RFA Vitol

RFA Vitol

RFA Vitol

Previous name:
Subsequent name: 

Official Number:                     140342                                                                          

Class:                                       SECOND 2000t BELGOL CLASS Tanker

Pennant No:                            X 62  /  X76

Laid down:
Builder:                                   Grangemouth & Greenock Dockyard Co, Cartsdyke, Mid.- Yard number 383
Launched:                              24 May 1917   
Into Service:                           October 1917
Out of service:                        7 March 1918
Fate:                                         Sunk

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:  There were 10 ships in this Class, all Admiralty designed of which 5 were named after Allied countries while the other 5 were given names indicating power or speed, all with the OL suffix. 3 of them, RFA’s FRANCOL, MONTENOL and SERBOL had upright funnels with a single tall mast close by, while the remainder had a raking funnel and 2 raking masts. During WW2 the mainmast was removed from these.

24 May 1917 Launched by Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Cartsdyke Mid Yard, Greenock as Yard Nr 383 named VITOL

 16 June 1917 Mr C F Reynolds RFA appointed as what is described in the RFA records as 1st Engineer Officer. In the Navy List 1917 he is shown as an Engineer Lieutenant RNR

18 August 1917 Lieutenant H W Harvey RNR appointed in command. He remain in command until 31 March 1918 when he was appointed to RFA Dredgol

28 August 1917 Stoker J O'Neil logged as deserting from the ship. He had signed on the ship on 20 August 1917

18 September 1917 underwent sea trials at Skelmorlie, Firth of Clyde

25 September 1917 Stoker W Watson logged as deserting from the ship at Greenock. He had signed on the ship on the 20 August 1917

11 October 1917 Stoker S Lloyd logged as deserting from the ship at Liverpool. He had signed on the ship on 23 August 1917

15 October 1917 Stoker J Garner logged as deserting from the ship at Liverpool. He had signed on the ship on the 23 August 1917

30 November 1917 Greaser J Bogle logged as being absent without leave from the ship. He had signed on the ship on the 23 August 1917

5 December 1917  Able Seaman R V George logged as deserting from the ship at Liverpool. Was arrested and sent to Walton Jail, Liverpool. He had signed pn the ship on the 20 August 1917

24 January 1918 Assistant Steward William Alfred Kimmins MMR 926684 discharged dead having died in the Northern Hospital, Liverpool. He had signed on on the 23 August 1917. He is buried in Glasgow (Craighton) Cemetery.

2 February 1918 Greaser W O'Brien logged as deserting from the ship. Was arrested on 8 February 1918 and sent to HMS Eaglet. He had signed on the ship on the 24 January 1918

5 February 1918 Leading Fireman J Creswell logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on the ship on 30 December 1917

7 March 1918 struck a mine at 52.37.55N; 5.04.07W laid by the German submarine U110 while on passage from Liverpool to Queenstown, Ireland. She was beached as a constructive total loss and  was subsequently broken up  “as lies”. Her lost cargo was valued at £17,919.  Four of the crew were killed - Greaser John Fletcher MMR 761804, Greaser Peter Graham MMR 652800, Fireman Joseph Mangion MMR 836856 are remembered with pride on the Plymouth Naval Memorial and Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Percy Edward Miners RNR is remembered with pride on the Chatham Naval Memorial - all having no known grave but the sea