Leaf-class tanker

Last updated

RFA Oakleaf A111.JPG
RFA Oakleaf
Class overview
Operators
Succeeded by Tide class
Built1959–1981
In commission1959–2016
Completed13
Scrapped13
General characteristics
TypeFleet Support Tanker
Displacement17,470 – 49,377 tons
Propulsion1 × 6-cylinder William Doxford & Sons marine diesel engine
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)

The Leaf class is 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.

Contents

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

RFA Bayleaf

RFA Bayleaf (A109) A109 Bayleaf.jpg
RFA Bayleaf (A109)

RFA Brambleleaf

RFA Cherryleaf

RFA Oakleaf

RFA Orangeleaf

RFA Pearleaf

RFA Plumleaf

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)
Appleleaf11,5886,55916,90022,980
Bayleaf12,1236,94017,930-
Brambleleaf12,1237,04217,960-
Cherryleaf (1953)12,4027,33818,560-
Cherryleaf (1963)14,0277,76419,77018,560
Orangeleaf12,4816,94917,475-
Pearleaf12,3537,05118,04523,900
Plumleaf 12,6927,30618,56224,940
Dimensions
NameLength oa Beam Draught Depth
Appleleaf557ft 7in68ft29ft 10in38ft
Bayleaf556ft 6in71ft 5in30ft 6in39ft 3in
Brambleleaf556ft 8in71ft 4in30ft 6in39ft 3in
Cherryleaf (1953)554ft72ft 9in30ft 8in41ft 2in
Cherryleaf (1963)556ft 5in72ft29ft 6in39ft 4in
Orangeleaf559ft 4in72ft30ft 6in39ft 3in
Pearleaf568ft72ft30ft39ft
Plumleaf562ft72ft 1in31ft39ft 1in
Machinery & Speed
NameEnginebhpShaftSpeed
Appleleaf1 x NEME/Doxford 6-cylinder diesel 6,800bhpsingle shaft14 knots
Bayleaf
Brambleleaf
Orangeleaf15 knots
Cherryleaf (1953)6,600bhp13.5 knots
Plumleaf9,500 bhp14 knots
Pearleaf1 x Rowan/Doxford 6-cylinder diesel8,000bhp15 knots
Cherryleaf (1963)1 x MAN 7-cylinder diesel8,400bhp14.5 knots

Third Leaf-class support tankers

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) delared 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
NameGross register tonnageNet register tonnageDeadweight tonnageDisplacement (full load tonnage)
Appleleaf20,44010,68033,75040,870
Bayleaf20,08611,52229,99937,390
Brambleleaf20,44010,68033,25740,870
Oakleaf24,60814,93434,80049,377
Orangeleaf19,97613,64233,75140,870
Dimensions
NameLength oaBeamDraughtDepth
Appleleaf170m 69cm25m 96cm11m 86cm15m 68cm
Bayleaf170m 69cm25m 94cm11m 4cm15m 68cm
Brambleleaf170m 69cm25m 9cm11m 86cm15m 65cm
Oakleaf173m 69cm32m 26cm10m 22cm14m 91cm
Orangeleaf170m 69cm25m 91cm11m 86cm15m 65cm
Machinery & Speed
NameEnginebhpShaftSpeed
Appleleaf2 x Crossley Premier-Pielstick 14-cylinder diesels14,000bhpsingle shaft15 knots
Bayleaf
Brambleleaf
Orangeleaf
Oakleaf1 x Uddevella/B&W 4-cylinder diesel12,250bhp14.5 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
NamePennantBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedIn RFA ServiceFate
Cherryleaf (ex-Laurelwood)A82 James Laing & Sons, Sunderland -28 May 1953December 19531959 – 1965sold by previous owners, renamed Agios Constantinos
Brambleleaf (ex-London Loyalty)A81 Furness Shipbuilding Company, Stockton-on-Tees 26 May 195216 April 19538 January 195422 May 1959 - April 1972to associates of initial owner, renamed Mayfair Loyalty
Bayleaf (ex-London Integrity)A7928 September 195328 October 195430 March 195516 June 1959 - March 1973back to initial owner as London Integrity
Orangeleaf (ex-Southern Satellite)A8027 November 19538 February 1955June 195522 May 1959 - 1978back to initial owner
Appleleaf (ex-George Lyras)A83 Bartram & Sons, Wearside -22 April 1955September 195517 April 1959 - 1969renamed Damon
Pearleaf A77Blythswood Shipbuilding Company Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow -15 October 195931 January 19601960 – 9 May 1986sold and becam a static tanker, renamed Nejmat El Petrol XIX
Plumleaf (ex-Corheath)A78 Blyth Shipbuilding & Dry Docks Company Ltd, Blyth, Northumberland -29 March 1960August 19601960 – 1986to owners Blue Funnel Bulkships Ltd
Cherryleaf (ex-Overseas Adventurer)A82Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany-16 October 196221 February 19635 March 1973 - 1980reverted to Overseas Adventurer

