RFA Thorpebay
RFA Thorpebay
Previous name: War Comet, Lake Monroe, Mary
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 165484
Class: Oil Hulk
Pennant No:
Laid down: 1917
Builder: Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Launched: 19 June 1918
Into Service: 28 May 1943
Out of service: 10 October 1944
Fate: 5 September 1947 scuttled
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background: In December 1916, a Bill was passed by the British Parliament which appointed a Shipping Controller, who was not a Member of the House of Commons, but who was given extensive powers to provide and maintain an effective supply of merchant ships. In particular to combat the alarming losses of merchant ships to enemy action which were then taking place. A decision was made that these vessels were to be of a simple design with hulls and engines to be standardised as much as possible. Numerous orders were placed for ships to be built in the United Kingdom, U.S.A. (through the Cunard Steamship Co), Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Shanghai. All of these ships were given the WAR prefix to their names
1917 ordered as WAR COMET for the Shipping Controller
17 April 1917 while under construction on the Great Lakes , the Emergency Fleet Corporation came into being after the US declaration of War on Germany
3 August 1917 requisitioned by the United States Shipping Board
19 June 1918 launched by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, Wisconsin as Yard Nr 90 named LAKE MONROE for the USSB
August 1918 completed and assigned to William H Randall & Co, Boston as Managers. On the Nuevitas, Cuba to New York service until 1920
8 October 1918 while carrying a cargo of coal was in collision with the American fishing schooner HELENE off the coast of Cape Cod
19 August 1920 arrived at Philadelphia from London
1920 renamed Mary
1922 chartered by Bull Insular Steamship Co, (A.H. Bull & Co Inc, Managers) New York name unchanged and placed on the Dominican Republic to New York service
1925 chartered by A.H. Bull Steamship Co Inc (A.H. Bull & Co Inc, Managers) New York name unchanged
1936 purchased by Westcliff Shipping Co Ltd, London name unchanged
20 May 1937 managers became G.O. Till, London and renamed THORPEBAY
15 July 1937 together with four other British flagged ships attempted to enter Santander, Spain but was warned by British destroyers that if they did the Royal Navy could not provide them with protection. Raised in the House of Commons in questions to the First Lord of the Admiralty
19 August 1937 at Santander, Spain with 2000 refugees, women and children onboard was bombers raided the city. In panic the refugees etc leapt into the holds or ran ashore. The ship sailed without those who had run ashore.
June 1938 was damaged by air attack at Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War
4 October 1938 was again damaged during a similar air attack. The stern was hit wrecking the steering gear and damaging the engines - there were no injuries. The ship was loaded with a cargo of coal.
23 January 1939 damaged yet again when bombed at Barcelona - the 2nd Officer William McLennan of Fleetwood and a Greek mess boy were killed
26 January 1939 was taken to Marseilles and later sailed for the U.K
11 January 1940 damaged after a fire on the River Tyne
2 June 1941damaged by German bombing 6 miles off the Coquet Lighthouse and had to return to the Tyne
17 June 1941 arrived Scapa Flow under tow
28 May 1943 to 10 October 1944 served as a hulk at Scapa Flow for the MoWT and had an RFA Chief Officer, Second Officer and Second Engineer appointed to her
10 December 1943 Chief Officer H P Masters RFA appointed as Chief Officer in command
8 September 1947 was scuttled in the North Atlantic with a cargo of poison gas shells in position 47.47.3 N 08.21 W in a water depth of 1500m