The British Pacific and East Indies Fleets

The forgotten fleets that fought the Japanese in the Pacific and Indian Oceans


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British Pacific Fleet
Support ships, Auxiliaries & Shore Bases

Use the quick links at the top of the page to go directly to a warship type.

Blue links are completed pages, Black links are pages under construction. Green links take users to histories already covered in other areas of the Royal Navy Research Archive.

Note on Pennant numbers: Temporary numbers were issued to most vessels to bring them into line with US Naval practice however, these do not appear to have been applied to the hulls of all EIF vessels. This table will show these temporary pennant numbers where they are known, and the one actually worn, if any, in square brackets.

Key to symbols & abbreviations:

‡ = Joined after August 15th 1945 or no active service, * = transferred from EIF, + = Bar award to medal. RA = Rear Admiral, VA = Vice Admiral, C in C = Commander in Chief, RAFT= Rear Admiral Fleet Train, COMAT = Commodore Air Train. CLSG = Commander Logistic Support Group RNVR = Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, SANF(V) – South African Naval Force (Volunteer) RAN = Royal Australian Navy, RCN = Royal Canadian Navy, RNZN = Royal New Zealand Navy, SAN = South African Navy, RFA = Royal Fleet Auxiliary (Blue ensign), MFA = Merchant Fleet Auxiliary (Red ensign), MONAB = Mobile Naval Air Base, RNAS = Royal Naval Air Station, RNAMY = Royal Naval Air Maintenance Yard,

Depot Ships Repair Ships Floating Docks Aviation Repair Ships Command Ship Air Store Ships Armament Store Ships Naval Store Ships Victualling Store Ships Water Carriers Distilling Ships Fleet Oilers Colliers Tugs Deperming Ship Net Layer Boom Carriers Salvage Vessels Amenities Ship Aircraft Target Ship Hospital Ships RN Shore Establishments RN Air Establishments RN Auxiliary Hospitals

 

Depot & Base Ships: Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
ADAMANT*‡     Submarine Depot Ship 4th Submarine flotilla, Hong Kong
AORANGI* B377   Submarine Spare Crew Accommodation Ship, converted to HQ ship of Commodore Fleet Train at Manus.
BONAVENTURE B371 Capt. W. R. Fell, OBE, DSC x-craft Midget Submarine Depot Ship
CITY OF PARIS

(Red ensign)

     Fleet Train Accommodation Ship
LAMONT
[Renamed ARD PATRICK Aug 45]		   Cdr. (retd) R. W. Lundy, OBE, RNR LS(I) converted into Fleet Train Accommodation Ship
LANCASHIRE
 (Red ensign)		 B402   Fleet Train Accommodation Ship
MAIDSTONE* B386 Capt. L. M. Shadwell Submarine Depot Ship 8th Submarine flotilla, Subic Bay/Hong Kong
MONTCLARE B381 Capt. G. W. Hoare-Smith Flag of RA Fleet Train & RA Destroyers, Fleet Train HQ Ship from May 1945
TYNE B382 Capt. S. Boucher Destroyer  Depot Ship

Repair & Maintenance Ships: Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
ARBUTUS (RNZ) B281 Lt. N. D. Blair, RNZNR Radio and Radar Repair Ship
ARTIFEX B301 Capt. C. C. Flemming Heavy Repair Ship
ASSISTANCE‡ B302 Capt. J. H. Young Auxiliary Repair Ship
BERRY HEAD B357 Cdr. K. M. Drake, RD, RNR Maintenance and repair ship
DILIGENCE ‡ B303 Capt. E. H. Hopkinson, OBE Auxiliary Repair Ship
DULLISK COVE B343 Lt. Cdr. G. B. Herbert-Jones, RD, RNR Hull Repair Ship
FLAMBOROUGH HEAD B311 Lt. Cdr. J. F. Denman Escort Maintenance Ship
KELANTAN B361 Cdr. S. P. Herivel, OBE, DSC, RNVR Minesweeper Maintenance Ship
RESOURCE B304 Capt. D. B. O'Connell, CBE Heavy Repair Ship

Floating Docks

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
AFD 17      
AFD 18      
AFD 20      

Aviation Repair & Maintenance Ships: Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
BEAULY FIRTH‡ B326 Capt. J. J. Youngs, DSC, OBE, RD, RNR Aircraft Engine Repair Ship
CUILLIN SOUND‡ B316 Cdr. L. R. Sharp, RD, RNR Aircraft Component Repair Ship
DEER SOUND B317 Capt. R. H. Johnson, DSC Aircraft Component Repair Ship
HOLM SOUND‡ B319 Cdr. W. S. Byles, RD, RNR Aircraft Component Repair Ship
MORAY FIRTH‡ B327 Capt W.T. Fitzgerald R.D. RNR Aircraft Engine Repair Ship
PERSEUS‡ B346 Capt G. R. Deverell Aircraft Maintenance Carrier
PIONEER B347 Cdre (2nd Cl.) H. S. Murray-Smith Aircraft Maintenance Carrier
Flag of COMAT
SOLWAY FIRTH‡ B328 Capt M. Farquhar, RN Aircraft Engine Repair Ship
UNICORN B312 Capt. C. M. Merewether Aircraft Repair Carrier