Third Leaf class

Appleleaf was launched as Hudson Cavalier was took 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
NamePennantBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedIn RFA ServiceFate
Orangeleaf (ex-Hudson Progress)A110 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead -12 February 1975July 19791984 - 2015scrapped
Appleleaf (ex-Hudson Cavalier)A79-24 July 1975September 1979February 1979–1965lease to RAN, renamed Westralia, later sold to the Australian government
Brambleleaf (ex-Hudson Deep)A8123 July 197422 January 1976February 1980March 1982 - 2007scrapped
Bayleaf (ex-Hudson Sound)A1091 February 197527 October 1981April 1982March 1982 - 2011scrapped
Oakleaf (ex-Oktania)A111Uddevallavarvet-2 July 19811981August 1986 - 2007scrapped

Related Research Articles

RFA Brambleleaf (A81) was a Leaf-class small tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

RFA <i>Bayleaf</i> (A109) 1982 Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Bayleaf (A109) was a Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

RFA <i>Oakleaf</i> (A111) Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Oakleaf (A111) was a Leaf-class fleet support tanker, formerly of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and the second ship to bear the name.

Three ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have borne the name RFA Brambleleaf:

Three ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have borne the name RFA Bayleaf:

RFA Bayleaf (A79) was a Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and the second ship to bear the name.

RFA <i>Brambleleaf</i> (A81) 1980 Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Brambleleaf (A81) was a Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. Originally built as MV Hudson Deep she was chartered by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 1980.

RFA Cherryleaf (A82) was a Leaf-class fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

RFA <i>Wave Prince</i> 1947 Wave-class oiler of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Wave Prince (A207) was a Wave-class fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was built by Sir J. Laing & Sons Ltd at Sunderland and was employed as an underway replenishment oiler. During 1961-1962 she was modified extensively, laid up at Devonport in August 1965 and arrived in Burriana, Spain for scrapping on 16 December 1971.

RFA <i>Abbeydale</i> 1937 Dale-class replenishment oiler for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Abbeydale (A109) was a fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and was originally one of six ships ordered by the British Tanker Co which were purchased on the stocks by the Admiralty. She was built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd and launched on 28 December 1936. Abbeydale served until being decommissioned on 18 September 1959 and laid up at HMNB Devonport. She was then sold for scrapping, arriving at the Thos. W. Ward breakers' yards at Barrow-in-Furness on 4 September 1960.

RFA <i>Green Rover</i> 1969 Rover-class small fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Green Rover (A268) was a Rover-class small fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), built by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders on the River Tyne, UK and completed in 1969. After decommissioning in 1992 she was sold to the Indonesian Navy and renamed KRI Arun (903)

NRP <i>Bérrio</i> 1970 Rover-class small fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Portuguese Navy

NRP Bérrio (A5210) was a fleet support tanker of the Portuguese Navy. She was built by Swan Hunter in 1969 at Hebburn, England as RFA Blue Rover (A270) of the Rover-class and from 1970 to 1993 was part of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary. In 1982 during her British service she participated in the Falklands War.

Three ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have borne the name RFA Cherryleaf:

Three ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have borne the name RFA Appleleaf:

HMAS <i>Westralia</i> (O 195) Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Westralia was a modified Leaf-class replenishment oiler which served with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1989 to 2006. Formerly RFA Appleleaf (A79), she served in with the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) from 1975 to 1989. The ship was initially leased to the RAN, then purchased outright in 1994. In 1998, a fire onboard resulted in the deaths of four sailors. Westralia was decommissioned in 2006, and the ship was sold into civilian service for use as a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, under the name Shiraz. However, the ship was laid up in Indonesia until late 2009, when she was sold to a Turkish ship breaking company. Arriving in January 2010, the vessel was scrapped.

Rover-class tanker Class of five small fleet tankers of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

The Rover class is a British ship class of five small fleet tankers, active from 1970 to 2017 with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. One remains in service, having been sold to Indonesia; the rest have been scrapped or are awaiting disposal, including the one sold to Portugal. They are tasked with the replenishment at sea (RAS) of naval warships with fuel oils and with limited supplies of other naval stores. For RAS tasking, they can refuel a vessel on either beam and a third trailing astern and have a large flight deck to allow vertical replenishment with helicopters.

RFA <i>Plumleaf</i> (A78) Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Plumleaf (A78) was a Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom.

Surf-class tanker Class of three replenishment oilers of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

The Surf class were a class of replenishment oilers taken up for service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), supporting the Royal Navy during the Korean War. Two were commercial tankers under construction in British yards as the war began. A third ship was captured from in the Far East and brought into the RFA as Surf Pilot. She was never utilised however, and was laid up until being scrapped in 1960. The remaining two tankers were laid up at about this time, and were either sold or scrapped by 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sieling & Jarvis</span> Shipping company that operated tanker ships

Sieling & Jarvis Inc. was a shipping company that operated tanker ships and some cargo ships. Sieling & Jarvis was started by David B. Jarvis and Dick Sieling in New York City. Later David B. Jarvis was the company president and later became the sole owner of Sieling & Jarvis Inc. Mr. Sieling was the vice president and a partner in Sieling & Jarvis. Sieling & Jarvis supported the World War II effort by operating United States owned ships.

References

Citations

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

Bibliography


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.