A bibliography of Royal Fleet Auxiliary history

A bibliography of

Royal Fleet Auxiliary history Thomas A Adams MBE

Original date: July 1998 Revised date: 22 May 2014 This selected bibliography relates to the ships, organisations, equipments and events associated with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service. It is a compilation from private working papers. The analysis, opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this note are those of the author/curator and do not necessarily represent the views of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary or any other organisation or enterprise. The author asserts ownership of this bibliography and asserts moral rights to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Creative Commons (see final page). Appropriate acknowledgement must be made if extracts are reproduced or this note is cited as a source of information. © Copyright Thomas A Adams MBE MCIJ 1998, 2014

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The Fast Fleet Replenishment tanker RFA TIDEFLOW [ANRS collection]

Adams | A bibliography of Royal Fleet Auxiliary history | Page 3 of 58

Introduction This illustrated bibliography is intended to provide a guide on where to find information on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service and its heritage. This heritage includes the running of naval hospital ships and conducting underway replenishment-at-sea. It lists primary and secondary historical and technical sources – books, journals, press material, reports, lectures to professional and industrial bodies, product leaflets and grey literature. Also listed are known official and semi-official documents preserved as part of our national memory in The National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office) Kew, Naval Historical Branch (Portsmouth), National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, the Imperial War Museum, London, The British Library and the ICRC, Geneva.

Every effort has been made to cite those publications that have an emphasis upon the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, its history, heritage, administration, functions and ships. Annotations are included where the curator/author felt that the titles are not self-explanatory.

This bibliography is arranged alphabetically in three sections Books, Articles (including monographs and papers) and Selected official records.

Initially this bibliography was drawn from the research undertaken for the publication: Royal Fleet Auxiliary – A century of service by Thomas A Adams and James R Smith, published June 2005 by Chatham (London), ISBN 1 86176-259-3, on behalf of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Association.

It has since been updated and expanded in particular to update information from official records in The National Archives (Spring 2014).

Format Papers/articles: author/editor (surname, initials) [publication or publisher]. Paper title, periodical/journal title, volume, number, date, page number (pp/ff). Abstract or annotation.

Books: author/editor (surname, initials). Title, city of publication, publisher, edition, no of pages (pp/ff). Cost. Abstract or annotation


Books

Adams, Thomas A and Smith, James R, Royal Fleet Auxiliary – a century of service. London, Chatham Publishing, 2005, 200pp, illustrated, index, foreword by HRH The Duke of York, £19.99, ISBN 1 86176 259 3. This is the centennial chronology of the RFA written in association with the RFA and the RFA Association. British Corporation Register. Glasgow. Annual 1890-1947. Their Register book sometimes contains more details than that recorded in Lloyd’s Register. Some RFAs were registered with the British Corporation

Brown, D K, RCNC, The design and construction of British Warships 1939-1945, Vol 3, Amphibious warfare vessels and auxiliaries – The Official Record. London, Conway Maritime, 1996, -pp, illustrated and index, ISBN 085177 675 2. £25.00. Book is based on The Official Records of the Navy’s Construction Department , this includes the LSGs, tugs and a chapter on RFA tankers.

Brown, David (Head of the Naval Historical Branch), The Royal Navy and the Falklands War. London, Leo Cooper, 1987, 384pp illustrated and index, ISBN 0 85052 059 2. This is the nearest thing to an official naval history of the Falklands War of 1982 with extensive coverage off all ships.

Clapp, Michael and Southby-Tailyour, Ewen, Amphibious Assault Falklands – the Battle of San Carlos Water. London, Leo Cooper, 1996, 300pp, illustrated, index, ISBN 0 85052 420 2. Extensive coverage of Amphibious Task Group TG317.0 with its RFA Sir class LSLs. Clark, Gregory, DOC – 100 year history of the Sick Berth Branch, London, HMSO for Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth, ISBN 0 11 290427 0, paperback, £6.95. Chapter 5 deals with Naval Hospital Ships including RFA MAINE. Combat Fleets of the World. United States Naval Institute Press, Annapolis. 1977 to current, bi-annual (English language) reference book originally published as Flottes de combat in 1897. Arranged in alphabetical order by nation, the content include technical details and illustrations of warships, coastguard and paramilitary vessels and auxiliaries including RFAs. This reference book sometimes contains more details than Jane’s Fighting Ships.


Dittmar F J & Colledge J J, British Warships 1914-19, –, Ian Allan, 1972. Lists RFAs and British hospital ships. Flintham, Vic, High Stakes – Britain’s air arms in action 1945-1990. Barnsley, Pen & Sword, 2009, 420pp, illustrated, no index, £40.00, ISBN 978 184415 815 7. Excellent Fleet Air Arm coverage with references to RFAs. Garner, J W, International Law and the world war, London, Longmans, Green & Co, 1920. Cover German violations re sinking of Hospital Ships.

Hannan, Bill. Fifty Yeas of Naval Tugs, Maritime Books, (c 1990) ISBN 0 907771 25 4, 160pp, softback, £4.95, Primarily a

photographic book. Covers tugs that were rated as RFAs.

Harvey W J & Turrel K. Empire Tugs, World Ship Society, ISBN 0 905617 47 9, 160pp, index, softback, 1988. Well illustrated. Some reference to tugs that were rated as RFAs. Hobbs, David, Cmdr MBE RN. Aircraft Carriers of the Royal and Commonwealth Navies, London, Greenhill Books, ISBN 1 85367 252 1, 265pp, index, 1996. Sub title says – this is a complete illustrated encyclopedia from World War 1 to the present. This book

does include RFAs ARGUS, ENGADINE and RELIANT (3). Hobbs, David. The British Pacific Fleet : The Royal Navy’s Most Powerful Strike Force, Barnsley, Seaforth Publishing, 2012, hardback, 480pp, illustrated, index. £35.00. Comprehensive coverage of the creation and role of the fleet train.

James, Tony. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary 1905-1985, Maritime Books, 1985, ISBN 0 907776 21 1, £4.95, softback. A black and white photographic publication, unfortunately it does contain a number of inaccuracies and omissions.


Jane’s Fighting Ships. London, Annual originally published as Janes’s All the World’s Fighting Ships by Brown & Co, later S Low, Marston & Co Ltd, and now by HIS Jane’s Year Books. Arranged in alphabetical order by nation, this contains technical details and illustrations of their warships, coastguard, paramilitary vessels and auxiliaries. With pre-World War Two editions some caution is needed when researching auxiliaries. Johnson-Allen, John. They couldn’t have done it without us – The Merchant Navy in the Falklands War, Seafarer Books, ISBN 978 1-906266-23-3, 254pp, bibliography, index, softback, £9.95, 2011. Chapter 6 cover Repair ships and tugs, Chapter 7 is RFA Ships.

Jones, Geoffrey P. Under Three Flags, London, William Kimber, 1973. Corgi paperback 1975, 304pp, illustrated. Paperback ISBN 0552097772. Story of Nordmark and the armed supply ships of the Kriesgsmarine. Includes information on the fleet tanker HMS BULAWAYO. Koburger Jr, Charles W. Sea Power in the Falklands, Praeger Publisher, NewYork, 1983, ISBN 0 03 069534 1, £na, 186pp, illustrated, bibliography, index. This book is very much from an American point-of-view, good chapter on Logistics (Chapter 7) and Appendix F on the RFA contribution.

Lloyd’s of London. Lloyd’s War Losses: The Second World War, 3 September 1939-14 August 1945, London, 1989-1991, Lloyd’s of London Press.

Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, London, Annual. Lists major British and foreign registered ships. First published in 1764 as The Register of Shipping. In 1949 amalgamated with the British Corporation. Content is tabulated technical and ownership data of self-propelled merchant ships over 100 gross tons. Not all RFAs, particularly pre-World War Two, appear in the Register. McGreal, Stephen. War on Hospital Ships 1914 – 1918. Barnsley, Pen & Sword, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84415 858 4, hardback, 272pp, illustrated, bibliography, index. Brief reference to RFAs. Mercantile Navy List and Maritime Directory, London. Annual (1850-1940 and 1947-1977). The official list of British registered vessels of 1 gross ton and over compiled by the Board of Trade’s Registrar-General of Shipping Seamen. Vessels are catalogued under steamships, motor ships and sailing ships are listed


alphabetically by name with official number, when and where built, basic technical details and owners information is recorded. Not all RFAs, particularly those that appear for estuarial and dockyard duties appear in the List.

Ministry of Defence. The Royal Navy Handbook, London, The. Conway Maritime Press, 2003, 208pp, illustrated, index, list of pennant numbers. ISBN 0 85177 952 3, £14.99. Described as the official MoD guide to the Royal Navy, this hardback book produced by the Defence Procurement Agency in conjunction with Directorate of Corporate Communications (Royal Navy). Covers the full spectrum of current and future hardware of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Marine Services with extensive colour illustrations, technical details, support

services, bases and establishments, RAF and Army aviation support. Contains some careers information and advertisements. Although described as ‘a complete work of reference for the professional and enthusiast alike – this book omits information on, eg, rank structures, insignia, ships’ badges, flags and battle honours. Mitchell W H & Sawyer L A, Wartime Standard Ships, Vol 2, The Oceans, the Forts and the Parks – merchant shipbuilding for British Account in North America during World War Two, Sea Breezes (Liverpool), 60pp, illustrated, index, 1966. Details ships built in Canada and the US including the Forts built for the British Government and the Canadian Government that served as RFAs. Mitchell W H & Sawyer L A, Wartime Standard Ships, Vol 3, British Standard Ship of World War 1, Sea Breezes (Liverpool), 180pp, illustrated, index, 1968. Details ‘War’ named ships built for or acquired by the British Government, includes ‘War’ class that served as RFAs.

Mitchell W H & Sawyer L A, Empire Ships of World War II Sea Breezes (Liverpool), 120pp, illustrated, index, 1969. Details ‘Empire’ named ships build for or acquired by the British Government, includes some Dale and Wave class RFAs. Milne, Lt Cdr J M RN, Flashing blade over the seas – The development and history of helicopters in the Royal Navy. Liskeard, Maritime Books, (undated), 104pp, illustrated (no index), foreword by HRH Prince of Wales, £1.60 ISBN 0 9506323 2 6, softback. There is some interesting reference to RFAs. Perkins, Roger, Operation Paraquat – the Battle for South Georgia. Beckington, Picton Publishing (Chippenham), 1986, 260pp illustrated and index, ISBN 0 948251 13 1. This is the detailed story of South Georgia and the campaign of April 1982 to recover it from the invading Argentine armed forces, a campaign extensively supported by RFAs. Plumridge, John H Lt Colonel, OBE RAMC (retd), Hospital Ships and Ambulance Trains, London, Seeley, Service & Co


1975, 204pp, ISBN 0 85422 087 9, £6.95. Contains details of the RFA MAINEs.

Puddefoot, Geoff, No Sea Too Rough – The Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the Falklands War – the Untold Story. London, Chatham Publishing, 2007, 168pp illustrated and index, Foreword by HRH The Earl of Wessex, ISBN 978 1 86176 314 3 13 1. The style of this has blemishes but is an informative book when read in conjunction with the official history of the Falklands campaign.

Puddefoot, Geoff, The Fourth Force – The untold story of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary since 1945, Seaforth Publishing, 2009, 245pp illustrated and index. ISBN 078 1 84832 046 8l. Although the author’s style takes some getting used to and there are some strange omissions and errors, this book, nonetheless, provides an informative read on the post-war RFA.

Puddefoot, Geoff, Ready for Anything – The Royal Fleet Auxiliary 1905-1950, Seaforth Publishing, 2010, 240pp illustrated and index. ISBN 978 1 84832 074 1. Although the author’s style takes some getting used to this book provides quite an interesting insight to the early RFA.


Roberts, John, Safeguarding the Nation – the Story of the Modern Royal Navy, Seaforth Publishing, 2009, 320pp, hardcover, illustrated, indexed. ISBN 1848320434. Foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales. Contains a vast range of historical information on operations, deployment and campaigns by RN/RFA.

Sigwart, E E Capt. Royal Fleet Auxiliary, its ancestry and affiliations 1600-1968, Adlard Coles Ltd, 1969. SBN 229 98581 5. Well illustrated, index. This well illustrated book is the foundation stone of all material written on the RFA. A typescript ‘errata’ was issued but is difficult to obtain. Smith, Peter C. Task Force 57: The British Pacific Fleet 1944-45, London, William Kimber, 1969, 3rd edition by Crecy Publishing, 2001, ISBN 0 947554 85 8, hardback, 200pp. Illustrated, appendices, index. The supporting British Pacific Fleet Train, included many RFAs, and was the foundation of modern afloat support.

Sowdon, David. Admiralty Coastal Salvage Vessels, Windsor, World Ship Society, ISBN 0 9543310 4 4, 130pp, appendices, index, hardback, 2005. Well illustrated. Covers the design and service 1943-1993; some reference to those Admiralty salvage vessels that were rated as RFAs.


Stoppford T P. Badges, Admiralty Ships, Original Patterns 1919-1994. Stonefrigate, Kent, ISBN 0 9529346 0 4, £55.00. Two vols and a short addendum. This book is the best published source on ships’ badges and includes all those approved for used by RFAs.

Sturtivant, Ray and Balance, Theo. The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, Air-Britain, 1994, 485pp illustrated (black & white), ISBN 0 85130 223 8. This book contains squadron information including deployments on RFAs; chapter on helicopter-carrying ships lists all the RFAs with flight decks/hangars and their deck codes. Tennent, A J, British Merchant Ships sunk by U boats in the 1914-1918 war, Newport (Ghent), Starling Press, 1990.

Thomas, David A. Battles and Honours of the Royal Navy, Barnsley, Leo Cooper/Pen & Sword, 1998, ISBN 085052

623 X, hardback, illustrated, 364pp, bibliography, index.

Villar, Roger, Capt. Merchant Ships at War: the Falklands Experience, London, Conway Maritime Press & Lloyd’s of London Press, 1984, ISBN 0 85177 298 6, £9.50. Chapter 14 covers the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Warlow, Ben Lt Cdr RN, Battle Honours of the Royal Navy, Maritime Books. 2004, illustrated, hardback, ISBN 1 904459 05 6, 224pp. Compiled under official sponsorship of Naval Historical Branch this is a listing of Battle Honours awarded to HM Ships, Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm and merchant ships.


Williams, David, Liners in Battledress – wartime camouflages and colour schemes for passenger ships, London, Conway Maritime Press, 1989, £18.00. Well illustrated with hospital ship colour schemes.

Wise, Jon Dr. Royal Fleet Auxiliary in Focus, Maritime Books. 2002, ISBN 0

907771-89-0 £9.95 128pp, softback. A black and white photographic publication with good in-depth captions. Woodman, Richard. Arctic Convoys 1941-1945, Barnsley, Pan & Sword, 2007, ISBN 1844156117, softback, 532pp. RFAs served in close and distant support of the Arctic Convoys.


