed from Portsmouth
24 February 2006 at Glen Mallen
25 February 2006 in Operation Neptune Warrior along with RFA WAVE RULER (2)
31 March 2006 arrived at Portsmouth
18 April 2006 berthed on the South Arm of Gibraltar Dockyard
2006 In Operation Velaled by the assault ship HMS OCEAN – amphibious operations off the coast of Sierra Leone – along with RFA’s DILIGENCE, FORT AUSTIN, MOUNTS BAY, OAKLEAF (2) and SIR BEDIVERE
5 June 2006 & 6 June 2006 FOST
1 July 2006 at Portland and Captain Alan T Roach OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
23 August 2006 berthed at Leith Docks, Edinburgh for Edinburgh Military Tattoo Duties
28 August 2006 at Tail of Bank, Clyde
3 September 2006 sailed Portland for Devonport
11 September 2006 sailed Devonport for Exercise Grey Cormorant
27 September 2006 arrived at Gibraltar on Vela 08 Deployment which was part of Exercise Grey Cormorant
12 November 2006 arrived at Gibraltar from Santa Cruz de Tenerife
13 November 2006 sailed Gibraltar
19 November 2006 arrived at Portland after the Vela 08 Deployment
3 February 2007 with RFA WAVE RULER, HMS PORTLAND, two Sea King rescue helicopters from Chivenor in north Devon and Culdrose in Cornwall, and Salcombe and Torbay lifeboats involved in the rescue of four members of the crew of a yacht which overturned in the English Channel seven miles off Prawle Point on the south Devon coast. One other member of the crew was drowned
14 February 2007 at Portland
21 February 2007 arrived at Harwich
2 April 2007 arrived Merseyside for dry docking
24 April 2007 engaged in Operations off Sierra Leone with HMS OCEAN and RFA’s FORT AUSTIN and GOLD ROVER
4 August 2007 at Portland
9 August 2007 FOST
27 September 2007 arrived Portland
October 2007 with HMS PORTLAND seized 3.3 tonnes (assessed) cocaine in the Caribbean jettisoned by smugglers worth an estimated £132 million
2 November 2007 humanitarian assistance : was tasked at short notice to provide aviation support in order to distribute humanitarian aid to the people of the Dominican Republic in the wake of Hurricane Noel
8 January 2008 at D Buoy, Plymouth Sound
14 January 2008 sailed Plymouth Sound
17 January 2008 conducting pre Deployment training off Devonport
21 January 2008 sailed as part of the Orion 08 Deployment to the Middle East led by the aircraft carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS – along with RFA’s BAYLEAF (3) and FORT AUSTIN
21 April 2008 with RN, USS, French and Indian Naval units involved in Konkan Naval Exercises off Goa, India
9 June 2008 Temporary Acting Captain Vernon Ramsey-Smith RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Vernon Ramsey-Smith RFA
August 2008 Arabian Gulf Ready tanker
15 November 2008 Captain (E) Graham Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain (E) Graham Turner RFA
22 November 2008 arrived Devonport from the Persian Gulf
29 November 2008 arrived Loch Striven Fuel Depot from Portland
1 December 2008 berthed moved to Glen Mallen DM Depot
3 December 2008 sailed Glen Mallen
December 2008 involved with HMS CUMBERLAND in the arrest of suspected 8 Somali pirates and after their arrest conveyed them to Police in Mombasa to be tried by the Kenyan courts
20 March 2009 berthed at Mumbai, India together with HMS PORTLAND
18 April 2009 while supporting the Combined Maritime Forces in the Gulf of Aden she received a distress call from the merchant HANDY TANKERS MAGIC which was under attack by pirates. She followed the pirate skiff to it‘s Mother Ship and forced it to stop. A Dutch warship arrived on the scene and boarded the Mother Ship which resulted in 13 fishermen being freed. Just 2 hours later she received another distress call from FRONT ARDENNES and sped to the scene and fired warning shots and the pirates aborted their attack and sped off
17 May 2009 Temporary Acting Captain Vernon Ramsey-Smith RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
12 June 2009 Captain (E) Edward M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 July 2009 RASed with USS Bataan (LHD5) supplying her with nearly 700,000 gallons of fuel in the Gulf of Aden
RASing with USS Bataan (LHD5) in the Gulf of Aden
