Ol-class tanker (1918)

(Redirected from Ol-class tanker (1936))

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.

Class overview
NameOl class
OperatorsRFA Ensign Royal Fleet Auxiliary
In service1918–1952
Completed6
Retired6
General characteristics
TypeTanker
Displacement10,200 DWT
Length444.1 ft (135.4 m)
Beam57 ft 2 in (17.42 m)
Draught27.2 ft (8.3 m)
Propulsion1 screw, triple expansion engine, 3100 hp; 3 Scotch boilers
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Range10,000 nmi (19,000 km) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement43

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

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Name Pennant Builder Laid down Launched Into service Out of service Ref
Olcades (ex-British Beacon) X18 Workman Clark, Belfast 9 September 1918 9 October 1918 April 1953 [1]
Oligarch (ex-British Lantern) X12 1918 30 June 1918 1 August 1918 14 April 1946 [2]
Olynthus (ex-British Star) X11 Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend 20 June 1917 14 February 1918 March 1918 1949 [3]
Olwen (ex-British Light) X09 Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow 1917 3 October 1917 17 April 1937 1947 [4]
Olna X47 His Majesty's Naval Base, Devonport 14 June 1920 21 June 1921 10 October 1921 18 May 1941 [5]
Oleander X46 Pembroke Dockyard, Pembroke Dock 1 December 1920 26 April 1922 20 October 1922 26 May 1940 [6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "RFA Olcades - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  2. ^ "RFA Oligarch - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  3. ^ "RFA Olynthus - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  4. ^ "RFA British Light - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  5. ^ "RFA Olna - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  6. ^ "RFA Oleander - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2024.