RFA Cherryleaf 1
Previous name: Persol
Subsequent name: Alan Clore
Official Number: 140278
Class: 5000T FAST LEAF (ex TEXOL) CLASS Fleet Attendant Tanker
Pennant No: X48. Y7.181, X17
Laid down: 1916
Builder: Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, Middlesborough
Launched: 9 November 1916
Into Service: April 1917
Out of service: 1947
Fate: Sold Commercially
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: All ordered in 1915, the six Admiralty-designed vessels in this Class were very advanced ships for their day. They were designed to act as Escorts on Atlantic Convoys during WW1, whilst also bringing cargoes of oil fuel from the U.S. to Britain. They were fitted with six boilers and four powerful cargo pumps with a pumping rate of 2000 tonnes per hour, which for many years was too high to be used by HM ships. They were originally planned to be named after oil bearing countries with the now usual OL suffix, but their military appearance and naval names caused difficulties with the U.S. Neutrality Act, so various modifications were made and they were then placed under commercial management and given LEAF names in common with other converted ships running as Admiralty tankers under commercial management
15 October 1916 as RFA Persol Engineer Lieutenant Joseph S Harrison RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 November 1916 launched by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co Ltd, Middelsbrough as Yard Nr 608 named PERSOL
18 April 1917 ran trials
20 April 1917 Completed at a cost of £266,000. Placed under management of Lane & MacAndrew Ltd, London as an oiler transport and was renamed CHERRYLEAF(1)
1917 to 1918 served on North Atlantic convoy duties
11 June 1917 berthed at Portsmouth
25 August 1917 was attacked by a submarine in the English Channel - the torpedo missed
1919 to 1921 West Indies Station Oiler, based at Bermuda
27 June 1919 at Bermuda moored alongside HMS Constance (light cruiser) to refuel her. Supplied 490 tons of FFO
4 July 1919 at Bermuda moored alongside HMS Constance (light cruiser) to refuel her. Supplied 123 tons of FFO
30 September 1919 anchored at Bermuda
24 November 1919 at Halifax, Nova Scotia alongside HMS Renown to refuel her. Supplied 3,185 tons of FFO
25 November 1919 at Halifax, Nova Scotia alongside HMS Constance to refuel her. Supplied 432 tons of FFO
29 November 1919 at Halifax, Nova Scotia alongside HMS Constance to refuel her. Supplied 594 tons of FFO
3 December 1919 anchored at Bermuda
30 April 1920 to 7 May 1920 at Bermuda while in refit - a working party from HMS Constance employed onboard to assist with the refit work
17 September 1920 at Port of Spain, Trinidad moored alongside HMS Renown to refuel her
11 October 1920 at Bermuda moored alongside HMS Constance (light cruiser) to refuel her. Supplied 720 tons of FFO
12 February 1921 Captain W L Phillips was Master
6 March 1921 berthed at Gibraltar
8 March 1921 sailed from Gibraltar
2 April 1921 arrived at Plymouth
6 April 1921 moved up the Tamar to Devonport
16 April 1921 moved out to Plymouth Sound
29 June 1921 arrived at Plymouth Sound - sailed 1 July 1921
1992 to 1926 in reserve at Rosyth along with four of her sisters
30 October 1926 Mr J Atchinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 November 1926 Captain John Ross Gorrie RFA appointed as Master
1926 to 1930 brought out of reserve during the General Strike and was chartered to Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London
12 February 1927 berthed at Shell Haven having sailed from Curacao with passengers
17 February 1927 about 3pm involved in a collision at Lower Hope Reach, River Thames with the ss Upwey Grange
11 May 1927 berthed at Shell Haven having sailed from Tampico with 7 passengers
26 November 1927 berthed at SHell Haven having sailed from Curacao and Amersterdam with 1 DBS passenger
22 February 1928 Captain John Ross Gorrie RFA appointed as Master
Captain John Ross Gorrie RFA
19 May 1928 berthed at Hull having sailed from Curacao with 3 DBS passengers
21 May 1928 Mr Charles E Wrate RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Charles E Wrate RFA
3 December 1929 Mr M N Carlyle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1931 Relieved RFA MONTENOL at Malta as Mediterranean Station Oiler
7 July 1931 Captain J H Jones RFA appointed as Master
10 May 1933 Mr George T Beed RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 October 1933 Captain Reginald C E Neyroud RFA appointed as Master
4 January 1935 Captain W A Wooster RFA appointed as Master
2 August 1935 Mr J A Macintosh RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 July 1936 arrived at Malta from Alexandria
1936 to 1939 undertook Station Oiler duties at Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War
18 February 1937 sailed Gibraltar on passage to Malaga, Spain
19 February 1937 arrived at Malaga, Spain with provisions mainly intended for children who are among the refugees. The supplies had been send from various relief organisations in Britain.
