RFA Bayleaf (1)
ss Pyrula after her RFA service
Previous name: Cevic, HMS Queen Mary, Bayol
Subsequent name: Pyrula
Official Number: 102126
Class: Emergency Wartime Construction Leaf Class Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: Y7.173
Signal Letters: JPFS (1919)
Laid down:
Builder: Harland Wollf, Belfast
Launched: 23 September 1893
Into Service: 1916
Out of service: 1920
Fate: Sold to commercial interests
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: During WW1, eighteen vessels of varying types were acquired second-hand and converted or purchased and converted while on the stocks, or in a few cases building as tankers. Some were converted after serving with the Dummy Battleship Squadron by the insertion of cylindrical tanks in their holds. All were originally intended to operate as RFA’s, however owing to reasons of international law and the operation of the US Neutrality Act, these oilers became Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries being renamed with the LEAF nomenclature and placed under civilian management although operationally they remained under Admiralty control
25 September 1893 launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast as Yard Nr: 270 named CEVIC for Oceanic Steam Navigation Co (Ismay, Imrie & Co, Managers) Liverpool. Described in the press at the time as the largest freight steamer in the world
26 September 1893 Lloyds List newspaper reported –
6 January 1894 she was completed as the livestock carrier CEVIC to convey cattle from the USA to U.K. as Liverpool had special handling facilities at Birkenhead
ss Cevic
12 January 1894 sailed on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York – Captain Robert Nichol as Master with 3 passengers
23 January 1894 berthed at New York from Liverpool
30 January 1894 sailed New York for Liverpool via Queenstown
1 February 1894 in position 40°33N; 62°14W in heavy seas rescued seven of the crew of a schooner, the W G Gordon of Halifax, Nova Scotia which was floundering.
9 February 1894 berthed at Liverpool
16 February 1894 the Cevic’s Captain received a vote of thanks from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society for the rescue of the crew of seven of the schooner the W G Gordon
17 February 1894 passed the Old Head of Kinsale out bound to New York
27 February 1894 berthed at New York
6 March 1894 sailed New York for Liverpool
16 March 1894 berthed at Liverpool from New York
23 March 1894 sailed Liverpool to New York
2 April 1894 berthed at New York from Liverpool
10 April 1894 sailed from New York for Liverpool
21 April 1894 passed the Old Head of Kinsale sailing east bound
28 April 1894 sailed from Liverpool for New York
14 May 1894 sailed from New York for Liverpool
27 May 1894 arrived at Liverpool from New York
7 July 1894 passed Old Head of Kinsale while on passage from Liverpool to New York
6 September 1894 passed the Old Head of Kinsale sailing east – passing Brow Head later also sailing east
23 September 1894 arrived at New York from Liverpool
11 October 1894 arrived at Liverpool from New York
20 October 1894 sailed Liverpool for New York
31 December 1894 passed Brow Head while on passage from Liverpool to New York
1 January 1895 called at Queentown. Ireland to land the Channel pilot. Sailed the same day for New York
9 January 1895 arrived at New York
15 January 1895 sailed New York
26 January 1895 passed the Old Head of Kinsale when on passage to Liverpool
27 January 1895 arrived at Liverpool
10 May 1895 arrived at Liverpool from New York
27 July 1895 passed the Old Head of Kinsale while on passage to New York
15 October 1895 arrived at New York from Liverpool
27 November 1895 sailed New York for Liverpool
13 December 1895 sailed Liverpool for New York
15 December 1895 passed Brow Head
25 December 1895 arrived at New York from Liverpool
31 December 1895 sailed New York for Liverpool
9 January 1896 passed Brow Head while on passage to Liverpool
10 January 1896 arrived at Liverpool with 830 cattle, 2,008 sheep and 309 sides of beef
17 January 1896 sailed from Liverpool for New York
18 January 1896 passed the Old Head of Kinsale
6 February 1896 Lloyds List reported –
14 February 1896 passed the Old Head of Kinsale sailing east – passing Brow Head later also sailing east
21 February 1896 sailed Liverpool for New York
20 July 1896 arrived in the Mersey from New York
28 August 1896 sailed Liverpool for New York
29 August 1896 passed Browhead
25 September 1896 berthed at Liverpool from New York
2 October 1896 sailed Liverpool for New York
24 November 1896 sailed from New York
8 January 1897 passed Browhead when on passge from New York arriving Liverpool later in the day with 800 cattle, 1418 sheep and 2,756 quarters of beef
14 January 1897 sailed Liverpool for New York
30 January 1897 arrived at New York from Liverpool
9 February 1897 when on passage from New York to Liverpool was at 40°N 63°W
18 February 1897 passed the Old Head of Kinsale sailing east
Week ending 22 March 1897 arrived Liverpool with 760 cattle, 1445 sheep and 2608 quarters of beef
9 July 1897 arrived at Liverpool from New York
22 October 1897 berthed at Liverpool from New York
21 December 1897 sailed New York
12 February 1898 the Ludlow Advertiser reported …
27 February 1898 passed the Old Head of Kinsale when on passage from Liverpool to New York
30 April 1898 arrived at Liverpool with 809 cattle 1016 sheep and 2758 quarters of beef
3 June 1898 passed Browhead when on passage from New York to Liverpool
12 June 1898 sailed Liverpool to New York
14 July 1898 sailed Liverpool to New York with 4 passengers
26 August 1898 sailed Liverpool for New York with 3 passengers
5 September 1898 arrived New York from Liverpool
2 January 1899 sailed New York
14 January 1899 berthed at Liverpool with 600 cattle and 3,966 quarters of beef
21 January 1899 passed the Old Head of Kinsale
1 April 1899 sailed Liverpool for New York
12 April 1899 arrived at New York from Liverpool
10 June 1899 passed the Old Head of Kinsale when on passage to New York
24 July 1899 berthed at New York from Liverpool with two baby elephants as part of the cargo for a zoo in Bloomington, Indiana
23 September 1899 sailed Liverpool for New York with 1 passenger
24 September 1899 arrived off Roche’s Point later passing the Old Head of Kinsale sailing west bound
22 October 1899 passed the Old Head of Kinsale when on passage to Liverpool
1 December 1899 sailed Liverpool
4 December 1899 passed the Old Head of Kinsale when on passage to New York
20 December 1899 sailed New York for Liverpool
1 January 1900 passed Browhead sailing east bound
2 January 1900 arrived at Liverpool from New York with 800 head of cattle and 4,653 quarters of beef
7 January 1900 sailed Liverpool for New York
20 January 1900 anchored off the bar at New York in thick fog
6 February 1900 passed the Old Head of Kinsale when on passage to Liverpool
7 February 1900 berthed at Liverpool
19 February 1900 sailed from Liverpool
2 March 1900 arrived at New York from Liverpool with a consignment of 129 head of cattle which were shipped to Kansas City. The ship also brought 1,278 bags of mail and 5 passengers
6 April 1900 arrived at New York
27 April 1900 sailed Liverpool for New York
24 May 1900 at sea at 50°38N 15°21W passenger Frank Lawrence Wright (infant) discharged dead – natural causes
19 October 1900 sailed Liverpool to New York with 3 passengers
24 November 1900 sailed Liverpool to New York with 3 passengers
28 December 1900 sailed from Liverpool
31 December 1900 passed the Old Head of Kinsale when on passage from Liverpool to New York
2 August 1901 sailed Liverpool to New York with 8 passengers
15 November 1901 sailed Liverpool for New York
15 April 1902 sailed for New York from Liverpool
26 April 1902 passed Brow Head when on passage from New York to Liverpool
8 September 1902 berthed at New York
16 October 1902 suffered several plates damaged when a steam dredger ran into her at New York
10 January 1903 passed Brow Head when on passage from New York to Liverpool
30 January 1903 arrived at New York
28 March 1903 sailed Liverpool for New York
10 April 1903 arrived at New York
14 April 1903 sailed New York to Liverpool
15 August 1903 sailed Liverpool for New York
3 September 1903 at sea at 41°59N 60°10W passenger William Coleman discharged dead – committed suicide by jumping overboard
10 November 1903 sailed New York to Liverpool
14 January 1904 berthed at New York from Liverpool
3 September 1904 sailed Liverpool for New York
4 September 1904 passed the Old Head of Kinsale
14 September 1904 berthed at New York from Liverpool
1 October 1904 arrived off Hollyhead inbound
3 January 1905 sailed New York for Liverpool
30 September 1905 sailed Liverpool for New York
24 July 1906 arrived at New York
9 August 1906 passed Brow Head while on passage from New York for Liverpool
1 October 1907 sailed New York
23 November 1907 sailed Liverpool for New York arriving on 4 December 1907
15 January 1908 at Liverpool loading 810 cattle and 800 sheep together with 2,900 quarters of beef for transportation to New York
24 January 1908 passed Browhead
1908 switched to her owners’ Australian service. Also carried a handful of passengers at times
20 June 1908 sailed Liverpool
ss Cevic in Australian waters
15 August 1908 berthed at Sydney, NSW
26 October 1908 berthed at Port Adelaide
18 February 1909 hit a buoy in the Crosby Channel, Liverpool and then grounded
18 November 1909 arrived at Adelaide, Australia from Liverpool
29 November 1909 Fireman G B Reith was reported missing from the ship when it arrived at Melbourne. It is not known if he had ‘jumped ship’ or had been lost over the side.
