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Previous name:
Subsequent name: Korytsa
Official Number: 168176
Class: RANGER CLASS Fleet Attendant Oiler
Pennant No: X57 / A157
Laid down: 26 October 1939
Builder: Harland & Wolff, Govan
Launched: 29 January 1941
Into Service: 5 June 1941
Out of service: June 1966 - laid up at Devonport
Fate: January 1972 sold to commercial interests
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
29 January 1941 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan as Yard Nr 1047G named BLUE RANGER
12 March 1941 Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 May 1941 Captain Frank P Hennin RFA appointed as Master
4 June 1941 at Tail of Bank
5 June 1941 completed. Joined the Fleet Fuelling Service
13 July 1941 sailed River Clyde to Scapa Flow
15 July 1941 arrived River Clyde from Scapa Flow. In collision with the Swedish vessel IRIS in the Firth of Clyde. IRIS sank and BLUE RANGER returned to Greenock with the survivors
24 August 1941 sailed the River Clyde to Belfast Lough arriving the next day
26 August 1941 sailed Belfast Lough to Greenock arriving the same day
9 October 1941 sailed the River Clyde to Belfast Lough arriving the next day
11 October 1941 sailed Belfast Lough to the River Clyde arriving the next day and anchored
13 October 1941 to March 1942 in and around the River Clyde
23 November 1941 at Greenock alongside HMS Roberts (Monitor) refuelling her
6 December 1941 was on the Clyde for preliminary trials of the new British type flexible rubber hose produced by Goodyear for OAS operations. 600’ of hose was made available and priority was given to these trials prior to trials in the Atlantic with RFA DINGLEDALE
8 December 1941 undertook OAS trials with RFA EMPIRE SALVAGE and destroyers
8 March 1942 sailed Glasgow for Fleet Attendant Duties at Scapa Flow
27 April 1942 Captain Henry F Colbourne RFA appointed as Master
11 May 1942 was detailed for Force Q to support Convoy PQ 16
July 1942 along with RFA Oligarch and the destroyers HM ships COWDRAY, OAKLEY, WINDSOR and WORCESTER as Force P was sent to Lowe Sound, Spitzbergen to provide an advanced fuelling facility for Convoy PQ18
16 July 1942 sailed Hvalfjordur with the destroyer HMS DOUGLAS as Force Q to support Convoy PQ 18. This was cancelled the following day and she was ordered to Scapa Flow
3 September 1942 sailed Scapa Flow and joined Convoy PQ 18 which had sailed from Loch Ewe the previous day and which also contained RFA’s BLACK RANGER, GRAY RANGER and OLIGARCH and provided supporting fuelling facilities
8 September 1942 sailed Hoxa Sound as Force D to Spitzbergen along with RFA OLIGARCH
12 September 1942 refuelled the escorts to Convoy PQ 18, consisting of the destroyers HM ships MARNE, MARTIN, METEOR, MILNE and SCYLLA along with RFA OLIGARCH in Axelfiord, Spitzbergen
21 September 1942 refuelled the destroyers HM ships ESKIMO and OPPORTUNE
22 September 1942 refuelled the destroyer HMS ASHANTI whilst it was towing the damaged destroyer HMS SOMALI which had been torpedoed by the German submarine U-703 two days earlier
3 October 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in Convoy WN 344 to Methil arriving two days later
7 October 1942 sailed Methil in convoy FS927 to the Tyne arriving on 8 October 1942
10 November 1942 sailed the Tyne and joined convoy FN861 to Methil arriving the next day
12 November 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN161 to Invergordon arriving the same day
20 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS King George V (Battleship) refuelling her
21 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS Howe (Battleship) refuelling her
25 November passed Dunnet Head
26 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS Howe (Battleship) refuelling her
30 November 1942 at anchor at the Clyde anchorage
1 December 1942 sailed Glasgow to Belfast Lough arriving the next day
3 December 1942 sailed Belfast Lough
10 December 1942 at Glasgow
13 December 1942 at anchor at the Clyde anchorage
19 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refueling her
3 January 1943 sailed Glasgow to Bowling arriving the same day
3 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON together with RFA Belgol refueling her - the two RFA's supplied 2,300 tons of FFO to her combined
9 January 1943 at Belfast Lough
19 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refueling her - supplied 390 tons of FFO
8 February 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her
6 March 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her
9 April 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refueling her - supplied 347 tons of FFO
21 April 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refueling her - supplied 366 tons of FFO
5 May 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her
17 May 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refueling her - supplied 850 tons of FFO
