Lower image courtesy of Rossbay - NAV Gatling at Lisahally

Previous name:
Subsequent name:   

Official Number                                  180827

                                                                       
Class:                                                  GATLING CLASS Armament Stores Carrier

Pennant No:                                        A376

Laid down:
Builder:                                                 Lobnitz & Co Ltd, Renfrew
Launched:                                           9 July 1945
Into Service:                                         25 October 1945
Out of service:                                     January 1970

Fate:                                                      Scrapped 2 March 1970

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Information: - One of a group of five coasters which were not normally classed as RFA’s They are included here as the ancestors of the more modern ammunition ships These five ships were designed by the Director of Naval Construction to the requirements of the Naval Armament Department. They were designed for Pacific Operations to carry ammunition from larger ships offshore which were of too deep a draught to go close inshore to the coastal areas or small harbours and had their bottoms strengthened to permit grounding when loaded if required. This was a 1943 plan connected with a future invasion of Japan. As there was no requirement to carry large naval guns they were provided with two cargo holds. The order for them was placed in October 1944 and none of them was completed before the end of hostilities, which meant that only one of them (GATLING) was needed to proceed to the Far east to assist in the rehabilitation of Singapore. GATLING and NORDENFELT were completed to mercantile standards and were registered and classed with Lloyds Register and were run on National Maritime Board conditions, while the other three were on “Yard Craft” Dockyard agreements and were completed with naval style accommodation.

9 July 1945 Launched by Lobnitz & Co Ltd, Renfrew as Yard Nr 1085 named GATLING

25 October 1945 completed to Mercantile Standards

9 June 1946 arrived Singapore to assist in that port’s rehabilitation. She afterwards steamed to Ceylon, undertaking duties on the Indian Coast, before returning to the U.K

January 1970  on the Disposal List

2 March 1970 arrived Passage West in tow for demolition by Haulbowline Industries Ltd

Notes:

1. Based at Naval Armaments Depots at SIngapore and Priddy's Hard between 1945 and 1959

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                          168175

Class:                                            RANGER CLASS Fleet Attendant Oiler

Pennant No:                                  X30 / A130

Laid down:                                    14 May 1940
Builder:                                          Caledon, Dundee
Launched:                                     12 March 1941
Into Service:                                  4 July 1941
Out of service:                              July 1973
Fate:                                               Broken up at Hong Kong

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:  The 6 ships in this Class were designed in the mid -1930’s by Rowland Baker as replacements for the 2000t BELGOL CLASS and were the first Admiralty-designed tankers since the  1917 5000t FAST LEAF CLASS. As originally built, for camouflage purposes, they had canvas deckhouses, a dummy plate funnel forward, their foremast was on the starboard bow, the wheelhouse was offset to port, and in some cases their genuine funnel was cut low and was on the port quarter, fitted with a spark arrester. Originally armed with 1 x 4” LA, 1 x 12 pdr HA/LA and several Lewis guns, as the War progressed the armament fits altered and finally averaged 1 x 4” HA, 1 x 40mm Bofors and 4 x single 20mm Oerlikons. These vessels served extensively as Escort Tankers on the Russian Convoys, Norwegain coastal raids, Malta Convoys and with the British Pacific Fleet. Apart from GRAY RANGER which became a War Loss, the Class had exceptionally long Service lives and were finally replaced by the ROVER CLASS

12 March 1941 launched by Caledon Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee as Yard Nr 389 named GOLD RANGER

 March 1941 Mr R R Darroch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 June 1941 Captain P H Brooke RFA appointed as Master

4 July 1941 completed

5 July 1941 sailed Dundee to join the Fleet Fuelling Service arriving at Grangemouth the same day

7 July 1941 sailed Grangemouth

11 July 1941 at Leith Docks

27 July 1941 arrived Methil Roads

31 July 1941 sailed Methil Roads

8 August 1941 arrived Scapa Flow for OAS trials remaining there until 9 December 1941

August 1941 undertook OAS trials with the cruiser HMS BERWICK using the Trough Method

3 November 1941 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK to refuel her with 551 tons of FFO

12 December 1941 sailed Lyness to the Clyde arriving the next day

15 December 1941 at Glasgow for repairs remaining on the Clyde and area until early January 1942

18 January 1942 directed to be part of Convoy OS 17 from Liverpool but did not sail.

29 January 1942 refuelled from RFA DEWDALE (1)

8 February 1942 arrived at Freetown

19 April 1942 sailed Freetown in convoy ST20. The convoy dispersed on 19 April 1942

25 May 1942 arrived Freetown

22 October 1942 Captain Raymond V Boodle RFA appointed as Master

4 January 1943 ordered to sail from the East Indies to act as Fleet Attendant Oiler at Durban

8 January 1943 sailed Mombasa for refit in Durban

17 January 1943 arrived Durban

17 April 1943 sailed Durban independently to Mombasa arriving on 23 April 1943

14 November 1943 sailed Mombasa

17 November 1943 returned back at Mombasa

17 February 1944 Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

7 April 1945 sailed Mombasa independently to Colombo arriving on 16 April 1945

17 April 1945 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving on 19 April 1945

26 April 1945 sailed Trincomalee

2 May 1945 took part in Operation Dracula - the entry into Rangoon - along with RFA ECHODALE

3 May 1945 Captain E C Rogers RFA appointed as Master

4 May 1945 sailed Kyaukpyu in convoy KRS1A arriving at Rangoon on 19 May 1945

19 May 1945 sailed Rangoon independently to Trincomalee arriving 25 May 1945

26 June 1945 sailed Trincomalee independently to Bombay arriving 1 July 1945

7 July 1945 under going repairs at Bombay Dockyard completed 20 August 1945

26 July 1945 Mr J A McKenzie RFA appointed Chief Engineer Officer

24 September 1946 struck by a practice torpedo in Portland Harbour during test firing

15 October 1946 Captain Douglas N J Williams RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master

28 November 1946 Mr W E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

27 October 1947 Mr W H Macfarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 May 1948 Captain W R Parker RFA appointed as Master

8 October 1948 sailed from Bermuda with RN ships shortly before what was described as the most destructive hurricane to hit the Island for 20 years arrived. She safely rode out the hurricane at sea before returning to the Island.

Between 1949 and 1950 Gold Ranger was based in the West Indies and during this period she made a number of excursions to the Antarctic in support of various expeditions.

30 March 1949 involved in exercises with UK, US and Canadian Naval units off the US Naval Base at Guatanamo Bay, Cuba 

November 1949 accompanied RRS JOHN BISCOE to the South Shetlands and Deception Islands in  Antarctica

2 December 1949 - Operation Corkscrew - providing aviation fuel at Deception Island, Antartica for aircraft being used by the Falkland Island Dependencies Survey.

