RFA Scottish American

Scottish American

 

Previous name:
Subsequent name:             Fairwater    

Official Number:                   144695                                                             

Class:                                    Escort Oiler               
Pennant No:                          A208

Laid down:
Builder:                                  Laings, Deptford Yard, Sunderland

Launched:                            29 June 1920

Into Service:                          16 January 1940
Out of service:                      1947
Fate:                                       Broken Up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:   Around the outbreak of WW2, the Admiralty purchased 3 old tankers for depot ship and escort oiler work which were manned and managed by their former commercial owners although some RFA personnel were based onboard. None of them served in the post~War Fleet

 

29 June 1920 launched by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Deptford Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr 667  named  SCOTTISH AMERICAN for Tankers Ltd, London

August 1920 completed

25 July 1924 to 27 July 1924 while berthed at the Nederlands Petroleum Asphalt Maats dock at Vlissingen, there was an enormous explosion and ensuing fire which caused major damage to the town  and which necessitated her removal from the danger area

4 June 1929 caught fire while off the coast of Uruguay while on a voyage from Curacao to Buenos Ayres. The radio was destroyed by fire

1930's laid up at Appledore during the Shipping Depression

17 May 1936 off Bideford, Devon caught fire - fire confined to oil in the bilges - extinguished - little apparent damage

4 October 1939 sailed the Tyne to Southend arriving 7 October 1939

7 October 1939 sailed Southend in Convoy OA 17 until it dispersed on 11 October 1939 and then independently to Trinidad arriving 26 October 1939

31 October 1939 sailed Trinidad independently to Freetown arriving on 15 November 1939

19 November 1939 sailed Freeton independently to Trinidad arriving 30 November 1939

4 December 1939 sailed Trinidad independently to Halifax arriving on 16 December 1939

20 December 1939 sailed Halifax in convoy HX 13 arrived Scapa Flow 6 January 1940 with a cargo of FFO

9 Kanuary 1940 Convoy HN.7 of 2 British, 19 Norwegian, 5 Swedish, 8 Finnish and 4 Estonian ships departed Bergen escorted by destroyers HMS's KASHMIR, KHARTOUM, KANDAHAR and TARTAR. The destroyer HMS FORESTER departed the Clyde on the 8th and joined the convoy at sea. HMS MAORI departed the Clyde on the 9th to relieve HMS TARTAR  HMS's GLASGOW, EDINBURGH and convoy HN.7 arrived safely at Methil on the 12th. HMS KHARTOUM took the west coast section of five ships, and escorted tankers SCOTTISH AMERICAN (6999grt) and RFA ARNDALE (8296grt) to the Clyde arriving 13 January 1940

16 January 1940 purchased by the Admiralty.

29 February 1940 sailed Glasgow independently to Liverpool arriving on 2 March 1940

3 March 1940 sailed Liverpool Bar in Convoy OB 103 along with RFA Cedardale  - dispersed in the Atlantic and then independently to Trinidad arriving  22 March 1940

25 March 1940 sailed Trinidad independently to Halifax arrived 5 April 1940

10 April 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX 34 for Scapa Flow

27 April 1940  while in convoy HX 34 the German submarine U.13 ( Kaptainleutenant Max-Martin Schulte) at 2326hrs torpedoed with one torpedo and damaged her west of Pentland Firth in 58?41N, 04?40W. She was towed to Loch Eribol by decoy ship RFA LOOE (steamer HMS BEAULY) and armed boarding vessel HMS NORTHERN REWARD. Destroyers HMS's DELIGHT, DIANA, IMPERIAL en route to Scapa Flow were diverted to assist on the 28th. minesweeping trawler HMS JUNIPER stood by while 8200 tons, the entire cargo less 1000 tons of oil, which had been lost, was pumped into the tanker OIL PIONEER for return to Scapa Flow. Transfer was completed on 2 May. The tanker was able to leave Loch Eribol on 5 May with tug ST MELLONS and trawler HMS JUNIPER for North Shields arriving four days later.There were no fatalities.

3 August 1940 sailed from the Tyne To Methil in Convoy FN240 having been repaired arriving the next day

10 August 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 248 arrived at Southend on 12 August 1940

15 August 1940 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 253 to Methil arriving 17 August 1940

26 August 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 263 to Southend arriving 28 August 1940

29 August 1940 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 266 to Methil arriving 31 August 1940

6 September 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 274 to Southend arriving the next day

19 October 1940 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 312 to Methil arriving on 21 October 1940

26 October 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy  FS 320 to Southend arriving 28 October 1940

15 November 1940 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 335 to Methil along with British Lady arriving 17 November 1940

