RFA Abadol

For details of RFA Abadol please see RFA Oakleaf (1)

RFA Abbeydale

Previous name:
Subsequent name:   

Official Number                  165409

                                                                       
Class:                                1^st DALE CLASS Freighting Tanker

Pennant No:                      X32 / A109

Laid down:
Builder:                              Swan Hunter
Launched:                          28 December 1936
Into Service:                      4 March 1937
Out of service:                   18 September 1959 - laid up

Fate:                                 Broken Up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:  Originally there were to have been 19 ships in this Class. The first 6 were purchased off the stocks from the British Tanker Co Ltd whilst building at the instigation of the then Director of Stores, Sir William Gick, who was concerned at the age of the RFA Fleet and ships that were approaching the end of their economic lives. A further 2 ships were purchased from Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd for evaluation purposes. At the outbreak of WW2, a further 11 ships were acquired from the MoWT war programme although one of these, to have been named EPPINGDALE, which had been registered in London as EMPIRE GOLD on 21/02/43 and intended for transfer to the Admiralty for manning and management as an RFA and despite 5 Officers being appointed to her, the intended transfer was cancelled the following day and she thus never entered RFA service. 3 of this Class were converted into LSG’s and were then reconverted back into tankers at the end of the War.

1936 ordered by the British Tanker Company Ltd

28 December 1936 launched by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend  as Yard Nr 1506 named ABBEYDALE

11 January 1937 Captain W Frost RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR (Ret)) appointed as Master

4 March 1937 completed after running trials

5 March 1937 sailed on her maiden voyage from the Tyne to Trinidad

10 April 1937 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

17 April 1937 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

3 June 1937 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

5 June 1937 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

2 October 1937 Radio Officer G F Heatherington RFA discharged dead he is buried in Kranji Military Cemetery, Singapore in Plot 14 Row C Grave 23

Image courtsey of  Tony Beck  with thanks

2 November 1937 Mr Frederick E Langer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer Frederick E Langer RFA

3 March 1938 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

5 March 1938 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

7 March 1938 Captain C F Smith RFA appointed as Master

10 March 1938 Mr Harold M Pearson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

7 July 1938 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

9 July 1938 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

16 January 1939 Captain William Frost RFA sailed from Malta in the Transport Nevasa for Southampton (relieved) 

26 April 1939 Captain George W Callaway RFA (Lieut-Commander RN (Ret)) appointed as Master

26 May 1939 Engineroom Storekeeper Ah Sow Lam discharged dead. He is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta

Image courtesy of British War Graves with thanks

8 July 1939 arrived at Auckland, New Zealand to discharge from Abadan

15 July 1939 sailed Auckland, New Zealand for the Persian Gulf

9 September 1939 sailed Port Said in Convoy Blue 1 which also contained RFA ALDERSDALE

26 September 1939 sailed Gibraltar in convoy HG1 for Devonport. RFA ALDERSDALE and RFA SERBOL were in the same convoy.

21 October 1939 joined convoy OA22 sailing from Falmouth - the convoy dispersed on 23 October. The Governor of Trinidad reported to the Admiralty by signal on 9 November 1939 that Abbeydale was five days late arriving at the island. Source - Admiralty War Diary - In fact she arrived on 10 November 1939.

24 November 1939 at Kingston, Jamaica Donkeyman Harold P Mann accused before the Master by the Chief Engineer Officer of using foul and insolent language towards him and refusing to obey his lawful commands. The Master declined to deal with the allegations as he belived them to be so serious and directed that the allegations should be dealth with by a magistrate.

Donkeyman Harold P Mann

29 December 1939 was in a list of ships reported as sunk by the German Navy and published in 'Bremer Zeituag'. The German error/exaggeration was fully reported in the Canberra Times, Australia of the 26 January 1940

24 January 1940 Bosun R E Finker logged for desertion

30 January 1940 Donkeyman Harold P Mann appeared before the Magisrate at Kingston, Jamaica charged under the Sections 480/486, Merchant Shipping Act. He was convicted. He signed off the ship.

26 February 1940 arrived at Panama

27 February 1940 sailed Colon to Kingston, Jamaica arriving on 29 February 1940

3 March 1940 sailed Kingston, Jamaica to Trinidad arring on 7 March 1940

17 March 1940 arrived at Bermuda having sailed from Trinidad

30 March 1940 at Bermuda with RFA Orangeleaf (1) moored alongside - fire broke out on Abbeydale which caused damage to both ships - source Admiralty War Diary dated 31 March 1940 refers

6 April 1940 sailed Bermuda to Trinidad

15 April 1940 sailed Trinidad to Halifax arriving 25 April 1940

26 April 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX38 to the Clyde along with RFA OLWEN (1) arriving at Greenock on 12 May 1940

16 May 1940 Mr M N Carlyle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

23 May 1940 sailed Greenock, up the Clyde to Glasgow

12 June 1940 sailed Glasgow 

June 1940 was allocated for Operation Accordion - the proposed invasion of the Azores

October 1940 Mr Henry S Edwards RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

