Leaf-class tanker

RFA Oakleaf
Class overview
Operators	Royal Fleet Auxiliary   Royal Australian Navy
Succeeded by	Tide class
Built	1959–1981
In commission	1959–2016
Completed	13
Scrapped	13
General characteristics
Type	Fleet Support Tanker
Displacement	17,470 – 49,377 tons
Propulsion	1 × 6-cylinder William Doxford & Sons marine diesel engine
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)

The Leaf class was a class of support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. The class is somewhat unusual as it is an amalgam of various civilian tankers chartered for naval auxiliary use and as such has included many different designs of ship. Leaf names are traditional tanker names in the RFA, and are recycled when charters end and new vessels are acquired. Thus, there have been multiple uses of the same names, sometimes also sharing a common pennant number.

The role of support tanker generally involves the bulk transport of fuel oils between distribution centres, the replenishment of front-line fleet tankers such as the Wave and Fort Victoria classes and using their replenishment at sea (RAS) abilities to allow them to directly support naval warships. For RAS, Leaf-class ships have an amidships derrick allowing a single vessel on either beam and a single point for a vessel astern.

Ships

RFA Appleleaf

• (1979–1989) Appleleaf (ex-Hudson Cavalier) – A79 – 40,200 tons, to Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Westralia
• (1960–1970) Appleleaf (ex-George Lyras) – A83 – 22,980 tons

RFA Bayleaf

RFA Bayleaf (A109)

• (1982–2011) Bayleaf (ex-Hudson Progress) – A109 – 37,700 tons, chartered originally for Falklands War
• (1959–1973) Bayleaf (ex-London Integrity) – A79 – 17,960 tons

RFA Brambleleaf

• (1979–2009) Brambleleaf (ex-Hudson Deep) – A81 – 40,200 tons
• (1959–1972) Brambleleaf (ex-London Loyalty) – A81 – 17,960 tons

RFA Cherryleaf

• (1973–1980) Cherryleaf (ex-Overseas Adventurer) – A82 – 18,560 tons
• (1960–1966) Cherryleaf (ex-Laurelwood) – A82

RFA Oakleaf

• (1986–2009) Oakleaf (ex-Oktania) – A111 – 50,000 tons

RFA Orangeleaf

• (1984–2015) Orangeleaf (ex-Balder London) – A110 – 33,750 tons
• (1959–1978) Orangeleaf (ex-Southern Satellite) – A80 – 17,470 tons

RFA Pearleaf

• (1960–1985) Pearleaf – A77 – 25,790 tons

RFA Plumleaf

• (1960–1985) Plumleaf – A78 – 26,480 tons

Second Leaf-class support tankers

One of the outcomes of the 1956 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference saw the Admiralty plan to improve its ability to re-supply at sea by developing a group of ships to meet their latest requirements. ^[1]

Seven tankers were bareboat chartered between 1959 and 1960. Six were initially used as freighting tankers and one was used as a replenishment tanker. An eighth tanker was later acquired in 1973, and this took on the same name and pennant number as one of the initial seven, Cherryleaf A82. ^[2]

These eight vessels were all comparable to each other and were essentially bare-boat chartered as replacements for the Dale-class and Wave-class oilers. ^[1]

Comparison

Second Leaf-Class Support Tankers
Tonnages
Name	Gross register tonnage	Net register tonnage	Deadweight tonnage	Displacement (full load tonnage)
Appleleaf	11,588	6,559	16,900	22,980
Bayleaf	12,123	6,940	17,930	-
Brambleleaf	12,123	7,042	17,960	-
Cherryleaf (1953)	12,402	7,338	18,560	-
Cherryleaf (1963)	14,027	7,764	19,770	18,560
Orangeleaf	12,481	6,949	17,475	-
Pearleaf	12,353	7,051	18,045	23,900
Plumleaf	12,692	7,306	18,562	24,940
Dimensions
Name	Length oa	Beam	Draught	Depth
Appleleaf	557ft 7in	68ft	29ft 10in	38ft
Bayleaf	556ft 6in	71ft 5in	30ft 6in	39ft 3in
Brambleleaf	556ft 8in	71ft 4in	30ft 6in	39ft 3in
Cherryleaf (1953)	554ft	72ft 9in	30ft 8in	41ft 2in
Cherryleaf (1963)	556ft 5in	72ft	29ft 6in	39ft 4in
Orangeleaf	559ft 4in	72ft	30ft 6in	39ft 3in
Pearleaf	568ft	72ft	30ft	39ft
Plumleaf	562ft	72ft 1in	31ft	39ft 1in

