| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | RFA Oakleaf |
| Builder: | A. B. Uddevalla, Sweden |
| Completed: | 1981 |
| Acquired: | 1986 |
| Commissioned: | 26 March 1984 |
| Decommissioned: | 2009 (approx.) |
| Status: | Decommissioned, awaiting disposal |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Leaf-class tanker |
| Displacement: | 49,377 t (48,597 long tons) |
| Length: | 173.7 m (569 ft 11 in) |
| Beam: | 32.2 m (105 ft 8 in) |
| Draught: | 11.2 m (36 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion: | 1 × 4-cylinder Burmeister and Wain long stroke oil engine, 12,000 hp (8,948 kW) |
| Speed: | 14.5 knots (16.7 mph; 26.9 km/h) |
| Complement: | 36 |
| Armament: | 2 × 7.62 mm machine guns |
The RFA Oakleaf (A111) is a Leaf-class fleet support tanker, formerly of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and the second ship to bear the name.
Formerly the Swedish vessel MV Oktania, built by A. B. Uddevalla, Sweden, and completed in 1981, Oakleaf was added to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1986, before being decommissioned in approximately 2009.
Contents |
As well as their role of replenishing warships at sea, support tankers perform the bulk movement of fuels between MOD(N) depots. The Oakleaf had three Leaf-class sisters - Brambleleaf (decommissioned), Bayleaf and Orangeleaf. All four were originally designed as commercial tankers and underwent major conversions to bring them up to RFA standards and equip them for naval support. These involved adding a considerable amount of electronics, both in communications and navigational aids, fitting two replenishment rigs and increasing the amount of accommodation.
While the ships can provide some food and stores support, their main cargoes are diesel and aviation fuel. The Oakleaf is capable of replenishing ships with fuel using a standard jackstay or derrick rig abeam and towed rig for astern replenishment. She is fitted to take containers on her main deck for the provision of stores and to enhance ship's stores capabilities for long deployments.
The normal complement is 36, in her current deployment is 15 officers and 22 senior and junior ratings. Among the departments, the PO (Supply) is responsible for 5,000 stores line items as well as for victualling, clothing and bedding . The RISC (RFA Interim Stores Computer) system is his only assistant on board. This system is to be replaced by Oasis 4 in due course.
Oakleaf is powered by a four-cylinder Burmeister and Wain long stroke oil engine capable of developing 12,000 bhp (8,900 kW) driving a single controllable pitch propeller. She also has bow and stern variable pitch thrust propellers. Fitted with automatic power management, the vessel can be operated with her machinery spaces unmanned - as with her sister ships, her engines can be controlled from either the ship's bridge or the (air conditioned) machinery control room.
In September 1994, Oakleaf, participated in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, replenishing ships of the international task force.[1]
In July 1995, the West Indies Guardship, HMS Southampton and her support ship, RFA Oakleaf provided assistance following volcanic activity on the island of Montserrat.[2]
Following a refit in December 2008 and BOST (Basic Operational Sea Training)in January, she recommenced her duties in the Caribbean as tanker to the West Indies Guard Ship.
She was decommissioned from the RFA in approximately 2009, and laid up awaiting disposal at Her Majesty's Naval Base in Portsmouth.[3] Oakleaf sailed from Portsmouth on 29 September 2010 in the tow of tug Mega One for Aliağa, Turkey for breaking, arriving on 22 October 2010.