RFA Wave Baron (A242)

Wave Baron in 1953 (Photo: National Archives of Norway)
History
Name:	Empire Flodden (1946–48) Wave Baron (1948–72)
Owner:	Ministry of War Transport (1946) Admiralty (1946–72)
Operator:	Gow, Harrison & Co. Ltd (1946–48) Royal Fleet Auxiliary (1948–69)
Port of registry:	Middlesbrough, United Kingdom (1946) London, United Kingdom (1946–48)  Royal Fleet Auxiliary (1948–72)
Builder:	Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd
Yard number:	378
Laid down:	1 September 1944
Launched:	19 February 1946
Maiden voyage:	10 July 1946
In service:	1 April 1946
Out of service:	December 1969.
Identification:	United Kingdom Official Number 180885 Code Letters GKRV Pennant Number X137 (1948– ) Pennant Number A242 ( –1972)
Honours and awards:	Korea 1952
Fate:	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type:	Wave-class oiler
Tonnage:	8,159 GRT 4,559 NRT 11,900 DWT
Displacement:	16,483 tons full displacement
Length:	473 ft 6 in (144.32 m)
Beam:	64 ft 3 in (19.58 m)
Depth:	35 ft 4 in (10.77 m)
Installed power:	2 steam turbines, 6,800 shp
Propulsion:	Single screw propeller
Speed:	15 knots (28 km/h)

Wave Baron was a 8,159 GRT Wave-class oiler that was built in 1946 as Empire Flodden by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees, County Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and renamed Wave Baron. She was withdrawn from service in 1969 and scrapped in 1972.

The ship was 473 ft 6 in (144.32 m) long overall with a beam of 64 feet 4 inches (19.61 m). She had a depth of 35 feet 4 inches (10.77 m). She was assessed at 8,129 GRT, 4,559 NRT, 11,900 DWT. Her full displacement was 16,483 tons.

The ship was propelled by two steam turbines, double reduction geared, driving a single screw propeller. The turbines were made by Richardsons, Westgarth & Co Ltd, Hartlepool, County Durham. They were rated at 6,800shp. They could propel her at 15 knots (28 km/h). Steam was supplied by three drum boilers.

The ship was built in 1946 by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees, County Durham, United Kingdom. Laid down on 1 September 1944, she was yard number 378. She was launched on 19 February 1946 as Empire Flodden. Her port of registry was Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. The Code Letters GKRV were allocated.Empire Flodden was initially operated under the management of Gow, Harrison & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, Renfrewshire. Ownership was transferred to the Admiralty and her port of registry was changed to London.