Subsequent name: Germaine
Official Number: 144527
Class: WAR CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: Y7.342 / X95
Laid down:
Builder: Palmers, Hebburn
Launched: 18 March 1920
Into Service: 1921
Out of service: Sold 1951
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: To combat the alarming losses of British merchant ships during WW1, the New Ministries and Secretaries Act was passed in December 1916, which provided for the appointment of a Shipping Controller with very wide powers “to take such steps as he thinks best for providing and maintaining an efficient supply of shipping”. On 20 December 1916, the first meeting of the Merchant Shipbuilding Advisory Committee took place where it was decided that an extensive shipbuilding programme should be started, the ships to be of a simple design and as far as possible to be of a standard type as regards hulls and engines. These new vessels for the Government were given a standard nomenclature, the prefix to their names being WAR. Eight hundred and twenty one vessels were ordered from U.K. yards and abroad and four hundred and sixteen were completed to Government order, two hundred and seventy nine were sold and transferred to private owners before completion and the remainder were cancelled. Of the four hundred and sixteen completed to Government order, fifteen were transferred to Admiralty service as oilers. They were all modified versions of the A and B Class standard dry cargo ships, known as the Z Class. All had two large dry cargo holds, six of them had five cargo tanks and the remaining nine had seven cargo tanks, specially designed for the carriage of heavy fuel oil. Most of them were initially under commercial management.
18 March 1920 launched at Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Company Ltd., Hebburn on Tyne
Press report from The Times newspaper of 20 March 1920
1920 placed under the managment of the British Tanker Company Limited by the Shipping Controller
4 June 1920 arrived at Port Said from Hull
27 July 1920 arrived Port Said for Malta
28 August 1920 arrived Suez from Abadan
29 August 1920 sailed Port Said for Malta
18 September 1920 arrived at Port Said from Malta for Abadan
25 October 1920 arrived at Suez from Abadan
21 November 1920 arrived at Port Said from Malta
26 December 1920 arrived at Suez from Abadan
1921 taken over by the Admiralty but remained under commercial management
4 January 1921 berthed at Gibraltar from Port Said to discharge cargo
16 January 1921 sailed Gibraltar for Port Arthur, Texas
8 February 1921 sailed Port Arthur for Devonport
27 February 1921 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
27 March 1921 arrived at Port Arthur from Devonport
28 March 1921 sailed Port Arthur for Devonport
22 April 1921 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 May 1921 arrived at Port Author from Portsmouth
21 May 1921 sailed Port arthur for Glasgow
4 July 1921 arrived Port Said while on passage from Killingholme for Abadan
12 July 1921 at Basra Chief Steward Jas Joseph Tobin discharged dead from heat stroke
Chief Steward Jas J Tobin
27 August 1921 sailed from Portsmouth for Port Arthur, Texas
15 September 1921 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Portsmouth
19 September 1921 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Bermuda
26 September 1921 arrived at Bermuda from Port Arthur, Texas
25 October 1921 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
22 December 1921 sailed from Rosyth for Port Arthur, Texas
16 January 1922 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas from Rosyth
19 January 1922 in collision with tug Clark. Reported in the records of the US Congress. Location of accident not known.
21 January 1922 sailed Port Arthur for Devonport
15 February 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
18 February 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
1 March 1922 sailed from Southampton for Port Arthur, Texas
24 March 1922 in collision with steamship Dirigo at Port Arthur, Texas after arrival. Reported in the records of the US Congress
26 March 1922 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Devonport
3 April 1922 grounded off Limekilns, Rosyth. The Master, Captain Henry G A Timmis RD RFA (Commander RNR Retd), held to be at fault
Captain Henry G A Timmis RD RFA
19 April 1922 reported to North Foreland Radio that while on passage from Port Arthur, Texas to Devonport the ship had developed a serious leak and her port bunker rivets were loose
23 May 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
12 June 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
22 June 1922 passed Dover later arriving at Sheerness
6 July 1922 the Daily Commercial News & Shipping List of Sydney, NSW reported that -
22 July 1922 at Sheerness
22 December 1922 at Sheerness
10 January 1923 at Sheerness
31 January 1923 passed Beachy Head
