|
Previous name: Empire Oil
Subsequent name:
Offical Number: 165991
Class: 1st DALE CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No:
Laid down: October 1939
Builder: Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Glasgow
Launched: 23 July 1940
Into Service: November 1940
Out of service: 22 October 1941
Fate: Sunk off Jamestown, St. Helena, South Atlantic Ocean.
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: Originally there were to have been 19 ships in this Class. The first 6 were purchased off the stocks fro the British Tanker Co Ltd whilst building at the instigation of the then Director of Stores, Sir William Gick, who was concerned at the age of the RFA Fleet and ships that were approaching the end of their economic lives. A further 2 ships were purchased from Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd for evaluation purposes. At the outbreak of WW2, a further 11 ships were acquired from the MoWT war programme although one of these, to have been named EPPINGDALE, which had been registered in London as EMPIRE GOLD on 21/02/43 and intended for transfer to the Admiralty for manning and management as an RFA and despite 5 Officers being appointed to her, the intended transfer was cancelled the following day and she thus never entered RFA service. 3 of this Class were converted into LSG’s and were then reconverted back into tankers at the end of the War
23 July 1940 launched by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Scotstoun as Yard Nr 61 named EMPIRE OIL for the MoWT and originally intended for management by Eagle Oil Transport Co Ltd, London
5 October 1940 Captain Thomas H Card RFA appointed as Master and Mr Alexander B McIntyre RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander (E) RNR (Ret)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 November 1940 sailed on trials from Tail of the Bank
15 November 1940 completed. Acquired by the Admiralty and renamed DARKDALE
19 November 1940 damage sustained by the British trawler s.s. OTTERHOUND whilst alongside
21 November 1940 sailed the Clyde in Liverpool convoy OB246 under charter to Anglo Saxon Co Ltd to Curacao to load gasoline - single voyage. Arriving 11 December 1940.
14 December 1940 sailed Curacao independently to Bermuda.
21 January 1941 sailed Bermuda in convoy BHX104 which also contained RFA DELPHINULA to Belfast Lough and then to Greenock arriving 14 February. To drydock for unspecified repairs
28 February 1941 caused damage to the British tanker s.s. PETROPHALT in Loch Long
7 March 1941 sailed the Clyde independently to Oban
5 May 1941 sailed Oban independently to the Clyde arriving the next day
21 June 1941 sailed in Liverpool convoy OB 338 dispersing on 3 July 1941 to sail independently to Curacao arriving 12 July 1941
15 July 1941 sailed Curacao to St. Helena to act as Fleet oiler there
4 August 1941 arrived St Helena to act as Fleet Oiler there, carrying 3000 tons of fuel oil, 850 tons of aviation spirit, 500 tons of diesel oil and also some lubricating oil. Caused slight damage to the Norwegian tanker m.v. Nyholm prior to arrival
17 September 1941 refuelled alongside with the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle and the cruiser HMS Dorsetshire (Force F) - damage was caused by the tanker to HMS Eagle during the night when fenders were smashed and jump nets and a ladder leading to the flight deck carried away due to the prevailing swell.
22 October 1941 whilst anchored in position 15.55.03 S 05.42.15 W off Jamestown Harbour torpedoed by German submarine U68 (Kapt Karl-Freidrich Merten) - reported that Darkdale exploded and turned over and sank within five minutes. 41 killed - for details of their names see the Roll of Honour [1941]. Captain & Chief Engineer ashore.
The crew who were lost are remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial, London and on the Cenotaph at Jamestown, St. Helena.
23 October 1941divers examined the wreck and shipping was diverted clear of St Helena
25 October 1941 a memorial Service was held on the Wharf overlooking the spot where she had exploded and sunk
20 April 2009 during a visit to St Helena by RFA Gold Rover a memorial service was held at the Jamestown Cenotaph and wreaths were laid.
Captain Paul Minter RFA, Commanding Officer, RFA Gold Rover lays his wreath at the RFA Darkdale memorial in Jamestown, St. Helena
© The St. Helena Independent acknowledged
Notes:
On the previous morning a resident of the Island who lived in a cottage along the cliff tops above James Bay, rushed into town to report that he had spotted a submarine. He was not taken seriously and his claim was not relayed to the Master of DARKDALE. He had in fact spotted U-68, one of the first German submarines to venture to the South Atlantic. On the evening in question, the Master, Chief Engineer and Purser were dining with the Garrison Commander in the military barracks above Jamestown, 2 Ratings lay in Jamestown Hospital and a further 2 Ratings were on a run ashore, trying to get back to their ship when the torpedoes struck at approx 00.15. Only 37 names are inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial.
The first British ship sunk south of the Equator during World War 2.
|
