RFA Oakleaf

Previous name:           Montezuma, HMS Iron Duke, RFA Abadol
Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:

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: -

22 October 1899 she commenced the first of 8 round voyages from New Orleans to Cape Town as a Boer War Transport until resuming commercial service on 20 August 1902.

6 April 1903 acquired by Canadian Pacific Railway Co - name unchanged

She was hired by the Admiralty on 12 September 1914 to ferry part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force to Britain.

2 November 1914 conversion into the Dummy Battleship HMS IRON DUKE commenced. Conversion completed on 20 December 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

Purchased by the Admiralty on 07 July 1915, 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.

25 July 1917 while on passage from Invergordon to Port Arthur, Texas was torpedoed and sunk without warning by UC 41 in position 59.01 N 07.26 W approximately 64 miles NW of the Butt of Lewis without fatalities.

RFA Oakleaf 2

Previous name:                      Oktania
Subsequent name:

Class:                                      Leaf Class

Pennant No:                            A111

Laid down:
Builder:                                   A B Uddevalla, Sweden
Launched:                               2 July 1981
Into Service:                           14 August 1986
Out of service:
Fate:

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

September 1994 took part in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti

July 1995 while supporting the West Indies Guard ship HMS Southampton provided assistance following volcanic activity on the Island of Montserrat 

14 May 1999 Captain Pat Thompson OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

12 March 2007 Laid up at Portsmouth.

RFA Oakol

Previous name:
Subsequent name:         Orthis,  Orthis Maru

Class:

Pennant No:                       X46

Laid down:             
Builder:                               William Gray & Co. Hartlepool (South Yard)
Launched:                          22 September 1917 
Into Service:                        9 March 1918
Out of service:                    1920
Fate:                                     Sold out of service to commercial interests

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

6 November 1917 Engineer Lieutenant J W Jay RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 November 1917 Lieutenant H E E Bate RNR appointed in command

3 April 1918 Stewards Boy W J Davies logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 26 January 1918.

3 May 1918 Donkeyman L Hacking logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 29 December 1917

10 July 1918 Lieutenant J H J Lewis RNR appointed in command

8 October 1918 Lieutenant Robert A Prichard RNR appointed in command.

19 November 1918 Donkeyman W Hamilton logged as deserting. He had signed on on 25 May 1918

1 April 1919 Greaser E G Townsend MMR 994276 logged as deserting. He had signed on on 7 December 1917.

3 September 1919 Greaser Christopher Connell MMR 944003 logged as deserting. He had signed on on 23 August 1919

12 September 1919 Greaser John Robson MMR 1004738 and Greaser Robert Hosie MMR 1007118 both logged as deserting. Greaser Robson had signed on on 23 August 1919 and Greaser Hosie had signed on on the 9 September 1919

22 October 1919 Ordinary Seaman J C Wright MMR 977207 logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 1 May 1919.

12 November 1919 Fireman Pat Fox MMR 997968 logged as deserting. He had signed on on 14 October 1919.

1920 sold to Shell Tankers UK and renamed Orthis

As the Shell tanker Orthis

1924 sold to Rising Sun Petroleum, Japan and renamed Orthis Maru

1934  Broken up at Japan

RFA Oakol 2

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:                          A300

Laid down:                            12 December 1945           
Builder:                                 Lobnitz & Co. Renfrew
Launched:                             28 August 1946
Into Service:                          1 November 1946
Out of service:                       February 1965
Fate:                                     Broken up at Ghent starting 14 November 1969

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

7 November 1946 Captain E Payne RFA appointed as Master

6 January 1947 Mr A J R Emerson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 March 1948 Captain Donovan J S Newton RFA appointed as Master

5 June 1948 Mr C G McFadzean RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 April 1949 Captain H Oakley RFA appointed as Master

14 December 1950 Captain J Bottomley RFA appointed as Master

1950 Was deployed as part of the Royal Navy's Fleet train during the Korean War stationed as a harbour tanker at Singapore

1951 Captain S S Maddock RFA appointed as Master

29 May 1953 Captain J Toms RFA appointed as Master

7 August 1954 Captain D G Cox OBE, RFA appointed as Master

23 March 1955 Captain W J H Roberts RFA appointed as Master

6 April 1956 Captain T H Macrow RFA appointed as Master

12 November 1956 Captain William R Town RFA appointed as Master

13 January 1958 Captain A W Camamile DSC, RFA appointed as Master

14 January 1958 ship ran aground in the Solent near the Needles. Towed off the next day by the tug Samson she continued on her voyage to Portland

25 June 1958 Captain Alistair C Gibson RFA appointed as Master

31 July 1959 Captain J Bottomley RFA appointed as Master

14 December 1960 Captain W A Hiorns RFA appointed as Master

20 June 1961 Captain R E A Davies RFA appointed as Master

19 April 1962 Captain Archibald Murchie RFA appointed as Master

27 September 1963 Captain William R Town RFA appointed as Master

7 September 1964 Captain G E B Harcombe RFA appointed as Master

February 1965 laid up at Devonport.

