RFA Olmeda
{{Short description|1965 Ol-class fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= File:A124 Olmeda.jpg |Ship caption=RFA Olmeda in Portsmouth }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country= United Kingdom |Ship flag=File:British-Royal-Fleet-Auxiliary-Ensign.svg |Ship name= RFA Olmeda |Ship namesake= |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallend, Tyne and Wear |Ship yard number=2004 |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= 27 August 1963 |Ship launched= 10 July 1964 as Oleander |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= 19 October 1965 |Ship out of service= January 1994 |Ship renamed=*Olmeda, 4 December 1967
|Ship homeport= |Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|6501331}}
|Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours=Falklands War 1982 |Ship fate= Arrived Alang for demolition, 17 August 1994 |Ship badge=File:Olmeda Crest.jpg }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= {{sclass2|Ol|tanker|2 | 1965}}
|Ship displacement= {{Convert|33240|LT|t|0|lk=in|abbr=on}} full load |Ship length= {{Convert|648|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{Convert|84|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= {{Convert|24|ft|in|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=2× Pametrada steam turbines, double reduction geared, single shaft |Ship speed= {{Convert|21|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{Convert|10000|nmi|km|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{Convert|16|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}} |Ship complement=*88 RFA
|Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*2× 20 mm guns
|Ship armour= |Ship aircraft=3× Wessex or Sea King helicopters |Ship aircraft facilities= Helicopter deck, hangar |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox service record |is_ship=yes |label= |partof= |codes= |commanders= |operations=*Operation Corporate |victories= |awards= }} |
RFA Olmeda (A124) was an {{sclass2|Ol|tanker|0||1965}} "fast fleet tanker" of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. She was designed by the builders to meet specific requirements and be capable of maintaining “fleet speed” (defined as sustained steaming at 20 knots). When she entered service she was one of the largest and fastest ships in the RFA Fleet. Initially named Oleander, she was renamed after two years in operation.
The second of her class, Olmeda came into service in late 1965 as Oleander. As with her sister ships, Olmeda's early service was routine. However, in 1967, the ship had to be renamed from Oleander to Olmeda to avoid confusion with {{HMS|Leander|F109|6}}.
In the last action of the Falklands War, Olmeda helped recapture the South Sandwich Islands.
Design and description
Olmeda had a normal complement consisting 88 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel with provision for 40 Royal Navy personnel and she was armed with two 20 mm guns and two Corvus chaff launchers. She was designed to achieve a speed of {{convert|21|knots}} with a fully loaded displacement of {{convert|36,000|tonnes}}.{{Cite web |date=4 April 2001 |title=‘Ol’ Class Fast Fleet Tankers |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615050420/http://www.btinternet.com/~warship/Postwar/RFA/ol.htm |access-date=7 August 2024}}
The ship had the capability to supply fuel and other liquid cargo to vessels using four pairs of replenishment rigs which were located between the forward and aft superstructures. She was able to carry four types of fuels: Furnace Fuel Oil, Diesel, Avcat and Mogas. Limited supplies of lubricating oils, fresh water and dry stores could also be carried. She could operate Westland Wessex or Westland Sea King helicopters, or other helicopters of similar size, from a hangar and flight deck at the stern.
Operational history
= 1973 =
During the Second Cod War, Olmeda supported Royal Navy ships twice, initially for just under three weeks, from 22 September until 10 October and then a further two weeks from 14 until 27 October.
= 1975 =
From 6 February 1975, she was deployed to Cyprus, due to the Turkish invasion, to support {{HMS|Tiger|C20|6}} and {{HMS|Charybdis|F75|6}}, in support of UN Peace Keeping Force and British interests.{{Cite web |title=RFA Olmeda A124 |url=https://www.helis.com/database/unit/635-RFA-Olmeda |website=helis.com |access-date=5 August 2024}}
= 1982 =
== Falklands War ==
On 5 April she sailed from HMNB Devonport for service during Operation Corporate, the Falklands Conflict, with a Fleet Air Arm Westland Sea King HAS.2 utility helicopter, reg. XV649, embarked, of 824 Naval Air Squadron 'A' Flight.
Olmeda saw extensive service during the Falklands War, being one of the first ships to head south. Olmeda refuelled numerous ships of the Task Force including HMS Hermes, HMS Invincible, and the SS Uganda.
{{Main|Operation Keyhole}}
After the Argentine surrender of the Falkland Islands, Olmeda, {{HMS|Yarmouth|F101|6}}, {{HMS|Endurance|1967|6}} and the tug Salvageman sailed to the South Sandwich Islands where Argentina had established a base in South Thule since 1976. Following a demonstration of Yarmouth{{'}}s guns, the ten Argentine military personnel surrendered. Before leaving South Thule, Yarmouth was refueled by Olmeda on 21 June, which may have been the most southerly underway replenishment in the history of the Royal Navy.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/198208|title=The race to regain Thule|newspaper=Navy News p.21|date=August 1982}}
Decommissioning
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Ol class tanker}}
{{Falklands War British ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olmeda (A124)}}
Category:Ol-class tankers (1965)
Category:Falklands War naval ships of the United Kingdom