RFA Nasprite

RFA Nasprite

 

 

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                     168062

Class:                                      SPRITE CLASS Spirit Carrier

Pennant No:                            A252

Laid down:                              7 March 1940
Builder:                                    Blythswood Shipbuilding, Scotstoun
Launched:                               28 November 1940
Into Service:                            11 February 1941
Out of service:                         Laid up 1954
Fate:                                          Broken up at Williebroek, February 1964

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:  There were 2 ships in this Class which were Admiralty-designed and they both spent most of their careers in U.K. and Mediterranean waters

 

9 October 1939 ordered

7 March 1940 laid down

28 November 1940 launched by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Scotstoun as Yard Nr 65 named NASPRITE

19 December 1940 Mr L W Pool RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 February 1941 completed at a cost of £ 97,207

12 February 1941 joined the Fleet Fuelling Service as a petrol carrier

April 1941 until February 1942 served as harbour oiler at Scapa Flow.

10 July 1941 in collision with the corvette HMS MARIGOLD

29 July 1941 was damaged when going alongside the battleship HMS KING GEORGE V

29 November 1941 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK to refuel her

9 February 1942 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master

23 February 1942 sailed Lyness for Grangemouth

9 April 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN 69/2 to Oban arriving 11 April 1942

12 September 1942 Captain Francis J King RFA appointed as Master

5 October 1942 sailed Adrossan to the Clyde

18 October 1942 sailed the Clyde in convoy KX2 to Gibraltar arriving 29 October 1942 with RFA’s ABBEYDALE, BROWN RANGER, DERWENTDALE (1), DEWDALE (1), DINGLEDALE, ENNERDALE (1) and VISCOL. She was awarded the North Africa 1942 Battle Honour

24 June 1943 sailed Algiers in convoy GTX3 in company with 26 other ships including RFA Celerol, RFA Cherryleaf and RFA Oligarch arriving Malta 28 June 1943

3 July 1943 sailed Alexandria

10 July 1943 In Operation Husky - the British element of the invasion of Sicily - along with  RFA’s  CEDARDALE, DERWENTDALE (1) , ENNERDALE (1) and  PEARLEAF (1)

17 July 1943 Mr T Dowling RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 November 1943 involved in a collision - details of what with unknown at this time.

1944 ran aground off Italy

27 May 1944 sailed Naples in convoy NV 41 to Malta arriving the next day

9 June 1944 sailed Naples in convoy NV44 to Malta arriving the next day 

15 August 1944 in Operation Dragoon - the Allied invasion of the south of France - along with  RFA’s  CELEROL, DEWDALE (1) and ENNERDALE (1)

4 September 1944 sailed Naples in convoy NV62 to Augusta arriving on 5 September 1944

8 September 1944 sailed Augusta in convoy AH66 to Taranto arriving the next day

14 April 1945 sailed Taranto under escort to Zara arriving on 16 April 1945

November 1945 working at Venice, Ancona and Bari, Italy.

1 September 1946 Captain J Bottomley RFA appointed as Master

9 August 1947 Mr J SInclair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 May 1948 Mr F A Essam RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 April 1949 Captain S P Rice RFA appointed as Master

4 May 1949 sailed Grand Harbour, Malta with RFA's Spabrook, Rowanol (2) and Blue Ranger for overnight exercises with RN units and the Royal Air Force off Malta

4 July 1949 sailed Malta with RFA's Fort Duquesne Rowanol (2) and Blue Ranger together with RN units for exercises off Navarin

12 September 1949 Captain D A C Butler RFA appointed as Master

15 November 1949 moored alongside HMS Gravelines at Malta - sailed 16 November 1949

12 April 1950 berthed at Malta this day from Gibraltar

28 November 1950 Mr J J Moore RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 June 1951 Captain A M Macquire Samson RFA appointed as Master

10 February 1952  Mr G W Urry RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 February 1952 sailed Malta with RFA Rowanol (2) for Cagliari, Sardinia

11 July 1953 Captain A H Mackenzie RFA appointed as Master

15 March 1954 sailed Malta for Gibraltar and Combined Fleet Exercises after which to Toulon, France 

31 August 1954 laid up Devonport

August 1963 put up for disposal

3 September 1963 advertised for sale 'as lying' at H M Devonport in the Times of this day by the MoT

1964  reportedly sold to Lamico Shipping Co, Sussex

5 February 1964 arrived Antwerp for demolition by Scrappingco, Willebroek