RFA War Brahmin

RFA War Brahmin

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:

To combat the alarming losses of British merchant ships during WW1, the New Ministries and Secretaries Act was passed in December 1916, which provided for the appointment of a Shipping Controller with very wide powers “to take such steps as he thinks best for providing and maintaining an efficient supply of shipping”. On 20 December 1916, the first meeting of the Merchant Shipbuilding Advisory Committee took place where it was decided that an extensive shipbuilding programme should be started, the ships to be of a simple design and as far as possible to be of a standard type as regards hulls and engines. These new vessels for the Government were given a standard nomenclature, the prefix to their names being WAR. 821 vessels were ordered from U.K. yards and abroad and 416 were completed to Government order, 279 were sold and transferred to private owners before completion and the remainder were cancelled. Of the 416 completed to Government order, 15 were transferred to Admiralty service as oilers. They were all modified versions of the A and B Class standard dry cargo ships, known as the Z Class. All had 2 large dry cargo holds, 6 of them had 5 cargo tanks and the remaining 9 had 7 cargo tanks, specially designed for the carriage of heavy fuel oil. Most of them were initially under commercial management

28 November 1919  Launched by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow as Yard Nr 720 named WAR BRAHMIN for the Shipping Controller

February 1920 completed at a cost of £208,275.and placed under initial management of C.T. Bowring & Co Ltd, Liverpool. She was built with patent davits, the only one of her  Class so fitted. Her name is derived from the Indian word and refers to the highest  caste in the Indian caste system 

4 June 1920 sailed Port Eads for London

13 September 1920 arrived at Galveston from Port of Spain, Trinidad

22 November 1921 radioed to the US Shipping Board that she was at 25.47N 79.43W

23 November 1921 radioed to the US Shipping Board that she was at 24.36N 83.15W

29 November 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for France 

1921 transferred to Admiralty management and manning as an RFA

13 February 1922 arrived at the Clyde from Portland, Maine, USA

30 April 1923 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

4 June 1923 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

24 August 1923 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

27 August 1923 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

23 September 1923 arrived at Singapore from Abadan

25 October 1923 Captain William J Yeomans RFA as Master

Captain William J Yeomans RFA

8 December 1923 at Sierra Leone alongside HMS HOOD at 0900 - supplied 2,053 tons of FFO to the Battle Cruiser - cast off 2000 hrs

10 December 1923 at Sierra Leone alongside HMS REPULSE to refuel her

11 December 1923 slightly damaged when in collision with  the cruisers HMS DANAE and HMS DELHI when fuelling the Special Service Squadron off Sierra Leone. Seven artisans from HMS HOOD transfered to repair the damage

12 December 1923 sailed to Trinidad to load cargo, then to Devonport for discharge and further repairs.

10 February 1924 at Devonport

16 February 1924 berthed at Gibraltar

18 February 1924 sailed Gibraltar

3 March 1924 berthed at Trinidad

6 March 1924 sailed Trinidad

31 March 1924 berthed Simonstown

3 April 1924 sailed Simonstown

25 April 1924 berthed Trinidad

12 May 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

15 May 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

5 June 1924 berthed Port Arthur

7 June 1924 sailed Port Arthur

12 June 1924 at 30.04N 77.10W Fireman Charles Somerset Morris discharged dead - drowned

29 June 1924 passed Dover and berthed at Sheerness the same day

1 September 1924 Captain J Gow RFA appointed as Master and Mr W Maybray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 September 1924 passed Gibraltar

25 September 1924 at Port Said

27 September 1924 transit Suez Canal and arrived at Suez

9 October 1924 berthed at Abadan

12 October 1924 sailed Abadan

28 |October 1924 berthed at Singapore

31 October 1924 sailed Singapore

14 November 1924 in the Persian Gulf Fireman William Tubb discharged dead having committed suicide

19 November 1924 arrived Abadan

28 November 1924 berthed at Aden

30 November 1924 sailed Aden

8 December 1924 at Abadan

27 December 1924 at the oil wharf at Kepple Harbour, Singapore

27 March 1925 Captain Frank J Delamotte RFA appointed as Master

10 July 1925 at the oil wharf at Kepple Harbour, Singapore

21 July 1925 in dry dock at Singapore

14 November 1925 in the Persian Gulf Fireman William Tubb discharged dead - apparent suicide - buried at sea

9 February 1927 at the oil wharf at Kepple Harbour, Singapore

9 May 1927 while secure alongside in Singapore Harbour was struck by the ss Pinna (previously RFA Polshannon) a tanker under the ownership of Anglo Saxon Petroleum. Both vessels suffered slight damage