1 February 1923 when on passage from Sheerness to Port Arthur was in contact with Lands End Radio
18 March 1923 sailed Port Arthur, Texas
20 April 1923 at Tampico
14 May 1923 sailed Gibraltar
20 June 1923 sailed Tampico for Devonport
28 July 1923 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
9 August 1923 arrived Port Said from Falmouth while on passage to Abadan
23 August 1923 arrived at Abadan from Falmouth
14 September 1923 sailed Singapore for Abadan
27 October 1923 sailed Singapore for Abadan
21 November 1923 the Admiralty Fuel and Stores Officer, Singapore advertised in the local newspapers -
29 January 1924 at Trincomalee, Ceylon alongside HMS REPULSE refuelling her
HMS REPULSE
30 January 1924 at Trincomalee alongside HMS HOOD refuelling her - transferred 2,700 tons of FFO
HMS HOOD
16 February 1924 sailed Abadan for Simonstown Dockyard, South AFrica
9 March 1924 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa to discharge cargo into the new Navy Fuel Depot
13 March 1924 sailed Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa for Trinidad
25 April 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
24 August 1924 while on passage from Bueno Ayres to Trinidad arrived at Montevideo
22 September 1924 sailed Trinidad for the Admiralty Oil Fuel Depot at Old Kilpatrick on the River Clyde
12 October 1924 at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
21 October 1924 took on charge an E Dent & Co Marine Chronometer No 55145 which had been purchased by the Admiralty in March 1910 and had not previously been issued. Landed off charge on 29 June 1927 at Hong Kong
22 October 1924 passed Gibraltar
31 October 1924 arrived at Port Said while on passage from Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde to Abadan
13 November 1924 arrived at Abadan from the River Clyde
17 November 1924 sailed Abadan for Singapore
16 January 1925 berthed at Singapore from Abadan
20 January 1925 sailed Singapore for Abadan
11 February 1925 sailed Abadan
24 March 1925 sailed Abadan
6 May 1925 sailed Abadan
28 June 1925 sailed Abadan
8 July 1925 at Aden
16 July 1925 at Abadan
5 August 1925 at Singapore
24 August 1925 at Bombay
16 September 1925 at Abadan
5 October 1925 arrived at Malta
12 October 1925 at Port Said
18 October 1925 passed Perim
3 November 1925 at Abadan
20 November 1925 at Singapore
25 January 1926 at Malta. Captain George E Patterson RFA was Master
Captain George E Patterson RFA
7 July 1926 berthed at the Oil Wharf, Keppel Harbour, Singapore
2 January 1927 at Abadan
4 February 1927 sailed Gibraltar for Trinidad
21 February 1927 sailed Trinidad
16 March 1927 at Swansea
27 March 1927 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
28 March 1927 berthed at Swansea
1 April 1927 sailed Swansea for the Persian Gulf
20 April 1927 when on passage to Abadan passed Perim
28 May 1927 sailed Abadan
14 June 1927 berthed at the Oil Wharf, Keppel Harbour, Singapore
2 July 1927 at Singapore
22 August 1927 arrived at Port Said from Malta
27 August 1927 passed Perim when on passage to Abadan
4 October 1927 sailed Suez for Abadan
22 October 1927 sailed Abadan for Singapore and Hong Kong
10 November 1927 berthed at the Oil Wharf, Keppel Harbour, Singapore
11 November 1927 sailed from the Oil Wharf, Keppel Harbour, Singapore for Hong Kong
1 December 1927 at Singapore
5 April 1929 berthed at Gibraltar from Port Said to discharge cargo
16 May 1929 berthed at Singapore from Abadan
3 May 1930 arrived at Port Said for Abadan
10 June 1930 at Abadan Lascar Tang Ah Hiong discharged dead from malaria and chronic opium poisoning
18 July 1930 sailed Abadan
3 August 1930 sailed Aden for Abadan
27 August 1927 passed Perim
28 October 1930 arrived at Port Said from Malta
10 November 1930 arrived at Abadan
11 November 1930 sailed Abadan for Devonport
20 November 1930 passed Perim
24 November 1930 at Suez
8 December 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
16 December 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
22 January 1931 arrived at Abadan from Portsmouth
23 Janbuary 1931 sailed Abadan
4 February 1931 passed Permin when on passage to Gibraltar
12 February 1931 sailed from Port Said for Gibraltar
11 March 1931 at the British Hospital, Port Said Sailor Ting Ah Chai discharged dead from meningitis
17 March 1931 passed Perim when on passage to Abadan
20 April 1931 sailed Port Said for Malta
24 April 1931 arrived at Malta
13 May 1931 arrived at Port Said from Malta
1 June 1931 sailed Abadan for Singapore
30 July 1931 passed Perim when on passage to Devonport
15 August 1931 passed Gibraltar
21 August 1931 at Portland
31 August 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
26 September 1931 at Portsmouth - ashore - Quarter Master Ah Hock discharged dead - natural causes
23 October 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
16 November 1931 Fireman Chai Foi discharged dead
15 October 1931 Captain J Davies RFA appointed as Master