16 February 1950 Mr W E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 December 1950 Captain James H Chant RFA appointed as Master

7 March 1951 Mr D S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

31 August 1951 involved in major naval exercises with the Home Fleet around the UK and off Gibraltar

10 January 1952 Mr W H Macfarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

19 September 1952 at Rosyth with USS Fred T Berry DDE585 alongside refuelling her

3 October 1952 took part in Operation Hurricane 1 - the first British atomic bomb tests at the Monte Bello Islands off NW Australia  - along with 6 other RFA’s

13 October 1952 Mr R C Veitch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 February 1953 Captain Alfred Mathews Uglow RFA appointed as Master

11 September 1953 Captain Leslie G Rowling DSC RFA appointed as Master

28 December 1953 Mr C D Reid RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 April 1954 Mr J C Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 June 1955 RASed HMAS Warramunga and HMAS Arunta

14 July 1955 Mr Lionel W Pool RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 August 1955 took part in Exercise Comex between Kure and Kagoshima with RN Units

4 August 1957 at Khor Kuwai when she RASed HMS Loch Fada

15 March 1956 Captain S J Pethurst RFA appointed as Master

31 October 1956 in Operation Musketeer - the Suez Crisis - along with 34 other RFA’s

9 July 1957 Mr J Brett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 August 1957 RAS'ed with HMS Loch Fada at Khor Kuwai, Persian Gulf

22 November 1957 Captain R J Lockwood RFA appointed as Master

1957 to 1960 supported Operation Grapple - the British H-bomb test at Christmas  Island in the Pacific Ocean  - along with 16 other RFA’s

24 February 1958 to 1March 1958 involved in fleet exercises with RFA's Wave Master, Fort Charlotte, Fort Sandusky, HMS Newcastle and 9 other RN ships

25 March 1958 berthed at Jesselton with HMNZS Royalist

17 February 1959 RAS'ed HMS Cavalier between Hong Kong and Singapore

30 April 1959 Captain N B J Stapleton RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master

23 March 1960 Mr R E Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 December 1960 4th Engineer Norman G Cowell RFA discharged dead - he is buried in Kranji Military Cemetery, Singapore in Plot 14 Row D Grave 17

Image supplied by Tony Beck with thanks

18 March 1961 Captain Dan de V Moulds RFA appointed as Master

4 May 1961 Mr J Scott RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

July 1961 provided support during Operation Vantage - the Kuwait Crisis -along with 12 other RFA’s

7 April 1962 Captain Walter Gibb MBE RFA appointed as Master

23 May 1962 with RN units was engaged on anti pirate patrols in the Tawau area and off the Celebes

4 June 1962 berthed at SIngapore Naval Base

14 June 1962 Mr C D Reid RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 March 1963 Captain B H Lawrence RFA appointed as Master

16 August 1963 Captain Charles Stuart Bonshaw Irwin DSO DSC RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (ret)) appointed as Master

28 January 1964 her Ship‘s Badge was officially presented to her.

31 July 1964 Mr J R Ramsey RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

January 1965 to 11 August 1965 provided support to RN units from the Far East Fleet and units of an Inshore Squadron during the Indonesian Confrontation along with RFA’s EDDYROCK, FORT CHARLOTTE, TIDEREACH and WAVE SOVEREIGN

1 September 1965 Captain G Bray MBE RFA appointed as Master

12 September 1965 Mr R C Veitch RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 October 1965 in the Moro Gulf (off Philippines East Coast) RASed with HMAS Curlew 

7 April 1966 Captain J G M Coull RFA appointed as Master

22 March 1967 Captain C W P Summer RFA appointed as Master

26 April 1967 Mr Ronald C Putt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer Ronald C Putt RFA

The insigna of the Dragon Squadron (6MCMS) was displayed on her funnel.

23 October 1967 involved in the rescue of an Indonesian ship Perak which was adrift in the Nicobar Strait. She towed the Perak with 19 crew on board to Sabang. North Sumatra.

February 1968 Captain R M Miller RFA appointed as Master

2 April 1968 inadvertenly entered, by one mile, waters claimed by the Government of Communist China and was escorted to the International shipping lane to Hong Kong by Chinese gun boats

18 August 1968 Mr G R Henderson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

December 1969 Captain E G May DSC RFA appointed as Master

22 March 1970 RASed with HMNZS Taranaki while on passage from Hong Kong to Manila

4 May 1971 berthed at SIngapore

31 October 1971 Took part in the final steam past of  17 ships from the RN, RAN, RNZN and RFA Far  East Fleet in the Singapore Straits after the closure of the naval base there which also included RFA’s FORT SANDUSKY, OLNA (3), RELIANT (2), RESOURCE, STROMNESS, TIDEFLOW and TIDEPOOL. Immediately afterwards for 3 hectic  days  she participated in  Operation Curtaincall - a combined RN, RAN, RNZN and RFA Fleet Exercise off the NW coast of Malaysia

23 September 1972 2nd Officer Malcolm Douglas Cameron Lee RFA discharged dead after an accident in Singapore -he was buried at sea

22 December 1972 arrived Singapore for the last time to destore and to be laid up

7 March 1973 offered for sale this day in the Straits Times, Singapore

5 April 1973 on the Disposal List - closing date for tenders

July 1973 sold out of service to Tunas Tankers & Bunkering Service Pte Ltd under the  Singapore flag

March 1977 broken up at Hong Kong by Lee Sing & Co Ltd

Previous name:                      
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                      363145

Class:                                       ROVER CLASS Small Fleet Tanker

Pennant No:                             A271

Laid down:                               
Builder:                                     Swan Hunter, Wallsend
Launched:                                7 March 1973
Into Service:                             22 March 1974
Out of service:
Fate:

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   In 1967, tenders were invited for what eventually turned out to be 5 ships in this Class. Owing to unsatisfactory performance from the original engines, which had been a political decision, the first 3 ships in the Class were re-engined in 1974. The final 2 ships differed slightly from the earlier 3 and had improved accommodation standards and different stern anchor arrangements

7 March 1973 launched by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd, Wallsend as Yard Nr 59  named GOLD ROVER. The Lady Sponsor was Mrs M. Lovett, the wife of Mr P.J. Lovett  MBE, the then DST (AS)

6 December 1973 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her

9 March 1974 Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA appointed as Master

Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA

22 March 1974 completed at a cost of £7.7m

10 July 1974 until 30 September 1974 stood by off Cyprus following a coup d’etat attempt  and subsequent Turkish invasion with a Task Force including the carrier HMS HERMES with 41 Commando Royal Marines and RFA’s  OLNA (3), OLWEN (2) and REGENT

22 July 1975 along with RFA’s TARBATNESS and TIDESPRING sailed U.K. as part of Task Group 317.3 led by the guided missile destroyer HMS GLAMORGAN

24 June 1977 to 29 June 1977 took part in the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead with eight other RFA's and unots of the Royal Navy and foreign navies

16 August 1977 Captain Rex A Cooper RFA appointed as Master

5 September 1977 Carried out successful feasibility abeam refuelling trials with the British merchant tanker BRITISH TAMAR which was earmarked for duties in wartime as a Convoy Escort Oiler, to establish whether or not an RFA oiler could load its own  cargo tanks by accepting fuel from commercial products tankers underway without  the need for prior fitting of specialised RAS equipment on the commercial vessel

1982 did not see service during the Falklands Conflict as she was out in Singapore at the time

29 July 1982 assisted a Special Forces demonstration in Poole Bay

1 November 1984 Mr E M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

14 November 1984 sailed Gibraltar after refit - the last RFA to be refitted in the HM Dockyard  there

31 August 1985 berthed at Pensacola after avoiding Hurricane Elena in the Gulf of Mexico

9 June 1986 humanitarian relief - was in Operation Jubilee along with the frigate HMS ARIADNE after heavy rains in Jamaica

26 July 1990 Captain Brian J Waters RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

1 September 1990 Lost her rudder in severe weather in the South Atlantic and sent out a distress call.   Some of her crew were airlifted off and she managed to get to anchor 17 miles east of  Lively island to ride out the storm

20 November 1990 Captain Peter Robinson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

18 April 1992 Humanitarian aid - along with the frigate HMS CAMPBELTOWN, she assisted the Panamanian-registered tanker WORLD HITACHI ZOSEN on fire after a collision off West Africa with the bulk carrier CLIPPER PIONEER

15 April 1995 Captain Peter A Robinson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

13 April 1996 put on standby off Liberia after breakdown in civil rule in that country

16 October 1996 Humanitarian aid - rescued 3 St Vincent nationals adrift in an open boat

2 to 4 November 1998 Humanitarian aid - whilst supporting the frigate HMS SUTHERLAND she acted as a helicopter refuelling point off South Georgia during the evacuation of a seriously ill woman from the cruise liner EXPLORER

