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Leaf-class tanker

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RFA Oakleaf
Class overview
Operators
Succeeded byTide 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.

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[edit]

RFA Appleleaf[edit]

RFA Bayleaf[edit]

RFA Bayleaf (A109)
  • (1982–2011) Bayleaf (ex-Hudson Progress) – A109 – 37,700 tons, chartered originally for Falklands War
  • (1959–1973) Bayleaf – A79 – 17,960 tons

RFA Brambleleaf[edit]

  • (1979–2009) Brambleleaf (ex-Hudson Deep) – A81 – 40,200 tons
  • (1959–1972) Brambleleaf – A81 – 17,960 tons

RFA Cherryleaf[edit]

RFA Oakleaf[edit]

  • (1986–2009) Oakleaf (ex-Oktania) – A111 – 50,000 tons

RFA Orangeleaf[edit]

  • (1984–2015) Orangeleaf (ex-Balder London) – A110 – 33,750 tons
  • (1959–1978) Orangeleaf – A80 – 17,470 tons

RFA Pearleaf[edit]

  • (1960–1985) Pearleaf – A77 – 25,790 tons

RFA Plumleaf[edit]

  • (1960–1985) Plumleaf – A78 – 26,480 tons

Second Leaf-class support tankers[edit]

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[edit]

Second Leaf-Class Support Tankers
Tonnages
Name Gross register tonnage Net register tonnage Deadweight tonnage Displacement (full load tonnage)
Appleleaf 11,588 6,559 16,900 22,980
Bayleaf 12,123 6,940 17,930 -
Brambleleaf 12,123 7,042 17,960 -
Cherryleaf (1953) 12,402 7,338 18,560 -
Cherryleaf (1963) 14,027 7,764 19,770 18,560
Orangeleaf 12,481 6,949 17,475 -
Pearleaf 12,353 7,051 18,045 23,900
Plumleaf 12,692 7,306 18,562 24,940
Dimensions
Name Length oa Beam Draught Depth
Appleleaf 557ft 7in 68ft 29ft 10in 38ft
Bayleaf 556ft 6in 71ft 5in 30ft 6in 39ft 3in
Brambleleaf 556ft 8in 71ft 4in 30ft 6in 39ft 3in
Cherryleaf (1953) 554ft 72ft 9in 30ft 8in 41ft 2in
Cherryleaf (1963) 556ft 5in 72ft 29ft 6in 39ft 4in
Orangeleaf 559ft 4in 72ft 30ft 6in 39ft 3in
Pearleaf 568ft 72ft 30ft 39ft
Plumleaf 562ft 72ft 1in 31ft 39ft 1in
Machinery & Speed
Name Engine bhp Shaft Speed
Appleleaf 1 x NEME/Doxford 6-cylinder diesel 6,800bhp single shaft 14 knots
Bayleaf
Brambleleaf
Orangeleaf 15 knots
Cherryleaf (1953) 6,600bhp 13.5 knots
Plumleaf 9,500 bhp 14 knots
Pearleaf 1 x Rowan/Doxford 6-cylinder diesel 8,000bhp 15 knots
Cherryleaf (1963) 1 x MAN 7-cylinder diesel 8,400bhp 14.5 knots

Third Leaf-class support tankers[edit]

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[edit]

