RFA Olwen (A122)

Last updated

RFA Olwen (A122) DN-SC-87-05080.jpeg
RFA Olwen in the 1980s
History
British-Royal-Fleet-Auxiliary-Ensign.svg United Kingdom
NameRFA Olwen
Ordered4 February 1963 as AO 15
Builder Hawthorn Leslie and Company
Yard number755
Laid down11 July 1963
Launched10 July 1964, as Olynthus
In service12 June 1965
Out of service19 September 2000
RenamedOlwen, 5 August 1967
Identification
Fate
  • Renamed Kea in May 2001.
  • Arrived Alang for demolition 21 July 2001.
Badge Olwen crest.jpg
General characteristics
Class and type Ol-class tanker
Tonnage
Displacement33,773 long tons (34,315 t) (full load)
Length648 ft (198 m)
Beam84 ft 2 in (25.65 m)
Draught34 ft (10 m)
Depth44 ft (13 m)
Installed power
  • 2x Babcock and Wilcox superheat boilers
  • 26,500 shaft horsepower (19,800 kW)
Propulsion
  • 2× Hawthorn Leslie/Pametrada steam turbines, double reduction geared
  • Single shaft
  • Bow thruster
Speed21 knots (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
  • Chaff launchers
Aircraft carriedWestland Wessex or Westland Sea King helicopters
Aviation facilities Helicopter deck, hangar
Notes [1]
Service record
Operations:

RFA Olwen (A122) was an Ol-class "fast fleet tanker" of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. She was the lead ship of her class, and launched in 1964 as RFA Olynthus, the second ship to bear this name.

Contents

She with her two sisters, were initially known as the Olynthus class. Her design was a development of the two later 1961 Tide-class replenishment oilers. She was renamed Olwen in 1967 to avoid confusion with the Oberon-class submarine, HMS Olympus. The class were then redesignated as the Olwen class and later the Ol class. [2]

Design and description

Fast fleet tanker RFA Olynthus (later Olwen) StateLibQld 1 143019 Olynthus (ship).jpg
Fast fleet tanker RFA Olynthus (later Olwen)

Olwen had a normal complement consisting 88 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel with provision for 40 Royal Navy personnel and she was armed with two 20 mm guns and two Corvus chaff launchers. She was designed to achieve a speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) with a fully loaded displacement of 36,000 tonnes (35,000 long tons; 40,000 short tons). [3]

The ship had the capability to supply fuel and other liquid cargo to vessels using four pairs of replenishment rigs which were located between the forward and aft superstructures. She was able to carry four types of fuels: Furnace Fuel Oil, Diesel, Avcat and Mogas. Limited supplies of lubricating oils, fresh water and dry stores could also be carried. She could operate Westland Wessex or Westland Sea King helicopters, or other helicopters of similar size, from a hangar and flight deck at the stern. [3]

Operational history

In August 1965 she took part in the Fleet Review in the Firth of Clyde along with RFA's Black RangerResurgent, Rowanol and Wave Prince [2] and she then deployed to HMNB Devonport and was present at Plymouth Navy Days 1965, as RFA Olynthus. [4]

She received detached Westland Wessex HAS.1 helicopter of 814 Naval Air Squadron as Olynthus Flight, while in support of HMS Victorious’s 1966/67 Far East deployment. [4] While flying the flag of the Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet, Vice Admiral Sir Frank Twiss KCB , DSC , she replenished the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) River-class destroyer escort, HMAS Parramatta (DE 46), on 20 December 1966, and also participated in a CASEX A17 along with the Royal Navy’s Amphion-class submarine, HMS Andrew (P423/S23/S63) and from RAF Changi, Singapore, a 205 Squadron Avro Shackleton, a maritime patrol aircraft. [2]

In November and December 1970 Olwen was involved in Operation Burlap giving humanitarian assistance to East Pakistan after a cyclone caused extensive damage and flooding. [2]

In the Second Cod War, Olwen supported Royal Navy ships three times off Iceland in 1973: from 24 June until 10 July, between 14 July and 27 July and then from 30 July until 10 August. [2]

Between July and September 1974 Olwen was part of the Task Force including the Centaur-class aircraft carrier HMS Hermes with No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando and RFA’s Gold Rover, Olna and Regent, she stood by off Cyprus following a Greek junta-sponsored Cypriot coup d'état attempt and the subsequent Turkish invasion of Cyprus. [2]

Between 25 November to 19 December 1977, Olwen was involved with Operation Journeyman. [5] She was part of a task force, led by the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Dreadnought, and comprised the Type 21 frigate HMS Alacrity and the Leander-class frigate HMS Phoebe, along with the armament stores ship RFA Resource, dispatched to the South Atlantic as a deterrent. [6] The operation was secretly ordered to prevent a possible Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands after 50 Argentine "scientists" landed on South Thule. [7] She stood back from the Falkland Islands in support of the frigates with an 819 Naval Air Squadron Westland Sea King helicopter embarked. [6]

Between January and July 1993, Olwen was deployed to the Adriatic Sea to support Task Force 612 led by the Invincible-class aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal off Bosnia, with RFA Fort Grange, under Operation Grapple, as part of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). She operated with 2 Westland Sea King HAS.6 anti-submarine warfare helicopters, of 820 Naval Air Squadron. [4]

A view of RFA Olwen at HNMB Portsmouth HM Naval base Portsmouth - geograph.org.uk - 1229572.jpg
A view of RFA Olwen at HNMB Portsmouth

Decommissioning

In 1999 Olwen was wthdrawn from service and laid up at Portsmouth and on 19 September 2000 she was handed over for disposal; purchased by the Eckhardt Organisation, Germany, for scrap. Then in January 2001 she was renamed Kea for the move to the breakers. In May it came to light that she had been banned from Turkish yards due to a high asbestos content. She was diverted to Greece and later sailed via the Suez Canal to Alang Ship Breaking Yard in India, arriving on 21 July 2001. [2]

Related Research Articles

This is a list of the naval forces from the United Kingdom that took part in the Falklands War, often referred to as "the Task Force" in the context of the war. For a list of naval forces from Argentina, see Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War.

