RFA Wave King

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RFA Wave King (A182) was a Wave-class fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary built at Govan by Harland & Wolff Ltd. In 1945, she served in the Far East with the British Pacific Fleet, designated Task Force 57 upon joining the United States fleet.[3] On 6 May 1945 Wave King and Wave Monarch were with the Logistic Support Group 300 miles south-east of Miyako to refuel Task Force 57 which was launching air strikes against island targets in the Okinawa campaign.[3]

History
RFA EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameRFA Wave King
BuilderHarland and Wolff, Govan
Yard number1222[1]
Laid down23 March 1943
Launched6 April 1944
Completed22 July 1944[1]
Commissioned22 July 1944
Decommissioned1956
FateScrapped in April 1960
General characteristics
Tonnage8,159 gross register tons (GRT)[2]
Displacement16,483 long tons full load
Length473 ft 8 in (144.37 m)[2]
Beam64 ft 3 in (19.58 m)[2]
Draught35 ft 4 in (10.77 m)[2]
PropulsionParsons double reduction geared turbines,3 drum type boilers, 6,800 hp (5,100 kW).
Speed14.5 knots (26.9 km/h)

Wave King struck a rock north of São Luís de Maranhão, Brazil, on 9 August 1956 and suffered severe damage.[4] She arrived at Barrow-in-Furness on 16 April 1960 for scrapping.

References

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  1. ^ a b McCluskie, Tom (2013). The Rise and Fall of Harland and Wolff. Stroud: The History Press. p. 154. ISBN 9780752488615.
  2. ^ a b c d Lloyds (1944–45). "Lloyd's Register" (PDF). Lloyd's Register (through PlimsollShipData). Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b Gill, G. Hermon (1968). Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy. Vol. 2. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. pp. 604, 612.
  4. ^ "RFA Wave King". historicalrfa.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2023.