24 January1910 sailed Sydney NSW for Melbourne
4 February 1910 sailed Melbourne for the UK
10 March 1910 while in transit of the Suez Canal struck an obstruction and holed her hull. Her cargo was unloaded and repairs were effected
1 April 1910 continued her voyage after reloading her cargo
5 May 1910 sailed from Liverpool for Australian ports
12 May 1910 passed Teneriffe
15 July 1910 in collision with steam ship Duranbah in Sydney Cove. The Duranbah was alone damaged. The accident was the subject of proceedings in the Court of Marine Enquiry, Sydney, NSW on 24 November 1910 before His Honour Judge Backhouse with Assessors. The Duranbah was found totally to blame
ss Duranbah
20 December 1910 sailed Melbourne with a cargo of wool
4 February 1911 berthed at London from Australian ports
3 October 1911 at Sydney NSW the ship was berthed at Miller’s Point when two of the crew became involved in an altercation. Donkeyman William Campbell was stabbed in the chest and Fireman Thomas Davis was arrested by the local Police and taken to Water Police Station. The Donkeyman was taken to hospital
12 December 1911 sailed from Dunkirk for London
19 April 1912 at sea at 40°39N 56°31W Seaman James Quinn discharged dead – accident
25 May 1912 sailed from New York for Liverpool
28 June 1913 at sea Fireman Edward McCormick discharged dead – heart disease
20 Mar 1914 sailed Brisbane to Sydney NSW
28 Mar 1914 sailed Sydney NSW to Durban
25 April 1914 arrived Durban
23 May 1914 arrived Port of London
28 May 1914 arrived at Liverpool. Captain R G Smith was the ships Master
18 September 1914 sailed Melbourne for the UK – suffered an engine defect and returned to Hobson’s Bay to effect repairs
21 September 1914 engne repaired – sailed for the UK
October 1914 hired by the Admiralty
1 December 1914 arrived Belfast for conversion into the Dummy Battle Cruiser HMS QUEEN MARY
ss Cevic as the Dummy Battleship HMS Queen Mary – with two dummy fore and aft funnels
11 February 1915 sailed Belfast on completion of conversion
13 February 1915 hit rocks and had to return to Belfast for repairs
10 April 1915 sailed Belfast
11 April 1915 grounded on Rathlin Island in fog
12 April 1915 refloated, arrived at Loch Ewe the following day, sailing almost immediately again to commence her patrol of the North Atlantic.
25 April 1915 she arrived off New York on the same day as the German liner KRONPRINZ WILHELM which was interned the following day
German liner KRONPRINZ WILHELM
February 1915 to June 1916 based in the Aegean
September 1915 paid off as a Dummy Battle Cruiser at Belfast after the disbandment of the DBS Squadron.
8 September 1915 was purchased by the Admiralty for conversion into an oiler
1916 renamed RFA BAYOL
1917 she was transferred to the Shipping Controller, under management of Lane and MacAndrew and was renamed BAYLEAF (1)
2 July 1917 at Hampton Roads sailed in a convoy under the guard of HMS ROXBURGH to the UK – speed of advance 9kts
HMS ROXBURGH
7 September 1917 while in the North Atlantic challenged by HMS ISIS which was on patrol between Liverpool and Bermuda – allowed to proceed
HMS ISIS
18 February 1918 damaged by heavy weather off Oban and was out of commission for nearly 3 months
11 May 1918 re-entered service on completion of repairs to weather damage
17 May 1918 sailed from Lamlash in a convoy escorted by HMS COLOMBELLA
28 May 1918 the convoy arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia
1920 purchased by British Tanker Co., London
9 June 1920 was promptly resold to Anglo Saxon who renamed her PYRULA
11 June 1920 sailed the River Tyne for Port Arthur, Texas
27 July 1920 berthed at Gibraltar from St Thomas with fuel oil cargo to discharge
20 August 1920 arrived at Gibraltar from Alexandria in ballast for orders
11 September 1920 sailed Barbados for Gibraltar
29 September 1920 berthed at Gibraltar from Curaçao with fuel oil cargo to discharge and for orders
13 October 1920 sailed Port Said
21 October 1920 arrived at Gibraltar from Port Said in ballast for orders
23 November 1920 sailed Tampico for Gibraltar
7 December 1920 sailed Newport News for Gibraltar
1 January 1921 arrived at Port Said from Tampico for Alexandria
14 January 1921 arrived at Gibraltar from Port Said for orders
7 February 1921 sailed St Thomas for Dartmouth
4 October 1921 sailed Gibraltar for Newport News
19 October 1921 passed Key West for Tampico
November 1921 sent to New York and anchored in the Harbour as a floating depot ship with Chief Officer Hubert Sivell in command
21 August 1925 sailed New York for Curaçao with a skeleton crew of 16 sailors. The Acting Master was still Chief Officer Hubert S Sivell. The Chief Engineer Officer was Mr George Andrew.