22 November 1940 refit on the Clyde until 2 December 1940 then anchored at Tail of Bank until 4 December.

14 December 1940 Captain A Edwards RFA appointed as Master

23 December 1940 sailed from Glasgow, in ballast to, Curacao in Convoy OB 263 arriving on 13 January 1941

20 January 1941 sailed Curacao to Kingston, Jamaica arriving 22 January 1941

16 February 1941 sailed Kingston, Jamaica to Trindad arriving on 21 February 1941

12 March 1941 sailed Trinidad to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

29 April 1941 arrived at Montevideo from Port Stanley, sailing again on 30 April 1941

27 May 1941 refuelled HMS's NEWCASTLE and CUMBERLAND - details from the Admiralty War Diary of 25 May 1941 page 490

9 June 1941 arrived at Rio Janerio sailing the next day

1 July 1941 refuelled HMS NEWCASTLE - details from Admiralty War Diary page 552

14 July 1941 arrived at Montevideo, sailed the next day to Trinidad 

4 September 1941 until 7 September 1941 under going repairs at Trinidad

26 September 1941 arrived at Montevideo from Trinidad 

28 September 1941 sailed Montevideo to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands arriving 3 October 1941

9 October 1941 sailed Port Stanley, Falkland Islands to Trinidad 

16 November 1941 arrived at Trinidad 

4 December 1941 sailed Trinidad to New Orleans arriving 12 December 1941

12 December 1941 at New Orleans under repair until 12 January 1942

13 January 1942 sailed New Orleans to Curacao arriving 21 January 1942

25 January 1942 sailed Curacao to Freetown arriving 10 February 1942

5 March 1942 arrived at St. Helena from Freetown

8 March 1942 at St Helena HMS NIGELLA came alongside to refuel in the lee of the Island. HMS BRIDGEWATER also tried to come alongside to refuel but was unable due to the swell off the Island

9 March 1942 at St. Helena HMS BRIDGEWATER came alongside (again) to refuel in the lee of the Island with some sucess

12 March 1942 at St. Helena - HMS JASMINE came alongside to refuel in the lee of the Island 

13 March 1942 sailed St Helena to Freetown arriving 20 March 1942

30 March 1942 undertook OAS trials.

7 April 1942 arrived at St Helena from Freetown

17 April 1942 sailed St Helena

10 August 1942 to 15 August 1942 in Operation Beserk as Force W - a sea / air exercise in the Atlantic. Reports show she had an inexperienced crew which resulted in complete disorder

October 1942 was fitted out as a DEMS at Gibraltar

November 1942 undertook the first recorded multi-ras in the Mediterranean with two ships abeam and one astern.

10 November 1942 joined Convoy KMS 2 to participate in Operation Torch - the Allied Landings in French North Africa. Other RFA’s involved in Operation Torch were RFA’s  BROWN RANGER, DERWENTDALE (1), DEWDALE (1), ENNERDALE (1),  NASPRITE and VISCOL

11 November 1942 arrived Arzeu Beachead on Operation Torch for which she was awarded the North Africa 1942 Battle Honour

12 November 1942 arrived Algiers in Convoy KM 62G

21 November 1942 was damaged after fouling a sunken wreck whilst on Fleet Attendant Duties at Oran

9 December 1942 the Naval Officer in command at Oran reported that Abbeydale's damage had been repaired

15 December 1942 a signal from C.S. Gibraltar and copied in the Admiralty War diary of this day reports that the damage to her No 7 port tank and pumproom required the ship to be dry docked for 2 or 3 days. Until this was done the tank could not be used. The ship also required a refit and it was suggested that she be returned to the UK for his to be done.

22 December 1942 sailed from Algiers in convoy MKS 4 to the Mersey arriving 6 January 1943. RFA Derwentdale was in this same convoy making to the Clyde

8 January 1943 under going repairs 

11 January 1943 Captain George F Rutter RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master. Mr A D Harris RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 March 1943 repairs completed

3 March 1943 sailed Liverpool in convoy ON170 and acted as Escort oiler for New York arriving on 20 March 1943

22 March 1943 under going repairs at New York until 24 March 1943

16 June 1943 sailed Gibraltar, along with RFA’s BROWN RANGER and CELEROL, in Convoy KMS 16

18 June 1943 sailed Alexandria in Convoy XTG 2

23 June 1943 shown in a Secret US Naval Operation Order in an Appendix listing the disposition of FFO tankers as at Algiers together with RFA Empire Salvage and RFA Orangeleaf (1) 

27 June 1943 17.04 hrs  torpedoed by the German submarine U73 (Oberleutnant zur See Horst Deckert) and badly damaged (broken in half) in the Mediterranean off the Algerian Coast at 36.53N 01.55E while part of convoy XTG-2 in ballast. No fatalities. Towed by HMSV SALVESTOR to Algiers and repaired during 1944/5 at Taranto Dockyard.

