Previous name: Empire Protector
Official Number: 169147
Class: WAVE CLASS Freighting Oiler (unmodified)
Pennant No: X136 / A215
Signal Letters: MQKD
Laid down: 15 June 1943
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding Company
Launched: 20 July 1944
Into Service: 1946
Out of service: March 1958 hulked at Malta
Fate: Broken up 1963
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.
20 July 1944 launched by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill as Yard Nr: 360 named EMPIRE PROTECTOR for the MoWT
18 October 1944 completed and placed under initial management of Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd London
24 October 1944 arrived Middlesborough
30 October 1944 sailed Middlesborough in unescorted convoy FS1621 to Southend arriving 1 November 1944
1 November 1944 sailed Southend and joined a Liverpool escorted convoy UC43B arriving at New York on 12 November 1944
10 November 1944 during escorted convoy US43B suffered an engine defect and fell out of the convoy. USS Earl K OLSEN (DE765) stood by while repairs were undertaken. Returned to convoy 4 hours later
USS Earl K Olsen (DE765)
15 November 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy CU47 to the Downs arriving 26 November 1944 along with EMPIRE LAW (later RFA WAVE CONQUEROR)
19 November 1944 during escorted convoy CU47 RASed with USS Sellstrom (DE255) – dry stores
27 Novemver 1944 to Thames Haven
4 December 1944 sailed Gravesend to Southend
9 December 1944 sailed Southend to join a Liverpool escorted convoy UC48A to New York arriving 22 December 1944
26 December 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy CU52 to Swansea arriving on 7 January 1945
9 January 1945 sailed Swansea independently to Milford Haven arriving the next day
11 January 1945 sailed Milford Haven to join a Liverpool escorted convoy UC52A to Philadelphia arriving on 21 January 1945
23 January 1945 sailed Philadelphia independently to New York arriving the next day
26 January 1945 sailed New York in escorted convoy CU56 to the Downs arriving on 6 February 1945 along with EMPIRE LAW (later RFA WAVE CONQUEROR)
10 February 1945 sailed Southend to join a Liverpool escorted convoy UC 56A to New York arriving on 23 February 1945 along with EMPIRE LAW (later RFA WAVE CONQUEROR)
2 March 1945 sailed New York independently to Philadelphia arriving the same day
5 March 1945 sailed Philadelphia independently to New York arriving the same day
7 March 1945 sailed New York in escorted convoy CU61 to Liverpool arriving on 18 March 1945 along with EMPIRE LAW (later RFA WAVE CONQUEROR) and EMPIRE SALISBURY (later RFA WAVE MASTER)
14 March 1945 suffered heavy weather damage
21 March 1945 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy UC61A to New York arriving on 1 April 1945 along with EMPIRE SALISBURY (later RFA WAVE MASTER)
8 April 1945 sailed New York in escorted convoy CU65 to the Downs arriving on 19 April 1945 along with EMPIRE SALISBURY (later RFA WAVE MASTER)
23 April 1945 arrived at Falmouth
26 April 1945 sailed Southend in escorted convoy TBC140 to Falmouth arriving the next day
30 April 1945 to 8 May 1945 undergoing repairs and loaded bunkers at Falmouth
9 May 1945 joined escorted convoy UC67A Liverpool to New York from Falmouth having been escorted by HMS ROCHE to the convoy and arrived New York on 19 May 1945
25 May 1945 sailed New York in escroted convoy CU72 along with EMPIRE LAW (later RFA WAVE CONQUEROR)
29 May 1945 and 30 May 1945 as a straggler from escorted convoy CU72 was escorted by USS CHATELAIN (DE149) to rejoin the convoy
USS CHATELAIN (DE149)
4 June 1945 arrived at Shell Haven
7 June 1945 sailed Shell Haven independently to New York
21 June 1945 sailed New York independently to Liverpool arriving 1 July 1945
4 July 1945 sailed Stanlow
25 August 1945 sailed Liverpool independently to Corpus Christi
11 September 1945 sailed Corpus Christi to the Downs arriving 26 September 1945 and anchoring sailing the same day for Bremerhaven, Germany arriving 28 September 1945
2 October 1945 sailed Bremerhaven, Germany for Falmouth arriving on 4 October 1945
8 October 1945 boiler clean at Falmouth completed by 15 October 1945
15 October 1945 sailed Falmouth passing the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard to Swansea arriving the next day
18 October 1945 sailed Swansea to Hamburg, Germany passing the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound the next day and arriving 22 October 1945
23 October 1945 to Cuxhaven
23 October 1945 sailed Cuxhaven to Falmouth arriving 26 October 1945
25 October 1945 on passage to Falmouth passed Dover Signal Station this day
5 November 1945 sailed Falmouth to Port Said arriving 13 November 1945
14 November 1945 sailed Suez to Abadan arriving 23 November 1945
24 November 1945 sailed Abadan to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 2 December 1945
3 December 1945 sailed Colombo, Ceylon to Singapore arriving 8 December 1945
17 December 1945 sailed Singapore to Abadan arriving 28 December 1945