8 September 1925 she arrived and was hullked at Curaçao as a bunker ship
25 July 1933 sold for demolition by Henrico Haupt at Genoa.
RFA Bayleaf (2)
Previous name: London Integrity
Subsequent name: London Integrity
Offficial Number: 186211
Class: SECOND LEAF CLASS Support Tanker
Pennant No: A79
Laid down: 28 September 1953
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding, Haverton Hill
Launched: 28 October 1954
Into Service: 16 June, 1959
Out of service: 22 March, 1973
Fate: Returned to owners and took up her original name
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: In June 1956 the London Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference discussed Britain’s future naval strategy and the vulnerability of static bases in the face of world-wide change. Consideration was given to the provision of Fleet Trains to supply warships at sea and the Admiralty announced plans to build up a force of such ships. So began a period of major Fleet modernisation with the bare-boat chartering of eight motor tankers for freighting duties that reintroduced the LEAF names to the Fleet. These eight vessels were all broadly similar and were bare-boat chartered as replacements for the DALE and WAVE Classes. Although primarily intended for freighting duties, most of them were also capable of replenishment at sea
28 October 1954 launched by Furness Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Haverton Hill as Yard Nr: 460 named LONDON INTEGRITY for London and Overseas Freighters Ltd, London her Lady Sposor was Mrs A.S.C. Hulton
9 March 1955 ran trials
2 April 1955 sailed the River Tees for Curaçao
28 April 1955 completed
MV London Integrity before entering RFA Service
10 May 1955 berthed at Dakar
14 June 1955 at Green Cross Hospital, Curaçao Topas Minguel J D’Costa discharged dead – dysentery
28 December 1955 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing east bound
27 January 1956 at sea at 40°N 69°W Chief Cook and Baker F Rodrigues discharged dead – heart attack
13 August 1956 arrived at Beira
9 June 1957 sailed Curaçao for Sewaren, New Jersey
26 July 1957 sailed Punta Cardon, Venezuela for New York
27 July 1958 sailed Punta Cardon, Venezuela
19 September 1958 sailed Boston for Curaçao
13 February 1959 sailed New York for Las Piedras
2 June 1959 London and Overseas Freighters Ltd, London advertised the ships change of name to Bayleaf in the Times of this day
9 June 1959 Mr T J W Humphrey RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 June 1959 bareboat chartered by the Admiralty and renamed BAYLEAF (2)
12 September 1959 passed Dover sailing west bound
9 October 1959 moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Pier, Devonport passing RFA AMHERST
10 October 1959 moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Pier, Devonport to No: 9 Buoy
12 October 1959 moved from No: 9 Buoy to No: 8 Wharf, Devonport Dockyard
14 October 1959 moved from No: 8 Wharf, Devonport Dockyard to Plymouth Sound. Captain T G Hill RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master
20 November 1959 moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Pier, Devonport
23 November 1959 moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Pier, Devonport to No: 9 Buoy
26 November 1959 moved from No: 9 Buoy to Plymouth Sound
24 December 1959 berthed at Malta from Gibraltar
24 January 1960 berthed at Malta from the Persian Gulf
28 January 1960 sailed Malta for the Persian Gulf
7 April 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
8 April 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
4 June 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
5 June 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
3 July 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
4 July 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
6 July 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
10 July 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
14 July 1960 Captain A H McKenzie RFA appointed as Master
9 January 1961 sailed Malta for Abadan
4 April 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
5 April 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 6 buoy
9 April 1961 at Devonport moved from No:6 buoy to Plymouth Sound
7 June 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
8 June 1961at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
23 September 1961 visited Auckland, New Zealand
16 February 1962 at Rosyth
17 March 1962 became the first of this Class of Leaf’s to berth alongside at Portland to discharge a full cargo of FFO and diesol
2 April 1962 Mr Charles H Gurr RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 April 1962 Captain T G Hill RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR (ret)) appointed as Master
13 August 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
16 August 1962 at Devonport on Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty with RFA BLACK RANGER alongside
17 August 1962 at Swansea
1 September 1962 at Swansea
5 October 1962 at Greenock
15 December 1962 berthed at Singapore
25 December 1962 at 26°25N 56°15E Chief Cook Chan Yew Sang discharged dead – drowned having jumped overboard
1 April 1963 visited Auckland, New Zealand
28 May 1963 at Plymouth
1 October 1963 in refit at Immingham
15 October 1963 Captain Charles E C Phipps RFA appointed as Master
28 November 1963 Mr J Edge RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 January 1964 arrived at Invergordon
February 1964 involved in a collision with a tug at Ras Tanura
16 April 1964 Mr J P Mair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 April 1964 at Plymouth
18 April 1964 at Plymouth
9 October 1964 Captain C G D Barker RFA appointed as Master
12 October 1964 at Newscastle on Tyne
18 October 1965 Captain O J Coulthard RFA appointed as Master
19 January 1966 berthed at Malta from Port Said
25 April 1966 Captain David P Kindersley RFA appointed as Master
June 1966 had the distinction of being the first Support tanker to refuel the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA by the astern method
20 October 1967 Captain A H Tarr RFA appointed as Master
29 October 1967 Mr C H Gurr RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 July 1968 Captain M G Brace RFA appointed as Master
20 August 1968 stood by the Japanese ship Yawatasan Maru which had an engine breakdown off the Sumatran coast until her engineers could effect temporary repairs
1969 after a long refit, suffered a reoccurrence of an engine defect at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and she was towed to Bombay by RFA PLUMLEAF (2) for repairs
2 May 1969 in collision with a Greek ship Kerkls in Bombay harbour – both ships suffered damage
3 May 1971 berthed at Malta from Curacao to discharge
12 September 1971 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
24 February 1972 at Plymouth
April 1972 with the evacuation of the base at Malta, she freighted stocks of oil fuel from there to U.K. storages
11 September 1972 at Portsmouth
8 October 1972 while berthing in Grand Harbour, Malta was blown very close to rocks just inside the breakwater when high north easterly winds struck the Island. She later berthed at Palatorial Wharf and discharged her cargo. Reported in the Times of Malta, 9 October 1972
20 October 1972 at Freetown, Sierra Leone
22 February 1973 completed her last voyage as an RFA
March 1973 was returned to her owners on expiry of her charter and her name reverted to LONDON INTEGRITY
9 February 1975 laid up at Maliakos
7 January 1977 purchased for scrap through B.V. Intershitra
25 January 1977 arrived at Burriana, Spain for breaking up by Aguilar y Peris
Notes:
Was one of 17 tankers employed in the Mozchan on Beira Patrol duties
RFA Bayleaf (3)
Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Previous name: Hudson Sound
Official Number: 399072
Class: THIRD LEAF CLASS Support Tanker
Pennant No: A109
Laid down: 1 February 1975
Builder: Cammel Laird, Birkenhead
Launched: 27 October 1981
Into Service: 26 March 1982
Out of service: 28 April 2011
Fate: Broken up in Turkey 2012
