RFA Wave Monarch post war
Previous name: Empire Venus
Subsequent name: Noema
Official Number: 169962
Class: WAVE CLASS Oiler (modified)
Pennant No: X108 / B 526 / A108
Signal Letters: GJKQ
Laid down: 17 June 1943
Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd., (Govan)
Launched: 6 July 1944
Into Service: 3 November 1944
Out of service: March 1960 sold out of service
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 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.
17 June 1943 laid down as EMPIRE VENUS for the MoWT
28 January 1944 taken over by the Admiralty while still being built – name cancelled
3 July 1944 Mr William J Brown DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 July 1944 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan as Yard Nr: 1223 G named WAVE MONARCH
3 November 1944 completed
14 November 1944 sailed in escorted convoy UC 45A from Liverpool to New York arriving on the 25 November 1944
30 November 1944 under repair at New York
9 December 1944 sailed in escorted convoy CU50 from New York to the Clyde arriving on 20 December 1944 along with EMPIRE PALADIN (later RFA WAVE COMMANDER)
25 January 1945 under repair at the Clyde – completed 26 January 1945
28 January 1945 sailed in escorted convoy UC 54A from Clyde to Curaçao via New York arriving on 10 February 1945 EMPIRE BOUNTY (later RFA WAVE VICTOR) was also in this Convoy
2 February 1945 detached from convoy UC 54A
13 February 1945 sailed independently from Curaçao to Cristobal arriving 15 February 1945
17 February 1945 sailed independently arriving Manus 13 March 1945
March 1945 took part in Operation Iceberg One – the British Pacific Fleet operations against Okinawa and outlying islands – along with RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), BROWN RANGER, CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE and WAVE KING.
13 March 1945 reported by the US Commander, Loyalty Islands as arriving at that location
19 March 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands unescorted with RFA DINGLEDALE arriving Leyte 26 March 1945
27 March 1945 at Leyte with HMAS PIRIE alongside being refuelled
HMAS PIRIE
31 March 1945 at San Pedro Bay with HMAS KALGOORLIE alongside being refuelled
HMAS KALGOORLIE
4 April 1945 during Operation Iceberg at 19°12N 126°30E RASed HMS BLACK PRINCE
13 April 1945 sailed Tolosa, Leyte Island, Philippnes with HMS WOODCOCK as escort to Ryukyus
18 April 1945 HMAS NAPIER refuelled alongside
3 May 1945 HMAS’s NAPIER, NEPAL, NIZAM and NORMAN, (destroyers), screened the escort carriers STRIKER and RULER, and RFA’s WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH, in the Okinawa area.
6 May 1945 to 7 May 1945 elements of the British Pacific Fleet met up with the Tanker Group at Cootie One – 21º12 N 128º44 E – for refuelling and mail transfers. This included RFA’s CEDARDALE, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH plus 2 other MFA oilers.
7 May 1945 with RFA WAVE KING deployed to Leyte under the escort of HMAS NORMAN
14 May 1945 refuelled HMAS NEPAL and supplied 244 tons of FFO
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 DINGLEDALE RFA ARNDALE, RFA WAVE KING and RFA WAVE MONARCH (Operation ICEBERG TWO)
22 May 1945 at Cortie One RFA’s WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH again met up with HM and HMA ships for fuelling tasks
31 May 1945 at Manus, Admiralty Islands together with RFA’s FORT DUNVEGAN, ARNDALE, BROWN RANGER, CEDARDALE, GREEN RANGER, RAPIDOL, WAVE EMPEROR and WAVE KING
2 June 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands independently arriving Brisbane, Australia 7 June 1945
22 June 1945 sailed Brisbane independently arriving Manus, Admiralty Islands on 28 June 1945
30 June 1945 at Manus, Admiralty Islands together with RFA’s BACCHUS (2), FORT DUNVEGAN, RAPIDOL, BROWN RANGER and GREEN RANGER
1 July 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands
July 1945 member of Task Force 112 in the Pacfic
20 July 1945 RAS’ed HMS IMPLACABLE with AVGAS astern between 0712 and 1818 hours. At the same time RAS’ed unspecified destroyers abeam
HMS IMPLACABLE
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)
August 1945 RFA’s forming the Logistics Support Group attached to the British Pacific Fleet included RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), BIHOPDALE, BROWN RANGER, CEDARDALE, DINGLEDALE, EASEDALE, EMPIRE SALVAGE, GREEN RANGER, RAPIDOL, SERBOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE GOVERNOR, WAVE KING, WAVE MONARCH and HMS (later RFA) OLNA (2)
6 August 1945 sailed independently from Manus, Admiralty Islands arriving Sydney, NSW on 11 August 1945
28 September 1945 sailed independently from Sydney, NSW arriving at Manus, Admiralty Islands on 5 October 1945
16 October 1945 sailed independently from Manus, Admiralty Islands arriving Hong Kong 23 October 1945
7 December 1945 Captain Frederick G Drake DSC RFA appointed as Master
8 January 1946 sailed Hong Kong to Singapore arriving 13 January 1946
15 January 1946 sailed Singapore to Bombay arriving 24 January 1946
24 January 1946 Captain Thomas Elder DSC RFA appointed as Master
