RFA Wave Ruler (1)
Previous name: Empire Evesham
Official Number: 180849
Class: WAVE CLASS Replenishment Oiler (modified)
Pennant No: X135 / A212
Signal Letters: GKNR (1946)
Laid down: 27 October 1944
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding Company, Teeside
Launched: 17 January 1946
Into Service: April 1946
Out of service: 1971 became a fuel hulk at RAF Gan, Indian Ocean.
Fate: Sold December 1975 for breaking 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 of oilers.
17 January 1946 launched by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Haverton Hill as Yard Nr: 373 and named EMPIRE EVESHAM for the MoWT
February 1946 taken over by the Admiralty
April 1946 completed and placed under initial management of Eagle Oil and Shipping Co Ltd., London
8 May 1946 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
25 September 1946 arrived at Sydney, NSW
2 October 1946 sailed Sydney, NSW for Abadan
9 November 1946 at Port Said
20 November 1946 at Abadan
22 November 1946 sailed Abadan for Aden
1 December 1946 arrived at Suez
5 December 1946 sailed Suez
9 December 1946 sailed Aden for Abadan
16 December 1946 sailed Abadan for Singapore
29 December 1946 at Singapore
13 January 1947 at Abadan
14 January 1947 sailed Abadan for Aden
22 January 1947 sailed Aden for Abadan
29 January 1947 sailed Abadan for the UK
19 February 1947 arrived Lyness
23 February 1947 arrived at Liverpool
24 February 1947 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master and Mr Robert A Higgie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 February 1947 acquired by the Admiralty
7 March 1947 renamed Wave Ruler (1) under Admiralty management
19 June 1947 arrived the River Tyne and berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn from Invergordon
23 June 1947 berthed on Admiralty Tier, River Tyne
28 June 1947 sailed River Tyne for Abadan
29 August 1947 sailed Abadan for Malta
9 September 1947 sailed from Port Said
28 September 1947 sailed from Port Said for Abadan
7 October 1947 arrived at Abadan from Port Said
8 October 1947 sailed from Abadan for the UK
19 October 1947 arrived at Suez from Abadan
26 October 1947 passed Gibraltar sailing west
31 October 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
8 November 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
22 November 1947 sailed from Curaçao
7 December 1947 berthed on the Jarrow Oil Terminal, River Tyne from Curaçao
9 December 1947 berthed on the TIC Quay, River Tyne together with RFA RELIANT (1)
11 December 1947 berthed on the TIC Quay, River Tyne together with RFA RELIANT (1)
12 December 1947 berthed on the TIC Quay, River Tyne together with RFA RELIANT (1)
18 December 1947 sailed the River Tyne for Curaçao
RFA Wave Ruler’s 1948 Christmas Card – from the Captain Charles Noel RFA collection
1 January 1948 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
16 January 1948 berthed on the Jarrow Oil Terminal, River Tyne from Curaçao
21 January 1948 sailed the River Tybe for Curaçao
7 February 1948 arrived at Curaçao
9 February 1948 sailed Curaçaofor LEFO
6 March 1948 Captain Stanley C Kernick RFA appointed as Master
8 March 1948 arrived at Hebburn on Tyne from Sheerness
26 April 1948 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
30 April 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
6 May 1948 arrived at Port Said
16 May 1948 arrived at Abadan
19 June 1948 arrived at Suez from Abadan
26 June 1948 sailed from Malta for Abadan
10 July 1948 arrived at Abadan from Malta
27 July 1948 sailed Port Said for Malta
30 July 1948 sailed Malta for Port Said
2 August 1948 arrived at Port Said from Malta
9 August 1948 sailed from Suez
19 August 1948 arrived Abadan from Malta
20 August 1948 sailed from Abadan for the UK
1 September 1948 sailed from Port Said
6 September 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
30 September 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
23 December 1948 berthed at TIC, Hebburn Quay, River Tyne together with RFA Wave Knight (1)
28 December 1948 berthed at TIC, Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
31 December 1948 berthed at TIC, Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
31 December 1948 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
February 1949 Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA appointed as Master
Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA
22 February 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing eastwards
13 March 1949 sailed Suez while on passage from Falmouth to Abadan
23 March 1949 berthed at Abadan
24 March 1949 sailed Abadan for LEFO
16 April 1949 arrived at Spithead from Abadan
22 April 1949 arrived from the Outer Spit Buoy and berthed at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
28 April 1949 moved from the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty to the North Wall, Portsmouth Harbour
9 June 1949 Captain Herbert W Flint RFA appointed as Master
28 June 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
11 August 1949 sailed Abadan
1 September 1949 sailed from Port Said
12 September 1949 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
17 September 1949 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
18 September 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
26 September 1949 Mr R B Burgh RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 October 1949 arrived at Port Said
11 November 1949 pass Aden
15 November 1949 arrived Suez
19 November 1949 sailed Port Said
22 November 1949 passed Aden
29 November 1949 arrived at Abadan
1 December 1949 sailed Abadan for Aden
11 December 1949 arrived at Suez
19 December 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
23 December 1949 berthed at the Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde from Abadan
4 January 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
10 January 1950 arrived at Port Said
20 January 1950 sailed from Suez
30 January 1950 berthed at Abadan
8 February 1950 passed Aden
12 February 1950 arrived at Suez
16 February 1950 sailed Suez
27 February 1950 berthed at Abadan
28 February 1950 sailed Abadan
5 March 1950 passed Aden
9 March 1950 arrived Suez
10 March 1950 sailed from Port Said
23 March 1950 sailed Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde for Port Said
28 March 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
4 April 1950 arrived at Port Said
10 April 1950 sailed Port Said for Mena Al Ahmadi
22 April 1950 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Rotterdam
14 May 1950 arrived at Rotterdam
16 May 1950 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
17 May 1950 sailed Pernis
23 May 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing eastbound
28 May 1950 arrived at Port Said
30 May 1950 sailed Suez
8 June 1950 berthed at Bombay
10 June 1950 sailed from Bombay
17 June 1950 berthed at Abadan
19 June 1950 sailed Abadan for LEFO
1 July 1950 sailed Port Said
7 July 1950 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound
12 July 1950 arrived at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot from Abadan
18 July 1950 sailed Glasgow
20 July 1950 arrived at the River Tyne
22 July 1950 berthed on the TIC Quay, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE BARON
26 July 1950 berthed on the TIC Quay, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA WAVE BARON
28 July 1950 berthed on the TIC Quay, Hebburn on Tyne
16 August 1950 Captain Frederick L Finch RFA appointed as Master
17 August 1950 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne
19 August 1950 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne
23 August 1950 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn, River Tyne
6 September 1950 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
11 September 1950 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne at the same time as RFA WAVE LIBERATOR
17 September 1950 Captain William R Parker RFA appointed as Master
19 September 1950 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne at the same time as RFA WAVE LIBERATOR
7 October 1950 arrived at Malta
11 October 1950 arrived at Port Said
12 October 1950 sailed Suez
27 November 1950 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
7 March 1951 at Tilbury
May 1951 the Master refused to enter the port of Cairns, Australia due to insufficient water under the keel. The Harbour Board purchased a dreger to deepen the depth of the channel
23 July 1951 arrived Suez.
27 July 1951 berthed at Malta from the Persian Gulf with a full load of oil to discharge
20 August 1951 arrived at Aden
13 October 1951 at Swansea
18 October 1951 Mr I M Macfarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 October 1951 at Glasgow
18 December 1951 rammed the pierhead at Queens Dock, Glasgow
11 January 1952 sailed from Curaçao
10 March 1952 arrived at Mena al Ahmadi
13 March 1952 sailed from Mena al Ahmadi
2 April 1952 arrived at Greenock
3 April 1952 firemen from Greenock, Paisley and Glasgow were called to a fire on Wave Ruler while anchored at Greenock. Crew not needed on board took to the life boats. Three of the Indian crew were injured and were taken to hospital. The ship was fully laden with fuel from the Persian Gulf. The fire occurred in the pumproom forward of the bridge. The fire was brought under control after two hours by the Fire Service
5 April 1952 berthed at Finnart Wharf to discharge. Berthed under tow of four tugs as the fire (above) had damaged the steering gear.
