RFA Viscol

RFA Viscol

 

 

Previous name:
Subsequent name:               FRECCIAMARE

Official Number:              139143

Class:                                      SECOND 1000 t CREOSOL CLASS Harbour Oiler

Pennant No:                            N 09 / X 75 / A275

Laid down:
Builder:                                    Craig Taylor, Stockton
Launched:                               21 February 1916
Into Service:                            August 1916

Out of service:                        Sold commercially 1950
Fate:                                         Broken up 1982

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:  On the outbreak of WW1, the Admiralty embarked on a further programme of tanker construction for the newly-formed RFA Service. Eventually there were 18 ships in this Class, 12 of which were named after trees with the OL suffix, while the remainder had names connected with the oil industry also with the OL suffix. 4 of the Class were diesel engined and were sold after the Armistice but the rest, being triple expansion steamers, had long and successful lives.

 

8 February 1916 Engineer Lieutenant William Shaw RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 February 1916 launched by Craig Taylor & Co Ltd, Stockton as Yard Nr 181 named VISCOL

31 July 1916 completed at a cost of £68,523

16 October 1916 Lieutenant W. Distant RNR  appointed in command. Remained in command until 12 August 1917 when he took command of RFA Ebonol

18 March 1917 at Gutter Sound alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her - 160 tons of FFO supplied

13 August 1917 Lieutenant William E. Rousell RNR appointed in command Remained as such until 1 November 1917. He had come from RFA Attendant and when left he then took command of RFA Ebonol

28 September 1917 Engineer Lieutenant Benjamin D Smith RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. Remained in appointment until 10 August 1918 when he was appointed to RFA Petrella.

1 November 1917 Captain Thomas Sunley RFA appointed as Master. Remains as Master until 30 June 1918 when he took command of RFA Kharki

24 December 1917 Stoker S P Maher logged as deserting from the ship. He had signed-on on 25 July 1916.

13 June 1918 Took on charge a Kendal & Dent Marine Chronometer No 6584 which had been purchased by the Admiralty in February 1895. Taken off charge on 16 October 1922 at Gibraltar.

1 July 1918 Captain J Weir RFA appointed as Master. Remains as Master until 3 March 1919. He had come from RFA Scotol and when left he took command of RFA Birchol.

11th February 1919 Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Sidney Willetts Russum RNR, aged 29, discharged dead. He had signed on the ship on 3 November 1917 and was buried in the Glasgow Western Necropolis in grave R 630.

 

 

17 February 1919 Able Seaman William North, aged 33 discharged dead. He was buried in Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery, London in an unmarked grave but is remembered on Screen Wall  23 No: 9670

 

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

 

4 March 1919 Captain  W A Wooster RFA appointed as Master. Remains as Master until 31 July 1919. He had come from RFA Birchol and when left he took command of RFA Montenol.

7 March 1919 Engineer Lieutenant J G Fothergill RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

23 March 1919 Able Seaman S Bennett MMR 957642 logged as deserting from the ship. He had signed on 9 March 1919.

24 March 1919 Fireman E Munt MMR 898870 logged as deserting from the ship. He had signed on 9 March 1919.

27 May 1919 Engineer Lieutenant Ralph Watson RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

20 July 1919 Able Seaman C Legare MMR 870652 logged as deserting. He had signed on 9 March 1919.

20 July 1919 at Gibraltar alongside HMS Colombo  which had arrived from Devonport on No16 buoy to refuel her - 290 tons of FFO supplied

1 August 1919 Captain A Kirby RFA appointed as Master. Remained as Master until 30 April 1920 when he was discharged to HMS Cormorant at Gibraltar to await passage to England. Remained on pay until 20 June 1920