A Sea King conducting Helicopter Inflight Refuelling (HIFR) op from the landing ship RFA SIR BEDIVERE [ANRS collection]


Articles (including monographs and papers) Adams, Thomas A. RANGER class Admiralty oilers, Marine News (Journal of World Ship Society), vol XXIX, 10.1975, pp379ff.

—. RFA EMPIRE SALVAGE, Marine News, vol XXX, 1.1976, pp16ff.

—. Fleet yacht — RFA RELIANT, Marine News, vol XXX, 7.1976, pp253ff.

—. Flags of the RFA, Marine News, vol XXXI, 3.1977, pp118ff. Illustrated.

—. Shipping Controller (1917-1921) - a review of his authority and functions, Marine News, vol XXXI, 6.1977, pp258ff.

—. Hospital Ship Colour Schemes, World Ship Society, Marine News, Vol XXXII, 3.1978, p122.

—. & Lennon, Mike. RFA FORT AUSTIN, Marine News, vol XXXII, 6.1978, p284.

—. Ships of the RFA Fleet — 1: Helicopter support ship, Marine News, vol XXXII, 7.1978, pp333ff.

—. Ships of the RFA Fleet — 2: Landing ship tank, Marine News, vol XXXII, 11.1978, pp556ff.

—. Ships of the RFA Fleet — 3: Coastal oiler, Marine News, vol XXXIII, 1.1979, pp29ff.

—. RFA MAINE — Royal Naval Hospital Ships 1901-1954, Marine News, vol XXXIII, 3.1979, pp123ff.

—. Royal or Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary, Marine News, vol XXXIII, 6.1979, pp286ff.

—. & Lennon, Michael. Ships of the RFA Fleet — 4: RFA FORT AUSTIN new fleet replenishment ship, Marine News, vol XXXIII, 9.1979, pp435ff.

—. HMS BULAWAYO, Warships™ 58, supplement to Marine News (World Ship Society), Autumn 1979.

—. Still in steam — EDDYFIRTH, Ships Monthly, vol 15, No 8, August 1980, p22.

—. Naval Freighting Service — a profile, Marine News, vol XXXIV, 8.1980, pp314ff.

—. Royal Fleet Auxiliary — 75 years, Marine News, vol XXXIV, 10.1980.

—. Hospital Ship MAINE, War Monthly, vol 9 No 4, April 1981, pp31ff.

—. T124 shipping agreement — a summary, Marine News, vol XXXV, 7.1981.

—. Ships of the RFA Fleet — 5: NESS class store support ships, Marine News, vol XXXVI, 1.1982, pp21ff.

—. War losses of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Marine News, vol XXXVI, 4.1982, pp181ff. Supplementary footnote in Marine News 6.1982.

—. Marine losses of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Marine News, vol XXXVIII, 3.1984, pp140ff.

—. The Grey Funnel Line — the RFA in 1983, Jane's Merchant Shipping Review, 2nd edition 1984, pp139-148.


—. A series of articles published in the RFA newspaper Gunline (qv):

1. June 1985, the first oiling at sea.

2. August 1985, Under two flags (EMPIRE SALVAGE).

3. December 1985, The forgotten angel (BERBICE).

4. February 1986, The ugly duckling (EMPIRE GULL).

5. April 1985 EDDYFIRSTH - last of a class.

6. August 1986, The yacht (RELIANT).

7. October 1986, Profile of the Naval Freighting Service.

8. March 1987. The RANGERS.

9. June 1987, Turbo-OLNA.

10. September 1987, Four TIDES in thirty years.

11. December 1987, The super D's.

12. March 1988, Fly Navy, Fly RFA.

13. June 1986, Landing Ships (LSGs).

14. September 1988, Coals from Newcastle (MERCEDES).

15. December 1988, The NESS boats.

16. April 1989, RFA to Kriegsmarine.

17. June 1989, Dipping into commercial management.

18. September 1989, Watt fleet replenishment ships?

19. December 1990, RFA - 50 years ago.

20. March 1990, RFA - 50 years ago.

21. November 1990, RFA - 50 years ago.

22. July 1991, The origins of the RFA.

23. December 1991, RFA - 50 years ago.

24. June 1992, RFA - 50 years ago.

25. November 1992, Royal Research Ship - DISCOVERY.

26. April 1994, Flags worn by British Fleet Auxiliaries.

27. March 1996, Commodore RFA.

28. (undated) 1997, Commodore Engineer RFA.

—. RFA BERBICE, hospital ship, Marine News, vol XL, 2.1986, pp90ff.

—. Photographic profile of British naval oilers, Part 1, Marine News, vol XL, 5.1986, pp271ff.

—. Photographic profile of British naval oilers, Part 2, Marine News, vol XL, 12.1986, pp681ff.

—. Royal Fleet Auxiliary. A full colour publicity poster first published by MOD in August 1987, second edition July 1989.

—. The origins of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, Warships™ 102, Autumn 1990, pp31-38. The development of the need for fleet auxiliaries, coal, oil, the origins of the RFA, RFA fleet list and dispositions June 1914 plusreferences. —. The AOR — Auxiliary oiler Replenishment. A full colour publicity leaflet for the launch of RFA FORT VICTORIA, published MOD 1990.

—. RFA FORT GEORGE, Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment. A full colour publicity leaflet for the launch of the ship, published by MOD 1991.

—. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the Gulf. A full colour publicity poster published MOD July 1991.


—. Control of British Merchant Shipping. The Battle of the Atlantic 1939-1945, published by Greenhill Books/USNIP, ISBN 1 85367 190 8; editors Stephen Howarth and Derek Law. Paper read to the 50th Anniversary International Naval Conference at Liverpool, May 1993. —, ed. RFA FORT class auxiliary oiler replenishment : photo profile, Warships 112, spring 1993.

—. Defensively equipped merchant ships (Part One), Warships™ 140 (World Ship Society), ISSN 0966 6958, March 2001. Historical review on the long established right of merchant ships to have defensive armament with a particular focus of the RFA from pre-World War Two to 1945. Includes tables of equipment of specimen weapons fits in RFAs. —. Defensively equipped merchant ships (Part Two), Warships™ 141 (World Ship Society), ISSN 0966 6958, June 2001. Historical review continued with a post-World War Two review. Strong focus on defensive armament on RFAs with tables of equipment including non-gun defensive

systems and training of personnel. List of sources provided. —. Flags of the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, Flagmaster 120, 2006, pp15. Journal of the Flag Institute. Well illustrated, in full colour, with maritime flags. Badges of Royal Fleet Auxiliaries. 2 editions of RFA public relations posters. Circa late-1980s. Badges of the Royal Navy No 10, Badges of the RFA, DPR(N)/DNR poster series. Circa late-1980s.

Bailey, Eric, Secrets of the ships of state, Daily Telegraph, 30 January 1993. The future of HMY BRITANNIA.

Bartram, Graham. Queen’s Colour Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Flagmaster 128, 2008, pp1. Journal of the Flag Institute. Well illustrated background article. Baxter, RN. Logistic support ships, Naval Architect, January 1978, p1-22.

Beeley, J M, Hospital Ships SS UGANDA – at war in the South Atlantic, Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service, 96(1), spring 1983, 2125ff.

Bennett, H J, Surgeon Commander, MAINE Chance, Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service, 37, spring 1951.

Bogie, Ian and Lgguiden, David. New Racal fit for SIR GALAHAD, Navy International, January 1987, p39. Authors are employees of Racal Marine.

Boniface, Patrick. Roving oilers, Ships Monthly, May 202, p25ff. Well illustrated review of the RFA Rover class oilers.

Bouvier, Antoine, Fighting hospital ships, International Defense Review, 3.1992. Letter from legal division, ICRC on role of RFA ARGUS in the Gulf.

British Aerospace, Bristol Division. RFA RELIANT, conversion of MV ASTRONOMER, product leaflet (undated).

Books of Reference (BRs), Admiralty publications BR 875 (1939). Royal Fleet Auxiliary Handbook : first known edition. A copy is held in the Admiralty Library. There is no trace of a copy in The National Archives. Cammell Laird News. From Container Ship to Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Issue 4,


November 1983, lead story on RFA RELIANT.

Clarke, Basil. Vertrep, how the US 6th Fleet is pioneering helicopter replenishment, Helicopter World, vol 7, 12.1963.

Coulter, Surgeon Commander J C S, Naval Hospital Ships, The Navy, October 1949.

CP38. (Careers publication) – produced under a range of titles: Ships & Aircraft of the Royal Navy, then The Royal Navy its ships, aircraft and missiles, later renamed to Ships, aircraft and missiles of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Directorate of Naval Recruiting. First produced by The Admiralty and Central Office of Information, author’s first edition is dated September 1962. This free booklet is well illustrated with technical data and has always included RFAs. CP39. (Careers publication) Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service. The merchant Fleet that supports the Royal Navy, DPR(RN), August 1967.

Curtis, Ian. Britain's RFA: applying lessons of the South Atlantic conflict, Defence & Foreign Affairs, September 1987.

Dawson, Christopher. War roles of merchant ships, International Defense Review, 7/1988, pp825ff.

de Kerbreck & Williams, David, Overtune for the ORANJE 1937-1946. Ships Monthly, November 1979. Includes brief notes on her hospital ship service.

Dethridge, THJ. The History of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, The Naval Architect, Journal of Royal Institute of Naval Architects, No 5, September 1977, pp167ff.

—. The History of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Journal of the RNSTS:

Part 1, number 32, April 1978.

Part 2, number 33, August 1978. Part 3, number 34, December 1978.

Dewar E P, Primary casualty reception ship: the hospital with Operation Granby, Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service, 78(1), Spring 1992.

Doust, V F. Fleet Replenishment Ships (RFAs REGENT and RESOURCE), Journal of Naval Engineering, 1968.

Donne, Michael, Ed. Royal Fleet Auxiliary, FT Survey, Financial Times, London 8.5.1972.

Dyson, Michael E. Royal Naval Oil Fuel Depots in the UK 1945-2000, Warships™ 145 (World Ship Society), ISSN 0966 6958, March 2003. When new methods and materials were introduced into the Royal Navy of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Naval Stores Department became responsible for the supply of coal and latter for the purchase, storage and distribution of oil fuel. This paper reviews the post-World War Two situation with the storage and distribution of Oil fuel to the Navy and use of RFAs.

Eberlin P, The identification of medical aircraft in periods of armed conflict, International Review of the Red Cross, July/August and November/December 1982, Geneva ICRC.

—. Identification of Hospital Ships and ships protected by the Geneva


Conventions of 17 August 1949, International Review of the Red Cross, November/December 1982, Geneva ICRC.

—. Protective Signs, ICRC, 1983 typescript.

Elder, A Vavasour, Staff Surgeon, Notes on Hospital Ships and their functions, Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service, 2, October 1916, 443.

Ferrie, Capt J G, RN. RFA DILIGENCE, Forward Repair Ship, Journal of Naval Engineering, vol 29, No 2, 1985, pp289ff. Good technical article on this ship, her organisation and her task.

Fisher, Sir Douglas B, Vice Admiralty. The Fleet Train in the Pacific War, Quarterly Transactions of The Naval Architect, vol 95, No 2, April 1953, p212.

Fisher, E F S (retd. DD of Stores). List of Admiralty storeships, store carriers, store transports and fuelling vessels – 1600-1962, unpublished material, copy held in NMM, MOD Library and by curator. Admiralty vessels includes RFAs. Flagmaster – Flags of the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries – Maritime Flags by Thomas A Adams.120, 2006, pp15. Journal of the Flag Institute – well illustrated piece.

Flagmaster – Queen’s Colour Royal Fleet Auxiliary. 128, 2008, pp1. Journal of the Flag Institute – well illustrated article by Graham Bartram.

Force 4. The newsletter of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. An irregular gloss magazine that developed from the RFA's original newsletter during the 1960s. A number of special editions were published:

—. September 1981 – Royal visit of the RFA Service.

—. April 1983 - The Falklands.

—. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary in support of Operation Corporate – Falklands Islands 1982 – Falklands 25.

The right to the title Force 4 has been transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary


Association and an online pilot was published in 2013. Ford, R A W, Surgeon Captain, the MAINE goes to sea, Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service, 30, January 1944.

Foxwell, David. Reaping the benefit of experience in the Gulf, International Defense Review, 2.1991, pp113ff.

Foxwell, David & Jolly, Rick, Surgeon Cdr, RN. The RFA AGRUS, a gas-tight, floating field hospital, International Defense Review, 2.1991, pp116ff.

Fry, Roger. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary - reviewed by Ships Monthly, Vol 13, No 6, June 1998, pp40ff. This article was accompanied by a coloured print of RFA FORT VICTORIA and an A-Z list of the current RFA Fleet.

Gibson, R H. Dummy Warships, Marine News, vol XI, No 12, December 1957, pp27ff. Covers Admiralty ships that became oilers. Greenman, David. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Ships Monthly,

—. Part 1, vol 11, No 9 September 1976, pp22ff.

—. Part 2, vol 11, No 11, November 1976, pp12ff.

Goss, James W. Still in Steam – RFA EMPIRE GULL, Ships Monthly, vol 13, No 11, November 1978, pp24ff.

Goss, Keith, A Captain and his Ship - Capt Tony Pitt DSC, RFA – AOR FORT GEORGE. Ships Monthly, vol 29, No 3, March 1994, pp10ff.

—. A Captain and his Ship - meets Chris Knapp - master of RFA ARGUS. Ships Monthly, vol 30, No 11, November 1995, pp18ff.

Gunline. The RFA newspaper, issue 1 was published in June 1985 – ongoing official publication. This is a publication that no longer has a formal publishing schedule. Hall, Nick, Replenishing the White Ensign, Ships Monthly, vol 30, No 10 October 2003, pp25ff. The datafile contained here include a fleet guide, senior service suppliers and building for the future.

Hargreaves, Brian, Oilers of the Royal Navy 1967-2000, Warships™ 144 (World Ship Society), ISSN 0966 6958, October 2002. Originally published as a list of RN oiler from 1900 to 1967, by George Ransome. Brian Hargreaves has compiled this list to detail the subsequent additions and disposals. Harland, Philip, RFA WAVE PREMIER Korean Wartime Voyage 1951-52 – A view from the bridge, pp30, illustrated. Undated. Privately published. Jeppeson, John, The Changing Role of Hospital Ships 1608-1991, Monograph 136. The Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc, 16pp A4 (undated pamphlet). References, although note precisely correct, to RFA MAINE. Joint Services Recognition Journal. RN Reference Edition, June 1987. This contains illustration of the RFA Fleet.