27 December 1940 sailed Reykjavik in convoy RU 2 unescorted to Loch Ewe arriving 1 January 1941

1941 to 1944 served as an RFA Escort Oiler

5 January 1941 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 376 to Methil arriving 7 January 1941

7 January 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 381 to Tyne unescorted arriving 9 January 1941

9 January 1941 sailed the Tyne in Convoy FN 378 to Methil unescorted arriving the next day

3 February 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 403 to the Tyne unescorted arriving the next day

10 February 1941 sailed the Tyne in Convoy FN 403 to Methil unescorted arriving the same day

29 March 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 450 to the Tyne unescorted arriving the next day

10 April 1941 under repair at Newcastle - completed on 24 April 1941

9 May 1941 sailed the Tyne in Convoy FN 464 to Methil arriving 11 May 1941

14 May 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 489 to the Tyne arriving 15 May 1941

17 May 1941 sailed the Tyne in CXonvoy FN 467 to Methil arriving 18 May 1941

22 May 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 496 to Southend arriving 24 May 1941

29 May 1941 sailed Southend in Convoy EC 26 to the Clyde arriving 3 June 1941

5 June 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 508 to Spurn Head arriving the next day

6 June 1941 sailed Spurn Head and rejoined Convoy FS508 arriving at Southend on the next day

10 June 1941 sailed Southend in Convoy FN 478 to Methil arriving 12 June 1941

16 June 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 508 to Southend via Spurn Head arriving the 18 June 1941

23 June 1941 sailed Southend in Convoy EC 37 to Methil arriving 24 June 1941

28 June 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 528 to Southend via Spurn Head for Immigham arriving the 30 June 1941

5 July 1941 sailed Southend in Convoy EC 42 for Invergordon arriving 8 July 1941

11 July 1941 sailed Invergordon in Convoy WN 151 to Methil arriving 13 July 1941

13 July 1941 involved in a collision - further details unknown

18 July 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 545 to Southend arriving on 20 July 1941

25 July 1941 sailed Southend to the Tyne in Convoy EC50 arriving the next day 

29 July 1941 entered Newcastle for repairs

11 September 1941 sailed the Tyne and joined Convoy FN 561 to Methil arriving the same day

28 September 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy EC 78 (a Clyde bound Convoy) to Kirwall arriving the next day

1 October 1941 sailed Kirkwall in Convoy EC 79 to Loch Ewe arriving the next day

9 October 1941 arrived Hvalfjord, Iceland as part of Convoy ON 23 for fleet attendance duties and subsequently for use as a hulk when new storage was completed

25 October 1941 sailed Hvalfjord escorted to Reykjavik arriving the next day

27 December 1941 sailed Reykjavik in convoy RU 2 to Oban and then joined Convoy WN 225 to Methil arriving 2 January 1942

7 January 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 693 unescorted to the Tyne arriving the next day

6 February 1942 sailed the Tyne and joined Convoy FN 624 to Methil arriving the next day

8 February 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN 44 to Loch Ewe arriving 10 February 1944

17 February 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in Convoy UR 13 to Reykjavik arriving on 22 February 1942

20 March 1942 sailed Reykjavik in Convoy PQ13 to Murmansk as Escort Oiler arriving on 31 March 1942

21 May 1942 sailed Kola Inlet in Convoy QP 12 to Reykjavik as Escort Oiler arriving on 29 May 1942

24 November 1942 sailed Reykjavik escorted to Seidisfjord ariving the 26 November 1942

5 March 1943 sailed Sidisfjord escorted to Hvalfjord arriving 7 March 1943

28 March 1943 sailed Hvalfjord escorted to Reykjavik arriving the next day

30 March 1943 sailed Reykjavik in Convoy RU 68 to Loch Ewe and then in Convoy WN 411 to Methil arriving 6 April 1943

9 April 1943 sailed Methil in Convoy FS 1085 to the Tyne arriving the next day

25 June 1943 sailed the Tyne and joined Convoy FN 1056 to Methil arriving the next day

27 June 1943 sailed Methil in Comvoy EN 248 to Loch Ewe arriving 29 June 1943

4 July 1943 sailed Loch Foyle and joined Convoy ONS 12 as Escort Oiler to Halifax and then Cape Cod Canal arriving 20 July 1943

30 July 1943 sailed Halifax in convoy SC 138 as Escort Oiler to Belfast Lough arriving 12 August 1943

12 August 1943 sailed Belfast Lough independently to Milford Haven arriving on 14 August 1943

16 August 1943 sailed Milford Haven and joined Convoy KMS 24 G to Gibraltar as escort oiler arriving on 30 August 1943

7 September 1943 sailed Gibraltar in Convoy OS 54 as escort oiler. Detached to join Convoy SL 136 as Escort Oiler. Returned to Gibraltar on 15 September 1943

