Previous name: Empire Marston
Official Number: 181515
Class: WAVE CLASS Freighting Oiler (unmodified)
Pennant No: X 65 / A129
Signal Letters: GLZL
Laid down: 6 June 1945
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding Co.
Launched: 27 June 1946
Into Service: December 1946
Out of service: 9 June 1959
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 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.
19 June 1946 Mr Harold Ringshaw RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Harold Ringshaw RFA
27 June 1946 launched by Furness Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Haverton Hill as Yard Nr: 38 EMPIRE MARSTON for the MoT
1 July 1946 arrived at Hartlepool
22 July 1946 alongside Old Harbour, Hartlepool – albeit that the ship was not officially renamed until December 1946 the local press were reporting on her as the WAVE PREMIER
21 August 1946 Captain Thomas H Card RFA appointed as Master
2 September 1946 berthed at Old Harbour, Hartlepool
2 November 1946 sailed Hartlepool
6 December 1946 completed for the Admiralty and renamed WAVE PREMIER
10 December 1946 sailed Hartlepool
12 December 1946 after trials sailed for Trinidad
28 December 1946 put back to Trinidad eventually sailing 29 December 1946
24 January 1947 at Sheerness
13 February 1947 sailed from Trinidad for the UK
1 March 1947 at Plymouth
2 March 1947 sailed Devonport for Trinidad
26 March 1947 berthed at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
10 April 1947 sailed Trinidad
19 April 1947 sailed Trinidad for the UK
15 May 1947 sailed from Portland
25 May 1947 arrived at Port Said
2 June 1947 arrived at Abadan from Portland
7 June 1947 sailed Abadan for Aden
16 June 1947 at 16°13N 54°29E Donkeyman John Callaghan discharged dead – heart attack
20 June 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
3 July 1947 while on passage from Aden to LEFO passed Gibraltar sailing west this day
9 July 1947 arrived at Sheerness
16 July 1947 at Gravesend
13 August 1947 arrived at Curaçao
14 August 1947 sailed Curaçao
30 August 1947 sailed Glasgow
6 September 1947 sailed Gibraltar for Abadan
12 September 1947 sailed Port Said southbound through the Suez Canal
16 September 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
22 September 1947 berthed at Abadan
23 September 1947 sailed Abadan
3 October 1947 sailed Abadan for Aden
9 October 1947 sailed Aden for the UK
13 October 1947 arrived at Suez
14 October 1947 sailed Port Said
19 October 1947 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
24 October 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
30 October 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
30 January 1948 arrived at Curaçao from London
3 February 1948 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
2 March 1948 sailed from Aruba for the UK
27 March 1948 arrived Port Said from Stanlow
13 April 1948 arrived at Abadan
15 April 1948 sailed Abadan for Suez
14 May 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
19 May 1948 arrived at Port Said
20 May 1948 sailed from Suez
31 May 1948 sailed from Abadan for the UK
19 June 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound
4 July 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
1 August 1948 sailed Abadan
2 August 1948 sailed Shat-El-Arab
8 August 1948 passed Aden
13 August 1948 sailed from Port Said
19 August 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
12 September 1948 sailed Trinidad for the UK
30 September 1948 passed Ushant
6 December 1948 Captain Percival H Brooke OBE RFA appointed as Master
20 January 1949 Mr David L Walls RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 January 1949 in dry dock at Rosyth
15 February 1949 – sailed Rosyth and took part in Artic weather operational training north east of Iceland with units of the 3rd Aircraft Carrier Squadron of the Home Fleet – Operation Rusty
19 February 1949 delivered mail to HMS St KITTS for them and other RN ships in the Operation
20 February 1949 RAS’ed HMS VENGEANCE and other RN units in Operation Rusty
HMS VENGEANCE
4 March 1949 sailed from Operation Rusty for Rosyth
13 March 1949 Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA appointed as Master
Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA
30 March 1949 passed Aden
27 May 1949 passed Aden
31 May 1949 sailed Port Said
11 July 1949 berthed at the Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde to discharge
16 July 1949 sailed from the Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
27 July 1949 sailed Suez
17 August 1949 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
14 September 1949 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon
24 September 1949 sailed Abadan for Colombo, Ceylon
8 October 1949 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
16 October 1949 arrived at Abadan
27 October 1949 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
13 November 1949 arrived at Sydney, Australia from Abadan to discharge
24 January 1950 sailed Sydney, Australia to Abadan
4 March 1950 sailed Port Said
10 March 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound
13 March 1950 passed Ushant
24 May 1950 Captain Frank C Holt RFA appointed as Master
Captain Frank C Holt RFA
28 May 1950 on passage from Devonport passed Gibraltar this day
4 June 1950 sailed from Suez for Abadan
20 June 1950 sailed Abadan for LEFO
31 July 1950 visited Auckland, New Zealand
15 August 1950 passed Thursday Island, Australia