Machinery & Speed
Name	Engine	bhp	Shaft	Speed
Appleleaf	1 x NEME/Doxford 6-cylinder diesel	6,800bhp	single shaft	14 knots
Bayleaf
Brambleleaf
Orangeleaf				15 knots
Cherryleaf (1953)		6,600bhp		13.5 knots
Plumleaf		9,500 bhp		14 knots
Pearleaf	1 x Rowan/Doxford 6-cylinder diesel	8,000bhp		15 knots
Cherryleaf (1963)	1 x MAN 7-cylinder diesel	8,400bhp		14.5 knots

Third Leaf-class support tankers

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) declared its intention to charter two laid up tankers in October 1978. ^[3] They were from a four ship order by John Hudson Fuel & Shipping Ltd, at the former Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Ltd yard at Birkenhead. ^[4]

Due to financial difficulties the new owners were unable to accept any ships, this occurring after three had already been laid down. Eventually the builders took over the ships and they were put up for sale or charter. The fourth ship was built later on. ^[3]

A fifth vessel was later chartered, but this had been built for a Swedish company at Uddevalla, ^[4] and was much different from the other four Cammell Laird builds. ^[3]

Comparison

Third Leaf-Class Support Tankers
Tonnages
Name	Gross register tonnage	Net register tonnage	Deadweight tonnage	Displacement (full load tonnage)
Appleleaf	20,440	10,680	33,750	40,870
Bayleaf	20,086	11,522	29,999	37,390
Brambleleaf	20,440	10,680	33,257	40,870
Oakleaf	24,608	14,934	34,800	49,377
Orangeleaf	19,976	13,642	33,751	40,870
Dimensions
Name	Length oa	Beam	Draught	Depth
Appleleaf	170m 69cm	25m 96cm	11m 86cm	15m 68cm
Bayleaf	170m 69cm	25m 94cm	11m 4cm	15m 68cm
Brambleleaf	170m 69cm	25m 9cm	11m 86cm	15m 65cm
Oakleaf	173m 69cm	32m 26cm	10m 22cm	14m 91cm
Orangeleaf	170m 69cm	25m 91cm	11m 86cm	15m 65cm

Machinery & Speed
Name	Engine	bhp	Shaft	Speed
Appleleaf	2 x Crossley Premier-Pielstick 14-cylinder diesels	14,000bhp	single shaft	15 knots
Bayleaf
Brambleleaf
Orangeleaf
Oakleaf	1 x Uddevella/B&W 4-cylinder diesel	12,250bhp		14.5 knots

Construction

Second Leaf class

Appleleaf was launched as George Lyras by the Wearside shipbuilders Bartram & Sons in September 1955 and took on by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in April 1959. ^[2] Bayleaf, Brambleleaf and Orangeleaf were all constructed by the Furness Shipbuilding Company of Stockton on Tees. Brambleleaf was laid down in May 1952 and Bayleaf in September 1953, with both vessels built for London & Overseas Freighters Ltd as London Loyalty and London Integrity respectively. Brambleleaf was taken on by the RFA in May 1959 and Bayleaf in June 1959. Orangeleaf was laid down in November 1953, built for The South Georgia Co Ltd as Southern Satellite and its RFA charter started in May 1959. ^[5]

The initial Cherryleaf was finished for Molasses & General Transport Co Ltd in 1953, as Laurelwood by James Laing & Sons. Her RFA charter began in 1959 and finished in 1965. The second Cherryleaf started life as Overseas Adventurer for London & Overseas Bulk Carriers Ltd, built in 1963 by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden. Her RFA charter began in March 1973. Pairleaf was purchased by Jacobs & Partners Ltd before her launch with the RFA charter in mind and started in 1960. Plumleaf was built for Wm Cory & Son Ltd, London, as Corheath, by Blyth Shipbuilding Company, however, her charter was agreed early and she ran trials as Plumleaf before entering RFA service in 1960. ^[5]