Kelvin Hughes and the RFA. Kelvin Hughes Review 55 February 1976, Kelvin Hughes, a division of Smiths Industries Ltd. A short product article on radars in TIDE, NESS, OL and R class ships.


Kings's Regulations and Admiralty Instruction for Royal Navy, HMSO.

Lloyd's List. Warship conversion job eased by 'turnkey' handling of weapons side. 11 April 1986. Re Harland & Wolff's conversion of ARGUS.

Lloyd's Register. The Naval Connection, classing the ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, a reprint from 100A1, the magazine of Lloyd's Register of Shipping, September 1979, pp4-11. Well-prepared and illustrated article by former RFA officer.

Lloyd's Register of Shipping. The Naval Ship Rules. Provisional rules for the classification of naval ships (including auxiliaries) – issued on CD-ROM, July 1999.

MacGregor-Navire News 106. Replacement of SIR GALAHAD...and repairs to SIR TRISTRAM, August 1985, p6-7. Maritime Defence. Replenishment, supply, logistic and auxiliary vessels: The Fleet Train; Soviet Auxiliaries; SIR GALAHAD - Falklands replacement logistics ship on trials; USN's UNREP force and MSC; British Shipbuilders multi-role naval auxiliary; developing RAS technology, Vol 12, No 8, September 1987. Technical article with plan drawings. Maritime Defence. FORT VICTORIA, one-stop replenishment ship, named at Belfast, August 1990, pp267ff.

Maritime Defence. RFA SIR GALAHAD, vol 12, No 8, September 1987, pp354ff, includes ship drawings.

May, Lester, Lieut RN, H for Hospital class, World Ship Society, Marine News,

XXXVI(11), November 1982, 570-573. Use of hospital ships in the Falkland Islands conflict.

McCart, Neil, The SS UGANDA story – Part three – Falklands Hospital Ship and troop transport, Ships Monthly, 20(7), July 1985.

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 and 1906

Merchant Shipping (Ministry of Defence) Order 1988, The, No 1991, 11.1989.

Miller, David. Logistic support for a bluewater fleet - the UK's Royal Fleet Auxiliary, International Defense Review, vol 25, 4.1992, pp334ff.

Milton-Thompson, G J, The Falklands Campaign, a medical overview, Journal of Royal Naval Medical Service, 69, spring 1983, pp6-9.

Moffat, John C. The Right Decision: a career in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Sea Breezes, vol 63, No 520, April 1989, pp255ff.

Morris G, Mulligan R D, Rayfield B, Cooke D J, Commander RN. AOR, the auxiliary


oiler replenishment, Journal of Naval Engineering, 32(2), 1988. This article described the main features of the new class of AOR and briefly touches on the novel procurement strategy being adopted for this major surface ship. Morris G, Mulligan R D, Rayfield B, Cooke D J, Commander RN. The auxiliary oiler replenishment - The AOR, Review of Naval Engineering, vol 43, No 2, 1989.

Mulligan R D (MoD(PE). RFA - a changing business, paper 15 - Centenary Year Conference past, present and future engineering in the Royal Navy, RNEC, Manadon 6-8.9.1989.

Mulquin, James J, Lieut. USN (retd). Arapaho Update, USNI Proceedings, January 1983.

—. Merchant Ship TacAir, USNI Proceedings, March 1983.

—. Air Arming the Tankers, USNI Proceedings, November 1987. Deals with the Arapaho system.

Mugridge, A R, South Georgia: Surgery at Sea, Journal of Royal Naval Medical Service, 69, Spring 1983, 32-34. Covers

Gulf Deployment Surgical Team on RFAs FORT AUSTIN and TIDESPRING in 1982.

Naval Discipline Act 1967

Naval Historical Branch (Royal Navy) Search 5/57, Transports and Auxiliaries proclamation 3.8.1914. (typescript).

—. Search 185, Hospital Ships for British Pacific Fleet Train. (typescript).

—. Ship History – MAINE. (typescript)

—. Hospital ship 1951 Design, Statement of Requirement, Construction Dept, 22855/1540/3 (typescript).

Naval Review, The. The future of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Vol XXXVII No 2, May 1950, pp134ff. Independent professional quarterly journal. Archive available on website at – http://www.naval-review.org/ Naval Review, The. The future of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary – correspondence. Vol XLIII No 4, November 1955, pp134ff. Independent professional quarterly journal. Archive available on website at – http://www.naval-review.org/ .

Naval Review, The. What is wrong with the RFA? (Replenisher). Vol XLV No 3, July 1957, pp74ff. Independent professional quarterly journal. Archive available on website at – http://www.naval-review.org/ Naval Review, The. What is wrong with the RFA – the facts. (Provider). Vol XLVI No 2, April 1958, pp152ff. Independent professional quarterly journal. Archive available on website at – http://www.naval-review.org/ Naval Review, The. The other end of the hose. (IGA) Vol XLVI No 1, January 1958, pp74ff. Independent professional quarterly journal. Archive available on website at – http://www.naval-review.org/ . Naval Review, The. The Royal Fleet Auxiliaries – correspondence (Michael W F Day). Vol 67 No 4, October 1979, pp327ff. Independent professional quarterly journal. Archive available on website at – http://www.naval-review.org/ . Naval Review, The. Royal Fleet Auxiliaries – correspondence (R L Fisher). Vol 68 No 2, April 1980, pp174ff.


Independent professional quarterly journal. Archive available on website at – http://www.naval-review.org/ . Naval Review, The. RFA Bacchus in the Fleet Train (Lionel Hall). Vol 81 No 1, January 1993, pp55ff. Independent professional quarterly journal. Archive available on website at – http://www.naval-review.org/ . Navy International. SIR GALAHAD, January 1987, pp338ff. Major technical article attributed to Naval Technical Services. Navy International. RFA ARGUS, vol 92, No 12, December 1987, pp618ff.

Navy International. Amphibious Warfare, Swan Hunter – RFA SIR GALAHAD, March 1988, p119. Includes drawings

Navy News, Supermarket of the Sea - RFA STROMNESS, November 1976.

—. Supplement July 1997 – Portsmouth. Portsmouth's other grey fleet, [RFA] page vi.

—. RFA SIR GALAHAD, September 2002

—. A life of variety in the RFANSU (RFA Naval Support Unit), Operation Telic, May 2003.

—. FORT ROSALIE, September 2003

—. RFA Centenary Supplement, 4 page insert, September 2005.

—. Out of the darkness – facts and figures on Bay class. August 2006.

—. Call in the specialists – RFA and NAS849 off west coast of Africa, pp26-27, January 2007

—. MOUNTS BAY blows hot and cold and Time for Larg-er and Lyme, editorials on RFA BAY class vessels, pp16-17, February 2007.

—. Navy News series – Ships of the Royal Navy:

157 – RFA ENGADINE the 'arm arm', December 1968

174 – RFA STROMNESS, May 1970

229 – RFA SIR GERAINT, December 1974

249 – RFA TIDEPOOL, August 1976

266 – RFA GOLD ROVER, January 1978

274 – RFA FORT GRANGE, September 1978

289 – RFA BLUE ROVER, December 1979

301 – RFA FORT AUSTIN sails for the Gulf, December 1980

335 – RFA SIR LANCELOT, goes back to war, October 1983

385 – RFA ARGUS, December 1987

427 – RFA FORT GRANGE – Fort-ifying the hungry, June 1991

441 – RFA DILIGENCE – undoubted virtue of diligence, August 1992

454 – RFA OAKLEAF, September 1993

467 – RFA FORT VICTORIA's a one-stop wonder, October 1994

478 – RFA BRAMBLELEAF keeps the Navy moving, September 1995

493 – RFA GREY ROVER – grey sea rover, December 1996

501 – RFA FORT GRANGE – more than a floating store, August 1997


511 – RFA BAYLEAF – tanker made war début, July 1998

516 – RFA OLNA – tanker has 32 years behind her, November 1998

520 – RFA DILIGENCE – global role for versatile RFA, March 1999

526 – RFA SIR BEDIVERE – new lease of live, September 1999

528 – RFA GOLD ROVER – slips out of harms way, November 1999

532 – RFA ARGUS – versatility is key to aviation training ship, March 2000

536 – RFA FORT AUSTIN – provides stores and much more, July 2000 541 – RFA ORANGELEAF -- in familiar territory, December 2000

544 – RFA SIR TRISTRAM – versatility of RFA’s strength, March 2001

562 – RFA BLACK ROVER – Caribbean seas call, September 2002

589 – RFA WAVE RULER – more than just a tanker, December 2004

591 – RFA FORT VICTORIA – is a floating warehouse, February 2005

598 – RFA BRAMBLELEAF – keeps ‘tm topped up, September 2005

608 – RFA OAKLEAF – take a leaf from the RFA book, July 2006

615 – RFA FORT GEORGE – Fort for good, February 2007

618 – RFA MOUNTS BAY – What a glorious Bay, May 2007

621 – RFA ARGUS – All-‘sea’ing Argus, August 2007

622 – RFA SIR BEDIVERE – First and last knight, September 2007

632 – RFA LYME BAY – in the Lymelight, August 2008

637 – RFA LARGE BAY – The versatile Viking, March 2009

650 – RFA BAYLEAF – Same procedure as every year, September 2010

666 – RFA FORT AUSTIN – Austin transitition, November 2013

Ocean Voice. Technology notebook – sensor ship at sea. Maritime information technology and electronics journal,

January 1990, p11. Deals with the RFAs AOR. Orders-in-Council various copies held in The National Archives, Kew

see Admiralty Order-in-Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service No 121, 22 March 1911

see The Merchant Shipping (Ministry of Defence Ships) Order 1989 No 1991. Updated legal status of RFAs

O'Rourke, Capt Gerald USN. A good new idea – Arapaho. USNI Proceedings, March 1980, pp44ff.

—. What's in store for Arapaho? USNI Proceedings, July 1983, p117-119.

Perry, M D, British Hospital Ships, World Ship Society, Marine News, XL(1), January 1986, 26-27.

Perry, M D, Landing Ship Logistics, Marine News, vol XXV, 8.1971, p282ff.

Plant, Dr Glen. 1 Warships and merchant ships - time for a parting of the ways? 2. War and Merchant ship’s defined. Lloyds List, 9 April 1986 and 21 May 1986.


Provider, pseudo. What is wrong with the RFA – the facts, The Naval Review, 1958.

Puxley, Christopher J, 15 years with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Warships™ (World Ship Society), 148 to 153, ISSN0966-6958, autobiographical series with good descriptions of the training received by RFA officers

Queen's Regulations & Admiralty Instructions, Addenda of, 1886, cancelled Pilot Jack and introduced the Public Service Jack.

Quickenden, R H. RFA LYNESS, Marine News, vol XXI, 5.1967, pp156ff.

—. RFA ENGADINE, Helicopter Support Ship, Marine News, vol XXII, 7.1968, pp176ff.

Ransome, George. Oilers of the Royal Navy (1900-1967), Warships 12 (World Ship Society), supplement to Marine news, January 1968.

Records of Warships Construction 1939-1945. The History of the DNC Department, Chapter XXIV - Tankers (NHB). This includes information on, eg, the Rangers, Dales and Waves.

Replenisher, pseudo. What is wrong with the RFA, The Naval Review, 1957.

Rules Publication Act 1893.

RFA Publicity material: see Force 4 and Gunline

Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Bulletin. A series of irregular bulletin produced by RFA Public Relations Office. Number One 31 August 1990 – No 17, March 1991. Replaced by Fleet Bulletin.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Fleet Bulletin. An irregular series produced by RFA Public Relations Office. Number One April 1991 - Number 14 June 1992.

RFA. The RFA, Why are we so different - December 1964. A publicity typescript by Elizabeth R Abraham. RFA. Cadet training with the RFA Service: a loose-leaf typescript handbook for navigation and engineering cadets, MoD DFMT(B), circa 1965.

RFA. Course Calendar 1988. Number 2, November 1987. This booklet is a good example of the range of training courses available to RFA officers and ratings.

RFA Newsletter. a typed and duplicated news sheet produced by the RFA during the 1960s. Developed into Force 4 (qv). RFA. Ratings - RFA Service, 1.1966 typescript, information booklet.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service — The Merchant Fleet that supports the Royal Navy. CP 39, a general information and recruitment pamphlet - August 1967.

—. RFA ENGADINE, simple publicity pamphlet with plans drawings, description of the Service and the ship - undated. —. OLWEN class, simple publicity pamphlet with plan drawings, description of the Service and the ship - undated.

—. RFA TARBATNESS, simple publicity pamphlet with plan drawings, description of the Service and the ship - undated.

—. Communications Ratings of. A full colour A3 general recruitment leaflet — 2/1989.

—. A Company Contracts Scheme for Petty Officers and ratings. undated leaflet.

—. A high quality pamphlet by Careers Consultants Ltd for RFA — undated.


—. OL class tankers. An 1/3-A4 folded general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. ROVER class tankers. An 1/3-A4 folded general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. RFA ENGADINE. An 1/3-A4 folded general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. Improved TIDE class tankers. An 1/3-A4 folded general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. RFA FORT GRANGE. An 1/3-A4 folded general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. NESS class tankers. An 1/3-A4 folded general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. RESOURCE and REGENT. An 1/3-A4 folded general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. The ships and their roles. An 1/3-A4 folded general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. OL class tankers. A4 folded size general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. ROVER class tankers. A4 folded size general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. RFA ENGADINE. A4 folded size general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. LEAF class tankers. A4 folded size general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. RFA FORT GRANGE and RFA FORT AUSTIN. A4 folded size general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. SIR LANCELOT class. A4 folded size general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. The ships and their roles. A full colour A4 folded size general publicity leaflet — undated.

—. A full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet with general details, history and size – undated, but post-1982.

—. Fleet Replenishment Ships – FORT class – a full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet – undated, but post-1982.

—. Fleet Replenishment Ships - R class – a full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet – undated, but post-1982.

—. Fleet Tankers - Large – TIDE and OLWEN class – a full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet – undated, but post-1982.

—. Fleet Tankers – Small – ROVER class – a full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet – undated, but post-1982.

—. Support Tankers – LEAF class – a full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet – undated, but post-1982.

—. Landing Ships Logistics – SIR class – a full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet – undated, but post-1982.

—. Forward Repair Ship – DILIGLENCE – a full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet – undated, but post-1982.

—. Air Training Ship - ARGUS class – a full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet – undated, but post-1982.

—. Support at Sea – a full colour A3 folded size general publicity leaflet briefly covering management, history, the men and the ships – undated, but post-1982.

—. Officer Cadetship. A full colour A3 general recruitment – undated.

—. Junior Ratings of. A full colour A3 general recruitment leaflet – 12.1991.

—. Deck Cadet General Information booklet – an undated typescript 74F.


