Previous name:                    Oleander
Subsequent name:              British Fern

Official Number:                    139189

Class:                                     Emergency Wartime Construction LEAF Group Freighting Tanker

Pennant No:                          Y7.162

Laid down:
Builder:                                   Napier & Miller, Old Kilpatrick
Launched:                              1916
Into Service:                           January 1917
Out of service:                       Sold commercially

Fate:                                        Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   During WW1, 18 vessels of varying types were acquired second hand and converted or purchased and converted while on the stocks, or in a few cases building as tankers. Some were converted after serving with the Dummy Battleship Squadron by the insertion of cylindrical tanks in their holds. All were originally intended to operate as RFA’s however, owing to reasons of international law and the operation of the US Neutrality Act, these oilers became Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries, being renamed with the LEAF nomenclature and placed under civilian management, although operationally they remained under Admiralty control.

Details of this ship were described in the Western Australian newspaper of 10 October 1921 which said that 'Special construction features of the ship include the fitting of cylindrical tanks in the holds, an innovation which few oil tankers possess. The carrying capacity of the tanks was nearly 10,000 tons and a further 1,000 tons of oil was carried as bunkers. The oil could be pumped into the tanks in about 18 hours, and, providing the shore facilities were adequate, discharging operations could be completed in 16 hours. To ensure the stability of the vessel, expansion tanks are provided, and these also serve the purpose of giving added room when the hot weather increases the volume of the cargo. Provisions against the outbreak of fire are most complete and vary according to the nature of the oil carried. The ship consumed about 28 tons of oil per day on average while a steamer of her size would require 46 tons of coal per day. One man was required to watch the fuel on an oil burner and on a steamer at least four men were employed on that work. The quick comparative quick rate at which bunkers could be replenished was another point in favour of an oil burning ship.'

1916 Launched by Napier & Miller Ltd, Old Kilpatrick as Yard Nr 200 named RFA OLEANDER

January 1917 completed for the Shipping Controller and placed under management of Lane &  MacAndrew Ltd, London as an oiler transport and renamed FERNLEAF. Base port  Devonport

January 1917 Captain Buck appointed as Master

10 June 1917 off the south west coast of Ireland attempted to ram an attacking  German submarine and later maintained sustained fire from the ships gun that the submarine attempted renewed attack was abandoned. (As reported in The Straits Times of 23 September 1931). Arrived later the same day at Queenstown

25 June 1917 attacked in the Atlantic by gunfire from an unknown  submarine but fought it off

10 January 1918 involved in a collision with ss San Gregorio inside the gate of the first boom defence of the Cromarty Firth.

25 March 1918 re-entered service after repairs were completed

18 July 1919 at Reval, Baltic Sea alongside HMS Vindictive refuelling her with 365 tons FFO

8 October 1919 sailed Port Arthur, Texas to Falmouth

9 February 1920 sold to British Tanker Co Ltd and renamed British Fern

19 June 1920 sailed Southamton to Port Arthur, Texas arriving 25 August 1920

29 August 1920 sailed Port Arthur, Texas to the UK

3 November 1920 arrived at Gravesend from Port Arthur

21 December 1920 arrived at Gravesend for Purfleet from Brunswick

End of 1920 rescued the crew of the Luneburg schooner Bernard B Conrad

31 July 1921 arrived at Walton Bay from Port Arthur, Texas

15 October 1921 as British Fern arrived Freemantle, Australia from Abadan to discharge 8,000 tons into new tanks for Anglo Persian Oil Company

16 July 1922 as British Fern arrived Sydney, Australia with a load of oil from Mohammerah, Persian Gulf for sale as bunkers

October 1923 Captain Oxley in command as Master

15 October 1923 sailed Abadan to Sydney, Australia to discharge 7,500 tons of oil

24 November 1923 sailed Sydney, Australia for Bombay

13 September 1931 purchased for £8,000 for demolition by Iaminosuka Myaji, Osaka