29 December 1945 sailed Abadan
3 October 1946 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
7 October 1946 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
8 October 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing weat bound
23 November 1946 became an RFA and was renamed Wave Protector
28 January 1947 arrived at Aden
30 January 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
16 February 1947 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon for Abadan
20 April 1947 due to very rough weather anchored at Tail of the Bank, River Clyde
24 April 1947 in very rough weather struck the berth at Dunglass Basin, Glasgow and was damaged. Sailing cancelled
28 May 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
2 June 1947 sailed Devonport for Trinidad
13 June 1947 arrived at Trinidad
14 June 1947 sailed Trinidad for the UK
24 June 1947 sailed Fayal for Portland
19 July 1947 Fireman/Greaser W Rusiecki logged as deserting at Point a Pierre, San Fernando, Trinidad. He had signed on at Plymouth on 30 June 1947 also the ship sailed that day from Trinidad for the UK
27 July 1947 arrived at Fayal from Trinidad
28 July 1947 sailed from Fayal to Invergordon
18 August 1947 sailed the Clyde for Curaçao
24 September 1947 2nd Officer Angus J McLean logged as deserting at Glasgow. He had signed on at Glasgow on 12 August 1947
27 October 1947 sailed Liverpool for Falmouth
28 October 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
12 November 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
8 December 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour – SOS T Muir logged as deserting at Portsmouth. He had signed on at Glasgow on 12 August 1947
11 December 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
20 March 1948 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
13 April 1948 Captain Edward Mills RFA appointed as Master
19 June 1948 Captain Walter L Holtam RFA appointed as Master
Captain Walter L Holtam RFA
30 June 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
29 July 1948 Captain’s Writer F M Langmuir logged as being absent without leave at Rosyth. He had signed on 9 January 1948 at Cardiff. He has previously sailed on RFA WAVE MONARCH
31 July 1948 arrived at Port Said
1 August 1948 sailed Suez for Abadan
6 September 1948 sailed from Port Said
19 September 1948 AB/QM W Kelly discharged to ‘Detention’ at Malta. He had signed on 27 July 1948 at Rosyth. He had previous sailed on RFA WAVE KNIGHT (1)
26 September 1948 Mr David L S Hood DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 September 1948 sailed Malta for the UK
8 October 1948 Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 October 1948 sailed Suez
3 November 1948 sailed from Aden for Abadan
10 November 1948 arrived at Abadan
13 November 1948 sailed Abadan for Singapore
30 November 1948 3rd Engineer John Lamb RFA found guilty at the Criminal Court, Valetta charged with simple permanent disfigurement of the 2nd Engineer with a broken bottle. Sentenced to 40 days imprisonment
5 December 1948 arrived at Hong Kong
12 December 1948 sailed Hong Kong for Abadan
21 December 1948 off the south west coast of Ceylon Pumpman Thomas Preacher Graham discharged dead – lost over the side
28 December 1948 arrived at Abadan
5 January 1949 passed Aden
9 January 1949 arrived at Suez
12 January 1949 sailed Port Said
19 January 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
9 February 1949 at Portsmouth Harbour on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty moved to ‘D’ Lock into the Dockyard
9 May 1949 Mr J A Ferguson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 June 1949 Captain Donald B C Ralph OBE DSC* RFA appointed as Master and sailed Portsmouth Harbour
13 June 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
19 June 1949 arrived at Port Said
30 June 1949 sailed Bahein for Shatt el Arab
14 July 1949 arrived at Port Said
17 July 1949 sailed from Suez
28 July 1949 sailed from Shatt-el-Arab for Malta
15 August 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
23 August 1949 arrived the River Tyne from Rosyth
26 August 1949 berthed on the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne together with RFA BROOMDALE
31 August 1949 berthed on the Admiralty Tier, River Tyne together with RFA WAVE BARON
1 September 1949 sailed the River Tyne
8 September 1949 passed Malta
11 September 1949 arrived at Port Said
16 September 1949 passed Aden
17 October 1949 struck and demolished the Moreton Bay Lighthouse at the entrance to Brisbane Harbour, Australia but only causing slight damage to the ship. Wave Protector was carring a full load of fuel from Abadan to Brisbane for the RAN and RN. The pilot was blamed for the collision
Moreton Bay Lighthouse before being demolished by RFA Wave Protector
27 October 1949 the Adelaide News reported –
2 November 1949 passed Thursday Island
26 November 1949 the Brisbane Telegraph reported …
30 November 1949 berthed at Abadan
2 December 1949 sailed Abadan
12 December 1949 arrived at Suez
