RFA Olmeda (A124)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RFA Olmeda
Career RFA Ensign
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.