25 January 1946 under going repairs at Bombay
7 February 1946 sailed Bombay to Abadan arriving on 11 February 1946
14 February 1946 sailed Abadan to Hong Kong arriving on 8 March 1946
9 March 1946 sailed Hong Kong to Shanghai arriving on 12 March 1946
15 March 1946 sailed Shanghai to Hong Kong
3 April 1946 in port at Hong Kong
21 June 1946 at Singapore from Hong Kong sailed to Abadan arriving 4 July 1946
3 July 1946 Mr William J Brown DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 July 1946 sailed Abadan to Port Said then sailed 21 July 1946 passing Gibraltar on 27 July 1946, passing Beachy Head and the Downs on 31 July 1946 arriving at Sheerness on 1 August 1946
10 August 1946 arrived at Devonport from Sheerness
27 October 1946 sailed Devonport passing Gibraltar 30 October 1946 arriving at Port Said 4 November 1946
5 November 1946 sailed Port Said to Aden arriving 10 November 1946
10 November 1946 sailed Aden for Abadan but put back due to engine defects on 11 November 1946
13 November 1946 after repairs sailed again for Abadan arriving on 18 November 1946
20 November 1946 sailed Abadan for Hong Kong
7 December 1946 sailed Singapore
12 December 1946 arrived Hong Kong
2 January 1947 sailed Hong Kong for Colombo
10 January 1947 arrived at Colombo
11 January 1947 sailed Colombo for Abadan
25 January 1947 passed Aden
30 January 1947 sailed Port Said for Gibraltar
5 February 1947 arrived at Gibraltar
21 Feberuary 1947 sailed Gibraltar for Abadan
3 March 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
9 March 1947 sailed Abadan for Aden
15 March 1947 arrived at Aden
17 March 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
30 March 1947 arrived Aden
1 April 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
18 April 1947 sailed Port Said
27 April 1947 sailed Gibraltar
2 May 1947 arrived Port Said and sailed the same day
3 June 1947 arrived at Abadan from Port Said
7 June 1947 at the AIOC Hospital, Abadan Donkeyman Shaikh Adam X Shaikh Ennos discharged dead from a stroke. He entered the hospital on 5 June 1947
12 June 1947 passed Aden
17 June 1947 sailed Port Said
28 June 1947 arrived at Rosyth
3 July 1947 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 15 January 1948
Chief Engineer Officer Frederick O Brims RFA – image taken earlier in his sea going career
14 July 1947 arrived the River Tyne from Rosyth
18 July 1947 berthed at the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE GOVERNOR
22 July 1947 berthed at the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE GOVERNOR
26 July 1947 berthed at the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE GOVERNOR
30 July 1947 berthed at the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE GOVERNOR with Captain George S Perry RFA appointed as Master
Captain George S Perry RFA
7 August 1947 arrived Gibraltar
19 August 1947 arrived Port Said
30 August 1947 arrived at Abadan
7 September 1947 sailed Abadan
16 September 1947 sailed Chochin for Trincomalee
22 September 1947 arrived Trincomalee
24 September 1947 sailed Trincomalee for Bombay
30 September 1947 at Bombay
21 October 1947 while on passage from Abadan to Devonport left Port Said this day
27 October 1947 while on passage from Abadan to Devonport passed Gibraltar this day
2 November 1947 arrived at Plymouth
Press cutting from the Western Morning News of 4 November 1947
11 November 1947 arrived at the River Clyde Anchorage after passage from Devonport
1 December 1947 Mr Wallace G Downing RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 January 1948 sailed the River Clyde for Curaçao
24 March 1948 at Hull
26 May 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
31 July 1948 passed Aden
16 August 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
12 September 1948 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon for Port Moresby & Cairns, Australia
11 January 1949 Captain Archibald Hobson DSC RFA appointed as Master
Captain Archibald Hobson DSC RFA
19 June 1949 Mr George G Stenhouse RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer George G Stenhouse RFA
14 July 1949 passed Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound
31 August 1949 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour berthing on the Gosport Oil Fuel jetty
3 September 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
7 September 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
12 September 1949 arrived at Port Said
26 September 1949 sailed Abadan for Trincomalee, Ceylon
7 October 1949 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
11 October 1949 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon for Abadan
26 October 1949 sailed Abadan Bar for Colombo, Ceylon
3 November 1949 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
18 November 1949 berthed at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to discharge
5 December 1949 sailed Melbourne, Victoria, Australia for Colombo, Ceylon
19 December 1949 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
30 December 1949 sailed Abadan
7 January 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
18 January 1950 arrived Fremantle, Australia
