RFA Pearleaf (1)
Previous name: Gypol
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 140269
Class: 5000T FAST LEAF (ex TEXOL) CLASS Fleet Attendant Tanker
Pennant No: X 57 / Y7.180 / X 56
Laid down:
Builder: Gray, West Hartlepool
Launched: 12 September 1916
Into Service: March 1917
Out of service: 1946
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data:
All ordered in 1915, the six Admiralty-designed vessels in this Class were very advanced ships for their day. They were designed to act as Escorts on Atlantic Convoys during WW1, whilst also bringing cargoes of oil fuel from the U.S. to Britain. They were fitted with six boilers and four powerful cargo pumps with a pumping rate of 2000 tonnes per hour, which for many years was too high to be used by HM ships. They were originally planned to be named after oil bearing countries with the now usual OL suffix, but their military appearance and naval names caused difficulties with the U.S. Neutrality Act, so various modifications were made and they were then placed under commercial management and given LEAF names in common with other converted ships running as Admiralty tankers under commercial management
8 September 1916 Lieutenant Ernest G Enright RNR appointed in command
12 September 1916 launched by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool as Yard Nr 878 named GYPOL
20 March 1917 completed at a cost of £ 267,540.: placed under management of Lane & MacAndrew Ltd, London as an oiler transport and was renamed PEARLEAF(1)
24 March 1917 ran trials
1917 to 1918 served on North Atlantic convoy duties
6 September 1917 chased in the North Atlantic, NW of Scotland by a submarine - but managed to escape
5 July 1918 entered New York with Captain Charles Joseph Rudder RFA as Master
11 September 1918 was attacked in the North Sea by a submarine - the torpedo missed
28 February 1919 at Plymouth alongside HMS Talbot refuelling her with 108 tons of FFO
13 March 1919 at Devonport on No: 10 Buoy HMS Constance secured alongside to be refuelled - supplied 841 tons of FFO
10 December 1919 off Hong Kong target towing for HMS Hawkins
3 February 1920 at Hong Kong secured alongside HMS Cairo to refuel her
5 June 1920 at Wei-hai-Wei secured alongside HMS Cairo to refuel her
2 July 1920 at Wei-hai-Wei secured alongside HMS Cairo to refuel her
7 August 1920 arrived at Thursday Island
10 August 1920 arrived at Brisbane, Australia from Hong Kong while enroute to Suva with FFO for HMS Renown. Captain A.S. Leach RD was in command
23 August 1920 moored alongside HMS Renown at anchor at Suva, Fiji to refuel her
30 May 1921 sailed Wei-hai-Wei to Hong Kong
16 July 1921 ran aground off Borneo. Jettisoned 1333 tons of cargo and refloated and proceeded to Singapore. No damager recorded
22 July 1921 sailed Singapore
20 October 1921 Junior Engineer John Walter Edward Drake RFA appeared before the Marine Court, Hong Kong charged with neglect of duty in that it was alleged that at 01:00 18 October 1921 in Hong Kong Harbour he had absented himself from the engine room, the Fireman on watch did not know where the Junior Engineer was and Drake was found by the Chief Engineer and 2nd Engineer on the poop asleep. Junior Engineer Drake pleaded Not guilty alleging the Chief Engineer was drunk. He was however convicted and fined $50 or four weeks imprisonment
23 March 1922 at Singapore alongside HMS Durban to refuel her
15 April 1922 sailed from Hong Kong
28 April 1922 at Osaka, Japan alongside HMS Durban to refuel her
14 May 1922 at Manila alongside HMS Cairo to refuel her
10 June 1922 sailed Wei-hai-Wei
5 July 1922 arrived at Wei-hai-Wei
22 September 1922 sailed Wei-hai-Wei
1922 to 1926 in reserve at Rosyth along with four of her sisters
1926 to 1930 brought out of reserve during the General Strike and was chartered to Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London
30 November 1926 Mr R Watson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 December 1926 Captain J B Hurst RFA Appointed as Master
20 January 1928 Captain Percival Skone-Rees RFA appointed as Master
Captain Percival Skone-Rees RFA
7 December 1928 Captain Hermann R Elsby RFA appointed as Master
15 December 1928 involved in the search for the survivors from the m.v. Atlantic which had been in collision the previous day 3 miles north of the Varne Light Vessel and had sunk in the English Channel 9 miles south east of Folkestone.
