The Leaf class was 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 and 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 RFA Appleleaf (1979–1989) (ex-Hudson Cavalier) – A79 – 40,200 tons, to Royal Australian Navy as (1960–1970) (ex-George Lyras) – A83 – 22,980 tons
RFA Bayleaf
(1982–2011) (ex-Hudson Progress) – A109 – 37,700 tons, chartered originally for Falklands War (1959–1973) (ex-London Integrity) – A79 – 17,960 tons
RFA Brambleleaf (1979–2009) (ex-Hudson Deep) – A81 – 40,200 tons (1959–1972) (ex-London Loyalty) – A81 – 17,960 tons
RFA Cherryleaf (1973–1980) (ex-Overseas Adventurer) – A82 – 18,560 tons (1960–1966) (ex-Laurelwood) – A82
RFA Oakleaf (1986–2009) (ex-Oktania) – A111 – 50,000 tons
RFA Orangeleaf (1984–2015) (ex-Balder London) – A110 – 33,750 tons (1959–1978) (ex-Southern Satellite) – A80 – 17,470 tons
RFA Pearleaf (1960–1985) – A77 – 25,790 tons
RFA Plumleaf (1960–1985) – A78 – 26,480 tons
Second Leaf-class support tankers
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.
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.
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.
Comparison
Second Leaf-Class Support TankersTonnagesNameGross register tonnageNet register tonnageDeadweight tonnageDisplacement (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 24,940DimensionsNameLength oaBeamDraughtDepth 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 & SpeedNameEnginebhpShaftSpeed 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
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) declared its intention to charter two laid up tankers in October 1978. They were from a four ship order by John Hudson Fuel & Shipping Ltd, at the former Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Ltd yard at Birkenhead.
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.
A fifth vessel was later chartered, but this had been built for a Swedish company at Uddevalla, and was much different from the other four Cammell Laird builds.
Comparison
Third Leaf-Class Support TankersTonnagesNameGross register tonnageNet register tonnageDeadweight tonnageDisplacement (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 40,870DimensionsNameLength oaBeamDraughtDepth 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 & SpeedNameEnginebhpShaftSpeed 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
Second Leaf class
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. 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.
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.
Second Leaf-Class Support TankersNamePennantBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedIn RFA ServiceFate (ex-Laurelwood)A82James Laing & Sons, Sunderland -28 May 1953December 19531959 – 1965sold by previous owners, renamed Agios Constantinos (ex-London Loyalty)A81Furness Shipbuilding Company, Stockton-on-Tees26 May 195216 April 19538 January 195422 May 1959 - April 1972to associates of initial owner, renamed Mayfair Loyalty (ex-London Integrity)A7928 September 195328 October 195430 March 195516 June 1959 - March 1973back to initial owner as London Integrity (ex-Southern Satellite)A8027 November 19538 February 1955June 195522 May 1959 - 1978back to initial owner (ex-George Lyras)A83Bartram & Sons, Wearside -22 April 1955September 195517 April 1959 - 1969renamed DamonA77Blythswood Shipbuilding Company Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow -15 October 195931 January 19601960 – 9 May 1986sold and became a static tanker, renamed Nejmat El Petrol XIX (ex-Corheath)A78Blyth Shipbuilding & Dry Docks Company Ltd, Blyth, Northumberland -29 March 1960August 19601960 – 1986to owners Blue Funnel Bulkships Ltd (ex-Overseas Adventurer)A82Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany -16 October 196221 February 19635 March 1973 - 1980reverted to Overseas Adventurer
Third Leaf class
Appleleaf was launched as Hudson Cavalier was taken 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.
Third Leaf-Class Support TankersNamePennantBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedIn RFA ServiceFate (ex-Hudson Progress)A110Cammell Laird, Birkenhead -12 February 1975July 19791984 - 2015scrapped (ex-Hudson Cavalier)A79 -24 July 1975September 1979February 1979–1985lease to RAN, renamed Westralia, later sold to the Australian government (ex-Hudson Deep)A8123 July 197422 January 1976February 1980March 1982 - 2007scrapped (ex-Hudson Sound)A1091 February 197527 October 1981April 1982March 1982 - 2011scrapped (ex-Oktania)A111Uddevallavarvet -2 July 19811981August 1986 - 2007scrapped
Gallery
See also List of replenishment ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
References
Citations
Bibliography