Command Ship

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
AIRE B289 Lt. Cdr. H. I. S. White, RNR Command Ship, Logistic Supply Group

Air Store Issuing Ships

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
FORT COLVILLE B531    
FORT LANGLEY B532    

Landing Ships Infantry (Large)

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
LOTHIAN   Capt. G. C. F. Branson, RAN  
GLENEARN   Capt. C. A. G. Hutchison, DSO+  

Armament Store Carriers and Issuing Ships

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
CORINDA    
DARVEL B5377    
GUDRUN MAERSK (Danish) B538    
FORT ROSALIE ‡ B559    
HERMELIN B539    
HERON B540    
KHETI B541    
KOLA B543    
KISTNA  B542    
PACHECO B544    
PRINCE DE LIEGE B545    
PRINCESS MARIA PIA B546    
PROME B432   Mine Issue Ship
ROBERT MAERSK B547    
THYRA S B548    

Naval Store Carriers and Issuing Ships

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
BOSPHORUS B557    
CITY OF DIEPPE B558    
DENBIGHSHIRE      
FORT BEAUHARNOIS ‡      
FORT PROVIDENCE B582    
FORT WRANGELL B583    
HICKORY BURN      
HICKORY DALE      
HICKORY GLEN      
HICKORY STREAM      
JAARSTROOM B562    
MARUDU B563    
SAN ANDRES B564    
SLESVIG (MFA) B565    

Victualling Store Carriers and Issuing Ships

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
FORT ALABAMA B577    
FORT CONSTANTINE B578    
FORT DUNVEGAN B579    
FORT EDMONTON B580    
GLENARTNEY B584    

Water Carriers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
EMPIRE CREST B505    
BROWN RANGER (RFA) B509    
VACPORT B533    
SEVEN SISTERS B529    

Distilling Ships

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
BACCHUS (RFA) B556 Capt. W. L Holtam RFA Dual function - Naval Store Issuing Ship & Distilling Ship
STAGPOOL B392    

Fleet Oilers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
AASE MAERSK B506    
ARNDALE (RFA) B507    
BISHOPDALE (RFA) A772    
CARELIA B501    
CEDARDALE (RFA) B510    
DINGLEDALE (RFA) B511    
DARST CREEK B502    
EAGLESDALE (RFA) B512    
GOLDEN MEADOW B527    
GREEN RANGER (RFA) B515    
IERE B528    
LOMA NOVIA ‡ B504    
OLNA B516 Capt. P. L. Williams, RD, RNR  
RAPIDOL (RFA) B517    
SAN AMADO B519    
SAN AMBROSIO B520    
SERBOL (RFA) B521    
WAVE EMPEROR (RFA) B523    
WAVE GOVERNOR (RFA) B524    
WAVE KING (RFA) B525    
WAVE MONARCH (RFA) B526    
WAVE REGENT (RFA) ‡      

Colliers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
ATLAS      
EDNA B424    

Tugs

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
ADVANTAGE ‡      
CHEERLY ‡      
EMPIRE JOSEPHINE B451    
EMPIRE SAM B452    
INTEGRITY W14 /B453    
LARIAT W17/B454 Lt., G.W.Reakes RNR  
ROCKWING ‡      
SPRIGHTLY W103 Lt. D.J. Strath, RANR(S)  
WEASEL W120/B456    

Deperming Ship

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
SPRINGDALE B426 Lt. J. S. Seal, RNR  

Net Layer

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
GUARDIAN B436 Capt. R. D. Binks, OBE, RD, RNR  

Boom Carriers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
BARBAIN   Skipper J. A. Anderson RNR  
FERNMOOR B412 Lt. Cdr. E. R. Crone, RNR  
LEONIAN B411 Cdr. R. F. Graham, RNR  

Salvage Vessels

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
KING SALVOR (RFA) B441 Lt. R. H. A. Adams, RNVR  
SALVESTOR  (SAN ) B442 Lt. Cdr. T. F. O'Brien SAN  
SALVICTOR  (RFA) B443 Lt. Cdr. W. J. Harvey, RNR  

Amenities Ship

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
MENRSTHEUS ‡      

Aircraft Target Ship

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
LEWES B496 Lt. Cdr. M. H. Grylls, SANF(V)  

Hospital Ships

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
EMPIRE CLYDE± B394 Surg. Capt A. de B. Joyce, MB, ChB, DOMS, Senior medial Officer Captain William J. Merchant MN
Civilian crewed with RN medical staff
GERUSALEMME B395 Surg. Capt R. W. Higgins, OBE, MB, BCH, Senior Medical Officer  Captain A. M. C. Black MN
Civilian crewed with RN medical staff
MAUNGANUI B396 Not known New Zealand Military Hospital Ship
OXFORDSHIRE B398 Surg. Captain R.N.V.R., H. M. Willoughby, VD, MRCS, LRCP, DPU, DTM & H  Senior Medical Officer Civilian crewed with RN medical staff
TJITJALENGKA B399 Surg. Capt F. G. Hunt, MB, Bch, Senior Medical Officer Captain H. de Jonge MN (Dutch)
Civilian crewed with RN medical staff
VASNA B400 Surg. Cdr. D. R. F. Bertram, OBE, MB, MS, DMR
Senior Medical Officer		 Captain R. H. A. Bond MN
Civilian crewed with RN medical staff