17 November 2009 Captain (E) Graham Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 November 2009 berthed at Portland
January 2010 with RFA’s ARGUS, LYME BAY, WAVE RULER together with RN Units have been honoured by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for their work to repress piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden at the 26th session of the IMO
29 January 2010 at Portland Harbour
4 February 2010 with RFA WAVE RULER on exercise off Plymouth
24 February 2010 with RFA MOUNTS BAY and RN units involved in a NATO Exercise ‘Cold Response’ off Norway
21 May 2010 entered Portsmouth Dockyard with the assistance of tugs Reliable, Bustler and Powerful
23 May 2010 presented with the RFA Operational Efficiency Award in Portsmouth by Commodore William Walworth OBE RFA
19 June 2010 anchored off Gurnsey
21 June 2010 reported in the RFA Cascade Brief that the Worshipful Company of Fuellers annual award for outstanding recognition has been awarded to Chief Officer (E) Roger Stevens RFA at the Mansion House, Walbrook on 20 April 2010
26 August 2010 berthed at Canada Dock, Liverpool
11 September 2010 moored at Langton Dock, Liverpool
6 October 2010 Captain (E) Graham Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 October 2010 in refit at Merseyside
21 November 2010 sailed from Portland
17 December 2010 at Portland
21 April 2011 at Portland
21 April 2011 Temporary Acting Captain Vernon Ramsey-Smith RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
4 September 2011 in the Gulf of Aden RASed with USS Mitscher (DDG57)
19 December 2011 RASed with HMS SOMERSET
© Captain Shaun Jones OBE RFA
14 January 2012 in the North Arabian Sea off Oman responding to a Mayday call and in cooperation with two SH60 Seahawk helicopters from the USS John C Stennis rescued ten people from a 70 foot pleasure craft Princess Melisa which was holed, taking in water and in danger of sinking in rough seas. Those rescued were transfered to an Omani Coast Guard vessel
19 January 2012 escorted MV Oriana towards Muscat at 23 knots
25 January 2013 sailed Bermuda
28 January 2013 berthed at Mayport, Florida
18 February 2013 sailed Mayport, Florida
21 February 2013 visited Grand Cayman
27 February 2013 visited Grand Turk for a four day visit
5 March 2013 berthed at Road Town, British Virgin Islands
7 March 2013 a football match played at BVI resulted in the ship’s team loosing 4 – 5 to a local side
11 March 2013 anchored at Road Bay, Anguilla for three days
14 March 2013 sailed Anguilla
17 March 2013 berthed alongside at St. Johns, Antigua
24 March 2013 anchored off Montserrat for three day visit
29 March 2013 berthed at Barbados for five day visit
6 May 2013 berthed at Jacksonville, Florida
31 May 2013 sailed from Jacksonville, Florida
31 August 2013 in the Caribbean detained a Jamaican Fishing Boat on which was found 2,800 pounds in 55 packets of Marijuana worth £1.60 million pounds. The crew were detained and handed over to the US Customs Cutter Okracoke
11 December 2013 at Antigua crew members as a result of a request by the Good Shepherd Home assisted in the repair of a shelter for abused and abandoned children. The laundry room was retiled, the building was rewired, plumbing repaired and a TV aerial was installed
13 December 2013 berthed at Port Havana, Cuba for a routine visit related to disaster training activities in the Caribbean area
18 December 2013 Captain (X) Duncan Lamb RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
20 December 2013 sailed from Port Havana, Cuba
26 December 2013 in the Caribbean detained a boat – the Miss Kameney – with five crew and found 1/4 ton of marijunana hidden
below decks. The drugs, the boat and the five crew were landed at the Dominican Republic in the custody of the US Customs service
Drugs seized by RFA Wave Knight being delivered to a USCG Cutter
22 January 2014 in the Caribbean south of the Dominican Republic detained a go-fast speed boat with four crew and found 45 bales of cocaine with a weight of about 1.25 tons and worth more than $60 million. The ship and US Coast Guard had to fire on the go-fast to get it to stop, The four who were detained and the bales of cocaine were handed over to the US authorities off the coast of Puerto Rico.
