RFA Rowanol

RFA Rowanol

 

 

 

 

Previous name:                    Ebonol (2), Cedarol
Subsequent name:  

Official Number:                   180931                                                                                 

Class:                                     1500t OL CLASS Harbour Tanker

Pennant No:                           A284

Laid down:                             27 September 1945
Builder:                                   Lobnitz, Renfrew
Launched:                              15 May 1946
Into Service:                           21 August 1946
Out of service:                        1971 
Fate:                                         Broken up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:

 

There were 4 ships in this Class, all Admiralty-designed as harbour oilers. A fifth vessel, the ex-German LISELOTTE ESSBERGER which had been captured at Trondheim in April 1945 and was taken as a War Prize, was handed over to the MOWT and was renamed EMPIRE TEGYIKA. In 1947 she was transferred to the Admiralty and was renamed THORNOL, but remained under commercial management and was never RFA-manned

 

27 September 1945 laid down

15 May 1946 launched by Lobnitz & Co, Renfrew as Yard Nr 1091 named EBONOL (2)

21 August 1946 completed as CEDAROL as the original EBONOL had been recovered from the Japanese after WW2 had finished

1 June 1946 Mr D H Evans RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

15 July 1946 Captain Frederick G Edwards RFA appointed as Master

22 May 1947 Mr Andrew  Porteous RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 September 1947 to obviate confusion with RFA CEDARDALE she was renamed ROWANOL and spent her early years at Malta until relieved there by RFA EDDYCLIFF

29 December 1947 Captain Leslie Sonley RFA appointed as Master

15 March 1948 Chief Engineer Officer J W Stewart RFA discharged dead

15 April 1948 relieved RFA Boxol as Harbour Oiler at Malta

8 August 1948 Mr R W Cook RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

23 November 1948 Captain Alfred  Matthews Uglow RFA appointed as Master

22 to 28 September 1949 took part in the Mediterranean Fleet's Second Summer Cruise with Rowanol visiting Aranci Bay with RFA Fort Duquesne, RFA Blue Ranger and various RN units

5 September 1950 Mr R E Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 July 1951 Mr Robert Blacklock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 May 1952 Captain Leslie J. Mack DSO RFA appointed as Master

2 July 1952 Norwegian tanker Fernpark ran aground off Munxar Point, St. Thomas Bay, Malta while on its way to Marsaxlokk Harbour. RFA Sea Salvor attempted to tow her off but failed - Rowanol took 1,000 tons of fuel oil off the Fernpark which allowed Sea Salvor to refloat her. 

19 August 1952 Mr Frank Buttigieg RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 - 26 September 1952 took part in the Mediterranean Fleet's Cruise with Rowanol visiting Villefranche, Naples and Golfe Juan with HMS Surprise, HMS Forth, HMS/M Trenchant, HMS/M Sanguine, HMS/M Sturdy, HMS/M Sentinel, HMS Manxman and HMS Daring

1 - 6 October 1952 took part in the Mediterranean Fleet's Cruise with Rowanol visiting Palermo with HMS Cleopatra and HMS Euryalus

13 July 1953 sailed Grand Harbour, Malta along with HMS's GLASGOW, MEON, LCT 4040, REGGIO, DIEPPE, ST KITTS, WRANGLER (F5) CHEQUERS, BLACK PRINCE, TEREDO, SENTINEL, TALENT, TOKEN, INS RANJIT & JUMNA, RFA's DINGLEDALE & BLUE RANGER for Exercise Bullock

13 October 1953 arrived at Malta and berthed at the Fuel Wharf

28 June 1954 Captain Leslie J. Mack DSO RFA - Master RFA Rowanol declared an honorary citizen of the Greek town of Karlovasi for the rescue of three fishermen who had been forced to jump in the sea when their boat got into difficulties.

21 July 1954 Captain Stephen J Pethurst RFA appointed as Master

1 December 1954 Mr A C Hawk RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 August 1955 Mr P Carrick RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 August 1955 Captain Robert D Almond RFA appointed as temporary Master until 28 June 1956

1 March 1956 Mr T R Reed RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

10 August 1956 Captain Robert D Almond RFA appointed as temporary Master until 13 December 1956

13 December 1956 Captain George Robson RFA appointed as Master

4 September 1957 Captain A H Tarr RFA appointed as Master

27 October 1958 Captain Robert  D Almond RFA appointed as Master until 1 April 1960

28 November 1958 Mr Arthur  Bloomer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 May 1959 Mr W Hynd RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 March 1960 involved in a collision with a HMS Exmouth (F84) in the Gare Loch

9 December 1960 Captain B H Lawrence RFA appointed as Master

28 May 1961 Captain John D Fisher RFA appointed as Master

29 September 1961 Mr John G Yuill RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 April 1962 Mr A Bloomer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 November 1962 Captain T H Macrow RFA appointed as Master

17 May 1963 Mr H Maddison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 September 1963 Captain John H Wehner BEM RFA appointed as Master

4th Quarter 1963 involved in a collision with HMS Dalrymple at Greenock - slight damage incurred

10 December 1963 was badly damaged after a collision in fog on the Clyde with the Swedish  vessel ARJEPLOG

29 April 1964 Mr J H Mills RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 June 1964 Captain Archibald Proudlock RFA appointed as Master

8 August 1965 to 11 August 1965 took part in the Clyde Royal Review along with RFA‘s BLACK RANGER,  OLYNTHUS (2), RESURGENT and WAVE PRINCE

10 October 1965 Captain C W P Sumner RFA appointed as Master

13 January 1966 Mr J H Mills RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 July 1966 Captain H Carr RFA appointed as Master

3 June 1967 Mr H Maddison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

2 October 1967 Captain J McCulloch RFA appointed as Master

1 December 1967 Captain T Paton RFA appointed as Master

8 February 1968 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her

28 November 1969 Captain Richard Thorn RFA appointed as Master

1 December 1970 sailed from the Clyde for the last time

3 December 1970 arrived Devonport to destore and reduce to hulk status

March 1971 on the Disposal List at Devonport

25 September 1971 offered for sale 'as lying' at Devonport Dockyard in the Times of this day

10 December 1971 arrived Zeebrugge in tow for demolition by Ets Jacques Bakker en Zonen