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: On 27 October 1978 it was announced that the MoD (N) was to charter two laid up STaT 32 standard product tankers which had originally formed part of a four-ship order for commercial owners. After three of the ships had been laid down, the owners ran into financial difficulties and found that they were unable to accept the new ships. As they were the only mercantile order then in hand, the builders completed the three ships, and after running trials, they were laid up, two at Liverpool and one at Birkenhead. After some time had elapsed, the builders took over ownership of the ships by forming three subsidiary companies which then offered the ships for sale or charter. These eventually became RFA’s APPLELEAF (3), BRAMBLELEAF (3) and ORANGELEAF (3). Some years later, the fourth ship from this original order was built as RFA BAYLEAF (3). All four ships had additional accommodation and full RAS capabilities fitted and became useful units in the Fleet. Later on, a fifth vessel was chartered and was renamed RFA OAKLEAF (2), but she differed considerably from the earlier four Leafs
30 April 1973 ordered as part of a 4-ship order valued at around £20 million
September 1973 a loan of £4,356,169 was secured with Williams and Glynn Bank for her construction costs
14 February 1975 laid down as HUDSON SOUND
1976 when her owners refused delivery, work was halted and what little work had been done on the slipway was removed to storage along with other items such as her engines which had already been ordered by the Yard. Owners became Bluecross Ltd. a subsidiary of the builders
December 1980 was reordered by a finance company for charter to MoD (N) and work was resumed
9 October 1981 the Liverpool Echo newspaper reported –
27 October 1981 launched by Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Ltd, Birkenhead as Yard Nr: 1366 named BAYLEAF for Lombard Leasing Services, London. The Lady Sponsor was Mrs Angela Pritchard, the wife of Mr K Pritchard, DGST (N)
RFA Bayleaf’s bell
5 January 1982 Captain A E Hunter RFA appointed as Master
20 March 1982 to 23 March 1982 ran trials
25 March 1982 completed and bareboat chartered to the MoD (N). She was the last conventional merchant ship by her builders as they then changed to warship and semi-submersible drilling rigs construction
1 April 1982 at Birkenhead in dry dock
5 April 1982 moved out of the flooded up dry dock into the fitting out basin by tugs Collingwood and Canada
10 April 1982 sailed from Eastham to Portland
12 April 1982 arrived at Portland
13 April 1982 loaded 240 M³ of FFO and 12,591 M³ of diesel oil
15 April 1982 sailed Portland returning to the same berth the same day. RFA PLUMLEAF (2) berthed outboard of her
19 April 1982 at Portland RFA PLUMLEAF (2) cast off and sailed
20 April 1982 and 21 April 1982 at Portland loading drums of lub oil into her hold
22 April 1982 and 23 April 1982 at Portland loaded bunkers from RMAS barge 1507. Also loaded 4,875 M³ tons of AVCAT from mv Orionman
24 April 1982 at Portland loaded a further 5,719 M³ of Diesel oil as cargo
26 April 1982 sailed Portland Harbour with assistance of the tug RFA CONFIDENCE to Ascension Island
30 April 1982 was off Punto de Rogue Bermgo, Grand Canaria
1 May 1982 stopped to repair a fuel leak on the engines at 31°23.1N 12°03.7W
3 May 1982 arrived Gibraltar on berth 48 loading stores and cargo until 11 May 1982
11 May 1982 sailed Gibraltar to Ascension Island
19 May 1982 anchored off Ascension Island
25 May 1982 at Ascension Island with HMS DUMBARTON CASTLE alongside loading 74.2 tons of Fresh Water. On slipping HMS DUMBARTON CASTLE starboard quarter hit Bayleaf’s port side midships causing no damage to the tanker
26 May 1982 at Ascension Island with HMS DUMBARTON CASTLE alongside loading 75 tons of fresh water
27 May 1982 sailed Ascension Island for service during Operation Corporate – the Falklands Conflict – in company with the LPD HMS INTREPID
19 May 1982 arrived at Ascension Island
27 May 1982 sailed Ascension Island
2 June 1982 during the Falklands War RASed with the RMS QE2
RFA Bayleaf RAS’s with RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 during the Falklands War
5 June 1982 in the South Atlantic taking seas over the tank deck causing the gratings on the catwalk to be damaged
9 June 1982 entered the TEZ (Total Exclusion Zone) around the Falkland Islands. Transfered 360 M³ of diesel oil from the cargo to the bunkers
10 June 1982 arrived in the TRALA (Tug, Repair and Logistics Area)
24 June 1982 pump over with STUFT Shell tanker Eburna between 07:18hrs and 19:19 hrs
28 June 1982 pump over with STUFT Shell tanker Eburna between 08:15hrs and 13:20 hrs
3 July 1982 attempted pump over with STUFT Shell tanker Eburna but due to very bad weather the operation was aborted
4 July 1982 alongside RFA OLNA (3) which was at anchor at Port William – pumped over 5,550 M³ of FFO, 9,860 M³ of Diesel oil to her
5 July 1982 sailed Port William
6 July 1982 pump over with STUFT Shell tanker Eburna
11 August 1982 detached from South Atlantic duties
31 August 1982 arrived at Devonport on completion of Operation Corporate duties
31 August 1982 at Devonport engaged in a maintenance period
30 September 1982 sailed Devonport in support of the Dartmouth Training Squadron Mediterranian deployment. Arriving at Gibraltar on 4 October 1982
4 October 1982 sailed Gibraltar for Naples with the Dartmouth Training Squadron arriving 8 October 1982
8 October 1982 to 18 October 1982 at the Naples anchorage with the Dartmouth Training Squadron
18 October 1982 sailed Naples to Brindisi arriving 21 October 1982 with the Dartmouth Training Squadron
26 October 1982 sailed Brindisi to Salonika srriving 29 October 1982 with the Dartmouth Training Squadron
2 November 1982 sailed Salonika to Istanbul arriving 5 November 1982 with the Dartmouth Training Squadron
7 November 1982 sailed Istanbul to Trieste arriving 10 November 1982 with the Dartmouth Training Squadron
19 November 1982 sailed Trieste to Plymouth arriving 24 November 1982 with the Dartmouth Training Squadron
14 December 1982 sailed Plymouth to Liverpool arriving the next day and entered refit
21 March 1983 sailed Liverpool post refit to Plymouth arriving 23 March 1983 to restore
8 April 1983 to 21 April 1983 BOST at Portland
21 April 1983 sailed Portland for Invergordon to load cargo arriving 24 April 1983
24 April 1983 sailed Invergordon to Rotterdam arriving 2 May 1983
3 May 1983 sailed Rotterdam to Gibraltar arriving 9 May 1983
13 May 1983 sailed Gibraltar to take part in Exercise Distant Drum
1 June 1983 sailed Pireaus at the end of the Exercise to Portsmouth arriving 13 June 1983
18 June 1983 sailed Portsmouth to Port Said arriving 25 June 1983
27 June 1983 sailed Port Said to Bahrain to load cargo arriving 5 July 1983
7 July 1983 sailed Bahrain to Singapore to discharge arriving 18 July 1983
24 July 1983 sailed Singapore to Bahrain arriving to load cargo on the 3 August 1983
6 August 1983 sailed Bahrain to Portland and then on exercise to Portsmouth and Plymouth
12 September 1983 Captain D J Boyden RFA appointed as Master
28 November 1983 sailed to Rotterdam arriving 29 November 1983 freighting
1 December 1983 sailed Rotterdam to Devonport arriving 2 December 1983
8 December 1983 sailed Devonport to Milford Haven arriving the same day
10 December 1983 sailed Milford Haven to Plymouth arriving the next day
15 December 1983 sailed Plymouth to Rotterdam arriving the next day
19 December 1983 sailed Rotterdam to Gibraltar arriving 22 December 1983
3 January 1984 sailed Gibraltar to Plymouth arriving 6 January 1984
9 January 1984 sailed Plymouth to Rotterdam arriving the next day
10 January 1984 sailed Rotterdam to Plymouth
19 January 1984 sailed Plymouth to Norfolk, Virginia on exercises arriving 4 February 1984
16 February 1984 sailed Norfolk, Virginia to Portsmouth
6 April 1984 to Gibraltar arriving 9 April 1984 for refit
8 June 1984 sailed Gibraltar for Portsmouth to restore arriving 11 June 1984
22 June 1984 sailed Portsmouth for Portand and BOST until 18 July 1984
19 July 1984 sailed Portland to Gibraltar arriving 23 July 1984
24 July 1984 sailed Gibraltar to Port Said arriving 31 July 1984
1 August 1984 transit Suez Canal to Dujibouti arriving 6 August 1984
8 August 1984 sailed Dujibouti to Muscat arriving 22 August 1984
23 August 1984 sailed Muscat on the Armilla Patrol returning to Muscat on 11 September 1984