24 September 1969 sailed Devonport to Bruges for food storage purposes.

RFA Ocean Salvor

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:                           A492

Laid down:                             2 October 1942
Builder:                                  Wm Simons & Co Ltd., Renfrew
Launched:                              31 August 1943
Into Service:                           23 September 1943
Out of service:                        November 1958
Fate:                                       Sold commercially February 1960

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Ship under civil management from when taken into service until the end of World War 2.

7 October 1943 sailed Liverpool in convoy OS56 arriving at Gibraltar 20 October 1943 - then onward to Colombo

November 1958 Laid up

30 January 1959 offered for sale by the Admiralty. Lying at Sheerness.

February 1960 sold commercially

9 April 1961 Was involved in attempting to save the British cargo liner 'Dara' in the Persian Gulf which had caught fire. The fire was extinguished by RN ships. The ship sank while being towed by the Ocean Salvor.

Scrapped at Karachi in October 1967.

RFA Olaf

Previous name:
Subsequent name:                                                                          

Class:                                         Olympia

Pennant No:

Laid down:
Builder:
Launched:
Into Service:
Out of service:
Fate:

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -  

Sister ship of RFA Olympia which was renamed RFA Santa Margherita. Cancelled

RFA Olalla

For details of RFA Olalla please see the entry for RFA Laureleaf

RFA Olcades

Previous name:                     British Beacon     
Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:                           Y7.304 / X18

Laid down:
Builder:                                   Workman Clark, Belfast
Launched:                              9 September 1918
Into Service:                           9 October 1918
Out of service:                        April 1953
Fate:                                         Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

10 March 1919 as RFA British Beacon berthed at Hull after arriving from Philadelphia

2 May 1921 as RFA British Beacon arrived at the Clyde from Port Arthur

7 July 1938 berthed at Singapore

28 October 1938 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

7 November 1938 Captain R H P Meyhew RFA appointed as Master

10 July 1939 Mr C J Falconer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 March 1941 refuelled HMNZS Leander and HMAS Canberra at Mauritius

4 January 1942 arrived at Mauritius under escort of Armed Merchant Cruiser Hector

11 May 1942 Captain W W Peddle RFA appointed as Master

28 January 1943 Mr E S Fielder RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 February 1944 Mr T H Purvis RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1946 was berthed at Singapore with defects after World War 2

1952 suffered serious fire at Singapore

29 October 1952 left Singapore under tow to return to the UK to be broken up.

31 January, 1953 as a hulk while under tow by the tug Englishman from Singapore to Blyth, broke the tow and went ashore at Bacton, Norfolk in heavy weather. A second ship, the ss Yewvalley, was lost close to the grounded Olcades in the same storm

19 April 1953 arrived at Blyth for breaking up.

RFA Oldbury

For details of RFA Oldbury please see the entry for RFA Birchleaf 

RFA Oleander 1

For details of RFA Oleander 1 please seen the record of RFA Fernleaf

RFA Oleander 2

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:

Laid down:                              1 December 1920

Builder:                                     Pembroke Dockyard
Launched:                               26 April 1922
Into Service:                            20 October 1922
Out of service:                         26 May 1940
Fate:                                          Bombed (near miss) and beached

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

21 May 1922 Mr Joseph S Harrison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 July 1922 Captain W Frost RFA appointed as Master

21 December 1925 Captain W Frost RFA appointed as Master

13 February 1927 in the English Channel near Dungeness in thick fog was in collision with Royal Mail Steamer Nebraska. RFA Oleander extensively damaged and leaking oil.

18 December 1929 Mr C E Wrate RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

10 July 1931 Captain W Frost RFA appointed as Master

6 October 1932 Mr C A Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

October 1933 while in refit in Devonport Dockyard nuts were found in the machinery causing a stoppage in the main circulating engine - quoted in Parliament and in the press as deliberate sabotage (one of a number of incidents).

14 June 1934 Captain John Ross Gorrie RFA appointed as Master

15 June 1934 Mr F C Reynolds RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 February 1935 Captain R C E Neyroud RFA appointed as Master

24 July 1935 Captain J H Jones RFA appointed as Master and Mr C N Ansell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 May 1936 at arrived Garden Island, Sydney, Australia to discharge

6 August 1936 Captain Percival Skone-Rees RFA appointed as Master

Captain Percival Skone-Rees RFA

30 June 1937 arrived at the new Admiralty tank farm at Chowder Bay, Mosman, NSW, Australia from Abadan to discharge. The first tanker to discharge at this facility since it was built