26 May 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refueling her - supplied 1,020 tons of FFO
5 June 1943 arrived at Reykjavik in convoy UR77 from Loch Ewe
9 June 1943 sailed Reykjavik in convoy RU77 to Scapa Flow arriving on 14 June 1943
19 June 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refueling her - supplied 265 tons of FFO
24 June 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her
2 July 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her - supplied 440 tons of FFO
9 July 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her - supplied 335 tons of FFO
27 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refueling her - supplied 532 tons of FFO
5 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LONDON refuellng her - supplied 300 tons of FFO. Also was alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her - supplied 400 tons of FFO
8 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LONDON refuellng her
10 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her - supplied 692 tons of FFO. RFA Spa was also alongside supply fresh water
17 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her - supplied 418 tons of FFO
29 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her - supplied 427 tons of FFO. RFA Spa was also alongside supply fresh water
14 October 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her - supplied 761 tons of FFO
6 November 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her - received 175 tons of diesel. RFA Robert Middleton was also alongside delivering naval stores
31 January 1944 sailed Methil in convoy EN340 along with RFA ECHODALE to Scapa Flow arriving on 1 February 1944
10 February 1944 Captain Douglas N J Williams RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
30 March 1944 with Rear Admiral Escort Carriers in HMS ROYALIST and HMS SEARCHER, HMS EMPEROR, HMS PURSUER, HMS FENCER, HMS FURIOUS, HMS JAMAICA, HMS SHEFFIELD, RFA BROWN RANGER, HMS VERULAM, HMS VIRAGO, HMS VIGILANT, HMS SWIFT, and HMS WAKEFUL sailed Scapa Flow for Operation TUNGSTON - the carrier launched attack by the Fleet Air Arm on the German battleship TIRPITZ in Altenfjord, Norway
7 April 1944 with RFA BROWN RANGER arrived Scapa Flow
30 August 1944 Arrived Scapa Flow with RFA BLACK RANGER escorted by HMS GRINDALL, HMS POPPY, HMS STARWORT, HMS DIANELLA from Operation GOODWOOD - further synchronised air sorties flown against the German battleship TIRPITZ
5 December 1944 in collision with the cruiser HMS KENT which then required repairs on the Clyde
8 December 1944 fouled a boom - location not clear.
30 December 1944 sailed Loch Ewe in convoy JW63 of 38 merchant ships as escort refueling tanker to Kola Inlet arriving on 8 January 1945
11 January 1945 sailed Kola Inlet in convoy RA63 to Loch Ewe arriving 21 January 1945
11 March 1945 sailed the Clyde in convoy JW65 consisting of 26 merchantmen to Kola Inlet arriving on 21 March 1945
23 March 1945 sailed Kola Inlet in convoy RA65 to Loch Ewe arriving 1 April 1945
12 April 1945 Captain Thomas Elder DSC RFA appointed as Master until 23 January 1946
16 April 1945 sailed the Clyde in convoy JW66 along with RFA BLACK RANGER to Kola Inlet arriving 25 April 1945
29 April 1945 sailed Kola Inlet bound for the Clyde in Convoy RA 66 along with RFA BLACK RANGER which consisted of 27 merchantmen
4 May 1945 participated in Operation Judgement - the last air strike by the Home Fleet on the U-boat depot ship at Kilbutor anchorage by RN carriers with Naval Air Squadrons
8 May 1945 Convoy RA 66 arrived on the Clyde.- V.E. Day
12 May 1945 sailed Scapa Flow independently to the Clyde arriving on 15 May 1945
23 November 1945 sailed Glasgow to Scapa Flow arriving on 25 November 1945
29 November 1945 Captain Raymond V Boodle RFA appointed as Master
29 December 1945 Mr W G Downing appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 March 1947 Captain Cecil H Grainger RFA appointed as Master
5 May 1947 Chief Steward Frank Sleight discharged dead. He is buried in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta
15 August 1947 Mr N T Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 February 1948 Robert H Venning RFA appointed as Master
11 May 1948 Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 September 1949 with RFA Rowanol and RFA Fort Duquesne supported the Mediterranean Fleet in it's second summer cruise at Genoa up to the 15 September 1949. At St Raphael from 16 to 21 September 1949 At Aranei Bay between 22 to2 4 September 1949 returning to Malta on 26 September 1949
17 November 1949 Captain S Thomas RFA appointed as Master
10 January 1950 Mr J B D Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 June 1951 Captain H W Flint RFA appointed as Master
22 April 1952 with RFA Fort Duquesne and RN units, the pipe band of the Highland Light Infantry and a RAF Guard of seventy sailed Malta to visit Athens for a memorial ceremony to members of the Commonwealth Forces who had been killed in Greece during the Second World War.
