RFA Dewdale (A151)

History
Royal Fleet Auxiliary EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameRFA Dewdale
BuilderCammell Laird
Laid down1939
Launched17 February 1941
Commissioned14 June 1941
Decommissioned6 May 1959
FateArrived Antwerp for scrapping, 23 December 1959
General characteristics
Class and typeDale-class fleet tanker
Displacement16,782 long tons (17,051 t)
Length483 ft (147 m)
Beam59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)
Draught27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Propulsion1 × 8-cylinder B&W diesel, 502 nhp, 1 shaft
Speed11.5 knots (13.2 mph; 21.3 km/h)
Complement70
Service record
Operations:

RFA Dewdale (A151) was a Dale-class fleet tanker and landing ship (gantry) of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Taken over by the Admiralty and completed as a Landing Ship Gantry carrying 15 LCMs with accommodation for 150 military personnel. Her landing craft were in the first assault waves during the North African landings in 1943. Credited with shooting down two Ju 88s at Bougie, she was later damaged by bombing at Algiers and returned to UK for repairs in October 1944. Later in the war she served in the eastern Mediterranean and with the Eastern Fleet during the Malaya Landings.

Reconverted to a tanker at Portsmouth by March 1947, she resumed freighting duties before being sold to Netransmar Cie. SA for scrap in 1959.

References

  • Captain E.E. Sigwart (1969). Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Adlard Coles. ISBN 978-0-229-98581-4.
  • Adams/Smith (2005). The Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-259-7.