15 September 1999 sailed Mayport naval base to avoid Hurricane Floyd bearing down on the port.

18 January 2000 towed back to Plymouth by two RMAS tugs when she broke down off the Lizard Point.

15 February 2000 rescued trawler taking in water in the English Channel after pan pan alert from Brixham coast guard

28 May 2001 along with RFA’s TIDESPRING, SIR PERCIVALE and DILIGENCE she featured  on a postage stamp issued by South Georgia and the South Sandwich Isles

13 November 2001 Humanitarian aid - rescued 4 crew from the yacht  BON SOCOUR in the North Atlantic

23 February 2002 Captain Peter Farmer RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

14 October 2002 to 20 December 2002 in refit

May 2003 visited Freetown, Sierra Leone

11 December 2003 visited Luanda, Angola with HMS Glasgow for a courtesy call

23 March 2004 Captain Shaun Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

3 April 2004 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

13 June 2004 alongside at Montevideo, Uruguay

17 July 2004 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

29 March 2005 Captain (E) Robert J Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

December 2005 in company with the frigate HMS IRON DUKE, met up with solo yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur 2 degrees north of the equator on her yacht  B & Q

13 April 2006 Captain (E) Robert J Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 June 2006 accompanied the frigate HMS CHATHAM to Lagos to mark the 50th Anniversary of  the Nigerian Navy at their Fleet Review by President Obassango

28 June 2006 involved in exercises with Brazillian frigate BNS Bossio and HMS Liverpool off Brazil.

6 October 2006 while supporting the frigate HMS ARGYLL in a multi-national operation off West  Africa, intercepted mv STER 11 seized 1.8 tonnes of cocaine off the coast of West Africa worth an estimated £60 million

1 March 2007 Captain Anthony McNally RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 10 July 2007

22 March 2007 Captain (E) Robert J Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 June 2007 with HRH Prince Edward embarked the Captain and a contingent of the crew attended a memorial service at Fitzroy, East Falkland to those killed on RFA Sir Galahad and RFA Sir Tristram during the Falklands War

July 2007 Captain Paul Minter RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

30 October 2007 arrived at Tristan da Cunha with HMS Southampton

19 November 2007 Captain Paul Minter RFA, Commanding Officer of the Gold Rover presented a copy of 'No Sea to Rough' to the Governor of St. Helena

16 December 2007 arrived at Tristan da Cunha after having been tasked to urgently resupply drugs and medical stores to the island after 271 members of the islands population suffered a viral infection which depleted stocks to a dangerous level

13 March 2008 Captain (E) Robert J Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 April 2008 berthed at Gibraltar from Freetown

21 April 2008 sailed Gibraltar for Portsmouth

25 January 2009 alongside at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

29 April 2009 visited the Island of St. Helena where wreaths were laid at the RFA Darkdale memorial on the Island's Cenotaph in the capital Jamestown

Captain Paul Minter RFA laying his wreath at the RFA Darkdale memorial

© The St. Helena Independent acknowledged

6 May 2009 South Atlantic  - found yacht 'Sea Jade' reported long overdue enroute from St. Helena to Capte Town. As Falklands Island news service reported 'Found needle in field of haystacks'. Yacht was reported with faulty steering and damage to the rigging and had been believed to have been lost in very heavy weather until the successful search undertaken by Gold Rover

30 January 2010 at Jamestown, St. Helena

24 April 2011 joined Lyme Regis and Weymouth RNLI Lifeboats, Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue helicopters from Lee-on-Solent in the search for a missing diver reported to be a man aged 61 and from Bristol, was in an eight-strong group of visiting and local divers operating from a charter boat out of Lyme Regis. Not found - diver given up for dead

26 April 2011 entered Plymouth Sound

8 July 2011 berthed on Yonderberry Pier, Devonport

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                     168210

Class:                                      RANGER CLASS Fleet Attendant Oiler

Pennant No:

Laid down:                              24 June 1940
Builder:                                    Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Dundee
Launched:                               27 May 1941

Into Service:                            25 September 1941
Out of service:                         22 September 1942
Fate:                                         Sunk

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   The 6 ships in this Class were designed in the mid -1930’s by Rowland Baker as replacements for the 2000t BELGOL CLASS and were the first Admiralty-designed tankers since the  1917 5000t FAST LEAF CLASS. As originally built, for camouflage purposes, they had canvas deckhouses, a dummy plate funnel forward, their foremast was on the starboard bow, the wheelhouse was offset to port, and in some cases their genuine funnel was cut low and was on the port quarter, fitted with a spark arrester. Originally armed with 1 x 4” LA, 1 x 12 pdr HA/LA and several Lewis guns, as the War progressed the armament fits altered and finally averaged 1 x 4” HA, 1 x 40mm Bofors and 4 x single 20mm Oerlikons. These vessels served extensively as Escort Tankers on the Russian Convoys, Norwegian coastal raids, Malta Convoys and with the British Pacific Fleet. Apart from GRAY RANGER, which became a War Loss, the Class had exceptionally long Service lives and were finally replaced by the ROVER CLASS

28 August 1939 Ordered

24 June 1940 laid down

27 May 1941launched by Caledon Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee as Yard Nr 390 named GRAY RANGER

11 July 1941 Mr D L S Hood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 September 1941 Captain Howard D Gausden RFA appointed as Master. The ship was fitted with special arrangements for OAS using captured German buoyant rubber hose and the new British self-rendering winch. The German equipment had been transferred from EMPIRE GARDEN the former German oiler GEDANIA which had been captured by the Ocean Boarding Vessel HMS MARSDALE on  04/06/41 near Iceland. GEDANIA had been converted by the Kriegsmarine at St  Nazaire to carry fuel and supplies to German commerce raiders in the Atlantic and to bring back prisoners taken from sunken ships

25 September 1941 completed. Joined the Fleet Fuelling Service

30 September 1941sailed Dundee to Leith arriving the same day

1 October 1941 German OAS gear from the captured German fleet supply ship GEDANIA was transferred to her at Leith, together with a report of the rubber hose trials conducted in the Clyde area on 04 September

4 October 1941 sailed Leith to Scapa Flow arriving on 12 October 1941

28 October 1941 conducted OAS trials with RFA  EMPIRE SALVAGE

21 December 1941 sailed Scapa Flow in company with the Belgian landing ship PRINS ALBERT to support Operation Anklet - the second Commando raid on  the Lofoten Islands

22 December 1941 arrived Sullom Voe

23 December 1941 sailed Lerwick for Operation Anklet in company with the Belgian landing ship  PRINS  ALBERT escorted by HM destroyers ESKIMO and LAMERTON

31 December 1941 conducted OAS trials with the destroyer HMS BEDOUIN using the captured  German hose and reported satisfactory results

1 January 1942 arrived Scapa Flow on completion of Operation Anklet

7 February 1942 sailed Scapa Flow for Sullom Voe escorted by the escort destroyer HMS CHIDDINGFORD

10 April 1942 sailed Oban in convoy PQ15 initially to Reykjavik 

13 April 1942 was damaged whilst going alongside the carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS

26 April 1942 sailed Reykjavik in Convoy PQ 15 consisting of 25 merchantmen as Force Q along  with the escort destroyer HMS LEDBURY to Murmansk