13 December 1949 arrived at Port Said
16 December 1949 arrived at Malta
24 December 1949 arrived at Port Said
26 December 1949 sailed Suez
12 February 1950 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand
16 February 1950 sailed from Auckland, New Zealand for Colombo, Ceylon
1 March 1950 at Auckland, New Zealand Able Seaman Joseph Ghio and Fireman Emanuel Farrugia both logged as having deserted. They had both signed on at Malta on 19 December 1949
15 March 1950 arrived at Seletar
23 March 1950 sailed Seletar for Colombo, Ceylon
28 March 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
29 March 1950 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
6 April 1950 arrived Abadan
8 April 1950 sailed Abadan for the UK
19 April 1950 arrived at Suez
23 April 1950 sail from Port Said
26 April 1950 arrived at Malta
4 May 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour. Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
10 May 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
18 May 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour under tow
13 May 1950 Captain Geoffrey B A Livesey RFA appointed as Master
23 May 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
23 September 1950 arrived at Port Said while on passage from Falmouth to Abadan
25 September 1950 sailed Suez
4 October 1950 arrived at Abadan
6 October 1950 sailed from Abadan
14 October 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
15 October 1950 sailed Colombo, Ceylon
26 October 1950 berthed at Fremantle, Western Australia from Abadan to discharge
28 October 1950 George Baker (23) and Gordon Le-Marechal (23), both firemen from the ship appeared before Perth Police Court charged with creating a disturbance (fighting) in Murray Street, Perth on 27 October 1950 they were both fined £2 with 1/6p costs. George Baker was also fined £2 with 1/- costs for resisting arrest. They both pleaded guilty.
30 October 1950 sailed Fremantle, Western Australia to Abadan to load
1 November 1950 Lawrence Gouder (23) a seaman from the ship appeared before Fremantle Police Court, Western Australia charged with deserted from duty on 30 October 1950. He pleaded Guilty and was sentenced to 8 weeks imprisonment and to be deported as soon as a ship could sign him on
7 November 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
12 November 1950 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
19 November 1950 arrived at Abadan
21 November 1950 sailed Abadan for Port Said
22 November 1950 Basil Leslie Richardson (19), William Saunders (19) and Thomas Edward Bowen (20) seamen from the ship appeared before Fremantle Police Court, Western Australia charged with deserting the ship. They had been arrested working in a mine. Each was sentenced to two months imprisonment and deportation
30 November 1950 arrived at Suez
2 December 1950 sailed Port Said
11 December 1950 sailed Gibraltar for Port Said
15 December 1950 arrived at Port Said
18 December 1950 sailed Suez
26 December 1950 arrived at Abadan
9 January 1951 arrived at Suez
10 January 1951 sailed Port Said
15 January 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
20 January 1951 at Portsmouth
23 January 1951 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
8 February 1951 arrived Port Said
9 February 1951 arrived at Suez
13 February 1951 passed Aden
18 February 1951 arrived at Abadan
20 February 1951 sailed Abadan
27 February 1951 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Sydney, NSW, Australia
15 March 1951 arrived at Sydney, NSW, Australia from Abadan
20 March 1951 sailed Sydney, NSW, Australia for Colombo, Ceylon
4 May 1951 at Pembroke Dock
9 May 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
3 July 1951 sailed from Port Said
20 July 1951 at Falmouth
21 August 1951 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
23 August 1951 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
28 January 1952 Mr Charles Scott DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
8 February 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
18 February 1952 sailed from Port Said
27 March 1952 sailed from Suez for Mena al Ahmadi
31 March 1952 passed Aden
7 April 1952 sailed from Mena al Ahmadi for LEFO
18 April 1952 sailed Port Said
24 April 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing west
17 November 1952 arrived at the River Tyne from Le Havre, France
18 November 1952 discharged the crew at the North Shields Shipping Office. Captain Leonard Elford RFA appointed as Master
25 November 1952 at Smiths Dock, River Tyne in refit or repair (1952)
29 November 1952 at Smiths Dock, River Tyne in refit or repair (1952)
30 December 1952 at Smiths Dock, River Tyne in refit or repair (1952)
31 December 1952 Mr Reginald R Darroch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Reginald R Darroch RFA
6 January 1953 berthed at Smiths Dock, River Tyne
7 January 1953 Captain James H Chant RFA appointed as Master
8 January 1953 berthed at Smiths Dock, River Tyne