27 August 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
3 September 1950 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
11 September 1950 berthed at Abadan
14 October 1950 anchored in the Inchon approaches with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled
16 October 1950 anchored in the Inchon approaches with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled
22 October 1950 anchored in the Inchon approaches with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled
24 October 1950 anchored in the Inchon approaches with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled
27 October 1950 anchored in the Inchon approaches with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled and supplied with stores
14 November 1950 anchored in the Inchon approaches with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled
27 December 1950 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
30 December 1950 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
1951 – 1952 supported Allied ships in the Korean War with 18 other RFA’s and received the Battle Honour ‘Korea 1950 – 1952’
2 January 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair. Mr John E Kennedy RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 January 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
5 January 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
12 January 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
17 January 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
18 January 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
21 January 1951 Captain John M Humphrey OBE DSC RFA appointed as Master
23 January 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
24 January 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
30 January 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
1 February 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
13 February 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
14 February 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
15 February 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
17 February 1951 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
22 February 1951 sailed Wallsend on Tyne to Port Said arriving on 3 March 1951
4 March 1951 transitted the Suez Canal reaching Suez on 5 March 1951
5 March 1951 sailed Suez to Abadan arriving 14 March 1951
17 March 1951 sailed Abadan having loaded to Singapore arriving on 28 March 1951
31 March 1951 sailed Singapore having loaded victualling supplies to Sasebo, Japan arriving on 31 March 1951
17 April 1951 having discharged cargo at Sasebo arrived back at Singapore
20 April 1951 fitted with Bofors guns on the forward and stern platforms at Singapore
1 May 1951 anchored at Sasebo Bay, Japan
9 May 1951 took onboard Royal New Zealand Navy Gunnery Officer, a New Zealand GI Petty Officer and gunner crews
10 May 1951 sailed for Korean Waters and anchored 15 miles off Inchon near the island of Techong To.
11 May 1951 replenished alongside HMNZS HARWEA and HMS CEYLON
HMS CEYLON
12 May 1951 in the Yellow Sea RASed USS’s Agerholm and Perkins, HMCS HURON and HMAS BATAAN.
13 May 1951 returned to the anchorage off Inchon and refuelled alongside HMNZS Harwea, HMNS Van Galen plus HMS’s CEYLON and CONCORD.
14 May 1951 back in the Yellow Sea RASing various Allied ships together with HMS GLORY. While RASing with HMS GLORY a seaman from the aircraft carrier fell over the side. He was picked up by helicopter and returned onboard
15 May 1951 returned to the previous anchorage and refuelled two ships alongside
17 May 1951 back to the Yellow Sea for RAS’es with Allied ships
18 May 1951 at the anchorage off Inchon with alonside replenishment of HMS KENYA
19 May 1951 still at anchor and alongside replenishment of two RN destroyers
20 May 1951 sailed for the Yellow Sea RAS area
21 May 1951 RASed with RN and Allied ships then sailed to Sasebo to anchor and replenish alongside HMS CEYLON, HMS BLACK SWAN, HMS ALACRITY, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and other Allied ships
22 May 1951 at anchor at Sasebo Bay
23 May 1951 alongside at Sasebo to refill her tanks and to load victualling stores for RN and Allied ships.
24 May 1951 at anchor at Sasebo Bay until 26 May 1951
27 May 1951 RASing RN and Allied ship before anchoring off Inchon on 28 May 1951
Between 28 May 1951 and 6 June 1951 sighted what was believed to be floating mines – fired on by the ships .303 rifles – they did not explode even if they were mines. During this period at anchor refuelled alongside HMS CEYLON (twice), HMS BLACK SWAN, HMS ALACRITYl HMAS WARRAMUNGA and other Allied ships including HNMS Van Galen, HMNZS HAWEA. HMNZS HAWEA stayed alongside overnight of the 3 June 1951 and the ship’s Writer – Jimmy Brady – put his collar on back to front and gave the impression he was the RFA Chaplain. This wore very thin when he commenced to tell risque funny stories
6 June 1951 sailed from the Inchon anchorage to RAS RN and USS and then returning to the Inchon anchorage and replenish HMNZS ROTOITI which stayed alongside over night
9 June 1951 HMS GLORY taken out of action in the Korean War due to water contamination in the aviation fuel supplied by the forward RAS rigs of Wave Premier – investigation found that the contamination was caused by corrosion inside the piping on the upper deck between the aviation fuel tank and the discharge point forward.