1 May 1942 detached from Convoy PQ 15 to join the homeward bound Convoy QP11

6 May 1952 detached to Lerwick with the escort destroyer HMS LEDBURY to replenish  the diesel fuel stocks there

8 May 1942 arrived Lerwick

23 June 1942 sailed Scapa Flow

27 June 1942 sailed Reykjavik to Murmansk in convoy PQ17 consisting of 36 merchantmen along with  RFA ALDERSDALE

31 June 1942 struck submerged ice floes which buckled her bows and she was ordered to return to port, being replaced by RFA ALDERSDALE (which was later sunk, one of the 24 ships lost in total)

2 July 1942 joined Convoy QP13 consisting of 35 merchantmen as Force Q along with the destroyer HMS DOUGLAS

9 July 1942 arrived Scapa Flow

14 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her

17 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her

21 July 1942 sailed Loch Ewe to Methil in convoy WN312 arriving 23 July 1942

23 July 1942 sailed Methil to the River Tyne arriving the next day

17 August 1942 sailed the River Tyne to Methil in convoy FN787arriving the next day

19 August 1942 sailed Methil to Loch Ewe in convoy EN126 arriving 21 August 1942

25 August 1942 arrived Newcastle for repairs having struck an iceberg while part of Convoy PQ17.

2 September 1942 sailed Loch Ewe to Archangel in convoy PQ18 as escort oiler with RFA Black Ranger and RFA Oligarth

13 September 1942 sailed Archangel as escort oiler in convoy QP14 together with RFA Black Ranger and RFA Oligarth

22 September 1942 torpedoed and sunk at approximately 70N 11W by the German submarine U435 while part of Convoy QP14. Six of the crew were killed - their details are in the Roll of Honour for 1942 - they are also all remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial. 2nd Radio Officer Frank E Burtenshaw RFA is also remembered with pride on the Abergwili War Memorial, Carmarthen. Engineer Officer Ronald McLeod RFA is also remembered with pride on a memorial in Dundee (Balgay) Cemetery.

The Tower Hill Memorial 

Abergwili War Memorial, Carmarthen remembering 2nd Radio Officer Burtenshaw

(with an incorrect month of his death)

Thirty three survivors from Gray Ranger were rescued by the Convoy Rescue Ship Rathlin. Rathin's success of rescuing sailors from sunken ships during this convoy resulted in 210 survivors being taken on board. The rescue ships crew of 71 (plus one dog) resulted in food shortages. Permission was given for Rathlin and another convoy rescue ship Zamalek to leave the convoy and sail under escort to Iceland. They arrived at Seidisfjord late on the 23 September 1942

26 September 1942 the survivors were finally landed at Gourock

Notes:

She was sunk within minutes of the American freighter BELLINGHAM and  the British OCEAN  VOICE which was carrying the Commodore.

Previous name:                        
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                   168231

Class:                                    RANGER CLASS Fleet Attendant Oiler

Pennant No:                          X 42 / B 515 / A 152

Laid down:                            23 September 1940
Builder:                                 Caledon, Dundee
Launched:                             22 August 1941
Into Service:                          4 December 1941
Out of service:
Fate:                                      18 November 1962 ran aground when under tow from Plymouth to Cardiff. Total loss.

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   The 6 ships in this Class were designed in the mid -1930’s by Rowland Baker as replacements for the 2000t BELGOL CLASS and were the first Admiralty-designed tankers since the  1917 5000t FAST LEAF CLASS. As originally built, for camouflage purposes, they had canvas deckhouses, a dummy plate funnel forward, their foremast was on the starboard bow, the wheelhouse was offset to port, and in some cases their genuine funnel was cut low and was on the port quarter, fitted with a spark arrester. Originally armed with 1 x 4” LA, 1 x 12 pdr HA/LA and several Lewis guns, as the War progressed the armament fits altered and finally averaged 1 x 4” HA, 1 x 40mm Bofors and 4 x single 20mm Oerlikons. These vessels served extensively as Escort Tankers on the Russian Convoys, Norwegian coastal raids, Malta Convoys and with the British Pacific Fleet. Apart from GRAY RANGER which became a War Loss, the Class had exceptionally long Service lives and were finally replaced by the ROVER CLASS

28 August 1939 ordered

23 September 1940 laid down

21 August 1941 launched by Caledon Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee as Yard Nr 391 named GREEN RANGER

24 October 1941 Mr J J Moore RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

November 1941 Captain Horace W Taylor RFA appointed as Master

4 December 1941 completed and joined the Fleet  Fuelling Service as an Aviation Spirit Carrier. She  was the Navy’s first large spirit carrier with white oil. She spent many years out East, based firstly at Mombasa

20 February 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN49 to Oban arriving on 23 February 1942

23 February 1942 sailed Oban in convoy OS20 to Freetown arriving 12 March 1942

15 May 1942 sailed Cape Town independently to Mombasa arriving 27 May 1942

18 July 1942 sailed Freetown independently to Takoradi arriving 24 July 1942

25 July 1942 sailed Takoradi independently to Lagos arriving 26 July 1942

12 August 1942 sailed Lagos independently to Cape Town arriving 23 August 1942

9 September 1942 sailed Cape Town independently to Mombasa arriving 21 September 1942

1 November 1942 24 of her Ratings, along with 29 Ratings from RFA EAGLESDALE and 1 Officer from RFA ARNDALE were being repatriated to the UK aboard the MOWT troopship  ss MENDOZA when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-178 70 miles ENE of Durban in position 29.13 S 32.13 E whilst sailing independently from Mombasa to Durban - one of the Green Ranger's crew - Able Seaman Sydney David Fawns Cochrane discharged dead. He is remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial

1 February 1943 sailed Kilindini independently arriving Addu Atoll arriving 11 February 1943

14 February 1943 sailed Addu Atoll in convoy A3 to Colombo arriving 18 February 1943

19 February 1943 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving on 21 February 1943

28 February 1943 sailed Trincomalee independently to Colombo arriving on 1 March 1943

2 March 1943 sailed Colombo in convoy MB27 to Bombay arriving 6 March 1943

19 March 1943 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving 20 March 1943

15 April 1943 sailed Bombay independently to Bandar Abbas arriving 20 April 1943

21 April 1943 sailed Banda Abbas independently to Abadan arriving 23 April 1943

24 April 1943 sailed Abadan 

28 April 1943 sailed Bandar Abbas in convoy PA35 to Aden arriving 6 May 1943

6 May 1943 sailed Aden independently to Suez arriving 10 May 1943

12 May 1943 sailed Port Said independently to Alexandria arriving 14 May 1943

15 May 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy MW28 to Malta arriving 21 May 1943

3 June 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy XTG1 to Sousse arriving 10 June 1943

13 September 1943 refueled Italian Battleships "Italia" and "Vittorio Veneto" at Mersa Sarobh prior to them sailing to Alexandria

14 October 1943 Captain George S Perry RFA appointed as Master

26 November 1943 Captain Horace W Taylor RFA discharged dead. He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium

18 December 1943 sailed Malta in convoy UGS25 to Port Said arriving 21 December 1943

7 January 1944 sailed Abadan independently to Colombo arriving 16 January 1944

16 January 1944 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving the next day

4 November 1944 Mr W E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 November 1944 sailed Trincomalee independently arriving the next day

10 December 1944 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee 12 December 1944

1 February 1945 sailed Trincomalee independently to Bombay arriving 6 February 1945

February/March/April 1945 undergoing repairs at Bombay

16 April 1945 sailed Bombay independently to Colombo arriving 19 April 1945

26 April 1945 sailed Colombo independently to Darwin arriving 15 May 1945

18 May 1945 sailed Darwin independently to Manus arriving 24 May 1945

August 1945 Was attached to the British Pacific Fleet along with RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), BISHOPDALE, BROWN RANGER, CEDARDALE,  DINGLEDALE, EASEDALE, EMPIRE SALVAGE, RAPIDOL, SERBOL,  WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE GOVERNOR, WAVE KING, WAVE MONARCH and HMS (later RFA) OLNA (2)

30 August 1945 sailed Manus independently to Hong Kong arriving on 9 September 1945

13 October 1945 Arrived Manus 

17 November 1945 Captain Robert  D Almond RFA appointed as Master. Remained in command until 9 March 1946

14 February 1946 arrived at Dreger (Papua New Guinea)

22 Febbruary 1946 sailed Dreger (Papua New Guinea) to Port Moresby arriving 24 February 1946

26 March 1946 arrived Bombay from Port Moresby

4 April 1946 sailed Bombay to Abadan arriving 8 April 1946

12 June 1946 Captain E W J Rousell RFA appointed as Master

23 August 1946 Mr D S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 September 1946 was accidentally struck by a torpedo fired during a naval firing exercise in Portland Harbour. She was struck below the waterline but remained afloat and was repaired.