26 June 1929 Mr Percy E C Ogden RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 October 1929 alongside the oil wharf H.M. Dockyard, Singapore
December 1929 at Hong Kong her Master - Captain Elsby RFA hospitalised. Captain E. Parker RFA transfered at short notice from RFA Belgol and took command until 29 December 1929
1930 to 1934 served on Admiralty freighting duties
13 November 1931 Captain Charles L Cutsforth RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
15 September 1930 the crew of 18 of the wrecked Japanese trawler Ibuki Maru were rescued by RFA Pearleaf in the Hainan Straits
19 February 1932 alongside the oil wharf H.M. Dockyard, Singapore
12 May 1932 Mr C E Harland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 to 20 December 1932 alongside the oil wharf H.M. Dockyard, Singapore
12 January 1933 lost two lighters under tow from Hong Kong to Singapore, the Master received a letter of thanks on the 8th April 1933, from Commander in Chief China Station giving thanks to Captain Cutsforth in handling his ship with considerable skill in difficult and dangerous conditions of weather
18 April 1933 Captain Charles Lawrence Cutsforth RD RFA discharged dead - having died in hospital with complications after surgery
The above headstone is believed to be the second on Captain Custforth's grave. The original, paid for by the officers and crew of RFA Pearleaf, was apparently removed after objections from his widow. It will be noted the CWGC replacement does not mention RFA Pearleaf or the Captain's RFA rank. HMS Suffolk was the Guardship in Singapore at the time of his death.
Image donated by Tony Beck with thanks
27 April 1933 Captain Reginald J Harland RFA appointed as Master
10 to 12 October 1933 alongside the oil wharf H.M. Dockyard, Singapore
9 to 11 April 1934 alongside the oil wharf H.M. Dockyard, Singapore
1934 proceeded to the China Station where she relieved RFA FORTOL
5 October 1934 refuelled HMS Cumberland at Wei Har Wei, China
28 March 1935 Captain C J Falconer RFA appointed as Master
11 September 1935 berthed at Singapore
12 and 13 September 1935 alongside the oil wharf at Singapore
21 September 1935 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
24 January 1936 Captain G W Callaway RFA (Lieutenant Commander RN (rtd)) appointed as Master
10 June 1937 on arrival at Hong Kong the ship was searched and a quantity for forged currency was discovered in the possession of the Chief Cook Woo Ah Noy
7 October 1937 Mr James Paton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 May 1938 at 0200 hrs Customs officers keeping watch on the Pearleaf in Singapore Naval Base saw nine sacks of opium being lowered from the ship into a sampan. The sampan crew were later arrested after they jumped in the water. The drugs valued at $23,880 were seized. The two under arrest were sentenced to 19 months rigorous imprisonment on 28 May 1938 at Singapore Criminal District Court.