6 July 1937 sailed Mosman, NSW,  Australia for Abadan

25 May 1938 arrived at Williamstown, Victoria, Australia from the Persian Gulf to discharge (part cargo)

28 May 1938 arrived Garden Island, Sydney, NSW, Australia from Williamstown to discharge (part cargo)

31 March 1939 Captain A MacDonald RFA appointed as Master

31 December 1939 sailed Gibraltar in convoy HG 13 with fuel oil for Naval storage on the Clyde.

18 February 1940 sailed Liverpool in convoy OB 94 (in ballast) to Trinidad

29 March 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy in HX 31 with fuel oil for Devonport

26 May 1940  seriously damaged by a near miss during an air attack in Harstad Bay, Norway and was beached.

8 June 1940 declared a constructive total loss.

RFA Oleander 3

RFA Olmeda (ex RFA Oleander) laid up at Portsmouth in 1994 before sailing to the breakers

Previous name:
Subsequent name:              Olmeda,  Niaxco

Class:

Pennant No:                          A124

Laid down:                            27 August 1963

Builder:                                  Swan, Hunter & WIgham Richardson, Wallsend         
Launched:                             10 July 1964              
Into Service:                          19 October 1965                  
Out of service:                       January 1994     
Fate:                                       Scrapped

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

10 August 1964 Mr Thomas L Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

12 July 1965 Commodore Eric Payne CBE RFA appointed as Master

10 October 1966 Captain G Robson CBE RFA appointed as Master

19 October 1966 Mr G S Burnett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

14 January 1967 Mr Thomas L Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

29 November 1967 Captain J D Fisher RFA appointed Master

4 December 1967 renamed RFA Olmeda

14 July 1968 Mr T J W Humphrey RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 July 1969 took part in the Western Fleet Review at Torbay.

22 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 10 October 1973

14 October 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 27 October 1973

1982 - awarded the Falkland Island Battle Honour

23 April 1987 Captain Peter J Lannin RFA appointed as Master

27 January 1988 Captain Rex A Cooper RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

26 May 1993 participated in the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic Royal Fleet Review.

January 1994 laid up at Portsmouth.

5 July 1994 renamed Niaxco

19 July 1994 sailed under her own power from Portsmouth to the breakers yard in India

17 August 1994 arrived for breaking up at Alang, India.

RFA Oleary

For details of RFA Oleary please see the entry for RFA Dockleaf

RFA Oleaster

RFA Oletta

For details of RFA Oletta please see the entry for RFA Briarleaf

RFA Olga

For details of RFA Olga please see the entry for RFA Ashleaf

RFA Oligarch 1

For details of RFA Oligarch 1 please see the entry for RFA Limeleaf

RFA Oligarch 2

Previous name:                      British Lantern

Class:

Pennant No:                           Y7.286 / X12

Laid down:

Builder:                                     Workman Clark, Belfast        
Launched:                               30 June 1918
Into Service:                             1 August 1918
Out of service:                         15 February  1946
Fate:                                          Scuttled

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

24 October 1918 as RFA British Lantern entered New York Harbour with Captain Ernest Loader as Master. The ship had sailed from Cardiff with 51 crew

5 November 1919 10.30am involved in a collision with the dock wall in Tilbury Docks

6 July 1937 Mr L H Taylor RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 July 1938 Captain H M Sinclair RFA appointed as Master

19 September 1939 sailed Southend in convoy OA7 until it dispersed

19 October 1939 sailed Lagos independently to Freetown arriving on 25 October of that year

26 October 1939 sailed Freetown independently for Jamestown St Helena

4 November 1939 sailed Jamestown, St. Helena independently to Trinidad arriving on 20 November

1 December 1939 sailed Trinidad independently

20 December 1939 sailed Freetown independently arriving Trinidad on 2 January 1940

4 January 1940 having loaded sailed Trinidad independently to Halifax arriving 16 January 1940

18 January 1940 sailed Halifax independently to Scapa Flow arriving 1 February 1940

10 February 1940 sailed Scapa Flow independently to Greenock arriving two days later

27 February 1940 Mr C N Ansell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 March 1940 sailed Glasgow to Scapa Flow arriving on 16 March - sailed under sealed orders

24 March 1940 sailed the Clyde to Liverpool and then in convoy OB116 until dispersed arriving at Trinidad on 11 April1940

17 April 1940 sailed Trinidad independently to Halifax arriving on 27th - ten days later

30 April 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX 39 arriving at Liverpool on 14 May 1940

19 May 1940 sailed sailed Liverpool independently arriving at the Clyde the next day

28 May 1940 sailed Greenock in convoy NS4 arriving at Scapa Flow on 14 June 1940

3 June 1940 arrived at Harstad with other shipping under RN escort

29 June 1940 sailed Scapa Flow to Reykjavik arriving on 1 July 1940

12 August 1940 Captain W W Peddle RFA appointed as Master

1 December 1940 sailed Reykjavi arriving the Clyde on 7 December 1940

August/September 1941 involved in Operation Gauntlet - the support of Royal Naval units in the evacuation of the mining settlements at Spitzbergen.