25 October 1947 Mr A B Tate RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

31 October 1947 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master

21 September 1948 arrived at Singapore

4 August 1949 Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

9 February 1950 Captain E Payne RFA appointed as Master

25 June 1950 to the 27 July 1953 saw service during the Korean War along with 18 other RFA’s and was awarded the Korea 1951-52 Battle Honour. Became part of the British Fleet Train as part of the  U.S. 7th Fleet and formed Task Force 77 based at Sassebo

6 January 1951 Mr J G Simpson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

12 March 1951 moored alongside USS Opleck (DD886) refuelling her - the US ships log shows she received 150,472 gallons of fuel oil.

13 June 1951 received contaminated fuel off loaded from HMS Glory

29 February 1952 Captain Frederick G Evans RFA appointed as Master

Awarded the Battle Honour Korea 1951 - 1952

7 September 1953 Mr Harry F Duce DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 December 1953 Captain Hubert G Carkeet RFA appointed Master

4 June 1954 arrived at Malta while on passange from the Far East to the UK flying a paying off pennant

28 November 1954 Mr G Bray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

February 1955 Captain A H Mackenzie RFA appointed as Master

22 September 1955 Captain Frank S Samson RFA appointed Master

Captain Frank S Samson RFA

29 November 1955 sailed Malta with RFA Blue Ranger and HMS Ark Royal for Toulon

8 December 1955 arrived at Malta with RFA Blue Ranger and HMS Ark Royal from Toulon

5 March 1956 Captain Henry O L'Estrange DSC RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master and Mr J Ross RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

31 July 1956 was chartered for supplying  fuel to US and Canadian Arctic stations accompanied by the ice breaker D'Iberville 

31 July 1957 in collision with the Norwegian BUCCANEER in fog off Beachy Head, but managed to reach Southampton safely

6 September 1957 Captain George Robson RFA appointed as Master

12 September 1957 Mr E Smeaton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 September 1957 put into Lisbon with engine trouble

1957 to 1958 supported Operation Grapple - the British H-bomb test at Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean - along with 16 other RFA’s

14 April 1958 RASed with HMS Cardigan Bay while she was on passage from Hong Kong to Bankok

17 April 1958 RAS'ed with HMS St. Brides Bay while the RN ship was on passage between Hong Kong and Sasebo

1958 to 1962 Laid up in Operational Reserve at Devonport

18 November 1962 whilst on her way from Reserve to refit at Cardiff in tow of the tug CASWELL in a Force 8 gale, the tow broke and was blown ashore off Mansley Cliff, North Devon. Her Crew of 7 were rescued by breeches buoy

8 December 1962 she broke in two overnight and became a total loss

Notes:

1.  Was part of the British Pacific Fleet Train - hence the B-pennant number 

Previous name:
Subsequent name:              KRI Arun

Official Number:                    337864

Class:                                     ROVER CLASS Small Fleet Tanker

Pennant No:                           A268 / 903

Laid down:                             28 February 1968
Builder:                                   Swan Hunter, Hebburn on Tyne
Launched:                              19 December 1968 
Into Service:                           15 August 1969
Out of service:                       1992
Fate:                                        In service with Indonesian Navy as 'KRI Arun'

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   In 1967, tenders were invited for what eventually turned out to be 5 ships in this Class. Owing to unsatisfactory performance from the original engines, which had been a political decision, the first 3 ships in the Class were re-engined in 1974. The final 2 ships differed slightly from the earlier 3 and had improved accommodation standards and different stern anchor arrangements.

January 1968 ordered

28 February 1968 laid down

19 December 1968 Launched by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd, Hebburn  as Yard Nr 6  named GREEN ROVER. The Lady Sponsor was Mrs R.H. Shipway, the wife of the Director of Fuel, Movements & Transport (Naval)

March 1969 Captain Archibald Proudlock RFA appointed as Master

9 July 1969 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her

15 August 1969 completed at a cost of £3m

16 August 1969 was accepted from the builders. 2 months ahead of the original planned date

17 August 1969 sailed from the Tyne after acceptance from the builders and proceeded to Chatham  for Navy Days there

September 1969 towed the disabled RFA APPLELEAF (2) from the North Atlantic to Devonport where she underwent extended repairs

17 September 1971 carried out deck landing trials with the new Harrier Jump Jet in the Pool of London

20 June 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 25 June 1973

29 June 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 4 July 1973

8 July 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 11 July 1973

27 July 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 30 July 1973

4 August 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 9 August 1973

14 August 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 19 August 1973

26 August 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 2 September 1973

6 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 14 September 1973

19 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 22 September 1973

December 1973 re-engined with 2 x 16 cyl Pielstick 400 x 460mm diesel engines by Crossley Premier Engines Ltd, Manchester. 15360 bhp. Speed now 19½ knots

17 September 1974 along with RFA’s OLNA (3) and STROMNESS, sailed Portsmouth as part of TaskGroup 317.2 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS BLAKE

29 March 1975 to 26 April 1975 humanitarian aid - was part of Operation Stella along with the frigate HMS LOWESTOFT - the evacuation of refugees from Vietnam

24 November 1975 to 1 June 1976 provided support during the Third  Cod War - the Fishing Dispute with Iceland

25 January 1977 Along with RFA’s STROMNESS and TIDEPOOL sailed Devonport as part of Task Group 317.5 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS TIGER

31 May 1978 along with RFA’s STROMNESS and TIDESPRING sailed Portsmouth as part of  Task Group 317.7 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS BLAKE

5 July 1978 to 7 July 1978 With the frigate HMS JUNO was present off the Virgin Islands owing to internal  security problems

7 August 1980 to 12 August 1980  involved with the frigate HMS SCYLLA off Cayman Islands providing humantarian relief in the wake of Hurricane Allen

1982 Was one of the very few RFA vessels which did not see service during the Falklands Conflict

16 May 1985 The Greek Government refused permission for Green Rover to use refueling facilities at Souda Bay, Crete while the ship was taking part in a NATO Exercise 'Distant Hammer'. The Greek Government was boycotting the NATO Exercise. The ship was deployed to Izmir, Turkey instead

18 August 1985 transferred 1350 gallons of fuel to Richard Branson’s VIRGIN ATLANTIC CHALLENGER during its Blue Riband attempt. Unfortunately the 32-ton vessel overturned just 140 miles (224km) short of its target, the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall  and sank just 4 hours later without completing its Atlantic crossing.

19 May 1988 entered Portsmouth Harbour

27 May 1988 placed in reserve on 30 days notice and was laid up in No 3 Basin

7 April 1992 purchased by her builders who then resold her to the Indonesian Navy for £6m

9 April 1992 Was towed from Portsmouth to the Tyne renamed  KRI ARUN  to be taken in hand for a 4 month refurbishment before re-entering service for her new owners. She became the Flagship of the Training Commander.