RFA <i>Orangeleaf</i> (A110) 1979 Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Orangeleaf was a Leaf-class fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom, and which served with the fleet for over 30 years, tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy and allied naval vessels around the world.

RFA <i>Fort Rosalie</i> (A385) Lead ship of her class of replenishment ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Fort Rosalie was the lead ship of her class of Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleet replenishment ships. Fort Rosalie was originally named RFA Fort Grange, but was renamed in May 2000 to avoid confusion with the now-decommissioned RFA Fort George. On 31 March 2021, the ship was withdrawn from service.

RFA <i>Olna</i> (A123) 1966 Ol-class fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Olna (A123) was the third and final of the three Ol-class "fast fleet tanker" of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. When she entered service she was one of the largest and fastest ships in the RFA Fleet. Olna saw service in the Falklands War and the Gulf War.

RFA <i>Olmeda</i> 1965 Ol-class fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Olmeda (A124) was an Ol-class "fast fleet tanker" of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. She was designed by the builders to meet specific requirements and be capable of maintaining “fleet speed”. When she entered service she was one of the largest and fastest ships in the RFA Fleet. Initially named Oleander, she was renamed after two years in operation.

RFA <i>Tidespring</i> (A75) 1963 Tide-class replenishment oiler of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Tidespring (A75) was a Tide-class replenishment oiler of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. As a replenishment oiler, her main purpose was to refuel other ships. The ship had a long career in the RFA, entering service in the early 1960s, and finally being decommissioned in 1991.

RFA <i>Tidepool</i> 1963 Tide-class replenishment oiler of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Tidepool (A76) was a Tide-class replenishment oiler of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Standing Royal Navy deployments</span>

Standing Royal Navy deployments is a list of operations and commitments undertaken by the United Kingdom's Royal Navy on a worldwide basis. The following list details these commitments and deployments sorted by region and in alphabetical order. Routine deployments made by the Navy's nuclear-powered submarines and their location of operations is classified.

Operation Journeyman was a Royal Navy operation in which a naval taskforce was secretly sent to the Falkland Islands in November 1977 to prevent an Argentine invasion.

These are some of the key weapons of the Falklands War used by both sides.

RFA <i>Wave Ruler</i> (A390) 2003 Wave-class fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Wave Ruler is a Wave-class fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) of the United Kingdom tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world.

RFA <i>Wave Knight</i> (A389) 2003 Wave-class fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA Wave Knight is a Wave-class fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) of the United Kingdom tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">820 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

820 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier-based squadron flying the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 in Anti-Submarine and Airborne Early Warning (AEW) roles from RNAS Culdrose.

Ol-class tanker (1965) Class of three fast fleet tankers of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">826 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

826 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadron formed during World War II which has been reformed several times since then until last disbanded in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">772 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

772 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm which last disbanded during September 1995. 772 Naval Air Squadron formed as a Fleet Requirements Unit out of 'Y' Flight from 771 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Lee-on-Solent in September 1939. While the headquarters remained there, floatplanes were operated out of RNAS Portland, however, mid 1940 saw the whole squadron move north to RNAS Campbeltown and roughly twelve months afterwards the short distance to RNAS Machrihanish. The unit moved to RNAS Ayr in July 1944 and became the Fleet Requirements Unit School. In January 1946 the squadron moved to RNAS Burscough in Lancashire, before moving to RNAS Anthorn in Cumberland, in May. It became the Northern Fleet Requirements Unit upon moving to RNAS Arbroath, in June 1947, but disbanded into 771 Naval Air Squadron in October. 772 Naval Air Squadron reformed as a Helicopter Support Squadron at RNAS Portland in September 1974. In September 1977 the squadron took over responsibility for a number of Ships' Flights of Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. The squadron was used to reform 848 Naval Air Squadron for the Falklands Task Force in 1982, with the Ships' Flights absorbed into 847 Naval Air Squadron. In August 1982 it took on the Anti-Submarine Warfare Flight from 737 Naval Air Squadron and between 1983 - 1985 a Search and Rescue Flight operated out of RNAS Lee-on-Solent.

In 1989 the Royal Navy was under the direction of the Navy Department in the UK Ministry of Defence. It had two main commands, CINCFLEET and Naval Home Command.

Two ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) have borne the name RFA Olynthus:

References

Citations

  1. Puddefoot 2009, p. 194.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "RFA Olwen - Historical RFA". hstoricalrfa.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  3. 1 2 "'Ol' Class Fast Fleet Tankers". 4 April 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "RFA Olwen A122". helis.com. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  5. "1977 Operation Journeyman - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 24 October 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Operation Journeyman". helis.com. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  7. "BBC NEWS UK Secret Falklands fleet revealed". bbc.co.uk. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 7 August 2024.

Bibliography