5 February 2014 at the Island of Grenada until 8 February 2014
11 February 2014 sighted and reported to the US Coast Guard a 30 foot go-fast with packages onboard off the Kingston, Jamaica coast. The go-fast was stopped and the crew detained. The packages were found to contain 171 kilogrames of cocaine with an estimated wholesale value of $4 million (US). The drugs and the suspect smugglers were landed at St. Petersburg, Florida and handed over to waiting law enforcement officers
24 February 2014 Captain (E) Joe W Richardson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 March 2014 berthed at the Naval Station, Mayport, Florida
Colours at 0800hrs 15 March 2014
11 April 2014 berthed at King’s Wharf, Bermuda Dockyard
23 April 2014 berthed at Portland
29 April 2014 Captain (X) Duncan Lamb RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Duncan Lamb RFA
13 May 2014 in the English Channel
15 May 2014 berthed at Portland
23 May 2014 berthed on a buoy in Plymouth Sound
29 May 2014 sailed Plymouth
5 June 2014 arrived at Plymouth Sound
20 June 2014 alongside No 1 Jetty, Devonport Dockyard
23 June 2014 sailed Plymouth
25 June 2014 arrived at Portland
26 June 2014 sailed Portland
7 July 2014 Captain Graham Clarke MBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
9 July 2014 arrived at Portland
16 July 2014 RASed with RFA GOLD ROVER and FGS Ludwigshaven in the FOST training area
RFA Wave Knight (2) RASing with RFA Gold Rover
RFA Wave Knight (2) RASing with FGS Ludwigshaven
12 August 2014 at Portland Harbour
2 September 2014 together with RFA LYME BAY and RN Units lead by HMS BULWALK berthed at Gibraltar prior to Cougar 14 Exercise
3 September 2014 sailed Gibraltar with RFA LYME BAY and the other RN units for Exercise Cougar 14
29 September 2014 at Gibraltar
6 October 2014 berthed alongside at Portland
13 October 2014 Captain (X) Christopher G Clarke MBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
14 October 2014 berthed alongside at Portland
25 October 2014 berthed at Devonport – south Dockyard. Captain (E) Maurice O Ambrose RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
8 December 2014 berthed at Loch Striven
23 December 2014 berthed at HMNB Clyde
18 January 2015 berthed alongside in Devonport Dockyard (South)
27 January 2015 sailed Plymouth
5 February 2015 arrived at Birkenhead for refit
6 July 2015 Captain (E) Maurice O Ambrose RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
RFA Wave Knight (2) at Birkenhead
15 July 2015 Captain (X) Ian N Pilling RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
12 August 2015 Captain (X) Simon C Herbert RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
18 August 2015 sailed Birkenhead
11 November 2015 Captain (X) Gerard A Patterson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
16 November 2015 Captain (E) Terence J Edwards RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 December 2015 Captain (X) Karl R Woodfield RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
20 December 2015 berthed alongside at Loch Striven
21 December 2015 Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA
17 January 2016 Captain (E) Brian A King RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 January 2016 – the MOD has reported that since 1 January 2014 the ship together with HMS’s RICHMOND, St. ALBANS, SOMERSET and ARGYLL have recovered nearly £1bn worth of illegal narcotics
14 March 2016 berthed at Portland
2 April 2016 at Plymouth Sound
23 April 2016 Captain (X) Peter N Selby RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
2 May 2016 at Plymouth Sound
5 May 2016 arrived at Plymouth Sound
9 May 2016 sailed Plymouth Sound
12 May 2016 arrived at Plymouth Sound
16 May 2016 sailed Plymouth Sound
25 May 2016 berthed at Portsmouth
3 June 2016 sailed Portsmouth
4 June 2016 berthed at Portland
16 June 2016 sailed Portland arriving at Plymouth later in the day
21 June 2016 sailed Plymouth
4 July 2016 anchored off Santo Domingo de Guzman in the Dominican Republic
6 July 2016 sailed from Santo Domingo de Guzman in the Dominican Republic
8 July 2016 arrived at Cockburn Town, Grand Turk
10 July 2016 sailed Grand Turk
13 July 2016 arrived at Willemstad Anchorage and then berthed at Caracas Bay, Curacao
