Ol-class tanker (1965)

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RFA Olmeda (A124).png
RFA Olmeda
Class overview
NameOl class
Builders
Operators
Preceded by Tide class
Succeeded by Wave class
In service1965–2021
Completed4
Cancelled1
Lost1
Retired3
General characteristics
Class and type Tanker
Displacement33,240 long tons (33,773 t) full load
Length648 ft (198 m)
Beam84 ft 2 in (25.65 m)
Draught34 ft (10 m)
Propulsion2× Pametrada steam turbines, double reduction geared
Speed21 kn (24 mph; 39 km/h)
Range10,000 nmi (19,000 km) at 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Complement
  • 88 RFA
  • 40 RN
Armament
  • 2× 20 mm guns
  • 2× Chaff launchers
Aircraft carried3× Westland Wessex or Westland Sea King helicopters

The Ol-class tankers were a series of three "fast fleet tankers" used by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom, tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world.

Contents

Class history

The three ships in the class, RFA Olwen, RFA Olmeda and RFA Olna, were an evolution of the earlier Tide-class replenishment oilers. The lead ship of the class was launched as RFA Olynthus, thus becoming known as Olynthus class although she was renamed RFA Olwen in 1967, to avoid confusion with HMS Olympus. Consequently, the class became Olwen class, and thereafter Ol class. [1]

Similarly, RFA Olmeda originally entered service as RFA Oleander, but was later renamed to avoid confusion with HMS Leander.

The three ships saw service in a wide range of locations, including during the Falklands War, which saw Olmeda take part in the recapture of Thule Island, and in the Persian Gulf during the 1990/91 Gulf War.

The ships were replaced by the Wave class. One modified Ol-class vessel, Kharg, was built for the former Imperial Iranian Navy in 1977. The vessel was delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy in 1984, and was lost on 2 June 2021. [2] [3]

Construction programme

NamePennantBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissioned
Royal Navy
Olwen (ex-Olynthus)A122 Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Tyneside 11 July 196310 July 196421 June 19651999
Olna A123Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Tyneside2 July 196428 July 19651 April 196624 September 2000
Olmeda (ex-Oleander)A124 Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear 27 August 196319 November 196418 October 1965January 1994
Iranian Navy
Kharg 431Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallend27 January 19763 February 19775 October 1984Sank 2 June 2021

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References

  1. ↑ "RFA Olwen(2)". Historical RFA. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Iran warships enter Mediterranean via Suez Canal". BBC News. 18 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Iran navy's largest ship sinks after fire onboard". The Independent . UK. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
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