Previous name: Empire Dunbar
Official Number: 180967
Class: WAVE CLASS Freighting Oiler (unmodified)
Pennant No: X129 / A119
Signal Letters: GLYY (1946)
Laid down:
Builder: Laings, Deptford Yard
Launched: 3 April 1946
Into Service: 30 September 1946
Out of service: 1970
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: A need for fast tankers to bring oil into the country had been envisaged early in the Second World War, but by the time the material had been collected and the Yards had space to build them, the need had largely passed and the original design of diesel-engined ships was abandoned. Instead, the standard 12000t Class being built were given sharper bows and sterns and turbine engines with water tube boilers. In all, 21 of this type were built and were offered to the Admiralty, who wanted faster tankers for the Pacific Fleet Train. The Admiralty took 20 of them (the final vessel being completed commercially for Oil and Molasses Tankers Ltd, London as BEECHWOOD) and renamed them with the WAVE nomenclature. Performance varied considerably from ship to ship and they underwent various modifications in their rigs for RAS work. The 8 best ones were finally given an extensive refit, with extra accommodation added to the Bridge Deck and extra turbo cargo pumps and derricks to make them more satisfactory for Fleet work. Initially expensive to run, they recouped some of their expensive repair bills by earning revenues from charter work after the Korean War. From this Class was evolved the TIDE CLASS oilers
3 April 1946 launched by Miss Jennifer Marr daughter of Mr Alan Marr Managing Director of Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Deptford Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 767 named EMPIRE DUNBAR for the MoWT. Cost £334,140.00 (partly sourced – contract letter in Tyne & Wear Archives)
14 April 1946 towed from Sunderland to the River Tyne
16 April 1946 the Shields Daily News reported that –
6 May 1946 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
26 June 1946 Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 August 1946 moved from the River Tyne to Sunderland
29 September 1946 towed from Sunderland to the River Tyne – steering gear trouble
30 September 1946 completed – acquired by the Admiralty and renamed WAVE LAIRD
1 October 1946 the Shields Daily News reported that –
3 October 1946 towed into the River Tyne after breaking down on her builders trials to Hawthorne Leslie
11 October 1946 berthed at Hawthorne Leslie
12 October 1946 sailed the River Tyne to continue her builders trials
13 October 1946 passed St. Abb’s head and returned to the River Tyne
14 October 1946 the Shields Daily News reported that –
16 October 1946 sailed the River Tyne for Trinidad
17 October 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing south
19 October 1946 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing west
30 October 1946 arrived at Trinidad
12 November 1946 arrived at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde
27 November 1946 sailed from Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde passing Tail of Bank the same day
9 December 1946 at Trinidad
14 December 1946 sailed Trinidad for Portland
25 December 1946 passed Prawle Point sailing east
26 December 1946 at Portland while due to sail for Trinidad delayed due to boiler problems
15 January 1947 sailed Portland for Trinidad
28 January 1947 sailed Trinidad for Freetown
7 February 1947 arrived at Freetown
15 February 1947 sailed Freetown for Trinidad
23 February 1947 sailed Trinidad for Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
17 March 1947 reported as adrift with engines out of action 20 miles off Tasker Rock, County Wexford, Ireland in gale force winds – requested assistance – boiler trouble. Suffered such heavy weather damage such that repairs were essential before cargo from Trinidad could be discharged at the Admiralty fuel depot at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde. Arrived at Pembroke Dock
30 March 1947 sailed from Milford Haven to Trinidad
12 April 1947 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
25 April 1947 passed the Lloyd’s Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south
26 April 1947 at Cuxhaven
