Ol-class tanker (1965)
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RFA Olmeda
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Ol class |
| Builders: | |
| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | Tide class |
| Succeeded by: | Wave class |
| In service: | 1965 - 2000 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Active: | 1 |
| Retired: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Tanker |
| Displacement: | 33,240 long tons (33,773 t) full load |
| Length: | 648 ft (198 m) |
| Beam: | 84 ft 2 in (25.65 m) |
| Draught: | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × PAMETRADA steam turbines, double reduction geared |
| Speed: | 21 kn (24 mph; 39 km/h) |
| Range: | 10,000 nmi (19,000 km) at 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h) |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | 3 × Westland Wessex or Westland Sea King helicopters |
The Ol-class tankers were Royal Fleet Auxiliary "fast fleet tankers" tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world.
The three ships in the class, RFA Olwen, RFA Olmeda and RFA Olna were an evolution of the earlier Tide-class replenishment oilers. The lead ship of the class was launched as RFA Olynthus, thus becoming known as Olynthus class although she was renamed RFA Olwen in 1967, to avoid confusion with HMS Olympus. Consequently, the class became Olwen class, and therafter Ol class.
Similarly, RFA Olmeda originally entered service as RFA Oleander, but was later renamed to avoid confusion with HMS Leander.
The three ships saw service in a wide range of locations, including during the Falklands War, which saw Olmeda take part in the recapture of Thule Island, and in the Persian Gulf during the 1990/91 Gulf War.
The ships were replaced by the Wave class. One modified Ol-class vessel, Kharg, was built for the former Imperial Iranian Navy in 1977. The vessel was delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy in 1984, and is still active as of 2015.
RFA Olwen with HMS Juno in foreground and RFA Lyness in background.
Bristol Group - A Type 21 frigate conducting replenishment at sea (RAS) with RFA Olna. May 1982. Picture taken from HMS Cardiff
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