RFA Aro

RFA Aro

 

 

 

Previous name:                          Eboe      Albertville
Subsequent name:                     Stella  

Official Number:                         118446                                                         

Class:                                        Store & ammunition ship  

Pennant No:                              T1.2 / Y8.125

Laid down:
Builder:                                     Sir Raylton Dixon

Launched:                                 9 May 1898

Into Service:                             19 October 1914 
Out of service:                           4 January 1920
Fate:                                        Sold out of service

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:   Some official lists, marked as  “Lists of RFA’s” show vessels which spent some time as RFA’s during the First World War. These records are extremely sketchy and some of these vessels were “Yard Craft”, partially or wholly Dockyard manned, partly by RNR or Reserve Fleet personnel. Some of the Depot Ships staffed by skilled civilian Dockyard workers were for a time White Ensign. The Director of Stores was understood to be concerned with their manning and operationally they remained under Admiralty control

 

9 May 1898 launched by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co Ltd, Middlesbrough as Yard Nr 449 named EBOE for Elder, Dempster & Co Ltd, Liverpool. After launching was transferred to Cie Belge Maritime du Congo, Antwerp

August 1898 completed as ALBERTVILLE with 112 x 1st Class and 75 x 2nd Class passengers

19 June 1900 arrived at Cape Coast Castle

10 August 1901 berthed at Antwerp

2 November 1901 berthed at Antwerp

3 January 1901 berthed at Antwerp from the Congo Free State

14 February 1902 sailed Southampton for the Cameroons

29 December 1903 sailed Southampton for Sierra Leone

1904 transferred to African Steamship Co (Elder, Dempster & Co Ltd, Managers) Liverpool and renamed ARO after a town 58 miles from Lagos, Nigeria

19 October 1914 purchased by Admiralty from Elder Dempster along with (later) SOBO and SOKOTO for £55,000 for conversion into a submarine depot ship

1915 to 1918 served at Rosyth

7 January 1915 Lieutenant Noel F Calrow RNR appointed in Command

4 December 1916 Engineer Commander Frederick Kelly RN appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

14 August 1918 became a troopship - name unchanged

19 June 1919 at Archangel HMS CICALA moored alongside to receive ammunition

14 August 1919 and 15 August 1919 working party from HMS PEGASUS onboard

22 August 1919 store party from HMS Pegasus onboard

1 September 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M33 berthed alongside 

6 September 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M31 alongside receiving provisions

10 September 1919 and 11 September 1919 at Archangel store party from HMS PEGASUS onboard

18 September 1919 at Archangel working party from HMS PEGASUS onboard

4 January 1920 sold for £40,000 to W.R. Davies, Liverpool - name unchanged

1921 purchased by Cie des Vapeur Francaise, Paris and renamed STELLA

1924 purchased by Soc Anon Les Affreteurs Reunis, Paris name unchanged

1925 owners company in liquidation

23 June 1925 sold to N. Angelo Bertorelli, Sampieradena for demolition at Genoa.

 

Notes:

 

1. Image above is of the SS Alberville before purchase by the Admiralty and being renamed RFA Aro