—. De-registration of ships, an MOD consultative document – undated.

—. Distinction marks of rank and branch for officers, a RFA poster – undated.

—. RFA manpower studies – executive summary of the Evaluation by RFA Headquarters, report August 1988.

—. Badges of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, full colour A3 poster – number 10 in the series 'Badges of the Royal Navy'. MOD publicity poster. Circa late-1980s.

—. Royal Fleet Auxiliary, full colour A3 poster of the fleet with detailed line drawings of the ships, text by Thomas A Adams – 1989.

—. The AOR – Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment. A full colour RFA publicity leaflet by Thomas A Adams, for the launch of RFA FORT VICTORIA, published MOD 1990.

—. RFA FORT GEORGE, Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment. A full colour RFA publicity leaflet by Thomas A Adams for the launch of the ship, published MOD 1991.

—. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the Gulf. A full colour RFA publicity poster text by Thomas A Adams published MOD July 1991. Includes the badges of all RFAs that were deployed to the Gulf and Gulf medal.

—. COMRFA – CinCFleet, RFA Flotilla, Type Command. A3 full colour publicity leaflet describing the new Type Commander management arrangements - undated circa 1993.

—. Support at Sea. A full colour A2 general publicity leaflet briefly covering roe, Commodore RFA, history, the personnel and the ships and badges – 1994 – update of 1982 leaflet.

—. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary in Support of Operation Corporate – Falkland Islands 1982. A full colour A2 publicity leaflet under the banner of ‘Force 4’ marking Falklands 25 – 2007


—. Centenary, The RFA – 100 years of worldwide fleet support. An excellent full colour 28 page booklet – August 2005

—. Presentation of The Queen’s Colour to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by HRH The Earl of Wessex, Commodore-in-Chief RFA. A full colour 32 page booklet – RFA LARGS BAY 18 July 2008.

RFA Circular Letters: There is no trace of these Circulars letters in public records, such as, The National Archives. The following represents the small number that became available to the curator. 412/54 – RFA cap badges – officers and POs 427/55 – Company Service contracts offered for POs and ratings 490/56 – Officers – engineering cadets 579/59 – ABCD pipe marking system in RFAs 596/59 – Non-skid painting 600/59 – Freighting tankers – operations and handling 621/59 – RFA Personnel – extension of Company Service Contract Scheme (POs and ratings) 666/60 – Manning of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service

677/60 – Painting of tank valves standard colouring

680/60 – Status of Chief Stewards to officer 6/61 – RFA contract Radio Officers 821/61 – Company Service Contracts – Maltese ratings

15/63 – RFA Tugs and Salvage Vessels – revised rates of pay and leave for officers from 17.9.62 27/64 – RFAs training – working up at Portland 35/64 – Eastern bonus 51/64 – Headquarters reorganisation under MOD 57/64 – RFA Communications Branch – duties of communications ratings 92/64 – Radio Officer training courses 112/64 – ABCD become NBCD 25/65 – Signalmen in Royal Fleet Auxiliaries 84/65 – Uniform – contract RFA officers 52/66 – Headquarters Organisation – appointment of Fleet Manager 33/67 – The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service 105/68 – LSL/LST Fleet, approval in principle given to transfer management of fleet from BISN to RFA 40/69 – New Ensign form RFA: report of the working party on manning and management of the RFA Service and other marine auxiliary service of the Royal Navy (6/65) 100/69 – Ships Clerks – change of title to Accounts Officer


116/69 – Funnel painting scheme 3/71 – Restructure of catering and accounts branches and introduction of Purser Grade 13/71 – New titles RFA Superintendents P18/88 – RFA Manpower Utilisation Study

RFA Chief Officer’s Logs. Copies of these handwritten logs are retained by Naval Historical Branch (NHB).

RFA Medal Royal Warrant, Command Paper 5264, MoD(N), ISBN 01 0152 26423, 2pp, TSO Ltd, London

RFA Temporary Memorandum – replaced the Circular Letters – introduced by COMRFA circa 1994/95

Richardson D A. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Officer (magazine), Spring 1965

Robinson, D MacIver. The logistic ship SIR LANCELOT, Brassey's Annual, 1964, vol XVIII, pp165ff

Royal Naval Falklands Task Force. 1982 MOD DPR full colour Publicity poster. Includes the ship’s badges of all RFAs that were in the task force.

Sea Chest, No 37, The Northumberland Shipbuilding Co, Howden-on-Tyne. September 1969. WSS Tyneside Branch quarterly journal. Re collier RFA MERCEDES. Service Lists. Produced for World War One and World War Two [list of British and foreign vessels engaged for Naval, Military and Commercial purposes, with details of dates of entry and discharge, rates of hire, etc.] World War One list compiled by the Shipping Intelligence Section of the Ministry of Shipping – Part I, Part II covers Liner Requisition. World War Two list compiled by Ministry of War Transport. These lists contain no information on actual voyages undertaken. Available at NHB. Service List. World War Two [list of ships requisitioned by Ministry of war Transport for Government Service]. Available at NHB. Seafarer, Autumn 2005, A century at Sea – article on the RFA. pp8-11; Book review p29. The Marine Society & Sea Cadets, London

Shaw P S, FRINA, RCNC. One-stop replenishment - the AOR, Naval Electrical Review, vol 38, no 3, January 1985.

Shipbuilder & Marine Engine Builder. HM Turbo-electric fleet oiler – HMS OLNA, vol 53, 1946, p71.

Shipbuilding & Shipping Record, SIR LANCELOT, first LSL for the War Office, 12.3.1964, vol 103, p351.

—. TIDESPRING, 2.1963, p104.

—. The electrically propelled fleet oiler - HMS OLNA, vol 67, 17.1.1946.

—. The CHUNGKING, vol 77, 5.4.1951, p427-429. Became RFA RETAINER.

—. Oil tanker for Admiralty Stores Department - EDDYCLIFF, vol 81, 2.4.1953, p437-439.

—. Naval Tanker Service, 8.1943, p234.

—. LAURELWOOD, 2.1954, p139. Became RFA CHERRYLEAF (2).

—. Attractively decorated 12-passenger cargo ship for the Ropner Line – MV SOMERSBY, vol 83, 1.4.1954, p414-416. Became RFA SOMERSBY/RELIANT (2).


—. The LONDON LOYALTY, vol 54, 28.11.1954, p113-115. Became RFA BRAMBLEAF (2).

—. HEBE a Royal Fleet Auxiliary, vol 100, 26.7.1962, pp107ff.

—. TIDESPRING – the latest RFA tanker, 7.2.1963, p180.

—. OLYNTHUS class, vol 108, 22-29.12.1966.

—. LYNESS, vol 109, 16.3.1967, p364.

—. ENGADINE, vol 111, 29.3.1968, p429-435.

—. The RFA HEBE, vol 147, 4.7.1962, p5-8.

Ships of the Royal Navy series - see under Navy News.

Shipping Today and Yesterday, No 185, July 2005 – special report on Centenary of the RFA, p37-44.

Sigwart, E E Capt. Royal Fleet Auxiliary – its evolution is an essential component of British Maritime Power, Navy International, February 1975, pp10ff.

Smith, James R. The Dummy Battleship Squadron, Sea Breezes, vol 64, no 536, 8.1990, pp542ff. Covers a number of Admiralty ships that became oilers. Sowdon, Dave. The New SIR GALAHAD, Warships 84, supplement to Marine News, spring 1986.

—. ARGUS - the new aviation training ship, Warships 85, supplement to Marine News, summer 1986.

—. FRESH class water carriers, Warships 86, supplement to Marine News, autumn 1986.

—. SPA class water carriers, Warships 87, supplement to Marine News, winter 1986.

—. FRESHSPRING – last of class, Marine News, XLO/2. February 1987, pp82ff.

Squire, N D, Capt RFA. Fort Victoria class AOR - information pack, typescript comments to RFA PRO 31 January 1990.

Stanley, F D, Capt RFA. Significance of the one-stop replenishment vessel, Navy International, vol 90, no 2, February 1985.

Stapleton, N B J, Capt RFA. Friendly Shadow, Ships Monthly, vol 8, no 8 August 1973, pp263ff.

—. I joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, Sea Breezes, vol 51, number 378, June 1977, pp355ff.

Support Afloat for the Royal Navy. Naval Record, 1967.

Tailyour, R S Col RM. The Futures of Amphibious Warfare, RUSI Journal, spring 1991.

Townsend, O R, Hospital Ship, The Log, Furness Withy Group house journal, summer 1990. PANAMA/MAINE.

Truscott, Graham J. Fort George supplies the Fleet, The Rolls-Royce Magazine, number 60, March 1994, p12ff, ISSN 0142-9469. Well illustrated article. Valorr, pseudo. The Fleet Train, The Naval Review, 1946.

Vicary P A, Letter on mixing up the MAINES, to Ships Monthly, February 1978.


Villar, Roger, Capt. British merchant shipping in wartime, Lloyd's List, 23 July 1981.

Warships 1. Supplement to Marine News (World Ship Society), Hospital Ships of World War One, February 1966, 21-30. Tentative list of Naval and Military hospital ships and ambulance transports. —. 14. Supplement to Marine News (World Ship Society), Hospital Ships of World War One, additional to the list in Warships 1, September 1966, inside back cover.

Warships™14. Supplement to Marine News (World Ship Society), British pennant numbers of World War Two, January 1969. Includes flag X – oilers, store carriers and water carriers 1939-1947. Websites – no sites are recorded in this edition of the Bibliography. Wettern, Desmond, The Blue Ensign Fleet, International Design and Equipment

supplement 1961, Shipbuilding & Shipping Record, vol 97, p143-145.

—. Spares run short for Navy helicopters, Daily Telegraph, 10 March 1975. Re ENGADINE and RFA.

—. RFA the future, Navy International, vol 91, no 6, June 1986.

—. RFA ARGUS – the Navy's new air training ship, Navy International. September 1986, pp545-549.

White, Christopher J. RFA Service Memorial Register 1905-2005, 2008. Privately printed and published. Whitfield, Martin. How Ministry see future support role of the RFA, Lloyd's List, 20 April 1985.

Wise, Jon. The Oceans Hypermarkets: development of multi-purpose underway replenishment auxiliaries from 1960s, Ships Monthly, vol 25, no 6, June 1990.

—. More than a supporting role – the RFAs LEAF class tankers, Warships World, vol 4, no 1, winter 1991.

—. They also serve – examines role of depot, maintenance and repair ships, Ships Monthly, vol 28, no 3, March 1993, pp36ff.

—. RFA 'OL' class tankers, Ships Monthly, vol 32, no 9, September 1997, pp14ff.

—. Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service 1905-2005, The Review (quarterly journal of the Naval Historical Collectors & Research Association), vol 17, no 4, Spring 2005 1997, pp3-19.

X, pseudo. Supplies for the Fleet, The Naval Review, 1952.


The Forward Repair Ship RFA DILIGENCE [ANRS collection]


Selected official records

Admiralty records in The National Archives, Kew (prefixed ADM). For Admiralty Transport Department records see under prefix MT.

ADM1/172/37. 1937 provision of oiler for Naval forces off Spanish Coast - RFA MONTENOL, etc.

ADM1/8432/256, 1915, Distinctive lights for hospital ships. ADM1/8433/270A. 1915. Status of GPO cable ships, proposed recognition as RFAs.

ADM1/8485/79, 1917, Hospital Ships, list of those sunk or damaged by enemy action.

ADM1/8490/134, 1915-1917 Alphabetical list of armed merchant cruisers, fleet auxiliaries, hospital ships and various craft. 94pp, MO1945, Confidential. Less detail than the Service List.

ADM1/8518/86, List of notified Hospital Ships (naval and military), 1918

ADM1/8608/114, Hospital ship BERBICE, Mediterranean, general memo 1921.

ADM1/8636/27. 1923. Officers of RFA; class of travelling accommodation.

ADM1/8659/81. 1924, Medical treatment and sick pay for RFA ratings.

ADM/8689/196, Geneva Convention, Sea Transport Regulations, Engagement of hospital ships and carriers, revised instruction to Masters, 04/1925.

ADM1/8752/190. 1931, Application of the disciplinary provision of the Merchant Shipping Acts to government owned vessels; case of RFA NUALA, owned and registered by the Admiralty but loaned to the New Zealand Government and manned by a New Zealand crew.

ADM1/9322. 1930. RFA PHILOL and hulk ‘Valiant’, collision details.

ADM1/9447. 1924-1933. RFAs, pay and condition of service of officers and men.

ADM1/9762. 1925-39, Defensive armament of RFAs.

ADM1/9447. 1924 RFAs - full pay leave, sick pay for officers, etc.

ADM1/10363. 1939-1940. Salutes to foreign warshps by RFAs, procedure; Admiralty 268/1940.

ADM1/10462. 1932-1940. Dean of Gibraltar, Church of England officiating minister to RN and Dockyard personnel; continuation of appointment and inclusion of ministration to RFA personnel in duties; Admiralty 452/1940.

ADM1/10911. 1926. Registration of Admiralty vessels – NL1113/1926.

ADM1/10916. 1940. Loss of RFA BOARDALE, report by Master.

ADM1/11552. 1941-1943. Collision between RFA BLUE RANGER and SS IRIS; board of enquiry report and payment of claim against Admiralty.

ADM1/11856. 4.4.1939, fast fleet freighting oiler tankers for service with Royal Navy.

ADM1/12021. 1941-1942, collision between RFA WAR PINDARI and SS GUNVOR MAERSK while in Convoy FS1: report of Admiral Leggett’s Committee.


ADM1/12182. 1942. RFA ALDERSDALE – fuelling operations with North Russian convoy; NS018763/42.

ADM1/12601. 1942-1943. RFA DEWDALE damage by air attack.

ADM1/12778. 1943-46, ex-Dutch ship PAPENDRECHT captured from Germany renamed EMPIRE SALVAGE, arrangements with Dutch re use of.

ADM1/14308. 1943. RFA BOXOL, awards to personnel for gallantry during siege of Malta.

ADM1/14424. 1943, Honours for Merchant Navy personnel: procedure for submitting recommendations for RFA officers and men.

ADM1/15033. 1942-1943. Mining of RFA BISHOPDALE in Australian waters, report of Board of Enquiry.

ADM1/15393. 12.1.1943, fast fleet attendant oilers.

ADM1/15400. 1941-1943, RFA RELIANT, engagement of Lascar crew to replace Maltese crew.

ADM1/15406. 1943, RFA DEWDALE, docking, repairs and conversion.

ADM1/15408. 1942-1943, RFA BELGOL damaged by enemy action: stores to be consigned to the Master c/o The Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co Ltd.

ADM1/15411. 1943, SS EMPIRE GOLD - registration as RFA EPPINGDALE.