16 June 1952 Mr W G Downing RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
23 to 26 September 1952 with HMS Glasgow and other RN units visited Naples during the Mediterranean Fleet's Summer cruise
27 March 1953 was awarded the Bulawayo Cup for the most conspicuous efficiency in Fleet replenishment at sea in the Mediterranean Area. It was presented at Malta by Admiral the Earl Mountbatten of Burma the C-in-C Mediterranean
15 June 1953 took part in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead along with six other RFA’s
13 July 1953 sailed Grand Harbour, Malta along with HMS's GLASGOW, MEON, LCT 4040, REGGIO, DIEPPE, ST KITTS, WRANGLER (F5) CHEQUERS, BLACK PRINCE, TEREDO, SENTINEL, TALENT, TOKEN, INS RANJIT & JUMNA, RFA's DINGLEDALE & ROWANOL for Exercise Bullock
28 September 1953 Participated in Operation Weldfast - a major amphibious exercise involving over 200 warships form the U.K, USA, Turkey, Italy and Greece - between Malta and Crete
16 June 1954 Captain A Jackson OBE RFA appointed as Master
16 August 1955 Mr T J W Humphrey RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 February 1956 involved in an accident with HMS Chieftain during replenishment in foul weather. Damage to the destroyer which was enroute from Malta to Beirut.
23 February 1956 Captain Frank S Samson RFA appointed as Master and Mr G Bray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain Frank S Samson RFA
in command during Suez at Port Said in 1956
31 October 1956 In Operation Musketeer - the Suez Crisis - along with 34 other RFA’s
January 1957 involved in an Anglo-French salvage operation at Suez with RFA Kinbrace, RFA Spapool, RFA Salveda, RFA Fort Duquesne, RFA Sea Salvor and RFA Careful.
26 February 1958 Mr G C Arthur RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 April 1958 Captain Alf Waters RFA appointed as Master
1959 was working in waters around Cyprus during the emergency there along with RFA BROWN RANGER
21 November 1959 sailed Malta for Cyprus
12 January 1960 Mr J G Simpson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 April 1960 Mr C D Reid RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 May 1960 Captain Charles E C Phipps RFA appointed as Master
1 September 1961 Captain John Ditchburn RFA appointed as Master
6 November 1961 involved with HM ships in rescue operations after ss Clan Keith exploded off Tunisia in foul weather. 62 of the crew of the Clan Keith were missing
November 1961 supported the Royal Yacht off West Africa
15 August 1962 Captain Patty Colfer RFA appointed as Master
14 December 1962 Mr J G Simpson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 July 1963 Captain P J McCarthy RFA appointed as Master
26 December 1963 Mr S P Awati RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 January 1964 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
12 March 1964 Captain John H Wehner BEM RFA appointed as Master
13 November 1964 Mr R C Veitch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 November 1964 ran aground on Haisboro Sands, but was refloated without serious damage
June 1966 was destored and laid up in reserve at Devonport
October 1971 placed on the Disposal List
9 October 1971 advertised for sale 'as lying' at HM Dockayard, Devonport by the Department of Trade in the Times of this day
16 January 1972 sailed Devonport renamed KORYTSA in tow of the German tug JOHANN PETERSEN after purchase by the Greek Tanker Shipping Co, Piraeus
5 February 1972 arrived Piraeus
8 September 1987 as m.v. Korytsa arrived at Aliaga for breaking up by Gursoy GS Ticaret AS
9 September 1987 demolition begun by Gursoy-Spiral Sarimli Conta, Hadar Gursoy
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