RFA Robert Middleton

RFA Robert Middleton

 

 

 

 

Previous name:
Subsequent name:                Myrina

Official Number:                      166550                                          

Class:                                       BOBBY CLASS Coastal Stores Carrier

Pennant No:                            X41 / A241

Laid down:
Builder:                                     Grangemouth Dockyard, Grangemouth

Launched:                               29 June, 1938
Into Service:                             25 August, 1938
Out of service:                         1975 sold out of service
Fate:                                          Broken up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:   There were 2 ships in this Class which mainly served around the U.K. coast but occasionally ventured as far afield as Malta. Both ships had a large No. 2 hold which could stow anything used in the Service, including Landing Craft. Both ships had long lives with the RFA

 

Courtesy of Falkirk Council Archives

Robert Middleton on builders trials before handover to the RFA

Courtesy of Falkirk Council Archives

29 June 1938  launched by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth as Yard Nr 424 named ROBERT MIDDLETON. The Lady Sponsor was Mrs J.B. Penman, wife of the Assistant Director of Stores for the Admiralty 

25 August 1938 completed and was initially manned on Yard Craft Agreement and replaced RFA NORA

29 September 1939 1200hrs alongside HMS Hood at Scapa Flow delivery of naval stores - slipped at 17:48hrs

14 June 1940 was placed under full RFA manning

23 October 1940 Mr R E Merton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 October 1940 Captain Horace W Taylor RFA appointed as Master

18 November 1940 in collision with a Boom Defence Vessel

27 December 1940 Mr A W Symons RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 March 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy EN 80/1 to Oban arriving on the 6 March 1941

17 July 1941 sailed Methil in convoy EC46 to Scapa Flow arriving the next day

30 August 1941 sailed Methil in convoy EC66 to Invergordon arriving the next day

27 March 1942 Captain G C Davies RFA appointed as Master

26 June 1942 Mr W J Palmer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 August 1942 sailed Kirkwall in convoy WN323 to Methil arriving the next day

3 September 1945 Mr T W Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 October 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN145 to Invergordon arriving the next day

17 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE delivering Naval Stores

18 March 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE delivering Naval Stores. RFA Black Ranger was also alonside refuelling the warship with 1,550 tons of FFO

13 June 1943 sailed Methil in convoy EN242 along with RFA ORANGELEAF (1) to Invergordon arriving the same day

30 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LONDON delivering Naval Stores

31 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON delivering Naval Stores. RFA Freshmere was also alongside the same warship delivering fresh water

6 November 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH delivering Naval Stores. RFA Blue Ranger also alongside collecting 175 tons of diesel 

1 February 1946 Captain G Moore RFA appointed as Master

16 November 1947 Captain Alfred Matthews Uglow RFA appointed as Master

20 July 1948 Mr L D Sinclair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 September 1948 Captain Douglas N J Williams RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (Rtd)) appointed as Master

7 October 1949 3rd Engineer Officer C Ross RFA discharged dead

15 September 1950 Captain E E Lawrence RFA appointed as Master

3 Mar 1951 Mr L D Sinclair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

30 January 1953 berthed at Greenock

15 June 1953 Took part in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead along with 6 other RFA’s

27 October 1953 Captain E T Mitchell RFA appointed as Master

21 July 1955 Mr E Meldrum RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 December 1955 Captain Alistair C Gibson RFA appointed as Master

26 May 1956 Mr J Shaw RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 July 1957 Captain John Ditchburn RFA appointed as Master

15 October 1958 Mr Jphn E Allen RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 April 1959 at Devonport alongside HMS Centaur supplying Naval Stores

17 April 1959 Captain P J Taylor RFA appointed as Master

6 June 1959 Chief Engineer John Edward Allen RFA discharged dead having died at James Watt Dock Greenock

9 June 1959 Mr G C Angus RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 January 1960 berthed at Ardrossan carrying new barges L 129, L130, L131 and L132 plus spare parts

26 January 1960 sailed Ardrossan to Chatham

9 September 1960 Captain H E Michael RFA appointed as Master

17 January 1961 Mr C J Abel RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

7 September 1962 Captain John H Wehner BEM RFA appointed as Master

25 September 1963 Captain John D Fisher RFA appointed as Master

3 September 1964 Captain W A Hiorns RFA appointed as Master

24 August 1965 Captain J B Leaf RFA appointed as Master

30 October 1967 Captain D O Davies RFA appointed as Master

9 August 1968 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her

14 August 1968 Captain W E Henderson RFA appointed as Master

13 December 1973 Captain Rex A Cooper RFA appointed as Master

16 September 1974 started a planned refit in Chatham Dockyard - the first RFA to do so

17 March 1975 sailed Chatham for the final time

March 1975 laid up at Rosyth

April 1975 on the Disposal List at Rosyth

1975 sold out of service to  D. Papatheodorou & N. Vulgarities (Canopus Shipping S.A, Managers) Athens and renamed MYRINA

1978 purchased by Georgantis & Co (Agem Maritime Enterprises, Managers) Piraeus name unchanged

1983 broken up at Keratsini, Greece.

 

Notes:

 

1. RFA Robert Middleton was named after Rear Admiral Robert C. Middleton, Storekeeper General of the Royal Navy from 1829. As such he was a predecessor of the Director of Stores, Admiralty.