21 June 1952 berthed at Sydney, NSW to discharge from Aruba
2 July 1952 sailed Sydney, NSW for Kuwait
26 August 1952 Mr D Meikle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 October 1952 supported Operation Hurricane 1- the first British test atomic bomb explosion at Monte Bello Islands off NW Australia – along with RFA’s FORT BEAUHARNOIS, FORT CONSTANTINE, FORT ROSALIE (1), GOLD RANGER, WAVE PRINCE and WAVE SOVEREIGN
17 October 1952 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
6 April 1953 in refit at Falmouth
21 April 1953 Captain J Bottomley RFA appointed as Master
29 July 1953 sailed from Fremantle, Western Australia for Colombo, Ceylon
18 September 1953 disabled off Oporto, Portugal while enroute with a cargo of oil from the Persian Gulf to Swansea having lost all steam. Tugs HMS CAREFUL and RFA SAUCY sent from Portsmouth
19 September 1953 the Coventry Evening Telegraph reported …
28 September 1953 ran aground off Swansea, South Wales.
1 October 1953 RFA WAVE MONARCH went alongside and removed her cargo when she had run aground off Swansea
3 October 1953 refloated off the sandbank off Swansea and entered Swansea docks for examination and repairs.
3 November 1953 Captain Frank A Shaw RFA appointed as Master
26 January 1954 Mr Ronald C Putt MID RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Ronald C Putt MID RFA
18 January 1954 while berthed at Swansea fire broke out onboard. The fire was extinguished by the crew. The matter was reported in the Portsmouth Evening News the next day ….
5 February 1954 sailed Swansea for Malta arriving 10 February 1954
11 February 1954 sailed from Malta
16 February 1954 arrived at Port Said
17 February 1954 after transit of the Suez Canal sailed for Mena Al Ammadi arriving 26 February 1954
27 February 1954 sailed Mena Al Ammadi for Suez arriving 9 March 1954
10 February 1954 after transit of the Suez Canal sailed Port Said
13 February 1954 sailed Malta for Port Said
8 March 1954 arrived Suez
9 March 1954 sailed Port Said for the UK
15 March 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
20 March 1954 arrived at Greenock
24 March 1954 sailed Greenock for Falmouth arriving 25 March 1954
2 April 1954 sailed Falmouth for Trinidad arriving 13 April 1954
15 April 1954 sailed Trinidad for Rosyth arriving 29 April 1954
4 May 1954 sailed Rosyth to Malta arriving 11 May 1954
8 May 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
11 May 1954 arrived at Malta
14 May 1954 sailed Malta to Port Said arriving 17 May 1944
22 May 1954 sailed Port Said
23 May 1954 sailed Suez for Mena Al Ammaoi arriving 1 June 1954
3 June 1954 sailed Mena Al Ammaoi for Suez arriving 13 June 1954
14 June 1954 sailed Port Said to Thameshaven arriving 24 June 1954
28 June 1954 sailed Sheerness to Port Said
30 June 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
7 July 1954 arrived at Port Said
9 July 1954 sailed Port Said to Bahrein arriving 18 July 1954
22 July 1954 sailed Bahrein to Trincomalee, Ceylon arriving 29 July 1954
3 August 1954 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon to Bombay arriving 7 August 1954
15 August 1954 sailed Bombay to Mena Al Ammani arriving 19 August 1954
20 August 1954 sailed Mena Al Ammani to Suez arriving 30 August 1954
31 August 1954 sailed Port Said
6 September 1954 sailed Gibraltar for Rotterdam
10 September 1954 passed Dover sailing east bound
11 September 1954 arrived at Rotterdam
12 September 1954 sailed Rotterdam to Falmouth arriving the next day
16 September 1954 at Falmouth and Mr Keith U Rapley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 January 1955 Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA appointed as Master
Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA
25 March 1955 sailed Aruba for LEFO
14 May 1955 arrived at Bahrein
16 May 1955 sailed Bahrein for Malta
26 May 1955 arrived at Suez
1 June 1955 sailed Malta for Port Said
4 June 1955 arrived at Port Said
8 July 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
13 July 1955 at Swansea Secunny Sk Samsoodeen s/o Mohedeen discharged dead – natural causes – heart attack
19 July 1955 passed Gibraltar sailing east for Mena Al Ahamadi
24 July 1955 arrived at Port Said
26 July 1955 sailed from Suez
5 August 1955 sailed Mena Al Ahamadi for Botany Bay
13 August 1955 sailed Colombo, Ceylon
26 August 1955 passed Thursday Island
1 September 1955 arrived at Botany Bay
5 September 1955 sailed Sydney, NSW
22 September 1955 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Bombay
25 Septemnber 1955 arrived at Bombay
4 October 1955 sailed from Bombay
9 October 1955 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for Little Aden
16 October 1955 arrived at Aden
19 October 1955 sailed from Aden
25 October 1955 arrived at Mena Al Ahmadi
31 October 1955 arrived at Aden
3 November 1955 sailed from Aden
3 May 1956 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, Hebburn on Tyne discharging the crew at South Shields Shipping Office
8 May 1956 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, Hebburn on Tyne
24 May 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
7 June 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
9 June 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
16 June 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
5 July 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
7 July 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
16 August 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s TIDERANGE and TIDEREACH
28 August 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s WAVE KING and TIDEREACH
9 October 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
16 October 1956 berthed at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
1 November 1956 Captain Leslie J Mack DSO RFA appointed as Master
6 December 1956 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA TIDERACE (1) while in refit
11 December 1956 Mr J A Swallow RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 December 1956 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA TIDERACE (1) while in refit
18 December 1956 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA TIDERACE (1) while still in refit
20 December 1956 berthed at Rosyth
7 January 1957 arrived at Curaçao
11 January 1957 transitted the Panama Canal
10 May 1957 sailed the River Tyne for Devonport arriving 12 May 1957
14 May 1957 sailed Devonport for Trinidad arriving 25 May 1957
26 May 1957 sailed Trinidad for Bermuda arriving 7 June 1957
10 June 1957 sailed Bermuda for Trinidad arriving 14 June 1957
15 June 1957 sailed Trinidad for Devonport arriving 4 July 1957
9 July 1957 sailed Devonport for RAS exercises returning to Devonport on 18 July 1957
25 July 1957 sailed Devonport for Curaçao arriving 4 August 1957
5 August 1957 sailed Curaçao for Devonport arriving 15 August 1957
4 September 1957 sailed Devonport for RAS exercises returning to Devonport 7 September 1957
13 September 1957 sailed Devonport for RAS exercises arriving the River Clyde on 15 September 1957
3 October 1957 sailed Port Said
5 October 1957 sailed Limassol, Cyprus for Gibraltar
11 October 1957 arrived at Gibraltar
