Official Number: 118493
Class: Tanker
Pennant No: D 99 / N 92 / X 10 / X 51
Laid down:
Builder: Swan Hunter, Wallsend
Launched: 30 October 1902
Into Service: May 1903
Out of service: 1936
Fate: Broken Up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: Soon after the turn of the 20th Century, the Admiralty acquired a number of small tankers and store ships and from the experiments conducted with these tankers was obtained the experience which resulted in the building of a large number of tankers of various sizes which were especially designed for their task of refuelling warships. None of these early ships were sister ships, and they became the first Admiralty vessels to fall into the new RFA category on its inception in 1905
30 October 1902 launched by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend as Yard Nr 280 named PETROLEUM for Petroleum United Agencies, London. She was the largest tanker in the world at that time
May 1903 completed and laid up on the Tyne, still owned by the builders, awaiting a buyer
6 March 1905 purchased by the Admiralty for £61,122 plus a conversion cost of £8,340 and was primarily intended for the freighting of oil from the Admiralty’s various sources in Romania, Mexico and the East Indies. She’s been built as an oil burner and was the first Admiralty owned vessel of this type. She was found to be too dangerous to operate as such and was converted into a coal burner. Was initially manned on a Yard Craft Agreement
23 March 1905 sailed the River Tyne on trials
19 April 1905 arrived at the River Tyne after trials
12 May 1905 sailed the River Tyne on further trials
26 May 1905 the Shields Daily News reported that -
30 June 1905 the Shields Daily News reported that -
8 August 1905 finally sailed from Wallsend bound for Sheerness and Gibraltar and was attached to the Atlantic Fleet
16 November 1905 taken in hand for modifications for being taken in tow and passing hoses for supplying oil fuel over her bows
27 January 1906 fitted with OAS (oiling-at-sea) trial gear to conduct the world’s initial oiling at sea experiments
February 1906 carried out OAS trials with the battleship HMS VICTORIOUS. Only water was passed through the hose as the battleship was not fitted to burn oil fuel
HMS VICTORIOUS
The trials continued until the following June and also involved HM ships HINDUSTAN, KING EDWARD VII, DOMINION and COMMONWEALTH
28 April 1906 sailed Gibraltar for Portland
14 October 1906 made fast to No: 14 buoy, Portsmouth
15 October 1906 entered No: 12 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
13 November 1906 still in No: 12 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
27 November 1906 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
8 December 1906 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
7 May 1907 anchored at Spithead
6 June 1907 readied for further OAS trials after modifications based on the 1906 trials
1 December 1907 on passage from Portsmouth to Port Arthur, Texas to load cargo arriving on 12 December 1907
2 December 1907 the Evening Express newspaper (a newspaper published in Wales) reported that -
13 December 1907 commenced loading cargo
19 December 1907 sailed Port Arthur, Texas to Portland
1907 to 1914 employed on Fleet Attendant duties and on freighting oil from Port Arthur (Texas), Constanza, Borneo and Burma to the Dockyards. While freighting, she carried reserve coal in her summer tanks owing to the lack of coal at the loading ports