22 December 1931 berthed at Malta
31 December 1931 arrived at Port Said
4 January 1932 sailed Suez for Abadan
23 January 1932 arrived at Abadan to load
19 February 1932 berthed at Malta
1 March 1932 arrived Port Said
22 March 1932 arrived at Abadan from Malta
24 March 1932 sailed from ABadan for Malta
17 April 1932 berthed at Malta
2 May 1932 passed Perim for Abadan
20 May 1932 berthed at Colombo, Ceylon
2 June 1932 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
14 June 1932 berthed at Abadan to load
25 June 1932 sailed Abadan for Hong Kong
7 July 1932 at Singapore
18 July 1932 arrived at Hong Kong
16 August 1932 arrived at Hong Kong
25 August 1932 arrived at Wei Hai Wei
2 November 1932 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
10 December 1932 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for Abadan
26 December 1932 arrived at Port Said from Portsmouth
4 January 1933 passed Perim for Abadan
3 February 1933 sailed Port Said for Malta
16 March 1933 sailed Abadan for Malta
3 April 1933 arrived at Suez
19 April 1933 sailed Suez for Abadan
10 May 1933 sailed from Abadan for Malta
29 May 1933 arrived at Suez
30 May 1933 sailed from Port Said for Malta
15 July 1933 arrived at Suez from Abadan sailing from Port Said for Malta the next day
6 August 1933 arrived at Port Said from Constanza
12 August 1933 at the British Hospital, Port Said Fireman Lam Chuen discharged dead after suffering a heart attack. He had been admitted to the hospital on 7 July 1933
5 October 1933 arrived at Port Said when on passage for Abadan
10 October 1933 when on passage to Abadan passed Perim
23 October 1933 sailed Abadan
6 November 1933 arrived at Port Said when on passage to Devonport
16 November 1933 passed Gibraltar
20 November 1933 radioed she was 150 nmiles SW of Lands End while on passage to Devonport
22 November 1933 Fireman Low Pow appeared before Plymouth Police Court charged possession of 1½ ozs of raw opium. The drug had been found concealed in tins of grease in the engine room tunnel. He pleaded Guilty and was fined £10 or 1 months imprisonment
23 November 1933 at Devonport the ship was again searched by a Customs rummage crew who discovered sticks of prepared opium and two smoking pipes.
25 November 1933 Greaser Chow Yow appeared before Plymouth Police Court charged with offences of possession with intent to supply stemming from the above discovery. He was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment with hard labour and recommended for deportation
Press report from Western Morning News of 25 November 1933
1 December 1933 at Sheerness
12 January 1934 off Ushant
23 January 1934 sailed Malta for Abadan
28 January 1934 sailed Port Said
6 April 1934 sailed Abadan for Malta
14 May 1934 passed Perim when on passage to Abadan
23 May 1934 sailed Abadan for Gibraltar
2 June 1934 passed Perim for Gibraltar
17 June 1934 at Gibraltar
1 July 1934 sailed Suez
8 July 1934 passed Perim when on passage to Abadan
4 August 1934 sailed Port Said for the UK
12 August 1934 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
24 August 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
5 October 1934 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
22 October 1934 from Portsmouth passed Perim
12 December 1934 for Devonport from Abadan arrived Suez this day
28 December 1934 arrived at Plymouth Sound
6 January 1935 sailed from Falmouth for Trinidad
28 February 1935 arrived at Killingholme
4 March 1935 passed Dungeness sailing west
5 March 1935 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour from Killingholme
9 March 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
3 April 1935 passed Perim for Abadan
29 April 1935 from Abadan left Port Said for Gibraltar
8 May 1935 berthed at Gibraltar
13 June 1935 passed Perim when on passage from Abadan to Malta
26 June 1935 arrived at Malta
5 July 1935 from Malta arrived at Port Said
24 July 1935 sailed Abadan
30 September 1935 arrived Plymouth Sound from Gibraltar
19 November nmile SE of Lands End when on passage from Rosyth to Abadan
2 December 1935 arrived at Port Said
12 December 1935 arrived at Abadan
4 January 1936 arrived at Suez from Abadan
14 January 1936 past Perim sailing east
3 March 1936 arrived at Abadan from Singapore
5 March 1936 sailed from Abadan for Port Said
19 March 1936 arrived at Suez
30 March 1936 at the British Hospital, Port Said Fireman Ah Cheong discharged dead after suffering a heart attack
8 April 1936 sailed Port Said for Abadan
16 April 1936 passed Perim sailing east
23 April 1936 arrived at Abadan
4 May 1936 passed Perim when on passge from Abadan tp Suez
5 July 1936 from Port Said arrived at Alexandria
19 July 1936 berthed at Malta from Alexandria
21 July 1936 sailed Malta to Haifa
2 August 1936 from Haifa berthed at Malta
6 September 1936 at Haifa Seaman See Ah Tin discharged dead while suffering from heart failure. He is buried in Haifa (Jaffa Road) Cemetery, Israel.