7 August 1927 arrived at the oil wharf Singapore from Abadan having sailed from that port on 19 July to partially discharge and sailed 8 August 1927 for Hong Kong

2 January 1928 Captain Donald R McCutchan RFA appointed as Master

Captain Donald  R McCutchan RFA

21 July 1928 Mr H M Scott RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 November 1928 at the oil wharft, Kepple Harbour, Singapore

8 and 9 March 1929 berthed at the oil wharf, Kepple Harbour, SIngapore

23 August 1929 Mr J E Hawthorn RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 February 1930 berthed at Gibraltar on arrival from Port Said

25 August 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

27 August 1930  Captain J Martin-Smith DSC RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (Rtd)) appointed as Master

28 August 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

20 September 1930 Mr R Blacklock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

5 March 1931 took on charge an E. Dent & Co Marine Chronometer No 57219 purchased by the Admiralty in April 1913. Previous been held on charge by HMS Emperor of India. Landed off charge on 7 January 1935 to HM Dockyard, Sheerness

21 July 1931 at sea Carpenter Chong Pong discharged dead from self administered opium poisioning

28 August 1931 Mr George T Beed RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer George T Beed RFA

1 October 1931 Captain Leonard Elford RFA appointed as Master

Captain Leonard Elford RFA

25 February 1932 at sea Sailor Yit Ah Peng discharged dead having drowned

26 November 1932 at Sea 11 miles east of Ras Marshas (Aden) Chief Steward C Y Sum discharged dead having been murdered by stabbing. Mess Room Boy Line Tone discharged dead - disappeared presumed drowned

4 April 1933 Mr J Atchison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

2 November 1933 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

10 November 1933 sailed from portsmouth Harbour

5 July 1934 Captain J Martin-Smith DSC RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (Rtd)) appointed as Master

15 February 1935 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

23 February 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

13 May 1935 Captain E Parker RFA appointed as Master

22 July 1935 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

27 July 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

13 December 1937 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo

18 March 1938 arrived at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo

19 March 1938 at Gibraltar Bay Donkeyman Greaser Arthur John Richards discharged dead - presumed drowned

27 April 1938 arrived at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo

12 July 1938 James Alexander Gow discharged dead. He is buried in the Royal Naval Cemetery, Bermuda

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

11 August 1938 Mr Frederick C Pavitt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

15 August 1938 Captain Thomas H Card RFA appointed as Master

2 June 1939 Captain C F Smith RFA appointed as Master

4 August 1939 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

7 August 1939 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

18 October 1939 at Kingston, Jamaica Donkeyman Greaser William Denley discharged dead - drowned

30 November 1939 at Bermuda berthed alongside HMS Emerald and refuelled her with 648 tons of fuel oil

4 February 1940 sailed Bermuda to Trinidad arrived 9 February 1940

11 February 1940 sailed Trinidad to Curacao and then Kingston, Jamaica arriving 14 March 1940

8 April 1940 sailed Kingston to Trinidad arriving 13 April 1940

17 April 1940 sailed Trinidad to Bermuda arriving 23 April 1940

16 November 1940 orders received from C in C of America and West Indies Station this day to proceed via the Old Bahamas Channel to Florida Straits and patrol between 10 and 20 miles 270° from North Bimini Light, reading to fuel VAN KINSBERGEN, DIOMEDE and MALOJA. Keep good lookout for German ships ORINOCO, RHEIN, PHRYGIA and IDARWALD which sailed Tampico p.m. 15/11

3 December 1940 sailed Bermuda for the Florida Straits - source Admiralty War Diary of this day

28 June 1941 degaussing equipment fitted.

30 June 1941 sailed Trinidad to Bermuda arriving 9 July 1941

5 July 1941 reported as a Suspicious Ship and subjected a a QQQQ message - copied from the Admiralty War Diary of this day -

22 July 1941 sailed Bermuda for Baltimore for dry docking and refit arriving 27 July 1941

20 August 1941 sailed Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia

21 September 1941 Mr Wilfred C Shortland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 January 1942 at Bermuda

17 January 1942 at Grassy Bay, Bermuda - moored alongside USS Savannah (CL42), USS Nashville (CL43) and refuelled her with 103,209 gallons of fuel oil 