5 September 1941 RASed with HMS Nigeria and HMS Aurora at Seidisfjord, Norway

1 October 1941 Captain A V Barton RFA appointed as Master

20 March 1942 sailed on Russain Convoy PQ 13 as escort oiler - as Force 'Q' - escorted by HMS Lamberton

1 August 1942 under repair on the Clyde - repairs completed by 25 Augist 1942

5 August 1942 Mr C A Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 August 1942 Captain T Elder DSC RFA appointed as Master

2 September 1942 sailed on Russian Convoys PQ18 from Loch Ewe to Archangel

9 September 1942 with RFA Blue Ranger and RN escorts detached to form Force 'P' to establish a destroyer fuelling base at Lowe Sound, Spitzbergen for those used as escorts on the Russian convoys

1 December 1942 to 10 December 1942 in Leith Docks, Edinburgh for repairs

15 December 1942 sailed on Russian Convoy JW51A from Loch Ewe and arrived Kola Inlet on 25 December 1942

30 December 1942 sailed on Russian Convoy RA51 from Kola Inlet and arrived at the Loch Ewe on the 11 January 1943

17 January 1943 sailed on Russian Convoy  JW52 from Loch Ewe and arrived at Kola Inlet on 27 January 1943

1 March 1943 sailed Kola Inlet in convoy RA53 to Seidisfjord arriving on 14 March 1943

8 April 1943 under going repairs on the Tyne - repairs completed 22 April 1943

27 May 1943 fouled pier also grounded - slight damage

8 and 11 June 1943 RAS'ed the B3 Ocean Escort Group which were escorting Convoys OS49 and KMS16

15 June 1943 arrived at Gibraltar

22 June 1943 sailed Gibraltar in convoy GTX3 

30 June 1943 torpedoed and slightly damaged by German Submarine U353 at 32°57N, 21°10E while in convoy GTX 3 - arrived in port under her own power

21 August 1943 sailed Tobruk and joined convoy UGS 13 arriving at Alexandria the following day

9 September 1943 repaired at Alexandria

3 January 1946 in port at Alexandria

22 February 1946 sailed Alexandria for Port Said arriving on 24 February 1946

25 February 1946 sailed Port Said

13 April 1946 at Suez and sailed under tow

14 April 1946 scuttled at the southern end of the Red Sea loaded with obsolete ammunition at 27°30N, 34°45E

RFA Olinda

For details of RFA Olinda please see the entry for RFA Boxleaf

RFA Oliphant

For details of RFA Oliphant please see the entry for RFA Palmleaf 

RFA Oliver

Previous name:
Subsequent name:                                                                          

Class:

Pennant No:

Laid down:
Builder:
Launched:
Into Service:
Out of service:
Fate:

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -  

RFA Olivet

 For details about this ship please refer to RFA Elmleaf - ship launched at RFA Olivet but completed as RFA Elmleaf

RFA Olmeda

For details of RFA Olmeda please see the record card of RFA Oleander (3) 

RFA Olna 1

Previous name:
Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:                            X47

Laid down:                             14 June 1920
Builder:                                   Devonport Dockyard

Launched:                              21 June 1921
Into Service:                           10 October 1921
Out of service:                        18 May 1941
Fate:                                        Bombed and later scrapped

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

26 July 1921 Mr Henry Baker DSO RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 June 1923 Captain Percival Skone-Rees RFA appointed as Master

Captain P Skone-Rees RFA

23 August 1925 Captain J D Ashworth RFA appointed as Master

7 October 1927 Captain R D Williams RFA appointed as Master

7 January 1929 Captain J D Ashworth RFA appointed as Master

22 July 1929 ss Vimeria hit an iceberg off the Grand Banks. 27 July 1929 taken in tow by RFA Olna and towed towards Halifax.

13 November 1929 Captain Percival Skone Rees RFA appointed as Master

17 May 1930 arrived at Gibraltar from Abadan with a cargo of oil for the Naval Base.

20 January 1931 Mr Henry Baker DSO RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

October 1931 struck by Cairnross while at anchor in St. Lawrence River.

3 March 1933 Captain P Skone Rees RFA appointed as Master and Mr H Baker RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

31 August 1934 Mr Joseph S Harrison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 October 1937 Captain I Evans RFA appointed as Master

3 May 1938 arrived Auckland, New Zealand

27 July 1938 arrived Garden Island, Sydney, NSW, Australia  from Abadan to discharge

16 May 1939 Mr W C Elliott RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 June 1939 Captain D N J Williams RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master

29 October 1940 sailed Alexandria under escort

18 May 1941 bombed at Suda Bay, Crete and abandoned. Found after the war at Scarramanga and scrapped.

RFA Olna 2

Previous name:                      Hyalina, HMS Olna

Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:                           X116  /  A216

Laid down:
Builder:                                  Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend. 
Launched:                              28 December 1944
Into Service:                           27 April 1945
Out of service:                        November 1966 
Fate:                                        Scrapped

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

April 1945 As HMS Olna sailed from the UK to join the British Pacific Fleet

13 August 1945 as HMS Olna and with RFA Wave Emperor provided last RAS during War time to the British Pacific Fleet to HMS Ruler, Phesant, Findhorn, Usk, Barle and Crane plus units of the Australian and US Navies

