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Hired RFA’s
During its history, at various times the Admiralty has hired additional ships for the RFA. These have been both short and not so short periods – this was particularly so in times of conflict.
The full details of some of these Hired RFA’s are hard to come by and as and when further details come to hand they will be publised on these ships ‘cards’.
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Previous name:
Subsequent name: Carmania Silvania
Pennant No: Y9.16
Laid down:
Builder: Scott & Company, Greenock
Launched: 7 December 1899
Into Service: August 1914
Out of service: December 1914
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
August 1914 to December 1914 hired by the Admiralty as a Store Carrier for the RFA
31 March 1918 torpedoed and damaged by the German submarine UB57 in the English Channel but reach port.
2 September 1918 drove off an attacking submarine by means of accurate gunfire.
1925 named changed to Carmania
1928 named changed to Silvania
1932 broken up at Genoa |
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Builder: Ailsa, Troon
Launched: 2 March 1907
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
December 1915 hired by the Admiralty as a store carrier for the RFA
5 January 1921 returned to her owners
June 1941 hired by the Admiralty for service as a cable ship
2 January 1944 Leading Hand Edward Cecil Knox discharged dead. He is remembered with pride on the Liverpool Naval Memorial
May 1946 returned to her owners
28 May 1954 name changed to Alladale
September 1967 Broken up at Fleetwood
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Laid down:
Builder: Rowhedge Iron Works Co Ltd
Launched: 17 March 1938
Into Service: October 1942
Out of service: 1947
Fate:
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
October 1942 Requisitioned by the Admiralty as a Water Carrier
1958 Owned by Shell-Mex & BP Ltd
1964 Sold to John P Katsoulakos, Piraeus and renamed Vatkiza
1966 Sold to Arapeglou & Malengovich, Piraeus - name unchanged
1971 Sold to Dimitrious Raviolas Piraeus - name sttill unchanged
1972 Sold to J Daifas, Piraeus - name still unchanged
1976 Sold to Aristos Kaisis, Limassol, Cyprus and name changed to Zeus
May 1982 Owners reported as now Konitas Nav Co and awaiting breaking up at Limassol
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Laid down:
Builder: Rowhedge Iron Works Co Ltd., Rowhedge
Launched: 29 September 1931
Into Service: 1942
Out of service: 1945
Fate: 1959 Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
1942 taken into Admiralty service as a harbour oiler
1945 returned to owners
18 December 1959 arrived Grays, Essex for breaking up by T W Ward Ltd
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Builder: Scott and Sons Ltd., Bowling
Launched: 12 December 1901
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
17 January 1915 hired by the Admiralty as an ammunition stores carrier.
May 1916 became a transport
February 1919 returned to owners
1939 renamed Gamma
27 August 1941 scuttled at Tallin
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Previous name: M5 Miner V
Subsequent name:
Class:
Pennant No: N15
Laid down: 22 April 1940
Builder: Philip & Sons Ltd., Dartmouth
Launched: 2 November 1940
Into Service: 26 June 1941
Out of service: 6 June 1970
Fate: Sunk as a target
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
6 June 1970 sunk as a target in The Wash
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Builder: Campbletown Shipbuilding Co
Launched: 9 May 1914
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
4 November 1914 hired by the Admiralty as a store/munitions carrier
21 February 1915 returned to her owners
3 March 1940 struck a mine laid by German submarine U29 and sank in the Bristol Channel 2½ miles SE of Nash Point in position 51.24N 03.33W while on passage from Dublin to Bristol with 400 tons of general cargo. 13 members of her crew out of 15 were lost, the survivors were picked up by the minesweeper Akita
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Builder: HK Whampoa, Kowloon
Launched: 1925
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
27 August 1939 hired by the Admiralty at Australia as a victualling stores issuing ship
29 August 1939 sailed Brisbane to Sydney arriving 31 August 1939
16 September 1939 sailed Sydney to Melbourne arriving 18 September 1939
19 September 1939 sailed Melbourne to Freemantle arriving 26 September 1939
26 September 1939 sailed Freemantle to Colombo
1946 returned to her owners
August 1961 Broken up at Hong Kong
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Builder: William Gray, West Hartlepool
Launched: 4 July 1913
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
3 August 1914 Hired by the Admiralty as a store carrier
19 December 1914 returned to her owners
22 January 1918 missed by a torpedo in the English Channel
23 January 1937 sold and renamed Nailsea Tower.
28 November 1937 broken up at Dalmuir |
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Builder: Wood Skinner, Bill Quay
Launched: 1912
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
1915 hired by the Admiralty as an ammunition transport
14 October 1915 missing at sea - sailed Liverpool on 12 October 1915 to Archangel. Twenty three members of the crew recorded as lost at sea and remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial.
