Previous name:
Subsequent name:            Petrola XIV     Petrola 14

Official Number:                  168059

Class:                                   RANGER CLASS Fleet Attendant Oiler

Pennant No:                         A163

Laid down:                           12 October 1939
Builder:                                 Harland & Wolff
Launched:                            22 August 1940
Into Service:                         27 January 1941
Out of service:                      July 19 73 - sold commercially
Fate:                                      24 January 1979 arrived Piraeus for breaking up.

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   The 6 ships in this Class were designed in the mid -1930’s by Rowland Baker as replacements for the 2000t BELGOL CLASS and were the first Admiralty-designed tankers since the  1917 5000t FAST LEAF CLASS. As originally built, for camouflage purposes, they had canvas deckhouses, a dummy plate funnel forward, their foremast was on the starboard bow, the wheelhouse was offset to port, and in some cases their genuine funnel was cut low and was on the port quarter, fitted with a spark arrester. Originally armed with 1 x 4” LA, 1 x 12 pdr HA/LA and several Lewis guns, as the War progressed the armament fits altered and finally averaged 1 x 4” HA, 1 x 40mm Bofors and 4 x single 20mm Oerlikons. These vessels served extensively as Escort Tankers on the Russian Convoys, Norwegian coastal raids, Malta Convoys and with the British Pacific Fleet. Apart from GRAY RANGER which became a War Loss, the Class had exceptionally long Service lives and were finally replaced by the ROVER CLASS

6 August 1940 Mr Harry F Duce RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

22 August 1940 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan as Yard Nr 1046G named BLACK RANGER

3 January 1941 Captain Frederick G Drake RFA appointed as Master

27 February 1941 involved in collision with French Ship Mistral - the French destroyer suffered minor damage.

6 March 1941 under repair on the Clyde

10 April 1941 joined the Fleet Fuelling Service.

18 May 1941 at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde

4 June 1941 at Tail of Bank

17 July 1941 arrived Scapa Flow escorted by the Polish destroyer BURZA

22 July 1941 sailed from Scapa Flow as part of Force 'Q' and was involved in Operation 'E.F.' as Fleet oiler during carrier -borne attacks on enemy shipping adjacent to Kirkenes, Norway and Petsamo, Finland. Other RFA's involved - RFA Aldersdale and RFA War Sudra escorted by HM destroyers ECHO and ECLIPSE to Seidisfjord on the East coast of Iceland

24 July 1941 arrived Seidisfjord

25 July 1941 with RFA GRAY RANGER she supported the carrier raids on Kirkenes, Norway  and  Petsamo in Finland in Operation E.F.

10 September 1941 arrived Scapa Flow in company with the troop transport  LLANSTEPHAN  CASTLE (11293/14) and escorted by the destroyer HMS ANTHONY

29 September 1941 sailed Hvalfiordur, on the SW coast of Iceland as part of Convoy PQ 1, consisting of  11 merchantmen , escorted by  the cruiser HMS SUFFOLK and other warships bound for Archangel

4 October 1941 joined the returning Convoy QP 1, the ex-Operation Dervish ships consisting of 14   merchantmen, escorted by the destroyer HMS ANTHONY. The Convoy had  sailed  from Archangel on 28/09

7 October 1941 detached from the convoy and arrived the Clyde

9 October 1941 sailed the Clyde in convoy WN191 to Scapa Flow arriving 12 October 1941

12 October 1941 to 16 October 1941 at anchor at Scapa Flow

25 October 1941 sailed Scapa Flow in convoy EC89 for the Clyde arriving 28 October 1941

17 November 1941 a decision was made that the entire Class were unsuitable for OAS in the Atlantic

30 November 1941 under repair on the Tyne - completed 10 December 1941

22 December 1941 sailed Scapa Flow under escort as Force J to support Operation Anklet - the 2nd Commando raid on the Lofoten Islands

1 January 1942 returned to Scapa Flow on completion of Operation Anklet and remained in port at Scapa Flow until 18 March 1942