ADM1/16941. 1943-1944. Entitlement of RFA personnel to the 1939/43 Star; NS 017830/1944

ADM1/16948. 1944. Report on conduct of RFA Officer and request for special commendation for services rendered with Army hospital ships during the advance of the Eight Army from El Alamain; NS 011745/1944.

ADM1/16949. 1944. Expansion of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service - three part secret report.

ADM1/17008. 1944 programme Navy estimates - new construction water carriers built for Director of Stores as RFAs.

ADM1/17019. 1944 programme, OLNA and OLEANDER. File of naval store

documents referring to purchase, conversion, modifications, manning of these vessels. Some references to DALES and WAVES.

ADM1/17237, June 1944. Contains details of Royal Navy hospital ships and requirements for war against Japan.

ADM1/18960. 18.4.1944, arrangements for manning and equipping RFAs allocated to take part in operations, re 'mass invasion of the Continent' – Operation Overlord.

ADM1/18961. 1944, 500 ton water carriers building as RFAs - SPARBURN, SPAPOOL, SPALAKE, fitting requirements.

ADM1/18964. 1943-46, 15-knot tankers WAVE class transferred to Admiralty as RFAs for manning and management.

ADM1/18966. 1944-1945, RFA BISHOPDALE, crash dive bombing report.

ADM1/19493. 1945-1946. Report on loss of HM Ships ANKIN, GRASSHOPPER, STRONGHOLD and RFA FRANCOL in 1942 and proposal for public announcement of circumstances of loss of STRONGHOLD.


ADM1/19666. 1945-1946. Board of Enquiry into mining of RFA ENNERDALE; M4052/1946.

ADM1/20193, Hospitals, hospital ships, sick quarters, medical service. Post-war policy and immediate requirements 1945-46.

ADM1/20683, Admiralty memo on hospital ships, 1947.

ADM1/21336. 1949-1950. RFA vessels, pay and conditions of service for officers; CE14846/1949.

ADM1/21738. 1950-1951, RFA Service pay and conditions; CE6019/1950.

ADM1/22424. 1950-1951, HM Treasury approval for RFA pension scheme; CE9767/1951.

ADM1/22499. 1951, HM Treasury approval for application of war pension schemes to Indian and Chinese crews of RFA vessels serving in Korean waters; L3020/1951.

ADM1/22512, Royal Navy’s contribution to the Korean War. Contains details on the work of RFA MAINE.

ADM1/22632. 1951. Approval for civilian staff employed in RFAs in Korean waters to wear uniform.

ADM1/22663. 1951. Approval for RFAs operating in Korean waters to be armed.

ADM1/22816. 1939-1940. Assistant Fuelling Officer: filling of post by appointment of a RFA Officer.

ADM1/22977. 1934, RFA ORANGELEAF, payment of allotments on behalf of members of the Trinidad crew.

ADM1/22978. 1934-1937. RFA vessels, employment of Bengali lascars and Malay deck crews.

ADM1/22979. 1937. RFA vessels, employment of Bengali lascars at Singapore.

ADM1/22980. 1938. Admiralty bonus to RFAs during Abyssinian and Palestine dispute.

ADM1/23236, future of HMHS MAINE and requirements for hospital ship in Korean waters 1950-1955, APD032/1952. Comments by Medical Director General.

ADM1/23304. 1948-53, Royal Fleet Auxiliary proposed appointment of Commodore and Commodore Chief Engineer.

ADM1/24033. 1952. RFAs, special repatriation and sick leave clauses in Maltese ratings articles.

ADM1/24238. 1941-1942. Issue of rum to personnel of RFA tankers engaged in oiling-at-sea; NS Fuel/4443/41.

ADM1/25311, HM Yacht BRITANNIA: potential use as a hospital ship, 1954.

ADM1/25364. 1954-1956. Report by RFA CAUTIOUS on salvage of MT WORLD CONCORD; BD/791/54.

ADM1/26204, Draft specifications for long and short-range voyage hospital ships and ambulance carriers, 1955-57.

ADM1/26437. Royal Fleet Auxiliaries: Fitting of helicopter platforms; Director of Stores, 8.6.1955-1961.

ADM1/26632. 1956. Employment of Seychellois and Mauritians in RFA vessels, cost, training, rates of pay, etc; NS Fuel 2730/56.


ADM1/26736, HM Yacht BRITANNIA consideration of conversion to a temporary small hospital ship in event of peacetime emergency, 1954-1955. Plans.

ADM1/26781. 1957. RFA SOMERSBY – purchased by Admiralty from Ropner Shipping Co; MAT7489/57. Ship later became RFA RELIANT. ADM1/27143. 1919-1958. History of Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Service. NS Fuel 905/58. Quite a disappointing file with a misleading title. ADM1/27144. 1958-1961. RFA DERWENTDALE, payment of Argentine Maritime Pension Tax for chartered service.

ADM1/27400, Hospital Ships use and status, 1924.

ADM1/27538. 1956-1959. RFAs: manning and operation; NS(F)1923/59.

ADM1/27631. 1960-1963. Concept of afloat support, DoV memo November 1960; ADP347/60.

ADM1/27650. 1959-1961. RRS DISCOVERY II: proposal to order a replacement ship; GF23/60.

ADM1/28354. 1963-1967. RFA FORT LANGLEY conversion for Polaris freighting; N/AS615/63.

ADM1/28366. 1963-1964. National Insurance Act 1963; changes in conditions for ‘contracting out’; Order in Council 11/63 of 20 Dec 1963 for RFA Officers; Order-in-Council 12/63 of 20 December 1963 for RFA Ratings; CE2337/63.

ADM1/28433. 1963-1967. Helicopter support ship RFA ENGADINE; tenders and contracts placed 1964; CP57133/63.

ADM1/28449. 1963-1972. RFA tankers AO15 and 16, investigation into fitting bow thrust units; fitting and trials of unit fitted in AO16 (OLNA).

ADM1/28694. 1963-1967. RFA ships, provision of closed circuit television; N/NS Fuel 363/63.

ADM1/28696. 1963-1969. RRS DISCOVERY: general management; NS Fuel 456/63.

ADM1/28697. 1963. RFA Service: participation in Navy Days; NS Fuel 921/63.

ADM1/28698. 1963-1964. RFA WAVE PRINCE, award of Royal Humane Society Certificate for Saving Life – Assistant Cook A Boyle.

ADM1/28698. 1959-1963. Naval Store Journal Vols 12 to 16; NS Staff 75/63.

ADM1/28889. 1964-1965 RFA personnel: approval to use NAAFI facilities.

ADM1/29063. 1964. Royal Navy and Royal Marines operations in East Africa: reports by COs, including photographs depicting revolution in Zanzibar; evacuation of civilians by HMS OWEN and RFA HEBE.

ADM1/29064. 1963-1966. RFA Service – report of Working Party; MII/278/2/64.

ADM1/29285. 1940-1950. Korean War, RFAs, allowances etc.

ADM1/29363. 1941-1942. Award of Naval GSM (Palestine) to Master of RFA ARNDALE for service on RFA BOXOL.

ADM1/29557. 1943-1944. Awards to 4 officers and men of RFA DERWENTDALE


for services during Salerno landings; correspondence re recommendation for awards to officers and men of various merchant ships.

ADM1/30651. 1959-1961. Operation Trousseau patrol by RRS DISCOVERY II; MII/282/36/59. Retained by Department under Section 3.4. ADM1/30789. 1950-1951. Award of posthumous Albert Medal to AB M R Ellis for attempting to save life at sea on RFA WAVE COMMANDER.

ADM1/30871. 1957. Commendations awarded to officers and men of the RFA by Commander, Task Force Grapple (nuclear bomb tests).

ADM116/924. 1901-1911, Vol 1 Government auxiliary vessels, non-commissioned and managed as part of the Royal Navy – legal status.

ADM116/925. 1901-1911, Vol 2 Government auxiliary vessels, non-commissioned and managed as part of the Royal Navy – legal status.

ADM116/1245, Report on the Committee on Naval Medical Service, 1909. Part III B

Hospital Ships; Annex B Report on RFA hospital ship MAINE; Annex C Specification and a 1904 profile drawing for a Twin Screw Fleet Auxiliary hospital ship.

ADM116/1395, 1396, 1397 and 1398, Alleged misuse of British hospital ships 1915-1918

ADM116/3514, Reports of Proceedings, Hospital Ship MAINE, 1937. Spanish Civil War period.

ADM116/3626. Admiralty vessels, RFAs and chartered vessels, Ensigns, disguises, etc. Question re Ensigns 1913, London Naval Treaty 1936.

ADM116/3677. 1937 confidential unpublished report: Work of the Royal Navy during the Spanish Civil War [re RFA MAINE, hospital ship]. ADM116/4561, Hospital Ships and Carriers in war, 1939-42. Contains BoT specification, notes on ship numbering and markings including Red Cross markings.

ADM 116/4811, Hospital ships and Carriers in wartime (allied and enemy),

1939-1943. Interesting with information regarding carriage in and attacks on. ADM116/5208, Hospital Ship Policy 1939-1946. Includes interesting background administrative and legal, international conventions, requisition of ships, fitting out, etc plus confidential policy information. Makes reference to CB04014(39).

ADM116/5769, Geneva Conference 1949, 1947-1948. Inter-Departmental committee on the revision of the Geneva Conventions. Notes on meetings and reports by Admiralty sub-committee on proposed Maritime Conventions; correspondence with War Office regarding hospital ships. 6867 Vol 6 and Vol 11. ADM116/5770, Geneva Conference 1949, 1947-1948. Reports by J C Mossop on Geneva Convention 1929.

ADM116/5800 to ADM116/5813. 1939-1945, 14 volumes, History of the Naval Store Department 1939-1945. Volumes cover Western Mediterranean, Operations Torch and Husky, establishment of bases in South and East Africa, support of Eastern and Pacific Fleets, co-operation


with US Navy, support of operation Overlord, role of home and overseas yards and depots and history of fuelling at sea. Director of Stores was responsible for the manning and management of RFAs. ADM116/6451. 1962. Courts martial – hazarding of HMS FALMOUTH (collision with RFA TIDEFLOW) 05 December 1961.

Admiralty technical records in National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (prefixed ADM138); (based on NMM’s Ships Cover Catalogue, the ID number is the curator’s number used by the NMM).

ADM138/93. Curator 186, HMNS MAINE (1902) hospital ship papers 1901 to 1914

ADM138/94. Curator 209, papers for proposed hospital ship MEDIATOR (not built), covering 1904-1916

ADM138/396. Curator ID 311, hospital ships MEDIATOR, HELIOPOLIS and MAINE etc

ADM138/***. Curator ID 585, hospital ship 1939 design (not built)

ADM138/93. Curator 186, HMNS MAINE (1902) hospital ship papers 1901 to 1914.

ADM138/94. Curator 209, papers for proposed hospital ship MEDIATOR (not built), covering 1904-1916.

ADM138/103. Curator 183, victualling and water lighters 1900 to 1914.

ADM138/127. Curator 182B, coaling craft, design proposals, specification for various craft 1900 to 1925.

ADM138/176. Curator ID 178, water carrier/distilling ship AQUARIUS (1902), papers from July 1901 with decision to purchase the ship.

ADM138/215. Curator ID 182, coaling craft of various type 1904-1930, eg, C50 (1904), C138 (1905) C185 (1906). Lists all Admiralty coaling craft for 1907 and 1912, reports of experiments of coaling-at-sea. Details of coaling vessels in use with US Navy.

ADM138/241. Curator ID 241, oil tanker steamer BURMA (1911).

ADM138/243. Curator ID 219, Oilers - papers for oilers and fuel barges 1900-

1925, eg, RFA KHARKI and RFA PETROLUEM.

ADM138/244. Curator ID 219A, Oilers - papers on fuel barges 1900-1925 1905.

ADM138/257. Curator ID 221, repair ships HMS CYCLOPS (ex Indrabarah 1905) covering 1905-1936.

ADM138/307. Curator ID 227, petrol carrier RFA ISLA (1907) papers 1906-1910.

ADM138/308. Curator ID 278, coaling and oiling, oiling-at-sea (1910-1913).

ADM138/309. Curator ID 278A, coaling and oiling, oiling-at-sea (1910-1913).

ADM138/396. Curator ID 311, hospital ships MEDIATOR, HELIOPOLIS and MAINE etc.

ADM138/498. Curator ID 378, converted oilers CALIFOL, OLMOS and OLDBURY etc.

ADM138/549. Curator ID 371, mooring steamers HOLDFAST, BULLFRONG, STEADFAST, LIMPET and FIDGET.


ADM138/550. Curcator ID 390, oilers 8,000 ton BRITISH and ATHENA class.

ADM138/350. Curator ID 285, coaling craft, 350 tons, eg, C140, C364.

ADM138/356. Curator ID 201, RFA RELIANCE (ex KNIGHT COMPANION (purchased 1912), some information on RFAs ASSISTANCE (1900) and CYCLOPS (1905), papers 1912 to 1919.

ADM138/369. Curator ID 369, salvage craft THRUSH, RACER, MARINER and REINDER, miscellaneous.

ADM138/396. Curator ID 311, hospital ships MEDIATOR, HELIOPOLIS and MAINE etc.

ADM138/430. Curator ID 339, purchased and hire vessels for war purposes; depot ships SOBO, SOKOTO and ARO.

ADM138/434. Curator ID 296, oil tank ships 10,000 ton, OLIVA, OLAF and OLNA, not built (1912).

ADM138/497. Curator ID 273, oilers, ATTENDANT, SERVITOR, CAROL and FEROL (1915).

ADM138/499. Curator ID 295, oiler KURUMBA.

ADM138/500. Curator ID 295A, oiler KURUMBA.