22 January 1950 sailed Fremantle, Australia to Abadan but was forced to return shortly after sailing with a defect to the engines. Sailed 24 hours later with the defect repaired
2 February 1950 arrived Colombo, Ceylon
4 February 1950 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
15 February 1950 sailed from Abadan for Sydney, NSW, Australia
22 February 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
23 February 1950 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon for Sydney, NSW, Australia
13 March 1950 berthed at Chowder Bay, NSW, Australia to discharge
19 March 1950 sailed Chowder Bay, NSW, Australia
5 April 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
16 April 1950 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
6 May 1950 sailed Port Said
16 May 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
20 May 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
24 May 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
31 May 1950 arrived at Port Said
5 June 1950 arrived at Aden
6 June 1950 sailed Aden
13 June 1950 arrived at Abadan
1 July 1950 sailed Aden
7 July 1950 sailed Port Said
13 July 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
24 July 1950 Mr Keith U Rapley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 July 1950 arrived at The River Tyne – Wallsend Slipway from Rosyth
28 July 1950 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
31 July 1950 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
17 August 1950 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
19 August 1950 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
6 September 1950 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
11 September 1950 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
22 September 1950 sailed from the River Tyne
14 October 1950 arrived at Abadan
29 November 1950 sailed from Abadan for Trincomalee, Ceylon
22 February 1951 Captain A R Wheeler RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
15 May 1951 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour
9 August 1951 berthed at Singapore to discharge
22 September 1951 berthed at Hebburn on Tyne from Scapa Flow
4 October 1951 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on Tyne together with RFA DEWDALE (1) for repairs or refit
9 October 1951 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on Tyne together with RFA DEWDALE (1) for repairs or refit
31 October 1951 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on Tyne
5 November 1951 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on Tyne together with RFA WAVE SOVEREIGN for repairs or refit
13 November 1951 berthed at Palmers (Hebburn) on Tyne together with RFA WAVE SOVEREIGN for repairs or refit
27 November 1951 sailed for Curaçao from Palmers (Hebburn) on the River Tyne
17 January 1952 arrived at Bombay
24 January 1952 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Gibraltar
5 April 1952 sailed Malta for Curaçao
8 August 1952 Mr K Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 August 1952 Captain F A Shaw RFA appointed as Master
11 September 1952 at Charleston Roads, off Rosyth with USS Ammen (DD527) alongside being refuelled
USS Ammen (DD527)
1 April 1953 arrived for refit at Swan Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne from Antwerp
4 April 1953 in refit at Swan Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne
9 April 1953 in refit at Swan Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne
18 April 1953 in refit at Swan Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne
21 April 1953 in refit at Swan Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne together with RFA WAVE KING
28 May 1953 sailed the River Tyne for Mena-al-Amadi
12 July 1953 Captain Alfred M Uglow RFA appointed as Master
13 July 1953 Mr G Thompson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 August 1954 passed Dover sailing east bound
6 August 1954 Captain Albert E Curtain OBE RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master until 28 September 1954
28 September 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound
3 October 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
19 November 1954 Captain Albert E Curtain OBE RD RFA (Commander RNR Rtd) appointed as Master
21 January 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
28 January 1955 sailed Suez
5 February 1955 berthed at Ras Tanura
8 February 1955 sailed Ras Tanura
16 February 1955 arrived Trincomalee, Ceylon
27 February 1955 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon for Bahrein
6 March 1955 sailed from Bahrein
17 March 1955 arrived at Port Said
25 March 1955 sailed Suez
6 April 1955 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi
22 April 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
27 April 1955 arrived at Pernis
1 May 1955 sailed from Rotterdam for Southampton. Mr J H Young RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 June 1955 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
18 July 1955 arrived at Houston
21 July 1955 sailed Houston for Curaço
27 July 1955 sailed Curaçao
2 August 1955 sailed Savannah for Punta Cardon