17 March 1942 anchored at Grassy Bay, Bermuda - USS Wilson (DD847) and USS Lang (DD399) alongside to be refuelled

31 May 1942 at Murray's anchorage, Bermuda - USS Dallas (DD199) alongside to be refuelled

6 October 1942 to 8 October 1942 anchored at Grassy Bay, Bermuda

10 November 1942 in the AFD Bermuda in refit

12 April 1943 Captain Archibald Hobson DSC RFA appointed as Master

28 June 1943 at Bermuda alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her - 534 tons of FFO supplied

8 August 1943 at Bermuda moored alongside USS Enoree (AO69) received a pump over 14,269 barrels of US Navy Fuel Oil

21 August 1943 Mr J Cook RFA appointed Chief Engineer Officer

6 February 1944 moored alongside USS Winooski (AO38) which was anchored at Murrays Ancorage, Bermuda and received a pump over of 15,518 barrels of US Navy fuel oil

10 February 1944 at Murrays Ancorage, Bermuda moored alongside USS Merrimack (AO37) received a pump over of 15,052 gallons of US Navy fuel oil

27 February 1944 at Royal Bay Anchorage, Bermuda moored alongside USS Niobrara (AO72) received a pump over of 13,871 barrels of US Navy fuel oil

23 March 1944 at Murrays Ancorage, Bermuda moored alongside USS Mattaponi (AO41) received a pump over of US Navy Fuel oil

9 April 1944 the US Navy approached the Senior (British) Naval Officer at Bermuda asking for the use of RFA War Brahmin to train US Destroyers in the refuelling astern method and if possible refuelling alongside during the US Naval weekly exercises. While it was found to be impractical to train using the refuelling method. Permission was given to train in the refuelling astern method. Details from US Atlantic Fleet Shakedown Operational Training Command weekly progress report item 45 

15 April 1944 USS Meredith (DD726), USS Riley (DE579), USS Rowell (DE403), USS Jack W Wilke (DE800), and USS Johnson (DE 702) undergoing training in replenishment astern 

5 June 1945 under going repairs at Bermuda - completed 

20 June 1945 Captain Stanley M Woodward RFA appointed as Master

Captain Stanley M Woodward RFA

10 October 1945 arrived Bocas from Bermuda (details from the War Diary, US Operating Base, Trinidad - page 6)

16 October 1945 sailed Bocas to Kingston (details from the War Diary, US Operating Base, Trinidad - page 7)

24 October 1945 sailed Kingston to Bermuda

31 October 1945 at the Royal Naval Hospital, Bermuda Able Seaman Joseph Claudius Williams discharged dead - natural causes

24 November 1945 sailed Bermuda to Kingston arriving 29 November 1945

8 December 1945 arrived at Trinidad from Kingston

21 December 1945 sailed Trinidad to Bermuda arriving 30 December 1945

11 January 1946 sailed Bermuda to Portsmouth Harbour arriving 26 January 1946

12 February 1946 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Liverpool arriving on 15 February 1946

27 April 1946 Mr G P O Summers RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 May 1946 Mr William H A Lawson RFA appointed Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer William H A Lawson RFA

5 May 1946 at Liverpool reporting engine trouble

17 February 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

6 March 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

2 April 1947 Captain Albert V Barton RFA appointed as Master

3 June 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

8 June 1947 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Malta

13 June 1947 berthed at Gibraltar

24 June 1947 berthed at Malta

30 October 1947 at Malta alongside the military transport Otranto and supplied fresh water. The transport would normally have been supplied with fresh water when homeward bound from the Middle East at Port Said, Egypt but due to an outbreak of cholera there  fresh water was now being supplied at Malta

15 March 1948 Captain Stanley M Woodward RFA appointed as Master

16 March 1948 3rd Officer A McKinnon RFA discharged dead.  He is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta

7 September 1949 laid up in reserve in the River Fal

18 May 1950 sailed for Devonport

27 February 1953 sailed Immingham in tow after a long refit there to act as a water carrier between  Augusta and Malta and Casablanca and Gibraltar for some time after which she became a floating oil storage vessel at Gibraltar.

1958 was briefly renamed when she starred as the Italian OLTERRA which was the Depot Ship for Italian frogmen in the film “The Silent Enemy” starring Laurence Harvey  The scenes were shot at Gibraltar and depicted the frogmen’s wartime actions there during which RFA DENBYDALE was seriously damaged. Minor roles were also played by RFA’s  AMHERST and EDDYBEACH

1959 sold for scrap

5 February 1960 arrived La Spezi in tow of the Dutch tug RODE ZEE for breaking up

Notes:

1. The Naples-registered OLTERRA was interred at Algeciras by the neutral Spanish authorities during WW2.  The Italian 10th Flotilla secretly used the ship as  their base to attack shipping across the Bay at Gibraltar by the use of underwater chariots. The ship was finally blown up by Lt “Buster” Crabb RNVR and Leading Seaman Knowles RN.