RFA Aldersdale
 Launching of Aldersdale
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | RFA Aldersdale |
| Ordered | 1936 |
| Builder | Cammell Laird and Co., Birkenhead |
| Laid down | September 1936 |
| Launched | 7 July 1937 |
| Commissioned | 17 September 1937 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Dale-class fleet tanker |
| Displacement | 17,231 long tons (17,508 t) full load |
| Length | 482 ft 6 in (147.07 m) |
| Beam | 61 ft 10 in (18.85 m) |
| Draught | 27 ft 6.5 in (8.39 m) |
| Propulsion | 1 x 4 cyl Doxford diesel engine with a single shaft. 687 nhp |
| Speed | 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h) |
| Complement | 44 |
RFA Aldersdale (X34) was a
Dale-class fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
.
She was originally one of six ships ordered by the British Tanker Co., which were purchased on the stocks by the
Second World War. Aldersdale was part of convoy PQ 17 in 1942, and was damaged by bombs from three Junkers aircraft on 5 July 1942 after Convoy PQ 17 had been ordered to scatter. Aldersdale was abandoned and the drifting wreck was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-457
on 7 July 1942.
Career
Ordered by the
Second World War.[1] She passed through the Mediterranean in a convoy, and then sailed to Trinidad, and then to Freetown where she arrived in late October 1939. Returning to the UK, via Halifax, Nova Scotia, in December 1939, Aldersdale underwent repairs at Cardiff in January 1940.[1]
Aldersdale sailed to
Spitzbergen, before returning to the UK later that month.[1]
Aldersdale returned to
Hvalfjordur. Aldersdale was under repair on the Clyde between 3 May and 4 June 1942. She then sailed to Iceland to join convoy PQ 17 to Arkhangelsk. On 30 June she took over refuelling duties from RFA Gray Ranger, which had returned to port for repairs after a growler had split her bow open.[1]
Loss
On 4 July 1942 the
Admiralty was concerned that heavy German fleet units were putting to sea to attack the convoy. Convoy PQ 17 was ordered to scatter and the ships to make their way independently to Soviet ports. This left the merchants vulnerable to air and submarine attack. On 5 July Aldersdale was bombed by three Junkers aircraft from astern in position 77°00N 22°00E in the Barents Sea. The first two bombers scored near misses that shook the ship, after which they machine gunned the decks and superstructure. The third bomber scored a hit that seemed to lift Aldersdale out of the water. Her engines were wrecked and she began to rapidly take on water.[1] The minesweeper HMS Salamander attempted to take her in tow, but had to cast her off. Aldersdale's crew abandoned ship, all 54 being taken off by Salamander.[1]
The drifting hulk was sighted by the
2cm Flak gun.[2] U-457 then fired a torpedo into the abandoned Aldersdale. The wreck broke in two, both halves sinking within 20 minutes.[1][2]
References
75°0′N 45°0′E / 75.000°N 45.000°E