22 October 1993 with other Indonesian Naval units berthed at Sydney, NSW on a visit to RAN Navy

24 April 2000 At least 900 people comprising of local elite, religious and community leaders launch a reconciliation effort on aboard to reduce religious tension in Maluku.

11 November 2000 used as a Vice Presidential Yacht by Megawati Sukarnoputri the Vice President of Indonesia for two days in the city of Ambon and Tual, Southeast Maluku District.  112 Navy personnel were deployed to secure the KRI Arun

28 June 2004 caught Hong Kong flagged motor vessel Law Kit Ting carrying about 300 kilogrammes of live Napoleon fish. The ship was also carrying 1.5 tons of group and live lobsters. The ship did not have the necessary authorities to catch this type of fish

14 October 2004 to 17 October 2004 visited Perth, Western Australia with two other units of the Indonesian Navy. The three ships were under the command of Commodore Agus Suhartono, Commander of the Command Task Group

9 December 2004 with two other ships from the Indonesian Navy held joint exercises with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces

February 2006 KRI Arun and two other ships of the Indonesian Navy  impounded fourteen Chinese and Thai as well as nine Indonesian-flagged vessels after catching them red-handed fishing illegally in the Aru Sea, Maluku Province. All of the apprehended vessels were held at the Navy`s bases in Timika and Merauke, Papua Province pending legal proceedings. The Chinese flagged vessels` names were KM Hai Wang, KM Dech Alsung, MV Qiong Yu Wanyu-01, MV Qiong Yu Wanyu-02, MV Hai Xing-01 and MV Hai Xing-02, and the Thai-flagged ones MV Phong Thip Piyapoom, MV Phong Thip Cholphum, MV Por Ruanglarp, MV Netchantri-12, MV Or Apirachainapiee, MV Apirachainapiee-05, MV Sea Hunter, and MV Chaipichitnapiee-12

30 December 2006 A ship with 25 crew members was reported to have sunk in the Suar mandalika waters some 30 nautical miles of South Kalimantan at the early hours "The East Java naval base has sent KRI Arun, another warship and an aircraft to help rescue the victims

23 May 2007 involved in Naval and Army exercises 'Striker Quick Reaction Force'  in Tarakan, East Kalimantan (Kaltim) to enhance the capabilities, skills and professionalism of the Indonesian Forces

10 April 2008 arrested a tramp ship belonging to a Chinese national in the Fak-Fak waters, Papua province. MV Fuyuan Yu F 80  1,344 GT vessel was skippered by Cheng Kong Zhang and had served as a tramper to collect fish catch. It was reported she had the capacity of carry 1,000

12 August 2009 to 20 August 2009 took part in Exercise Sail Bunaken activities with 24 other ships from 14 countries

Notes:

1.  KRI = Kapal Republik Indonesia  = Republic of Indonesia Ship

RFA Greenol as the sand dredger Seastone

Previous name:                        Thames Conservancy Hopper No.6,  Port of London Authority Hopper No.6
Subsequent name:                  Port of London Authority Hopper No.6,  James No.46,  Seastone  

Official Number:                        123823                                                      

Class:                                         ex-PLA HOPPER

Pennant No:                              X28

Laid down:
Builder:                                       Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley
Launched:                                 26 March 1907
Into Service:                               1916
Out of service:
Fate:                                            Broken up February 1982

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   As WW1 progressed, the demand for fuelling ships became more acute and the 6 vessels in this Class were all formerly PLA Hoppers, used for working with the dredgers in London. They lent themselves to rapid conversion into tankers by plating over the bottom sludge door joints and by installing a pipeline and a pump. They were all coal burners that had been built on the River Clyde and after acquisition by the Admiralty, they were renamed after salient features of the River Thames and their new names used the leading parts of the names of London boroughs. In 1920 they were all returned to the PLA and they resumed their previous names. They are all recorded in official records as Royal Fleet Auxiliaries

13 February 1907 Launched by Fleming & Ferguson Ltd, Paisley as Yard Nr 355 named THAMES CONSERVANCY HOPPER No 6 for the Conservators of the River Thames, London

March 1907 completed

1909 Renamed PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY HOPPER No 6 by the Port of London Authority, London

October 1916 chartered by the Admiralty, converted into a tanker and renamed RFA GREENOL

3 October 1916 Engineer Sub Lieutenant T S King RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. He was discharged to RFA Sunhill on 19 May 1919

30 November 1916 Lieutenant James Tedham RNR appointed in command. He was discharged to RFA Sunhill on 19 May 1919.

8 January 1917 Engineer Sub Lieutenant John G W Brown RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 August 1918 Fireman W Melvin MMR 903375 logged as deserting. He had signed on on 19 September 1917  

1920 returned to her owners and resumed her previous name

1927 Purchased by C.H. Campbell Ltd, London

1928 sold to James Dredging and renamed James No 46

October 1930 re-engined with a T. 3 cyl 13” 21½“& 35” x 27” by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen. 100 nhp

1936 purchased by the Union Government of South Africa (Railways and Harbours Administration) for service at Durban, name unchanged

1 September 1944 in collision in Durban Harbour with the tug SIR DAVID HUNTER which sank rapidly, fortunately without loss of life

1961 sold to Foremost Dredging and renamed Seastone and converted to sand suction dredger

1966 purchased by K. Nathan (Pty) Ltd for demolition at Durban in the 3^rd quarter of that year

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                    338950

Class:                                      ROVER CLASS Small Fleet Tanker

Pennant No:                           A269

Laid down:                             28 February 1968
Builder:                                   Swan Hunter, Hebburn on Tyne
Launched:                             17 April 1969

Into Service:                          10 March 1970

Out of service:                       15 March 2006

Fate:                                        Arrived at ship breakers at Liverpool 18 October 2009

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   In 1967, tenders were invited for what eventually turned out to be 5 ships in this Class. Owing to unsatisfactory performance from the original engines, which had been a political decision, the first 3 ships in the Class were re-engined in 1974. The final 2 ships differed slightly from the earlier 3 and had improved accommodation standards and different stern anchor arrangements

17 April 1969 launched by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd, Hebburn as Yard Nr 7  named  GREY ROVER. The Lady Sponsor was Lady Parker ,the wife of Vice Admiral Sir John Parker KBE,CB,DSC who was Flag Officer Medway

9 July 1969 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her

10 April 1970 completed and accepted 3 months later than the original planned date

September 1970 took over from RFA Black Ranger as the FOST tanker

July 1972 anchored in Hollesley Bay near Orfordness in support of the Army’s Operation  Polex 72 - the pumping of  2000 tons of jet fuel, ferried in dracones towed by  workboats to a nearby off-shore pumping station, through a specially constructed 12  mile pipeline to USAF Bases at Bentwaters and Woodbridge

28 July 1973 was struck below the waterline by the Canadian submarine HMCS Okanagan.

15 October 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 18 October 1973

28 October 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 31 October 1973

4 November 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 13 November 1973

April 1974 re-engined with 2 x 16 cyl Pielstick 400 x 460mm diesel engines by Crossley Premier Engines Ltd, Manchester. 15360 bhp. Speed now 19½ knots

25 April 1976 Carried out abeam refuelling trials which involved just the connection of hoses, with the British merchant tanker BRITISH TAMAR

17 June 1976 to 22 June 1976 along with RFA STROMNESS and the frigates HMS EXMOUTH and HMS  MERMAID she stood by off the Lebanon to  evacuate British nationals

June 1977 Captain Roy B Mathews RFA in command

5 September 1977 along with RFA’s REGENT, TARBATNESS and TIDEPOOL sailed Portsmouth as part of Task group 317.6 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS TIGER