7 January 1908 was damaged in a hurricane while on passage from Port Arthur
10 January 1908 berthed at Portland to discharge
18 January 1908 the Army & Navy Gazette reported that ...
21 January 1908 sailed Portland to Portsmouth arriving the next day
22 January 1908 at Portsmouth Harbour at South Railway Jetty alongside HMS DREADNOUGHT refuelling her
15 February 1908 sailed Portsmouth to Port Arthur, Texas to load cargo arriving 8 March 1908
11 March 1908 sailed Port Arthur, Texas to Portland
1 July 1908 her Purser was granted an increase in wages from £12 to £14 per month
22 July 1908 off Port Edgar, Firth of Forth RFA KHARKI alongside loading 200 tons of FFO
29 July 1908 at Portland Harbour Chief Steward Morris Middleton and Engineers Steward William Henry Crocker both discharged dead - drowned
Press Report from the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette of 30 July 1908
2 December 1908 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour
7 December 1908 at Netley in Southampton Water
13 February 1909 arrived at Portsmouth from Port Arthur, Texas
16 June 1909 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour
22 June 1909 at Berehaven refuelling Tribal Class Destroyers
19 August 1909 sailed Portsmouth to Spithead
October 1909 at Port Arthur, Texas Seaman Harold A Kelly logged as having jumped ship
13 November 1909 at Portland with RFA KHARKI berthed alongside - supplied 685 tons of FFO
1 December 1909 the issue of the Rum Ration on Atlantic voyages in bad weather was allowed but the priveledge was not to be abused
21 December 1909 at Turnchapel with RFA KHARKI berthed alongside
1910 was fitted for towing and for being towed during OAS experiments along with RFA KHARKI
29 August 1910 sailed Portland for New York
13 September 1910 in No: 13 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
16 September 1910 berthed in No: 4 Basin at Portsmouth Harbour
28 October 1910 berthed on North Raiway Jetty at Portsmouth Harbour
4 January 1911 passed Sandkey, Florida
3 February 1911 arrived Portland, Maine from Port Arthur to discharge
1912 was released from OAS trials owing to a freighting urgency from the U.K. to Romania
20 April 1912 at Portland with HMS SPITEFUL berthed outboard Able Seaman John Patrick Sheridan of HMS SPITEFUL slipped while attempting to board RFA PETROLEUM to make his way to his ship. He fell into the harbour and was drowned. At an inquest touching on his death held at the Royal Naval Hospital, Portland a verdict of "Accidental Death" was recorded
30 June 1912 at Portland with RFA KHARKI berthed alongside - supplying cargo
3 July 1912 at Portland with RFA KHARKI returned to berth alongside
24 August 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
18 October 1912 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour berthing on Fountain Lake Jetty
7 December 1912 arrived Portmouth Harbour
6 September 1913 arrived at New York from Portland
September 1913 Lieutenant John R Williams RNR was Commanding Officer
27 September 1913 at Longhope, Orkney. Mr A Hunter RFA was the Chief Engineer Officer
8 October 1913 berthed at Portland
2 February 1914 arrived at Portsmouth from Port Arthur, Texas
7 February 1914 the Hampshire Advertiser Newspaper reported ...
17 March 1914 the Portsmouth Evening News carried a recruitment advert ...
26 August 1914 seen by HMS MINERVA in the Bay of Biscay off Bilbao
HMS MINERVA
4 August 1915 Engineer Lieutenant Archibald Hunter RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 September 1914 arrived at Portsmouth
7 September 1914 the Portsmouth Evening News carried a recruitment advert ...
21 January 1916 took on charge a Dent Deck Watch No: 28214 which had been originally purchased by the Admiralty in October 1862 and had been taken on charge on HMS RACOON, HMS DEE, HMS ROSARIO, HMS ORION, Torpedo Boat 89, HMS FORTE and HMS COSSACK. Landed off charge at Glasgow on 23 August 1916. The Deck Watch was destroyed in action on HMS PHOEBE on 21 January 1921
13 May 1916 Lieutenant Ernest G Enright RNR appointed in command
Lieutenant Ernest G Enright RNR
11 September 1916 Lieutenant Frederick W Dunn-Taylor RNR appointed in command
Lieutenant Frederick W Dunn-Taylor RNR
26 October 1916 in collision with ss Ashtabula, a tanker owned by the Anglo American Oil Company Ltd., while RFA Petroleum was being moved into dry dock at Messrs Palmers' Hebburn on Tyne. The ship was being moved by tugs and a pilot when it hit the tanker which was berthed alongside causing minor damage. The Admiralty accepted liability but blamed no one for the collision.
7 November 1916 took on charge a Dent Marine Chronometer No 1504 which had been originally purchased by the Admiralty on 15 August 1843 and had been take on charge on HMS CHALLENGER, HMS BRITON, HMS BLAKE and HMS PEGASUS. Landed off charge at Glasgow on 2 May 1917 and then reissued to HMS SPEEDWELL
13 June 1917 Lieutenant William Frost RNR appointed in Command
12 July 1917 in the River Clyde - details from an entry in the log of HMS PATUCA
HMS PATUCA
27 October 1917 at Glasgow received one rating from HMS OROTAVA
10 December 1917 Fireman H Young discharged to DQ's - reason and duration not shown. He had signed on on the 22 May 1917.
18 March 1918 Pumpman George Henry Saunders, aged 29, MMR 563369 discharged dead - illness. He died in King Georges Hospital, London and is buried in Portland (St. George) Portland, Dorset
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
1 April 1918 Assistant Steward Eric G Smith MMR 520386 and Fireman John Collison MMR 878075 both logged as deserted the ship. Smith had signed on on the 20 January 1918 while Collison had signed on on 22 November 1916 as a Stoker. He had been promoted Fireman on 14 November 1917
Assistant Steward Eric G Smith
18 April 1918 at Greenock RFA PETRELLA alongside to receive bunkers
27 November 1918 Engineer Lieutenant Walter L Iron RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 December 1918 Leading Fireman J H Wilson MMR 873285 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on the 29 May 1918
2 Janaury 1919 Engineer Lieutenant George L Lowson RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 January 1919 Ordinary Seamen H Long MMR 872951 and F Tiplady MMR 947217 both logged as deserting the ship. They had both signed on on 25 June 1918.
