RFA Wave Laird ( A119 ) RFA " Wave Laird " ( A119 ) was an Wave - class fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary . She was built in 1946 as Empire Dunbar by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd , Sunderland , Co Durham for the Ministry of Transport and completed at " Wave Laird " . She served until 1961 when she was laid up at HMNB Devonport . " Wave Laird " was scrapped in 1970 in Spain . Description . The ship was built in 1946 by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd , Sunderland . She was yard number 767 . The ship was long overall ( between perpendiculars ) , with a beam of . She had a draught of , and a depth of . She was assessed as , 4 , 562 NRT . Fully loaded , she displaced 16 , 650 tons . The ship was propelled by two Metrovick - type double reduction geared steam turbines , which were fed by three drum boilers . . The turbines were built by Richardsons Westgarth Ltd . They drove a single screw propeller , and could propel the ship at . History . Empire Dunbar was built by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd , Sunderland for the Ministry of Transport . She was launched on 3 April 1946 and completed on 30 September 1946 as RFA " Wave Laird " for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary . Her port of registry was London . She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 180967 and the Pennant number X129 . This was later changed to A119 . " Wave Laird " suffered a number of problems shortly after entering service . In October 1946 , her steering gear failed on a voyage from Sunderland to the Tyne and she was towed into port . In December 1946 , boiler problems delayed her departure from Portland , Dorset for Trinidad . On 17 March 1947 , boiler problems left her adrift in gale force winds off the Tasker Rock , Ireland . Assistance was requested as the ship suffered heavy damage , which had to be repaired before her cargo was able to be discharged at Old Kilpatrick . On 10 November 1949 , " Wave Laird " was on a voyage from Abadan , Iran to Malta when she was caught in a storm . A deckhand sustained fatal injuries . He was buried at Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery . The funeral was attended by officers and crew from , and " Wave Laird " and the Secretary of the Malta Branch of the National Union of Seamen . " Wave Laird " was on active service in Korea from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953 . She was awarded a battle honour . On 19 July 1951 , she was involved in a collision with the Royal Interocean Line ' s ocean liner off Singapore . In January 1954 , " Wave Laird " was one of the naval vessels supporting the Royal Yacht in Australia . On 31 October 1956 , " Wave Laird " was one of 35 Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships deployed as part of Operation Musketeer . From 16 – 29 September 1960 , she was deployed off Iceland in support of the Royal Navy , which was caught up in the Cod Wars . " Wave Laird " was featured on a postcard produced by Valentine ' s , Dundee . The card showed " Wave Laird " refuelling at sea . " Wave Laird " was laid up in reserve at HMNB Devonport in 1961 . She was advertised for sale by tender in November 1969 " as lying at HMNB Devonport " . She departed from Devonport under tow on 26 January 1970 , bound for Gibraltar , from where she departed on 25 February under tow for Gandia , Spain . " Wave Laird " was scrapped in March 1970 by Hierros Ardes , Gandia .