Ol-class tanker (1965)

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300px RFA Olmeda
Class overview
Name	Ol class tanker
Builders	VSEL (later BAE Systems Marine)
Operators	Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Preceded by	Tide class replenishment oiler
In service	1965 - 2000
Completed	3
Retired	3
General characteristics
Displacement	31,500 tonnes approx
Length	196.5 metres
Beam	28.25 metres
Draft	9.97 metres
Propulsion	Diesel-electric; four Wartsila 12V 32E Diesels, Two GEC Alstom motors with Cegelec Variable Speed Converters; one shaft; 18t thrust electric Kamewa bow thruster and 12t thrust electric stern thruster, Both Powered by Cegelec Variable Speed Drives and Motors
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h)
Range	10,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement	72 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and there is also provision for 26 Royal Navy personnel for helicopter and weapons systems operations
Sensors and processing systems	Surface search: E/F band; navigation: KH 1077, I-band; IFF: Type 1017
Armament	two 30 mm cannon; four 7.62 mm machine guns; fitted for but not with two Vulcan Phalanx
Aircraft carried	1 Merlin helicopter with full hangar facilities

The Ol class tankers were Royal Fleet Auxiliary fast fleet tankers tasked with providing fuel, food, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world. There were three ships in the class, RFA Olmeda, RFA Olna and RFA Olwen and were an evolution of the Tide class replenishment oilers. The ships were replaced by the Wave Knight class.

A contract was placed for the vessels in 1997 with Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (Marconi Marine VSEL). Construction of Wave Knight began in 1998 at VSEL's Barrow-in-Furness yard and the ship was launched in 2000. With the acquisition of Marconi Electronic Systems and its Marconi Marine subsidiary in 1999 British Aerospace became BAE Systems. BAE now owns VSEL in Barrow and YSL and Govan shipyards on the Clyde. BAE transferred the construction of Wave Ruler to Govan in 2000 and the vessel was launched in 2001.

The vessels can operate an RN Merlin HM Mk1 helicopter, or other helicopters of that size, from a hangar and flight deck at the stern. On deployments to APT(N) they have typically embarked an RN Lynx or a USCG helicopter.

Ships

Name	Pennant	Builder	Commissioned
Olwen (ex-Olynthus)	A122	BAE Systems, Govan	April 2003
Olna	A123	VSEL, Barrow-in-Furness	08 April 2003
Olmeda (ex-Oleander)	A124	BAE Systems, Govan	April 2003

• 
  Wave Knight prepares to transfer fuel to the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) during a replenishment at sea.
• 
  Wave Ruler refuels USS Robert G. Bradley in the Pacific Ocean.

References

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/royal-fleet-auxiliary/rfa-flotilla/fast-fleet-tankers/

External links

• O Class Fleet Replenishment Tankers