ADM138/502. Curator ID 297, oiler TREFOIL

ADM138/503. Curator ID 318, oilers, 5,000 ton Trinol class

ADM138/504. Curator ID 318A, oilers, 5,000 ton Trinol class

ADM138/505. Curator ID 315, oiler TURMOIL

ADM138/506. Curator ID 357, oil fuel vessel 1,000 ton 1915, CREOSOL, KIMMEROL and DISCOL? etc

ADM138/507. Curator ID 366, converted oiler tankers OLMOS, OLIVET etc, Leaf class

ADM138/534. Curator ID365, water carriers Innis type, INNISJURA, INNISULVA etc BLACKSTONE

ADM138/535. Curator ID365A, distilling ships/water carriers BACCHUS,

MONCALM, RUTHENIA, PERTHSHIRE and HUNGERFORD etc

ADM138/552. Curator ID 361, oil fuel vessels 2,000 ton for MIXOL and THERMOL etc

ADM138/***. Curator ID 361A, oil fuel vessels 2,000 ton for MIXOL, THERMOL, PRESTOL, CELEROL and FORTOL etc

ADM138/585. Curator ID 375, aviation spirit carrier PETROBUS

ADM138/626. Curator ID 171, stores ships (1898-1913) only named vessel with significant papers is INDUSTRY (1901)

ADM138/627. Curator ID 171A, stores ships (1919-1942) papers on ARGO (1917), BACCHUS (1915), INDUSTRY (1901), PERTHSHIRE (purchased 1914) [see 155, 155A and 365A]

ADM138/642. Curator ID 429, War class oilers

ADM138/***. Curator ID 389, oilers 10,000 ton PHILOL class

ADM138/***. Curator ID 502, Fleet fuelling tugs for Director of Supply?, C307, C308,


C405, C10, C11 (ex Foremost 91), C129, C64 (ex Foremost 90) etc

ADM138/***. Curator ID 502A, SP lighter for Director of Supply? Supply, store vessels, colliers

ADM138/***. Curator ID 502B, dumb lighters for Director of Supply? C craft, oil fuel, aviation and oil separator

ADM138/***. Curator ID 502C, self propelled lighters for Director of Supply (sic), oil fuel store

ADM138/***. Curator ID 560, tanker Dale class

ADM138/***. Curator ID 564A, water tank vessels Fresh class

ADM138/***. Curator ID 564B, water tank vessels Fresh class 1941-1943

ADM138/***. Curator ID 578, motor coaster ROBERT MIDDLETON and ROBERT DUNDAS

ADM138/***. Curator ID 585, hospital ship 1939 design (not built)

Admiralty records in The National Archives, Kew (prefixed ADM) continued:

ADM178/195. 1939-1940. Stranding of RFA BIRCHOL, Board of Enquiry; Admiralty 242/40.

ADM178/260. 1941. Board of Enquiry into loss of RFA CAIRNDALE, 1941. Admiralty 526/41.

ADM178/267. 1941-1942. Investigation of various complaints from crew of RFA CEDARDALE.

ADM186/6, CB 849 – Hospital Carriers and Hospital Ships, Instructions, 1912.

Produced by the Admiralty War Staff, Mobilization Department. This is the primary manual with details on the taking up, fitting out and deployment of ships and carriers. Details distinction between a Ship and a Carrier (corrected to 1 June 1912).

ADM 186/10, H M Transport Service Regulations, 1912-14.

ADM186/677. 1914. Pendant Board for HM Ships and RFAs.

ADM186/717. 1917. Pendant Board for HM Ships, RFAs and Coastguard stations.

ADM199/923, War History case 7835; Red Cross affairs, 1941-44. Covers Italian government’s refusal and final acceptance to recognise TJITJALENKA and OPHIR as hospital ships.

ADM199/932, Hospital Ship committee Reports, 1941-1942.

ADM199/1746. 1944-1945. Fleet Train – merchant vessels and RFAs required for operational service in Far East, Operation Iceberg and other operations; History case X83.

ADM199/1760. 1945 Fleet Train Records, Logistics - various craft., principal details of RFAs.

ADM199/1797. Rear Admiral Scapa, Base Records, Fuel and Fuelling.

ADM1991803. 1939-1942. Rear-Admiral Scrap, RFAs and MFAs entitled to duty free privileges, civil defence, salvage, etc.

ADM199/2165. 1939-1945 Battle of Atlantic History (vol 55) – reports on rescue tug organisation, Shipping Defence Advisory Committee, escort oilers, etc.


ADM202/831. April-May 1982. War Diaries. Operation Corporate: RFA SIR BEDIVERE, Royal Marines battle casualty replacements (Falklands Conflict).

ADM202/852. May 1982. War Diaries. Operation Corporate: Commando Logistic Regiment, Royal Marines, Annex A2 – RFA SIR PERCIVALE log sheets.

ADM219/713. August 1977. Some tactical aspects of reliance upon RFAs; DNOS Note 1/77.

ADM226/71. 30 July 1951. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA FORT DUQUESNE, helicopter trials, ship motion.

ADM226/317. 1955. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA TIDEREACH, speed trials.

ADM226/437. 1967. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA RESOURCE (AEFS01), preliminary report on first of class speed trails.

ADM226/441. 1967. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA RESOURCE (AEFS01), final report of turning and manoeuvring trails

ADM226/684. 1959. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA RETAINER, vibration trials.

ADM226/813. 1963. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA TYPHOON, speed, towing and bollard pull trials.

ADM226/818. 1963. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA TIDEPOOL, preliminary report of speed trails with standard propeller.

ADM226/882. 1965. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA TIDEPOOL, preliminary report of speed trails with noise reduced and standard propellers.

ADM226/936. 1967. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA TIDEPOOL, propeller viewing trails.

ADM226/971. 1969. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA FORT LANGLEY, vibration survey of missile magazine.

ADM226/1103. 1971. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA ENGADINE, effect of bilge keels on rolling and motion in head seas.

ADM227/2597. 1967. Admiralty Experiment Works report: RFA RESOURCE, shaft vibration trails, 2nd April and 6 June 1967plus trials results from RFA REGENT 25 July 1967.

ADM227/2767. 1973. Admiralty Experiment Works report: Investigation into the causes of electrical shocks experienced by personnel working on isolated wiring in the motor starters of RFAs REGENT and RESOURCE.

ADM239/256, CB 04014(39), Instructions concerning naval hospital ships and hospital carriers taken up for service in war, 1939-44.

ADM239/263. 1939.CB4029B(39) Instructions concerning supply of fuel in time of war: RFAs. Contains tabulated data on RFA ships – early version of Particulars of RFAs.

ADM239/264. 1939. CB4039 Instructions concerning the supply of naval stores (other than fuel) in time of war.

ADM239/357. 1944-1945. CB4305 Details of Combined Operations Landing Ships.


Includes details of the Dale class RFA Landing Ship Gantries.

ADM239/439. 1955. Particulars of RFAs.

ADM239/492. 1961. Particulars of RFAs, amendment No 12.

ADM239/736. 1966. Particulars of RFAs.

ADM249/56. 1947. Admiralty Corrosion Committee, destruction by shipworm attack of Lignum vitae rubber bushes in RFAs ECHODALE and BISHOPDALE.

ADM249/1028. 1967. Admiralty Corrosion Committee, fungal attack of 9 inch mooring ropes ex RFA TIDEFLOW.

ADM254/55. 1951. Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory reports: RFA FORT DUQUESNE, examination of fractured eyeplate fitted to mast; includes photographs.

ADM261/1—12, History papers on the Royal Naval Medical Service re Surgeon Commander Coulter’s preparation of the official history.

ADM267/112. 1939-1943. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA CAIRNDALE.

ADM267/115. 1941-1943. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA MONTENOL.

ADM267/115. 1941-1943. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA ABBEYDALE.

ADM267/116. 1940-1945. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA OLIGARCH.

ADM267/117. 1943-1944. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA BROOMDALE.

ADM267/119. 1941-1942. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA WAR NIZAM.

ADM267/120. 1941-1943. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA ENNERDALE.

ADM267/122. 1940-1945. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA RFA DERWENTALE, RFA BISHOPDALE, WAR DIWAN, RFA FRANCOL.

ADM267/126. 1939-1940. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage

reports: RFA BROOMDALE, RFA WAR SEPOY.

ADM267/128. 1940-1941. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA WAR BHARATA.

ADM267/129. 1940-1941. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA OLNA, RFA WAR PINDARI, RFA WAR NIZAM.

ADM267/130. 1940-1942. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA BISHOPDALE, RFA WAR SIRDAR.

ADM267/131. 1941-1943. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA ENNERDALE.

ADM267/119. 1941-1942. Dept of Naval Construction, Torpedo and Mine, Damage reports: RFA WAR NIZAM.

ADM289/56. 1965. Admiralty Oil Fuel Laboratory report: RFA TIDEPOOL, the burning of centrifuged fuel. Report no 41.

ADM289/61. 1966. Admiralty Oil Fuel Laboratory report: RFA TIDEPOOL, the


burning of centrifuged fuel; part 2 trails using normal Admiralty fuel.

ADM289/76. 1972. Admiralty Oil Fuel Laboratory report: water in Avcat, replenishment-at-sea between RFA TIDESPRING and HMS ARK ROYAL 6 November 1971.

ADM289/124. 1970. Admiralty Oil Fuel Laboratory report: inspection of Avcat refuelling system for helicopters on RFA TIDEPOOL 4-6 June 1970.

ADM289/126. 1972. Admiralty Oil Fuel Laboratory report: examination of oil samples taken on the oil slick trial at sea on RFA TIDEPOOL 1-10 June 1970.

ADM302/732. 1978. Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment report: Radiated noise report 3/78: routine measurements on RFA OLNA (fast fleet replenishment ship).

ADM302/738. 1978. Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment report: Radiated noise report 8/78: routine measurements on RFA SIR GERIANT (sic) (landing ship logistics); AUWE publication 45528. Retained by Department under Sec 3.4.

ADM302/746. 1978. Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment report: Radiated noise report 20/78: routine measurements on RFA TIDESPRING (fleet replenishment tanker).

ADM302/757. 1978. Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment report: Radiated noise report 40/78: routine measurements on RFA REGENT (armament supply).

ADM302/758. 1978. Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment report: radiated noise radar RFA GOLD ROVER support ship; AUWE publication 47526. Retained by Department under Sec 3.4. ADM302/761. 1978. Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment report: radiated noise radar RFA BLACK ROVER; AUWE publication 47750. Retained by Department under Sec 3.4. ADM358/1064. 01.01.1942-31.12.1943. Admiralty Casualty Branch, enquiries into missing personnel; Ordinary Seaman R F Derbyshire: RFA GREY RANGER (sic) torpedoed 22 September 1942; presumption of death.

Admiralty Letter 7.5.1951, Construction of New Hospital Ship; MOD1072/50. Copy held in Naval Historical Branch. Admiralty Circular Letter No 9, T3487/1905, dated 3 August 1905. [Admiralty Circular Letters, Vol 3 1905-, NHL. This makes the first public reference to RFAs and confirms the status of MFAs. Specifically mentions hospital ship RFA MAINE. Admiralty Order-in-Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service - New Flags for ships. 9.7.1864: finally abolished Red, White and Blue squadron colours and directed, what is current use of Red, White and Blue Ensign and changed Public Service Ensign and Pilot Jack.

Admiralty Order-in-Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service No 121, dated 22 March 1911 : Statutory Rules & Orders 1911/No 338 make regulations as to registration as British ship in service of the Admiralty, make under Section 80, Merchant Shipping Act, 1906.

Admiralty Committee on the Use of Oil Fuel in the Navy 1911-1912. Volume 1,


Departmental and other reports and minutes of evidence from 12.1912-2.1913 and interim report of the Committee dated 19.1.192. NHL.

Admiralty Fleet Orders ((prefixed as AFO) were superceded by DCIs (Defence Council Instructions) and later by DINS (Defence Instructions and Notices): AFO3544/21 – RFA – manning.

AFO3934/21 – Hospital Ships.

AFO1190/22 – Oilers on Admiralty Service - managers.

AFO214/25 – Admiralty and Director of Sea Transport - relations.

AFO402/40 – RFA vessels - designation.

AFO4643/40 – Additional distinguishing marks on Hospital Ships.

AFO1652.47 – Naval Store Carrying Service.

AFO3560/47 – RFAs, list of.

AFO2216/50 – RFA Fleet Attendant oilers and store carrying vessels - allocation of base ports.

AFO3418/50 – RFA tugs and salvage vessels - administration and records.

AFO3767/51 – Rank of RFA Commodore instituted.


AFO3226/53 – RFA list.

AFO310/54 – RFA - inspection by Lloyds's and Ministry of Transport surveyors.


AFO1434/59 – RFA TIDE class - change of names.

AFO1435/58 – RFA tugs and salvage vessels - administration and responsibility.

AFO1857/58 – AMHERST, ASISs FORT LANGLEY, FORT ROSALIE and FORT SANDUSKY – operation and management

AFO1135/59 – MV GEORGE LYRAS – renaming as RFA APPLELEAF

AFO1264/59 – Painting of weather work on HM Ships and RFAs in time of peace.

AFO1349/59 – MVs LONDON LOYALTY and SOUTHERN SATELLITE – renaming as RFAs BRAMBLELEAF and ORANGELEAF

AFO1866/59 – RFA manning and operation for Replenishment-at-Sea.

AFO3008/59 – Helicopter platforms in HM Ships and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries.

AFO435/60 – Royal Fleet Auxiliary - appointment of Commodore Chief Engineer RFA.

AFO2405/60 – Charter of RFA PLUMLEAF

AFO8/1961 – RFAs - forms of reference.

AFO5/62 – RFAs – charter of RFA BACCHUS

AFO1242 – RFAs – charter of RFA HEBE

AFO159/66 – RFA Afloat Support - RFA tankers revised designations.

AFO983/67 – OLYNTHUS class fleet tankers - change of name.

Admiralty Fleet Orders (AFOs) dealing with Hospital Ships:

AFO3934/21, Hospital Ships.

AFO4643/40, Additional distinguishing marks on Hospital Ships.

Admiralty Monthly Orders (prefixed as AMO):


AMO142/1916, Duties of Hospital Ships.

AMO1150/1918, Notified Hospital Ships, List of Naval, 4.4.1918.

AMO1289/19, Notified Hospital Ships, List of Naval and Military.

Admiralty Weekly Orders (prefixed as AWO):

AWO357/14, Dental Surgeon in Hospital Ships.

AWO516/14, Hospital Ships orders not supplied to, unless order affects hospital ships, 10.10.1914.

AWO1818/15, Correspondence to Hospital Ships, 22.10.1915.

AWO201.16, Duties of Hospital Ships, 4.2.1916.

AWO1926/17, Naval Hospital flags.

AWO485/18, Hospital Ships – distinctive markings, 14.2.1918.

AWO1150.18, Naval and Military notified Hospital Ships, 4.1918.

AWO159/18, Hospital Ship PLASSY withdrawn.

AWO1678/18, MAGIC II not to be renamed MAGICIAN.

AWO1772/18, Hospital Ships, avoidance by British aircraft, 30.5.1918.

AWO 1773/18, British notified Hospital Ships, alterations, 30.5.1918.

AWO2089/18, Hospital Ship MAJIC II renamed CLASSIC.

AWO132/1921, Hospital Ship BERBICE (RFA), 12.1.21

Aviation, Ministry of, and successor records in The National Archives (prefixed AVIA):

AVIA6/24558. 1973. Observation made of Sea King helicopter operation on tanker OLWEN of the RFA Service; with photographs. Aero 1526

AVIA18/3218. 1967. Wessex HU Mk 5 helicopter, deck landing trials on RFA LYNESS by day and night; with photographs.

AVIA18/3492. 1976. Gazelle helicopter trails on RFA, engine; with photographs.

