Name: RFA DINGLEDALE
Builder: Harland & Wolff, Govan, Scotland, Laid down: 11 December 1939, Launched: 27 March 1941, Commissioned: 10 September 1941, Decommissioned: 10 May 1959
Fate: Sold into civilian service on 9 December 1959 as Royaumont, Arrived at Santander for scrapping on 23 January 1967.
General characteristics:
Class and type: Dale-class fleet tanker, Displacement: 16,836 tons full load, Length: 479 ft 5 in (146.13 m), Beam: 61 ft 2 in (18.64 m), Draught: 27 ft (8.23 m), Propulsion: Burmeister & Wain 8-cylinder diesels with a single shaft 6,800 hp (5,100 kW)., Speed: 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h), Complement: 44
DINGLEDALE RFA (A144) was a Dale-class fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
She was first based at Gibraltar and served as escort oiler on several Malta Convoys. During Operation Pedestal, together with RFA Brown Ranger, she fuelled one cruiser and 24 destroyers in 14 hours. Narrowly escaping damage during a severe air raid in Bône in December 1942, she survived to join the Pacific Fleet Train and was present for the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. After the war she carried out routine freighting duties. She was decommissioned on 10 May 1959 and was laid up at Devonport. Background Data: Originally there were to have been 19 ships in this Class. The first 6 were purchased off the stocks fro the British Tanker Co Ltd whilst building at the instigation of the then Director of Stores, Sir William Gick, who was concerned at the age of the RFA Fleet and ships that were approaching the end of their economic lives. A further 2 ships were purchased from Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd for evaluation purposes. At the outbreak of WW2, a further 11 ships were acquired from the MoWT war programme although one of these, to have been named EPPINGDALE, which had been registered in London as EMPIRE GOLD on 21/02/43 and intended for transfer to the Admiralty for manning and management as an RFA and despite 5 Officers being appointed to her, the intended transfer was cancelled the following day and she thus never entered RFA service. 3 of this Class were converted into LSG’s and were then reconverted back into tankers at the end of the War. RFA DINGLEDALE Timeline. 27 March 1941 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan as Yard Nr 1044 G named DINGLEDALE for the MoWT and originally intended for management by Eagle Oil Transport Co Ltd, London. 10 September 1941 completed and placed under management of Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London. 18 September 1941 sailed from the Clyde joining Liverpool convoy ON 17. The convoy dispersed at 47.28N 40.57W and the ship arrived at Curacao on 9 October 1941. 11 October sailed Curacao independently to Gibraltar arriving 28 October 1941 under the escort of the corvettes HMS AZALEA and HMS SPIRAEA which had deployed from Bathhurst to escort the tanker. 19 November 1941 at 34-05N, 25-50W RASed with HMS's FURY, FORESTER and FORESIGHT. 25 November 1941 arrived at Gibraltar under the RN escort of HMS/m CLYDE and the corvettes HMS JONQUIL and HMS COREOPSIS. 20 January 1942 sailed from Gibraltar to support Royal Naval units in the Atlantic to 33N 22W which had deployed when it was suspected German heavy naval units had broken out. Sailed under the escort of the corvettes HMS GERANIUM, HMS SPIRAEA, and submarine HMS/m CLYDE. 22 January 1942 to 2 February 1942 undertook OAS trials with the cruiser HMS HERMIONE in the North Atlantic using the modified stirrup method. 27 January 1942 HMS/m REGENT broke down in the Atlantic but reached Ponta Delgada, Azores. DINGLEDALE was diverted with lubricating oil and the submarine was able to resume patrol on 2 February 1942. DINGLEDALE also refuelled the light cruiser HMS HERMIONE while in Ponta Delgada. 28 January 1942 HM destroyers CROOME, EXMOOR and WESTCOTT sailed Gibraltar to refuel from the oiler on their way to escort the damaged troopship LLANGIBBY CASTLE from Horta in the Azores. 30 January 1942 RASed with Dido Class Cruiser HMS HERMIONE in the Atlantic being escorted by HMS/m CLYDE. 