2 February 1919 Able Seaman W Slater MMR 981116 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on the 20 January 1919.
16 February 1919 Able Seaman F Benton MMR 981120 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on the 17 January 1919. He was arrested on 23 March 1920 using a false name of Richard Jannis.
2 March 1919 Able Semen A Melville MMR 981121, R Shepherd MMR 790013, A Barry MMR 981125, Stoker H Harding MMR 950815 and Stoker J W Pollett MMR 963346 all logged as deserting the ship. Each had signed on on the 17 January 1919.
3 March 1919 Donkeyman J D Casey MMR 981109, Stoker J E Williams MMR 981113 both were logged as deserting the ship. Both had signed on on the 17 January 1919.
5 March 1919 Greaser C Cornell MMR 981177 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on 1 February 1919
12 March 1919 Stoker James Berry MMR 838330 logged as being absent without leave. He had signed on on 17 January 1919. He returned to the ship and was transfered to HMS Eaglet on the 21 August 1919.
15 March 1919 Fireman P Travers MMR 313027 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on the 5 March 1919
21 March 1919 Stoker J Smith MMR 404619 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on the 5 March 1919
3 April 1919 Engineer Lieutenant Charles P Vickerman RNR appeared before a court martial charged with (a) being absent without leave and (b) improperly leaving his ship. The accused pleaded Guilty and was adjudged to forfeit 12 months seniority, to be dismissed his ship and to be severely reprimanded.
1 May 1919 Engineer Lieutenant Joseph S Harrison RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. He had previously served as the Chief Engineer Officer of RFA RELIANCE
1 May 1919 Greaser Barnard Ferney MMR 981185 and Assistant Steward A Bowman MMR 938672 both logged as deserting the ship. Greaser Fernley had signed on on the 29 January 1919 and Assistant Steward Bowman had signed on on 13 March 1919. Assistant Steward Bowman must have been recovered as he was transfered to HMS Eaglet on 16 October 1919
2 May 1919 Able Seaman Gordon P Lyndon MMR 981111 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on 17 January 1919
Able Seaman Gordon P Lyndon
17 June 1919 at Copenhagen alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
HMS GALATEA
21 June 1919 at Copenhagen along HMS GALATEA
23 June 1919 at Revel alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
4 July 1919 at Copenhagen with HMS VINDICTIVE alongside being refuelled with 380 tons of FFO
19 July 1919 Ordinary Seaman Thomas Roberts logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on the 31 December 1918
8 September 1919 at Copenhagen with HMS VINDICTIVE alongside being refuelled with 400 tons of FFO
11 October 1919 at Copenhagen roadstead with HMS DRAGON alongside being refuelled
HMS DRAGON
22 October 1919 at Copenhagen alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
10 November 1919 at Copenhagen with HMS VINDICTIVE alongside being refuelled with 614 tons of FFO
HMS VINDICTIVE
15 November 1919 at Copenhagen alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
21 December 1919 at Copenhagen with HMS VINDICTIVE alongside being refuelled with 520 tons of FFO
1920 fitted out for oiling at sea duties
6 February 1920 sailed from the River Tyne for Port Arthur, Texas
5 March 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
26 March 1920 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour returning the same day
28 March 1920 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
23 June 1920 at Matsu Islands with HMS COCKCHAFER and HMS MANTIS alongside being refuelled - 34 tons of FFO issued each
24 June 1920 at Hong Kong with HMS CRICKET alongside being refuelled
24 July 1920 at Wei-hai-Wei alongside HMS CAIRO to refuel her
HMS CAIRO
23 November 1920 to 20 December 1920 in dry dock at Kings Dock, Keppel Harbour, Singapore
29 January 1921 at Singapore alongside HMS MALAYA refuelling her
16 February 1921 Fireman Herbert Edward Greene MMR 978926 discharged dead
6 July 1921 Fireman Mier Muhammed Kaloo discharged dead. He is buried in the Naval Section of Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery in grave 485 in the S E Corner
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
22 September 1921 at Stockholm, Sweden refuelling units of the Royal Navy's 2nd Destroyer Flotilla who were on a visit to the Baltic with the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Nicholson
7 June 1922 Mr J A Brown RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 July 1922 Captain Hermann R Elsby RFA appointed as Master
9 January 1923 sailed Greenock for Devonport
21 December 1924 sailed Plymouth to Old Kilpatrick
1924 towed an oil barge built at Chatham Dockyard to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands and carried the first cargo of oil to the tanks there which had previously been only a coaling station
17 December 1924 sailed Gibraltar for Devonport
31 December 1924 arrived at Devonport
24 January 1925 sailed Gibraltar
27 January 1925 arrived at Devonport from Gibraltar
18 March 1925 Captain John C Hawick RFA appointed as Master
Captain John C Hawick RFA
19 March 1925 Mr Ernest K Horsley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Ernest K Horsley RFA
1 May 1925 arrived at Malta
19 May 1925 arrived at Plymouth
28 October 1925 arrived at Devonport from Malta
4 February 1926 Mr Ernest K Horsley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 April 1926 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour. Captain Cyril F Haughton RFA appointed as Master
