RFA War Hindoo

RFA War Hindoo

 

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                    143458

Class:                                      WAR CLASS Freighting Tanker

Pennant No:                           Y7.334 / X87 / A287

Laid down:
Builder:                                   Wm. Hamilton & Co Ltd, Glen Yard, Port Glasgow
Launched:                              30 September 1919
Into Service:                           October 1919
Out of service:                       1958
Fate:                                        Broken up

 

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.

 

 

30 September 1919 Launched by Wm. Hamilton & Co Ltd, Glen Yard, Port Glasgow as Yard Nr 371   named WAR HINDOO for the Shipping Controller

30 October 1919  Completed at a cost of £ 205,722 and placed under initial management of Gow, Harrison & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Her name is derived from an archaic spelling of Hindu and was used to describe Indian immigrants and their descendants in the 1800s and early 1900s

9 December 1919 Captain F C Dick as Master

1919 to 1939 was on general freighting duties

4 January 1920 berthed at Port Arthur, Texas to load.

8 January 1920 sailed Port Arthur, Texas

30 January 1920 berthed at Gibraltar until 27 February 1920

13 August 1920 arrived Tail of Bank

16 August 1920 moved up the River Clyde to Glasgow

27 September 1920 at Key West

28 October 1920 at Immingham until 3 November 1920

8 November 1920 passed Gibraltar

12 November 1920 berthed at Malta

13 November 1920 sailed Malta

17 November 1920 arrived at Port Said

9 December 1920 at Abadan to load

22 December 1920 arrived at Suez

1921 Transferred to Admiralty ownership but remained under commercial management.

11 February 1924 alongside HMS REPULSE in Singapore harbour refuelling her

13 February 1924 alongside HMS HOOD in SIngapore harbour refuelling her 

26 July 1924 at Port Royal, Jamaica alongside HMS REPULSE to refuel her

20 August 1924 at Quebec, Canada alongside HMS REPULSE to refuel her

23 August 1924 sailed Quebec, Canada for Trinidad  

27 September 1924 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad  

12 November 1924 Mr F Reynolds RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

22 August 1925 Captain Percival Skone-Rees RFA appointed as Master

Captain Percival Skone-Rees RFA

 

16 May 1926 arrived at Trincomalee from Abadan to discharge 7,500 tons of FFO - the first oil pumped into the new tank farm at China Bay after its recent construction for the Royal Navy by the Admiralty

18 May 1926 sailed Trincomalee to Abadan to load

21 October 1926 Captain S G Kent RFA appointed as Master

4 December 1926 in dry dock at Kepple Harbour, Singapore

15 March 1927 alongside the oil wharf, Singapore

19 December 1927 Captain A D Davies RFA appointed as Master

17 July 1928 alongside the oil wharf, Singapore

5 December 1928 alongside the oil wharf, Singapore

22 March 1929 Captain W T Williams RFA appointed as Master

30 October 1932 - ran aground on Long Sands managed to get free and continue inward up the Thames to Beckton under her own steam.

24 September 1934 Mr William C Elliott RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

10 October 1934 Captain N Colbridge RFA appointed as Master

2 January 1938 berthed at Malta from Gibraltar

18 June 1938 Captain T G Bennett RFA (Lieutenant Commander RN (Rtd)) appointed as Master

17 October 1938 berthed at Malta from Port Said

7 February 1939 Captain J Gow RFA appointed as Master

28 February 1939 Seaman Lean Thoe discharged dead. He is buried in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Gosport

24 August 1939 Captain P S Rees RFA appointed as Master

August 1939 Mr F W Howell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1949 to 1945 harbour oiler at Milford Haven

20 June 1940 at Milford Haven - involved in a collision - no other details available at this time.

August 1940 Captain T Banbury RFA appointed as Master

13 August 1940 Mr R Blacklock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 June 1941 Carpenter Malcolm Macdonald discharged dead. He is buried in Dunskellor Cemetery, North Uist, Western Isles, Scotland.