July 2016 the embarked military personnel were called upon by the pastor of the church at Caracas Baai, about four miles outside the capital Willemstad, Curacao to repair and update the premises – the paint on the outer walls had been degraded badly by the sea air, the gardens were overgrown and strewn with litter and the building itself suffered from a severe termite infestation. The work was undertaken over a period of 16 days much to the satifaction of the pastor
The inside of the Church at Caracas Baai
19 July 2016 Captain (E) Paul Petersen RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 August 2016 sailed Caracas Bay arriving a short while later at Willemstad Anchorage
8 August 2016 sailed Willemstad Anchorage arriving a short while later at Road Town, British Virgin Islands
10 August 2016 Captain (X) Nigel Budd RFA appointed Commanding Officer
11 August 2016 the ships embarked Lynx Helicopter provided assistance to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) with its continuing search for missing persons, who were reportedly on a vessel that capsized in British Virgin Islands waters on 10 July 2016. Commissioner of Police Michael Matthews thanked the crew of the Lynx helicopter for the help rendered this week. “The ship and its helicopter crew is here to support the overseas territories during the hurricane season, but they have volunteered their services to fly and assist in the search of uninhabited islands in and around the BVI. It is a great opportunity for us to examine the coastlines and hopefully bring some peace to families in Cuba and the United States waiting for any news of their loved ones,” he said. According to the BVI police, the four men rescued were questioned by Immigration personnel. Three were repatriated and one was still in police custody up to 20 July 2016
13 August 2016 the ships embarked Lynx Helicopter provided practical training for the Virgin Island Search and Rescue service
15 August 2016 anchored off Anguilla
18 August 2016 on Anguilla the Islands Department of Disaster Management held an earthquake table top exercise at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in order to test plans relating to response and relief in an earthquake scenario. The principal focus of the exercise was the arrangements needed to provide disaster relief to the public of Anguilla in the event of a catastrophic earthquake which damaged several critical government and private agencies as well as significantly affected the road network. The NEOC was activated for the exercise and all participants were engaged in the simulation in order to encourage familiarisation with the impacts of a significant earthquake event and their corresponding roles. RFA WAVE KNIGHT (2) was invited to the exercise and officers played the role of observers for the simulation. Chief Officer Timothy Alderson RFA, the ships XO, gave a presentation on the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities of the vessel which can provide rapid short term assistance in the event of a disaster event in critical areas such as potable water generation and distribution, temporary shelter and emergency communications.
RFA Wave Knight (2) embarked helicopter supporting the ships ‘Knight on Horse back’
5 October 2016 at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands
6 October 2016 at the Dominican Republic
7 October 2016 at Nassau, Bahamas
22 October 2016 at Bridgetown, Barbados
24 October 2016 stopped a go-fast boat and recovered 14 bales of cocaine with a wholesale value of £9.37 million. Five members of the boats crew were detained and were subsequently landed with drugs at Miami by the US Coast Guard
1 November 2016 anchored off Scarborough, Tobago to carry out a programme which included emergency planning with the Tobago Emergency Management Agency and British Army Royal Engineer commandos from the ship carrying out work supporting the Child Welfare League, Signal Hill Secondary School on a renewable energy project, and the sea scouts, including Roxborough Secondary School
2 November 2016 sailed from Scarborough anchorage
4 November 2016 arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad
7 November 2016 sailed Port of Spain, Trinidad
24 November 2016 off St. Kitts & Nevis
26 November 2016 at St Vincent
28 November 2016 at Grenada
29 November 2016 at Barbados
H R H Prince Harry going ashore at Barbados
1 December 2016 sailed Barbados
6 December 2016 berthed at Port Everglades, Florida
10 December 2016 sailed from at Port Everglades, Florida
11 December 2016 berthed at Grand Bahamas Shipyard, Freeport, Bahamas