17 October 1957 arrived at Casablanca
18 October 1957 sailed from Casablanca for Curaçao
30 October 1957 sailed Curaçao
1 December 1957 arrived Christmas Island for Operation Grapple
1957 – 1960 supported Operation Grapple – the British H-bomb test at Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean – along with 16 other RFA’s
28 December 1957 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne together with RFA TIDERANGE
January 1958 Captain Donald B C Ralph OBE DSC* RFA appointed as Master
1 February 1958 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne together with RFA TIDERANGE and RFA SOMERSBY
7 February 1958 Captain Edward E Lawrence RFA appointed as Master until 17 February 1958
11 February 1958 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne together with RFA SOMERSBY
13 February 1958 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne together with RFA SOMERSBY
21 February 1958 signed on a crew at North Shields Shipping Office, River Tyne
22 February 1958 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne together with RFA SOMERSBY
2 March 1958 arrived at Portsmouth
11 March 1958 moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
12 March 1958 moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 9 Buoy
18 March 1958 moved from No: 5 wharf on HMS CUMERBERLAND to Plymouth Sound
20 March 1958 deployed for duties in support of Operation Grapple on Christmas Island with 22 tons 7cwts of cargo
7 April 1958 transitted the Panama Canal
26 May 1958 sailed Suva, Fiji for Christmas Island
3 June 1958 arrived at Christmas Island
4 August 1958 sailed Curaçao
11 September 1958 arrived at Curaçao
12 September 1958 sailed Curaçao
25 September 1958 arrived at Greenock
28 September 1958 sailed from Greenock
30 September 1958 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 6 November 1958
14 November 1958 arrived at the River Tyne from Rosyth
17 November 1958 Captain George S Perry RFA appointed as Master
4 December 1958 berthed at Smith Dock, River Tyne
6 December 1958 Mr Ken Robinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 December 1958 berthed at Smith Dock, River Tyne
30 December 1958 berthed at Smith Dock, River Tyne
2 January 1959 Captain F G Evans RFA appointed as Master
6 January 1959 berthed at Smith Dock, River Tyne
8 January 1959 engaged a crew at the North Shields Shipping Office, River Tyne
13 January 1959 sailed the Tyne for Rosyth – arrived the next day
7 February 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 19 February 1959
23 February 1959 arrived at Rosyth
27 February 1959 sailed Rosyth for the River Tyne
5 March 1959 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
10 March 1959 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
18 March 1959 arrived Leith Docks
8 April 1959 sailed Leith Docks
9 April 1959 arrived at Rosyth
14 April 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until the end of the month
1 May 1959 berthed at Leith Docks
13 May 1959 sailed Leith Docks for Rosyth Dockyard
14 May 1959 arrived at Rosyth
30 May 1959 sailed Rosyth
1 June 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 23 June 1959
5 August 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 23 August 1959
4 September 1959 the Hampshire Telegraph newspaper published a lengthy article by their Naval correspondent concerning the Royal Navy’s actions off Iceland when involved in the Cod Wars. The article contained one paragraph concerning the actions of RFA tankers deployed to support the Royal Navy ships –
5 October 1959 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 18 October 1959
4 December 1959 Captain William H G Hine RFA appointed as Master
7 December 1959 Mr J A MacPherson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 January 1960 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 8 February 1960
28 April 1960 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 22 May 1960
13 June 1960 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 4 July 1960
14 July 1960 Captain J Coule RFA appointed as Master
15 July 1960 while berthed at Leith, Scotland all crew members other than Officers and PO’s walked ashore at 05:30 just before the ship was due to sail to Rosyth. The ship was shortly to deploy off Iceland in support of HM Ships on Fishery Protection duty.
25 July 1960 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 14 August 1960
23 August 1960 at Devonport on No: 9 buoy with RFA BIRCHOL (2) alongside
29 August 1960 at Devonport on No: 9 buoy with RFA BIRCHOL (2) returned alongside
15 September 1960 at Devonport on No: 9 buoy moved to Plymouth Sound
18 September 1960 arrived at Tail of the Bank. Two crew members went ashore despite having leave for the entire crew barred by the Master. Both appeared before Greenock Sheriff’s Court accused of disobeying the lawful command of the Master in breach of the Merchant Shipping Act 1864. One was fined £20 and the other £15 with four weeks to pay or 30 days imprisonment
27 September 1960 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 24 October 1960
October/November 1960 at Henry Robb, Leith for boiler clean
28 November 1960 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 15 December 1960
2 December 1960 20 miles off Hvalnes, Iceland RASed HMS PALLISER
5 December 1960 12.8 miles off Kopanes, Iceland RASed HMS PALLISER – supplied 66 tons of fuel oil
9 December 1960 16.7 miles off Bjargtangar, Iceland RASed HMS PALLISER – supplied 73 tons of fuel oil
12 December 1960 34.5 miles off North Cape, Iceland RASed HMS PALLISER – supplied 60 tons of fuel oil
December 1960 entered refit at Palmer’s Yard, Heburn on Tyne after breaking down while off Iceland on Fishery protection duty supporting RN units
6 April 1961 at anchor in Plymouth Sound with RFA BIRCHOL (2) alongside
23 April 1961 while on passage from Devonport to Freetown, Sierra Leone RASed with HMS BERMUDA
16 May 1961 Mr S P Awati RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 June 1961 RASed with HMAS QUEENBOROUGH
July 1961 saw service during the Kuwait Crisis along with 12 other RFA’s
25 September 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to No: 6 buoy
29 September 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 6 buoy to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
2 October 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 6 buoy
4 October 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 6 buoy to Plymouth Sound
6 December 1961 Commodore Thomas Elder DSC RFA appointed as Master until 17 January 1962
6 June 1962 Captain Charles E C Phipps RFA appointed as Master
7 June 1962 Mr B C Jeremiah RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 June 1962 the Liverpool Echo newspaper reported ….
20 August 1962 an RAF launch with a RAF doctor deployed from Singapore to a seriously ill officer – Chief Officer James Alexander McGregor RFA on board some 40 miles out in the Indian Ocean from Singapore. They returned and landed at Butterworth 6½ hours later with the officer who was conveyed by road to the British Military Hospital at Taiping. The officer was discharged dead from pneumonia.