14 August 1955 arrived at Baltimore
21 August 1955 arrived Baton Rouge
26 August 1955 sailed Baton Rouge
10 September 1955 Captain William H G Hine RFA appointed as Master
30 September 1955 sailed from Trinidad for Bermuda
7 October 1955 sailed Bermuda for Trinidad
11 October 1955 arrived at Trinidad
24 October 1955 arrived at Gibraltar
26 October 1955 sailed from Gibraltar for Trinidad
6 November 1955 sailed from Trinidad
29 November 1955 arrived Plymouth under tow of the tug HMS REWARD having broken down in the Bay of Biscay
12 December 1955 signed a new crew on at the North Shields Shipping Office
17 January 1956 – berthed at North East Marine, River Tyne
10 February 1956 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound for Malta
14 February 1956 ran aground within a few feet off Lower Barakka while entering Grand Harbour, Malta. She had sailed from Killingholme near Grimsby. Pulled off by the tugs Sea Giant, Diligent, Marauder, Mediator and Prompt without any apparent damage
RFA WAVE MONARCH entering Grand Harbour, Malta
21 February 1956 arrived at Port Said
22 February 1956 sailed from Suez
2 March 1956 arrived at Ras Tanuara
23 March 1956 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Aden
28 March 1956 arrived at Aden
30 March 1956 sailed from Aden
9 April 1956 arrived at Bombay
16 April 1958 arrived at Suez
29 May 1956 arrived at the Clyde Anchorage
5 July 1956 berthed at the Tank Cleaning Berth, River Tyne
9 July 1956 Mr Daniel S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 August 1956 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
28 August 1956 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
1 September 1956 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
9 October 1956 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE REGENT
23 October 1956 sailed Killingholme
27 October 1956 passed Fort Gilkicker, Solent
20 November 1956 arrived at Las Palmas
10 December 1956 arrived at New York
27 December 1956 sailed New York for Curaçao
4 January 1957 sailed San Lorenzo, Venezuela for Providence
21 February 1957 sailed Boston for Curaçao
8 March 1957 arrived at Philadelphia
11 March 1957 sailed from Philadelphia for Curaçao
17 March 1957 arived at Curaçao
18 March 1957 sailed Curaçao
26 March 1957 arrived at Bridgeport from Curaçao
9 April 1957 arrived at Portland ME
2 May 1957 sailed New York for Curaçao
8 May 1957 arrived at Curaçao
9 May 1957 sailed Curaçao for Devonport
17 June 1957 sailed from Providence for St Kitts
25 July 1957 sailed Curaçao
8 August 1957 arrived at Thameshaven
15 August 1957 arrived at Southampton
25 September 1957 Captain J Bottomley RFA appointed as Master
29 November 1957 arrived at Tail of Bank
3 December 1957 sailed Tail of Bank
19 December 1957 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
7 January 1958 arrived at the Oil Fuel Depot at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde
13 January 1958 arrived at Londonderry
18 January 1858 sailed from Londonderry
20 January 1958 arrived at Portsmouth
26 January 1958 sailed from Portsmouth
15 February 1958 sailed Malta for Trincomalee, Ceylon
19 February 1958 arrived at Port Said
20 February 1958 sailed from Suez
24 February 1958 sailed from Aden
2 March 1958 sailed from Bombay for Trincomalee, Ceylon
12 April 1958 sailed from Aden for Malta
17 April 1958 sailed Port Said
29 April 1958 arrived at Malta
13 May 1958 sailed Suez
19 May 1958 sailed from Aden for Gibraltar
24 May 1958 sailed Port Said
3 June 1958 sailed from Gibraltar for Augusta, Italy
7 June 1958 sailed from Augusta
9 June 1958 arrived at Malta
18 June 1958 sailed from Malta
27 June 1958 arrived at Abadan
30 June 1958 sailed from Abadan
11 July 1958 sailed from Port Said
24 July 1958 sailed Augusta, Italy
25 July 1958 arrived at Malta
28 July 1958 sailed Malta
30 July 1958 berthed at Malta
10 August 1958 arrived at Malta
18 August 1958 sailed from Malta for Augusta, Italy
10 September 1958 arrived at Malta
14 September 1958 sailed Malta for Adbadan
16 September 1958 arrived at Port Said
17 September 1958 sailed Suez
30 September 1958 sailed Abadan
13 October 1958 sailed Port Said
18 October 1958 arrived at Malta
21 October 1958 sailed Malta for Aden
25 October 1958 sailed Suez
30 October 1958 arrived at Suez
2 November 1958 said Aden
7 November 1958 arrived Suez
28 November 1958 Mr John R Warne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer John R Warne RFA
16 December 1958 arrived at Gibraltar
14 January 1959 sailed Gibraltar for Trinidad
15 February 1959 Captain Edward E Laurence RFA appointed as Master
16 February 1959 at Glasgow
1 May 1959 sailed Malta for Devonport
11 May 1959 at Devonport
12 September 1959 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn together with RFA TIDEREACH
March 1960 sold to H G Pounds, Portsmouth and became a storage hulk at Le Havre replacing Wave Conquerer.
1960 resold to Societe Miroline, Le Havre and renamed NOEMA
8 February 1964 arrived at Bilbao, Spain for breaking up.
Notes:
- Was part of the British Pacific Fleet Train – hence the B-pennant number
- The ships badge at the head of this card is an Unofficial one