RN Shore Establishments

Name   Commanding Officer Notes
ALERT    Cdr. T. Robertson RNVR RN Barracks, Sydney
BEACONSFIELD   Lt. Cdr. M. Gibbs, RNVR Administrative HQ British Pacific Fleet, Melbourne, Flag of Vice Admiral C. S. Daniel RN, VA (Q) BPF
FURNEAUX   Cdr. J. F. Steemson RN Repair Depot and accounting base, Brisbane
GOLDEN HIND   Capt. H. B. Crane RN Barracks and accounting base, Sydney
PEPYS   Capt. H. F. Waight, OBE RN Intermediate Base, Manus, Admiralty Islands
TAMAR‡     RN Base Hong Kong
HQ C-in-C Hong Kong Rear Admiral C. Harcourt, RN CB, CBE HQ Flag Officer Western. Area, BPF, Rear Admiral D. B. Fisher RN CBE, OBE, (Formerly RA Fleet Train)
WOOLLOOMOOLOO   Cdr. J. D. Stevenson RN Repair Base, Sydney

Royal Naval Air Establishments

Name   Commanding Officer Notes
NABARON
(MONAB IV) 		  Capt. A.N.C. Bingley Jan 45
Capt. C.J. Blake Aug 45 		RNAS Ponam, Admiralty Islands
NABBERLEY
(MONAB II) 		  Cdr. E. P. F. Atkinson RNAS Bankstown, Sydney, NSW
NABBINGTON
(MONAB I) 		  Cdr. G. A. Nunneley Oct 44
Capt. H. G. Dickinson Mar 45
Capt. J. D Harvey May 45 		RNAS Nowra, NSW
NABCATCHER‡
(MONAB VIII)		   Capt.  V.N. Surtees DSO RNAS Kai Tak, Hong Kong
NABREEKIE
(MONAB VII)		   Cap t. F.P. Frai RNVR RNAS  Archerfield, Brisbane, Qld
NABROCK‡
(MONAB IX) 		  Capt. J.S.C. Salter DSC, OBE RNAS Sembawang, Singapore
NABSFORD
(TAMY I)		   Capt. B. J. L. Rogers Tillstone RNAMY Archerfield, Brisbane, Qld
NABSTOCK
(MONAB VI)		   Capt. H.V.P. McClintock DSC RNAS Maryborough, Qld / RNAS  Schofields, Sydney, NSW
NABSWICK
(MONAB V) 		  Capt. H. G. Dickinson DSC Feb 45
Capt. J.F.H. Sawyer Nov 45 		RNAS Jervis Bay, NSW / RNAS Nowra, NSW
NABTHORPE
(MONAB III)		   Cdr. (A) E.W. Kenton RNAS  Schofields, Sydney, NSW

RN Auxiliary Hospitals

Location   Commanding Officer Notes
Brisbane, Qld   Surg. Capt (S) C. Keating, MSM, LRCP & S 250 bed capacity located at Ekibin, Brisbane - later 750 bed capacity at Holland Park
Sydney, NSW   Surg. Rear Admiral J. A. Maxwell, CB, CVO, OBE, MD, BCH, FRCS 1,750 bed capacity located at Herne Bay, Sydney
       


 

 

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HM Ships COLOSSUS, GLORY, VENERABLE and VENGEANCE. GLORY did not arrive in Sydney until August 16th.

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At the end of June 1945, the Admiralty implemented a new system of classification for carrier air wings, adopting the American practice one carrier would embark a single Carrier Air Group (CAG) which would encompass all the ships squadrons.

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Sturtivant, R & Balance, T. (1994) 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm’ list 899 squadron as conducting DLT on the Escort Carrier ARBITER on August 15th. It is possible that the usual three-day evolution was cancelled due to the announcement of the Japanese surrender on this date and was postponed for a month.

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The reminiscences of

Gordon served with the radio section of Mobile Repair UNit No.1 (MR 1) at Nowra, he was a member of the local RN dance band, and possibly the last member of MONAB I to leave Nowra after it paid off. .

Drafted to

Coming home

In March 1946 I joined 812 squadron, aboard HMS Vengeance, spending some time ditching American aircraft north of Australia. Eventually we sailed for Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ) landing at Trincomalee and setting up a radio section at Katakarunda. In the belief that we were exhausted we were sent to a rest camp at Kandy for a few weeks. We moved down to Colombo to pick up Vengeance and returned to Portsmouth via the Suez Canal . I was discharged in November 1946.

Gordon Theaker