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Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Low Walker, Newcastle
Launched: 23 September 1903
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
16 January 1915 hired by the Admiralty as a store carrier
26 July 1917 became collier Y3.1788
6 December 1918 returned to owners
4th quarter 1932 Broken up at Port Glasgow |
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Builder: Dixon (Raylton), Middlesborough
Launched: 18 July 1912
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
1915 to 9 March 1916 hired by the Admiralty as a store carrier
9 March 1916 mined and sunk in the North Sea at 51.24N 01.29E with fourteen fatalities - 3 officers and 12 men. Reported in the New York Times of the 13 March 1916.
Of the 15 casualties 13 have no known grave but the sea. 2 have been buried ashore.
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Pennant No: Y8.13 / Y3.819 / Y3.810
Laid down:
Builder: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd
Launched: 17 August 1909
Into Service: 4 October 1914
Out of service: 30 January 1918
Fate: Sunk by submarine gunfire
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
4 October 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a collier.
29 May 1915 became a stores carrier
19 July 1915 reverted to being a collier
30 January 1918 sunk by the German submarine UB54 by gunfire 15 nautical miles west of Cape d'Antifer when she was in ballast. There were no casualties. |
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Previous name:
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Pennant No:
Laid down:
Builder: Fellows & Co Ltd., Great Yarmouth
Launched: 11 September 1926
Into Service: 1941
Out of service: 1944
Fate: Sank 9 May 1956
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
11 September 1926 launched as a steel spiritsail sailing barge
December 1938 cut down and converted into a motor coaster and fitted with an oil engine.
1941 to 1944 requisitioned by the Admiralty as a Stores Carrier
1944 Returned to her owners
9 May 1956 while on passage from Rochester, Kent to Totnes, Devon with a cargo of cement was in collision with mv Wall Brook and sank in the Princes Channel 8 miles off Margate.
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Laid down:
Builder: Caledon SB & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee
Launched: 23 March 1905
Into Service: 5 August 1914
Out of service: 24 December 1917
Fate: Torpedoed by German Submarine UC40 on 8 December 1917. Later on 24 December 1917 sank while under tow.
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
5 August 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a stores carrier
24 February 1916 became and armed boarding steamer
8 December 1917 torpedoed off Lerwick by the German submarine UC40, did not sink. She was taken under tow to be beached at Lerwick
24 December 1917 After repairs she was in tow to Stornoway when she had to be abandonned in a gale and sank about 4 nm ENE of North Ronaldsay
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Builder: Gourlay Brothers & Co., Dundee
Launched: 7 May 1890
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
4 August 1914 hired as a squadron supply ship by the Admiralty
8 June 1915 became a Boom Defence Vessel and water carrier
19 January 1916 Private William Thomas Roberts RMLI discharged dead. He is buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery
25 April 1917 on passage from London to Bordeaux with a general cargo was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UC36 in the Bay of Biscay 13 miles S x E of Belle Ile in position 47.08N 02.55W
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Builder: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd., Aberdeen
Launched: 6 September 1910
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
2 October 1913 suffered a fire on board while in the English Channel and had to be taken to London for repairs.
5 August 1914 Hired as a store ship by the Admiralty and served in the Caribbean, Falklands, Far East and as a destroyer depot ship for ships on the Dover Patrol.
18 April 1916 converted into a 'Q'-ship and served as Q2 and then Waitomo. and later as Waitoppo.
11 July 1917 Her decoy ship service ended.
5 January 1918 returned to her owners
17 May 1927 renamed Engelstan
August 1952 broken up at Van Hayghen Freres, Ghent
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Builder: Wm Hamilton & Co Ltd., Port Glasgow
Launched: 30 May 1912
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
4 August 1914 hired by the Admiralty for use as a store carrier and was initially attached to the 1st Cruiser Squadron based at Scapa Flow
10 March 1915 returned to her owners
28 February 1956 while on passage from Antwerp to Istanbul was struck on her starboard side in the River Scheldt by the Dutch Blommersdyk and sank in shallow water. All 35 persons on board were rescued. The wreck was later destroyed with explosives.