30 December 2016 sailed Freeport, Bahamas
2 January 2017 arrived at Kingston, Jamaica
6 January 2017 sailed from Kingston, Jamaica
17 January 2017 anchored off the Republic of Panama
20 January 2017 sailed Colon, Republic of Panama
29 January 2017 arrived at Kingston, Jamaica anchorage sailing later the same day
1 February 2017 anchored off Georgetown, Grand Cayman
5 February 2017 sailed from Georgetown, Grand Cayman anchorage
7 February 2017 berthed at Havana, Cuba
10 February 2017 sailed from Havana, Cuba
14 February 2017 berthed at Kings Wharf, Bermuda
Berthed alongside in Bermuda
15 February 2017 Captain (X) Karl R Woodfield RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
19 February 2017 sailed from Bermuda
27 February 2017 berthed at Willemstad, Curacao
1 March 2017 Captain (E) Paul Petersen RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 March 2017 sailed Willemstad, Curacao
17 March 2017 arrived at Bridgetown, Barbados Anchorage sailing the same day. RASed with HNLMS Van Amstel
RASing with HNLMS Van Amstel
March 2017 the ships company raised £565 to sponsor the North Tyneside Association Swimming Club’s ‘Mad March Hare Gala’ at Durham. The ship’s sponsorship of the event was the Club’s biggest
2 April 2017 anchored off East Falkland
7 April 2017 anchored off Seal Island, East Falkland later moving to Port Stanley anchorage
10 April 2017 sailed from Port Stanley anchorage
12 April 2017 anchored off Seal Island, East Falkland
14 April 2017 anchored off Port Stanley
18 April 2017 sailed from Port Stanley anchorage
8 May 2017 off Freeport, Bahamas
11 May 2017 berthed at Mayport Naval Station, Jacksonville, Florida
18 May 2017 sailed from Mayport Naval Station, Jacksonville, Florida
25 May 2017 arrived at Bermuda for the Americas Cup preparations
kindly donated by and © Martin Buckley
28 May 2017 sailed Bermuda
2 June 2017 berthed at Bridgetown, Barbados
7 June 2017 sailed Bridgetown, Barbados
11 June 2017 arrived at Bridgetown, Barbados anchorage
12 June 2017 sailed Bridgetown, Barbados anchorage
13 June 2017 anchored at Port of Spain, Trinidad anchorage
14 June 2017 berthed at Port of Spain Trinidad
24 June 2017 sailed from Port of Spain Trinidad
25 June 2017 berthed at Fort de France, Martinique
27 June 2017 Captain (X) Simon C Herbert RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Simon C Herbert RFA
30 June 2017 sailed Fort de France, Martinique
13 July 2017 berthed at Portland
23 July 2017 Captain (E) Brian A King RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 July 2017 Captain (X) David J Buck OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
11 August 2017 sailed from Portland
12 August 2017 berthed at Portland
17 August 2017 sailed Portland
18 August 2017 made fast to ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound.
18 August 2017 Captain Robert G Anders RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
31 August 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound
2 September 2017 berthed at the Oil Fuel Depot at Loch Striven
14 September 2017 Captain (E) Richard M Maddock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer and sailed from Loch Striven
Captain (E) Richard M Maddock RFA
15 September 2017 sailed from the Naval Base at Faslane
18 September 2017 berthed at the Oil Fuel Depot at Loch Striven
25 September 2017 sailed Loch Striven
5 October 2017 berthed at Portland
8 October 2017 sailed Portland for Gibraltar
11 October 2017 berthed at Gibraltar
13 October 2017 sailed Gibraltar
20 October 2017 berthed at Portland
21 October 2017 Captain (E) Robert C Stevenson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 November 2017 sailed Portland
10 November 2017 arrived at Plymouth Sound
13 November 2017 RASed with RFA TIDESPRING (2) –
14 November 2017 sailed Plymouth
16 November 2017 arrived at Portland Habour and berthed
21 November 2017 sailed from Portland Harbour
22 November 2017 anchored off Folkstone, Kent
24 November 2017 arrived at Plymouth
30 November 2017 sailed Plymouth
2 December 2017 arrived at Portland
7 December 2017 sailed Portland and arriving at Plymouth later the same day
12 December 2017 sailed Plymouth
15 December 2017 arrived at Plymouth
4 January 2018 Captain (E) Maurice O Ambrose RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 January 2018 Captain Nigel A Budd RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
11 January 2018 sailed Plymouth
17 January 2018 sailed Plymouth