10 June 1951 at the Inchon anchorage refuelling ships alongside
11 June 1951 at sea RASing with RN and USS units returning to the Inchon anchorage on 13 June 1951
14 June 1951 at the Inchon anchorage refuelling HMNZS ROTOITI alongside
15 June 1951 at sea RASing with RNZ and USS units before sailing to the Sasebo Naval Base arriving at 1900hrs on 16 June 1951
19 June 1951 having load with cargo sailed from Sasebo Naval Base for the Yellow Sea eascorted and on a zig zag course to avoid any interference by submarines off the southern tip of Korea
20 June 1951 RASed with HMS BLACK SWAN off Clifford Island.
22 June 1951 RASed with HMAS WARRAMUNGA then returned to Sasebo, under escort, and arriving on 24 June 1951
26 June 1951 handed over to RFA WAVE CHIEF for RAS duties
28 June 1951 sailed Sasebo for Singapore arriving on 6 July 1951 entering the Dockayrd for refitting and a boiler clean.
13 July 1951 Fireman W J Stowells appeared before a Singapore Court charged with wilful neglect of duty on four occasions. Stowells pleaded guilty to absenting himself – once in Singapore and on three occasion at Sasebo, Japan. He was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment.
21 July 1951 having loaded cargo sailed Singapore passing west of Formosa anchored at Ebisoko, Sasebo on 28 July 1951. She then went alongside to discharge
23 July 1951 RASed with HMS CARDIGAN BAY
31 July 1951 sailed Sasebo to Singapore arriving 7 August 1951
7 August 1951 loaded with FFO
10 August 1951 moved berth to Pulau Bukum to load aviation gasoline and then sailed to Sasebo arriving on 17 August 1951
18 August 1951 took over replenishment at sea tasks from RFA WAVE CHIEF
22 August 1951 sailed Sasebo under the escort of HMNZS ROTOITI
24 August 1951 RASed with USS Kidd then sailed to her usual anchorage off Inchon
25 August 1951 at anchor off Inchon replenished alongside HMS St Brides Bay and HMCS CAYUGA
27 August 1951 sailed under the escort of USS Scittily to RAS with Allied ships returning to the usual anchorage by Techong To Island. HMAS ANZAC refuelled alongside receiving 358 tons of FFO
28 August 1951 HMS CEYLON came alongside for replenishment
HMS CEYLON
30 August 1951 USS Weiss came alongside for replenishment
31 August 1951 sailed to RAS with RN and Allied ships before returning to the Inchon anchorage
1 September 1951 Allied ships came alongside
3 September 1951 sailed to RAS with RN and Allied ships in the Yellow Sea
5 September 1951 RASed with the heavy cruiser HMS BELFAST and then on 6 September 1951 with HMS GLORY and other Allied ships before sailing to Kure, Japan to reload arriving on 8 September 1951
6 September 1951 escorted by HMS ST. BRIDES BAY, HMAS ANZAC and HMCS CAYUGA RAS’ed with HMS GLORY. Set sail for Sasebo under escort of HMAS ANZAC to load fresh water
11 September 1951 sailed Kure, Japan under escort and RASing with RN and Allied ships arriving at the Inchon anchorage on 13 September 1951
14 September 1951 HMS COSSACK came alongside for replenishment
15 September 1951 sailed for RASing various Allied ships before returning to the anchorage later that evening
17 September 1951 refueled while at anchor Allied war ships
18 September 1951 sailed to RAS with HMS COSSACK
20 September 1951 HMS St. BRIDES BAY came alongside to refuel. Later in the day sailed to closer Inchon to go alongside HMS BELFAST to refuel her while she was at anchor.