10 September 1962 with RFA WAVE MASTER, RFA FORT DUNVEGAN together with RN, RAN and RAAF units took part in Exercise Tucker Box Two in the Coral Sea
15 November 1962 with RFA WAVE SOVEREIGN, RFA FORT CHARLOTTE and several RN units headed by HMS TIGER attended the Commonwealth Games at Perth, Western Australia – ships of the RAN and RNZN were also present
RFA Wave Ruler (1) at Fremantle, Western Australia
21 November 1962 received and responded to a SOS from US research vessel ‘Horizon’ in the Indian Ocean near St. Paul Island who had a critically ill member of the crew on board
30 April 1963 Mr J Ross RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 May 1963 at North Shields
July 1963 supported the carrier HMS VICTORIOUS on her U.K. – Far East passage along with RFA’s RELIANT(2), RESURGENT and TIDESPRING
21 September 1963 Captain Basil V Dobbie RFA appointed as Master
6 December 1963 at Rodriguez Army Hospital, Fort Brooke, San Juan, Puerto Rico Catering Boy Terry Lees Lind discharged dead from head injuries suffered in a road traffic accident
19 December 1963 at Gibraltar
4 March 1964 off Malta while returning from Exercise Early Bird a Maltese Seaman – J Caruana – was medivaced by helicoper from the Royal Naval Air Station, Hal Far (HMS FALCON) having been taken seriously ill and landed at the Royal Naval Hospital Bighi for treatment
21 April 1964 Mr L Cochrane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 July 1964 at Plymouth (see note 1)
7 September 1964 Captain A M M Telfer RFA appointed as Master
Captain Archibald M M Telfer RFA
12 November 1964 at Malta the dockyard tug Expert was in collision with her causing minor damage
10 February 1965 arrived Malta under escort of RFA BUSTLER after her engines broke down off Port Said and she was forced to sail at very slow speed to Grand Harbour for repair.
26 July 1965 Mr C D Reid RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 October 1965 Captain Donald G M Averill RFA appointed as Master
Captain Donald G M Averill RFA
24 December 1965 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
14 January 1966 at Plymouth
4 May 1966 at Plymouth
15 June 1966 at Plymouth
15 July 1966 Captain A L Paterson RFA appointed as Master
24 August 1966 Mr J R Speed RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 December 1966 the Coventry Evening Telegraph reported …
22 March 1967 Captain Alan W Stanley RFA appointed as Master
21 April 1967 Mr C E Prentis RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 April 1967 sailed Malta
July 1967 one of the last Royal Naval ships to be refitted at Malta
31 July 1967 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
28 February 1968 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
12 May 1968 Mr B Nolan RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 May 1968 Captain Archibald Proudlock RFA appointed as Master
20 September 1969 berthed at Malta
25 September 1969 sailed from Malta
12 February 1970 at Gibraltar with RFA BROWN RANGER alongside on No: 21 berth
14 May 1970 at Pembroke
18 June 1970 sailed from Rotterdam
8 July 1970 on the River Tyne
26 August 1970 sailed Devonport for Gan in the Maldive Islands to replace RFA WAVE VICTOR as a fuelling hulk for military aircraft there.
3 October 1970 arrived Gan
14 October 1970 her Colours were lowered for the last time
18 and 21 October 1975 offered for sale lying ‘as is’ at Gan in the Straits Times of this day.
11 November 1975 services no longer required after the closure of the fuelling base; remaining fuel stocks were transferred to RFA TIDESURGE
January 1976 sold to Straits Engineers Contracting Private Ltd., Singapore for demolition.
March 1976 sailed Gan in tow
29 December 1976 reported to be laid up in Singapore Roads off Johore Shoal in very poor condition
1977 broken up at Kaohsiung.
Notes –
1, From the Discharge Book of Geoff Cushnet
RFA Wave Ruler (2)
Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Subsequent name:
Class: WAVE CLASS Fast Fleet Tanker
Official No: 9168609
Pennant No: A390
Laid down: 22 May 1998
Builder: BAE Systems, Govan, Scotland
Launched: 9 February 2001
Into Service: 27 April 2003
Crew Number: 62
Out of service:
Fate:
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: In June 1995 approval was given to invite tenders for the construction of 2 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 12 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 1000 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, although she had originally been ordered from Barrow too, but with some of the steel work coming from Barrow. Both ships were double hulled and were fitted with extensive aviation facilities. Cargo capacity was 16000 cubic metres, including 3000 cubic metres aviation fuel, 380 cubic metres fresh water and 500 cubic metres of dry cargo. They could also accommodate up to 8 plug-in ISO 20 foot refrigerated containers.
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
RFA Wave Ruler (2) under construction
October 2000 original completion date to replace RFA OLNA (3)
9 February 2001 launched by BAe Systems Marine at the Yarrows Shipbuilders complex at Govan as Yard No: 0321 named WAVE RULER (2). The Lady Sponsor was Ms Elaine Dumelow wife of Geoffrey Hoon, Secretary of State for Defence
RFA Wave Ruler (2) being launched
10 May 2002 was towed from Govan Basin to the Inchgreen Dry Dock at Greenock.
June 2002 while being fitting out at Greenock’s Inchgreen Dock an accident occured onboard when a contractor’s employee was hit by a door of a locker on deck six . The locker was under pressure test when the door blew open. The contractor has hurled across a deck into scaffolding and received head cuts and a suspected fracture to his sternum. On 20 June 2003 BAE Systems were fined £5,000 at the local Sheriff’s Court for breach of the Health & Safety legislation which they admitted.
30 October 2002 completed
31 October 2002 handed over at Govan
12 November 2002 sailed Govan to Garelochead to load stores
18 November 2002 sailed Garelochead for Devonport
December 2002 original in-service date
13 December 2002 returned to Devonport for helicopter trials
11 January 2003 conducted First of Class Flying Trials for Merlin and Lynx during which time she steamed 6402 miles
10 February 2003 at Govan
25 February 2003 undocked at Govan
19 March 2003 arrived at Portsmouth
23 March 2003 alongside at Portsmouth
27 April 2003 at Plymouth – entered RFA service
28 April 2003 conducting FOST training
6 May 2003 at Loch Striven
8 May 2003 sailed Loch Striven
12 May 2003 RASes with RFA WAVE KNIGHT (2)
22 May 2003 end of FOST training
27 June to 7 July 2003 at Garelochead
27 July 2003 at Leith
30 July 2003 at Devonport
November 2003 Captain (X) Dale Worthington RFA appointed in command
20 to 24 November 2003 at Loch Striven
27 to 31 December 2003 at Faslane
15 January 2004 participated in Aswex 04 along with RFA FORT GEORGE
19 January 2004 anchored in Falmouth Bay
20 January 2004 sailed Falmouth Bay together with RFA FORT GEORGE, HMS’s LIVERPOOL, CORNWALL, IRON DUKE and MARLBOROUGH; the French warships FS Commandant Blauisson and FS Frimaugent together with the Spanish Frigate Baleares and the Dutch frigate HMNLS Van Nes on exercises