12 September 1984 sailed Muscat to Mogadishu arriving on 18 September 1984
21 September 1984 sailed Mogadishu to Muscat arriving on 30 September 1984
1 October 1984 sailed Muscat to Karachi arriving on 5 October 1984
6 October 1984 at Karachi for a maintenance period until 18 October 1984
19 October 1984 sailed Karachi to Bahrain arriving on 31 October 1984
31 October 1984 sailed Bahrain to the Seychelles arriving 7 November 1984
12 November 1984 sailed the Seychelles to Damman arriving on 19 November 1984
21 November 1984 sailed Damman to Muscat arriving on 23 November 1984
23 November 1984 sailed Muscat for exercises until arriving at Doha on 12 December 1984
12 December 1984 Captain A W Stanley RFA appointed as Master
15 December 1984 sailed Doha to Colombo arriving 22 December 1984
3 January 1985 sailed Colombo via Suez to Rosyth arriving 26 January 1985
4 February 1985 took part in Exercise JNC851 until 15 February 1985
18 February 1985 sailed Rosyth to Invergordon and then to Rotterdam arriving on 23 February 1985
24 February 1985 sailed Rotterdam to Invergordon arriving 28 February 1985
1 March 1985 sailed Invergordon to Rotterdam arriving on 4 March 1985
4 March 1985 sailed Rotterdam to Portsmouth arriving on 5 March 1985
14 March 1985 sailed Portsmouth to Rotterdam arriving 15 March 1985
16 March 1985 sailed Rotterdam to Invergordon arriving 18 March 1985
19 March 1985 sailed Invergordon to Portland and then Gibraltar arriving on 30 March 1985
5 April 1985 sailed Gibraltar to Portsmouth arriving 10 April 1985
12 April 1985 was officially presented with the Falkland Islands 1982 Battle Honourby Mrs Angela Pritchard, wife of Mr K Pritchard DGST (N)
19 April 1985 sailed Portsmouth to Loch Ewe arriving 22 April 1985
22 April 1985 sailed Loch Ewe to Devonport arriving 25 April 1985 for a SMP
1 May 1985 sailed Devonport for Portsmouth arriving on 3 May 1985
22 May 1985 Captain James W Pratt RFA appointed as Master
26 May 1985 involved with BOST at Portland until 8 June 1985
9 June 1985 sailed Portland to Gibraltar arriving on 12 June 1985
13 June 1985 sailed Gibraltar to Port Said arriving 19 June 1985
20 June 1985 transit of Suez Canal and then to Djibouti arriving on 24 June 1985
25 June 1985 sailed Djibouti to Muscat arriving 6 July 1985
7 July 1985 sailed Muscat to Bahrain arriving 15 July 1985
15 July 1985 sailed Bahrain to Muscat arriving 20 July 1985
20 July 1985 sailed Muscat to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 26 July 1985
30 July 1985 sailed Colombo, Ceylon to Karachi arriving 4 August 1985
7 August 1985 sailed Karachi to Muscat arriving 11 August 1985
12 August 1985 sailed Muscat to Mombasa arriving 24 August 1985
9 September 1985 sailed Mombasa to Muscat arriving 22 September 1985
23 September 1985 sailed Muscat to Dubhai arriving 1 October 1985
5 October 1985 sailed Dubhai to Muscat arriving 7 October 1985
8 October 1985 sailed Muscat to the Seychelles arriving 16 October 1985
21 October 1985 sailed the Seychelles to Muscat arriving 29 October 1985
30 October 1985 sailed Muscat to Suez arriving 10 November 1985
12 November 1985 sailed Suez, through the Canal and arrived at Akrotiri 17 November 1985
17 November 1985 sailed Akrotiri to Gibraltar for refit arriving 23 November 1985
21 January 1986 Captain Rex A Cooper RFA appointed as Master
4 February 1986 at Gibraltar
25 February 1986 sailed Gibraltar to Plymouth arriving 3 March 1986
11 March 1986 at Plymouth
19 March 1986 BOST at Portland until 10 April 1986
14 April 1986 sailed Portsmouth as part of Task Group 318.4 – the Global 86 Deployment led by the aircraft carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS – along with RFA’s OLMEDA and FORT GRANGE
6 May 1986 transit Panama Canal
7 May 1986 sailed Panama City to San Francisco arriving 16 May 1986
19 May 1986 sailed San Francisco to Vancouver arriving 22 May 1986
27 May 1986 sailed Vancouver to Pearl Harbour 18 June 1986 – took part in Exercise Rimpac 1986
15 June 1986 sailed Pearl Harbour
13 July 1986 to 14 July 1986 humanitarian aid – rescued 15 crew from the Taiwanese cargo vessel HWA LIE which sank 60 miles east of Hong Kong
14 July 1986 arrived at Hong Kong for an AMP
2 August 1986 sailed Hong Kong to Singapore arriving 18 August 1986
24 August 1986 sailed Singapore to Darwin, Australia arriving 30 August 1986
2 September 1986 whilst on passage from Sydney to Melbourne, she conducted a RAS with the battleship USS MISSOURI which was the first complete RAS of a battleship by an RFA for many years
11 September 1986 arrived at Suva
15 September 1986 sailed Suva to Nuku Aloofa arriving the next day
20 September 1986 sailed Nuku Aloofa to Sydney, NSW arriving 29 September 1986
4 October 1986 TG 318.4 participated in the Australian Fleet Reviewat Sydney
6 October 1986 sailed Syndey, NSW to Melbourne arriving 8 October 1986
15 October 1986 sailed Melbourne to Fremantle arriving 25 October 1986 – taking part in Naval Exercise enroute.
16 October 1986 RASed with USS Missouri – 4,500 cubic metres of diesel fuel were pumped across during the RAS that lasted nearly six hours.
31 October 1986 sailed Fremantle to Mombasa arriving 17 November 1986
23 November 1986 sailed Mombasa to Aquasa arriving 2 December 1986
2 December 1986 sailed Aquasa to Suez arriving 4 December 1986
6 December 1986 – transit Suez Canal to Gibraltar arriving 12 December 1986
18 January 1987 sailed Gibraltar on exercise returning there on 22 January 1987
26 January 1987 sailed Gibraltar to Martinique on Southlant Deployment arriving 27 February 1987
1 March 1987 sailed Martinique to Norfolk, Virginia arriving 6 March 1987
11 March 1987 sailed Norfolk, Viginia to Portsmouth arriving 23 March 1987
24 March 1987 Captain J B Dickinson OBE RFA appointed as Master
10 April 1987 sailed Portsmouth to the Exercise areas off Portland arriving 21 April 1987
21 April 1987 sailed Portland for Gibraltar arriving 24 April 1987
27 April 1987 sailed Gibraltar to Valparaiso arriving 25 May 1987
27 May 1987 sailed Valparaiso to Calaao, Peru arriving 1 June 1987
3 June 1987 sailed Calaao, Peru to Panama arriving 7 June 1987
8 June 1987 sailed Panama to Gibraltar arriving 3 July 1987
3 July 1987 at Gibraltar for refit until 26 November 1987
26 November 1987 sailed Gibraltar for Portland arriving 29 November 1987
29 November 1987 to 16 December 1987 BOST
5 January 1988 sailed Portland to Cambleton arriving 7 January 1988
12 January 1988 sailed Cambleton to Portsmouth arriving 22 January 1988
22 January 1988 sailed Portsmouth to Tilbury arriving the same day
30 January 1988 sailed Tilbury to Devonport arriving 3 February 1988
10 February 1988 sailed Devonport to Invergordon arriving 17 February 1988
19 February 1988 sailed Invergordon to Antwerp arriving 20 February 1988
22 February 1988 sailed Antwerp to Portsmouth arriving 24 February 1988
24 February 1988 sailed Portsmouth to Antwerp arriving the next day
25 February 1988 sailed Antwerp to Fawley arriving 27 February 1988
29 February 1998 sailed Fawley to Invergordon arriving 2 March 1988
4 March 1988 sailed Invergordon to Antwerp arriving the next day
5 March 1988 sailed Antwerp to Gare Loch Head arriving 9 March 1988
9 March 1988 sailed Gare Loch Head to Cambletown arriving 12 March 1988
14 March 1988 sailed Cabletown to Gosport arriving 18 March 1988
22 March 1988 sailed Gosport to Namsenfjord arriving 26 March 1988
29 March 1988 sailed Namsenfjord to Rosyth arriving 30 March 1988
5 April 1988 sailed Rosyth to Invergordon arriving the next day
12 April 1988 sailed Invergordon to patrol and arrived at Devonport 5 May 1988
13 May 1988 sailed Devonport to Gosport arriving the next day
14 May 1988 sailed Gosport to Milford Haven arriving 20 May 1988
20 May 1988 sailed Milford Haven to Plymouth arriving 25 May 1988
25 May 1988 sailed Plymouth to Europort arriving 27 May 1988
27 May 1988 sailed Europort to Gare Loch Head arriving 31 May 1988
31 May 1988 sailed Gare Loch Head to Loch Striven arriving 3 June 1988
3 June 1988 sailed Loch Striven for exercises arriving at Invergordon on 25 June 1988
27 June 1988 sailed Invergordon on exercises arriving Rosyth 4 July 1988
8 July 1988 sailed Rosyth operation Lobsterpot arriving Gosport 22 July 1988
