[bpsparks]

Back in 1967 I joined the B P tanker British Gunner at the Isle of Grain and stayed with her for 9 months. She and her 2 sisters built in 1954 were of 14000 tons deadweight, although the rest of the smaller tankers in the fleet built at that time were of 16000 tons and there were a considerable number of these built. Does anyone know why these 3 ships were built ,presumably they were intended for a particular trade but no one seemed to know at the time I was with the firm. In the time I was in her we went to Oslo, the Baltic , Amsterdam dry dock,The mediteranean, West coast of Africa, East coast of Africa,Gulf and then Chittagong, who says tankermen didnt get around, we certainly did in the old Gunner

 

[BillH]

BRITISH GUNNER
O.N. 186055. 10,076g. 5,792n. 14,571d. 516' 6" x 65' 4" x 28' 3".
6-cyl. 2 S.C.S.A. (620 x 1400mm) B&W type by the shipbuilder. 4,950bhp.
22.12.1953: Launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Glasgow (Yard No. 1466 G) for the British Tanker Company Ltd.
5.5.1954: Registered at London.
6.5.1954: Completed.
1.6.1956: Owners renamed BP Tanker Company Ltd.
1961: Transferred to the BP Clyde Tanker Company Ltd. and renamed CLYDE GUNNER.
1964: Reverted to the BP Tanker Company Ltd., and BRITISH GUNNER.
17.5.1972: Arrived at Vinaroz, Spain for demolition by Desguaces Maritimos S. A.

 

[bpsparks]

BRITISH GUNNER
O.N. 186055. 10,076g. 5,792n. 14,571d. 516' 6" x 65' 4" x 28' 3".
6-cyl. 2 S.C.S.A. (620 x 1400mm) B&W type by the shipbuilder. 4,950bhp.
22.12.1953: Launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Glasgow (Yard No. 1466 G) for the British Tanker Company Ltd.
5.5.1954: Registered at London.
6.5.1954: Completed.
1.6.1956: Owners renamed BP Tanker Company Ltd.
1961: Transferred to the BP Clyde Tanker Company Ltd. and renamed CLYDE GUNNER.
1964: Reverted to the BP Tanker Company Ltd., and BRITISH GUNNER.
17.5.1972: Arrived at Vinaroz, Spain for demolition by Desguaces Maritimos S. A.

Hello Bill
tks for the info, it is a mystery why these 3 ships were built, they were smaller than the 16's although almost identical otherwise, except that the radio room (my domain) was smaller on the 16's. One item on your post is incorrect, the main engine was a B and W 5 cylinder 2 stroke not a 6 cylinder, I have seen this mistake in one of the books on BP ,this gave us a normal speed of 11 knots quite pedestrian by todays standards,but she was a lovely old thing with a lot more character than the 35's and 42's that I was also on

regards

regards

 

[BillH]

Are you absolutely sure about the five rather than six cylinders.
I have recorded the six from old company records made available to me when I researched our BP Tankers book

It is also quoted in the Clyde built website and indeed on a Harland & Wolff website the link below.

Harland and Wolff - Shipbuilding and Engineering Works

 

[bpsparks]

Are you absolutely sure about the five rather than six cylinders.
I have recorded the six from old company records made available to me when I researched our BP Tankers book

It is also quoted in the Clyde built website and indeed on a Harland & Wolff website the link below.

Harland and Wolff - Shipbuilding and Engineering Works

Hello Bill

well having seen the entry in the builders notes all I can say is my memory is playing tricks on me , I was absolutely sure the engine was a 5 cylinder but it was 53 years ago when I was on her! Sorry for the confusion. Your book on BP is an excellent read and I often refer to it ,thanks for sending the link to H&W