The Ol-class tankers were Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) replenishment oilers built from 1917 to 1919, tasked with providing fuel and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world. There were six ships in the class. Until 1936 they were managed by Davies and Newman with RFA crews, after which time they were transferred to the British Admiralty.
The lead ship of the class, RFA Olcades, was originally built as British Beacon and acquired for RFA use in 1918. She was renamed in 1936. The six ships in the Ol class saw wide service during World War II as far afield as India, Singapore and the Far East.
Construction programme NamePennantBuilderLaid downLaunchedInto serviceOut of serviceRef Olcades (ex-British Beacon) X18 Workman Clark, Belfast 9 September 1918 9 October 1918 April 1953 Oligarch (ex-British Lantern) X12 1918 30 June 1918 1 August 1918 14 April 1946 Olynthus (ex-British Star) X11 Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend 20 June 1917 14 February 1918 March 1918 1949 Olwen (ex-British Light) X09 Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow 1917 3 October 1917 17 April 1937 1947 Olna X47 His Majesty's Naval Base, Devonport 14 June 1920 21 June 1921 10 October 1921 18 May 1941 Oleander X46 Pembroke Dockyard, Pembroke Dock 1 December 1920 26 April 1922 20 October 1922 26 May 1940
See also List of replenishment ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
References