7 December 1978 to 9 December 1978  whilst part of Task Group 332.1 on passage from Karachi to the Seychelles was ordered to loiter off Iran owing to civilian unrest and the possible evacuation of  British nationals which resulted in the overthrow of the Shah

17 January 1980 due to the Iranian Crisis was part of the RN Task Force which was despatched to the   Mediterranean to co-operate with the USN along with RFA FORT GRANGE

11 September 1980 Captain Shane Redmond RFA appointed as Master

Captain Shane Redmond RFA

23 June 1981 off Portland Bill the ashes of the late 2nd Officer Roger B Thomas RFA, who died on 10 June 1981,  were scattered in the presence of his parents and several RFA Officers

December 1981Captain Ollie G Lynch RFA in command

7 April 1982 was established as the  resident work-up tanker in the Portland Area

April to June 1982 during Operation Corporate - the Falklands Conflict - she was the only operational  RFA tanker which remained on the Home Coast. She carried out RAS trials with STUFT ships en route to the Falkland Islands in the SW Approaches to the English Channel  whilst herself based at Portland. The smallest vessel worked with was the trawler FARNELLA and the largest was the liner QUEEN ELIZABETH 2

May 1982 undertook a trial RAS with the RMS QE2 prior to the troop ships departure to the Falklands War

10 August 1983 to 16 August 1983 was diverted from Armilla Patrol duties in the Gulf, along with the frigates HMS ANDROMEDA and HMNZS WAIKATO to the vicinity of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean owing to illegal incursions in the area

December 1983 ordered to Cyprus along with the frigates HMS ACHILLES and HMS ANDROMEDA to support Operation Offcut - naval support to British troops in the multi-national force in the Lebanon, along with RFA’s BLUE ROVER,  BRAMBLELEAF (3) and later RELIANT (3)

8 December 1983 released from Operation Offcut and returned to the U.K

25 September 1984 a team from Grey Rover fought a fire on motor yatch YANKEE CLIPPER in Freeport in the Bahamas

April 1994 whilst on patrol off South Georgia she rescued the single-handed yachtswoman Anne  Lise Guy and her boat  WILDFLOWER

10 May 1994 humanitarian aid - assisted 28 surviving crew of the Chilean vessel FIRO SURE V after a severe fire had killed two and injured many others and escorted the  vessel back  to Grytviken

15 June 1998 to 27 November 1998 in refit

28 March 1999 Captain (E) E M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 June 2001 to 20 August 2001 routine docking

30 January 2003 to 20 April 2003 was retasked from the South Atlantic for Operation Telic - the 2nd Gulf War - along  with 13 other RFA‘s

13 February 2003 Captain Anthony McNally RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 1 August 2003

29 May to 3 June 2003 visited ports in South Korea with HMS Liverpool

8 August 2003 returned to Plymouth on completion of Operation Telic duties

30 November 2003 Captain Anthony McNally RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 7 June 2004

2004 conducted the first RAS with a unit of the Singapore Navy.

18 June 2004 with HMS Exeter visited Qingdao, Shangdong Province, People's Republic of China and the North Sea Fleet of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy.

4 January 2005 Captain Anthony McNally RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 1 July 2005

1 July 2005 Captain Shaun Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

18 May 2005 Captain Anthony McNally RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 16 March 2006

2 February 2006 whilst supporting the destroyer HMS SOUTHAMPTON was involved in a major  £350 million drugs bust in the SW Caribbean which involved the merchant ship  RAMPAGE, from which 3.5t of cocaine was seized

15 March 2006 arrived Portsmouth for the last time after destoring in Scotland and was decommissioned

14 October 2009 left Portsmouth under tow of the tug Braveheart to the breakers yard.

18 October 2009 arrived at Canada Graving Dock, Liverpool Bay for demolition by  Leavesley International

RFA Growler (1)

Previous name:                              Marquess of Anglesea
Subsequent name:                        Branksea

Official Number                              145367

Class:                                               Naval Stores Carrier

Pennant No:                                    X28

Laid down:

Builder:                                            Edwards & Symes, Millwall     
Launched:                                      1890  
Into Service:                                   1914

Out of service:                               30 November 1921     
Fate:                                                Sold out of service

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

1890 Launched by Edwards & Symes, Millwall as Y.N.220 named MARQUIS OF ANGLESEY

1890 completed

 October 1891 War Department ship

1914 Naval Stores ship in World War 1 renamed GROWLER

April 1914 Captain J H Skinner RFA appointed as Master

December 1919 Navy List shows the Master to be J H Skinner Esq - no date of appointment shown

30 November 1921 sold out of service and sold to H.J. Beazley

1922 sold to William A. Wilson, 16 Carlton Road, Southampton and renamed Branksea

1927 owners now Branksea S.S. Co. (G.I. Corbu Manager)

1929 sold to Dundee Sand and Lighterage & Co Ltd. 21 Dock Street, Dundee (Charles M Murdock Manager) name unchanged

1940 owned by Tay Sand Co. Ltd name unchanged

20 August 1940 while under the tow of tug Prizeman enroute to Scapa Flow sank at 57'00''N 02'02''W three miles off Girdleness. Cause Unknown. No losses

RFA Growler (2)

Previous name:
Subsequent name:              Caroline Moller, Castle Peak, Growler, Welshman, Cyclone, Martial

Official Number:                    181186

Class:                                     BUSTLER Class Fleet Tug

Pennant No:                           W105  /  A111

Laid down:                             31 January 1942

Builder:                                   Henry Robb, Leith
Launched:                              10 September 1942
Into Service:                           16 May 1943

Out of service:                       1977
Fate:                                        Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   At the outbreak of WW2 there was a need for modern Fleet Tugs to augment the existing numbers, and experience dictated use of a proven, pre-war design to be built in a commercial shipyard. The answer was provided by Henry Robb of Leith who built 8 ships of this Class for the Royal Navy , making them the first RN Fleet Tugs powered by 2 x 8 cylinder diesel engines. The tugs were ordered in pairs. Oil fuel capacity was 405 tons which gave a range of about 1700 miles. As completed, the Class was armed with 1 x 12 pdr AA gun, 1 x 2 pdr AA, 2  x 20 mm AA  and 4 x Lewis .303 machine guns and had a complement of 42. They were designed for ocean towing, salvage and rescue and had a 30 ton bollard pull but were not suitable fior harbour work. Early in the War they were involved in trials of pressure-minesweeping methods, where a dumb barge was towed behind the tug with the aim of exploding mines intended for merchant ships and warships. Unfortunately the pressure wave created by the tug alone was sufficient to detonate the mines, so the trials were abandoned. Post-War, the Class was ripe for commercial charter and eventually 6 of the Class saw service as RFA’s

10 September 1942 Launched by Henry Robb Ltd, Leith as Yard Nr 328 named HMS GROWLER by Mrs Colin Sarel

 18 March 1943 sailed Methil in convoy EN206 arriving at Loch Ewe on 20 March 1943

April 1943 the Commanding Officer was Lieutenant W M Dobbie RNR

30 April 1943 Convoy ON181 sailed Liverpool to New York City. Additional escorts (Escort Group B3) including HMT Growler joined the convoy on 1 May 1943 until 12 May 1943

8 May 1943 during the convoy ON181 was sent to HMS Daneman, an escort trawler, which was taking in water into the engine room and boiler room and had no power. Taken in tow.