13 March 1937 at Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War was in the port when the ship was hit by bomb fragments (on the poop) during a bombing raid by 'insurgent' forces.
7 June 1937 Mr G T Beed RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
8 August 1937 at Grand Harbour, Malta during the RFA Aquatic Sports the Lifeboat race was won by a crew from RFA Brambleleaf (1), the crew from RFA Cherryleaf (1) were second and the crew from RFA Maine (3) came third. The aggregate cup was won by RFA Reliant (1).
26 August 1937 Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA appointed as Master remaining in command until 16 August 1938
14 November 1938 Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA appointed as Master remaining in command until 16 December 1938
January 1939 Captain D A Rees RFA appointed as Master
11 July 1939 Mr R Pittendrick RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 September 1939 at Malta on the outbreak of WW2
10 December 1939 off St. Pauls Rocks at 3 00N 31 00W met HMS Hermes and Force X during the hunt for the Graf Spee
22 December 1939 Mr G C Dunning RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer G C Dunning RFA
27 April 1940 was damaged at Sierra Leone after HMHS OXFORDSHIRE had dragged her anchor
1 May 1940 sailed Freetown independently to Gibraltar arriving 10 May 1940
11 May 1940 sailed Gibraltar for Malta arriving on 15 May 1940
19 May 1940 sailed Malta for Alexandria, Egypt arriving 22 May 1940
7 August 1940 at Alexandria alongside HMS WARSPITE refuelling her
11 August 1940 at Alexandria alongside HMS WARSPITE refuelling her
3 September 1940 Captain F M Harvey RFA appointed as Master
Captain F M Harvey RFA
14 February 1941 sailed Alexandria, Egypt for Suda Bay, Crete arriving on 18 February 1941
7 March 1941 at Suda Bay, Crete alongside HMS VALIANT refuelling her
10 March 1941 at Suda Bay, Crete alongside HMS VALIANT refuelling her
28 March 1941 arrived Suda Bay, Crete to load cargo from the damaged Norwegian oiler PERICLES which was acting as a replenishment oiler for Allied warships there
4 April 1941 arrived Suda Bay to load the remaining cargo from PERICLES
25 April 1941 sailed Suda Bay, Crete escorted by HMAS Voyager. Had a party of 12 Australian War Correspondents as passengers. Ship also had four mascots on-board - three dogs and a monkey.
27 April 1941 arrived at Alexandria
Captain F M Harvey (top row second from left), Chief Engineer Officer G C Dunning (bottom row second from right), Officers and Australian War Correspondents
arrive at Alexandria on the 27 April 1941
(Courtesy of Australian War Memorial)
21 May 1941 sailed Alexandria, Egypt under escort of HMS Auckland to refuel destroyers in a position 100 miles north west of Alexandria.
18 December 1941 The battleship HMS VALIANT was severely damaged at Alexandria in an attack by 3 SLC’s from the Italian submarine SCIRE and had to transfer her fuel oil to the tanker to enable her to enter dry dock for temporary repairs
25 May 1942 Fireman Joseph Antonius Vella discharged dead. He is buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery in grave 1F 21.