13 February 1942 arrived Gibraltar with HM corvettes GERANIUM and VETCH and HMS/m CLYDE. 17 February 1942 allocated to Force R for Operation Pedestal - a Malta Supply Convoy - along with RFA BROWN RANGER. 4 August 1942 sailed Gibraltar for Oiling at Sea exercies and escorted by HMS's ITHURIEL, WESTCOTT, and VIDETTE. Returned to Gibraltar the same day. 6 August 1942 sailed Gibraltar for further Oiling at Sea exercies and escorted by HMS's ITHURIEL, WESTCOTT, and VIDETTE. 9 August 1942 sailed Gibraltar along with RFA BROWN RANGER and under close escort of the corvettes HM ships COLTSFOOT, GERANIUM, JONQUIL and SPIRAEA for Operation Pedestal. RFA ABBEYDALE was also part of this Convoy to Malta. 10 August 1942 to 15 August 1942 along with RFA BROWN RANGER she refuelled 26 destroyers and 3 cruisers, one being HMS CAIRO, during Operation Pedestal. 11 August 1942 RAS'ed with HMS LEDBURY and supplied 101 tons of FFO. 16 August 1942 arrived at Gibraltar with RFA BROWN RANGER and escorted by HMS's JONQUIL, GERANIUM, COLTSFOOT, SPIRAEA, JAUNTY after refuelling operations during Operation Pedestal. 13 September 1942 suffered a fire in the bridge, chartroom and radio room. Suspected arson. 30 October 1942 sailed Gibraltar along with RFA Brown Ranger for oiling at sea exercises escorted by HMS's BOADICEA, PENN, PANTHER, and LOOKOUT. Exercises were with 'Force M - which consisted of HMS's FURIOUS, AURORA, CHARYBDIS, WESTCOTT, WISHART, COWDRAY, BRAMHAM, ACHATES, VANOC, VERITY, and O.R.P BLYSKAWICA returning to Gibraltar on completion. 5 November 1942 with RFA BROWN RANGER sailed Gibraltar as Force R to support Force H during Operation Torch - the Allied landings in French North Africa. Other RFA’s involved were RFA’ ABBEYDALE, DERWENTDALE (1), DEWDALE (1) ENNERDALE (1), NASPRITE and VISCOL. Was awarded the North Africa 1942- 43 Battle Honour. 8 November 1942 joined convoy KMS 3G with RFA BROWN RANGER. 13 November 1942 was the target of a German Submarine U431(Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Dommes) torpedo attack at 37°21'00"N 02°10'00"E - the torpedo missed. 21 November 1942 sailed Gibraltar with RFA BROWN RANGER escorted by HMS's VENOMOUS, WIVERN, VERITY, ENCHANTRESS, FLEETWOOD, COREOPSIS, JONQUIL, BRIXHAM, and POLRUAN to rendezvous with Convoy KMS 3 and subsequently to escort the convoy to Oran and Algiers. 25 November 1942 arrived at Algiers in convoy KMS3G with RFA BROWN RANGER which had joined at Bone. 6 December 1942 sailed Algiers in convoy MKS 3X along with RFA ABBEYDALE to Oran arriving the next day. 9 December 1942 sailed Gibraltar. 22 December 1942 arrived Oran. 29 December 1942 sailed Oran. 2 January 1943 sailed Bone under RN escort to Algiers arriving the next day. 8 January 1943 sailed Algiers. 9 February 1943 sailed Gibraltar to Algiers arriving 12 February 1943. 27 February 1942 sailed Algiers. 2 March 1943 arrived Gibraltar. 25 March 1943 sailed Oran. 22 April 1943 sailed Phillipville, N.E. Algeria (now called Skikda) in ballast. 23 April 1943 arrived Gibraltar. 2 May 1943 sailed Gibraltar in ballast in convoy MKS012 arriving the Clyde 14 May 1943. 4 May 1943 convoy MKS12 merged with Convoy SL128. 22 May 1943 sustained slight damage after grounding on the Clyde. 4 July 1943 sailed in Liverpool convoy OS51KM as Escort Oiler to Freetown arriving 23 July 1943. 25 July 1943 sailed Freetown in convoy ST73. 28 July 1943 convoy ST73 arrived at Takoradi. 1 August 1943 sailed Lagos in Convoy LM 2. 21 August 1943 arrived back in Lagos. 2 September 1943 sailed Lagos in convoy LGW1 to Takoradi arriving 4 September 1943. 8 September 1943 sailed Takoradi. 12 September 1943 arrived Freetown. Between 22 October 1943 and 17 November 1943 with RFA Brown Ranger in Force 'R' at Operation Torch - Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham GCB DSO Commander in Chief, Mediterranean described DINGLEDALE as having done 'yeoman service'. 22 March 1944 sailed Freetown in convoy SL153 to Bathurst arriving 25 March 1944. 27 March 1944 sailed Bathurst to Dakar arriving the next day. 23 April 1944 sailed Dakar in convoy OS73 to Freetown arriving 25 April 1944. 25 August 1944 sailed Freetown to Dakar arriving on 28 August 1944. 