29 September 1944 Electrician Neilson Davie Bruce discharged dead

Electrician Bruce's entry on the Tower Hill Memorial

14 October 1944 her after part arrived Taranto in tow

18 October 1944 her fore part arrived Taranto in tow

30 May 1945 was finally taken in hand for rejoining and permanent repairs

25 April 1946 Captain E Mills RFA appointed as Master

July 1946 permanent repairs completed

27 September 1947 Captain S Sonley RFA appointed as Master

6 November 1947 Captain E Mills RFA appointed as Master again

12 November 1947 Mr D S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 June 1948 berthed at Sydney, NSW to discharge

24 August 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

28 August 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

23 November 1948 Captain D A Rees RFA appointed as Master

14 January 1949 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

18 January 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

26 November 1949 arrived Fremantle, Australia from Abadan

30 November 1949 sailed Fremantle, Australia for Abadan

5 April 1950 Mr A D Harris RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 July 1950 berthed at Fremantle, Australia from Abadan

17 July 1950 sailed Fremantle, Australia for Abadan

22 December 1950 arrived Sydney, Australia to discharge from Abadan

27 May 1951 at Abadan Hospital Fireman Allee Razak discharged dead from typhoid

25 September 1951 Captain T G Hill RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master

18 August 1952 Mr J H McKenzie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 September 1953 Captain P H Brooke RFA appointed as Master

5 August 1954 Captain F C Holt RFA appointed Master

17 October 1954 Mr H S Edwards RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

30 November 1955 Captain G W Webster RFA appointed Master

15 December 1955 Mr J G Simpson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 January 1957 Mr P Ryan RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 February 1957 Captain Robert D Almond RFA appointed Master. He remained in command until 1 July 1958

16 April 1957 Mr R C Veitch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 July 1958 Captain E E A LeSage RFA appointed as Master

30 November 1958 Mr C H Gurr RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

27 May 1959 Deck Tindal Eusoof Nooroodeen discharged dead. He was killed when he fell down an open tank and suffered multiple injuries

29 July 1959 arrived Devonport to destore

18 September 1959 laid up at  Devonport

5 July 1960 offered for sale by the Ministry of Transport 'as lying' at Devonport in The Times of this day

11 August 1960 sold to BISCO for scrap

4 September 1960 arrived Thomas Ward's Barrow in tow of the British tug CAMPAIGNER for breaking up

14 September 1960 breaking up commenced

Notes:

She was originally destined to be one of a Class of  what was to become 93 tankers over a 15 year period, the lead ship of this Class being launched as BRITISH FAME on 19 June 1936

RFA Advice

Previous name:
Subsequent name:      

Official Number:                     301063                                                                     

Class:                                   Originally ACCORD CLASS but later CONFIANCE CLASS Tug

Pennant No:                         A89

Laid down:
Builder:                                 A & J Inglis
Launched:                            16 October 1958
Into Service:                         17 June 1959
Out of service:                      1984
Fate:                                   Sunk as a target June 1985

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data: There were originally 2 ships in this Class but a further 3, formerly rated as Dockyard Tugs, were officially added to the Class in 1971 as part of the RMAS Ocean Towing Force. Fitted with 2.50m dia Kanewa controllable pitch propellers. All were fitted for fire fighting and salvage work and also had a towing winch. They were used for both harbour and ocean towing duties but were not popular at sea due to their extreme liveliness in rough weather. Bollard pull was 24.6 tons. Their normal complement was 29 with a further 13 members of a salvage party. Four of the Class saw service as RFA’s. The full Class was as follows:

16 October 1958 launched by A & J Inglis Ltd, Pointhouse as Yard Nr 1580 P named ADVICE

 November 1959 based at Devonport

9 November 1959 Captain J A D Henchley RFA appointed as Master 

24 November 1959 Mr F D Wilhelmsen appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 September 1960 Captain T Winstanley RFA appointed as Master 

16 December 1960 docking and repairs completed at Devonport

19 February 1961 Captain R F Dunkley RFA appointed as Master 

23 May 1963 arrived at Gibraltar from Portsmouth with HMS Troubridge in tow

24 May 1963 sailed Gibraltar for Malta with HMS Troubridge in tow 

31 May 1963 towing HMS Troubridge arrived at Malta for refit with an RN running crew of one officer and 40 ratings

2 June 1963 sailed Malta for Gibraltar where she took HMS Rocket in tow for Portsmouth

September 1963 sailed to Singapore towing HM Tug Diver

January 1964 transferred to PAS Singapore

October 1971 steaming crew for passage

1 November 1971 on passage to UK towing PAS tug Spaniel plus a lighter - suffered engine room fire - HMS Albion diverted to her, boarded her and extinguished the blaze. She was returned to Singapore for repairs.

January 1972 resumed passage to the UK

2 February 1972 at Gibraltar towing Spaniel

February 1972 transferred to PAS at Devonport

1 October 1976 transferred to RMAS 

6 July 1983 operating from Portland vice Confiance

December 1984 at Portsmouth on disposal list

June 1985 sailed Portsmouth in tow of tug CONFIDENT to be sunk as a target

Ships of the same name