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
6 August 1942 Mr A W Symons RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 October 1942 Captain Albert V Barton RFA appointed as Master
21 January 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy MH3/M to Malta arriving 25 January 1943
5 March 1943 joined convoy MW22 to Malta arriving the next day
12 March 1943 sailed Malta escorted to Tripoli arriving the next day
15 April 1943 was damaged by the corvette HMS GLOXINA
6 June 1943 damaged her propeller on a submerged object
21 June 1943 convoy GTX 3 sailed Gibraltar, along with RFA’s CELEROL, NASPRITE and OLIGARCH (2)
29 June 1943 sailed Tripoli and joined convoy GTX3 to Alexandria arriving 3 July 1943
6 July 1943 underwent DEMS and OAS gear refit at Alexandria
4 October 1943 sailed Alexandria for Limmasol, Cyprus via Port Said and Haifa to establishment an advance fuelling base
November 1943 fitted with additional AA weapons and OAS handling gear for steel hoses
5 November 1943 sailed Haifa for Port Said, Egypt
17 November 1943 sailed Limmasol independently to Haifa arriving the next day
4 January 1944 sailed Haifa independently to Alexandria arriving 6 January 1944
20 February 1944 undergoing repairs at Alexandria - completed 7 March 1944
26 April 1944 sailed Alexandria independently to Port Said arriving the next day
28 April 1944 sailed Port Said independently to Haifa arriving the next day
7 May 1944 sailed Haifa independently to Morphou Bay arriving the next day
30 June 1944 sailed Famagusta
9 August 1944 sailed Port Said independently to Alexandria arriving the next day
4 December 1944 was at Salonika, Greece
31 December 1944 sailed Saloniika independently to Alexandria arriving 4 January 1945
5 March 1945 Donkeyman Victor Galea discharged dead. He is buried in the Phaleron War Cemetery, Athens, Greece
18 April 1945 sailed Piraeus independently to Alexandria arriving on 20 April 1945
17 May 1945 undergoing repairs at Alexandria
30 June 1945 sailed Alexandria independently to Port Said arriving 2 July 1945
2 July 1945 sailed Suez independently to Aden arriving 7 July 1945
10 July 1945 sailed Aden independently to Bombay arriving 17 July 1945
20 July 1945 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Frederick O Brims RFA - image taken earlier in his sea going career
1 August 1945 sailed Bombay independently to Colombo arriving 4 August 1945
4 August 1945 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving 6 August 1945
12 February 1946 sailed Colombo to Trincomalee arriving 17 February 1946
3 March 1946 Captain R E Kibble RFA appointed as Master
1 April 1946 at Colombo
21 October 1946 handed over to MoT for disposal
January 1947 sold commercially to British Oil Shipping Co Ltd (Stevenson, Hardy & Co Ltd, Managers) London.
After her sale to commercial interests Cherryleaf, now renamed Alan Clore in refit
As the tanker Alan Clore
28 August 1947after a refit on the Tyne she was renamed ALAN CLORE
November 1948 laid up on the River Fal with serious engine and boiler troubles
20 December 1950 arrived Dalmuir for breaking up by W.H. Arnott Young & Co Ltd
30 January 1951 moved to Troon for rest of breaking up by West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co Ltd.
