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The Leaf class is a class of support tanker of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). 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.
 RFA Oakleaf
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators | |
| Succeeded by | Tide class |
| Built | 1959–1981 |
| In commission | 1959–2016 |
| Completed | 13 |
| Scrapped | 13 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Fleet Support Tanker |
| Displacement | 17,470 tons – 49,377 tons |
| Propulsion | 1 × 6-cylinder William Doxford & Sons marine diesel engine |
| Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
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 Wave and Fort Victoria 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 edit
RFA Appleleaf edit
- (1979–1989) Appleleaf (ex-Hudson Cavalier) – A79 – 40,200 tons, to Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Westralia
- (1960–1970) Appleleaf – A83 – 22,980 tons
RFA Bayleaf edit
- (1982–2011) Bayleaf (ex-Hudson Progress) – A109 – 37,700 tons, chartered originally for Falklands War
- (1959–1973) Bayleaf – A79 – 17,960 tons
RFA Brambleleaf edit
- (1979–2009) Brambleleaf (ex-Hudson Deep) – A81 – 40,200 tons
- (1959–1972) Brambleleaf – A81 – 17,960 tons
RFA Cherryleaf edit
- (1973–1980) Cherryleaf – A82 – 18,560 tons
- (1960–1966) Cherryleaf – A82
RFA Oakleaf edit
- (1986–2009) Oakleaf (ex-Oktania) – A111 – 50,000 tons
RFA Orangeleaf edit
- (1984–2015) Orangeleaf (ex-Balder London) – A110 – 33,750 tons
- (1959–1978) Orangeleaf – A80 – 17,470 tons
RFA Pearleaf edit
- (1960–1985) Pearleaf – A77 – 25,790 tons
RFA Plumleaf edit
- (1960–1985) Plumleaf – A78 – 26,480 tons
References edit
- Moore, John E (1979). Warships of the Royal Navy. Vol. 5. Jane's Publishing. ISBN 0-531-03730-4.
- Beaver, Paul (1996). Britain's Modern Royal Navy. Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-442-5.