The wreck site of the RFA VITOL has been identified during research by Dr Innes McCartney (2022: 211) for the Echoes from the Deep project. McCartney concluded that the RFA VITOL is positionally, dimensionally, and archivally consistent with UKHO 10013 (NPRN 516135), and the record has been updated to reflect that research.
Event and Historical Information:
Royal Fleet Auxiliary VITOL was the second of a class of 2000ton `BELGOL? tankers. There were 10 sister ships in total built by Grangemouth and Greenock Dockyard Company, Cartsdyke, Midlothian (yard number 383). Technical and configuration specifications are given as 2369gt, 320ft length x 41.5ft breadth; raking funnel, 2 raking masts; official number 140342; pennant number X 62 / X76. The VITOL was launched on 24 May 1917 and placed into service in October 1917. On 18 August 1917, Lieutenant H W Harvey RNR was appointed in command and he remain so until 31 March 1918 when he was appointed to RFA DREDGOL after the VITOL's loss. On 7 March 1918, the vessel was on passage from Liverpool to Queenstown, Ireland, when it struck a mine laid by U110. The sinking location was given as 52 37 55N, 5 04 07W. Four of the crew were killed - Greaser John Fletcher, Greaser Peter Graham, Fireman Joseph Mangion, and Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Percy Edward Miners RNR. The Commanding Officer of HMS P55 reported passing through bubbling oil at 52 37N, 05 04W, on 11 March 1918. However, sources suggest that the vessel was subsequently beached as a constructive total loss and broken up 'as lies'. The cargo was valued at £17,919.
Sources include:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/
McCartney, I., 2022. Echoes from the Deep. Leiden: Sidestone Press. https://www.sidestone.com/books/echoes-from-the-deep
Mercantile Navy List 1920, pg624
UKHO ID 10013: Contains public sector information, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, from UK Hydrographic Office.
http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-vitol-ships-details
J. Whitewright, RCAHMW, April 2023