1 August 1919 Able Seaman M Wiswill MMR 970989 deserted. He had signed-on on 4 March 1919

1 April 1920 Mr W Maybray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

19 April 1920 Captain E M Richards RFA appointed as Master

17 July 1920 at Gibraltar alongside HMS Torch refuelling her with 156 tons of FFO

7 October 1920 Captain James P Downie RFA appointed as Master

10 December 1920 alongside HMS Malaya at Gibraltar refuelling her 

24 March 1921 alongside HMS Malaya at Gibraltar refuelling her - 590 tons FFO

7 and 8 November 1922 alongside HMS Hood at Gibraltar refuelling her

21 November 1921 alongside HMS Durban at Gibraltar refuelling her

30 January 1923 at Gibraltar alongside HMS HOOD refuelling her

31 January 1923 at Gibraltar alongside HMS REPULSE refuelling her

2 March 1923 at Gibraltar alongside HMS REPULSE refuelling her

September 1924 Captain R T Gallon RFA appointed as Master

1 October 1924 Mr H M Scott RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 March 1926 Captain E Parker RFA appointed as Master

9 September 1926 Mr A H Ireland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 May 1928 Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA appointed as Master

6 September 1928 Mr M Blair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 March 1930 Captain T C Robinson RFA appointed as Master

8 August 1930 Mr T W Robinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 March 1932 Captain W H Farrow RFA (Commander RN (ret.)) appointed as Master

30 August 1932 Mr A C Fraser RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

2 May 1934 Captain B Ellis RFA appointed as Master

18 July 1935 Mr J B Russell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 March 1937 Mr F Johnstone RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 August 1937 Captain S P Sice RFA appointed as Master

3 April 1939 Mr R W Cook RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 May 1939 Captain A Edwards RFA appointed as Master

August 1939 Captain Robert Grimer RFA appointed as Master

3 September 1939 at Gibraltar on the outbreak of WW2

21 February 1941 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA appointed as Master

13 November 1941 Mr A A Woodley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 November 1942 Served during Operation Torch - the Allied Invasion  of French North Africa along  with RFA’s ABBEYDALE, BROWN RANGER, DERWENTDALE (1),  DEWDALE (1), DINGLEDALE, ENNERDALE (1) and  NASPRITE. Was awarded the North Africa 1942 Battle Honour

1 December 1942 Captain R M Shaw RFA appointed as Master

5 February 1943 Mr Philip E Bassadona RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 February 1943 at Gibraltar 4th Engineer Officer William Dick Evans RFA discharged dead - reported missing and believed that he had drowned

16 February 1945 Mr P Mills RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

12 June 1945 used as an oil hulk at Gibraltar - repaired at Gibraltar

4 May 1946 returned to service as a Fleet Attendant oiler at Gibraltar

15 May 1946 Captain S P Sice RFA appointed as Master

13 December 1946 at Gibraltar alongside HMS Vanguard refuelling her with 1,100 tons FFO

July 1947 placed in reserve at Gibraltar

30 August 1947 left Gibraltar to Devonport under the tow of RFA War Bharata arriving on the 5 September 1947

5 September 1947 arrived Devonport, was destored then handed over to the MoT for disposal

23 September 1947 purchased by Risdon Beazeley & Co Ltd (R.A. Beazeley, Manager) Southampton, name unchanged

25 September 1947 left Devonport under tow to Southampton for repairs.

12 December 1947 repairs completed.

18 December 1947 sailed London, passing Dover 20 December 1947 to Rouen arrived 21 December 1947

22 December 1947 sailed Rouen to Mounts Bay arriving 26 December 1947 - had to shelter due to bad weather

6 January 1948 at Milford Haven - sailed 15 January 1948

27 January 1948 sailed Manchester to Stanlow arriving the same day.

5 February 1948 sailed Eastham to Nates, France returning to Holyhead.

16 February 1948 sailed Nantes, France 

1950 sold to O Novella of Genoa and renamed Frecciamare

1976 purchased by Ciane-Anapo Cioa di Nav, Genoa name unchanged

24 November 1982 arrived for breaking up at Brindisi by Fercomit SpA