Previous name:                    Allegiance
Subsequent name:              HMS Kingfisher   ARA Tehuelche   ARA Guardiamarine Zicari  

Official Number:                   168719                                                    

Class:                                    KING SALVOR Class Ocean Salvage Ship

Pennant No:                         W191 / A291  Q81

Laid down:                           17 May 1941
Builder:                                 William Simons & Co Ltd., Renfrew
Launched:                            18 May 1942
Into Service:                         17 July 1942
Out of service:                     1961                     
Fate:                                      Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:  There were originally 13 ships in this Admiralty-designed Class, 12 of which saw service as RFA’s. The final unit in the Class was completed as a Submarine Rescue Vessel under the White Ensign. All were basically similar and were used as Ocean Salvage Ships. They had a complement of 72 and during wartime were armed with 4 x 20 mm AA guns.

17 May 1941 Laid down as HMS ALLEGIANCE

RFA King Salvor was placed under commercial management at the commencement of her Admiralty service

13 February 1942 Fireman William Armstrong discharged dead. He is buried in the Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria  

(These details are based on the CWGC records which are repeated on the grave headstone below - plainly there is a mistake somewhere as the ship hadn't been launched at the time of the death of Fireman Armstrong. Enquiries are being undertaken.)

Courtesy and copyright of The War Graves Photographic Project

21 December 1942 the 25,000 ton British Troopship Strathallan was torpedoed 60 miles north of Oran with 6,000 soldiers on board. The Strathallan caught fire. King Salvor's crew made major efforts to extinguish the fire and save the ship. The ship sank.

6 July 1943 In the London Gazette of this day 4th Engineer Officer 'Jock' Harold Franklin Brown from King Salvor was appointed to Membership of the Order of the British Empire for boarding a ship on fire and displaying great courage and inspiring leadership which set an example to all and he disregarded the danger from the constantly exploding ammunition throughout the entire operation.

11 October 1943 engaged in salvage operations at Naples when two officers descended into the interior of an overturned derrick barge to facilitate the removal of this craft. An explosion occurred and 3rd Officer Sidney Rouse Everett sustained serious burns. He was rescued by the 4th Engineer Officer Harold Franklin Brown MBE. The 4th Engineer Officer was subsequently awarded the George Medal for his bravery.

Order and Medals awarded to 4th Engineer Brown MBE GM for his World War 2 service on King Salvor

17 October 1943 3rd Officer Sidney Rouse Everett RFA discharged dead. He is buried in the Naples War Cemetery, Italy.

Courtesy and copyright of The War Graves Photographic Project

13 August 1944 sailed Taranto in convoy HA29A to Augusta arriving the next day

15 August 1944 sailed Augusta in convoy MKS43 to Algiers arriving on 20 March 1944

24 March 1946 involved with RFA Salvictor, RFA Prince Salvor and another salvage vessel in the salvage of a US Liberty ship 'Josiah Nelson Cushing' for which the crews of the salvage ships received salvage money. The salvage of this vessel was completed by 16 May 1946

15 December 1946 involved with three RN ships in the salvage of a ship 'Rosebank' for which the crews of the salvage ship  received salvage money. The salvage of this vessel was completed by 27 December 1946

3 February 1951 left Singapore being towed back to the UK by the tug Empire Air

January 1953 notice given by the Admiralty that the officer and crew of King Salvor who had been involved in the salvage of a ship Josiah Nelson Cushing between 24 March and 16 May 1946 had been awarded Salvage Money.

April 1954 renamed HMS Kingfisher and commissioned as a submarine rescue vessel.

HMS Kingfisher

June 1954 commenced work up on the River Clyde where she was to be based as a tender to the 3rd Submarine Squadron

1958 paid off as a Bell Rescue Ship and was subsequently employed as a submarine support ship and tender

HMS Kingfisher

December 1960 sold to Argentinian Navy and reanmed ARA TEHUELCHE

1961 Lieutenant Commander D. Victor E. Peláez appointed in Command

1 May 1961 sailed Chatham for Mar del Plata, Argentina via Las Palmas, Cape Vere Islands

Argentinian Naval Ship Tehuelche

1962 Lieutenant Commander D. Osvaldo H. Branca appointed in Command

1963 Lieutenant Commander D. Mario Noriega appointed in Command

April 1963 renamed ARA GUARDIAMARINA ZICARI

1964 Lieutenant Commander D. Alberto A. Larraga appointed in Command

1965 Lieutenant Commander D. John C. Malugani appointed in Command

1966 Lieutenant Commander D. Norberto M. Couto appointed in Command

1967 Lieutenant Commander D. Alejandro Delgado appointed in Command

1968 Lieutenant Commander D. Alberto M. D'Agostino appointed in Command

1969 Lieutenant Commander D. John C. Etchegoyen appoined in Command

1970 Lieutenant Commander D. Julio M. Lera appointed in Command

1972 Lieutenant Commander D. Ernesto F. Diamante appointed in Command

4 February 1974 entered the port of Mar del Plata for the last time

1974 official disposed of

1976 purchased by DGFM

November 1976 broken up Argentina

Notes:

She served in the Pacific during WW2 and salvaged a number of wrecks from Hong Kong Harbour.