18 February 2004 sailed Loch Striven to Glen Mallen – participated in Exercise JMC041 along with RFA FORT ROSALIE (2)
22 February 2004 anchored off Great Cumbrae on the Clyde
24 March 2004 sailed Portland to assume APT(N) duties relieving RFA WAVE KNIGHT (2) and supporting HMS RICHMOND
2 May 2004 at Curaçao
14 May 2004 berthed at Cartagena, Colombia
RFA Wave Ruler (2) approaches her berth at Cartagena, Colombia
17 May 2004 sailed from Cartagena, Colombia
5 August 2004 at Kingston, Jamaica with HMS RICHMOND
6 September 2004 at Turks & Caicos Island with HMS RICHMOND
7 September 2004 to 16 September 2004 Hurricane Ivan hit the Islands of Grenada and Cayman Islands with at least 10 deaths. WAVE RULER (2) and HMS RICHMOND attended to provide humanitarian assistance
23 September 2004 at San Juan, Puerto Rico
26 October 2004 RASed with RFA SIR TRISTRAM
November 2004 seized 1.8 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean with an estimated value of £72 million
12 November 2004 berthed at Cartahena, Colombia
15 November 2004 sailed Cartahena, Colombia
26 December 2004 at Mayport, Florida
December 2004 Captain (X) Dale Worthington RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
January 2005 seized 1.8 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean with an estimated value of £72 million
January 2005 seized 1.7 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean with an estimated value of £68 million
February 2005 seized 0.93 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean with an estimated value of £37 million
8 March 2005 berthed at Portland on conclusion of APT (N) duties – replaced by RFA WAVE KNIGHT (2)
14 March 2005 at Loch Striven until 17 Narch 2005
17 March 2005 at Glen Mallen until 18 March 2005
20 March 2005 berthed at Falmouth from Glen Mallen
30 April 2005 sailed Falmouth for sea trials returning to the port that evening
14 May 2005 sailed Falmouth for Loch Striven arriving 16 May 2005
21 May 2005 sailed Loch Striven
30 May 2005 to 13 June 2005 FOST Training
22 June 2005 RASed with USS Saipan (LHA-2) –
23 June 2005 RASed with JS Murasame (DD101) and JS Kashima (DD3508)
JS Murasame (DD101) approaching to refuel
JS Kasima (DD3508) approaching to refuel
27 June 2005 a party of Sea Cadets with their instructors visit the ship
28 June 2005 was present at the International Fleet Review in the Solent for Trafalgar 200 along with RFA’s ARGUS, FORT GEORGE, FORT VICTORIA, ORANGELEAF (3), SIR BEDIVERE, SIR GALAHAD (2) and SIR TRISTRAM
7 July 2005 alongside HMS BELFAST in the Pool of London – sailed immediately after London bombings
14 July 2005 to 19 July 2005 at North Shields
20 July 2005 off Scarborough
3 – 8 August 2005 at KGV Dock, Glasgow
8 – 9 August 2005 at Loch Striven
24 August 2005 at Leith
3 November 2005 RASed with USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) off the coast of Senegal
4 January 2006 sailed Devonport
6 – 7 March 2006 with Stromness Life Boat and with HMS EDINBURGH and other ships searched and area to the west of Hoy Sound after red flares had been reported. Nothing found and the search was called off
30 March 2006 in Plymouth Sound
23 June 2006 Lynx HAS2 helicopter no: XZ228 – in the ships attached flight
24 July 2006 berthed at Curaçao
10 September 2006 seized 2.5 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean with an estimated value of £100 million
October 2006 seized 2.789 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean with an estimated value of £112 million
17 October 2006 arrived at Guantanamo Bay
November 2006 seized 4.0 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean with an estimated value of £60 million
November 2006 seized 2.4 tonnes of cocaine in the Caribbean with an estimated value of £82 million
1 November 2006 to 4 November 2006 acted as Host Ship at the Silver Jubilee Independence Day of Antigua and Barbuda
2 November 2006 received the first visit by the Commodore-in-Chief RFA Service, HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
29 November 2006 while operating north east of Barbados with an embarked Lynx helicopter and a USCG Law Enforcement Detachment successfully seized 2.9 tonnes of cocaine, with a street value of £300 million, from the Venezuelan registered fishing boat mv OLIANA 1. The crew were detained on WAVE RULER and a prize crew were placed aboard the fishing boat until it was handed over to the Venezuelan Coast Guard
2007 was awarded the RFA Centenary Wedgewood Bowl 2006
3 February 2007 with RFA WAVE KNIGHT (2), 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 of Prawle Point on the south Devon coast. One other member of the crew was drowned
8 February 2007 RASed with USS Robert G Bradley (FFG49) 20,000 gallons of fuel supplied
30 March 2007 at Curacao
8 April 2007 berthed at Fort de France, Martinique
18 May 2007 RASed with USCGC Gallitan (WHEC721) –
3 July 2007 at Barbados
The ships Football Team at Barbados
5 August 2007 RASed with HNLMS Van Nes (F833)
12 July 2007 RASed with HMS Portland
HMS Portland
22 August 2007 provided humanitarian assistance to to the remote village of Xaibe in Belize after it had been hit by Hurricane Dean with the HMS PORTLAND
20 November 2007 arrived Merseyside for dry docking
25 February 2008 Captain (X) Duncan L Lamb RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Duncan L Lamb RFA
17 May 2008 together with RFA LARGS BAY arrived at Willemstad
2 August 2008 Captain (X) Nigel Budd RFA appointed Commanding Officer
1 September 2008 with HMS IRON DUKE stood by the Cayman Islands after Hurricane Gustav to provide assistance
3 October 2008 visited Havana, Cuba for a 5 day visit
10 October 2008 visited Cayman Brac after Hurricane Paloma had hit the island. First Officer (E) Paul Davis, Petty Officer John Swift, First Officer (SE) John Evans, and Cadet (E) Luke Gibson – worked at the airport Monday fixing the fuel farm so that jets could refuel on the Brac
1 February 2009 Captain (E) Edward M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 February 2009 RASed with NRP Álvares Cabral
NRP Álvares Cabral
9 February 2009 RASed with HMS CORNWALL and visited Little Cayman after Hurricane Gustav struck the island
12 February 2009 RASed with HMS CORNWALL
19 February 2009 RASed with USS Mitscher (DDG57)
USS Mitscher (DDG57)
23 February 2009 RASed with HMS’s SOMERSET, ARGYLL, USS Mitscher (DDG57) and FS Dupleix
25 February 2009 RASed with HMS’s BULWARK & OCEAN
3 March 2009 RASed with RFA FORT AUSTIN
4 March 2009 RASed with HMS’s ARGYLL and SOMERSET
5 March 2009 with USS Mitscher (DDG57) and FS Dupleix
6 March 2009 RASed with HMS BULWARK
9 March 2009 with USS Mitscher (DDG57)
10 March 2009 RASed with HMS’s ARGYLL and SOMERSET
12 March 2009 RASed with RFA’s MOUNTS BAY, LYME BAY, HMS OCEAN and FS Dupleix
14 March 2009 Captain Shaun Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 21 July 2009
Captain Shaun Jones RFA
19 March 2009 RASed with HNLMS Rotterdam and USS Mitcher (DDG57)
21 March 2009 RASed with HMS SOMERSET and RFA FORT AUSTIN
23 March 2009 RASed with HNLMS Johna De Wiite
25 March 2009 RASed with RFA LYME BAY and HMS BULWALK
26 March 2009 RASed with HMS OCEAN and RFA MOUNTS BAY
27 March 2009 RASed with TCG Gokleada
28 March 2009 RASed with HMS SOMERSET, TCG Gemlik, USS Mitcher (DDG57) and HNLMS Rotterdam