8 January 1939 Captain A Spencer RFA appointed as Master
December 1939 Captain F G Drake RFA appointed as Master
16 January 1940 at Singapore berthed alongside RFA Ruthenia with HMS FALMOUTH outside of her - refuelled with 188 tons of FFO
2 February 1940 to 24 April 1940 at Singapore
24 April 1940 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong arriving on 2 May 1940
7 May 1940 sailed Hong Kong to Singapore arriving 14 May 1940
22 May 1940 Captain A L Jones RFA appointed as Master
20 June 1940 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong arriving 25 June 1940
18 July 1940 arrived at Singapore from Hong Kong
19 July 1940 Mr T W Robinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 January 1941 at Colombo
27 January 1941 at Addu Atoll where she refuelled HMNZS Leander
20 February 1941 Italian Armed Merchant Cruiser Ramb 1 sunk by HMNZS Leander in the Indian Ocean between the Maldives and Chagos Islands - 11 Officers and 89 ratings conveyed to Columbo, Ceylon by Pearleaf for detention in prisoner of war camps
28 February 1941 sailed Addu Atoll independently to Colombo arriving 2 Mar 1941
12 April 1941 sailed Colombo to Mahe, Seychelles arriving 17 April 1941
18 April 1941 sailed Mahe, Seychelles to Bahrein arriving 26 April 1941
15 June 1941 arrived at Colombo
19 June 1941 sailed Colombo to Trincomali arriving the next day
3 July 1941 arrived at Colombo from Trincomali
8 July 1941 sailed Colombo to Trincomali arriving the next day
19 July 1941 sailed Trincomali to Colombo arriving the next day
31 July 1941 sailed Colombo to Trincomali arriving the next day
25 August 1941 supported HMS Enterprise and HMS Hermes with two companies of 3/10th Baluch Regiment on the Australian armed merchant ship Kanimbla and occupied Bandar Shapur, port and terminus of the railway from Tehran to the Persian Gulf
4 October 1941 sailed Trincomali to Colombo arriving 6 October 1941
11 November 1941 sailed Colombo to Trincomali arriving 13 November 1941
19 November 1941 sailed Trincomali to Colombo arriving 21 November 1941
28 November 1941 refuels, alongside, HMS Ranchi, an Armed Merchant Cruiser, at Port 'T' - the code name for the Naval Base on Addu Atoll
2 December 1941 at Trincomali
14 January 1942 sailed Trincomali to Colombo arriving the next day
23 January 1942 sailed Addu Atoll
27 January 1942 berthed at Trincomali
6 February 1942 Mr W H A Lawson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
8 February 1942 sailed Trincomalee with HMS FALMOUTH and HMS TEVIOT BANK for Colombo arriving the next day
18 February 1942 sailed Colombo under escort to Addu Atoll arriving 21 February 1942
21 February 1942 at Addu Atoll discharged her full cargo of oil to BRITISH LOYALTY
26 February 1942 sailed Addu Atoll under escort to Colombo arriving 1 March 1942
3 March 1942 sailed Colombo to Trincomali arriving 5 March 1942
March 1942 Captain A S Kernick RFA appointed as Master
31 March 1942 was at Trincomalee
8 April 1942 sailed Trincomalee with HMS HERMES, HMS HOLLYHOCK, HMAS VAMPIRE, HMS TEVIOT BANK and tankers ATHELSTANE and BRITISH SERGEANT to avoid impending air attack on Ceylon from Japanese aircraft carriers. Pearleaf returned the next day
17 April 1942 sailed Trincomalee under the escort of HMS Sutlej for Colombo arriving on 19 April 1942
25 May 1942 HM Ships FALMOUTH and ASTER, escorting a tanker convoy, left Trincomalee. R.F.A. PEARLEAF met convoy south of Ceylon when convoy split, FALMOUTH and ASTER escorting the Addu Atoll and Colombo sections respectively
26 May 1942 sailed Colombo independently to Mombasa arriving 7 June 1942
2 July 1942 sailed Mombasa independently to Port Elizabeth arriving 9 July 1942
17 August 1942 to 24 August 1942 refitting at Port Elizabeth, South Africa
31 August 1942 sailed Port Elizabeth independently to Mombasa arriving 7 September 1942
14 January 1943 at Kilindini alongside HMS WARSPITE refuelling her
29 April 1943 sailed Mombasa independently to Aden arriving 4 May 1943
4 May 1943 sailed Aden independently to Massawa arriving 6 May 1943
9 May 1943 sailed Massawa independently to Suez arriving 12 May 1943
5 June 1943 sailed Port Said independently arriving Alexandria 6 June 1943
6 July 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy MWS37 to Benghazi