3 May 1947 arrived at Hebburn on Tyne
5 May 1947 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
17 May 1947 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne and joined by RFA ELDEROL
19 May 1947 Captain Herbert W Flint RFA appointed as Master
23 May 1947 sailed from Hebburn on Tyne for Trinidad
24 May 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Dunnet Head sailing west bound
6 June 1947 sailed Portland
17 June 1947 passed the Lloyd’s signal station on the Lizard sailing east
3 July 1947 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
12 August 1947 berthed at Trinidad from Falmouth
9 September 1947 berthed at Trinidad from Devonport
11 September 1947 sailed Trinidad for a UK port
1 October 1947 arrived at the River Tyne from Rosyth
23 October 1947 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne, in refit
24 October 1947 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne, in refit
28 October 1947 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne, in refit
11 November 1947 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne, in refit at the same time as RFA DEWDALE (1)
18 November 1947 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne, in refit at the same time as RFA DEWDALE (1)
25 November 1947 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne, in refit at the same time as RFA WAVE VICTOR
26 November 1947 sailed the River Tyne for Curaçao
12 December 1947 sailed Aruba for the UK
15 January 1948 sailed Bermuda for Trinidad
3 February 1948 berthed at Avonmouth
4 February 1948 Mr R B Burgh RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 February 1948 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
24 March 1948 arrived at Trinidad from Bowling
25 March 1948 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
6 April 1948 berthed at Devonport from Trinidad after suffering engine defects
24 April 1948 arrived at Trinidad from Devonport
27 April 1948 sailed from Trinidad for LEFO
24 May 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
30 May 1948 arrived at Port Said
22 June 1948 arrived at Suez from Abadan
4 August 1948 arrived at Abadan from Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde
5 August 1948 sailed from Abadan
15 August 1948 arrived Suez from Abadan
21 August 1948 sailed Port Said
22 September 1948 sailed from Trinidad
11 November 1948 berthed at Cardiff
6 January 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound when on passage from Swansea to Abadan
19 February 1949 arrived at Aden
22 February 1949 sailed from Aden for Abadan
28 February 1949 arrived at Abadan
3 March 1949 sailed from Abadan
12 March 1949 arrived at Suez
18 March 1949 sailed Port Said for LEFO
24 March 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west for Thameshaven
28 March 1949 Captain Rowland K Hill RFA appointed as Master
Captain Rowland K Hill RFA
9 April 1949 arrived at Port Said
12 April 1949 sailed from Suez
21 April 1949 arrived at Abadan
24 April 1949 sailed Abadan
26 April 1949 sailed Shatt El Arab
12 May 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
18 May 1949 berthed at Glasgow
2 June 1949 sailed from Suez
11 June 1949 arrived at Abadan
13 June 1949 sailed Abadan for Port Said
23 June 1949 arrived at Suez
25 June 1949 sailed from Port Said
30 June 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
30 July 1949 while on passage from Falmouth to Abadan passed Gibraltar this day
4 August 1949 while on passage from Falmouth arrived at Port Said this day
6 August 1949 sailed Suez
15 August 1949 berthed at Abadan from Falmouth
1 September 1949 in radio contact with Sydney, NSW
13 September 1949 arrived at Suva, Fiji
30 September 1949 at Suva, Fiji
26 October 1949 arrived at Abadan
7 November 1949 sailed from Port Said
10 November 1949 arrived at Malta. Deckhand Frederick William Hallett discharged dead. He is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta. Deckhand Hallett had been killed as a result of injuries received when the ship was hit by heavy seas on a voyage from Abadan to Malta. The funeral was attended by the Captain, Officers and crew from the ship and also from RFA ROWANOL and RFA NASPRITE together with the Secretary of the Malta branch of the National Union of Seaman.