4 April 2009 RASed with USS Mitcher (DDG57) and HMS SOMERSET
7 April 2009 RASed with HMS BULWALK and RFA LYME BAY
8 April 2009 RASed with HMS OCEAN and USS Mitcher (DDG57)
10 April 2009 RASed with HMS SOMERSET
15 April 2009 HMS’s PORTLAND, SOMERSET and USS Mitcher (DDG57)
16 April 2009 RASed with HMS BULWALK
20 April 2009 RASed with HMS OCEAN
21 April 2009 RASed with USS Mitcher (DDG57)
23 April 2009 RASed with USS Mitcher (DDG57) and HMS’s OCEAN and SOMERSET
6 May 2009 RASed with HMS BULWALK
20 May 2009 at Singapore
24 May 2009 RASed with HMS OCEAN
27 May 2009 RASed with HMS SOMERSET
1 June 2009 RASed with HMS SOMERSET and HMS OCEAN
4 June 2009 RASed with USS Mitcher (DDG57)
6 June 2009 RASed with HMS BULWALK and HMAS MANOORA
8 June 2009 RASed with USS Mitcher (DDG57)
10 June 2009 RASed with HMS’s OCEAN and ECHO
12 June 2009 RASed with HMS SOMERSET
13 June 2009 RASed with USS Mitcher (DDG57) and USNS Rappahaanock
14 June 2009 berthed at Sembawang
21 June 2009 passing between Singapore and Indonesia
23 June 2009 RASed with USS Mitcher (DDG57) and HMS SOMERSET
29 June 2009 anchored off the Bandos Atoll, Maldive Islands during Taurus 09
30 June 2009 RASed with HMS’s SOMERSET, BULWALK and OCEAN
2 July 2009 RASed with USS Mitscher (DDG57)
5 July 2009 RASed with HMS SOMERSET and USS Mitscher (DDG57)
6 July 2009 RASed with Nikiforos Fokas, TCG Gediz, FGS Brandenburg, PNS Badr, ITS Libeccio and HS Navarino
7 July 2009 RASed with HMS CORNWALL
8 July 2009 RASed with HMS’s BULWALK and OCEAN
9 July 2009 RASed with HMS SOMERSET
14 July 2009 transitted the Suez Canal – north bound
16 July 2009 alongside at Soudha
18 July 2009 berthed alongside in Grand Harbour, Malta
21 July 2009 Captain Rob Dorey RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Rob Dorey RFA
24 July 2009 RASed with USS Mitscher (DDG57)
25 July 2009 RASed with HMS BULWALK
26 July 2009 berthed at Gibraltar
30 July 2009 sailed Gibraltar and RASed with USS Mitcher (DDG57)
31 July 2009 RASed with HMS OCEAN
1 August 2009 RASed with HMS SOMERSET
26 August 2009 Captain Shaun Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
27 August 2009 alongside at Portland
1 September 2009 at St Peter Port, Gurnsey
6 September 2009 berthed alongside at Portland
RFA Wave Ruler (2) at Portland
11 September 2009 RASed with HMS OCEAN
13 September 2009 in Plymouth Sound
24 September 2009 RASed with HMS PORTLAND
1 October 2009 RASed with HMS’s ARK ROYAL and CHATHAM
5 October 2009 RASed with HMS ARK ROYAL
7 October 2009 RASed with HMS’s YORK and DARING
8 October 2009 RASed with HMS CHATHAM
9 October 2009 in Plymouth Sound
12 October 2009 RASed with RFA FORT ROSALIE
14 October 2009 RASed with HMS’s YORK and ARK ROYAL
22 October 2009 RASed with HMS’s CHATHAM and ALBION
23 October 2009 RASed with HMS YORK
26 October 2009 RASed with RFA LARGS BAY
27 October 2009 RASed with HMS ENTERPRISE
28 October 2009 RASed with HMS’s CHATHAM and YORK
29 October 2009 RASed with HMS’s CHATHAM, YORK, DARING and ARK ROYAL
2 November 2009 RASed with HMS YORK
5 November 2009 RASed with HMS’s YORK and CHATHAM
10 November 2009 RASed with HMS CHATHAM
11 November 2009 RASed with HMS ALBION
19 December 2009 berthed at Liverpool
January 2010 RFA’s ARGUS, LYME BAY, WAVE KNIGHT(2) and WAVE RULER (2) together with RN units have been honoured by the International Maritime Organization (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
23 January 2010 berthed alongside at Loch Striven
25 February 2010 anchored at South Georgia
2 March 2010 anchored in San Carlos Water, Falkland Islands
11 March 2010 RASed with HMS CLYDE
HMS CLYDE
15 March 2010 with HMS YORK and RAF Sea King helicopter from 1564 Search & Rescue (SAR) Flight from the Falkland Islands involved in the recovery of a trawler’s crew member who required urgent medical assistance some 300 miles South East. The crew member was collected and flown directly to Port Stanley’s hospital
18 March 2010 RASed with HMS YORK
24 March 2010 RASed with HMS YORK
25 March 2010 arrived at Cumberland Bay East, South Georgia
26 March 2010 anchored at South Georgia
28 March 2010 RASed with HMS YORK
2 April 2010 RASed with HMS YORK
7 April 2010 RASed with HMS YORK
9 April 2010 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
14 April 2010 RASed with HMS YORK
23 April 2010 Captain (X) N Budd RFA appointed as Commanding Officer and RASed with HMS YORK
28 April 2010 RASed with HMS YORK
10 May 2010 RASed with HMS PORTLAND
13 May 2010 RASed with HMS YORK
17 May 2010 sailed Falkland Islands to take up position of APT(N)
29 May 2010 to 2 June 2010 visited Santos, Brazil
8 July 2010 sailed Norfolk, Virginia after a 3 week assisted maintenance period
21 July 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
HMS MANCHESTER
25 July 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER and visited Santa Anna Bay, Wilemstad, Netherland Antilles
8 August 2010 RASed with HNLMS Van Anstel (F831)
16 August 2010 at Grand Cayman collecting shelter kits for up to 2,000 families from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) disaster relief stores from the Cayman Islands’ Red Cross managed warehouse and, in addition, RASed with USCGC Escanaba (WPG77)
20 August 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
30 August 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
6 September 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
9 September 2010 at Montserrat
15 September 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
17 September 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
18 to 21 September 2010 visited Tortola, British Virgin Islands on a Regional Engagement visit
20 September 2010 torrential rain hit the British Virgin islands causing major flooding to some areas of the Virgin Islands, blocking roads and causing some businesses and homes to suffer serious damage. The storm, a lingering product of Hurricane Igor, brought 3.6 inches of rain. Crew members from the Wave Ruler landed and assisted alongside fire local officials to clear and sanitise the Purcell area of Tortolla
22 September 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
23 September 2010 RASed with HMCS TORONTO
27 September 2010 RASed with HMCS TORONTO
30 September 2010 berthed at Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles
11 October 2010 refuelled USS Carr (FFG52)
19 October 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
21 October 2010 RASed with USS Truxtun (DDG103)
22 October 2010 RASed with USCG Seneca (WMEC-906)
USCG Seneca (WMEC-906)
25 October 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
30 October 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
31 October 2010 Captain Shaun Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
4 November 2010 after Hurricane Tomas hit the Island of St Lucia deployed to Castries (the Islands capital) to supply 160 tons of fresh water and 32,000 water purification tablets and also RASed HMS MANCHESTER
12 November 2010 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
18 November 2010 anchored off Cartengena , Columbia
19 November 2010 RASed with HNLMS Zuiderkruis (A832)
30 November 2010 anchored off Jackson Point, off South Sound, Grand Cayman for an R & R visit and to stock up on its disaster relief stores held by the Cayman Islands Red Cross on behalf of Department for International Development (DFID) emergency response items
