Previous name:
Subsequent name:               OSAGE

Official Number:                     136733

Class:                                      FIRST 1000t ATTENDANT CLASS Oiler

Pennant No:                            N88 /  X07 /  X24

Laid down:                              14 November 1913
Builder:                                    H.M. Dockyard, Devonport
Launched:                               3 October 1914

Into Service:                            January 1915
Out of service:                        29 January 1920

Fate:                                         Sold to British commercial interests and renamed

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   On the outbreak of WW1, the Admiralty embarked on a programme of tanker construction for the fledgling RFA Service and there were 4 ships in this Class, all of which were little more than powered barges. The early Swedish diesel engines in 2 of them gave endless trouble  and ultimately, 3 of the Class were sold off at the end of the War as part of the Government Disposal Scheme. In April 1940, approval was given to build six 1500 tons Fleet Attendant Tankers, of which two were intended to replace two of this Class and the rest to replace larger Fleet Attendant Tankers for  freighting duties, but eventually to replace the other 1000 tonners. As designed they were to have been 3200 tons full load displacement, 263 ft (o.a.) x 38.5 ft x 16 ft, with steam engines developing 1200 ihp giving a speed of 10 knots with 2000 miles endurance. Cargo was to have been 1500 tons of fuel oil, 100 tons of diesel oil and 50 tons of petrol. There were no slips available in the U.K. for building and building capacity was sought in Canada but the shipyards there could not cope either. In May 1940 the idea was abandoned.

3 October 1914 Launched by H.M. Dockyard, Devonport as Yard Nr       named FEROL. Was built  on a covered slip and was the first ship built at Devonport with internal combustion engines

16 December 1914 Lieutenant Percival Skone-Rees RNR appointed in command

Lieutenant Percival Skone-Rees RNR

14 January 1915 at Devonport loaded 370 tons FFO as cargo

18 January 1915 on trials at Devonport - returning to No 4 jetty

19 January 1915 at Devonport tug Salvo damaged the ship on her port side while casting off

20 January 1915 at Devonport tug Salvo caused further damage to her port side while coming alongside

24 January 1915 sailed Devonport initally for Scapa Flow - after leaving Plymouth Sound suffered a defect in her steering and anchored off Falmouth while repairs were effected

25 January 1915 sailed Falmouth but suffered further defects and put in Kingstown for repairs these took several days

3 February 1915 at Kingstown refuelled HMS Loyal with 67 tons FFO, HMS Lawford with 57 tons of FFO and HMS Sydiard with 70 tons of FFO

9 February 1915 sailed Kingstown but suffered further engine defects - put into Liverpool for repairs

16 February 1915 sailed from Liverpool to Birkenhead - collied with the pier head damaging her plating in the region of the bows.

21 February 1915 sailed Birkenhead towards Scapa Flow

27 February 1915 at Loch Laxford suffered further engine defects - repairs under taken

1 March 1915 sailed Loch laxford for Long Hope, Orkney Islands arriving on 4 March 1915

10 March 1915 at Long Hope went alongside and replenished the following RN ships - HMS Natal with 700 gallons of lub oil. HMS Cochrane with 435 gallons of lub oil and HMS Achilles with 445 gallons of lub oil.

11 March 1915 at Long Hope alongside HMS Conqueror and refuelled her with 99 tons of FFO

13 March 1915 at Long Hope alongside RFA Kharki to load lub oil. While the two ships were alongside both were damaged

19 March 1915 at Long Hope came alongside HMS Shannon to refuel her. While coming alongside her starboard aft davit was carried away. Refuelled HMS SHnnon with 400 galls of lub oil.

20 March 1915 at Long Hope alongside RFA Kharki to load lub oil

24 March 1915 at Long Hope came alongside HMS Faulkner and refuelled her with 12 tons of FFO

26 March 1915 at Long Hope while coming alongside HMS Royalist to refuel her Ferol's starboard anchor made a hole in the side of the warship on her port side. Royalist then loaded 256 tons of FFO.

4 August 1915 Engineer Lieutenant Wilfred Jefferies RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 April 1916 at Bo'ness alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her - 16 tons of FFO supplied

10 May 1916 at South Queensferry alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her - 42 tons of FFO supplied

22 May 1916 at South Queensferry alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her - 34 tons of FFO supplied

29 May 1916 at South Queensferry alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her - 32 tons of FFO supplied

12 June 1916 at Queensferry alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her - 34 tons of FFO supplied

8 July 1916 Lieutenant Charles H Noel RNR appointed in command

Lieutenant Charles H Noel RNR

1 January 1918 Lieutenant Allan H Furlong RNR appointed in command. He signed off on the 17 September 1918 when transfered to RFA Carol

11 July 1918 Fireman S Birch logged as deserting. He had signed on on 3 June 1918

16 November 1918 berthed alongside HMS Caradoc which was anchored off Inch Keith, in the Forth and refuelled her with 113 tons FFO

17 November 1918 at Rosyth Dockyard berthed alongside HMS Caradoc to refuel her with 80 tons FFO

26 November 1918 at Rosyth Dockyard berthed alongside HMS Caradoc to refuel her with 31 tons FFO

1 January 1919 at anbchor in the Firth of Forth - HMS Typhoon and HMS Speedy came alongside to refuel

2 January 1919 at Firth of Forth anchorage came alongside RFA Burma to load

3 January 1919 at Firth of Forth anchorage came alongside RFA Montenol to load. The moved alongside HMS Lion to refuel her

4 January 1919 at Firth of Forth anchorage came alongside RFA Slavol to load

6 January 1919 sailed Firth of Forth anchorage to Leith Docks

17 January 1919 while berthed at Leith Docks RFA Rapidol berthed alongside her.

24 September 1918 Lieutenant Charles A Shepherd RNR appointed in command

22 April 1919 Lieutenant Charles H Noel RNR appointed in command (again)

26 April 1919 Donkeyman A Morris MMR 999360 logged as deserting. He had signed on on 20 April 1919

16 July 1919 Able Seaman John Cooke MMR 981246 logged as discharged to HMS Eaglet and deserted on route. He had signed on on 31 March 1919

29 January 1920 purchased by Anglo American Oil Co Ltd, London was renamed OSAGE and was re-engined  with 2 x 4 cyl Bolinder 16  “ x 18  “ diesel engines by J & C.G. Bolinder,  Stockholm. 410 bhp. Speed 8 knots. Twin screws.

14 February 1921 arrived at Dublin from New York

3 August 1921 sailed Belfast for New York

12 December 1921 while en-route from Stockholm to the UK in ballast put into Brunsbuttelkoog with damage to her engine - repaired

16 April 1922 stranded at Grays Harbour, Washington while partly laden. Discharging into lighters to lighten the ship

23 January 1924 in collision with the British steamer PETWORTH  at Liverpool and both  vessels were badly  damaged Osage listing heavily damaged amidhips port side. When the collision occured some of her crew and workmen on board jumpted onto the PETWORTH. Reported in the Times 24 January 1924

1928 managers became J. Hamilton

1931 managers became P.J. Wolfe

11 May 1934 in collision at Butterman's Bay, Harwich with sailing barge Jock. No damage to the Osage but considerable damage to the bow of Jock - reported in the Casualty List, Times 12 May 1934

18 December 1940 bombed and sunk 4nm NE Arklow Light Vessel off County Wicklow, Eire at 54 deg 52.2 north 1 deg 39.3 west while on passage from Belfast to Foynes with a cargo of petrol