28 January 1946 at Swan Hunter, Tyne for conversion into an RFA

1 February 1946 Mr M J Lawrence DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

20 March 1946 became RFA Olna.

1 April 1946 Captain S G Kent OBE RFA appointed as Master

13 May 1946 caused damaged to The Commission Quay, River Tyne, North Shields while berthing.

29 August 1946 ran aground in the Abadan River. Refloated 2 September 1946

9 June 1947 Captain H M Sinclair RFA appointed as Master

22 June 1947 Mr H M Pearson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 September 1948 Mr A B McIntyre RD RFA (Commander (E) RNR (ret)) RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

16 April 1949 Arrived Chowder Bay, Mosman, NSW, Australia from Abadan to discharge. Sailed the next day to Abadan

26 July 1949 Captain T H Card OBE RFA appointed as Master

16 March 1950 Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

30 January 1952 arrived Sydney, NSW, Australia from Singapore

5 February 1952 sailed Sydney, NSW, Australia for Bahrein

2 May 1952 Captain C F Cunningham RFA appointed as Master

September 1952 took part in Operation Mainbrace involving US and RN units in a major NATO naval exercise in the Northern North Sea and the Artic.

15 June 1953 took part in Coronation Fleet review.

21 July 1953 Mr H C A Brain RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

September 1953 took part in Exercise Mariner

15 May 1954 involved in a collision with HMS Bulwalk while RASing in the English Channel

23 June 1954 Captain W W Peddle RFA appointed as Master

October 1954 took part in supporting the Home Fleet in Exercises 'Morning Mist' and 'Polar Mist'  (convoy exercises from Invergordon to Norway)

4 January 1955 Mr G J Mathews RFA appointed as Chief E ngineer Officer

29 July 1955 Captain F A Shaw RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (Ret) appointed as Master

1956 Took part in Operation Grapple (H Bomb test) in the Pacific

October 1956 took part in Operation Musketeer (Suez Crisis)

23 July 1957 Mr D C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 September 1957 at the Clyde for NATO Exercise 'Strikeback'

28 October 1957 Captain Griffith O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master

January 1958 supporting the Home Fleet during a visit to the West Indies

April 1958 on the Tyne for a refit

October 1958 Fleet Train support to HMS Albion and her deployment to the Far East

January 1959 supporting HMS Albion during visit to Australia and New Zealand

23 January 1959 arrived Auckland, New Zealand

24 June 1959 Mr K Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 July 1959 Captain R H Venning RFA appointed as Master

1960 supporting units of the Far East Fleet

7 September 1960 Captain F G Edwards RFA appointed as Master

April 1961 on the Tyne for a refit

8 May 1961 supporting Fishery Protection RN units off Iceland

June 1961 supporting RN Units on exercises in the North Sea

30 June 1961 sailed Gibraltar supporting HMS Centaur during the Kuwait crisis

5 July 1961 at Suez

10 July 1961 at Aden supporting HMS Victorious and HMS Centaur and other RN units in the area

28 August 1961 sailed Mombassa for Aden RASed with HMS Victorious off Zanzibar to Bahrain to load.

29 August 1961 Captain C Alexander DSC RFA appointed as Master

2 September 1961 and 7 September 1961 RASed HMS Victorious

15 September 1961 arrived Singapore

5 October 1961 sailed Singapore for Exercise 'Fotex'

13 October 1961 sailed to Hong Kong arriving 17 October 1961

25 October 1961 sailed Hong Kong for Exercise Crosstie at Subic Bay

31 October 1961 RASed USS Ticonderoga

4 to 14 November 1961 at Singapore

16 November 1961 to Mombassa still supporting HMS Victorious

22 November 1961 to Aden

29 November 1961 RASed HMS Victorious

2 December 1961 Suez northbound

5 December 1961 RASed HMS Victorious

5 December 1961 arrived at Malta

12 December 1961 involved in exercise 'Royal Flush'

14 December 1961 RASed HMS Victorious

20 December 1961 at Southampton

1 January 1962 Mr A C Hawk RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

23 May 1962 Captain A Jackson OBE RFA appointed as Master

21 February 1963 RASed HMNZS Taranaki off Hong Kong

1 March 1963 rescued eight Indonesian fishermen in the Straits of Malacca whose boats engine had broken down and who had been without food and water for five days

8 March 1963 Rendevous with RFA Gold Ranger during Indonesia confrontation support

12 April 1963 at Singapore

23 April 1963 at Gan, Indian Ocean

27 April 1963 at Aden

1 May 1963 Mr I M MacFarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

May 1963 Suez North bound

May 1963 at Malta docking then Mediterranean Fleet tanker

19 August 1963 RASed HMS Victorious off Malta

21 October 1963 Captain John Ditchburn RFA appointed as Master

2 January 1964 sailed Singapore with HMS Victorious

February 1964 at Mombassa

March 1964 involved in Exercise 'Jet' and then Suez Canal Northbound

April 1964 at Malta in the floating dock

December 1964 at Devonport - laid up(?)

