Surf class tanker
Encyclopedia
The Surf class were a class of replenishment oiler
s taken up for service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
, supporting the Royal Navy
during the Korean War
. Two were commercial tankers under construction in British yards as the war began. A third ship was captured from in the Far East and brought into the RFA as Surf Pilot. She was never utilised however, and was laid up until being scrapped in 1960. The remaining two tankers were laid up at about this time, and were either sold or scrapped by 1970.
the Royal Fleet Auxiliary purchased the Tatri and Beskidy on 14 July 1951, naming them Surf Patrol
and Surf Pioneer
respectively. Meanwhile in April 1951 allied forces had captured a Korean tanker, the Yung Hao. The Yung Hao had originally been built for Japanese owners in 1938, but had come under Korean ownership in 1947. The Yung Hao was taken into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as Surf Pilot, but was immediately laid up at Singapore
. She never saw active service with the RFA, though she remained on their lists until 1958, and was eventually scrapped at Singapore in 1960.
Of the other two Surf class tankers, Surf Pioneer was withdrawn from active service in 1960 and was scrapped in 1970. Surf Patrol was laid up from 1961, and was sold into commercial service in December 1969 as the Marisurf. She continued in civilian service until being broken up in 1980.
Replenishment Oiler
A replenishment oiler or fleet tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds, which can replenish other ships while underway in the high seas. Such ships are used by several countries around the world....
s taken up for service with 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...
, supporting the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Two were commercial tankers under construction in British yards as the war began. A third ship was captured from in the Far East and brought into the RFA as Surf Pilot. She was never utilised however, and was laid up until being scrapped in 1960. The remaining two tankers were laid up at about this time, and were either sold or scrapped by 1970.
Overview
Two tankers, the Tatri and Beskidy were ordered by a Polish shipping company from the British shipbuilding firm of Bartram & Sons. They had been launched in early 1951 but with the outbreak of the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
the Royal Fleet Auxiliary purchased the Tatri and Beskidy on 14 July 1951, naming them Surf Patrol
RFA Surf Patrol (A357)
RFA Surf Patrol was a Surf-class freighting tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She and her sister RFA Surf Pioneer were originally ordered by Polish owners but were commandeered by the Admiralty whilst under construction during the Korean War...
and Surf Pioneer
RFA Surf Pioneer (A365)
RFA Surf Pioneer was a Surf-class freighting tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She and her sister RFA Surf Patrol were originally ordered by Polish owners but were commandeered by the Admiralty whilst building during the Korean War....
respectively. Meanwhile in April 1951 allied forces had captured a Korean tanker, the Yung Hao. The Yung Hao had originally been built for Japanese owners in 1938, but had come under Korean ownership in 1947. The Yung Hao was taken into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as Surf Pilot, but was immediately laid up at Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. She never saw active service with the RFA, though she remained on their lists until 1958, and was eventually scrapped at Singapore in 1960.
Of the other two Surf class tankers, Surf Pioneer was withdrawn from active service in 1960 and was scrapped in 1970. Surf Patrol was laid up from 1961, and was sold into commercial service in December 1969 as the Marisurf. She continued in civilian service until being broken up in 1980.
Ships
| Name | Pennant | Builder | Previous name | Launched | Acquired | Fate |
| Surf Patrol RFA Surf Patrol (A357) RFA Surf Patrol was a Surf-class freighting tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She and her sister RFA Surf Pioneer were originally ordered by Polish owners but were commandeered by the Admiralty whilst under construction during the Korean War... |
A357 | Bartram & Sons | Tatri | 7 February 1951 | 14 July 1951 | Sold in December 1969 |
| Surf Pioneer RFA Surf Pioneer (A365) RFA Surf Pioneer was a Surf-class freighting tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She and her sister RFA Surf Patrol were originally ordered by Polish owners but were commandeered by the Admiralty whilst building during the Korean War.... |
A365 | Bartram & Sons | Beskidy | 23 April 1951 | 14 July 1951 | Scrapped in 1970 |
| Surf Pilot | Harima Dock Co., Ltd. | Yung Hao | 1938 | April 1951 | Scrapped in 1960 | |