17 December 2010 RASed with USCG Forward (WMEC911)
23 December 2010 entered Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
1 January 2011 still berthed at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
13 January 2011 berthed at Detyens Shipyard, Charleston, NC, USA
18 February 2011 still berthed at Charleston NC, USA
3 March 2011 visited Bermuda for R & R to sail on Sunday 6 March 2011
Alongside at Bermuda
3 April 2011 arrived at and berthed at Castries, Saint Lucia
22 May 2011 Captain S Norris RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
16 June 2011 visited Grand Turk on a Regional Engagement visit – sailed 20 June 2011
26 June 2011 during a visit to Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands two members of the crew were robbed at gun point by a lone gunman. The BVI Police are investigating the offence
22 July 2011 anchored off George Town, Grand Cayman – the crew met with Government officials and representatives of key industries to assess local capabilities and ensure communication and disaster relief plans were in place for the upcoming hurricane season
23 August 2011 sailed Curacao for the Turks & Caicos Islands which had been a victim to Hurricane Irene
25 August 2011 arrived off Grand Turk and delivered stores and equipment, including tarpaulins, for further distribution throughout the islands. Damage on the islands included flooding and minor structural damage, with hurricane winds of 90mph (145km/h) having blowing down power lines and roofs. The embarked Lynx helicopter, from 815 NAS, conducted an aerial survey with the islands’ Deputy Governor on board to assess damage to outlying islands and settlements
23 September 2011 berthed alongside at Fort de France (Martinique – FWI
11 October 2011 RASed USS Carr (FFG52)
USS Carr (FFG52)
31 October 2011 to 4 November 2011 visit to Antigua to participate in Independence celebrations
12 December 2011 returned to Portland Harbour, Dorset after her 21 month deployment in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean
23 December 2011 arrived Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
24 March 2012 in dry dock at Cammel Laird, Birkenhead
3 May 2012 alongside at Glen Mallen, Loch Long – sailed at 15.00hrs
5 May 2012 arrived at Portland at 07.00hrs
13 May 2012 sailed Portland
14 May 2012 arrived Plymouth Sound and sailed the same day
17 May 2012 off the Dorset Coast assisted with searching for a missing fishing vessel ‘Purbeck Isle’ together with the Coast Guard, RNLI vessels, HMS YORK and USNS 2nd Lt John P Bobo (T-AK 3008) plus with other fishing vessels
Fishing Vessel Purbeck Isle
The fishing vessel was found sunk 10 miles off Portland. The three crew were all dead
11 July 2012 berthed at Plymouth
12 July 2012 sailed Plymouth
13 July 2012 entered Portsmouth Harbour
24 August 2012 berthed at Port Rashid, Dubai
15 September 2012 at Dubai
6 November 2012 RASed with USS Jason Dunham (DDG109) in the Arabian Sea
7 December 2012 RASed with USS Jason Dunham (DDG109) in the Arabian Sea
31 December 2012 RASed with USS Grindley (DDG101)
2 January 2013 berthed at Gibraltar
4 January 2013 sailed Gibraltar
8 January 2013 sailed from Portland Harbour
16 January 2013 at the Oil Fuel Jetty at Loch Striven
25 January 2013 berthed at Liverpool
16 June 2013 at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead in dry dock in refit
12 July 2013 sailed Liverpool
13 July 2013 anchored off the eastern side of the Isle of Man
15 July 2013 berthed at Liverpool
20 July 2013 sailed Liverpool
21 July 2013 arrived at Plymouth and berthed on the Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty assisted by the tug SD Adept
3 September 2013 sailed Portland
19 October 2013 berthed at Loch Striven
30 October 2013 at anchor in Gibraltar Bay
6 November 2013 sailed Port Said to transit the Suez Canal
7 November 2013 arrived at Suez
29 January 2014 berthed at Dubai
18 February 2014 berthed at Dubai
13 April 2014 berthed at Fujairah, UAE
17 April 2014 sailed from Fujairah, UAE
8 May 2014 RASed with USS Truxtun (DDG103)
12 May 2014 Acting Captain (E) Peter R G Dear RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 May 2014 Captain Robert H Allan OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
29 May 2014 arrived at Khalifa Bin Salman
30 May 2014 sailed from Khalifa Bin Salman
9 June 2014 berthed at Port Rashid, Dubai
7 July 2014 at sea in the Gulf of Oman
10 July 2014 RASed with USS Oscar Austin (DDG79)
13 August 2014 – RASed with HMAS TOOMOOMBA
RASing with HMAS TOOMOOMBA
Image courtesy of the Royal Australian Navy
12 September 2014 2nd Officer (E) Garry Williams RFA discharged dead – natural causes
3 November 2014 Captain Kevin D Rimell RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
7 November 2014 Captain (E) Alistair C Bowditch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 November 2014 sailed from Bahrain
22 December 2014 berthed at Fujairah
30 December 2014 sailed from Fujairah
21 January 2015 sailed from Fujairah
26 January 2015 berthed at Bahrain
6 February 2015 Captain (X) Nigel A Budd RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Nigel A Budd RFA
11 March 2015 – 2015 Master Mariners Award – The Master Mariners Award is presented annually by the Honourable Company of Master Mariners to the RFA Officer or Rating that is judged to have made an outstanding contribution to the RFA during the previous year. COMRFA is delighted to announce that the Honourable Company has agreed that the 2015 award winner is Third Officer (E) Joe Deakin RFA. 3/O (E) Deakin was nominated by RFA WAVE RULER (2) for his outstanding performance onboard across all aspects of his duties, including Weapon Maintenance, leadership of an FRPP and his core role of a Marine Engineer. He was commended for his ability, drive, determination and desire to reach the very top of his profession. Third Officer Deakin was presented with his well deserved award onboard HQS Wellington
23 March 2015 Captain (E) Nigel P Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 April 2015 sailed Bahrain
12 May 2015 berthed at Bahrain
29 May 2015 sailed Bahrain
15 June 2015 berthed at Suda Bay, Crete
26 June 2015 berthed at Portland
5 July 2015 Captain (X) Robert H D Allan OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
21 July 2015 at Plymouth Sound
30 July 2015 at Liverpool
10 August 2015 berthed at Bahrein
11 August 2015 Captain (E) Michael S Hill RFA appointed Chief Engineer Officer
14 September 2015 berthed at Bahrein
20 September 2015 sailed Bahrein
9 November 2015 Captain (X) Simon K Booth RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Simon K Booth RFA
5 January 2016 Captain (E) Roger M Parnell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 March 2016 sailed Birkenhead
30 March 2016 Captain (X) Robert H Allan OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
7 April 2016 off Cloch Point approaching Dunoon, Argyll inward bound for Glen Mallen
5 May 2016 sailed Plymouth Sound
6 May 2016 berthed at Portland