3 November 1966 advertised for sale 'as lying' at Devonport by the Ministry of Transport in the Times of this day

19 January 1967 arrived Castellon, Spain for breaking up.

RFA Olna 3

Previous name:
Subsequent name:               Kos

Class:

Pennant No:                           A123

Laid down:                             2 July 1964
Builder:                                   Hawthorn, Leslie at Hebburn
Launched:                             28 July 1965

Into Service:                          1 April 1966 
Out of service:                      24 September 2000 (Laid up at Portsmouth)
Fate:                                       Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

9 March 1965 Mr J R Warne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

7 February 1966 Captain A R Wheeler RD RFA appointed as Master

1 June 1967 Mr G S Burnett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 February 1968 Captain P T Taylor RFA appointed as Master

14 October 1968 together with HMAS Supply (previous RFA Tide Austral) took part in Operation Corals Sands off North Queensland, Australia together with units of the Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy and a unit from the United States Navy.

20 August 1971 arrived Auckland, New Zealand

19 August 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 25 August 1973

1 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 6 September 1973

10 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 22 September 1973

21 May 1979 Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA appointed as Master

10 May 1982 deployed from Portsmouth with HMS Bristol and other RN units to the South Atlantic

17 September 1982 arrived at Portsmouth from the South Atlantic after the Falklands War

1982 Awarded the Falklands Islands 1982 Battle Honour

March, 1985 involved with HMS Endurance in the major rescue of a services expedition to Brabant Island (an island off the Antartic Peninsula) at about 64.00S 63.30W and bringing those involved back to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

1991 Awarded the Kuwait 1991 Battle Honour

12 August 1994 Captain Pat Thompson OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

9 June 1995 Captain David Gerrard RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

Captain David Gerrard RFA

May 2001 renamed as Kos

20 June 2001 arrived Alang, India for breaking up.

RFA Olnos

For details of RFA Olnos please see the entry for RFA Beechleaf 

RFA Olwen 1

For details on RFA Olwen (1) please see the entry for RFA British Light

RFA Olwen 2

Lower image RFA Olwen during the Falklands War courtesy of Brian Bilverstone

Previous name:                     RFA Olynthus               
Subsequent name:               Kea

Class:

Pennant No:                           A122

Laid down:                             11 July 1963
Builder:                                   Hawthorne Leslie & Company
Launched:                              10 July 1964
Into Service:                           12 June 1965
Out of service:                        19 September 2000
Fate:                                         Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

10 August 1964 Mr H C F Sweenie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 March 1965 Captain Iorwerth B Roberts RFA appointed as Master

15 January 1967 Captain A S McWIlliam RFA appointed as Master

15 June 1967 Mr K Robinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

5 August 1967  renamed RFA Olwen .

March 1968 Captain G Robson CBE RFA appointed as Master

15 May 1968 Mr E Smeaton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 November 1971 Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA appointed as Master

24 June 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 10 July 1973

14 July 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 27 July 1973

30 July 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 10 August 1973

13 December 1975 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 3rd Cod War until 5 January 1976

15 January 1976 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 3rd Cod War until 23 February 1976

24 March 1976 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 3rd Cod War until 22 April 1976

10 April 1976 Wessex 417 crewed by Lt Cdr Simmons, Lt T MacMahon, Lt A Ross and POACMN Butler left RFA Olwen and flew to a Norwegian research ship 'Harmoni'  46 miles to the north with a crew member who had suffered from bleeding on the brain. This research ship was stuck in pack ice nearly four hundred miles inside the Arctic Circle. A US Air Force Hercules from Keflavik assisted in finding the Harmoni. RFA Olwen was inside the ice field with the ice being up to 15 feet thick. The sick seaman was brought back to RFA Olwen and with the assistance of the Hercules exited from the ice pack. She sailed to Jan Mayen Island where the helicopter was again used to transfer the patient ashore and a 2 engined Norwegian plane was waiting to take him to Norway.

26 May 1976 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 3rd Cod War until 1 June 1976

1980 Harrier jump deck lands on flight deck.

11 August 1984 hit by heavy weather 700 n miles north east of the Falkland Islands - two killed.

31 October 1987 Captain Rex A Cooper RFA appointed as Master

23 August 1992 Captain Brian J Waters OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

8 December 1994 Captain Brian J Waters OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

28 September 1996 Captain David Gerrard RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

Captain David Gerrard RFA

30 April 1998 Captain Pat Thompson OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

May 2001 Renamed Kea .

21 July 2001 arrived at Alang, India for breaking up

RFA Olympia

Previous name:                      British Star
Subsequent name:                Pensylvania

Class:

Pennant No:                            X11

Laid down:
Builder:                                   Swan Hunter, Low Walker

Launched:                             14 February 1918

Into Service:                           March 1918
Out of service:             
Fate:                                      Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

27 August 1935 took on charge an E Dent & Co Marine Chronometer No 47327 which had been purchased by the Admiralty in March 1898. It had been used on charge HMS Brisk, HMS Sheldrake, HMS Cadmus, HMS Active and HMS Sandwich

23 December 1937 Four Norwegian sailors rescued by the Olynthus 60 miles off Malta who had been without food or water for two days from ss Kroprins Olav in a gale.

