RFA Oakleaf (1)
Previous name: Montezuma, HMS Iron Duke, RFA Abadol
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 110604
Class: Emergency Wartime Construction LEAF Group Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: Y7.172
Laid down:
Builder: Alexander Stephens & Co., Glasgow
Launched: 11 July 1899
Into Service: 7 July 1915
Out of service: 25 July 1917
Fate: Sunk by torpedo fired by UC41 off the Butt of Lewis
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: During WW1, 18 vessels of varying types were acquired second hand and converted or purchased and converted while on the stocks or in a few cases building as tankers. Some were converted after serving with the Dummy Battleship Squadron by the insertion of cylindrical tanks in their holds. All were originally intended to operate as RFA’s, however owing to reasons of international law and the operation of the US Neutrality Act, these oilers became Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries, being renamed with the LEAF nomenclature and placed under civilian management, although operationally they remained under Admiralty control
11 July 1899 launched by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse as Yard Nr 383 named MONTEZUMA for the Beaver Line service of Elder Dempster & Co Ltd, Liverpool
September 1899 completed as a cargo liner
12 September 1899 sailed on her maiden voyage from Greenock to New Orleans
22 October 1899 she commenced the first of 8 round voyages from New Orleans to Cape Town as a Boer War Transport carrying 2,039 mules. 153 died on the voyage. The ship arrived at Cape Town on 22 November 1899
5 January 1900 delayed at Halifax when typhoid fever broke out among the crew
1901 was transferred to the British & African Steam Navigation Co Ltd (Elder, Dempster & Co Ltd, Managers) , Liverpool name unchanged
20 August 1902 resuming commercial service
7 October 1902 at Cardiff loaded with 9,000 tons of coal for Boston - to break a US coal miners strike
6 April 1903 acquired by Canadian Pacific Railway Co - name unchanged
17 July 1903 berthed at King Edward Pier, Monteal from Barry
12 December 1903 berthed at New Orleans from London
1904 converted to carry 1000 x 3rd Class passengers
March 1904 sailed on her first voyage from London - Antwerp - St John, N.B
8 May 1904 commenced a regular London - Antwerp - Quebec - Montreal run carrying Continental emigrants
29 July 1906 in collision with British steamer Kilmore off the West Hinder light vessel. Reported from Flushing that the Montezuma was badly damaged with the fore peak filled with water. The Kilmore sank.
28 August 1906 arrived at Quebec
5 November 1906 in an action in the Admiralty Division of the High Court the accident (above) was heard and the Kilmore was adjudged to be totally at fault
26 June 1907 sailed Antwerp to Quebec arriving on the 1 July 1907. Members of the Mennonite community were among some of the immigration passengers
19 May 1908 sailed Montreal to London
12 January 1910 sailed Antwerp to St John's arriving 27 January 1910
5 July 1911 sailed Antwerp to Quebec
19 July 1911 arrived at Quebec from Antwerp
13 February 1912 passed Gravesend enroute to St Johns, New Brunswick
20 May 1912 signalled when 70 miles west of the Lizard enroute to London from Montreal
10 July 1912 arrived at Quebec from Antwerp
14 January 1913 passed Dover enroute to St Johns, New Brunswick
3 June 1913 radioed that she was 160 miles southwest of Brow Head while on passage from Montreal to London
20 June 1913 passed the Lizard while on passage from London to Montreal - Captain Griffiths was her Master
23 June 1913 while on passage to Montreal sighted the remains of a Norwegian three masted barque Glenmark of 1,357 tons adrift in the Atlantic, unmanned and drifting. The masts had been carried away, as had her lifeboats.
19 August 1913 arrived Quebec while on passage from London to Montreal
27 August 1913 sailed Montreal enroute to Liverpool
7 October 1913 berthed at Quebec
18 November 1913 berthed at Quebec while on passage from London to Montreal
12 September 1914 was hired by the Admiralty to ferry part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force to Britain.
2 November 1914 conversion into the Dummy Battleship HMS IRON DUKE commenced.
20 December 1914 conversion completed and based at Loch Ewe then at Scapa Flow.
31 May 1915 Engineer Walter J Rigby RNR discharged dead - killed in an engine room accident. He is remembered with pride on the War Memorial, at Grange Hill, West Kirby, Cheshire
6 July 1915 DBS Squadron disbanded
07 July 1915 purchased by the Admiralty had cylindrical tanks inserted into her holds, and entered service as the oiler RFA ABADOL.
7 February 1917 her management was transferred to Lane and MacAndrew and she became the oiler transport OAKLEAF
23 February 1917 ceased to be classed as an RFA
25 July 1917 while on passage from Invergordon to Port Arthur, Texas was torpedoed and sunk without warning by UC 41 (Oberleutnant zur See Hans Forste) in position 59.01 N 07.26 W approximately 64 miles NW of the Butt of Lewis without fatalities. The U Boat suffered an internall explosion on the 21 August 1917 and sank in the Tay estuary at 56 25N 02 35W. The entire crew were killed.