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Builder: Robert Napier & Sons, Govan
Launched: 18 August 1894
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
2 September 1918 Hired as a store carrier by the Admiralty
1919 Returned to her owners
May 1923 Broken up at Wilhelmshaven |
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Items of historic interest involving this ship: - |
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Pennant No: Y8.9
Laid down:
Builder: Harvey & Co Ltd., Hayle
Launched: 30 November 1891
Into Service: 17 September 1914
Out of service: 20 June 1917
Fate: Returned to owners
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
17 September 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a stores carrier.
20 June 1917 returned to owners
30 October 1930 sank in the Channel after a collision in position 50.01N 02.04W |
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Items of historic interest involving this ship: - |
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Builder: J T Eltringham & Co Ltd., South Shields
Launched: 24 August 1911
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
One of a group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA.
7 September 1955 ran aground in mist and was wrecked on Saddle Rock near the Maidens Lighthouse, 3 miles from Larne, Co Antrim and was broken up 'as lies' by Belfast Shipbreakers. |
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Builder: Scott & Co, Bowling
Launched: 18 September 1890
Fate: Destroyed by fire and explosion
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty in WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA.
24 July 1915 requisitioned by the Admiralty as a Fleet Messenger
2 July 1917 Engineer Lieutenant W W Sharland RNR discharged dead. He is buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery, Greece
17 May 1818 Engineer Lieutenant William Henry Aldcroft RNR discharged dead. He is buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery, Greece
30 July 1918 Assistant Cook Charles Arokin MMR 927353 discharged dead. He is remembered with pride on the Plymouth Naval Memorial
23 May 1919 purchased by the Admiralty
August 1920 sold out of service
26 June 1933 destroyed by an explosion and fire at Alexandretta
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Builder: W B Thompson & Co Ltd., Dundee
Launched: 12 May 1892
Fate: Ran aground and broke her back
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty in WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA.
4 August 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for services as a Store Carrier
22 November 1915 returned to owners
8 February 1917 attacked by an unknown submarine which tried to shell her. Escaped by her speed.
29 December 1917 ran aground on Longs and near the Sunk Light vessel off the Essex coast.
30 December 1917 the ship broke her back in the falling tide. The Walton on Naze lifeboat rescued the passengers and some of the crew.
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Builder: Barclay Curle & Co., Whitinch
Launched: 8 March 1905
Fate: Sunk
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
One of a group of additional ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA.
3 August 1914 Was requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Stores Carrier
3 May 1915 Became H.M. Transport
2 November 1915 Seaman S Malbrook discharged dead. He is buried in Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Harve
1916 Damaged by a drifting steamer at Newport
9 October 1917 torpedoed and sunk by U96 1 mile off South Rock near Ballyquintin Point, Co. Down, Northern Ireland with 13 of the 125 on board being killed. Two - Winchman Williams James Andrews and Third Engineer Wallace George Caws are remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial
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Builder: Workman Clark & Co, Belfast
Launched: 1895
Into Service:
Out of service: 3 November 1916
Fate: Sunk
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
3 November 1916 torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UB43 200 miles east of Malta in roughly 36.00N 18.30E. Six of the crew were killed |
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Builder: Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol
Launched: 11 May 1953
Into Service:
Out of service: 1968
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
1959 came under PAS
1968 converted into a torpedo recovery vessell
1983 suffered engine and bottom damage as a result of grounding
19 March 1984 broken up at Cairnryan |
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Builder: Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd
Launched: 29 February 1896
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
3 January 1915 hired by the Admiralty as a store carrier
17 April 1916 returned to her owners
1925 Sold to Yugoslavia |
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Laid down:
Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Low Walker Yard
Launched: 7 November 1912
Into Service: 7 November 1914
Out of service: 8 October 1915
Fate: Sunk by a mine
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
7 November 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Stores Carrier
8 October 1915 returned to her owners
1 October 1916 while on passage from Portishead to Rouen with a cargo of oil struck a mine which had been laid by UC-26 in Le Havre Roads and sank with loss of 3 lives. |
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Previous name: Emden
Subsequent name:
Class:
Pennant No:
Laid down: 1887
Builder: Earle's Shipbuilding Co, Hull
Launched: 13 April 1887
Into Service: 8 October 1914
Out of service: 1 December 1918
Fate: Broken up December 1931
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
8 October 1914 Requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Stores Carrier. Her name was changed to Wenning
2 February 1915 became a munitions carrier. Name unchanged
1 December 1918 returned to her owners
12 June 1931 in collision with another vessel 19 miles west south west Soverign Light Vessel. Wenning badly holded. She was laid up at Goole.
9 December 1931 sailed from Google to the breakers - Clayton & Davies Ltd Dunston |
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Laid down:
Builder: Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Launched: 5 May 1880
Into Service:
Out of service:
Fate: Sunk
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
15 October 1917 torpedoed and sunk off Suda Bay, Crete by German submarine UC74 with 23 casualtites |
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