Built as a tanker under yard No 1306g by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan, Glasgow for the British Ministry of Transport (MOT).
04 April 1946 launched under the name EMPIRE EDGEHILL.
Tonnage 8.097 gross, 4.470 net, dwt, 11.900 dwt. Dim. 150 x 19.63 x 8.66m., length bpp. 144.17m.
Powered by two steam turbines,6.800 bhp., reduction geared to a single shaft, speed 15 knots by a consumption of 50 ton oil in 24 hours.
27 Augustus 1946 completed and taken over by the British Admiralty. Renamed RFA WAVE CHIEF, one of the Wave class of which 20 were built
Displacement 4.750 ton light, 8.200 tons standard and 16.650 tons full load.
Crew 61 and accommodation for gun crews.
In use as a fast replenishment tanker.
.
30 August 1946 was she placed on a commercial charter, so it looks in the beginning of her career used as a merchant tanker.
Replenishment on warships at sea was one of the main tasks for this tankers, she carried mostly 7.950 tons fuel oil, 760 tons diesel and 980 tons other kinds of oil.
She was fitted for fuelling by the through (abeam) and the stirrup (astern) methods with 2 – 2 ton 60 feet derricks, one on port side the other on starboard side situated in the after well-deck, and with a astern fuelling facility.
During the Korean War (1950-1953) was she carrying fuel to the war zone, and supplying fuel to the warships.
From 15 May till 13 November 1973, during the Second Cod War the Anglo-Icelandic fish dispute, the WAVE CHIEF did give support to the British warships in these waters.
August 1974 decommissioned, thereafter laid up at Rosyth, Scotland.
13 November 1974 arrived at Inverkeithing, Scotland for breaking up.
Tristan da Cunha 2003 60p sg?, scott?
Source: some web-sites. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary by Adams and Smith.