RFA Wave Laird
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English
Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsRFA Wave Laird (A119) was an Template:GRT Wave-class fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was built in 1946 as Empire Dunbar by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham for the Ministry of Transport and completed at Wave Laird. She served until 1961 when she was laid up at HMNB Devonport. Wave Laird was scrapped in 1970 in Spain.
DescriptionEdit
The ship was built in 1946 by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.<ref name=Ships>Template:Cite book</ref> She was yard number 767.<ref name=RFA>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The ship was Template:Convert long overall (Template:Convert between perpendiculars<ref name=Times011169>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref>), with a beam of Template:Convert.<ref name=Ships/> She had a draught of Template:Convert,Template:Citation needed and a depth of Template:Convert. She was assessed as Template:GRT, Template:NRT.<ref name=Times011169/> Fully loaded, she displaced 16,650 tons.<ref name=FR/>
The ship was propelled by two Metrovick-type double reduction geared steam turbines, which were fed by three drum boilers.<ref name=FR>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Convert. The turbines were built by Richardsons Westgarth Ltd. They drove a single screw propeller,<ref name=Times011169/> and could propel the ship at Template:Convert.<ref name=FR/>
HistoryEdit
Empire Dunbar was built by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland for the Ministry of Transport.<ref name=Ships/> She was launched on 3 April 1946 and completed on 30 September 1946 as RFA Wave Laird for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.<ref name=RFA/> Her port of registry was London.<ref name=Photo>As shown by this photograph.</ref> She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 180967 and the Pennant number X129. This was later changed to A119.<ref name=RFA/>
Wave Laird suffered a number of problems shortly after entering service. In October 1946, her steering gear failed on a voyage from Sunderland to the Tyne and she was towed into port. In December 1946, boiler problems delayed her departure from Portland, Dorset for Trinidad. On 17 March 1947, boiler problems left her adrift in gale-force winds Template:Convert off the Tasker Rock, Ireland. Assistance was requested as the ship suffered heavy damage, which had to be repaired before her cargo was able to be discharged at Old Kilpatrick. On 10 November 1949, Wave Laird was on a voyage from Abadan, Iran to Malta when she was caught in a storm. A deckhand sustained fatal injuries. He was buried at Kalkara Naval Cemetery in Malta. The funeral was attended by officers and crew from Template:Ship, Template:Ship and Wave Laird and the Secretary of the Malta Branch of the National Union of Seamen.<ref name=RFA/>
Wave Laird was on active service in Korea from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953. She was awarded a battle honour. On 19 July 1951, she was involved in a collision with the Royal Interocean Line's ocean liner Template:SS off Singapore. In January 1954, Wave Laird was one of the naval vessels supporting the Royal Yacht Template:SS in Australia. On 31 October 1956, Wave Laird was one of 35 Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships deployed as part of Operation Musketeer. From 16–29 September 1960, she was deployed off Iceland in support of the Royal Navy, which was caught up in the Cod Wars.<ref name=RFA/> Wave Laird was featured on a postcard produced by Valentine's, Dundee. The card showed Wave Laird refuelling Template:HMS at sea.<ref name=Postcard>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Wave Laird was laid up in reserve at HMNB Devonport in 1961.<ref name=RFA/> She was advertised for sale by tender in November 1969 "as lying at HMNB Devonport".<ref name=Times011169/> She departed from Devonport under tow on 26 January 1970, bound for Gibraltar, from where she departed on 25 February under tow for Gandia, Spain. Wave Laird was scrapped in March 1970 by Hierros Ardes, Gandia.<ref name=RFA/>
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Empire ships Template:Wave class oiler Template:1947 shipwrecks Template:1951 shipwrecks