27 July 1988 sailed Gosport to Cambleton arriving 3 August 1988
4 August 1988 sailed Cambleton to Loch Striven arriving 9 August 1988
9 August 1988 sailed Loch Striven to Gosport arriving 11 August 1988
17 August 1988 sailed Gosport to Fawley and return to Gosport
1 September 1988 Captain R M Guy RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
5 September 1988 sailed Gosport for exercise Teamwork 88 arriving Europort 1 October 1988
2 October 1988 sailed Europort to Invergordon arriving 4 October 1988
6 October 1988 Captain G R Green RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
10 October 1988 sailed Invergordon to Cambelton arriving 12 October 1988
12 October 1988 sailed Cambeltown to Fawley arriving 19 October 1988
24 October 1988 berthed at Portsmouth and then sailed to Portalnd and areas as FOST tanker
2 December 1988 sailed to Fawley and then Portmouth arriving 5 December 1988
13 December 1988 sailed Portsmouth to Falmouth for refit
13 March 1989 sailed Falmouth to Devonport to restore
7 April 1989 sailed Devonport to Portland and area for BOST
30 April 1989 sailed Portland to Invergordon and Rosyth arriving 2 May 1989
15 May 1989 sailed Rosyth to Portand and exercise areas arriving on 17 May 1989
19 May 1989 sailed Portland to Gibraltar and exercise areas arriving 26 May 1989
29 May 1989 sailed Gibraltar to Suez arriving 4 June 1989
4 June 1989 transitted Suez Canal and then sailed to Djibouti arriving 10 June 1989
11 June 1989 sailed Djibouti to Dubai arriving 19 June 189
11 June 1989 sailed Dubai on the Armilla patrol arriving Jebel Ali 19 July 1989
25 July 1989 sailed Jebel Ali on the Armilla patrol arriving Dubai on 8 August 1989
13 August 1989 sailed Dubai on the Armilla patrol arriving Muscat on 26 August 1989
2 September 1989 sailed Muscat on the Armilla patrol arriving Dubai 7 September 1989
11 September 1989 sailed Dubai on the Armilla patrol arriving Jebel Ali 5 October 1989
9 October 1989 sailed Jebel Ali on the Armilla patrol returning to and arriving Suez on 22 October 1989
24 October 1898 sailed Suez to Barcleona arriving 29 October 1989
3 November 1989 sailed Barcleona to Devonport arriving 8 November 1989
29 November 1989 sailed Devonport to Europort arriving on 2 December 1989
4 December 1989 sailed Europort to Milford Haven arriving 6 December 1989
7 December 1989 sailed Milford Haven to Devonport arriving the next day
9 December 1989 sailed Devonport to Fawley and Portsmouth arriving 14 December 1989
12 January 1990 sailed Portsmouth for Portland arriving 14 January 1990
15 January 1990 at Portland weapons training in exercise areas until 18 January 1990
19 January 1990 sailed Portland for Gibraltar arriving 25 January 1990
29 January 1990 sailed Gibraltar for Suez arriving 5 February 1990
6 February 1990 sailed Suez for Djibouti arriving 10 February 1990
12 February 1990 sailed Djibouti for Jebel Ali arriving on 25 February 1990 on the Armilla Patrol
1 March 1990 sailed for Bahrain arriving 7 March 1990 on the Armilla Patrol
11 March 1990 sailed for Muscat arriving on 14 March 1990 on the Armilla Patrol
19 March 1990 sailed for Port Victoria, Seychelles arriving 2 April 1990
8 April 1990 sailed for Muscat arriving on 19 April 1990 on the Armilla Patrol
23 April 1990 sailed for Jebel Ali arriving on 5 May 1990
24 September 1990 Captain J Summers RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
17 October 1990 Captain R W M Wallace RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
23 January 1991 sailed UK to relieve RFA ORANGELEAF(3) during Operation Granby-the Gulf War
1991 awarded the Kuwait 1991 Battle Honouralong with 10 other RFA‘s
29 May 1991 Captain S Hodgson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
19 February 1992 Captain Shane Redmond OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Shane Redmond
23 May 1992 Captain G D Wilson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
4 December 1992 sailed Gosport OIl Jetty to Cambletown arriving the next day
9 December 1992 sailed Cambletown to Devonport to destore and refit arriving 18 December 1992
2 April 1993 sailed Devonport at the end of the refit for sea trials returning the next day
7 May 1993 sailed Devonport to Portland arriving 9 May 1993
20 May 1993 at Portland BOST until 3 June 1993
4 June 1993 sailed Portland for exercises until 18 June 1993 berthed at Crombie
21 June 1993 sailed Crombie to Portland arriving 25 June 1993
30 June 1993 sailed Portland to Lisbon arriving 2 July 1993
3 July 1993 sailed Lisbon to exercises arriving Rotterdam arriving 15 July 1993
16 July 1993 sailed Rotterdam to Devonport arriving 18 July 1993
24 July 1993 sailed Devonport to various but arrived Bari on 13 August 1993
16 August 1993 sailed Bari to various but arrived at Portland on 29 August 1993
6 September 1993 sailed Portland for exercises and to Portsmouth arriving and anchored off on 19 September 1993
20 September 1993 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
4 October 1993 sailed Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty to Portland arriving the same day
8 October 1993 sailed Portland to Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty arriving the same day
11 October 1993 sailed Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty to Fawley oil refinery arriving the same day
13 October 1993 sailed Fawley to Devonport arriving the same day
22 October 1993 sailed Devonport to Fawley arriving the next day
25 October 1993 sailed Fawley to Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty arriving the same day
28 October 1993 moved from Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty to Portmouth Dockyard
8 November 1993 sailed Portsmouth Dockyard to Brindisi, Italy arriving 16 November 1993
20 November 1993 sailed Brindisi. Italy to Toulon, France arriving 3 December 1993
6 December 1993 sailed Toulon, France to the Suez Canal arriving 11 December 1993
12 December 1993 in transit Suez Canal and then to Dubai arriving 21 December 1993
4 January 1994 sailed from Dubai
19 January 1994 arrived at Bahrein
26 January 1994 sailed from Bahrein
28 January 1994 berthed at Jebel Ali, UAE
30 January 1994 sailed from Jabel Ali, UAE
2 October 1994 to 6 October 1994 berthed at Dubai
6 October 1994 sailed Dubai to Jebel Ali
18 October 1994 deployed Jebel Ali returning there on 29 October 1994
7 November 1994 sailed Jebel Ali to Abu Dhabi arriving 13 November 1994
3 December 1994 to 9 December 1994 berthed at Dubai
9 December 1994 sailed Dubai to Port Victoria, Seychelles arriving on 18 December 1994
2 January 1995 sailed Port Victoria, Seychelles to Bahrain arriving on 14 January 1995
16 January 1995 to 17 January 1995 sailed Bahrain and took part in Exercise Neon Spark
18 January 1995 to 24 January 1994 at Dubai
19 January 1995 Mr Kenneth Holder RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 July 1995 at Dubai
28 July 1995 at Dubai
7 December 1995 Captain Shane Redmond OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
4 February 1996 in refit at Appledore Yard, North Shields, River Tyne
20 February 1996 Captain O Yeomans RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
18 March 1996 sailed North Shields for Devonport to restore
17 September 1996 Captain R L Williams RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
22 April 1997 Captain I E Johnson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
1 March 1997 in collision with the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA during a RAS off Karachi
21 October 1997 Captain J Stones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
27 November 1997 suffered a fire in the engine room
4 May 1998 to 17 July 1998 in refit
15 July 1998 Captain Peter Farmer RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Peter Farmer RFA
5 January 1999 Captain David M Pitt RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
July 1999 at Garelochead
14 July 1999 at Gibraltar
14 November 1999 at Portsmouth
14 April 2000 Captain Brian J Waters OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Brian J Waters OBE RFA
2 May 2000 sailed U.K. as part of Task Force 2000 – the Eastern Adventure Deploymentled by the frigate HMS CORNWALL which circumnavigated the globe – along with RFA’s DILIGENCE and FORT VICTORIA