Captain Cyril F Haughton RFA
10 April 1926 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
14 June 1926 sailed Glasgow
17 June 1926 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
24 June 1926 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
9 October 1926 berthed at Devonport
9 September 1927 arrived at Plymouth
21 September 1927 sailed the Humber for Devonport
12 October 1927 Captain Roger F Shotton MID RFA appointed as Master
5 November 1927 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
14 November 1927 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
12 June 1928 at Port Victoria, Sheerness Able Seaman George Jenkins discharged dead - accidental drowning
14 June 1928 The Scotsman newspaper reported ...
11 August 1928 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 August 1928 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
15 October 1928 Mr Edward B Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Edward B Morton RFA
2 November 1928 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
11 January 1929 in Dock No: 15 at Portsmouth Harbour
26 January 1929 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
26 March 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
2 April 1929 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
7 May 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
11 May 1929 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
17 June 1929 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 October 1929 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
29 October 1929 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
4 December 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
15 January 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
1 March 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
5 March 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
13 March 1930 berthed at Gibraltar from Portland to discharge
24 May 1930 Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master
Captain William H Green RFA
2 June 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
6 June 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
September 1930 reduced to a Care and Maintenance status
27 September 1930 Mr Andrew G Forbes RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Andrew G Forbes RFA
4 May 1931 Captain Charles L Cutsforth RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Charles L Cutsforth RD RFA
May 1931 crew were on a monthly agreement
19 September 1931 Captain John Ross Gorrie RFA appointed as Master
Captain John Ross Gorrie RFA
12 October 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
30 October 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
9 November 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
24 November 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
1 January 1932 Captain John B Hurst RFA appointed in command
13 August 1932 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
17 August 1932 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour towing the tug C 307 to Malta
30 September 1932 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
3 October 1932 Mr Andrew G Forbes RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 November 1932 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
2 February 1933 sailed Devonport
26 February 1933 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
2 March 1933 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
20 April 1933 Captain John P Tugwood DSC RD RFA appointed as Master
Captain John P Tugwood DSC RD RFA
28 April 1933 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
29 May 1933 in 12 Dry Dock, Portsmouth Harbour
6 June 1933 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
1 January 1934 arrived at Plymouth
15 January 1934 Captain John B Hurst RFA appointed as Master
Captain John B Hurst RFA
18 August 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
10 September 1934 Captain Thomas Drever RFA appointed as Master
22 September 1934 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
12 October 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
23 October 1934 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
10 January 1935 Mr W Maybray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 January 1935 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
26 January 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
22 December 1935 at Gibraltar Bosun James Bennie discharged dead. He had been admitted to the Colonial Hospital on 23 November 1935 suffering from (a) arteriosclerosis and cerebal degeneration and (b) pyorrhoea
20 February 1936 paid off and was laid up for disposal at Sheerness
18 August 1936 approval was given to dispose of her
24 March 1937 sold for £6,250 for demolition
26 March 1937 handed over to T W Ward Ltd, Inverkeithing in part payment for the liner MAJESTIC which subsequently became the static Training Ship HMS CALEDONIA moored at Rosyth
20 April 1937 arrived at Inverkeithing for breaking up
10 June 2018 a working party from RFA TIDERACE (2) under the leadership of Captain (X) Gary Shattock RFA visited St George's Church Yard and found Pumpman George H Saunders's grave had become very overgrown and the stone work had subsided. The grass was removed, the stone work was repaired and leveled
Notes:
Was the RFA’s first operational tanker. Cargo capacity was 6,200 tons in 6 cargo tanks plus 668 tons of oil fuel, 632 tons of coal and 210 tons of reserve bunkers