24 September 1951 RASed various RN and USS ships at sea
26 September 1951 while at sea refuelling HMS CHARITY without advising the tanker that her tanks were full closed the valve causing the hose to burst. The fuel sprayed into the galley which caught fire. A serious fire resulted with ammunition being thrown over board. The fire was quickly brought under control but the destroyer had to retire for repairs
30 September 1951 returned to the usual anchorage off Inchon then to sea to RAS various RN and USS war ships
1 October 1951 RAS’d at sea HMS COSSACK and HMS COMUS
4 October 1951 ship inspected by Commander in Chief of the Far Eastern Fleet Vice Admiral the Hon. Sir Gary Russell and 2nd in Command, Rear Admiral A K Scott Moncrieff
6 October 1951 RAS’d HMS COMUS
7 October 1951 RAS’d with HMAS SYDNEY and other RN and US units during Korean War – fuel and mail
HMAS Sydney, RFA Wave Premier, USS Nichols and HMS Alert
(out of copyright)
The same ships from a different angle
8 October 1951 returned to the Inchon ancorage
11 October 1951 RAS’d with various RN units
12 October 1951 HMS AMETHYST came alongside for fuel. RFA WAVE CHIEF came alongside for a pump over before taking over fuelling duties
14 October 1951 arrived at Sasebo harbour
17 October 1951 sailed for Singapore arriving on 24 October 1951 for a boiler clean and a SMP
9 November 1951 returned to Sasebo harbour freighting oil from Singapore. The ship returned to Singapore to reload with FFO
5 December 1951 back in Sasebo harbour.
6 December 1951 RFA WAVE CHIEF alongside transfering stores. RFA WAVE PREMIER took over replenishment at sea operations off Korea
8 December 1951 sailed to the Inchon anchorage
9 December 1951 moved closer to Inchon and refuelled alongside USS Edmonds and HMS COMUS
12 December 1951 sailed south into the Yellow Sea and RASed HMAS SYDNEY and other RN and USS units
13 December 1951 at the Inchon anchorage and refuelled alongside HMS CEYLON and another Allied unit
14 December 1951 with heavy snow falling refuelling alongside was cancelled as the sea was too rough. The following day rough weather prevented refuelling ships yet again
15 December 1951 at Techong Do HMS COMUS refuelled alongside
20 December 1951 various alongside replenishments with RN, RNZN and Allied ships occured on the next four days
29 December 1951 HMS BELFAST was alongside for replenishment and delivered mail.
3 January 1952 arrived at Sasebo to receive cargo from RFA BISHOPDALE
6 January 1952 sailed to the west coast of Korea and anchored off Inchon on 7 January 1952
Between 7 January 1952 and 12 January 1952 refuelled various RN and Allied units
8 January 1952 Able Seaman Arthur Walden discharged dead. He died on the Hospital Ship RFA Maine (4) from natural causes and is buried in Yokohama War Cemetery, Hodogaya Ward, Japan – Post War Plot B, Row D, Grave 13
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
14 January 1952 RAS’d the USS Rochester
15 January 1952 refueled alongside HMS COCKADE
21 January 1952 at Taechong Do refueled alongside HMS CONSTANCE
22 January 1952 RAS’ed HMAS SYDNEY off Korea and then sailed to Taechong – Do escorted by HMS CONSTANCE
29 January 1952 RFA BROWN RANGER came alongside at the Inchon anchorage to top up her tanks.
7 February 1952 arrived at Sasebo, Japan
8 February 1952 RFA WAVE BARON came alongside in preparation of taking over Korean Waters fueling duties
9 February 1952 in convoy with RFA WAVE BARON and under escort to rendevouz with the carrier group lead by HMS GLORY
11 February 1952 RAS’ed with HMS GLORY sailing afterwards to Sasebo
12 February 1952 completed her service in Korean Water
13 February 1952 sailed Sasebo to Kure to discharge aviation spirit
15 February 1952 sailed Kure for Singapore
23 February 1952 berthed at Singapore for the removal of her Bofors guns and some other repairs. During her service in the Korean War RAS’d at sea 128 ships and refuelled alongside 91 ships making a total of 219 ships.
