RFA Santa Margherita

RFA Santa Margherita

 

 

 

Previous name:                       Olympia, HM Oiler No: 121

Subsequent name:                 Marinula,  Trigonia

Official Number:                       137509                                              

Class:                                        OLYMPIA CLASS Ocean Tanker

Pennant No:                             P84 / X26 / Y7.121

Laid down:                               10 July 1913
Builder:                                     Vickers
Launched:                                23 October 1915
Into Service:                             21 July 1916

Out of service:                          8 Dec 1920 sold commercially

Fate:                                           5 April 1951 Arrived at Newport for breaking up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:  There were originally to have been 4 ships in this Class, all Admiralty-designed and to have been named   OLYMPIA, OLAF, OLIVIA and OLNA, but the latter 3 were all cancelled. The original engines were installed as an experiment in order to evaluate the worth of diesel engines as power plants for cruisers, and using the then largest diesel engine available was notable for its all-electric auxiliaries. The construction of OLYMPIA was delayed by other War priorities and she was renamed in order that she might lose her Admiralty identity. She was placed under commercial management to avoid any complications at neutral loading ports and questions of breach of neutrality.

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10 July 1913 laid down as OLYMPIA. Construction was delayed by War priorities

23 October 1915  launched by Vickers Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness as Yard Nr 445 named SANTA MARGHERITA. Named after Santa Margherita Ligure on the Italian Riviera

1 June 1916 took on charge an E Dent & Co Hack Watch No 53870 which had been purchased by the Admiralty in March 1906 and had only been used on charge by HMS Dido. The watch was sold with the ship when it left the service on 8 December 1920

18 July 1916 Completed. Placed under management of Sir Thomas B. Royden & Sons, Liverpool and was awaiting her trials in the Firth of Forth

22 July 1916 sailed Portsmouth for Rosyth

22 July 1916 passed Beechy Head

23 July 1916 passed Foreness steering North at 10kts

24 July 1916 anchored at Hull

24 July 1916 passed Flanborough Head escorted by HM Armed Trawler 1537 north bound

26 July 1916 passed St Abbs Head sailing NW - arrived in Leith Roads

28 July 1916 departed Rosyth on her maiden voyage to the Persian Gulf to load a cargo  She reportedly suffered many defects en route

29 July 1916 passed Flanborough Head

7 August 1916 passed Gibraltar

15 August 1916 arrived at Port Said sailing two days later 

3 September 1916 arrived Mohammerah

13 October 1916 broke down at the entrance to the Shatt-el-Arab and requested a tow to load at Abadan. No tow was available so she was loaded at the Bar with 8,048 tons of cargo and 81 tons of bunkers

7 November 1916 sailed Aden after repairs to her propellor

21 November 1916 arrived at Suez

26 November 1916 arrived at Port Said

5 December 1916 sailed Suez to Alexandria for repairs arriving the same day

8 December 1920 after War service she was refitted at Barrow and was sold to Anglo Saxon Petroleum  Co Ltd, London and was renamed MARINULA

1927 renamed TRIGONIA by her owners

1928 re-engined with 2 x 12 cyl Werkspoor 26  “ x 47¼” diesel engines. 3000 bhp. Speed now 13 knots

6 April 1932 ran aground in Panuco River, USA partly loaded. Cargo being off loaded to lighted the ship  - ship refloated overnight - no casualties

1932  transferred to the associated Shell Co, Gibraltar to serve as a fuel hulk there name  unchanged

25 January 1940 sailed the Clyde to Liverpool arriving on 29 January 1940

1 February 1940 sailed Liverpool in convoy OB83 to Freetown in ballast

3 February 1940 Convoy OB83 (see above) formed Convoy OG17F - arrived Gibraltar 9 February 1940

1940 sent to Freetown for service as a fuel hulk. Was temporarily operated by RFA engineers

19 April 1940 in collision with another vessel while alongside at Freetown

August 1944 to October 1944 under going repairs at Freetown

26 June 1945 sailed Freetown to Table Bay arriving 13 July 1945

17 July 1945 arrived at Durban for repairs

27 July 1945 requitioned (special charter)

19 February 1946 sailed Durban to Gibraltar arriving 20 March 1946 in ballast

21 March 1946 re delivered to owners

16 February 1951 sailed Gibraltar Bay in tow

2 March 1951 arrived Swansea in tow - sold to BISCO for breaking up on 7 March 1951

5 April 1951 arrived Newport, Monmouthshire for demolition by John Cashmore Ltd

 

Notes: 

1.  The image above is of the ship while sailing as the Trigonia