18 January 2018 berthed alongside at Portland
25 January 2018 sailed Portland arriving at Plymouth the same day
1 February 2018 sailed Plymouth Sound
2 February 2018 arrived at Portland
5 February 2018 sailed Portland
8 February 2018 berthed at Gibraltar on the North Mole
RFA Wave Knight (2) off Gibraltar’s Detached Mole approaching her berth
10 February 2018 sailed Gibraltar
17 February 2018 arrived at Portland, Dorset
23 February 2018 sailed Portland, Dorset
23 March 2018 sailed Portland, Dorset
24 March 2018 berthed at Portland, Dorset
27 March 2018 sailed from Portland, Dorset
20 April 2018 at anchor off Toward, Dunoon
2 May 2018 berthed at Birkenhead for refit
21 May 2018 Captain (E) Ian Cairns RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 November 2018 the ship was granted an affiliation with the town of Middlesborough and the Mayor, David Budd, presented the ship with a certificate at a Town Hall ceremony followed by a reception attended by Councillors and ex service members of staff with some of the ships crew
21 December 2018 sailed from Birkenhead
22 December 2018 anchored at the Glasgow anchorage
3 January 2019 berthed at the Loch Striven Oil Fuel Jetty
7 January 2019 sailed from Loch Striven
11 January 2019 arrived at Plymouth Sound and made fast to Buoy D
17 January 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound returning the same day
22 January 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound
23 January 2019 arrived at Plymouth Sound and berthed at Devonport
10 February 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound
11 February 2019 berthed at Portland
25 February 2019 sailed from Portland
1 March 2019 arrived at Gibraltar
RFA Wave Knight (2) arrives at Gibraltar
© David Michael Sanchez
4 March 2019 sailed from Gibraltar
RFA Wave Knight (2) sailing from Gibraltar
© Dylan Correia acknowledged
8 March 2019 arrived at Portland
17 March 2019 sailed from Portland
18 March 2019 arrived at Plymouth Sound berthing on ‘C’ Buoy
20 March 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound
22 March 2019 arrived at Plymouth Sound berthing on ‘C’ Buoy
25 March 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound
29 March 2019 arrived at the River Tyne
31 March 2019 sailed from the River Tyne
3 April 2019 RASed with HMS ST ALBANS
5 April 2019 arrived at Portland Harbour
11 April 2019 arrived at Plymouth
28 April 2019 sailed from Devonport Dockyard
2 May 2019 arrived at and later sailed from Portland
3 May 2019 arrived at Portland
6 May 2019 sailed from Portland
9 May 2019 arrived at Plymouth Sound making fast to ‘E’ Buoy
14 May 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound returning there later the same day making fast to ‘D’ Buoy
20 May 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound to Sea
22 May 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound to Sea
23 May 2019 arrived at Plymouth Anchorage sailing later to sea. Even later returned to Plymouth Sound and made fast to ‘D’ Buoy
24 May 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound returning later the same day
28 May 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound from ‘D’ Buoy
29 May 2019 arrived at Plymouth Sound making fast to ‘D’ Buoy
30 May 2019 sailed from ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound returning there later the same day to ‘D’ Buoy
31 May 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea returning there later the same day to ‘D’ Buoy
3 June 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound returning later
5 June 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound returning later the same day
6 June 2019 sailed from Plymouth Sound
8 June 2019 berthed at Garelochhead
14 June 2019 passed Gourock, outbound on the Clyde
21 June 2019 sailed from Portland
25 June 2019 at 0600hrs was at 55°53N / 15°592E (in the Baltic)
30 June 2019 RASed with RFA LYME BAY and HMS ALBION
6 July 2019 RASed with HMS SUTHERLAND
10 July 2019 berthed at the Oil Fuel Depot at Loch Striven
13 July 2019 sailed from Loch Striven
15 July 2019 arrived at Portland sailing later the same day
18 July 2019 arrived and anchored in Gibraltar Bay sailing later the same day
1 August 2019 sailed from Malta
5 August 2019 transitted the Suez Canal
8 October 2019 RASed with HMS KENT
17 December 2019 arrived at Fujairah
18 December 2019 sailed from Fujairah
24 December 2019 arrived at Salalah
