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RFA Wave Victor (A220)
Encyclopedia
RFA Wave Victor (A220) was a 8,187 GRT Wave-class
fleet support tanker
of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
built at Haverton Hill-on-Tees by Furness Shipbuilding Company. She was built in 1942 as Empire Bounty for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1946 and renamed Wave Victor with Pennant number
X130. Her pennant number was later changed to A220. She served until scrapped in 1981.
as being 473 in 8 in (144.37 m) long, with a beam of 64 in 3 in (19.58 m) and a depth of 35 in 4 in (10.77 m). She was propelled by two steam turbines driving a single screw. The turbines were made by Richardsons, Westgarth & Co Ltd, Hartlepool
.
. Her Official Number was 169126 and she used the Code Letters
GCBT..
Empire Bounty was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War, mostly between Liverpool
and New York
. Her first crossing was with Convoy UC 14, leaving Liverpool on 1 March 1944 and arriving at New York on 11 March. She returned to America with Convoy UC 28, departing Liverpool on 1 July 1944 and arriving at New York on 12 July. Empire Bounty made one further voyage to New York that year, leaving Liverpool on 28 December and reaching her destination on 8 January 1945, having sailed via Belfast Lough
. She returned to Britain with Convoy CU 54, departing New York on 19 January 1945 and reaching Liverpool on 22 January, from where she made for the Isle of Grain
.
Empire Bounty sailed with four more convoys before the end of the war, all between Liverpool and New York. She sailed from Liverpool with Convoy UC 54A on 28 January 1945, arriving on 9 February. Empire Bounty sailed from Milford Haven
on 29 January. She returned with Convoy CU 59, departing on 19 February 1945 and arriving at Liverpool on 1 March, from where she headed to the Clyde
. Two journeys back to America with convoys followed, with Convoy UC 59A between 6 March 1945 and 17 March, having sailed from Milford Haven, and with Convoy UC 66A from 2 May 1945 to 13 May. Empire Bounty put into Fayal with an unspecified defect that her master stated could only be repaired in the United Kingdom
. She sailed from Fayal on 17 May and arrived at West Hartlepool
on 29 May. Repairs took until 23 June to complete.
In 1952, there was a fire on board Wave Victor whilst she was anchored off Greenock
, Renfrewshire
. On 17 January 1954, Wave Victor was sailing down the Bristol Channel
when a fire broke out in the engine room. The fire was reported at 17:24, and five minutes later was stated to be "out of control". At 17:37 a message was broadcast by radio that the ship was to be abandoned. Several tugs
and lifeboats
, as well as the corvette
came out to the ship, but by then the fire was raging out of control and the crew abandoned her, fearing the explosion of her bunkers. The tug Nirumand brought six firemen
from Swansea
to the ship, which was 9 nautical miles (16.7 km) off Bull Point
, Devon
. Acting Chief Engineer George McBain remained aboard so the vessel could not be claimed by private tugs under marine salvage
laws. The ship continued to drift, and after some time several of the crew and a fire fighting team re-boarded her and brought the fire under control. The fire was extinguished by 12:00 the next day. She was subsequently towed back to Swansea
, and then to Wallsend on Tyne to be repaired.
She was loaned to the Air Ministry
in 1960, and transferred to Gan
, the location of RAF Gan
, as a refuelling hulk. She remained in this role until replaced in 1971 by RFA Wave Ruler
, and was then laid up in Manila Bay
in 1975. She was finally scrapped in 1981.
Wave class oiler
The Wave class was a class of replenishment oilers built for service supporting the Royal Navy during the later years of the Second World War...
fleet support tanker
Tank ship
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...
built at Haverton Hill-on-Tees by Furness Shipbuilding Company. She was built in 1942 as Empire Bounty for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1946 and renamed Wave Victor with Pennant number
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
X130. Her pennant number was later changed to A220. She served until scrapped in 1981.
Description
Empire Bounty was laid down at the yards of the Furness Shipbuilding Company, Haverton Hill-on-Tees on 16 November 1942. She was yard number 356. Empire Bounty was launched on 30 September 1943 and completed in February 1944. Empire Bounty was recorded on Lloyd's RegisterLloyd's Register
The Lloyd's Register Group is a maritime classification society and independent risk management organisation providing risk assessment and mitigation services and management systems certification. Historically, as Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it was a specifically maritime organisation...
as being 473 in 8 in (144.37 m) long, with a beam of 64 in 3 in (19.58 m) and a depth of 35 in 4 in (10.77 m). She was propelled by two steam turbines driving a single screw. The turbines were made by Richardsons, Westgarth & Co Ltd, Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
.
