Hebe Class Store Carriers (AK)

Chartered by the RFA from the British Indian Steam Navigation Company (BISNCo.) and used for the transferal of stores between naval bases in the United Kingdom and abroad. They carried dry and refrigerated stores, water and lubricating oil.

Measuring 397ft in length, 55ft in breadth and 22ft in draught, Hebe and Bacchus displaced 7,958 tons fully loaded. They were powered by a Swan Hunter Sulzer Diesel and had a speed of 15 knots and a complement of 57. Hebe was completed in September 1962, Bacchus in May 62.

Class Details

Ship	Pennant No.	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned
Hebe	A406	Henry Robb		June 6th 1962	September 1962
Bacchus	A404	Henry Robb			May 1962

RFA Baccus (A404)

Above: RFA Baccus (A404). Thanks to Dan Muir for providing this picture.

Ship Histories

Ship	History
Hebe	Built for the British Indian Steam Navigation Co. (BISNco) but chartered from 1962. In 1964 Hebe assisted British Nationals as they evacuated Zanzibar. In 1976 she towed fire damaged Cherryleaf, but suffered a major fire herself in the same year at Gibraltar. She was subsequently returned to her owners and renamed ‘MV Good Guardian’.
Bacchus	Purchased by P&O in 1973 but remained chartered to RFA. Paid off 1981.

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