 

5 October 1941 Mr T Perrett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

20 November 1942 Captain P S Rees RFA appointed as Master

8 January 1943 Mr Percy E C Ogden RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 January 1944 Mr F Campbell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 November 1944 Mr H R Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 July 1945 Captain T C Robinson RFA (Lieut-Commander RN (Ret)) appointed as Master

26 September 1945 sailed Port Talbot, passing Gibraltar 2 October 1945 and arriving at Port Said 11 October 1945

29 October 1945 arrived Abadan sailing two days later to Colombo arriving 15 November 1945

1945 transferred to Singapore on Fleet Attendant duties there when the Base was reoccupied

17 November 1945 sailed Colombo to Singapore arriving 3 January 1946

7 January 1946 sailed Singapore to Bangkok arriving 12 January 1946

8 February 1946 sailed Bangkok to Singapore arriving 13 February 1946

27 February 1946 sailed Singapore to Batavia arriving about 1 March 1946

4 March 1946 sailed Batavia to Singapore arriving two days later

25 March 1946 sailed Singapore to Batavia arriving 29 March 1946

28 April 1946 sailed Batavia to SIngapore arriving two days later

11 May 1946 sailed Singapore arriving Batavia 15 May 1946

16 May 1946 sailed Batavia to Singapore arriving 18 May 1946

29 May 1946 sailed Singapore to Jesselton arriving 5 June 1946

13 June 1946 sailed Jesselton to Singapore arrving 19 June 1946

22 June 1946 sailed Singapore returning there on 14 July 1946

21 November 1946 sailed Singapore to Bombay arriving 4 December 1946 for repairs

9 February 1947 sailed Bombay to Abadan to load.

18 February 1947 sailed Abadan to Hong Kong arrive 17 March 1947

22 March 1947 sailed Hong Kongt to Kure, Japan arriving 29 March 1947

1 April 1947 sailed Kure, Japan to Yokohama arriving two days later

10 May 1947 Captain Herbert  A Shacklock RFA appointed as Master

12 July 1947 sailed Yokohama to Kure arriving 15 July 1947

18 July 1947 sailed Kure to Yokohama arriving 21 July 1947

20 August 1947 Mr H C Yeats RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

22 August 1947 sailed Yokohama to Sasebo the to Kure arriving 3 October 1947

From 3 October 1947 until 17 February 1948 stationed at Kure, Japan

17 February 1948 sailed Kure to Singapore arriving 27 February 1948

6 March 1948 sailed Singapore to Colombo arriving 12 March 1948

13 March 1948 sailed Colombo to Abadan to load arriving 22 March 1948

24 March 1948 sailed Abadan passing Aden on 3 April 1948 to Port Said arriving on 11 April 1948

11 April 1948 sailed Port Said passing Gibraltar on 19 April 1948 to Rosyth arriving 26 April 1948

26 April 1948 Mr Lionel W Pool RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 May 1948 Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA appointed as Master

5 June 1948 sailed Rosyth to Trinidad arriving about 24 June 1948

July 1948 sailed Trinidad to the Clyde Anchorage arriving 13 July 1948

14 July 1948 sailed the Clyde Anchorage to Londonderry arriving 15 July 1948

17 July 1948 sailed Londonderry to Trinidad

4 August 1948 sailed Trinidad passing Dunnet Head on 22 August 1948 to Rosyth

30 august 1948 sailed Rosyth to Leith arriving the next day

1 September 1948 in refit at Leith until 14 September 1948

15 September 1948 sailed Leith, passing St Abb's Head the same day, passing Ushant on 18 September 1948, passing Gibraltar 22 September 1948 arriving Port Said on 29 September 1948

29 September 1948 sailed Port Said passing Suex on 2 October 1948 to Abadan arriving 15 October 1948

18 October 1948 sailed Abadan, passing Aden on 25 October 1948, to Port Said arriving on 31 October 1948

31 October 1948 sailed Port Said to Malta arriving 3 November 1948

9 November 1948 sailed Malta to Port Said arriving and sailing 13 November 1948, sailed Suez 14 November 1948 arriving Abadan 28 November 1948

30 November 1948 sailed Abadan arrived Suez 14 December 1948, transitted the Canal and arrived Port Said 15 December 1948

27 December 1948 said Port Said, transitted the Canal and saiiled Suez the same day, passing Aden on 2 January 1949 and arriving at Abadan on 10 January 1949

12 January 1949 sailed Abadan to Singapore

30 January 1949 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong arriving 7 February 1949

12 February 1949 sailed Hong Kong to Colombo arriving 24 February 1949

24 February 1949 sailed Colombo to Abadan arriving 6 March 1949

8 March 1949 sailed Abadan to Singapore arriving 26 March 1949

4 April 1949 arrived at Coloimbo from Singapore

13 April 1949 sailed Colombo to Abadan arriving 24 April 1949

29 April 1949 sailed Abadan, passinG Aden on 7 May 1949 to Port Said arriving and sailing on 14 May 1949, passing Gibraltar 23 May 1949 and arriving at Devonport on 27 May 1949

