RFA Beechleaf

Previous name:                    Olnos
Subsequent name:              Limicana, Ch N Katan  Stanbridge  Eurofeld

Official Number:                    139200

Class:                                     Emergency Wartime Construction LEAF Group Freighting Tanker

Pennant No:                           Y7.154

Laid down:
Builder:                                   Richardson Duck & Co Ltd, Stockton on Tees
Launched:                              26 October 1916
Into Service:                           1917
Out of service:                       1921
Fate:                                        Sold out of service commercially

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   During WW1, 18 vessels of varying types were acquired second hand and converted or purchased and converted while on the stocks, or in a few cases building as tankers. Some were converted after serving with the Dummy Battleship Squadron by the insertion of cylindrical tanks in their holds. All were originally intended to operate as RFA’s, however owing to reasons of international law and the operation of the US Neutrality Act, these oilers became Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries being renamed with the LEAF nomenclature and placed under civilian management although operationally they remained under Admiralty control

22 October 1916 launched by Richardson, Duck & Co Ltd, Stockton as Yard Nr 649 named RFA OLMOS for the Shipping Controller

November 1916 placed under management of Lane & MacAndrew Ltd, London and renamed  BEECHLEAF. Base  port Devonport

1 March 1917 completed as an oiler transport

3 January 1918 was attacked when in the Mediterranean by a submarine - the torpedo missed.

9 February 1918 transferred to the Director of Transports after it was decided that all tankers under  commercial management were to be run by  them

22 May 1919 while bound from Baton Rouge to Lough Swilly was badly damaged by fire. Two Firemen killed. Third Engineer badly burnt. Engines and steam steering gear put out of action. Taken in tow by US Army Transport West Haven. Towed to Ambrose Light, New York. The two who were killed were buried at sea

SS West Haven which towed RFA Beechleaf into New York

28 June 1919 sailed New York for Lough Swilly

August 1919 sold to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd

12 May 1920 sailed New Orleans for Amsterdam

1921 renamed Limicana

17 February 1927 transferred to N.V. Petroleum Maatschappij, La Corena name unchanged

1927 purchased by Naptha Industrie und Tankager AG, Berlin and renamed CH. N. KAHAN

1935 purchased by Europaische Tanklager und Transport AG, Berlin name unchanged

1937 Purchased by Stanhope Steamship Co Ltd ( J.A. Billmeir, Manager ) London and renamed STANBRIDGE

1 October 1937 bombed by insurgent forces while as the tanker Stanbridge she was in Gijon harbour, Spain. The ship suffered damage to her bridge, a hole in the side (6 feet across) and various deck gear was damaged.

1939 sold to Europaische Tankreederei, Hamburg renamed Eurofeld

22 May 1939 while outbound from Hamburg was in collision with ss Serula when off Beachy Head in thick fog. Both ships were damaged. Reported in the Times Casualty report from Lloyds of 23 May 1939 refers

While ss Eurofeld was taken over by the Kriegsmarine and acted as a tanker for the German Battlecruiser Aldmiral Sheer.

3 September 1939 en-route from the Dutch Indies to Germany when war was declared. Due to engine defects ordered to go to Tenerife, Canary Islands. After approximately twelve months put to sea to refuel the commercial raider 'Widder' 

4 November 1939 was taken over as a unit of the Kriegsmarine

3 September 1940 sailed Santa Cruz de Teneriffe

16 September 1940 refuelled the German raider WIDDER

12 November 1940 with the Nordmark - (later to become RFA Northmark) Eurofeld RAS'ed with the Admiral Sheer - fuel, ammunition and provisions - in the Atlantic at 25N 45W. Spares from NORDMARK helped to  patch up her engine

26 December 1940 rendezvoused at a point codenamed Andalusien in position 15.00 S 18.00 W with   ADMIRAL SCHEER, the German auxiliary cruisers THOR and PINGUIN and the captured British refrigerated ship DUQUESA

10 January 1941 took on 1200t of fuel from NORDMARK

13 January 1941 embarked more than 100 prisoners from NORDMARK and was ordered to run for France

2 March 1941 arrived at St. Nazaire without being detected by the Allies and brought prisoners with her (Merchant Seaman from ships that the Admiral Sheer and various German merchant commercial raiders had sunk)

24 September 1944 was scuttled at St Nazaire as the Allies approached the City. Salvaged and broken up in 1950.