© Michael Robson
16 August 1936 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta from Haifa landing 7,827 drums of fuel oil and 18 packages of Naval stores
21 October 1936 from Abadan berthed at Falmouth
2 November 1936 arrived at Port Said from Falmouth
2 December 1936 arrived at Suez from Abadan
8 December 1936 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta from Abadan and Port Said
23 December 1936 a stowaway - Toni Camilleri from Hamrun, Malta - was discovered onboard RFA War Hindoo after that ship had last sailed from Malta. On arrival at Port Said he was handed over to the Master of RFA War Sudra and returned to the island. He appeared before the Police Court, pleaded guilty, and was fined £5 by the Magistrate
1937 transferred to Admiralty management and manning as an RFA
14 January 1937 arrived Suez
13 February 1937 sailed Abadan for Gibraltar
10 March 1937 berthed at Gibraltar from Abadan and Port Said to discharge cargo
9 April 1937 sailed Port Said for Abadan
13 June 1937 sailed Abadan for Malta and Gibraltar
4 July 1937 sailed Port Said for Malta
20 August 1937 berthed at Glasgow from Trinidad and Captain Benjamin N Beasley RFA appointed as Master and Mr William S Ritchie RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RNR (retd)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain Benjamin N Beasley RFA Chief Engineer William S Ritchie RFA
19 October 1937 sailed Aden for Abadan
5 March 1938 berthed at Gibraltar from Abadan to discharge cargo
17 March 1938 sailed Gibraltar
17 May 1938 sailed Gibraltar
30 July 1938 berthed at Gibraltar from Abadan to discharge cargo
23 August 1938 at the Colonial Hospital, Gibraltar Donkeyman Leong Sow discharged dead - cardiac failure
1 September 1938 at the Colonial Hospital, Gibraltar Sailor Koh Chong Kong discharged dead - lung cancer
19 October 1938 sailed Aden for Abadan
11 December 1938 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta from Port Said
14 December 1938 sailed Grand Harbour, Malta
27 April 1939 passed Gibraltar sailing west
June 1939 Captain Stanley C Kernick RFA appointed as Master
5 June 1939 arrived at Plymouth from Trinidad
16 June 1939 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
7 July 1939 together with RFA War Pathan joined 15 other ships laid up in the Gareloch
14 August 1939 Chief Officer Frederick L Finch RFA appointed in command until 29 August 1939
21 August 1939 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 30 August 1939
29 August 1939 Captain John Gow RFA appointed as Master
Captain John Gow RFA
31 August 1939 Mr George T Beed RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer George T Beed RFA
2 December 1939 at 0520hrs alongside HMS HOOD at anchor in the Firth of Clyde refuelling her - cast of at 13.00hrs the same day. RFA PRESTOL was alongside on the other side of HMS HOOD at the same time
11 December 1939 at 13.20hrs alongside HMS HOOD at anchor in the Firth of Clyde refuelling her
18 December 1939 at Greenock at 0850hrs alongside HMS HOOD at anchor on her port side refuelling her
25 December 1939 and 26 December 1939 at Greenock alongside HMS BERWICK refuelling her with 2,922 tons of FFO
HMS BERWICK
6 January 1940 at Greenock at 1135hrs alongside HMS HOOD at anchor on her port side refuelling her - cast of 7 January 1940 at 0945hrs
14 January 1940 at Greenock at 1400hrs alongside HMS HOOD at anchor on her port side refuelling her - cast of at 1610hrs the same day
25 January 1940 at Greenock alongside HMS WARSPITE refuelling her with 2,087 tons of FFO
HMS WARSPITE
26 May 1940 at Greenock alongside HMS ARK ROYAL refuelling her
27 May 1940 cast off from HMS ARK ROYAL
22 July 1940 to 28 April 1942 used as an anchored fuel depot ship variously at Tail of Bank, Scapa and at Reykjavik, Iceland.