7 June 1949 sailed Devonport to Immigham arriving two days later for repairs until 9 August 1949

31 July 1949 Mr R E Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

10 August 1949 sailed Immingham passing Spurn Head and Killingholme to Gibraltar arriving 16 August 1949

18 August 1949 sailed Gibraltar to Port Said arriving 26 August 1949

27 August 1949 sailed Port Said passing Suez on 29 August 1949 to Abadan

13 September 1949 sailed Abadan 

17 September 1949 Captain S P Sice RFA appointed as Master

22 September 1949 passed Aden and arrived Suez 27 September 1949, transitted the Canal and sailed Port Said the same day to Gibraltar arriving 7 October 1949

9 October 1949 sailed Gibraltar to Port Said arriving 17 October 1949 and transitted the Canal to Abadan arriving 10 November 1949

12 November 1949 sailed Abadan to Colombo arriving 23 November 1949

25 November 1949 sailed Colombo to Abadan arrving 5 December 1949

8 December 1949 sailed Abadan to Suez arriving 21 December 1949, transitting the Canal and arriving at Port Said the next day

5 January 1950 sailed Port Said, transitted the Canal and arrived at Abadan 22 January 1950

24 January 1950 sailed Abadan to Colombo arriving 4 February 1950

4 February 1950 at Colombo for boiler clean completed 15 February 1950 

15 February 1950 sailed Colombo to Abadan arriving 25 February 1950

27 February 1950 sailed Abadan to Suez arriving 14 March 1950 transitted Canal to arrive at Port Said 16 March 1950 abd then sailed to Malta arriving 20 March 1950

3 April 1950 sailed Malta to Gibraltar 9 April 1950

21 April 1950 Hired by Shell Oil from the Admiralty for oil storage at Gibraltar

1 June 1951 Captain Iden W J Hall RFA appointed as Master

 

Captain Iden W J Hall RFA

 

5 June 1951 Mr A W Symons RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 September 1951 sailed Gibraltar to Malta arriving 4 September 1951

4 September 1951 sailed Malta en route to Port Said and then to Trincomalee, Ceylon. arriving with engine defects.

20 October 1951 at Hong Kong - sailed to Singapore

5 December 1951 at SIngapore with defects in main refrigerator - repaired - completed 9 December 1951

10 December 1951 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong arriving 21 December 1951

29 December 1951 sailed Hong Kong arriving Singapore Roads on 4 January 1952

12 January 1952 Second Officer Anthony John De Courcy Harrison RFA, aged 22 years, appeared before Singapore Second Police Court this day charged with causing grievous bodily hurt on the ship to a Able Seaman George Daw from HMS Comus berthed outboard of her by shooting him and was remanded.

28 January 1952 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong arriving on 5 February 1952 

8 February 1952 sailed Hong Kong to Singapore arriving 14 February 1952

18 February 1952 Second Officer Harrison (see above) was fined $250 or 4 months imprisonment at Singapore Second Police Court when he was convicted of causing grievous bodily hurt to Seaman George Daw by shooting

19 February 1952 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong arriving 27 February 1952

16 April 1952 sailed Hong Kong to Singapore and then onwards to Trincomalee arriving 1 May 1952

10 May 1952 arrived back at Singapore

14 June 1952 sailed Singapore to Bombay arriving 27 June 1952

25 July 1952 sailed Bombay to Aden arriving 4 August 1952

4 August 1952 sailed Aden to Suez arriving 11 August 1952 and Port Said the next day

26 August 1952 at Immingham for repairs completed on 17 December 1952

19 December 1952 sailed Immingham for Killingholme then to Malta arriving on 30 December 1952 - laid up as a fuel hulk

11 November 1957 replaced as a fuelling hulk at Malta by RFA WAVE PROTECTOR

22 April 1958 towed back to the U.K. by the British tug ENGLISHMAN

9 May 1958 arrived Blyth for breaking up by Hughes Bolckow Shipbreaking Co Ltd.

 

Notes:

1.  She was modernised immediately prior to WW2 and was fitted with Welin-Maclachlan davits.