RFA Olmeda (A124)
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Career | |
---|---|
Ordered: | |
Laid down: | |
Launched: | 19 November 1964 |
Commissioned: | 18 October 1965 |
Decommissioned: | 1993 |
Fate: | Scrapped in India |
Struck: | |
General Characteristics | |
Displacement: | 36,000 tons |
Length: | 185.9 m |
Beam: | 25.6 m |
Draught: | 11.9 m |
Propulsion: | |
Speed: | 21 knots |
Range: | |
Complement: | 88 RFA 40 RN |
Armament: | Two 20 mm guns Two chaff launchers |
Aircraft: | Three Westland Wessex or three Westland Sea King helicopters |
Motto: |
RFA Olmeda (A124) was a fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The second of the Olwen-class fast oilers, Olmeda came into service in late 1965 as Oleander. As with its sister ships, Olmeda's early service was routine. However, the ship had to be renamed from Oleander to Olmeda to avoid confusion with HMS Leander.
Olmeda saw extensive service during the Falklands War, being one of the first ships to head south. The ship took part in the recapture of Thule Island. However, Olmeda did not play any part in the recapture of Kuwait in 1991, unlike the other two members of the class.
Olmeda's service came to an end a great deal earlier than Olwen and Olna. In 1993, the ship was decommissioned, and was sold for scrapping to an Indian company.