Third Leaf-Class Support Tankers
Tonnages
Name Gross register tonnage Net register tonnage Deadweight tonnage Displacement (full load tonnage)
Appleleaf 20,440 10,680 33,750 40,870
Bayleaf 20,086 11,522 29,999 37,390
Brambleleaf 20,440 10,680 33,257 40,870
Oakleaf 24,608 14,934 34,800 49,377
Orangeleaf 19,976 13,642 33,751 40,870
Dimensions
Name Length oa Beam Draught Depth
Appleleaf 170m 69cm 25m 96cm 11m 86cm 15m 68cm
Bayleaf 170m 69cm 25m 94cm 11m 4cm 15m 68cm
Brambleleaf 170m 69cm 25m 9cm 11m 86cm 15m 65cm
Oakleaf 173m 69cm 32m 26cm 10m 22cm 14m 91cm
Orangeleaf 170m 69cm 25m 91cm 11m 86cm 15m 65cm
Machinery & Speed
Name Engine bhp Shaft Speed
Appleleaf 2 x Crossley Premier-Pielstick 14-cylinder diesels 14,000bhp single shaft 15 knots
Bayleaf
Brambleleaf
Orangeleaf
Oakleaf 1 x Uddevella/B&W 4-cylinder diesel 12,250bhp 14.5 knots

Construction[edit]

Second Leaf class[edit]

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
Name Pennant Builder Laid down Launched Completed In RFA Service Fate
Cherryleaf (ex-Laurelwood) A82 James Laing & Sons, Sunderland - 28 May 1953 December 1953 1959 – 1965 sold by previous owners, renamed Agios Constantinos
Brambleleaf (ex-London Loyalty) A81 Furness Shipbuilding Company, Stockton-on-Tees 26 May 1952 16 April 1953 8 January 1954 22 May 1959 - April 1972 to associates of initial owner, renamed Mayfair Loyalty
Bayleaf (ex-London Integrity) A79 28 September 1953 28 October 1954 30 March 1955 16 June 1959 - March 1973 back to initial owner as London Integrity
Orangeleaf (ex-Southern Satellite) A80 27 November 1953 8 February 1955 June 1955 22 May 1959 - 1978 back to initial owner
Appleleaf (ex-George Lyras) A83 Bartram & Sons, Wearside - 22 April 1955 September 1955 17 April 1959 - 1969 renamed Damon
Pearleaf A77 Blythswood Shipbuilding Company Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow - 15 October 1959 31 January 1960 1960 – 9 May 1986 sold and becam a static tanker, renamed Nejmat El Petrol XIX
Plumleaf (ex-Corheath) A78 Blyth Shipbuilding & Dry Docks Company Ltd, Blyth, Northumberland - 29 March 1960 August 1960 1960 – 1986 to owners Blue Funnel Bulkships Ltd
Cherryleaf (ex-Overseas Adventurer) A82 Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany - 16 October 1962 21 February 1963 5 March 1973 - 1980 reverted to Overseas Adventurer

Third Leaf class[edit]

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
Name Pennant Builder Laid down Launched Completed In RFA Service Fate
Orangeleaf (ex-Hudson Progress) A110 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead - 12 February 1975 July 1979 1984 - 2015 scrapped
Appleleaf (ex-Hudson Cavalier) A79 - 24 July 1975 September 1979 February 1979–1985 lease to RAN, renamed Westralia, later sold to the Australian government
Brambleleaf (ex-Hudson Deep) A81 23 July 1974 22 January 1976 February 1980 March 1982 - 2007 scrapped
Bayleaf (ex-Hudson Sound) A109 1 February 1975 27 October 1981 April 1982 March 1982 - 2011 scrapped
Oakleaf (ex-Oktania) A111 Uddevallavarvet - 2 July 1981 1981 August 1986 - 2007 scrapped

Gallery[edit]

  • RFA Cherryleaf (A82) underway at sea in August 1975.
    RFA Cherryleaf (A82) underway at sea in August 1975.
  • RFA Pearleaf (A77), recently returned from the Falklands Campaign with grey funnel cap and pennant number painted out. At Portsmouth Navy Day, August 1982.
    RFA Pearleaf (A77), recently returned from the Falklands Campaign with grey funnel cap and pennant number painted out. At Portsmouth Navy Day, August 1982.
  • RFA Bayleaf (A109) conducts a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with the Type 22 frigate HMS Cumberland.
    RFA Bayleaf (A109) conducts a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with the Type 22 frigate HMS Cumberland.

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

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

Bibliography[edit]


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