12 May 2016 sailed Portland. As the ship sailed into Weymouth Bay she hosted a Hindu Religious Ceremony conducted by the Hindu Chaplain to the Armed Forces, Acharya Krishan Kant Attri ji, accompanied by the Birmingham Temple’s Priest Acharya Dharm Dutt Vashista ji. Hindus then offered Chrysanthemums and water to the idol before the senior Royal Naval officer present, Commodore Dain Morritt Royal Navy was asked to smash a coconut on the deck of the ship – the fruit has a deep meaning to the religion as it represents food, water and space. Six members of the ship’s crew then carried out the immersion, lifting the ornately decorated idol on a board by crane and gently lowering it over the side. The sun broke through the grey clouds as the idol was released into the sea
15 May 2016 berthed at Brest, France
18 May 2016 sailed from Brest, France
19 May 2016 berthed at Portland
23 May 2016 sailed Portland
26 May 2016 made fast to ‘C’ Buoy in Plymouth Sound
30 May 2016 sailed Plymouth Sound
29 July 2016 Captain (X) Simon K Booth RFA appointed as Commanding Officer and Captain (E) James K Hardy RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 September 2016 made fast to ‘C’ Buoy in Plymouth Sound
12 September 2016 sailed Plymouth Sound ‘C’ Buoy to sea
23 September 2016 Captain (E) Gareth H Coomber RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 November 2016 made fast to ‘C’ Buoy in Plymouth Sound
27 November 2016 sailed Plymouth Sound ‘C’ Buoy to sea
1 December 2016 berthed at Portland Harbour
3 December 2016 Captain (X) Robert G Anders RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
7 December 2016 berthed at Loch Striven
15 December 2016 sailed from Loch Striven returning to the same berth later the same day
28 December 2016 passed the Isle of Aran sailing south
30 December 2016 berthed at Portland Harbour
1 January 2017 Captain (E) Gareth H Coomber RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 21 January 2017
22 January 2017 Captain (E) Maurice O Ambrose RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 January 2017 sailed Portland Harbour
9 February 2017 arrived at Plymouth Sound
11 February 2017 at Plymouth Sound the ship was visited by 10 students and 2 Training Officers of the Devon University Royal Naval Unit of Plymouth
13 February 2017 sailed from Plymouth Sound
19 February 2017 sailed Portland
24 February 2017 berthed at Portland
27 February 2017 sailed Portland
6 March 2017 sailed Portland
9 March 2017 arrived at Plymouth
12 March 2017 sailed Plymouth
15 March 2017 berthed at Plymouth
23 March 2017 arrived and berthed at Portland
27 March 2017 sailed Portland
28 March 2017 berthed at Plymouth
29 March 2017 berthed at Plymouth
30 March 2017 sailed Plymouth
4 April 2017 Captain (X) Simon K Booth RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
6 April 2017 RASed with HMS IRON DUKE in the FOST area
RASing with HMS IRON DUKE
10 April 2017 sailed Portland
13 April 2017 berthed at Portland
17 April 2017 sailed Portland
20 April 2017 berthed at Portland
24 April 2017 sailed Portland
26 April 2017 arrived at Plymouth
28 April 2017 Captain (E) Michael Hadfield RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 April 2017 sailed Plymouth to Portland arriving the same day
14 May 2017 sailed Portland
19 May 2017 berthed at Portland
21 May 2017 sailed Portland
26 May 2017 arrived at Plymouth Sound and moored on ‘C’ Buoy
30 May 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound
31 May 2017 moored on ‘C’ Buoy in Plymouth Sound
5 June 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound
9 June 2017 arrived at and moored in Plymouth Sound
12 June 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound
16 June 2017 berthed at Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot
20 June 2017 sailed from Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot
23 June 2017 berthed at Reykjavik, Iceland
26 June 2017 together with HMS SUTHERLAND and seven war ships and a number of submarines of 11 other NATO countries together with maritime patrol aircraft engaged in anti submarine Exercise Dynamic Mongoose off Iceland together with a Merlin Helicoper crewed and maintained by 30 personnel from NAS 814 and 829 and based on Wave Ruler. Sailed Reykjavik
26 June 2017 RFA WAVE RULER and the other warships collecting for Exercise Dynamic Mongoose sail through Faxaflói Bay from Reykjavik up Hvalfjörður this day in commemoration of those ships which sailed in the Artic convoy PQ17 in 1942 (Artic Convoy PQ17 saw the loss of RFA Aldersdale and the damage of RFA Gray Ranger)
© Iceland Monitor Árni Sæberg
27 June 2017 during Exercise Dynamic Mongoose RASed with HMNLS Evertsen, HMCS St John’s and HDMS Esbern Snare
30 June 2017 during Exercise Dynamic Mongoose RASed with USS James E Williams (DDG 95), FS Latouche Treville and HnoMS Roald Amundsen
USS James E Williams (DDG 95)
1 July 2017 during Exercise Dynamic Mongoose RASed with ORP General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, HMCS St John’s and HNoMS Roald Amundsen
HNoMS Roald Amundsen
2 July 2017 during Exercise Dynamic Mongoose RASed with HMNLS Evertsen, HDMS Esbern Snare, HMCS St John’s and HNoMS Roald Amundsen
3 July 2017 during Exercise Dynamic Mongoose RASed with FS Latouche Treville and HMS SUTHERLAND
4 July 2017 during Exercise Dynamic Mongoose RASed with USS James E Williams (DDG 95)
5 July 2017 during Exercise Dynamic Mongoose RASed with FS Latouche Treville, ORP General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, HMNLS Evertsen, HMCS St John’s and HNoMS Roald Amundsen
8 July 2017 berthed at Loch Striven sailing later the same day
10 July 2017 during FOST RASed with HNLMS Van Speijk and HMS WESTMINSTER
12 July 2017 during FOST RASed with HMS ARGYLL, HMS WESTMINSTER and HNLMS Van Speijk
13 July 2017 during FOST RASed with HNLMS Van Speijk and RFA FORT ROSALIE (Rig stretching for FTRO)
14 July 2017 during FOST RAS approaches only with HMS ALBION
15 July 2017 Captain Robert G Anders RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
17 July 2017 during FOST RASed with HNLMS Van Speijk and arrived at Plymouth Sound
20 July 2017 during FOST RASed with HNLMS Ban Speijk and arrived at Plymouth Sound
21 July 2017 berthed on C Buoy, Plymouth Sound then during FOST rig stretching for FTRO and RAS approaches with RFA FORT AUSTIN
24 July 2017 sailed from Plymouth Sound to Sea
28 July 2017 berthed at Portland
31 July 2017 sailed from Portland
4 August 2017 during Exercise Saxon Warrior RASed with USS Truxtun (DDG103) and HNoMS Otto Sverdrup
5 August 2017 during Exercise Saxon Warrior RASed with USS Leyte Gulf( CG55)
7 August 2017 berthed at Loch Striven
9 August 2017 sailed from Loch Striven
11 August 2017 arrived at Plymouth Sound and made fast ‘C’ Buoy
14 August 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound
1 September 2017 sailed Portland
3 September 2017 berthed at the Oil Fuel Depot, Loch Striven
16 September 2017 sailed from Loch Striven
18 September 2017 berthed at Birkenhead
2 October 2017 Captain David J Buck OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
18 April 2018 towed from Camell Lairds at Birkenhead
Notes:
In the Spring of 2001 it emerged that BAe Systems had placed an unsolicited bid with the MoD to build a further 2 WAVE CLASS tankers at significant cost savings in comparison with the first 2 but the MoD declined to accept the bid.