RFA Nordenfeld
NAV Nordenfeld
Previous name:
Subsequent name:
Official Number 181861
Class: GATLING CLASS Armament Stores Carrier
Pennant No: A135
Laid down:
Builder: Lobnitz & Co Ltd, Renfrew
Launched: 30 November 1945
Into Service: 14 March 1946
Out of service:
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Information: - One of a group of five coasters which were not normally classed as RFA’s They are included here as the ancestors of the more modern ammunition ships These five ships were designed by the Director of Naval Construction to the requirements of the Naval Armament Department. They were designed for Pacific Operations to carry ammunition from larger ships offshore which were of too deep a draught to go close inshore to the coastal areas or small harbours and had their bottoms strengthened to permit grounding when loaded if required. This was a 1943 plan connected with a future invasion of Japan. As there was no requirement to carry large naval guns they were provided with two cargo holds. The order for them was placed in October 1944 and none of them was completed before the end of hostilities, which meant that only one of them (GATLING) was needed to proceed to the Far east to assist in the rehabilitation of Singapore. GATLING and NORDENFELT were completed to mercantile standards and were registered and classed with Lloyds Register and were run on National Maritime Board conditions, while the other three were on “Yard Craft” Dockyard agreements and were completed with naval style accommodation.
30 November 1945 Launched by Lobnitz & Co Ltd, Renfrew as Yard Nr 1089 named NORDENFELT
14 March 1946 completed to mercantile standards
13 January 1964 grounded off Alderney during a sleet storm but was refloated
September 1971 on disposal list at Devonport
11 February 1977 arrived Pembroke Dock for demolition
Notes:
- Based at Naval Armaments Depots Plymouth and Priddy's Hard between 1946 to 1959