26 August 1940 in collision with the French sloop FS SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA
September 1940 Mr D H Evans RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 September 1940 Captain A Edwards RFA as Master
14 January 1941 at Greenock with HMAS NIZAM alongside being refuelled
HMAS NIZAM
27 June 1941 sailed the Clyde in convoy WN146 to Loch Ewe. RFA BACCHUS (2) also sailed in this convoy. The ships arriving on the 29 June 1941 and Methil on 3 July 1941
5 July 1941 Captain Edward M Rae RFA appointed as Master
Captain Edward M Rae RFA
17 July 1941 sailed Scapa Flow escorted by the destroyer HMS HEYTHROP
20 July 1941 arrived Seidisfjord, Faroe Islands
22 July 1941 was involved as an oiler in Operation EF (attacks by British carrier borne aircraft on German shipping in the waters adjacent to Kirkenes (Norway) and Petsamo (Finland). Was based at Seidisfiord, Faroes. Replenished the RN destroyers and RFA BLACK RANGER. RFA ALDERSDALE also involved.
28 August 1941 at Seidisfiord with fuel available on board awaiting HMS's SHROPSHIRE, ARGUS, SOMALI, MATABELE and PUNJABI - HM ships notified by Admiralty Signal copied in the Admiralty War Diary
10 September 1941 at Seidisfiord refuelled HMS's SHROPSHIRE and ARGUS. HMS SHROPSHIRE provided War Sudra with necessary supplies (Source Admiralty War Diary of this date reporting a signal from C in C Home Fleet)
20 December 1941 sailed in convoy RU1 from Reykjavik, Iceland to the Clyde arriving on 26 December 1941
22 February 1942 sailed Oban in Convoy WN249 arriving Scapa Flow the next day
10 April 1942 at Scapa Flow USS Plunkett (DD431) berthed alongside to refuel
USS Plunkett (DD431)
15 April 1942 at Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow - USS Plunkett (DD431) berthed alongside to discharge her oil prior to the destroyer entered dry dock
16 April 1942 at 8.33am at Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow - USS Plunkett (DD431) moved from alongside to the dry dock for repairs
19 April 1942 at Scapa Flow USS Plunkett (DD431) returned alongside to refuel after floating out from the dry dock
20 April 1942 at Scapa Flow USS Plunkett (DD431) cast off
22 April 1942 at Scapa Flow USS Plunkett (DD431) berthed alongside to refuel
28 July 1942 sailed from Scapa Flow escorted by HMS's OAKLEY, PRESTON NORTH END and TIREE to south of Aukerry
3 August 1942 Captain David A Rees RFA appointed as Master. USS Rodman (DD456) alongside to refuel - received 9.399 gallons of fuel oil. USS Emmons (DD457) alongside to refuel
Captain David A Rees RFA
8 September 1942 Mr T McGregor RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 February 1943 arrived the Tyne for repairs sailed on 5 March 1943
13 March 1943 sailed Methil in Convoy EN204 arriving Scapa Flow the next day
26 April 1943 in collision with RFA PRESTOL
26 May 1943 at Scapa Flow USS Ellyson (DD454) alongside to refuel
30 October 1943 at Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow USS Corry (DD817) and USS Forrest (DD461) alongside to refuel. The anchor of USS Corry pierced the hull of USS Forrest at frame #26 port side with a gash 47" long and 21" wide tearing transverse watertight bulkhead from #25
27 March 1944 sailed Kirkwall to Methil in convoy WN562 arriving the next day
28 March 1944 sailed Methil to Scapa Flow in convoy EN364 arriving the next day
30 March 1944 Mr Charles J Falconer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 September 1944 arrived Leith for repairs - completed 17 October 1944
22 October 1944 back at Leith for more repairs - sailed 10 November 1944
3 July 1945 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
8 August 1945 berthed at Grangemouth in ballast
9 August 1945 sailed Grangemouth having loaded a cargo of FFO
12 August 1945 berthed at Grangemouth in ballast
26 August 1945 berthed at Grangemouth in ballast and Captain William G Gilmore RFA appointed as Master
Captain William G Gilmore RFA
27 August 1945 sailed Grangemouth
12 September 1945 berthed at Grangemouth
14 September 1945 sailed Grangemouth
17 September 1945 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south
3 April 1946 Mr Graham W Martin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Graham W Martin RFA
4 April 1946 sailed Gravesend to Melbourne
28 April 1946 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherine's Point
1946 became a floating storage depot ship at Hong Kong
18 October 1947 at Hong Kong with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled
1947 transferred to MOT for disposal
1948 purchased by Union Maritime & Shipping Co Ltd (Oak Shipping Co. London - Managers)
19 March 1948 at 18.47N 113.12E Chinese Sailor's Boy Dick Ko Kwai discharged dead - fell over the side and drowned
1951 name changed to Germaine by Cia Maritima Iguana, Panama
December 1954 arrived for breaking up at Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Holland by Arie Rijsdijk Boss en Zonen.