Second Leaf-Class Support Tankers
Name	Pennant	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	In RFA Service	Fate
Cherryleaf (ex-Laurelwood)	A82	James Laing & Sons, Sunderland	-	28 May 1953	December 1953	1959 – 1965	sold by previous owners, renamed Agios Constantinos
Brambleleaf (ex-London Loyalty)	A81	Furness Shipbuilding Company, Stockton-on-Tees	26 May 1952	16 April 1953	8 January 1954	22 May 1959 - April 1972	to associates of initial owner, renamed Mayfair Loyalty
Bayleaf (ex-London Integrity)	A79		28 September 1953	28 October 1954	30 March 1955	16 June 1959 - March 1973	back to initial owner as London Integrity
Orangeleaf (ex-Southern Satellite)	A80		27 November 1953	8 February 1955	June 1955	22 May 1959 - 1978	back to initial owner
Appleleaf (ex-George Lyras)	A83	Bartram & Sons, Wearside	-	22 April 1955	September 1955	17 April 1959 - 1969	renamed Damon
Pearleaf	A77	Blythswood Shipbuilding Company Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow	-	15 October 1959	31 January 1960	1960 – 9 May 1986	sold and became a static tanker, renamed Nejmat El Petrol XIX
Plumleaf (ex-Corheath)	A78	Blyth Shipbuilding & Dry Docks Company Ltd, Blyth, Northumberland	-	29 March 1960	August 1960	1960 – 1986	to owners Blue Funnel Bulkships Ltd
Cherryleaf (ex-Overseas Adventurer)	A82	Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany	-	16 October 1962	21 February 1963	5 March 1973 - 1980	reverted to Overseas Adventurer

Third Leaf class

Appleleaf was launched as Hudson Cavalier was taken on by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in February 1979, following conversion work the previous year. Brambleleaf was launched as Hudson Deep, following a refit she entered RFA service in March 1982. Orangeleaf was launched as Hudson Progress, but was sold and became Balder London. She moved aviation fuel from Ascension Island to the Falkland Islands in 1982 and after a refit entered service with the RFA in 1984. Bayleaf was laid down as Hudson Sound but was completed as Bayleaf and entered RFA service in March 1982. Oakleaf was built as Oktania at Uddevalla, Sweden and entered service with the RFA in August 1986. ^[4]

Third Leaf-Class Support Tankers
Name	Pennant	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	In RFA Service	Fate
Orangeleaf (ex-Hudson Progress)	A110	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	-	12 February 1975	July 1979	1984 - 2015	scrapped
Appleleaf (ex-Hudson Cavalier)	A79		-	24 July 1975	September 1979	February 1979–1985	lease to RAN, renamed Westralia, later sold to the Australian government
Brambleleaf (ex-Hudson Deep)	A81		23 July 1974	22 January 1976	February 1980	March 1982 - 2007	scrapped
Bayleaf (ex-Hudson Sound)	A109		1 February 1975	27 October 1981	April 1982	March 1982 - 2011	scrapped
Oakleaf (ex-Oktania)	A111	Uddevallavarvet	-	2 July 1981	1981	August 1986 - 2007	scrapped

Gallery

• 
  RFA Cherryleaf (A82) underway at sea in August 1975.
• 
  RFA Pearleaf (A77), recently returned from the Falklands Campaign with grey funnel cap and pennant number painted out. At Portsmouth Navy Day, August 1982.
• 
  RFA Bayleaf (A109) conducts a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with the Type 22 frigate HMS Cumberland.

See also

• List of replenishment ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

References

Citations

1. "RFA Appleleaf 2". historicalrfa.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
2. Puddefoot 2009, p. 187.
3. "RFA Appleleaf 3". historicalrfa.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
4. Puddefoot 2009, p. 200.
5. Puddefoot 2009, p. 188.

Bibliography

• Beaver, Paul (1996). Britain's Modern Royal Navy . Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN   1-85260-442-5.
• Moore, John E (1979). Warships of the Royal Navy. Vol. 5. Jane's Publishing. ISBN   0-531-03730-4.
• Puddefoot, Geoff (2009). The Fourth Force The Untold Story of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary since 1945. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN   978-1-84832-046-8.