2001 purchased by MoD (N) name unchanged
6 April 2001 Captain Dale J M Worthington RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Dale Worthington RFA
19 April 2001 berthed at Portsmouth
25 April 2001 sailed Portsmouth to Devonport Yonderberry Jetty arrived 26 April 2001
22 May 2001 sea training undertaken until 31 May 2001
9 June 2001 sailed Portsmouth to Suez via Portland and Devonport – arriving Port Said 23 June 2001
23 and 24 June 2001 transit of Suez Canal
24 June 2001 sailed Suez
25 June 2001 main engines stopped requiring essential repairs
26 June 2001 main engine repairs completed – sailed.
28 June 2001 relieved RFA Orangeleaf (3) on deployment
7 July 2001 anchored at Sharjah
8 July 2001 sailed Sharajah anchorage to Dubai arriving the same day
12 July 2001 sailed Dubai to RAS with various RN, HMCS, US and other Allied ships returning to anchor off Dubai on 23 July 2001
24 July 2001 sailed Dubai returning to No 1 berth at Port Rashid on 20 August 2001
23 August 2001 sailed Port Rashid to RAS with various RN and US ships returning to Dubai on 9 September 2001
September 2001 engaged on the Argonaut 2001 deployment together with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, fourteen other Royal Naval Warships and RFA’s FORT VICTORIA, FORT ROSALIE (2), SIR TRISTRAM, SIR BEDIVERE, SIR PERCIVALE, SIR GALAHAD (2), FORT AUSTIN, OAKLEAF (2) and DILIGENCE
13 September 2001 sailed Dubai to RAS with HMS Kent and then berthing at Fujayrah on 15 September 2001
21 September 2001 sailed Fujayrah to Jebel Ali arriving on 22 September 2001
24 September 2001 sailed Jebel Ali to RAS with various RN and RFA ships and then to berth at Masirah Anchorage on 1 October 2001
1 October 2001 to 6 October 2001 sailed Masirah to take part in Operation Saif Sareea II returning to Masirah – RASed with HMS Southampton
7 October 2001 sailed Masirah RASed with several RN and RFA until 13 October 2001 berthed alongside Salalah – Berth 30
15 October 2001 sailed Salalah and RASed with several RN and RFA ships until 21 October 2001
22 and 23 October 2001 maintenance days
24 October 2001 sailed to RAS with other RN, RFA, RCN and US ships – berthed at Dubai on 4 November 2001
15 November 2001 sailed Dubai to RAS with various RN and RFA ships returning to Dubai on 24 November 2001
29 November 2001 sailed Dubai to RAS with various RN, RAN and USSN ships to Bahrain arriving on 7 December 2001
8 December 2001 sailed Bahrain to RAS with HMS Kent. Anchored off Qatar on 11 December 2001
12 December 2001 sailed Qatar to Dubai arriving on 15 December 2001
16 December 2001 to 2 January 2002 self maintenance period at Dubai
3 January 2002 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 7 January 2002
8 January 2002 deployed Dubai to RAS with RFA and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 19 January 2002
18 January 2002 RASed with USS Lake Champlain (CG57)
26 January 2002 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN and other Allied naval units berthing at Port Salalah on 10 February 2002
17 February 2002 deployed Port Salalah to RAS with RN, RFA and other Allied naval units berthing at Salalah on 4 March 2003
14 March 2002 deployed Salalah to RAS with RN and USNS naval units berthing at Fujayrah on 22 March 2002
22 March 2002 sailed Fujayrah to Dubai and then Qatar arriving on 25 March 2002
25 March 2002 sailed Qatar to r/v with HMS Portland returning to Dubai on 28 March 2002
21 April 2002 sailed Dubai – engine trials arriving Bahrain 24 April 2002 returning to Dubai 26 April 2002
27 April 2002 deployed Dubai to RAS with Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 4 May 2002
5 May 2002 deployed Dubai to RAS with HMS Portland anchoring at Wudham Anchorage on 8 May 2002
10 May 2002 deployed Wudam Anchorage to RAS with RN, RCN, RFA, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 19 May 2002
29 May 2002 deployed Dubai to RAS with RCN and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 9 June 2002
11 June 2002 Captain Shaun Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Shaun Jones RFA
14 June 2002 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RFA, RCN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 6 July 2002
16 July 2002 sailed Dubai returning to Dubai long term anchorage on 7 August 2002
10 August 2002 sailed Dubai returning to Dubai long term anchorage on 6 September 2002
September 2002 humanitarian aid – rescued 5 crew from the Guinean cargo ship FALCON which sank in the Indian Ocean while on passage to Iraq with a cargo of sugar and landed them at Dubai. The ship’s crew had a whip round and raised £350 – £70 each for the shipwrecked mariners and also donated clothes and toiletries
23 September 2002 Captain (E) Edward M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 October 2002 sailed Dubai to RAS with RN, RAN and US Naval units arriving Bahrain 9 October 2002
10 October 2002 sailed Bahrain undergoing Operational RAS’s to DUbai arriving 14 October 2002 2002
22 October 2002 sailed Dubai undergoing Operational RAS’s back to Dubai arriving 8 November 2002
13 November 2002 sailed Dubai undergoing Operational RAS’s to Jebal Ali arriving 30 November 2002
7 December 2002 sailed Jebal Ali to Fujaran, UAE to Jebel Ali arriving 14 December 2002
15 December 2002 sailed Fujaran, UAE to Jebal Ali arriving 19 December 2002
19 December 2002 Captain Trevor Iles RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Trevor Iles RFA
30 December 2002 at Jebal Ali
4 January 2003 deployed Jebal Ali to RAS with RN, RCN, RNZN, and US and other Alied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 25 January 2003
15 January 2003 to 12 April 2003 deployed for Operation Telic – the Second Gulf War – along with 13 other RFA’s
25 January 2003 Captain (E) Robert Settle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 January 2003 deployed Jebal Ali to RAS with RN naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 5 February 2003
17 February 2003 deployed Jebal Ali to RAS with RN, RFA, RAN and US naval units berthing at Bahrain on 12 March 2003
17 March 2003 sailed Bahrain to Jebal Ali arriving 19 March 2003
20 March 2003 deployed Jebal Ali returning 6 April 2003
11 April 2003 deployed Jebal Ali returning 25 April 2003
28 April 2003 sailed Jebal Ali to Singapore arriving 12 May 2003 to destore
2 June 2003 commenced refit at Singapore
23 June 2003 Captain Alistair Swatridge RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
11 August 2003 to 12 August 2003 and 17 August 2003 post refit sea trials
8 September 2003 to 10 September 2003 FOST in South China Sea
17 September 2003 deployed Sembawang to RAS with RN, RAN US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 29 September 2003
4 October 2003 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, RAN US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 27 October 2003
28 October 2003 Captain (E) Robert Settle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 November 2003 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, RAN US naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 21 November 2003
25 November 2003 sailed Jebel Ali to Dubai arriving on 27 November 2003
30 November 2003 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RAN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 20 December 2003
3 January 2004 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 20 January 2004
22 January 2004 Captain Robert H Allan OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
28 January 2004 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RAN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Salalah on 22 February 2004
25 February 2004 deployed Salalah to RAS with RN and another Allied naval units berthing at Salalah on 2 March 2004
6 March 2004 deployed Salalah to RAS with RN, RAN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 3 April 2004. Suffered engine defect on 22 March 2004 – stopped for 3 hours while repairs undertaken
15 April 2004 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RNZN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 4 May 2004
14 May 2004 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RNZN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Port Rashid on 10 June 2004 – Took part in exercise Hunjar Hadd between 5 and 9 June 2004
20 June 2004 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Port Rashid, Dubai on 13 July 2004
19 July 2004 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 1 August 2004
6 August 2004 Captain (X) Nigel A Budd RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 10 September 2004
Captain (X) Nigel A Budd RFA
10 August 2004 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 4 September 2004
8 September 2004 Captain R G Ferris OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
15 September 2004 deployed Dubai to RAS with US, USNS and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 9 October 2004
19 September 2004 in the Gulf of Oman RASed with USS Preble (DDG88)
RFA Bayleaf from USS Preble (DDG88)
14 October 2004 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Port Rashid on 2 November 2004
6 November 2004 deployed Port Rashid to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Port Rashid on 24 November 2004
6 December 2004 deployed Port Rashid to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 20 December 2004
8 January 2005 deployed Port Rashid to RAS with RAN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Port Rashid on 24 January 2005
29 January 2005 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RFA Diligence, RFA Fort George twice and US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 23 February 2005
24 February 2005 Captain Peter M Farmer RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
28 February 2005 sailed Dubai to Jebel Ali arriving the same day
1 March 2005 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, RFA, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Port Rashid on 21 March 2005
22 March 2005 Captain W G Tait RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
28 March 2005 at Dubai
4 April 2005 deployed Dubai to RAS with US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 24 April 2005
2 May 2005 deployed Dubai to RAS with US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 25 May 2005
31 May 2005 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RCN, US, USNS and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 18 June 2005
21 June 2005 Captain (E) Robert Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 June 2005 at Dubai
4 July 2005 deployed Dubai to RAS with RCN, RFA, US naval units berthing at Port Rashid on 27 April 2005
28 July 2005 at Dubai
2 August 2005 deployed Dubai to RAS with RCN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Port Rashid on
31 August 2005 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RFA, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 15 September 2005
19 September 2005 Captain (X) Kim Watts RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Kim Watts RFA
6 October 2005 deployed Port Rashid to RAS with RN, RFA, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 26 October 2005
29 October 2005 at Dubai
1 November 2005 deployed Dubai to RAS with Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 20 December 2005
5 January 2006 deployed Dubai to RAS with Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 28 January 2006
4 February 2006 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with US naval units berthing at Port Rashid on 25 February 2006
19 February 2006 in the Persian Gulf RASed with USS Nassau (LHA4) and USS Carter Hall (LSD50)
RFA Bayleaf preparing to RAS with USS Nassau (LHA4)
4 March 2006 deployed Port Rashid to RAS with RN, RFA, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Port Rashid on 25 March 2006
9 April 2006 deployed Port Rashid to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Sembawang on 8 May 2006 for refit
28 August 2006 Captain (X) Kim Watts RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
14 September 2006 sailed Kepple Yard, Singapore for sea trials and then to Sembawang arriving 15 September 2006
19 October 2006 sailed Sembawang, RASed with HMS Sunderland – berthing at Salalah on 9 November 2006
11 November 2006 sailed Salalah to rendevous with RFA Brambleleaf – RASed (dry) with RFA Brambleleaf arriving at Salalah on 18 November 2006