RFA Cherryleaf 2
Previous name: Laurelwood
Subsequent name: AGIOS CONSTANTINOS, AEAS, IRENES FORTUNE
Official Number: 185988
Class: SECOND LEAF CLASS Support Tanker
Pennant No: A82
Laid down:
Builder: Laing, Deptford Yard
Launched: 28 May 1953
Into Service: 15 May 1959
Out of service: 4 February 1966
Fate: Returned to owners
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: In June 1956 the London Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference discussed Britain’s future naval strategy and the vulnerability of static bases in the face of world-wide change. Consideration was given to the provision of Fleet Trains to supply warships at sea and the Admiralty announced plans to build up a force of such ships. So began a period of major Fleet modernisation with the bareboat chartering of 8 motor tankers for freighting duties that reintroduced the LEAF names to the Fleet. These 8 vessels were all broadly similar and were bare-boat chartered as replacements for the DALE and WAVE Classes. Although primarily intended for freighting duties, most of them were also capable of replenishment at sea
28 May 1953 Launched by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland , as Yard Nr 800 named LAURELWOOD for Molasses and General Transport Co Ltd, London
19 December 1953 ran trials
28 December 1953 completed
7 May 1959 Mr K I J George RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
11 May 1959 Captain W R Parker RFA appointed as Master
15 May 1959 bare-boat chartered by the Admiralty and renamed CHERRYLEAF (2)
16 May 1959 sailed Cardiff on her first voyage to Trinidad
22 December 1959 sailed Malta for the Persian Gulf
3 June 1960 alongside at Singapore
11 February 1960 Captain F C Holt RFA appointed as Master
14 October 1960 Mr Y J Paflin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 December 1961 Captain Robert H Venning RFA appointed as Master
10 September 1962 Mr J Scott RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 November 1962 Captain C N Rennels RFA appointed as Master
24 October 1963 Captain E D J Evans RFA appointed as Master
26 October 1963 Mr W P Garrick RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 August 1964 Captain R J Lockwood RFA appointed as Master
4 February 1966 returned to owners and was purchased by Aeas Cia Nav SA, London and renamed Agios Constantinos
1967 Renamed Aeas
1972 purchased for $400,000 by Silver Pine Maritime Co Ltd, Famagusta (Tsakos Shipping & Trading S.A., of Athens, Greece, Managers) and renamed Irene's Fortune
19 August 1974 laid up at Piraeus
13 December 1975 sailed from Piraeus. Greece to the breakers
January 1976 breaking up at Lavrion on the SE coast of Attica, Greece by Haralambos Karydis EPE
RFA Cherryleaf 3
Lower image courtesy of George Morttimer - RFAHS member
Previous name: Overseas Adventurer
Subsequent name: Overseas Adventurer Petrostar XVI
Official Number: 304450
Class: SECOND LEAF CLASS Support Tanker
Pennant No: A82
Laid down:
Builder: Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden
Launched: 16 October 1962
Into Service: 5 March 1973
Out of service: 1980 - returned to owners
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: In June 1956 the London Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference discussed Britain’s future naval strategy and the vulnerability of static bases in the face of world-wide change. Consideration was given to the provision of Fleet Trains to supply warships at sea and the Admiralty announced plans to build up a force of such ships. So began a period of major Fleet modernisation with the initial bareboat chartering of 7 motor tankers for freighting duties that reintroduced the LEAF names to the Fleet. These 8 vessels were all broadly similar and were bareboat chartered as replacements for the DALE and WAVE Classes. Although primarily intended for freighting duties, most of them were also capable of replenishment at sea. An 8th vessel was chartered in 1973 as a replacement for BAYLEAF (2) and BRAMBLELEAF (2) which had been returned to their owners and as a contingency measure due to the ongoing Beira Patrol, the outbreak of the 2nd Cod War which, together with other Fleet commitments, all required tanker support
16 October 1962 Launched by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden as Yard Nr 321 named OVERSEAS ADVENTURER for London and Overseas Bulk Carriers Ltd. Her Lady Sposor was a Mrs P.C. Cambridge
February 1963 Completed
February 1973 bareboat chartered by the Admiralty and renamed CHERRYLEAF (3)
9 March 1973 Her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
14 March 1979 With the frigate HMS MOHAWK she stood by off Grenada for the evacuation of British nationals
28 June 1979 to 7 July 1979 With the frigate HMS BRIGHTON she remained covertly near St Lucia due to the unstable situation there during local elections
29 August 1979 to 5 September 1979 Supported the destroyer HMS FIFE when Hurricanes David and Frederic devastated Barbados and Dominica
1980 returned to her original owner and renamed OVERSEAS ADVENTURER by London & Overseas Bulk Carriers Ltd.
12 August 1981 sold to Petrostar Co Ltd of Saudi Arabia and renamed Petrostar XVI
5 April 1986 was hit by an Iranian helicopter missiles during the Iran-Iraq War about five miles N.E. of Halul Island in the Arabian Gulf while on passage from Bahrain to Sharjah - four of the crew were killed and six were seriously injured. Her accommodation was gutted by fire.
9 April 1986 arrived Sharjah in tow and was declared a constructive total loss and was laid up for disposal
24 January 1987 arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for breaking up by National Ship Demolition Co Ltd.
19 February 1987 demolition begun.
|
