RFA Olmeda

RFA Olmeda (A124) was an Ol-class "fast fleet tanker" of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The ship was renamed from Oleander after two years in operation.

RFA Olmeda (A124)
RFA Olmeda at sea
History
RFA EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameRFA Olmeda
BuilderSwan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallend, Tyne and Wear
Yard number2004
Laid down27 August 1963
Launched19 November 1964
Commissioned18 October 1965, as Oleander
DecommissionedJanuary 1994
Renamed
  • Olmeda, 4 December 1967
  • Niaxco, 5 July 1994
IdentificationIMO number: 6501331
FateArrived Alang for demolition, 17 August 1994
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeOl-class tanker
Displacement33,240 long tons (33,773 t) full load
Length648 ft (198 m)
Beam84 ft 2 in (25.65 m)
Draught24 ft (290 in)
Propulsion2× Pametrada steam turbines, double reduction geared, single shaft
Speed21 knots (24 mph; 39 km/h)
Range10,000 nmi (19,000 km) at 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Complement
  • 88 RFA
  • 40 RN
Armament
  • 2× 20 mm guns
  • 2× Chaff launchers
Aircraft carried3× Wessex or Sea King helicopters
Service record
Operations:

In the last action of the Falklands War, Olmeda helped recapture the South Sandwich Islands.

Background

The second of her class, Olmeda came into service in late 1965 as Oleander. As with its 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.[1]

Operational history

1973

In the Second Cod War, Olmeda supported Royal Navy ships twice.[1]

Falklands War

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.[1]

Main article: Operation Keyhole

After the Argentine surrender of the Falkland Islands, Olmeda, Yarmouth, Endurance 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.[2]

Decommissioning

In 1993, the ship was decommissioned and sold for scrap. Breaking up commenced at Alang on 23 December 1994.[1]

References
  1. "RFA Oleander(4)". Historical RFA. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  2. "The race to regain Thule". Navy News p.21. August 1982.
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