AWO*** -- see entries under Admiralty Weekly Orders.

Books of Reference (BRs) Admiralty/Royal Naval publications:

BR678, Naval Hospital Ship Administration, ed 1959, London, Admiralty 1959. Small typescript booklet. BR 875 (c1991) Regulations for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary:

Vol 1 - Administration.

Vol 2 - Operations.

Vol 3 - Ship maintenance and repair.

BR1233, Medical Storekeeping Instructions, London, MoD(N).

BR1750A, Handbook of Naval Medical Standards, London, MoD(N).

BR1991, Instructions for the Royal Naval Medical Service, London, MoD(N).

BR4008, Regulations and Instructions for QARNNS, London, MoD(N).

BR8845, The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Medical Service, An introductory guide for


new medical officers. DGST(N). An undated typescript, circa late 1980s. Board of Trade records in The National Archives (prefixed BT):

BT26/1200/14. 17 November 1942. Liverpool: RMS SAMARIA (Cunard White Star) travelling from Cape Town to Liverpool; list of passengrs disembarking at Liverpool includes details of RFA passengers, Fighting French Navy, Fighting French Merchant Navy and Dutch Navy.

BT26/1257/206. May 1950. Glasgow, RFA DERWENTDALE travelling from Trinidad to Glasgow; list of passengers disembarking at Glasgow.

BT26/1257/210. January 1950. Glasgow, RFA DEWDALE travelling from Trinidad to Glasgow; list of passengers disembarking at Glasgow.

BT26/1257/223. August 1950. Glasgow, RFA DEWDALE travelling from Trinidad to Glasgow; list of passengers disembarking at Glasgow.

BT26/1273/316. April 1951. Glasgow, RFA DEWDALE travelling from Trinidad to

Glasgow; list of passengers disembarking at Glasgow.

BT26/1284/9. March 1952. Glasgow, RFA ENNERDALE travelling from Trinidad to Glasgow; list of passengers disembarking at Glasgow.

BT26/1331/135. April 1955. Glasgow, RFA BACCHUS travelling from Port Said to London; list of passengers disembarking at London.

BT26/1357/54. May 1956. Portsmouth, RFA BACCHUS travelling from Valletta to Portsmouth; list of passengers disembarking at Portsmouth.

BT26/1358/123. June 1956. Stranraer, RFA FORT SANDUSKY travelling from Singapore to Stranraer; list of passengers disembarking at Stranraer.

BT99/4008. 1929. Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Agreements and Crew Lists – RFAs PHILOL and VISCOL.

BT165, Ship’s Official Logs – Registry of Shipping and Seamen (and General Register and Record Office of Seamen later the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen). This class of documents contain

the official log books of British merchant ships that have been preserved 1857-1972. A significant number of World War One hospital ship and hospital carrier logs are available within this series’ and some RFAs. Surviving logs have been detached from the Articles of Agreement for an individual voyage. Logs are not individually listed in this bibliography details would have to be extracted from The National Archives catalogue.

BT238/146. 1951-1981. Certificates of Competency – service in RN and RFAs to count against sea service requirements.

Cabinet Office records in The National Archives, Kew (prefixed CAB):

CAB80/51/42, Hospital Ship policy (War Office). CAB80/51/57, December 1945, Hospital Ship policy, Firs Sea Lord (microfilm).

CAB84/88/33, March 1944, Hospital Ships and Carriers by Joint Administrative Planning Staff (JAPS).

CAB84/89/60, October 1944, Hospital Ships and Ambulance Transport by JAPS.


CAB122/1511, Hospital Ships 1943-1945.

CAB122/1512, Hospital Ships 1945-1946.

Colonial Office and successor records in The National Archives (prefixed CO):

CO78/206/2. 1936-1937. RRS DISCOVERY II and HMS AJAX reports on their activities around the Falklands.

Command Paper 5264 – Royal Warrant – MoD, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Medal – London, 02 October 2001, The Stationery Office, ISBN 9780 101526525, paperback.

Confidential Admiralty Fleet Orders (prefixed as CAFO)

CAFO977/42 - Combined Operations – Ships & Craft. Covers MLC carrying ships including the DALE class oilers/gantry ships.

CAFO52/54 – Wireless equipment in RFAs and Naval Armament Vessels – policy, 1954.

CAFO74/58 – Wireless equipment in RFAs and Naval Armament Vessels, 1958.

Confidential Books (CRs) Admiralty/Royal Naval publications:

CB415. Instructions for British merchant ships.

CB849. Instructions regarding Hospital Ships and Hospital Carriers.

CB3012. Notes on Maritime International Law, Admiralty, Military Branch, 1929.

CB 04014(39). Instructions concerning Naval Hospital Ships and hospital carriers taken up for service in war, 1939-1944. Referred to in documents ADM116/5208 and as ADM239/256. CB4029A(39). Vol 1 – Instructions concerning the supply of fuel in war.

CB4029B(39). Vol 2 – Instructions concerning the supply of fuel in war – original Particulars of Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, February 1939. Hand amended copy seen by author CB4587 Particulars of Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, published 1966, revised; 1969, looseleaf publication updated by a series of changes (at least 6 identified), copy held in The National Archives.

Confidential Monthly Orders (prefixed as CMO)

CMO76/14. German Hospital Ships – rights of search. A clarification note.

CMO2640/18. Clarification note on instructions to hospital ships because they do not carry CB415.

CMO327/18. CB849 Handbook, Instruction regarding Hospital Ships and Hospital Carriers, ND16. Collingwood, G Trevor, Fleet surgeon, Notes on the work of a Naval Hospital ship at the Dardanelles, Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service, 1, July 1915.

—. Notes on the work of the RN Hospital Ship SOUDAN at the Dardanelles, Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service, 2, April 1916.

Construction Department, Curator 585, Hospital ship 1939 (1939-1948). Contains outline of requirement for a new Hospital Ship submitted to 3rd Sea Lord from MDG, 24.11.1937. (copy held National Maritime Museum).


—. Curator 801, Hospital Ships 1950-52. Contains details of the 1951 Hospital Ship design. (copy held National Maritime Museum).

Construction, Directorate of Naval, New Hospital Ship, Statement of Requirement 1951 design. Typescript in Naval Historical Branch with no references.

Coulter, Surgeon Commander J C S. The Royal Naval Medical Service, London, HMSO, 1954. Volume – Administration, Chapter 6 Royal Naval Hospital Ships.

CP63. Naval Nurse, March 1986. A careers pamphlet with a brief history of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service.

Defence Council Instructions (prefixed as DCIs): superceded the AFOs and CAFOs; DCIs were later replaced by DINS (Defence Instructions and Notices): DCI1042/63 – RFA TIDESPRING

DCI1402/63 – RFA TIDEPOOL

DCI960/65 – RFAs – RFA OLYNTHUS

DCI1610/65 – RFA OLEANDER

DCI527/66 – RFA OLNA

DCI177/67 – RFAS – RFA – RFA LYNESS

DCI572/67 – The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service.

DCI760/67 – RFAs – Charter of RFAs DERWENTDALE, DEWDALE and ENNERDALE

DCI773/67 RFAs – RFA ENGADINE – administration and conditions of service for RN personnel embarked

DCI887/67 – RFAs – RFAs RESOURCE and REGENT – entry into service

DCI1100/67 – RFA REGENT/RFA RESOURCE - administration and conditions of service for Ship's Flight.

DCI1229/67 – Defence Ministry – Royal Naval Supply and Transport Service: responsibilities of Department of Fuel Movements and Transport (Navy) and Supply Directors/Departments for administration of Afloat Support Ships, other than tankers.

DCI1467/67 – OLYNTHUS class – redesignation to OLNA.

DCI875/66 – Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service – appointment of fleet managers.

DCI1554/66 – Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service – appointment of electronics superintendent.

DCI508/67 – RFAs – RFA STROMNESS.

DCI984/67 – RFAs – RFA TARBATNESS.

DCI325/68 - Replenishment-at-Sea - vertical replenishment instruction and procedures.

DCI684/69 - RFA - new ensign.

DCI710/69 – RFAs – Modification of Fleet Tankers – increased Dieso cargo.

DCI1124/69 – RFAs – RFA GREEN ROVER – entry into service.

DCI96/70 – RFAs – RFA SIR BEDIVERE – entry into service.

DCI121/70 – RFAs – RFA SIR TRISTRAM – entry into service.

DCI189/70 – RFAs – RFA EMPIRE GULL – entry into service.

DCI364/70 – RFAs – RFAs SIR GERAINT, SIR PERCIVALE and SIR GALAHAD – entry into service


DCI476/70 – RFAs – RFA GREY ROVER – entry into service

DCI496/70 – RFAs – RFA SIR LANCELOT – entry into service

DCI(RN)899/70 – RFA BLUE ROVER – entry into service

DCI(RN) 43/71 – new titles for RFA superintendents.

DCI526/71 – aviation flight deck markings and clearances in small ships operating helicopters including Royal Fleet Auxiliaries.

DCIT723/73 – aviation – helicopter trials unit - RFA ENGADINE.

DCI(RN)399/84 – Formation of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Aviation Support Unit.

DCI(RN)167/86 – Flotilla structure – RFAs dedicated to aviation : allocated to 3rd Flotilla. 1.5.86.

DCI(Gen)146/89 – Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service - rationalised officer rank structure and nomenclature wef 1.8.89.

DCI(Gen) 29/90 – Legal status of Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessels.

DCI(RN)70/90 – Formation of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Naval Support Unit.

DCI(RN)91/90 – The Royal Fleet Auxiliary – a review of the way ahead.

DCI(RN)105/90 – Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service – Operational Effectiveness.

DCI(Gen)86/93 – Commodore RFA – organisation and responsibilities when full command of the RFA Flotilla transfers to CinCFleet.

Defence, Ministry of records in The National Archives (prefixed DEFE)

DEFE2/875, Organisation, fitting, schemes of employment of ships and craft, Report on Hospital Ships and Carriers, 1941-42.

DEFE2/1799. Amphibious Warfare ships and craft (No 12), October 1954. Details characterics, drawings and photographs include LST3 and LCMs. DEFE13/1344. January 1977-December 1979. HM Ships and Royal Fleet Auxiliary refits, awarding of contracts.

DEFE24/111. 1964-1970. Suez Canal regulations – special tonnage certificates

for HM Ships and RFAs, carriage of radioactive materials.

DEFE24/714. 1970-1975. Status in international law of RFAs.

DEFE24/1373. 1978. RFAs – the future concept of afloat support (additional stores for fleet during periods of tension).

DEFE32/18. Chief of Staff Committee, Secretary’s standard file, 1969 (original departmental ref SSF 950/M). A note in this file deals with the Nuclear Depth Bomb’s (WE177A) availability on HM Ships and RFAs. DEFE48/714. January 1966-December 1966. Carrier and RFA deployments in the Indian Ocean.

DEFE69/60. February 1965-August 1965. New officers’ pay structure reflecting change in the role of the RFA Service.

DEFE69/70. July 1965-April 1968. RFA Service: Fleet Manager appointments.

DEFE69/530 Status of chartered RFAs under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act 1955.


DEFE69/634. 1976-1979. Surface vessels. RFAs, general policy. D/DNOR/38/49.

Dominion Office and successor records in The National Archives (prefixed DO)

DO35/172/1. 1930-1936. RRS DISCOVERY II.

Foreign Office records in The National Archives (prefixed FCO and FO)

FCO8/1067. January1968-December 1969. Discharge certificated for RFA tankers.

FCO76/50. 1970. Oil pollution of Seychelles by wreck of RFA ENNERDALE.

FO371/109147. 1954. Libel issued against RFA tanker WAVE EMPEROR for oil pollution in New York harbour, question of sovereign immunity from jurisdiction.

FO83/2148, Hospital Ships Conference at the Hague, 1904-05, correspondence and papers.

FO371/50571 / 50572 / 50573, Material relating to the notification of hospital ships, HM Government definition of, 1945.

FO371/119005. 1956. Appointment of agency services for RFAs passing through the Suez Canal.

FO371/119096. 1956. Transit of RFAs through Suez Canal, letter from Admiralty to Cabinet Secretary; copy of Admiralty shipping certificate.

FO371/125554. 5 June 1957. RFA BACCHUS, proposed transit of Canal, letter from Admiralty.

FO371/183123. 1965. Political and legal implications of collision between RFA REWARD and GDR ship STRALSUND.

Geddes Committee, Interim report of Committee on National Expenditure. Cmd paper 1581, London HMSO. Naval side covers hospital ships.

Information, Central Office of records in The National Archives (prefixed INF)

INF12/973. 1962-1963. Advertising Division, RFA Service. File EXT1/29 contains 6 items extracted from INF13/21 Recruiting and publicity flyers for the RM, RN and RFA Service (1963).

Inland Revenue records in The National Archives (prefixed IR):

IR40/3147. 1943. Chief Inspectors memo regarding seafaring employees in RFA vessels; centralisation of Schedule E and half yearly assessments.

International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, Manual for the use of technical means of identification: by hospital ships, coastal rescue craft, other protected craft and medical aircraft, 207pp, illustrated, 1990, ISBN 2881450229. Manual for the use of technical means of identification by hospital ships, coastal rescue craft, other protected craft and medical aircraft.

Labour, Ministry of records in The National Archives (prefixed LAB):

LAB10/3147. 1967-1974. Invitation by British Shipping Federation to the Ministry of Defence for the RFA Service to become a member of the Federation.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) Operation Corporate 1982 – The carriage of nuclear weapons by the Task Group assembled for the Falklands Campaign, 8pp, undated,


produced by CBRN Policy MoD. This booklet deals with the Nuclear Depth Bomb carried by HM Ships and RFAs in the South Atlantic. Archived at larchives.gov.uk/20121026065214/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4625B8A4-C533-4DAD-9FA5-0BFEE58F8D69/0/op_corporate1982_nuclear_weapons.pdf Transport Department of the Admiralty records containing correspondence and papers in The National Archives (prefixed MT):

MT9/2828. 1924-1938. RFAs. RFA crew health; enquiry about position under their agreement of officer and men serving in RFAs who become ill and are admitted to hospital on board.

MT9/3939. 1944. Crew manning – liberation of Europe, arrangements for manning of RFAs.

MT9/5740. 1951-1952. Purchase of anchors, chain cable and gear for HM Ships and RFAs – necessity for Statutory certificates.

MT15/427. Tracker class CVEs, escort aircraft carriers built in USA; proposed conversion to aircraft transports (RFA); crew space accommodation – 5 parts, includes plans; 1944-1945.

MT15/428. Tracker class CVEs, escort aircraft carriers built in USA; proposed conversion to aircraft transports (RFA); crew space accommodation – 5 parts, includes plans; 1944-1945.