11 September 1944 sailed Dakar and joined convoy SL170 to the Clyde arriving 26 September 1944. 21 December 1944 sailed the Clyde to Loch Ewe arriving 23 December 1944. 6 January 1945 sailed Scapa Flow to Loch Ewe and the to Belfast Lough arriving 8 January 1945. 8 January 1945 sailed Belfast Lough and joined convoy ON 277 in ballast. Convoy enroute to New York. RFA DINGLEDALE bound for Curacao parted company and sailed independently on 16 January 1945 at 44 45N 40 30W arriving on 26 January 1945. 28 January 1945 sailed Curacao independently arrived at Cristobal 31 January 1945. 1 February 1945 Panama Canal in transit. 2 February 1945 sailed Balboa independently to Manus on 6 March 1945. 19 March 1945 sailed Manus to Leyte arriving 26 March 1945. 12 May 1945 HMS WOODCOCK provided air defence for HMS SPEAKER, HMS RULER, tankers RFA ARNDALE, AASE MARSK, SAN AMADO and RFA DINGLEDALE, with destroyer HMS NEPAL, sloop HMS PHEASANT and Royal Australian Navy minesweepers. 15 May 1945 with Fleet Train in Area COOTIE RASing BPF ships with RN Frigates HMS WOODCOCK, HMS PHEASANT, Destroyers HMAS NIZAM, Escort Carriers HMS RULER and HMS STRIKER for defence of Fleet Train tankers RFA DINGLEDALE RFA ARNDALE, RFA WAVE KING and RFA WAVE MONARCH (Operation ICEBERG TWO). 20 May 1945 sailed Leyte under escort to Manus arriving 28 May 1945. 15 July 1945 refuelled HMS KING GEORGE V. 6 August 1945 HMS CRANE provide AA defence for HMS ARBITER,. HMS CHASER, HMS RULER. tankers RFA DINGLEDALE, RFA WAVE KING and SAN AMADO, Stores Supply Ships GLENARTNEY, FORT WRANGELL during BPF replenishment with Destroyers HMAS NORMAN, HMAS NIZAM, frigate HMS BARLE, sloop HMS PHEASANT, minesweepers HMAS BALLARAT and HMAS BURNIE. 2 September 1945 present in Tokyo Bay during the surrender ceremony of Japan at the end of the World War 2. Her Master and Chief Engineer were invited aboard the American battleship USS MISSOURI to witness the signing of the unconditional surrender of Japanese Forces in Tokyo Bay. RFA WAVE KING was also in the Bay. 23 September 1945 sailed Manus to Brisbane arriving on 30 September 1945. 6 December 1945 sailed Brisbane to Singapore arriving on 21 December 1945. 18 January 1946 transferred to Admiralty ownership. 28 December 1952 arrived at Auckland, New Zealand. 13 July 1953 sailed Grand Harbour, Malta along with HMS GLASGOW, MEON, LCT 4040, REGGIO, DIEPPE, ST KITTS, WRANGLER (F5) CHEQUERS, BLACK PRINCE, TEREDO, SENTINEL, TALENT, TOKEN, INS RANJIT & JUMNA, RFA's ROWANOL & BLUE RANGER for Exercise Bullock. 11 August 1954 at Buenos Aires, Argentina 2nd Engineer Officer David Boyd RFA discharged dead having drowned. He was buried in the British Cemetery at Buenos Aires in Section 6 Area A Grave 235B. His remains were removed on 6 September 1962 and placed in the Communal Ossuary. 29 November 1954 a crew member charged by Police with serious assault after two seaman - Ram Cheng Hai and Eekam Chow - suffered knife injuries and were taken to Glasgow's Western Infirmary for treatment. January 1955 to January 1956 chartered by London and Overseas Freighters Ltd, London. 3 January 1955 sailed Tail of the Bank in ballast for the Persian Gulf. 12 May 1957 while on voyage from Curacao to West Africa rescued a man who had been in an open boat for 11 days in the Atlantic about 230 miles east of the island of St. Vincent. Three others had died previously. The rescued man was landed at St Vincent. 4 July 1958 rescued 16 Italian seaman 30 miles south Shukra, Gulf of Aden who had been drifting in a lifeboat for 3 days after their Australian owned ship ss GRIEVE which had sunk in a monsoon. 10 May 1959 laid up at Devonport for disposal. 20 October 1959 offered for sale 'as lying' at Devonport in the Times of this date. 9 December 1959 sold out of Service to Cie Armement Maritime SA for £65,000 00; for use as a storage vessel under the French flag registered at Djibouti - renamed ROYAUMONT. 23 January 1967 arrived at Santander, Spain in tow after sale for £64,500 to Recuperationes Submarinas S.A for breaking up.
Sources: Wikipedia. http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-DINGLEDALE.