Image courtesy British War Graves with thanks
12 November 1949 sailed Malta for Abadan
15 November 1949 arrived at Port Said transitted the Canal and sailed from Suez on 17 November 1949
26 November 1949 arrived at Abadan
28 November 1949 sailed Abadan for the UK
8 December 1949 arrived Suez
9 December 1949 sailed Port Said
14 December 1949 passed Gibraltar west bound for Devonport
30 December 1949 Mr I M Macfarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 March 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
22 March 1950 arrived at Abadan from Devonport
5 May 1949 arrived at Suez
6 May 1949 sailed Port Said
23 May 1950 Donkeyman Frederick Richard Dawe discharged dead at 44°53N 8°03W – natural causes
8 June 1950 arrived at Port Said from Devonport when on passage to Abadan
24 June 1950 sailed Suez for Abadan from Devonport
25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953 saw service during the Korean War along with 18 other RFA’s and was awarded the Korea 1950 – 51 Battle Honour
Refuelling the cruiser HMS Keyna off Korea
2 July 1950 arrived Abadan from Devonport
20 July 1950 arrived at Malta
23 July 1950 sailed Malta for Abadan
27 July 1950 sailed Suez
5 August 1950 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi for Rotterdam
22 August 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
24 August 1950 passed Ushant
11 September 1950 arrived at Gibraltar
19 September 1950 sailed Gibraltar for Port Said
22 September 1950 arrived Port Said while on passage to Abadan
5 October 1950 sailed Suez while on passage from Falmouth to Abadan
14 October 1950 arrived Abadan from Falmouth
17 November 1950 in the Inchon approaches off Korea refuelled HMS CEYLON and HMAS BATAAN
HMS CEYLON
30 November 1950 at the approaches to Inchon with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled with 200 tons of FFO, with mail and naval stores
4 December 1950 at the approaches to Chinampo HMAS’s BATAAN and WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled
6 December 1950 at the approaches to Chinampo HMAS WARRAMUNGA again alongside being refuelled. After the refuelling sailed to Inchon
10 December 1950 at Cho-Do off Korea with HMCS CAYUGA alongside being refuelled. HMAS BATAAN was coming alongside HMCS CAYUGA and was pushed into the side of the Canadian ship by a sudden gust of wind causing damage
31 December 1950 at Sasebo with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled
January 1951 RAS’ed HMS THESEUS off Korea
RFA WAVE LAIRD refuels HMS THESUS off Korea
Image courtesy Douglas House
4 January 1951 refuelled along HMAS WARRAMUNGA
5 March 1951 arrived Abadan
7 March 1951 sailed Abadan for Port Said
16 March 1951 arrived at Suez
18 March 1951 sailed Port Said
24 March 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
29 April 1951 Captain Richard L Barber MID RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master until 20 July 1951
19 May 1951 Mr George McBain RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 June 1951 arrived at Port Said
26 June 1951 in the London Gazette of this day on page 3553 Captain Rowland Kelsey Hill RFA was appointed to be an Additional Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
19 July 1951 involved in a collision with Royal Interocean liner Boissevain in the Singapore Strait
Royal Interocean liner Boissevain
20 July 1951 at anchor in the outer roads at Singapore
3 August 1951 Captain J Bottomley RFA appointed as Master
10 August 1951 in the outer roads at Singapore
13 August 1951 alongside at Singapore
29 November 1951 Mr J S Aitken RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 March 1952 arrived at Freetown
29 March 1952 sailed from Aruba
29 June 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
23 November 1952 arrived at Malta
2 December 1952 Captain G O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master
24 December 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
30 December 1952 arrived at Port Said
1 January 1953 sailed Suez
5 January 1953 srrived and later sailed Aden the same day
20 January 1953 sailed from Trincomalli, Ceylon
26 January 1953 arrived at Bahrein
29 January 1953 sailed Bahrein for Wellington, New Zealand
22 February 1953 arrived at Wellington New Zealand
25 February 1953 sailed from Wellington, New Zealand for Singapore
4 March 1953 passed Thursday Island
16 March 1953 sailed from Singapore Roads
22 March 1953 arrived at Bombay
6 April 1953 sailed Ras Tanura
11 May 1953 sail Singapore Roads for Trincomali, Ceylon
15 May 1953 arrived at Trincomali, Ceylon
17 May 1953 sailed from Trincomali, Ceylon
11 June 1953 sailed from Singapore for Mena Al Ahmadi
1 July 1953 sailed from Aden for the UK