29 August 1938 Captain L N Hill RFA appointed as Master

10 July 1939 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 September 1939 – Mr W S Ritchie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 September 1939 – sailed from Devonport to join convoy OA.5 which had sailed from Southend on the 15 September 1939 -  the convoy dispersed on the 18 September

19 September 1939 – joined convoy OA.7 from Southend, the convoy dispersed on the 22 September 1939, with RFA Olynthus proceeding to Freetown.

15 December 1939 Olynthus refuels HMS Ajax at Samborombon Bay, off the coast of Argentina; HMS Cumberland covers the evolution lest the German Pocket Battleship Admiral Graf Spee should attempt to attack.

17 December 1939 Olynthus refuels HMNZS Achilles off Rouen Bank, the southernmost channel of the River Plate estuary. HMS Ajax and HMS Cumberland cover the evolution.

25 October 1940 Captain S Thomas RFA appointed as Master

26 October 1940 Mr John B Russell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

23 June 1941 Port of Spain, Trinidad engine repairs for 14 days.

17 March 1942 to 25 March 1942 at Trindad for engine and deck repairs.

22 October 1942 Captain T C Robinson RFA (Lieutenant Commander RN (retd)) appointed as Master and Mr J Paton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 January 1943 until  6 May 1943 in port at Bombay under repair.

13 February 1945 Captain E M Rae RFA appointed as Master

16 May 1947 sold to Arthur Rapps and handed over at Singapore

April 1960 arrived Savona for breaking up.

For details of this ship please go to RFA Owen 2

RFA Orangeleaf 1

Previous name:                      RFA Bornol
Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:

Laid down:
Builder:                                   J L Thompson
Launched:                              26 October 1916   
Into Service:                           1 June 1917 
Out of service:                        1948
Fate:                                      Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

22 November 1918 entered New York with Captain David Evans RFA as Master and with a crew of 71

9 September 1928 Mr J Atchinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

14 September 1928 - suffered fire in boiler room while at Spithead. One Fireman - Joseph Harris who was badly burnt subsequently died at Haslar Hospital on 19 September 1928. (The Times) He is buried in Haslar Naval Cemetery Plot E Line 28 Grave 35 (The grave has no headstone)

11 January 1929 Captain R D Williams RFA appointed as Master

18 August 1929 while en route from Invergordon to Trinidad found the sailing ship Grace Hawar which was enroute from Australia to the UK after 123 days at sea and had run out of food. The Orangeleaf provided food to the ship. (The Times)

22 December 1930 Captain G St.L Capsey RFA appointed as Master

23 June 1931 Mr C N Ansell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 April 1932 Mr L A Sharp RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 October 1932 Captain W Whiteley RFA appointed as Master

25 January 1935 while at Bermuda received radio call from ss Valverda in the Atlantic on fire and requiring assistance in heavy seas. Orangeleaf put to sea to render assistance with HMS Frobisher. (The Times)

27 December 1935 Mr W Maybray RFA (Engineer Lieutenant RNR (ret)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 February 1936 Captain T C Robinson RFA (Lieutenant Commander RN (Rtd)) appointed as Master

14 October 1939 RAS'ed HMNZS Achilles 

RFA Orangeleaf

Breaking away from

HMNZS Achilles on 14 October 1939

after replenishing her

Autumn 1939 supporting Force G - the South American Cruiser Squadron in the South Atlantic and at the time of the Battle of the River Plate on 13 December 1939

5 March 1940 Mr J E Hawthorn RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 June 1940 Captain T G Bennett RFA (Lieut-Commander RN (Retd)) appointed as Master

31 January 1941 sailed Gibraltar in Operation PICKET - (air attack on Lake Omodeo Dam, central Sardinia) and Operation RESULT (the bombardment of Genoa) - in Group 4 with RN escort

27 April 1941 in drydock and under repair at West Key(?), USA.

15 August 1941 Captain Stanley G Kent RFA appointed as Master

22 September 1941 to 27 September 1941 under repair at Trinidad.

12 March 1942 sailed Kingston, Jamaica to Trinidad arriving 17 March 1942

8 May 1942 sailed Trinidad independently to Kingston, Jamaica arriving on the 15 May 1942

20 May 1942 sailed Kingston independently to New Orleans arriving on 29 May 1942

19 June 1942 to 23 June 1942 boiler defects repaired at New Orleans

12 August 1942 sailed New Orleans independently to Key West arriving 15 August 1942

18 August 1942 sailed Key West in convoy WAT15 to Trinidad arriving 27 August 1942

26 September 1942 Mr H Ringshaw RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

31 December 1942 sailed Freetown in convoy FTT6 to Trinidad arriving 15 January 1943

24 January 1943 sailed Trinidad in convoy TAG38 to Guantanamo, Cuba  arriving 29 January 1943

29 January 1943 sailed Guantanamo, Cuba in convoy GN38 to New York arriving 6 February 1942

8 February 1943 under going repairs at New York completed 27 February 1942

28 February 1943 sailed New York in convoy HX 228 arriving Liverpool on 15 March 1943 and then on to the Clyde in Convoy WN 407. During the voyage across the Atlantic at 51.20N, 29.29W  RFA Orangeleaf saved 63 crew and 1 passenger from the ss Andrea F. Luckenbach -a US ammunition ship which had been torpedoed, exploded and sunk by the German submarine U221

