RFA Aldersdale

Launching of Aldersdale
History
RFA EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameRFA Aldersdale
Ordered1936
BuilderCammell Laird and Co., Birkenhead
Laid downSeptember 1936
Launched7 July 1937
Commissioned17 September 1937
Fate
  • Damaged in air attack on 5 July 1942
  • Abandoned hulk sunk on 7 July 1942
General characteristics
Class and typeDale-class fleet tanker
Displacement17,231 long tons (17,508 t) full load
Length482 ft 6 in (147.07 m)
Beam61 ft 10 in (18.85 m)
Draught27 ft 6.5 in (8.39 m)
Propulsion1 x 4 cyl Doxford diesel engine with a single shaft. 687 nhp
Speed11.5 knots (21.3 km/h)
Complement44

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 Admiralty prior to 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.