Notes:
When Elder Dempster sold their Canadian interests (Beaver Line) to the Canadian Pacific Railway Co for the sum of £1,417,500, a total of 14 ships plus 3 tugs were involved in the deal and these were as follows: LAKE CHAMPLAIN (RFA RUTHENIA), LAKE ERIE(RFA SAXOL), LAKE MANITOBA, LAKE MICHIGAN, MILWAUKEE, MONTCALM (RFA CRENELLA), MONTEAGLE, MONTEREY, MONTEZUMA (RFA ABADOL), MONTORT, MONTREAL, MOUNT ROYAL(RANGOL), MOUNT TEMPLE & MONTROSE and the 3 Liverpool tugs AFRICAN, BEAVER & OTTER
RFA Oakleaf (2)
Previous name: Oktania
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 389540
Class: THIRD LEAF CLASS Support Tanker
Pennant No: A111
Laid down:
Builder: A B Uddevalla, Sweden
Launched: 2 July 1981
Into Service: 14 August 1986
Out of service: 2007
Fate: Broken up 2010
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: On 27 October 1978 it was announced that the MoD (N) was to charter 2 laid up STaT 32 standard product tankers which had originally formed part of a 4-ship order for commercial owners. After 3 of the ships had been laid down, the owners ran into financial difficulties and found that they were unable to accept the new ships. As they were the only mercantile order then in hand, the builders completed the 3 ships, and after running trials, they were laid up, 2 at Liverpool and 1 at Birkenhead. After some time had elapsed, the builders took over ownership of the ships by forming 3 subsidiary companies which then offered the ships for sale or charter. These eventually became RFA’s APPLELEAF (3), BRAMBLELEAF (3) and ORANGELEAF (3). Some years later, the 4th ship from this original order was built as RFA BAYLEAF (3). All 4 ships had additional accommodation and full RAS capabilities fitted and became useful units in the Fleet. Later on, a 5th vessel was chartered and was renamed RFA OAKLEAF (2), but she differed considerably from the earlier 4 Leafs
2 July 1981 Launched by Uddervallavarvet Aktiebolaget, Uddevalla as Yard Nr 312 named OKTANIA for Rederi AB Oktetten, Stockholm
29 March 1985 approval given to charter her to replace RFA PLUMLEAF (2)
June 1985 purchased by James Fisher & Sons, Barrow-in-Furness for bare-boat charter to the MoD (N)
7 September 1985 arrived on the Tyne for formal docking and inspection
September 1985 approval granted by Lloyds Register and the Admiralty Ship’s Name and Badge Committee for her new name
December 1985 invitations to tender for her conversion were issued
15 January 1986 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
17 February 1986 arrived Falmouth for conversion by Falmouth Shiprepairer Ltd.
19 February 1986 conversion work began
11 August 1986 conversion completed at a cost of approximately £5m
13 August 1986 ran sea trials in Falmouth Bay
14 August 1986 formally renamed OAKLEAF(2) by Mrs Patricia Kemp, the wife of Mr Anthony Kemp, DST (SF)
26 August 1986 sailed Falmouth for Plymouth to store and then to Portland for BOST
28 September 1986 sailed Portland on her maiden voyage to Fort Lauderdale
17 September 1987 arrived Portsmouth for the first time
13 September 1988 to 20 September 1988 humanitarian relief - supported the frigate HMS ACTIVE in relief ops after Hurricane Gilbert had hit Grand Cayman and Jamaica
23 September 1993 to ( December 1993 humanitarian aid - Supported Operation Snowdon - supported the frigate HMS ACTIVE in international interdiction operations during political problems in Haiti
17 September 1994 to 30 September 1994 In Operation Spartan - supported HM ships in Maritime Interdiction Operations off Haiti.
July 1995 while supporting the West Indies Guard ship HMS Southampton provided assistance following volcanic activity on the Island of Montserrat
6 September 1995 to 15 September 1995 humanitarian aid - with the destroyer HMS SOUTHAMPTON she provided relief teams to Anguilla after Hurricane Luis had devastated the area
2 June 1997 to 22 August 1997 routine docking
10 October 1997 with the survey ship HMS HERALD she provided medical assistance to an injured yachtsman who was transferred to OAKLEAF and then by helicopter to Spain.
14 May 1999 Captain Pat Thompson OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
14 February 2000 to 21 April 2000 in refit
26 August 2002 to 22 September 2002 contractor support period
7 April 2003 to 30 May 2003 routine docking
September 2004 purchased by MoD (N)
September 2004 Captain Kim Watts RFA in command
19 August 2005 humanitarian aid - rescued 2 fishermen adrift in the Straits of Gibraltar after their boat had sunk and landed them at Gibraltar
25 September 2005 berthed at the oil fuel depot at the Gare Loch
3 December 2006 in the River Clyde
12 March 2007 arrived Portsmouth for the last time to lay-up for disposal
April 2007 announced that she would be reduced to “zero manning” along with RFA BRAMBLELEAF (3)
September 2007 on the Disposal List at Portsmouth
26 September 2008 due to leave Portsmouth in tow, but the proposed sale fell through
29 September 2010 left Portsmouth under tow of the tug Mega One to ship breakers in Turkey
22 October 2010 arrived under tow at Aliaga, Turkey for breaking up by Leyal Ship Recycling Ltd
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