15 January 1942 Captain L J Mack RFA appointed as Master

18 March 1942 sailed Scapa Flow for Lerwick arriving the next day

20 March 1942 sailed Lerwick to Scapa Flow arriving the next day

21 March 1942 arrived at Scapa Flow and remained in port until 23 April 1942

23 May 1942 was part of Force Q along with the destroyer HMS LEDBURY which joined Convoy PQ 16 which had sailed from Hvalfiordur on 21/05 and consisted of 36 merchantmen

25 May 1942 detached from Convoy PQ 16 after fuelling the destroyers arriving at Murmansk on 30 May 1942

16 July 1942 allocated to Convoy PQ 18

24 July 1942 with an escort, she acted as an en route fuelling station to some warships taking   ammunition and stores  to Northern Russia; stores needed by PQ 17’s surviving escort vessels

19 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her 

2 September 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in Convoy PQ 18, consisting of 44 Allied merchantmen,  along with  RFA GRAY RANGER as Force Q

13 September 1942 supported the westbound  Convoy QP 14 bound from Archangel for Loch Ewe along with RFA OLIGARCH and RFA GRAY RANGER which consisted of 20 merchantmen arriving Archangel on 21 September 1942

26 September 1942 detached from convoy QP14 to Scapa Flow along with RFA OLIGARCH and the destroyers HMS BLANKNEY and HMS MIDDLETON

17 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her

28 October 1942 Acting Able Seaman Joseph McGillivray  C/JX 312300 (DEMS Gunner) - missing presume killed. He is remembered with pride on the Chatham Naval Memorial

20 November 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in Convoy WN 363 to Methil arriving 22 November 1942

22 November 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 967arrived the Tyne 23 November 1942

30 November 1942 under repair at the River Tyne. The repairs were completed on 10 December 1942

1 January 1943 sailed the Tyne joining convoy FN906 to Methil arriving on the following day

4 January 1943 at Methil Roads

1 February 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her

18 March 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her - 1,550 tons of FFO transfered. RFA Robert Middleton was also alongside delivering Naval Stores

16 April 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON  refuelling her - 420 tons of FFO transfered

10 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LONDON refuelling her

28 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LONDON refuelling her

1 September 1943 Captain E V Blyth RFA appointed as Master

5 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON  refuelling her - 486 tons of FFO transfered

18 September 1943 sailed Scapa Flow  returning to the anchorage on 20 September 1943

1 October 1943 sailed Scapa Flow returning to the anchorage on 3 October 1943

26 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her - 724 tons of FFO supplied

4 January 1944 Mr Alexander Ballantyne OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 January 1944 sailed Scapa Flow returning to the anchorage on 31 January 1944

8 February 1944 sailed Scapa Flow to Sunderland arriving 10 February 1944

16 February 1944 at Sunderland Donkeyman Greaser A P Tracey logged for being found asleep during his hours of duty in the engine room. He was fined 10/- and warned that any future occurence would be dealt with in the Civil Court.

25 March 1944 sailed Sunderland to Methil arriving the next day

26 March 1944 sailed Methil in convoy EN363 to Scapa Flow arriving on the next day

30 March 1944 in Operation Tungsten - carrier launched Fleet Air Arm attack on the German battleship TIRPITZ in Altenfjord - along with RFA BLUE RANGER

23 June 1944 Assistant Steward P Camis who was due to return from leave on 14 June 1944 failed to do so and was logged as deserting.

30 August 1944 arrived Scapa Flow along with RFA BLUE RANGER on completion of Operation Goodwood - further synchronised air sorties flown against TIRPITZ

26 September 1944 at Lyness Carpenter W Henderson returned from leave three days late. He was logged a fine of £1 being 10/- per day for being absent and forfeitted one days leave and two days pay

27 September 1944 at Lyness Pumpman J Mackinnon returned from leave one day late. He was logged a fine of 10/- and forfeitted one days pay

5 October 1944 Captain Frederick G Drake RFA appointed as Master

5 February 1945 joined Convoy  JW 64 which had sailed from from the Clyde on 02/02 to the Kola Inlet to the North of Murmansk  escorted by the destroyer HMS SERAPIS and the corvette HMS DENBIGH CASTLE arriving at Kola Inlet on 15 February 1945