5 July 1953 arrived at Suez
12 July 1953 passed Gibraltar, sailing west for Swansea
8 December 1953 sailed from Suva for Wellington, New Zealand
13 December 1953 arrived at Wellington, New Zealand
15 December 1953 sailed Wellington, New Zealand for Singapore
23 December 1953 passed Thursday Island
31 December 1953 arrived at Singapore Roads
January 1954 supported Naval vessels with the Royal Yacht Gothic on a State visit to Australia by HM the Queen
9 January 1954 sailed Singapore Roads for Bahrein
19 January 1954 arrived at Bahrein
24 January 1954 sailed from Bahrein for Gibraltar
2 February 1954 arrived at Suez
11 February 1954 arrived at Gibraltar
14 February 1954 sailed Gibraltar for Trinidad
25 February 1954 sailed Trinidad for Dublin
10 March 1954 arrived at Dublin
22 September 1954 ailed from Amuary Bay for Trinidad
24 September 1954 arrived at Trinidad
9 September 1954 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
13 October 1954 sailed Lyness for Portsmouth
22 October 1954 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne from Portsmouth
25 October 1954 discharged the crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
21 November 1954 Captain Geoffrey B A Livesey RFA appointed as Master
26 November 1954 engaged a crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
30 November 1954 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne
19 December 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north
28 December 1954 passed Dover sailing west bound
29 December 1954 passed Ushant
8 January 1955 sailed Suez
17 January 1955 sailed Ras Tanura for Trincomalee, Ceylon
29 January 1955 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon for Bahrein
4 February 1955 arrived at Bahrein
6 February 1955 sailed Bahrein
14 February 1955 arrived Suez
15 February 1955 arrived Port Said
19 February 1955 arrived at Malta
21 February 1955 sailed Malta for Bahrein
1 March 1955 passed Aden
6 March 1955 arrived at Bahrein sailing later in the same day
16 March 1955 arrived Suez
17 March 1955 arrived at Port Said
29 March 1955 sailed from Malta for Bahrein
2 April 1955 sailed Suez
5 April 1955 arrived at Aden
12 April 1955 sailed from Aden for Bahrein
21 April 1955 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi for Suez
15 June 1955 sailed Singapore for the Persian Gulf
26 June 1955 arrived Bahrein
27 June 1955 sailed from Bahrein for Port Said
10 July 1955 arrived at Suez
15 July 1955 sailed from Suez
20 July 1955 sailed from Aden for Mena Al Ahmadi
30 July 1955 sailed Abadan
7 August 1955 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
10 August 1955 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
17 August 1955 arrived at Bahrein
18 August 1955 sailed from Bahrein for Trincomalee, Ceylon
25 August 1955 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
10 September 1955 arrived at Bombay
20 September 1955 arrived at Bahrein
21 September 1955 sailed from Bahrein
30 September 1955 arrived at Suez
1 October 1955 arrived at Port Said
14 October 1955 sailed Ras Tanura for Singapore
25 October 1955 arrived at Singapore Roads
3 November 1955 sailed from Singapore Roads for Abadan
14 November 1955 arrived at Abadan
15 November 1955 sailed from Bandar Mashur
23 November 1955 sailed from Aden
28 November 1955 arrived Bahrein
29 November 1955 sailed Bahrein for Port Said
8 December 1955 arrived at Suez
15 December 1955 arived at Port Said
18 December 1955 sailed Malta
21 December 1955 arrived Gibraltar
30 December 1955 sailed Gibraltar for Trinidad
10 January 1956 sailed Trinidad for Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
2 February 1956 arrived at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands from Trinidad
18 February 1956 sailed Trinidad for Bermuda
23 February 1956 arrived at Bermuda
1 March 1956 sailed Trinidad for the UK
21 March 1956 sailed Portsmouth for Curaçao
3 April 1956 sailed from Trinidad
15 April 1956 berthed at Portsmouth
7 May 1956 Captain J W Cunningham RFA appointed as Master
14 August 1956 berthed at Malta from the UK to discharge 9,000 tons of FFO and 1,000 tons of diesel
4 November 1956 deployed for Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 20 November 1956 – the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal with the “Near East” Clasp
11 April 1957 during Exercise Tradewind RASed with HMAS ANZAC
14 April 1957 during Exercise Tradewind RASed with HMAS ANZAC
24 April 1957 sailed Singapore with RN, RNZN, French and RAN units to take part in Exercise Astra
30 April 1957 during Exercise Astra RASed with HMAS ANZAC
3 May 1957 in the vicinity of Sattahib RASed with HMAS’s MELBOURNE, ANZAC and TOBRUK prior to steaming to Hong Kong
