Small RFA tales

1. While undocking at Liverpool in 1921 RFA SCOTOL had four collisions with other ships in the same basin. If you are going to have a collision or two or three or … make it worth while!
2. The Master of RFA SPRUCOL docked the ship at Grangemouth in 1920 and sold the ships ropes – which weighed a reported 2 tons 9¾ cwt – he was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment at Falkirk Sheriff’s Court
3. In 1952, while RFA WAVE CHIEF was at anchor during the Korean campaign, the “MAN OVERBOARD” signal was sounded.  The Captain’s pet parrot had flown overboard.  A lifeboat was hastily lowered and after much trouble with the starting of its engine, the soggy bird was rescued – much to the dismay of those who objected to its early morning squawking!
4. RFA TIDESPRING (1) had anchored in Mevagissey Bay near Plymouth overnight and when the anchor was raised the following morning, a fisherman’s lobster basket containing a couple of lobsters had caught on one of the flukes. The basket was retrieved aboard, the lobsters were taken out and replaced with a bottle of Hankey Bannister whisky on which the Captain had written “Thanks for the lobsters with the compliments of the RFA” and lowered back into the water which must have been a pleasant surprise for the fisherman concerned.
5. RFA TIDESPRING (1) was being inspected by an Admiral down in the Falkland Islands shortly after the 1982 conflict and he asked the Quartermaster on duty at the gangway “What would you do if you spotted a swimmer in the water approaching the ship?” The Quartermaster replied “I’d offer him a cup of tea as it is a long way to swim from Argentina”. The Admiral apparently was not in the slightest bit amused!
6. In the early 80’s when monies were being raised for the SIR GALAHAD Lifeboat Fund, a number of innovative ideas transpired, some of which raised a large amount of money in their own right. One intrepid AB raised a small fortune by competing in a Ship’s Marathon doing laps around the Upper Deck of a particular ship dressed in nothing but his DMS Boots and a policeman’s helmet, both items of apparel protecting his feet and head from the scorching sun but unfortunately these did not help much with other parts of his anatomy which caused him to walk around somewhat gingerly for a few days afterwards!. On reaching Plymouth he was even interviewed on the local TV news which no doubt helped to cheer the locals up a bit.
7. RFA BLACK RANGER was exercising with the submarine HMS THULE when the latter accidentally tried to surface underneath the oiler and a funny signal was sent by the submarine which read “Only Thules rush in where Rangers fear to tread”
8. RFA OLYNTHUS (1) was supporting HMS EXETER, HMS AJAX and HMAS ACHILLES just prior to the Battle of the River Plate and a signal was reportedly sent to her saying “If the GRAF SPEE” comes your way – let her through”