9 July 1943 detached from Convoy MWS 37 and became part of Force R for Operation Husky - the Allied invasion of Sicily. Other RFA’s imvolved were RFA’s CEDARDALE, DERWENTSALE (1), ENNERDALE (1) and NASPRITE. She was awarded the Sicily 1943 Battle Honour
10 July 1943 to 17 August 1943 served with Force R at Benghazi along with RFA CEDARDALE
23 July 1943 sailed Malta in convoy KMS 19T to Tripoli arriving 24 July 1943
10 October 1943 sailed Tripoli to Malta arriving 11 October 1943
13 October 1943 sailed Malta in convoy KMS28 to Alexandria arriving 18 October 1943
5 January 1944 sailed Alexandria independently to Port Said arriving 6 January 1944
18 January 1944 sailed Suez independently arriving Aden 22 January 1944
22 January 1944 sailed Aden
14 March 1944 to 25 March 1944 under going repairs at Bombay
27 March 1944 Captain Thomas Elder DSC RFA appointed as Master
3 April 1944 sailed Bombay in convoy BM 91B to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 8 April 1944
10 April 1944 sailed Colombo in convoy JC44 to Trincomalee arriving 12 April 1944
30 April 1944 sailed Trincomalee under escort
5 June 1944 sailed Trincomalee independently to Colombo arriving 7 June 1944
24 June 1944 sailed Addu Atoll in convoy XC23 to Colombo arriving 26 June 1944
2 August 1944 sailed Colombo in convoy CX27 to Addu Atoll arriving 5 August 1944
14 August 1944 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving 15 August 1944
19 September 1944 sailed Colombo independently to Trincomalee arriving 20 September 1944
27 November 1944 sailed Colombo independently to Aden arriving 4 December 1944
6 December 1944 sailed Aden independently to Suez arriving 11 December 1944
16 December 1944 sailed Port Said independently to Augusta and then to Malta arriving 20 December 1944
22 December 1944 sailed from Malta independently to Gibraltar
26 December 1944 under going repairs at Gibraltar until 28 December 1945 then sailed in convoy MKS 73G in ballast arriving Liverpool on 4 January 1945
6 June 1945 Captain Albert V Barton RFA appointed as Master
25 September 1945 sailed Liverpool to Glasgow arriving 27 September 1945
28 September 1945 sailed Glasgow
24 October 1945 arrived at Bowling
30 October 1945 sailed Bowling to Clyde anchorage
31 October 1945 sailed Clydge anchorage to the Downs arriving 3 November 1945
22 January 1945 at Glasgow anchorage
31 January 1946 at Belfast
8 March 1946 at Glasgow
2 April 1946 sailed Tail of Bank to Stavanger, Norway arriving 28 April 1946
20 May 1946 arrived at Grangemouth from Stavanger, Norway
24 May 1946 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth arriving the same day then onwards to Stavanger, Norway
29 May 1946 sailed Stavanger, Norway to Trondheim
1June 1946 sailed Trondheim to Rosyth arriving 7 June 1946
20 June 1946 Mr John B Russell OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 June 1946 sailed Rosyth to Stavanger arriving 27 June 1946
4 July 1946 sailed Stavanger to Rosyth arriving 6 July 1946
2 September 1946 transferred to the MoT for disposal and was laid up at Leith
23 December 1947 arrived Blyth to be broken up by Hughes Bolckow Ltd
RFA Pearleaf (2)
Previous name:
Subsequent name: Nejmat el Petrol XIX
Official Number: 301060
Class: SECOND LEAF CLASS Support Tanker
Pennant No: A77
Laid down:
Builder: Blythswood, Scotstoun
Launched: 15 October 1959
Into Service: 15 January 1960
Out of service: 9 May 1986
Fate: Returned to her owners Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: In June 1956 the London Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference discussed Britain’s future naval strategy and the vulnerability of static bases in the face of world-wide change. Consideration was given to the provision of Fleet Trains to supply warships at sea and the Admiralty announced plans to build up a force of such ships. So began a period of major Fleet modernisation with the bareboat chartering of 8 motor tankers for freighting duties that reintroduced the LEAF names to the Fleet. These 8 vessels were all broadly similar and were bare-boat chartered as replacements for the DALE and WAVE Classes. Although primarily intended for freighting duties, most of them were also capable of replenishment at sea