22 September 1943 sailed Gibraltar in Convoy GC 38 - the only ship - to Casablanca arriving the next day

27 September 1943 sailed Casablanca and joined Convoy OS 55 as escort oiler until detached to Convoy SL 137 as escort oiler arrived Gibraltar 6 October 1943

8 November 1943 sailed Gibraltar to join Convoy OS 57 as escort oiler to Freetown arriving 19 November 1943

22 November 1943 sailed Freetown in Convoy SL 141 together with MKS 32 as escort oiler arriving the Clyde 16 December 1943

4 January 1944 sailed the Clyde and joined Convoy OS64KM / KMS38G as escort oiler arriving at Gibraltar 17 January 1944

22 January 1944 sailed Gibraltar in Convoy MKS 37G as escort oiler and then joining Convoy KMS 40G arriving atGibraltar 7 February 1944

7 February 1944 under repair at Gibraltar - completed 21 February 1944

21 February 1944 sailed Gibraltar and joined Convoy OS69KM / KMS43G as escort oiler returning to Gibraltar on the 6 March 1944.  HMS Salvonia (to become RFA Salvonia) was also in this convoy

22 March 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to Gibraltar on 6 April 1944

21 April 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to Gibraltar on 6 May 1944

20 May 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to Gibraltar on 6 June 1944

20 June 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to Gibraltar on 4 July 1944

10 July 1944 sailed Gibraltar for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to the Clyde on 21 July 1944

11 August 1944 sailed the Clyde for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to New York on 28 August 1944

31 August 1944 sailed New York City in convoy HX 306 as escort oiler to Londonderry arriving on 17 September 1944

30 September 1944 sailed Londonderry for convoy escort oiler duties in the Atlantic returning to New York and then onwards to Cape Cod Canal on 15 October 1944

19 October 1944 sailed New York independently to Hampton Roads arriving the next day

22 October 1944 sailed Hamnpton Roads independently to New York arriving the next day

25 October 1944 sailed New York independently to Boston arriving the next day 

29 October 1944 sailed Boston in convoy BX 131 to Halifax arriving 31 October 1944

2 November 1944 sailed Halifax for convoy escort oiler duties in the North Atlantic returning to Londonderry on 16 November 1944

29 November 1944 sailed Londonderry for convoy escort oiler duties in the North Atlantic to Halifax (see below)

22 December 1944 suffered heavy weather damage during the voyage from Londonderry to Halifax under repair at Halifax until 16 February 1945

16 February 1945 sailed Halifax in Convoy SC 167 as Escort  Oiler arriving at Liverpool 2 March 1945 

8 March 1945 sailed Methil in Convoy EN 479/2 to Loch Ewe arriving 10 March 1945

12 March 1945 sailed Liverpool in Convoy ONS 44 as Escort Oiler - arrived Halifax 31 March 1945

4 April 1945 Able Seaman James Armistice Scott discharged dead. He is buried in Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery - section J R C Grave 2773

6 April 1945 sailed Halifax in Convoy SC 172 as Escort oiler to Liverpool arriving 22 April 1945

2 May 1945 sailed the Clyde in Convoy ONS 49 as Escort Oiler. Arrived Halifax 18 May 1945 and then in convoy XB164 to Cape Cod Canal arriving on the 19 May 1945

30 May 1945 sailed New York independently to Ostend arriving on the 14 June 1945 and then to Rotterdam arriving the next day

19 June 1945 sailed Rotterdam independently to Falmouth arriving on 21 June 1945

23 June 1945 sailed Falmouth independently to New York arriving on 6 July 1945

12 July 1945 sailed New York independently to Port Arthur, Texas arriving on 21 July 1945

23 July 1945 sailed Port Arthur, Texas independently to Tampa, FL arriving on 26 July 1945

29 July 1945 sailed Tampa, FL independently to New Haven arriving on 10 August 1945

12 August 1945 sailed New Haven independently to New York arriving 30 August 1945

1 September 1945 sailed New York independently to Tampa, FL arriving 10 September 1945

14 September 1945 sailed Tampa, FL independently to Havana, Cuba arriving 16 September 1945

19 September 1945 sailed Havana, Cuba independently to New York arriving 1 October 1945

4 October 1945 sailed New York independently to Curacao arriving 11 October 1945

12 October 1945 sailed Curacao independently to Sheerness arriving 31 October 1945 then to London arriving 2 November 1945

16 October 1945 Captain James Domonic Donovan awarded Commendation for Brave Conduct,  Chief Officer Ernest Charles Scales appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the London Gazette of this day 

1947 resold to her former owners, name unchanged

1949 - purchased by Cia Atlantica y Pacifica S.A, Panama and renamed FAIRWATER

18 January 1954 arrived Trieste for breaking up.