20 November 2006 sailed Salalah to rendevous with RFA Brambleleaf for a pump over and RAS with other Allied ships.
27 November 2006 sailed for the Red Sea to rendevous with MCM Group to RAS with them
11 December 2006 return passage to Muscat arriving on 15 December 2006
16 December 2006 sailed Muscat to Jebel Ali – arrival delayed until 19 December 2006
8 January 2007 loaded cargo at Star Terminal and then deployed to RAS with RN, RAN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 25 January 2007 As part of this deployment on 10 and 20 January 2007 RASed with USS Boxer (LHD4) in the Persian Gulf – Boxer was the flagship for Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group operating in the Persian Gulf conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in support of US 5th Fleet
USS Boxer (LHD4) prepares to RAS with RFA Bayleaf
30 January 2007 loaded cargo at Star Terminal and then deployed to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 19 February 2007
24 February 2007 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RFA, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 13 March 2007
19 March 2007 Captain K Rimell RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
28 March 2007 sailed Dubai to Jebel Ali to load and then deploy to RAS with RN, RFA, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 17 April 2007
23 April 2007 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, RFA, US and Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 7 May 2007
15 May 2007 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, US and French naval units berthing at Dubai on 31 May 2007
14 June 2007 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RAN, US naval units berthing at Dubai on 1 July 2007
7 July 2007 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RAN, US naval units berthing at Dubai on 23 July 2007
27 July 2007 Captain (X) Kim Watts RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
31 August 2007 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RFA, US and Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 25 September 2007 – on 5 September 2007 suffered engine problems resulting in the engines having to be stopped – repaired later in the day.
29 September 2007 deployed Dubai to RAS with US and Allied naval units berthing at Muscat on 23 October 2007
16 October 2007 in the Indian Ocean RASed with USS Porter (DDG78)
27 October 2007 deployed Muscat to RAS with RN, US and Allied naval units berthing at Jebel Ali on 9 November 2007
10 November 2007 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, RFA, US and Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 22 November 2007
28 November 2007 Captain K Rimell RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
8 December 2007 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RFA, RCN, US and Allied naval units berthing alongside at Dubai on 28 December 2007
2 January 2008 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RFA, RCN, US naval units berthing at Dubai on 24 January 2008
23 January 2008 Captain (X) Kim Watts RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
3 February 2008 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RFA, RCN, US naval units berthing at Dubai on 23 February 2008
8 March 2008 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RFA, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 28 March 2008
1 April 2008 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RFA, US and other Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 22 April 2008
27 April 2008 sailed Dubai to RAS with RN, US and other Allied naval units
11 May 2008 transitted the Suez Canal and berthed at Souda Bay, Crete on 14 May 2008
18 May 2008 sailed Souda Bay, Crete to RAS with RN and US naval units and arrived at Portland on 30 May 2008
23 June 2008 sailed Portland to Loch Striven arriving 25 June 2008
26 June 2008 sailed Loch Striven to Gosport arriving 29 June 2008
30 June 2008 commenced duties as FOST tanker in the Plymouth areas
22 August 2008 at Plymouth
28 August 2008 at Devonport
1 September 2008 sailed Plymouth to Gibraltar arriving on 5 September 2008
19 September 2008 sailed Gibraltar to Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty arriving 23 September 2008
24 September 2008 sailed Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty to Loch Striven arriving 29 September 2008
14 October 2008 sailed Loch Striven to Devonport arriving 16 October 2008
27 October 2008 at Devonport
1 November 2008 sailed Devonport to Liverpool
4 November 2008 entered Cammell Laird, Merseyside for refit
March 2009 until 11 April 2009 in No: 5 dock at Birkenhead
7 April 2009 Captain Charles F Simmons RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Charles F Simmons RFA
15 May 2009 Captain (E) Robert Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 June 2009 sailed Birkenhead on completion of refit to Devonport arriving 9 June 2009
15 June 2009 at Devonport
18 June 2009 sailed Devonport to Loch Striven arriving 20 June 2009
27 June 2009 undertook various trials in the Loch Striven area
July 2009 berthed at the Admiralty Pier at Loch Striven
17 July 2009 Captain (X) Nigel Budd RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
3 August 2009 arrived at Portland
27 August 2009 alongside at Portland
30 August 2009 sailed Portland
3 and 4 September 2009 RASed with RFA Wave Ruler
5 September 2009 on ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
18 September 2009 engaged with FOST to 9 October 2009 at Portland
18 October 2009 sailed Portland to Soudha Bay, Crete arriving on 29 October 2009
31 October 2009 sailed Soudha Bay, Crete to Port Said arriving 2 November 2009
3 November 2009 in transit Suez Canal and then sailed to Bahrain arriving 18 November 2009
21 November 2009 deployed Bahrain on various duties returning to Jebel Ali 8 December 2009
15 December 2009 deployed Jebel Ali on various duties returning to Dubai 21 December 2009
28 December 2009 deployed Dubai on various duties returning there on 28 January 2010
January 2010 Gulf Tanker deployment
29 January 2010 Captain (E) Robert Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 February 2010 deployed Dubai on various duties returning to Bahrain 25 February 2010
3 March 2010 deployed Bahrain on various duties returning to Dubai 6 April 2010
13 April 2010 berthed at Dubai
21 April 2010 Captain Stephen P Donkersly RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
5 May 2010 deployed Dubai to RAS with RN, RAN, US and various Allied naval units berthing at Bahrain on 19 June 2010
25 June 2010 deployed Bahrain to RAS with RN, RAN, US and various Allied naval units berthing at Dubai on 17 July 2010
30 July 2010 sailed Dubai to Jebel Ali arriving the same day
31 July 2010 deployed Jebel Ali to RAS with RN, RFA and US ships returning to Baharin on 21 August 2010
30 August 2010 sailed Barhain
1 September 2010 RASed RFA Lyme Bay
11 September 2010 berthed at Bahain
19 September 2010 deployed Bahrain on various duties returning to Dubai on 12 October 2010
20 October 2010 Captain Charles F Simmons RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
22 October 2010 at Dubai
25 October 2010 deployed Dubai on various duties returning to Bahrain on 20 November 2010
23 November 2010 Captain (E) Robert Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 November 2010 sailed Bahrain to Jebel Ali arriving the next day
28 November 2010 deployed Jebel Ali on various duties arriving at Dubai 20 December 2010
4 January 2011 deployed Dubai on various duties returning there on 23 January 2011
27 January 2011 deployed Dubai on various duties returning there on 7 February 2011
13 February 2011 sailed Dubai
5 March 2011 transit Suez Canal
6 March 2011 sailed Port Said to Barcelona arriving 12 March 2011
17 March 2011 sailed Barcelona to Portland arriving 23 March 2011
25 March 2011 sailed Portland to Devonport arriving 26 March 2011 to destore
14 April 2011 sailed Devonport to Portsmouth arriving 15 April 2011
RFA Bayleaf entering Portsmouth Harbour on 15 April 2011 to be laid up