August 1959 purchased for £1,280,000 from A.G. Pappadakis whilst under construction
3 August 1959 Mr W E Young RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 October 1959 launched by Mrs Henderson, wife of Mr R Henderson, Director of Stores at Blyswood Shipbuilding Company Ltd, Scotstoun, Scotland as Yard Nr 125 named PEARLEAF (2) for Jacobs and Partners Ltd, London
6 January 1960 Captain J M Humphrey OBE DSC RFA appointed as Master
15 January 1960 completed
28 January 1960 bareboat chartered by the Admiralty for an initial 20 year period
31 January 1960 sailed from the Clyde on her first voyage
July 1961 saw service during Operation Vantage - the Kuwait Crisis - along with 12 other RFA’s
21 September 1961 Mr J Ross RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 September 1961 Captain C N Rennels RFA appointed as Master
22 June 1962 Mr W B Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 October 1962 Captain C Alexander DSC RFA appointed as Master
27 January 1963 suffered an engine breakdown in mid-Atlantic and RFA TIDESPRING was diverted from her maiden voyage to rendezvous with her and to escort her to Horta, Azores to await spares and temporary repairs
15 February 1963 arrived Devonport for permanent repairs to be completed
11 August 1963 Captain Walter Gibb MBE RFA appointed as Master
12 March 1964 Captain H E Michael RFA appointed as Master
1 November 1965 Captain Frank S Samson RFA appointed as Master
Captain Frank Samson RFA
1 August 1966 Captain E D J Evans RFA appointed as Master
20 September 1966 Humanitarian Aid - rescued the crew from the grounded Italian tanker MARE NOSTRUM which had run aground on Hallaniya Island in the Kuria Muria Group and landed them at Bahrain
5 October 1967 Captain C G D Barker RFA appointed as Master
October 1967 her abeam RAS rigs were fitted during a refit at Falmouth.
15 December 1968 Captain O J Coulthard RFA appointed as Master
21 June 1977 Captain Shane Redmond RFA appointed as Master
Captain Shane Redmond RFA
24 June 1977 to 29 June 1977 took part in the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead with eight other RFA's and units of the Royal Navy and foreign navies.
1 December 1977 Captain Michael Corner RFA appointed as Master
September 1980 Captain Angus L Patterson RFA in command
December 1980 Captain Peter J McCarthy RFA in command
5 April 1982 sailed Portsmouth for service during Operation Corporate - the Falklands Conflict - and joined the frigates HMS ALACRITY and HMS ANTELOPE
7 April 1982 the Amphibious Landing Group assembled at sea and other units were RFA’s SIR GALAHAD (1), SIR GERAINT, SIR LANCELOT and SIR PERCIVALE
22 April 1982 arrived Ascension Island
25 April 1982 sailed Ascension Island and commenced a record-breaking 52 hour pump over with the requisitioned BP tanker BRITISH TAMAR while performing a 180 degree turn
4 May 1982 entered the TEZ ( Total Exclusion Zone ) around the Falkland Islands
7 May 1982 part of Amphibious Group 1 along with the frigate HMS ANTELOPE and RFA’s SIR GALAHAD (1), SIR GERAINT, SIR LANCELOT, SIR PERCIVALE and SIR TRISTRAM
13 May 1982 RASed with RFA Plumleaf (2) at 47 34S 38.28W receiving 2440 tons of fuel
17 May 1982 arrived Falklands Area
5 June 1982 relieved RFA BLUE ROVER as Station Tanker South Georgia
18 June 1982 sailed South Georgia to become one of the “motorway chain” of tankers along with RFA’s APPLELEAF (3), BAYLEAF (3) and PLUMLEAF (2)
2 August 1982 returned to Gibraltar on completion of Operation Corporate duties having completed 80 replenishments
17 October 1984 was presented with her Falklands Islands 1982 Battle Honour at Portsmouth by Captain C.G. Butterworth RFA CMS
24 October 1983 with HMS Antrim sailed to Grenada, West Indies when that island was invaded by US Forces under their operation 'Urgent Fury'
11 April 1986 arrived Portsmouth for the final time to pay off
8 May 1986 returned to her owners in Piraeus; purchased by Petrostar Co Ltd, Jeddah who renamed her NEJMAT EL PETROL XIX for service as a static storage tanker
1993 was sold to shipbreakers Nasir Trading Co. and broken up at Gadani Beach, Pakistan, where demolition commenced on 8 March 1993
Notes:
Was one of the 17 tankers employed in the Mozchan on Beira Patrol duties |