17 February 1945 sailed Kola Inlet in convoy RA64 consisting of 33 merchantmen to Scapa Flow arriving 27 February 1945

12 March 1945 involved in collision with HMS ONSLAUGHT while escort oiler to Russian Convoy JW 64. The RN ship suffered major damage to it bows but reached port

16 April 1945 sailed the Clyde in convoy JW 66 consisting of 27 ships along with RFA BLUE  RANGER to Kola Inlet arriving on the 25 April 1945 - convoy JW66 was the last wartime convoy to Russia.

29 April 1945 in Convoy RA 66 consisting of 27 merchantmen from the Kola Inlet to the Tail of the Bank along with RFA BLUE RANGER and supported Operation Judgement - the attack on the U-boat Depot Ship at Kilbutor arriving on the 7 May of that year detached to Scapa Flow

31 October 1945 at Rosyth

5 November 1945 sailed Rosyth to Leith arriving the same day

6 November 1945 sailed Leith

15 November 1945 arrived at Methil Roads and sailed the same day

16 November 1945 sailed the Downs to Portland arriving the next day

28 December 1945 HM King George VI inspected the Master, Officers and men of the Mixol and the Black Ranger on the quarter deck of HMS Rodney while reviewing the Home Fleet in the Firth of Forth off Rosyth

13 January 1946 at Portland

11 April 1946 at Portland / Portsmouth conducting OAS trials

15 April 1946 Mr D S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 May 1946 Captain Robert Grimer DSC RFA appointed as Master

8 July 1946 sailed Portland for Sheerness arrived 9 July 1946 then to Chatham Dockyard arriving on the 10 July 1946

20 January 1947 Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA appointed as Master

22 January 1947 at Portland alongside HMS SUPERB refuelling her  

16 September 1947 took part in the Home Fleet Review on the Clyde along with RFA‘s FORT DUQUESNE, PETROBUS and PRESTOL

26 September 1947 Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 December 1947 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA appointed as Master

28 July 1948 Mr S Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

31 January 1949 sailed Portland with RN units to Gibraltar and the Mediterranean on the Home Fleet's Spring Cruise

18 March 1949 Captain P H Brooke OBE RFA appointed as Master

25 May 1949 at the Moray Firth RASed with HMS SUPERB

3 June 1949 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS SUPERB refuelling her

4 July 1949 sailed with units of the Western Union from off Penzance for Naval exercises

25 July 1949 Captain J M Humphrey OBE DSC RFA appointed as Master

11 November 1949 joined the Home Fleet at Portland for 10 days of Exercises off the south Coast

15 January 1950 Mr D L S Hood DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

5 December 1950 Mr A Ballantyne OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

12 December 1950 Captain L J Mack DSO RFA appointed as Master

16 January 1951 joined units of the Home Fleet for their Spring Cruise to Gibraltar where units of the Mediterranean Fleet will join for exercises in the Western Mediterranean. Returned to the UK in the middle of March.

24 June 1951 Captain H W Flint RFA appointed as Master

6 July 1951 Captain Griffith O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master

18 October 1951 RASed (astern) HMS St Austell Bay in the Atlantic at 38 57.20N 9 59W

31 October 1951 RASed (abeam) HMS St Austell Bay off Gibraltar

16 November 1951 RASed (astern) HMS St Austell Bay off Gibraltar

9 January 1952 Seaman R F Fitzgerald discharged dead. He is buried in Moascar War Cemetery near Ismalia, Egypt - Plot 13 Row E Grave 4

Courtesy of and © The War Graves Photographic Project

10 August 1952 Mr J C Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 March 1953 with HMS Theseus, HMS Broadswird and HMS Crossbow visited Funchal, Maderia 

25 March 1953 Captain Sydney S F Dalgleish OBE RFA appointed as Master

29 March 1953 was involved in the rescue of nine of the crew of ss Mountcharles which sank in heavy seas in the Bristol Channel. 4 October 1953 Officers and crew of the ships boat used in the rescue received awards from the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation.