26 February 1952 sailed Singapore for Kuwait where a cargo of 10,178 tons of crude oil was loaded for Dunkirk
8 March 1952 arrived at Mena Al Ahmadi
10 March 1952 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi
16 March 1952 passed Aden
21 March 1952 sailed Port Said
26 March 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
30 March 1952 berthed at Dunkirk and discharged
31 March 1952 anchored in Dunkirk Roads
5 April 1952 sailed Dunkirk Roads to Falmouth arriving to anchor off the port the next day.
7 April 1952 berthed at Falmouth
10 April 1952 Captain Douglas S Norrington RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
20 May 1952 in the London Gazette of this day on page 2788 Captain John Matthew Humphries OBE DSC RFA and Chief Engineer Officer John E Kennedy RFA were awarded a ‘Mention in Dispatches’
19 August 1952 berthed at TIC, Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
23 August 1952 sailed from the River Tyne for Rosyth
15 September 1952 sailed Rosyth with RFA GOLD RANGER and UK, US, Canadian and New Zealand naval units to take part in Operation Mainbrace
18 September 1952 berthed at Rosyth
20 September 1952 sailed Rosyth to take part in Operation Mainbrace (2nd part)
15 October 1952 in the Imperial Dry dock at Leith, Scotland
17 October 1952 sailed Leith to Rosyth
8 November 1952 Mr I M MacFarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 November 1952 sailed Rosyth for Exercise Autumn Bear off Iceland as TG47.2 with Fleet Tug HMS REWARD
20 November 1952 during Exercise Autumn Bear in Artic Waters RASed HMS VENUS abeam with 232 tons FFO and HMS VIRAGO astern with 238 tons FFO
22 November 1952 during Exercise Autumn Bear in Artic Waters RASed HMS AGINCOURT astern with 270 tons FFO and HMS DIAMOND astern with 240 tons FFO
23 November 1952 during Exercise Autumn Bear in Artic Waters RASed HMS SWIFTSURE astern with 374 tons FFO
24 November 1952 noon position 66.08°N 12.08°W – during Exercise Autumn Bear in Artic Waters RASed HMS SWIFTSURE abeam with 381 tons FFO, HMS AAISNE abeam with 250 tons FFO, HMS BARROSA abeam with 320 tons FFO, HMS CORUNNA abeam with 326 tons FFO, HMS VERULAM abeam with 270 tons FFO and HMS VENUS abeam with 276 tons FFO
25 November 1952 noon position 66.31°N 17.08°W – during Exercise Autumn Bear in Artic Waters RASed HMS EAGLE abeam, to port, with 950 tons FFO, HMS AGINCOURT abeam to starboard with 195 tons FFO and HMS VANGUARD abeam to starboard with 1,731 tons of FFO
26 November 1952 noon position 64.46°N 10.49°W – during Exercise Autumn Bear in Artic Waters RASed HMS VIRAGO abeam with 175 tons FFO
27 November 1952 noon position 61.23°N 09.36°W – during Exercise Autumn Bear in Artic Waters RASed HMS EAGLE abeam with 530 tons FFO and 130 tons Avgas and HMS VERULAM abeam with 180 tons FFO. Released from Exercise to proceed to Fawley to load for Malta
14 December 1952 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
23 December 1952 Pumpman Albert Edward Akhurst discharged dead – died of natural causes – heart failure8 March 1953 at Gibraltar Able Seaman James Greig discharged dead – drowned
20 January 1953 at Southampton
18 February 1953 at Southampton
15 March 1953 at Southampton
25 April 1953 in the Outer Roads at Singapore
27 June 1953 arrived Sydney, NSW, Australia from Bahrein
11 July 1953 sailed Sydney, NSW, Australia for Colombo, Ceylon
4 November 1953 berthed at Heburn on Tyne from Swansea
5 November 1953 crew change at South Shields shipping office
24 November 1953 Captain R H Venning RFA appointed as Master
24 December 1953 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
27 December 1953 Mr Frederick B Hobson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 December 1953 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
31 December 1953 engaged additional crew at the North Shields shipping office, River Tyne
5 January 1954 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
12 January 1954 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
13 January 1954 sailed the River Tyne for Port Said
23 January 1954 arrived at Port Said
29 January 1954 sailed Suez
11 February 1954 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon for SIngapore
4 March 1954 sailed Singapore Roads for Hong Kong
9 March 1954 arrived at Hong Kong
11 March 1954 sailed from Hong Kong for Kure, Japan
29 March 1954 sailed from West Korea for Kure, Japan
20 April 1954 anchored at Taechong Do with HMAS MURCHISON berthed alongside and refuelled her with fuel and water
4 October 1954 to 10 October 1954 involved in naval exercises with RFA FORT CHARLOTTE and RN, RAN Naval vessels and RAAF planes off Manus Island
18 October 1954 moored at Seeadler Harbour, Manus Island
5 November 1954 sailed from Singapore for Bahrein
16 November 1954 berthed at Bahrein
20 November 1954 sailed Bahrein for Port Said
29 November 1954 arrived at Suez
30 November 1954 sailed Port Said for Gibraltar
19 December 1954 arrived at Trinidad
18 January 1955 sailed Trinidad for LEFO