26 March 1943 sailed Methil in convoy FS1073 arriving on the Tyne the next day 

5 April 1943 Captain C F Cunningham RFA appointed as Master

11 June 1943 sailed the Tyne and joined convoy FN1044 arriving at Methil the next day

13 June 1943 sailed Methil in convoy EN242 to Loch Ewe arriving at Oban on the 16 June 1943

19 June 1943 sailed Liverpool in convoy KMS 17 to Gibraltar (in ballast) and then onto Algiers. RFA Prestol and RFA Abbeydale were in the same convoy. At Gibraltar 29 June arriving Algiers 3 July 1943

2 October 1944 sailed Algiers independently to Bizerta arriving 4 October 1944

14 October 1944 sailed Bizerta independently to Taranto arriving two days later

29 October 1944 sailed Taranto

27 March 1945 sailed Taranto independently arrived Bari the next day

30 March 1945 sailed Bari independently to Taranto arriving the next day

3 May 1945 Captain H W Flint RFA appointed as Master

16 July 1945 sailed Taranto independently to Port Said arriving 20 July 1945

28 July 1945 sailed Aden independently to Bombay arriving 3 August 1945

15 August 1945 Mr A W Symons RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

19 august 1945 sailed Bombay

8 September 1945 at Singapore.

29 October 1946 sailed Abadan, passed Aden 6 November 1946. Arrived Port Said 12 November. Delayed 36 hours due to engine defects.

17 April 1947 Laid up at Rosyth.

25 January 1948 arrived for breaking up at Wards, Britton Ferry

RFA Orangeleaf 2

Previous name:                    Southern Satellite

Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:                          A80

Laid down:                            27 November 1953
Builder:                                  Furness Shipbuilding, Haverton Hill
Launched:                             8 February 1955             
Into Service:                         25 May 1959
Out of service:
Fate:                                       Broken Up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

28 October 1959 Mr E S R Bunker RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 January 1960 Captain Frederick G Edwards OBE RFA appointed as Master

12 December 1960 Captain Frederick G Evans OBE RFA appointed as Master and Mr J Brett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

12 September 1962 Captain William F Curlett RFA appointed as Master

13 November 1962 Mr E Smeaton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

31 May 1963 Mr J Brett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 January 1964 Captain D de V Moulds RFA appointed as Master

4 June 1964 Mr E S Brazier RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

22 July 1965 Captain A Jackson OBE RFA appointed as Master

4 October 1965 Mr J Brett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 September 1966 Captain P J McCarthy RFA appointed as Master

16 June 1967 Mr H W Jackinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

22 April 1968 was a target for HMS Resolution which fired two dummy torpedoes at Orangeleaf. The torpedoes went under the Orangeleaf and surfaced the other side of her to be recovered and reused.

23 May 1969 Captain J D G Gray RFA appointed as Master

12 June 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 20 June 1973

14 September 1978 arrived for breaking up at Korea

RFA Orangeleaf 3

Previous name:                       Hudson Progress, Balder London
Subsequent name:

Class:

Pennant No:                           A110

Laid down:
Builder:                                  Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Launched:                              12 February 1975
Into Service:                           2 May 1984

Out of service:
Fate:

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Awarded Kuwait 1991 Battle Honour.

14 August 1992 Captain Pat Thompson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

April 1994 Captain Dale Worthington RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

4 July 1995 Captain Pat Thompson OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

30 November 2002 Captain Brian J Waters OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

Took part in Operation Telic (2nd Gulf War)

4 June 2005 anchored off Douglas, Isle of Man - LH (Cook) Keith Rice and Seaman 1A Mark Petre lost overboard.

July 2005 was present at the International Fleet Review in the Solent.

Previous name: 
Subsequent name:                                                                           

Class:                                     

Pennant No:                           X3     

Laid down:                             
Builder:                                    Ropner & Son Ltd., Stockton-on-Tees
Launched:                              29 June 1915
Into Service:                          
Out of service:                        February 1922
Fate:                                         Sunk 23 November 1928

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

1916/1917 Converted to a tanker and renamed OYSTER

1919 deployed to North Russia

February 1922 sold to F. H. Connor, London

December 1922 WANDER, F. T. Everard & Sons and re-engined with a 2 cyl. diesel by Plenty & Son Ltd., Newbury

23 November 1928 sank in the North Sea on passage Great Yarmouth for Hull with molasses.