21 January 1953 berthed at Smiths Dock, River Tyne
14 February 1953 sailed the River Tyne for Invergordon
28 February 1953 arrived at Gibraltar
4 March 1953 arrived at Malta
14 March 1953 passed Gibraltar sailing west for Curaçao
13 April 1953 arrived at Stockholm, Sweden
15 April 1953 arrived at Norrköping, Eastern Sweden
17 April 1953 sailed Norrköping, Eastern Sweden for Venezuela
16 May 1953 arrived Quebec, Canada
24 May 1953 sailed from Quebec, Canada
4 June 1953 berthed at Houston, Texas
20 June 1953 sailed Casablanca
26 June 1953 berthed at Rouen, France
28 June 1953 sailed from Rouen, France
1 July 1953 at Rouen, France Junior Engineer Officer George Borthwick Lynn discharged dead – drowned
20 July 1953 arrived at Houston, Texas
21 July 1953 sailed from Houston, Texas
1 September 1953 sailed from Houston, Texas
16 September 1953 Captain Albert E Curtain OBE RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
28 May 1954 arrived at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne from Malta
29 May 1954 discharged the crew at North Shields Shipping Office
24 June 1954 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit together with RFA WAVE DUKE
1 July 1954 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne in refit together with RFA WAVE DUKE
2 July 1954 Captain F G Evans RFA appointed as Master
8 July 1954 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
26 July 1954 engaged a crew at North Shields Shipping Office
3 August 1954 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
12 August 1954 on sailing from Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne had to put back with engine trouble
13 August 1954 sailed from the River Tyne for Curaçao
22 November 1954 sailed Port Arthur, Texas
8 December 1954 Mr Lionel W Pool RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 January 1955 arrived at Curaçao
7 January 1955 sailed from Curaçao
11 January 1955 sailed Port Au Prince for Kingston, Jamaica
14 January 1955 arrived at Kingston, Jamaica
15 January 1955 sailed from Kingston, Jamaica
17 January 1955 arrived Punta Cardoa
3 February 1955 Captain Herbert W Flint RFA appointed as Master and passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover when sailing east bound
9 February 1955 arrived Thameshaven
13 February 1955 arrived at Pernis
16 February 1955 sailed Rotterdam for Milford Haven
12 March 1955 sailed from Trinidad
25 March 1955 arrived at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
30 March 1955 sailed from the Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
15 April 1955 sailed from Trinidad for Dublin
4 May 1955 pass the Lizard sailing west
9 May 1955 Mr V J Cooney RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 May 1955 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
26 June 1955 arrive Bahrein
10 July 1955 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard when sailing west bound
1956 the ship’s Indian crew was the subject of an enquiry by the House of the People in the Parliament of India
1 May 1956 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne in refit
3 May 1956 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne in refit with RFA ECHODALE
8 May 1956 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne in refit
24 May 1956 at North Shields, River Tyne Engine Room Serang Sk Oosman Sk Hassan Edross discharged dead from a heart attack
29 May 1956 Captain William W Peddle OBE RFA appointed as Master
7 June 1956 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne
19 June 1956 Captain James H Chant RFA appointed as Master
5 July 1956 sailed from Smith’s Dock, River Tyne on trials
9 July 1956 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south for Spithead
15 November 1956 was deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 18 November 1956 and from 29 November 1956 until 21 December 1956 – the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal with the “Near East” Clasp
25 December 1956 at St Aidans Hospital, Durban, South Africa Engineroom Serang Mahomed Fackeer discharged dead – natural causes
9 October 1957 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
11 December 1957 Captain Douglas N J Williams RD RFA (Commander RNR (Ret)) appointed as Master
11 November 1958 became an oil storage hulk and jetty at Ras Hanzir in Grand Harbour, Valetta, Malta as a replacement for RFA WAR HINDOO
1961 laid up Malta
11 and 18 June 1963 offered for sale ‘as lying’ at Malta in the Times of these days by the Ministry of Transport
16 August 1963 sailed Malta in tow of tug TORRE GRANDE for the breakers at La Grazie, Italy
Notes: –
- Another ship named Empire Protector was sunk on 30 May 1941 when she was torpedoed by the submarine U38 (Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Libe) while on passage from Port Sudan – Capetown – Freetown to London at 6.00N 14.25W. Five of the crew were killed. The Master, twenty nine of the crew and three gunners were rescused and landed at Freetown. This ship had no connection with the RFA