30 December 2019 sailed from Salalah
21 January 2020 sailed from Fujairah
22 February 2020 arrived at Gibraltar
25 February 2020 sailed from Gibraltar
RFA Wave Knight (2) sails from Gibraltar
© Gibdan
2 March 2020 berthed at Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot
13 March 2020 sailed from Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot
15 March 2020 berthed at Devonport Dockyard
23 March 2020 sailed from Devonport Dockyard to sea
25 March 2020 sailed from Portland Port to sea
27 March 2020 arrived at Liverpool Anchorage and thence to Tranmere the same day
12 January 2021 sailed Tranmere arriving at Liverpool the same day
20 February 2021 sailed Liverpool
24 February 2021 arrived at Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot
5 March 2021 sailed from Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot
8 March 2021 berthed at Devonport
RFA Wave Knight (2) entering Devonport Dockyard
© RFANostalgia acknowledged
15 March 2021 sailed from Devonport Dockyard to sea
17 March 2021 entered Plymouth Sound from the sea
19 March 2021 entered Portland Port
29 March 2021 sailed from Portland Port
2 April 2021 arrived at Portland Port
8 April 2021 sailed from Portland Port
10 April 2021 berthed the Naval Fuel Depot at Loch Striven sailing later the same day
12 April 2021 arrived at Plymouth Sound making fast to ‘C’ Buoy
16 April 2021 Captain (X) Simon Herbert RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Simon Herbert RFA
19 April 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound
23 April 2021 anchored at Portland Port anchorage
1 May 2021 sailed from Portland Port arriving later the same day at Plymouth Sound making fast to ‘C’ Buoy
4 May 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound
14 May 2021 arrived at Plymouth Sound making fast to ‘C’ Buoy
17 May 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound returning later to ‘C’ Buoy the same day
22 May 2021 berthed at Hunterston
28 May 2021 sailed from Hunterston having embarked a Wildcat Helicopter of 815 Squadron, Naval Air Service
9 June 2021 berthed at Bridgetown, Barbados
Loading humanitarian aid from the people of Barbados for the people of St. Vincent
Copyright © CR1 Bromage
10 June 2021 sailed from Bridgetown, Barbados arriving later the same day at Kingstown, St. Vincent
Alongside at St. Vincent off loading the humanitarian aid from Barbados
Copyright © MOD
11 June 2021 sailed for Georgetown, Guyana
June 2021 participating in Exercise Trade Winds 21 off Georgetown, Guyana together with HMS MEDWAY, French Naval Vessel LA CONFIANCE, US CGC WINSLOW GRIESSER, NL CGC JAGUAR, and HMCS SHAWINIGAN
25 June 2021 berthed at Bridgetown, Barbados
27 June 2021 sailed from Bridgetown, Barbados
9 July 2021 berthed at Caracas Bay, Curaçao
4 August 2021 sailed from Caracas Bay, Curaçao
12 August 2021 berthed at Bridgetown, Barbados
15 August 2021 sailed from Bridgetown, Barbados
24 August 2021 RASed with FS Germinal
2 September 2021 berthed at Bridgetown, Barbados
7 September 2021 sailed from Bridgetown, Barbados
15 September 2021 arrived at Grand Turk Island
1 October 2021 sailed from Grand Turk Island arriving at Curaçao later in the day
24 October 2021 sailed from Caracas Bay, Curaçao
29 October 2021 berthed at Kingstown, St. Vincent
31 October 2021 sailed from Kingstown, St. Vincent
3 December 2021 berthed at Port Everglades, Florida
9 December 2021 sailed from Port Everglades, Florida
11 December 2021 berthed at Charleston, South Carolina
15 January 2022 sailed from Charleston, South Carolina
26 January 2022 berthed at Portland Port
1 February 2022 sailed from Portland Port
2 February 2022 berthed at Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot
10 February 2022 sailed from Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot
13 February 2022 berthed at Devonport Dockyard
8 March 2022 sailed from Devonport Dockyard
9 March 2022 berthed at Portland Port
10 March 2022 sailed Portland Port
11 March 2022 arrived at Portsmouth Dockyard
26 March 2022 laid up in No: 3 Basin at Portsmouth Dockyard
RFA Wave Knight (2) being cold moved into No: 3 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
Copyright S Wenham acknowledged
Notes:
In the Spring of 2001 it emerged that BAe Systems had placed an unsolicited bid with the MoD to build a further two WAVE CLASS tankers at significant cost savings in comparison with the first 2 but the MoD declined to accept the bid