23 May 1957 during Exercise Sealink RASed with HMAS’s ANZAC and TOBRUK. HMAS ANZAC received 348 tons of FFO
4 September 1957 at Trinidad Sailor Muay Chew Tong discharged dead – accidental
5 September 1957 sailed from Trinidad
29 September 1957 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard when on passage to Curaçao
10 October 1957 arrived at Curaçao
17 October 1957 sailed from Curaçao
8 November 1957 arrived at Plymouth
12 November 1957 Mr J Ross RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 November 1957 sailed Plymouth for Londonderry and Greenock
1 December 1957 arrived at Greenock
15 February 1958 sailed Montevideo Roads for Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
26 March 1958 sailed Simonstown, South Africa for Seychelles and Trincomalee, Ceylon
11 April 1958 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
17 April 1958 arrived at Singapore Roads
4 May 1958 sailed from Bahrein
6 May 1958 arrived at Abadan
12 May 1958 sailed Aden for Gibraltar
17 May 1958 arrived at Port Said
26 May 1958 arrived at Malta
31 May 1958 sailed from Malta
4 June 1958 sailed from Suez
7 June 1958 arrived at Aden sailing the same day
13 June 1958 arrived at Abadan
15 June 1958 sailed Abadan for Suez
30 June 1958 arrived at Malta
3 July 1958 sailed from Malta for Aden
6 July 1958 arrived at Port Said
10 July 1958 arrived at Aden
24 July 1958 sailed Aden
3 August 1958 arrived at Aden
5 August 1958 sailed from Aden
11 August 1958 arrived at Suez
12 August 1958 sailed from Port Said
20 August 1958 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Portland
28 August 1958 Captain John M Humphrey DSC OBE MID RFA appointed as Master
9 September 1958 sailed Malta
12 September 1958 arrived at Port Said
13 September 1958 sailed Suez
24 September 1958 arrived at Abadan
25 September 1958 sailed from Abadan
7 October 1958 sailed from Port Said
14 October 1958 passed Gibraltar
17 October 1958 arrived at Devonport
18 October 1958 Captain L J Mack DSO RFA appointed as Master
29 October 1958 sailed Devonport for Aden
1 November 1958 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
7 November 1958 arrived at Port Said and after canal transit sailed from Suez
13 November 1958 arrived at Aden
14 November 1958 sailed Aden
19 November 1958 sailed Port Said
14 December 1958 sailed Abadan for Simonstown, South Africa
31 December 1958 arrived at Simonstown, South Africa
5 January 1959 sailed Simonstown, South Africa to Aden arriving 18 January 1959
18 February 1959 arrived at the River Tyne from Rosyth making fast to the tank cleaning berth
20 February 1959 at the Newcastle Shipping Office discharged the officers
5 March 1959 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend on Tyne
10 March 1959 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend on Tyne
12 March 1959 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend on Tyne
2 April 1959 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend on Tyne
3 April 1959 signed on officers at the Newcastle on Tyne shipping office
7 April 1959 Captain George Baker RFA appointed as Master
2 May 1959 berthed at Malta
26 August 1959 sailed Malta to Bahrain
17 December 1959 Mr G Thompson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 December 1959 alongside at Simontown, South Africa
31 January 1960 at sea at 16°40W 55°10E Seaman Ting Ah Hong discharged dead through apparent natural causes. Buried at Sea
21 March 1960 arrived at Malta from the Persian Gulf
24 May 1960 arrived at Grand Harbour, Malta from Tobruk
15 August 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 1 buoy
20 August 1960 at Devonport Sailor Yee Hoo Ling discharged dead from self inflicted strangulation
31 August 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 1 buoy to No: 3 West Mud moorings on RFA ECHODALE
3 September 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
16 September 1960 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 29 September 1960
19 October 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 3 West Mud moorings on RFA ECHODALE
19 July 1961 at Devonport RFA EDDYREEF was had been moored alongside RFA ECHODALE on No: 3 West Mud moorings was moved to alongside RFA WAVE LAIRD
7 September 1961 at Devonport at No 3 West Mud mooring with RFA EDDYCLIFF berthed alongside
October 1969 on disposal list Devonport
1 November 1969 offered for sale ‘as lying’ at Devonport Dockyard in the Times of this day
26 January 1970 left Devonport under tow to Gibraltar.
25 February 1970 left Gibraltar under tow to the ship breakers
March 1970 arrived Hierros Ardes, Gandia, Spain for breaking up
Notes:
She acted as a Support Ship to HMS PROTECTOR and ran supplies to the Falkland Islands.