9 May 1943 the tow between Growler and HMS Daneman parted. Thirty one of the crew were saved by Growler. Thirteen others were picked up by the FS Renoncule - two were dead. Four were missing and not recovered

13 May 1943 sailed New York in Convoy HX 239 as Rescue Tug

20 June 1943 sailed the Clyde to Londonderry towing LST406,

28 October 1943 joined Convoy MKS27G which had sailed Gibraltar on the 14 October 1943 as escort for its arrival into Liverpool

24 December 1943 sailed Campbeltown to Moville to rendezvous with an outward-bound convoy which left the next day

30 December 1943 accidently rammed by the tanker Donna Bella. While badly damaged she made Iceland for temporary repairs before returning to Princes Dock, Glasgow 

February 1944 returned to Campbeltown

February 1944 sailed Campbeltown to Moville to rendezvous with an outward-bound convoy which left the next day to St Johns, Newfoundland returning to Campbeltown in March 1944

April 1944 sailed Campbeltown to the Gareloch and towed the French Battleship Courbet to Devonport to be converted into a breakwater during the Allied landing in Normandy

7 June 1944 sailed Weymouth with RFA Samsonia (as HMS Samsonia) towing the old French Battleship Courbet to act as a breakwater during the Allied landing in Normandy

10 June 1944 sailed from where Courbet had been scuttled with her Captain and crew to Portsmouth

19 July 1944 sailed Portsmouth in convoy FTC41 to Southend arriving the next day

27 July 1944 sailed Seine Bay in convoy FTC49 to Southend arriving the next day

December 1944 towed AFD38 and a compressor barge from Great Yarmouth to Harwich

23 January 1945 sailed Antwerp in convoy ATM44 arriving at Southend the following day

4 May 1945 was part of Force 135 for Operation Nestegg - the Channel Islands Liberation

22 May 1945 sailed Liverpool in convoy OS130KM until it dispersed at 47.56N 8.39W on 24 May 1945 HMS Reward (which became RFA Reward) was in the same convoy

12 February 1946 towed submarine U181 (then Japanese I07) to the Malacca Straits for sinking at  03 05N 100 41E

29 November 1946 Sub-Lieutenant (E) William Gennis RNVR discharged dead. He is remembered with pride on the Liverpool Naval Memorial.

April 1947 chartered to Moller Towages Ltd., Shanghai and renamed Caroline Moller

22 September 1947 with two other tugs managed to pull the 4,000 ton Shell Oil tanker Cyrena off a reef off Katvia Island, New Guinea

9 December 1948 berthed at Fremantle

14 December 1948 sailed North Wharf, Fremantle towing the fire damaged ss Cecil G Sellars to Singapore and then Hong Kong

16 December 1948 put into Champion Bay, Western Australia and anchored off Geralton with engine problems

10 January 1949 sailed from Champion Bay, Western Australia with the fire damaged ss Cecil G Sellars in tow after her engines were repaired

22 June 1949 arrived at the Schilpad Reef in the Arafura Sea north of Australia and rescued the crew of the ss Inchmark which had run aground and became a total loss. 

1 July 1949 arrived at Hong Kong after attempting salvage operations on the British ship Inchmark which had gone aground at 07.05S 132.03E and became a  total loss on 29 May 1949.

21 July 1949 guaranteed safe conduct was given by the Nationalist Chinese Government for the Caroline Moller to go to Shanghai to tow the bomb damaged Blue Funnel Steamer Anchlises to Kobe, Japan for repairs.

29 July 1949 sailed Shanghai to Kobe, Japan with ss Anchlises in tow - arrived 4 August 1949

26 December 1950 sailed Hong Kong to assist an Pan-American ship 'Islas Visayas bound to Amoy, China. The Islas Visayas reported she had been boarded by pirates.

16 January 1952 took in tow the British freighter Admiral Chase between Colombo and Sumatra again after the tow broke. The ship was being towed to Hong Kong for engine repairs

3 May 1952 rechartered by Moller Towages Ltd to Hong Kong Salvage & Towing Co Ltd and renamed Castle Peak

11 August 1952 sailed Hong Kong to salvage the freighter Plymouth Star which was aground off Wenchow, China

8 February 1953 berthed at Sydney, NSW from Formosa

27 February 1953 sailed Sydney, NSW to Japan with ss Dilga and  ss Dundula in tow to ship breakers

22 November 1953 towed the British Registered freighter Tefkros into Hong Kong from the Formosa Strait with a broken rudder

6 December 1954 returned to the Admiralty and renamed HMS Growler - pennant number A111

1957 to March 1958 transferred to the RFA as RFA GROWLER

1958 to 1963 chartered to United Towing Company Ltd and renamed Welshman

2 June 1958 assisted in towing the battleship HMS Howe to the breakers yard at Inverkeithing when the Howe ran aground while approaching the facility

10 November 1958 in collision with the paddle tug GRINDER at Portsmouth

19 November 1959 arrived at Hong Kong towing the USS Shamrock Bay to the ship breakers there

31 August 1961 Captain Ernest Bond - the tug Master - discharged dead - he collapsed on the bridge while the vessel was on passage from Canada to Genoa

15 December 1961 sailed the Tyne towing a 2800 ton mobile oil platform 'Admar Constructor' 

4 January 1962 lost the tow with the 'Admar Constructor' in heavy weather off the coast of Spain.

23 October 1963 returned to the Admiralty at Devonport and renamed RFA Cyclone - pennant number A111

4 January 1965 Mr A Daw appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

June 1965 suffered collision damage at Swansea - no further details

19 June 1965 Captain F Murray appointed as Master

16 December 1965 while towing HMS/m Seraph from Portsmouth to the breakers at Swansea the tow parted. A naval crew were flown by helicopter to the submarine and the tow was re-attached

10 July 1967 Captain D M Gentle appointed as Master

1971 transferred to the PAS

21 April 1973 towed ship Arquina which had been badly damaged by fire into Teneriffe for examination

1977 laid up Gibraltar

October 1982 on Disposal List at Gibraltar

16 April 1983 sold to Eagle Tugs Ltd (Shipmarc Ltd, Managers), Georgetown, Grand Cayman and based at Mombassa and renamed Martial

21 January 1985 Sailed Djibouti for demolition at Karachi

30 January 1985 arrived Gadani Beach, Karachi for breaking up by Adam Hardware Industries (Private) Limited, Karachi

Ships of the same name

Growler. A gun vessel launched by Perry’s, Blackwall on the 10 April 1797, 169 bm, 76 x 22.5 feet, armed with 10 x 18 pdr Carronade, 12 x 9 pdr.  Captured by the French off Dungeness on the 20 December 1797.

Growler. A gun-brig of 178 bm launched by Adam’s, Bucklers Hard on the 10 August 1804, 80 x 22.5 feet armed with 10 x 18 pdr carronades, 2 x 12 pdr.  Sold out of service  on the 31 May 1815.

Battle Honours for this Vessel: BASQUE ROADS 1809, GROIX ISLANDS 1812.

Growler. A wood paddle sloop of 1,059 bm launched by Chatham Dockyard on the 20 July 1841, 180 x 36 feet.  Broken up in 1854.

Growler. A mortar vessel of 117 bm, 65 x 21 feet armed with 1 x 13 inch mortar, launched by Wigram, Blackwall on the 31 March 1855, renamed MV 4 on the 19 October 1855.  Transferred to Chatham as a landing stage on the 16 December 1863.

Battle Honours for this Vessel: BALTIC 1855.

Growler. A wood screw gunboat of the “Albacore” class, launched by Wigram, Blackwall on the 8 May 1856.  Broken up at Malta in August 1864.

Growler. Composite screw gun vessel of 584 tons launched  by Laurie, Glasgow on the 1 December 1868, 155 x 25 feet armed with 1 x 7 inch, 1 x 64 pdr and 2 x 20 pdr.  Sold in November 1887.

For details of RFA Gypol please see RFA Pearleaf (1)