RFA Black Ranger

Black Ranger
History
RFA EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameBlack Ranger
Ordered28 August 1939
BuilderHarland and Wolff, Govan[1]
Yard number1046[1]
Laid down12 October 1939
Launched22 August 1940
Completed27 January 1941[1]
Commissioned27 January 1941
DecommissionedApril 1973
Stricken1975
IdentificationIMO number5045938
FateSold commercially in July 1973. Scrapped May 1983
General characteristics
Class and typeRanger-class fleet support tanker
Displacement6,700 long tons (6,808 t) full load
Length365 ft 10 in (111.51 m)
Beam47 ft (14 m)
Draught20 ft 2 in (6.15 m)
Propulsion
  • 1 × 6-cylinder B&W diesel
  • 3,500 shp (2,600 kW)
  • 1 shaft
Speed13 knots (15 mph; 24 km/h)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 13 kn (15 mph; 24 km/h)
Complement40

RFA Black Ranger (A163) was a British diesel-powered Ranger-class fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, built by Harland & Wolff at their yard in Govan. On 27 February 1941, shortly after her commissioning, she was involved in a collision with the French destroyer Mistral which sustained minor damage and Black Ranger spent a short period under repair on the Clyde.[2]

Black Ranger later served with the Arctic Convoys. In November 1960 she was involved in a collision with the submarine HMS Thule. She was retired from service in 1973 and put up for sale. Bought by Greek owners, she was renamed Petrola XIV in 1973 and then Petrola 14 in 1976. She was scrapped at Piraeus in May 1983.[2]

  1. ^ a b c McCluskie, Tom (2013). The Rise and Fall of Harland and Wolff. Stroud: The History Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-7524-8861-5.
  2. ^ a b "RFA Black Ranger". historicalrfa.org. Retrieved 19 December 2020.