Empire Bounty
Empire Bounty entered service for the MoWT, and was operated on their behalf by the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company, of LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Her Official Number was 169126 and she used the Code Letters
Code letters
Code letters were a method of identifying ships before the introduction of modern navigation aids. Later, with the introduction of radio, code letters were also used as radio callsigns.-History:...
GCBT..
Empire Bounty was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War, mostly between Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Her first crossing was with Convoy UC 14, leaving Liverpool on 1 March 1944 and arriving at New York on 11 March. She returned to America with Convoy UC 28, departing Liverpool on 1 July 1944 and arriving at New York on 12 July. Empire Bounty made one further voyage to New York that year, leaving Liverpool on 28 December and reaching her destination on 8 January 1945, having sailed via Belfast Lough
Belfast Lough
Belfast Lough is a large, natural intertidal sea lough at the mouth of the River Lagan on the east coast of Northern Ireland. The inner part of the lough comprises a series of mudflats and lagoons. The outer lough is restricted to mainly rocky shores with some small sandy bays...
. She returned to Britain with Convoy CU 54, departing New York on 19 January 1945 and reaching Liverpool on 22 January, from where she made for the Isle of Grain
Isle of Grain
The Isle of Grain, in the north of Kent, England, is the easternmost point of the Hoo Peninsula. No longer an island, the Isle is almost all marshland and the Grain Marshes are an important habitat for birdlife...
.
Empire Bounty sailed with four more convoys before the end of the war, all between Liverpool and New York. She sailed from Liverpool with Convoy UC 54A on 28 January 1945, arriving on 9 February. Empire Bounty sailed from Milford Haven
Milford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
on 29 January. She returned with Convoy CU 59, departing on 19 February 1945 and arriving at Liverpool on 1 March, from where she headed to the Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
. Two journeys back to America with convoys followed, with Convoy UC 59A between 6 March 1945 and 17 March, having sailed from Milford Haven, and with Convoy UC 66A from 2 May 1945 to 13 May. Empire Bounty put into Fayal with an unspecified defect that her master stated could only be repaired in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She sailed from Fayal on 17 May and arrived at West Hartlepool
West Hartlepool
This article refers to the place; for the Rugby Football Club see West Hartlepool R.F.C.West Hartlepool refers to the western part of the what has since the 1960s been known as the borough of Hartlepool in North East England...
on 29 May. Repairs took until 23 June to complete.
Wave Victor
Empire Bounty and the remaining MOWT operated tankers of her class were transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1946 and Empire Bounty was renamed Wave Victor. She was allocated Pennant number X130.In 1952, there was a fire on board Wave Victor whilst she was anchored off Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
. On 17 January 1954, Wave Victor was sailing down the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
when a fire broke out in the engine room. The fire was reported at 17:24, and five minutes later was stated to be "out of control". At 17:37 a message was broadcast by radio that the ship was to be abandoned. Several tugs
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
and lifeboats
Lifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
, as well as the corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
came out to the ship, but by then the fire was raging out of control and the crew abandoned her, fearing the explosion of her bunkers. The tug Nirumand brought six firemen
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
from Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
to the ship, which was 9 nautical miles (16.7 km) off Bull Point
Bull Point
Bull Point is the most southerly part of East Falkland, and of the two main islands of the Falklands. It is at the far end of Lafonia, near Eagle Passage, and forms part of the west shore of the Bay of Harbours....
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. Acting Chief Engineer George McBain remained aboard so the vessel could not be claimed by private tugs under marine salvage
Marine salvage
Marine salvage is the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo, or other property from peril. Salvage encompasses rescue towing, refloating a sunken or grounded vessel, or patching or repairing a ship...
laws. The ship continued to drift, and after some time several of the crew and a fire fighting team re-boarded her and brought the fire under control. The fire was extinguished by 12:00 the next day. She was subsequently towed back to Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, and then to Wallsend on Tyne to be repaired.
She was loaned to the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
in 1960, and transferred to Gan
Gan (Seenu Atoll)
Gan is the southernmost island of Addu Atoll, as well as the southernmost island of the Maldives. It is relatively large by Maldive standards....
, the location of RAF Gan
RAF Gan
The former Royal Air Force Station Gan commonly known as RAF Gan, was a Royal Air Force military airbase on Gan Island, the southern-most island of Addu Atoll which is part of the larger groups of islands which form the Maldives, in the middle of the Indian Ocean.-History:The area was originally...
, as a refuelling hulk. She remained in this role until replaced in 1971 by RFA Wave Ruler
RFA Wave Ruler (A212)
Wave Ruler was a that was built in 1946 as Empire Evesham by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the British Ministry of Transport. In 1947, she was transferred to the Admiralty and commissioned into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as Wave Ruler...
, and was then laid up in Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
in 1975. She was finally scrapped in 1981.