Thank you Nimrod22 for your first-hand observation here and at http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=459624

Here is a clear accessible one of C653
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/366491/title/c-653/cat/535
Note also the llittle step down from the curve of the focsl plating. That can be seen also in only http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=198309

My conclusion would be that Phil's c1981 photo is C653, and the other three on site are C632.

http://www.rfanostalgia.org/gallery3/index.php/RFA-TANKERS/Misc/C653. In the link you will note that the fwd stay at the fore mast of the C653 is attached above the crosstree. In photos of the vsl I believe to be C632 the stay is attached below the crosstree spar. Another difference that may be noted is the height of the box containing the stbd running light, the C653 box is short, whilst the C632 is taller & contained a duplex lamp. Access to the monkey island is port and stbd, whereas on C632 access was at aft side of the monkey island. Hey, I maybe wrong! It was a longtime ago when I owned it.

I see, thanks David. To be on the safe side I think it's better to revert to C653 then, isn't it?

They were sisters:

C632 - lube oil tanker - 197g/1945 (Rowhedge), based Portsmouth – 1977 sold
C653 - lube oil tanker - 197g/1948 (Rowhedge), based Devonport – c1968 sold [at Gravesend]

I suspect that the explanation for the comment noted above by Jens is that the C632 GA drawing was used for both vessels.

Quite likely I have a bit more on these Rowhedge vessels at home, but will not be there until July.

That's why I posted this as a comment and didn't change the name without a word. What confuses me now is that the writer of the email claims he "owned it for a while". One might think that he then should know the name...

However there is no confirmation other than this email.

If correct, the other photos of her should also be changed but I'm still not convinced.

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/search.php?query=c653&x=0&y=0

Regards

Bob

I'm also confused Bob, I've understood for a long time that this was C653, which I saw long ago in the Royal Docks before the move to Gravesend

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=198309

Brgds
Phil

Interesting, I have always known her as the C653. Has this new identity been confirmed?
Records show C653 was on the Thames at Gravesend, no record for C632.
http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-c653-ship-information

Name changed to C632 according to the following email from a member to correction editors:

"Re vsl shown as C653. Its actually the C632, 120Ton Lub Oil Lighter, 109'-3" OA, 98'-6"BP, 20'-10" MLD, 9'-0" MLD. It was built at Rowhedge Iron Works and the GA shows a SNo (presumably builders hull number)638. I owned it for a while, It had a black hull when I purchased it around 1978 before I painted it grey."

Some info here

http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-c653-ship-information

Bob,

Its the C.653 - built in 1948, 196grt, Official number 181893. Ex Port Auxillary Service tanker

Any idea if its stil there?