7 February 1955 Captain Frank P Hennin OBE RFA appointed as Master
1 March 1955 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
3 March 1955 Captain A R Wheeler RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
5 March 1955 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
17 March 1955 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
19 March 1955 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
24 March 1955 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
5 April 1955 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
11 April 1955 Mr Allan D Harris RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 April 1955 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
20 April 1955 passed Dover sailing west bound
27 April 1955 passed Ushant
30 April 1955 arrived at Gibraltar
18 May 1955 arrived at Abadan
30 May 1955 arrived at Suez
3 June 1955 sailed from Suez
9 November 1955 arrived at Singapore
25 November 1955 sailed from Singapore for Bahrein
5 December 1955 arrived at Bahrein
6 December 1955 sailed from Bahrein
16 December 1955 arrived at Suez
18 December 1955 sailed Port Said
10 January 1956 sailed Port Said
16 January 1956 sailed Malta for Port Said
19 January 1956 arrived at Port Said
20 January 1956 sailed from Suez
8 February 1956 arrived at Suez
11 February 1956 at Port Said Chief Cook Wong Shui Leung discharged dead through misadventure due to asphyxiation
2 March 1956 sailed Bahrein for Port Said
15 March 1956 sailed Suez
25 March 1956 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Rotterdam
5 April 1956 sailed from Port Said
15 April 1956 arrived at Pernis
23 April 1956 at North Shields Shipping Office, River Tyne discharged the crew
1 May 1956 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
8 May 1956 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
15 May 1956 Captain William W Peddle OBE RFA appointed as Master
24 May 1956 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
25 May 1956 Captain Franklin G Edwards RFA appointed as Master
7 June 1956 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE MASTER
9 June 1956 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE MASTER
26 June 1956 sailed from Devonport
14 July 1956 while under charter to Shell and flying the red ensign eight crew members from Hong Kong jumped ship in New York. The ships agents who had employed five security guards to prevent crew members going ashore were fined $8,000 for breach of US Immigration Act
16 July 1956 sailed New York
2 August 1956 sailed Curaçao for Bermuda
9 August 1956 arrived at New York
12 August 1956 sailed New York for Curaçao
18 August 1956 sailed Punta Cardon for New York
25 August 1956 sailed New York for Curaçao
30 August 1956 arrived at Curaçao
11 September 1956 sailed from Curaçao
16 September 1956 arrived at New York
25 September 1956 sailed New York for Curaçao
5 October 1956 sailed from Curaçao for Buenos Aires
22 October 1956 sailed Buenos Aires for Curaçao
19 November 1956 was deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 24 November 1956 and from 30 November 1956 until 3 December 1956 – the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal with the “Near East” Clasp
28 November 1956 sailed Malta
5 December 1956 arrived at Malta
9 December 1956 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Trinidad
7 January 1957 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
10 January 1957 arrived at Malta
12 January 1957 sailed Malta for Curaçao
15 January 1957 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Curaçao
14 February 1957 passed Gibraltar saling east bound
24 February 1957 sailed Gibraltar for Curaçao
7 March 1957 sailed from Curaçao
18 March 1957 arrived at Gibraltar
31 March 1957 sailed from Curaçao
10 April 1957 arrived at Curaçao
30 April 1957 Mr G J Matthews RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 May 1957 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master
28 May 1957 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
30 May 1957 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
8 June 1957 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit
6 August 1957 Captain Leslie G Rowling DSC RFA appointed as Master
1 December 1957 to 6 December 1957 with RN, US and Pakistan Navy units took part in Operation Crescent off Karachi, Pakistan . RAS’ed with HMS GAMBIA
15 February 1958 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
28 June 1958 Mr J S Morgan RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 January 1959 sailed Curaçao for Rosyth
21 January 1959 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound. Signalled bound for Immingham
26 May 1959 berthed at Palmers Hebburn on Tyne
8 June 1959 engaged a crew at the Newcastle Shipping Office
9 June 1959 sailed the River Tyne for Rosyth
10 June 1959 arrived at Rosyth and laid up
8 June 1960 purchased for £63,000 by BISCO for scrap
11 June 1960 arrived at Inverkeithing for breaking up.
13 June 1960 demolition commenced