MT15/1351. 1940-1942. RFAs DERWENTDALE, DINSDALE, Harland & Wolff motor oil takers for Ministry of Shipping, crew space accommodation.

MT23/105, Acceptance of American SS MAINE for service as hospital ship between England and South Africa. Cost of fitting and maintenance borne by a Committee of American Ladies in England. T5053/1899.

MT23/117, Hospital ships: offer by Atlantic Transport Company, SS MAINE accepted by Government, cost of fitting out borne by Committee of American Ladies in London, details of matters in connections of taking over ship, T7479/1900.

MT23/124, SS MAINE – further employment as a hospital ship, T13638/1900.

MT23/135, SS MAINE hospital ship, transfer to HM Government, retention of officers, fitting out, etc for service with Mediterranean Squadron, T8759/1901.

MT23/137, SS MAINE hospital ship, cost of hire per annum and fitting up a hospital ship, T11273/1901.

MT23/147, HM Hospital Ship MAINE engagement of new crew of Maltese with British officers, under Merchant Shipping Acts. Making good defects, T4561/1902.

MT23/189. 1905, Form – specimens of forms for use in RFAs.

MT23/194. T1915/1906 RFA appointment of Masters and Officers.

MT23/198. 1906. List of Service Provisions RFAs.

MT23/201. T5411/1906 Power to register Government ships under Merchant Shipping Acts (Merchant Ship Act Amendment Bill, 1906).


MT23/221. 1908. RFAs nature of agreements with Officers and Crews.

MT23/223, Publication T115 – Specification for fitting Hospital Ship for Military Service – former title Specification for fitting Hospital Ships for Naval and Military Service, T3198/1908. This document covers colour schemes, fittings and equipment – revisions and reprint. MT23/225. T431-/1908 Fleet Auxiliaries, proof of instructions. Printer's proof. MT23/227. T6006/1908 HM Transport Service Regulations revised 1908 edition and index. T182/1909 Hospital Ship MAINE new agreement with British crew.

MT23/229, Hospital ship MAINE. Copies of Captain’s and Principal Medical Officers orders sent to Commander-in-Chief on ship joining the Home Fleet, T1793/1909.

MT23/232. 1909. RFAs Uniforms for the crews.

MT23/236, Hospital Ship MAINE designation of Master in Navy List, T5421/1909.

MT23/238. 1910. Officers of RFAs, record of services and reports.

MT23/251B. 1911. Terms of agreement for men on RFAs. Powers of dockyard officers to enforce compliance on the part of the crew.

MT23/253. RFA PETROLEUM, revision of Clauses 1 to 3 of Articles of Agreement, also Copy of Agreement and Account of Crew; RFAs ISLA, MERCEDES and KHARKI – Board of Trade Agreement for crews, to secure proper discipline. 1911.

MT23/256. 1911. Wages of crews in RFAs KHARKI and BURMA; increases of pay necessitated through recent advances in mercantile rates. Fleet Coaling Service – crews of RFAs serving.

MT23/257. 1911. RFAs, forms of agreement to be adopted under the Merchant Shipping Act.

MT23/261. 1912. RFAs, Treasury prepared to regard service of members of crews of RFAs as qualifying for gratuity under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act 1887.

MT23/262. 1912. Registered Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, Board of Trade Agreement.

MT23/263. 1912. RFA MAINE, substitution of a British crew for Maltese; RFAs BURMA, MAINE and MERCEDES, resignation and appointments of Officers and Engineers.

MT23/265. 1912. RFAs, General Leave (full pay) scheme.

MT23/270. 1912. RFAs, terms of engagements of Masters; instructions for rendering Cash Accounts, Ledgers, etc.

MT23/273. 1913. RFAs, revision of rates of pay allied to Mercantile Marine increase; seamen discharged through illness unable to proceed to their vessels, action taken by Masters of RFAs.

MT23/274. 1913. National Insurance Act 1911 – position of Officers and crews of RFAs.

MT23/277. RFA PETROLEUM, agreement and account of crew; number of stokers signed on last agreement; to burn coal instead of oil fuel; 1913.


MT23 278. 1913. RFAs, discharge and appointment of Officers.

MT23/279. 1913. Wireless installations in RFAs, regulations governing private messages.

MT23/281. T7695/13 12.12.1913 Royal Fleet Reserve and Royal Naval Reserve men for RFA vessels; Commodore at Naval Ports invited to advertise RFA requirements; 1913.

MT23/283. Collision between RFA PETROLEUM and Turkish schooner off Seraglio Point, Bosphorus; Proceedings of Court of Enquiry and findings of Board of Admiralty; 1914.

MT23/287. 1914. RFAs, arrangements for filling vacancies by Royal Fleet reserve and Royal Naval Reserve men.

MT23/290. RFA vessels. Service records of officers, engineers, etc; 1914.

MT23/294. 1914. Leave in RFAs; report of Conference on proposals of Yard Craft Committee.

MT23/296. RFA MAINE, Report of enquiry into grounding; 1914.

MT23/306. RFA vessels. War Bonus for officers and crew; 1914.

MT23/306. 1914. RFA PETROLEUM, practice regarding supply of Cap Ribbons.

MT23/311. 1914. RFA PETROLEUM, conversion of third boiler to coal burning.

MT23/338. 1914. RFAs, references to crews, leave, pay and allowances and agreements of crew.

MT23/342. 1915. RFAs, rates of pay.

MT23/348. RFA BURMA, request from Master that vessel be armed for defence against submarine attacks; 1915.

MT23/369. 1915. Special Order of National Health Insurance Commissioners bringing officers of the RFAs under Section 47 of the National Insurance Act 1911.

MT23/379. 1915. RFAs, Uniform regulations, memorial from various officers petitioning for new cap badge; Pattern of badge authorised.

MT23/417. 1915. RFAs INDUSTRY, SERVITOR, MERCEDES, BURMA, PETROLUM – matters affecting officers and crews.

MT23/425. RFA Service, application for officer’s post; 1915.

MT23/439. 1915. Life Saving Appliances – RFAs brought up to Board of Trade requirements.

MT23/449. RFA Service, application for position of engineer; 1915.

MT23/468. RFA Service, applications for appointments in RFA Service etc; preparation of card index system; 1915.

MT23/477. RFAs Proposed cap badge for Petty Officers; RFAs MERCEDES and BURMA transfer to monthly basis; RFA BULLFROG, Commanding Officer suitable for vacancy in towing service; 1916; Scapa Flow Boom Defence; completion of complement of working part of RFA BULLFROG and other matters; 1916.

MT23/488, Naval hospital ships, particulars and other matters, 1916.

MT23/545. 1916. RFAs, uniform regulations; T43194/1916.

MT23/593. Agreement and account of crew, RFA Service, Form T299, specimen and distribution of form; 1916.


MT23/610. 1916. RFAs MIXOL and THERMOL, running complements.

MT23/631. RFA RELIANCE, crew refuses to sign agreement T299Z; reliefs and supply of uniform; 1916.

MT23/634, Standing Orders and Instructions for officer commanding troops in Hospital Ships (20 page booklet 14 Medical 350), 1916

MT23/658. 1916. RFA; information requested as to conditions under which certain RFA oilers are to be commissioned.

MT23/659, Naval hospital ships, various papers, 1916.

MT23/666, Flags for hospital ships, instruction to Principal Naval Transport Officers, Southampton, 1916.

MT23/668, Hospital ship identification particulars, 1916.

MT23/696. 1916. Identification signals for RFAs, MFAs and merchant vessels – copy of memorandum.

MT25/37, Hospital Ships, miscellaneous questions 1920.

MT25/67, Hospital Ships, losses, 1922.

MT73/200. Building of RFA; specification tankers to government accounts in times of shipbuilding depression; 1950-1951.

Records of Warship Construction 1939- 1945. The History of the DNC Department. Approved for issue 1981. An A4 size loose leaf history. Chapter XXVI – Tankers – deals with RFAs – Ranger, Sprites, Wave and Dales classes; covers RN oilers OLNA, OLEANDER and ex-German NORTHMARK and SOUTHMARK. Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Medal – Royal Warrant;, MoD, Command Paper 5264, 02 October 2001, London, The Stationery Office, ISBN 9780 101526525, paperback.

Rules, Regulations & Instructions of Sea Transport Service and HM Sea Transport Service, various editions, Admiralty/MoD(N). Chapter II Transports, Part 3 – When engaged as hospital carriers or hospital ships. Lists general conditions, distinction between Hospital Carrier and Hospital Ships, selection of ships as Hospital Carriers, Geneva

Convention, notification to enemy government, distinguishing marks, flags, ensigns, ship’s surgeon, additional crew, etc. Sea Transport Service see Rules, Regulations & Instructions of Sea Transport Service and HM Sea Transport Service

Supply, Ministry of and its successors records in The National Archives (prefixed SUPP):

SUPP17/2215. 1971. Military Engineering Experimental Establishment, Christchurch – Mexeflote pontoon equipment (information brochure) – including photographs and drawing. Access 3 working days to produce. Treasury HM, records in The National Archives: (prefixed T):

T1/11327. 1911. Counting of men’s services as members of crews of RFAs for superannuation purposes.

T1/11548. 1913. Admission of officers of the RFA to the list of those qualified to send official telegrams without prepayment.


T161/1050. May 1921-July 1942. RFAs, supply of dutiable goods to RFAs.

T162/36. 20 February-26 November 1920. RFA INDUSTRY (store carrier), sea-going allowance to crew.

T162/286. 1932. Admiralty, RFAs, Master fees for pilotage.

T162/358. June 1927-November 1935. RFAs, superannuation scheme for officers.

T162/481. 16 August-31 October 1938. Compensation – claim for compensation for loss or or damage to private effects of officers, chief steward and wireless operator of RFA WAR BAHADUR during gale in the Atlantic; E37341.

T164/59/24. 1925-1927. Reckoning of temporary service for pension of men serving in RFAs under Yard Craft Agreement who become established.

T164/194/8. 1941. Retired officers re-employed in RFA Service: question whether ‘war risk’ money should be included in calculation for pension.

T213/565. 1955-1960, RFA Service, messing and catering staffs, including Petty Officers.

T213/578. 1938-1950, RFA Service, remuneration and conditions of service of officers.



T248/63. 31 August 1939-11 July 1951. Admiralty civilian personnel serving in RFA (T124 personnel), payment of injury compensation.

T248/648. 1960-1964. Injury warrants application to RFA personnel travelling by air on duty.

T225/1706. 1960-1961, Admiralty: charter of vessels for RFA Service.

War Office records in The National Archives (prefixed as WO)

WO32/14852. 1951-1963. The operation of Landing Ships Tank in peacetime.

WO32/18153. 1959-1963. WD Fleet Working Party.

WO32/18859. 1959-1965. War Department Fleet (RASC).

WO32/20350. 1962-1964. Logistic Ship Staff Requirement Committee: trials of first LSL and requirement for special staff to develop trials report. This relates to SIR LANCELOT.

WO32/21601. 1967-1972. Proceedings of Equipment Management Policy Committee; SIR LANCELOT; 57/Cttees/705.

WO32/21606. 1958-1969. Replacement Landing Ship Tank: SIR LANCELOT; 57/ShippingA/1998.

WO291/2534. 1973. A study of the maintenance of Mexeflote Pontoons and association equipment. Report AMSE(WS) 66/1973.

WO321/42. 1959-1962. Mexeflote floating beach causeways; XTE Series 332/01 Pt A.


WO321/43. 1965. LSL pontoon causeway (Mexeflote); includes plans; XTE Series 332/02 Pt C.

WO321/44. 1966. LSL pontoon causeway (Mexeflote); XTE Series 332/02 Pt E

WO321/45. 1967. LSL pontoon causeway (Mexeflote); includes photographs; XTE Series 332/02 Pt F.

WO321/46. 1967. LSL pontoon causeway (Mexeflote); includes plans; XTE Series 332/02 Pt G.

WO321/47. 1964-1966. LSL pontoon causeway (Mexeflote) tests and trials; XTE Series 332/11 Pt A.


The Fleet Replenishment tanker RFA WAVE RULER [ANRS collection]


Annex

Research resources

Admiralty/Ministry of Defence /Board of Trade/Ministry of Transport/Ministry of Shipping/Ministry of War Transport/War Office records: The National Archives (formerly Public Record Office), Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond TW9 4DU

Web: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Naval Historical Branch and the Admiralty Library, 24 Store, PP20, Main Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LU

NHB/AL is the official repository for the Royal Navy’s Corporate Memory – including RFA and Royal Marine papers and the POMRA Database which is a historical database recording protected sites and maintained under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Merchant Service records, including log books and crew lists (up to 1973):

The Registry of Shipping (aka Registry of Shipping and Seamen)

MCA Cardiff, Anchor Court, Ocean Way, Cardiff CF24 5JW

029 20448800

Web: www.mcga.gov.uk

A proportion of Logs book and crews records are also held by:

The Archivist, Maritime History Archive,

Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada A1C 5S7

Web: www.num.ca/mha/

The originals of some Merchant Service records are held by:

Southampton Archives Services,

Southampton City Council, South Block, Civil Centre, Southampton SO14 7LY

023 8083 2156

Web: www.southampton.gov.uk


Ship plans (Admiralty Ship Covers), photographs and construction files: National Maritime Museum (Royal Museums Greenwich)

Maritime Information Centre, Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 4422

Web: www.rmg.co.uk or www.nmm.ac.uk

What are termed Official photographs: Imperial War Museum

Department of Photographs, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ

Includes the deposited Admiralty Bath Collection

Web: www.iwm.org.uk

Lloyd’s Register (including British Shipping Corporation) also holds some copies of the Mercantile Navy List. Lloyd’s Register Research Service 71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS

020 7423 2531

Web: www.lr.org

Information on wrecks: UK Hydrographic Office

Wrecks Section, Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2DN

01823 337900

Web: www.ukho.gov.uk

Information on marine casualties and shipping movements worldwide; this collection forms part of the archive of the insurance market (Lloyd’s of London); collection also includes the Lloyd’s Confidential Index 1886 to date; Lloyd’s War Loss Records for First and Second world wars and Lloyd’s Marine Loss Records 1939-1970 record cards: Lloyd’s Marine Collection

Guildhall Library, Aldermansbury, London EC2P 2EJ

020 7332 1868/1870

Web: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

War graves information Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 7D

Web: www.cwgc.org/

The Tower Hill Memorial, London

The memorial registers, providing details of those commemorated and a fuller account of the role of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets is held at:

The Corporation of Trinity House

Trinity Square (Cooper’s Row entrance), Tower Hill, London Ec3N 4DH

010 7481 6900

Web: www.trinityhouse.co.uk

RFA support and information (archive): RFA Association

Web: www.rfa –association.org.uk


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Documents

A bibliography of Royal Fleet Auxiliary history