27 April 1953 Mr W H Macfarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

15 June 1953 Captain Joe Dines RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master and participated in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead

4 October 1953 Officers and Crew of the ship’s boat which was used for the rescue off Padstow received awards from the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation

26 February 1954 with HMS Eagle and other RN Units visited Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria

26 April 1954 Captain J W Cunningham RFA appointed as Master

15 January 1955 Mr A J Daniel RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 October 1955 Captain Douglas G Cox OBE RFA appointed as Master

29 January 1956 Captain A Jackson OBE RFA appointed as Master

14 March 1956 Mr Thomas L Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

9 October 1956 Captain E E Laurence RFA appointed as Master

17 November 1956 Mr J B D Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 March 1957 involved in an accident with a frigate HMS Termangant in Rothesay Bay, Bute. The tanker suffered minor damage. The frigate was holed.

4 June 1957 Mr V J Paflin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 August 1957 Captain William R Town RFA appointed as Master

2 September 1958 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 1st Cod War until 11 September 1958

25 September 1958 defuelled the Reserve Fleet at Barrow and then deployed to Portland to serve as the  first FOST work-up tanker

10 October 1958 Captain N B J Stapleton RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master

13 December 1958 Mr C D Reid RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 April 1959 Captain Charles E C Phipps RFA appointed as Master

1 May 1959 Mr W B Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

15 January 1960 in collision with tug RFA Careful at Devonport

29 March 1960 Captain S C Dunlop MBE RFA appointed as Master

31 March 1960 Mr A M Evans RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 November 1960 involved in a collision with H.M.S/M Thule during an exercise off Portland Bill. Slight damage to the submarine. No damage to Black Ranger

21 February 1961 Mr D Meikle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 June 1961 Captain S E Clench RFA appointed as Master

5 April 1962 Mr R C Veitch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 August 1962 Captain A S McWIlliam RFA appointed as Master

4 February 1963 Captain P T Taylor RFA appointed as Master

2 May 1963 sailed at short notice from Portland to Iceland to support HM ships in the area

15 July 1963 Able Seaman D J N Potter discharged dead. He is buried in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Gosport

31 March 1964 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her

30 July 1964 involved in spraying oil slicks in the English Channel.

4 August 1964 Mr R J D'Souza RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

15 November 1964 Captain Cyril G Butterworth RFA appointed as Master

3 January 1965 while in dry dock at Swansea slipped off her blocks and slid into the dock wall at a list of about 10 degrees causing minor damage to the ship

8 August 1965 to 11 August 1965 took part in the Clyde Royal Review along with RFA‘s OLYNTHUS (2), RESURGENT,  ROWANOL and WAVE PRINCE

10 November 1965 Captain G P A MacDougall RFA appointed as Master

7 December 1965 Mr D Meikle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 May 1966 Mr Ronald C Putt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer Ronald C Putt RFA

30 August 1966 Captain John H McLoughlin RFA appointed as Master

11 February 1967 Mr N Bothwell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 May 1968 Captain J P Gould RFA appointed as Master

29 June 1968 Mr M J Burgess RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 May 1969 Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA appointed as Master

Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA

September 1970 in reserve at Devonport

March 1973 laid up at Portsmouth

April 1973 on the Disposal List

5 May 1973 offer for sale 'as lying' at Portsmouth Dockyard by the Admiralty in an advert in The Times.

July 1973 sold to Diana Sg & Tdg Corp SA of Greece and renamed PETROLA XIV. Registered at Piraeus

October 1976 renamed PETROLA 14 same owner same port of registry - Arrived at Jeddah for service as a static storage vessel

19 January 1979 static storage vessel service ended

24 January 1979 arrived Piraeus in tow of the Greek tug PETROLAS OCEAN MASTER

May to August 1983 broken up in at Piraeus, Greece by Chalivdeboriki Ltd

Notes:

1. She was deployed on the Clyde as Base Oiler in the latter years of her life before deploying to Portland, where she was finally replaced by RFA GREY ROVER.