RFA Dredgol

Previous name:
Subsequent name: 

Official Number:                    142436                                                       

Class:                                     Oiler

Pennant No:                          X 80

Laid down:
Builder:                                  Simons, Renfrew
Launched:                             28 May 1918
Into Service:                           June, 1918
Out of service:                       1935
Fate:                                        Broken up.

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   This odd-looking ship was originally built as a dredger for the Calcutta Port Commissioners. When acquired by the Admiralty, her dredging machinery was removed and stored and was finally installed in another vessel built to the same plans named GUNGA. She carried about 4000 tons of fuel and when empty, her bow, a portion of her keel and her forefoot stood high out of the water, which, combined with her twin small fast-running screws, made her difficult to handle on Fleet fuelling operations in confined and windy waters. Her rudder was ultimately made larger to improve her manoeuvring characteristics

14 September 1917 Engineer Lieutenant Percy E C Ogden RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 January 1918 Lieutenant J H Jones RNR appointed in command transferred to RFA Kurumba

1 April 1918 Lieutenant William H Harvey RNR appointed in command

25 May 1918 launched by Wm Simons & Co Ltd, Renfrew as Yard Nr 561 named DREDGOL for Calcutta Port Commissioners for service as a dredger

June 1918 Completed and acquired by the Admiralty and was converted into a tanker, name unchanged

RFA Dredgol's ships bell -  in private ownership and previously used daily in The Old Plough Public House,  Market Square, Shrewsbury in the 1970's and 1980's

14 June 1918  Greaser G Johnson MMR 898035 logged as deserted. He was arrested in Greenock. He had signed on on the 30 May 1918

2 September 1918 Assistant Cook J W Deighton MMR 977539 discharged to DQ's and then to HMS Eaglet. He had signed on on the 20 June 1918

8 February 1919  Assistant Cook Andrew S Brotherdale MMR 960680 logged as deserted. Arrested on 26 February 1919 and sent to HMS Eaglet. He had signed on on the 21 September 1918

9 May 1919 Ordinary Seaman A J Taylor MMR 997541 sentenced to 28 days DQ's at Perth then discharged to HMS Eaglet. He had signed on on 30 April 1919

28 June 1919 Able Seaman Lewis Hogan sentenced to 42 days DQ's at Gibraltar. On his released he deserted.

6 August 1919 Trimmer J Callaghan MMR 993325 logged as deserted. He had signed on 25 May 1919

7 December 1919 Captain Hermann  R Elsby RFA appointed as Master. He had previous been in command of RFA  Rapidol.

1 January 1920 at Port Said alongside HMS Cairo to refuel her

23 March 1920 at Port Said alongside HMS Cicala to refuel her - with 40 tons of FFO

HMS Cicala

26 March 1920 at Suez alongside HMS Cicala to refuel her - with 4 tons of FFO

31 March 1920 at Port Sudan alongside HMS Cicala to refuel her - with 37 tons FFO and also HMS Moth to refuel her also

7 April 1920 at Aden alongside HMS Mantis and HMS Moth to refuel them

25 April 1920 at Bombay alongside HMS Cicala to refuel her

15 May 1920 at Penang alongside HMS Cicala to refuel her - with 48 tons FFO

21 May 1920 while oiler for the China Station arrived at Singapore with HMS Colombo and other RN units

22 May 1920 at SIngapore alongside HMS Cicala to refuel her - with 32 tons FFO

26 May 1920 at Singapore alongside HMS Moth to refuel her

6 June 1920 at Saigon alongside HMS Cicala to refuel her - with 44 tons FFO

30 August 1920 at Wei-hai-Wei working party from HMS Cairo drew stores

7 September 1920 at Wei-hai-Wei alongside HMS Cairo to refuel her

20 September 1920 at Wei-hai-Wei alongside HMS Cairo to refuel her

2 November 1920 at Wei-hai-Wei alongside HMS Cairo to refuel her

17 December 1920 Greaser Ali Mahomed MMR 842083 discharged dead. He died in the British Hospital at Port Said

31 March 1921 at Hong Kong alongside HMS Cairo refuelling her

29 May 1922 at Hong Kong alongside HMS Durban refuelling her

4 September 1922 at Hong Kong alongside HMS Despatch refuelling her 

Between 19 January 1923 and 8 February 1923 offered for sale in the Straits Times, Singapore on various days - vessel lying at Hong Kong

31 July 1923 at Hong Kong alongside HMS Diomede refuelling her. Causing slight damage to the warships forward gangway davit.

14 February 1924 Mr J B Russell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 May 1924 Captain William C Meikle RFA appointed as Master

30 December 1925 arrived at Singapore and berthed at Empire Dock. 

1927 became the station oiler at Malta until 1931 when relieved by RFA PLUMLEAF (1) then  returned to the U.K

9 March 1927 Captain John W Pegden RFA appointed as Master

20 July 1927 Mr Ernest K Horsley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

March 1927 her UK crew paid off and locally engaged Maltese crew signed on instead - mentioned in Hansard on 30 March 1927

2 May 1929 Captain Frank J Delamotte RFA appointed as Master

20 August 1929 Mr F C Pavitt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 March 1930 Mr L A Sharp RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 April 1931 Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA appointed as Master

22 January 1932 took on charge an E Dent & Co Marine Chronometer No 58820 which had been purchased by the Admiralty in March 1918.

July 1932 in reserve at Rosyth

21 May 1935 offered for sale by the Admiralty by tender in the Times of this day

28 June 1935 sold as lies for £5,514 to W.H. Arnott Young & Co, Dalmuir for demolition

3 August, 1935 arrived at Dalmuir for breaking up