RFA Brown Ranger Tanker.

[Danzo121]

Hi guys
My Father served aboard an RFA Brown Ranger Tanker in the Mediterranean sea in 1942 supplying fuel to the Royal Navy Destroyers
moving up and down the Atlantic ocean.Can anyone please tell if my Father was Royal Navy or Merchant Navy?

Many thanks
Danzo

[j.sabourn]

An RN personage would be able to answer your question more accurately. The RFA in peace time is manned by merchant seamen. However in wartime a lot of merchant seamen were taken under naval control and were designated a certain number two letters and a two figures whicjh I forget they were in affect hostilities only and as said came under naval discipline. To all affects however your father was MN as was still a member of the MN and only seconded to the RN. JWS.

[robpage]

Brown Ranger (A169)
History
RFA Ensign
Name: Brown Ranger
Ordered: 28 August 1939[1]
Builder: Harland and Wolff[2]
Yard number: 1048[2]
Laid down: 28 October 1939[1][3]
Launched: 12 December 1940[1][4]
Completed: 11 April 1941[2]
Commissioned: 10 April 1941[1]
Decommissioned:
November 1974
Laid up at Devonport.
Struck: 1975
Fate: Demolition began at Gijón, 28 May 1975
General characteristics [4]
Class and type: Ranger-class fleet support tanker
Displacement: 6,630 long tons (6,736 t) full load
Length:
365 ft 10 in (111.51 m) oa
349 ft 6 in (106.53 m) pp
Beam: 47.0 ft (14.3 m)
Draught: 20.0 ft (6.1 m)
Propulsion:
1 × 6-cylinder B&W diesel
3,500 shp (2,600 kW)
1 shaft
Speed: 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h)
RFA Brown Ranger (A169) was a fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

During World War II she played an important role in the Malta Convoys and in Pacific operations. From 24 September to 30 September 1941 Brown Ranger was deployed as part of Force S in Operation Halberd, refuelling the ships of convoy WS 11X, enroute from Clyde to Malta via Gibraltar.[5] Brown Ranger deployed again from Gibraltar on 16 November 1941 as part of Operation Chieftain, returning on 18 November. On 11 June 1942 she was part of Force Y in Operation Harpoon, resupplying the escorts of convoy WS 19Z.[5]

She was moored at Gan, Addu Atoll in the Maldives, and was used to refuel Royal Navy ships when traversing the Indian Ocean. She also saw service during the Korean War, 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953, along with 18 other Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, and was awarded the battle honour 'Korea 1950-52

[Danzo121]

Thank you for your response. I have a photo of my Dad in uniform when he married my Mum in Gibraltar. How would I post the jpg image on here for you to see? My Dad was in the Merchant Navy based in Scotland (Glasgow) and joined the Alva, which was escorted down mid Atlantic to deliver a cargo of coal on 19th August 1941 to Lisbon in Portugal. The Alva was hit by a torpedo from a German U Boat. OG71 Convoy. After being shipwrecked again in the Empire Oak just 36 hours later and to cut a long story short, all the survivors, including my Dad were taken to Gibraltar and that was why my Dad joined the RFA Brown Ranger Tanker. His uniform looks like Royal Navy but I'm not really sure.

Best regards
Danzo

[Doc Vernon]

Please follow these Instructions for Pic Uploading
Cheers

http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/h...ture-post.html

Please also supply Full name and DOB and place of Birth so we can assist more!
Thanks

[Danzo121]

Mum & Dads Wedding 2.jpg

Here is the photo of my Dad in uniform. Is it Merchant Navy or Royal Navy? My Dad's full name was Harry Denis Carlton. Born on the 29th April 1920 in Lambeth, Norwood. He died in St George's hospital in Tooting, SW London in 2005.

Thanks guys
Danzo

[Doc Vernon]

Looks like RN to me but will await other replies/
Can we have his name place and DOB to assist please!
Thanks

[Bill Cameron]

If it is a RN uniform, then four button jacket signifies a officer, senior rates in the RN only have three button jackets, and I see no stripes, I would suggest it’s a Merchant Naval wartime uniform

[Danzo121]

Thanks. I have edited the post with Dad's details.
Best regards
Danzo

[Doc Vernon]

This is weird I have one person fitting this but says Born Dover??
Wondering ??

Reference:	BT 372/68/102
Description:	R136162 CARLTON H D 29/04/1920 DOVER
Date:	1913-1972
Held by:	The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department:	R136162

However Human Errors did happen a lot then with entries being done by hand

Have Mothers Maiden name as Mathias and he passing at Wandsworth