RFA Olna (1)
Official Number: 146149
Class: 10,000t OL CLASS Tanker
Pennant No: X47
Laid down: 14 June 1920
Builder: Devonport Dockyard
Launched: 21 June 1921
Into Service: 10 October 1921
Out of service: 18 May 1941
Fate: Bombed and later scrapped
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: Of the six ships in this Class, two of them were built by HM Dockyards to keep the Dockyards busy after the end of WW1 in accordance with the Colwyn Committee‘s recommendations. Two other similar ships were built for Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London at the same time – MUREX at Portsmouth and NASSA at Devonport – and after producing these two well-built ships, the finances and materials appeared to be short and the two built for the RFA were supposedly built with odds and ends and auxiliaries taken from outmoded warships. With their cheap and second-hand fittings they had some heavy maintenance bills, which they paid for by spending most of their lives on charter. MUREX and NASSA were both broken up at Osaka in 1936
5 May 1920 the Cabinet Intelligence Report on Naval Matters for the week ending 1 May 1920 reported that –
14 June 1920 laid down
10 May 1921 the Western Morning News reported –
21 June 1921 launched by HM Dockyard, Devonport as Yard Nr 1 named OLNA (1). Named after the Olna Firth in the Shetland Islands. The launch and naming ceremony was performed by Mrs Underhill wife of Rear Admiral Edward Underhill, Superintendent of the Dockyard
RFA Olna (1) slides down the slipway
23 June 1921 the Times newspaper reported –
26 July 1921 Mr Henry Baker DSO RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Henry Baker DSO RFA
30 September 1921 at Devonport visited by Rear Admiral the Hon Algeron D E H Boyle MVO the Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport
10 October 1921 completed and placed under initial management of Davies & Newman Ltd, London
15 October 1921 completed preliminary sea trials
25 October 1921 sailed for Port Said
27 October 1921 the Western Morning News reported –
14 November 1921 sailed Suez for Rangoon, Burma
7 December 1921 at Rangoon, Burma
21 February 1922 sailed Suez for Abadan
7 May 1922 sailed from Devonport
23 May 1922 sailed Aden for Abadan
19 June 1922 was at Port Said this day when on passage to Devonport
1 July 1922 berthed at Devonport from Abadan
16 July 1922 sailed Devonport
21 September 1922 sailed from Suez for Abadan
10 March 1923 arrived at and later sailed from Port Said for Abadan and Singapore
12 June 1923 at Swansea
16 June 1923 Captain Percival Skone-Rees RFA appointed as Master
Captain P Skone-Rees RFA
3 August 1923 arrived at Plymouth from Swansea later sailing the same day for Tampico
24 August 1923 reported that she had taken the British steamer G R Crow in tow at 25°N 93°W as she had her boilers out of order. The tow had to be abandoned when the hawser parted
22 September 1923 at Gibraltar
21 November 1923 the Admiralty Fuel and Stores Officer, Singapore advertised in the local newspapers –
8 January 1924 at Mary’s Hospital, Hamburg Able Seaman Mathew Reville discharged dead with a fractured skull
9 January 1924 berthed at Devonport from Hamburg sailing later the same day for Tampico passing the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
6 February 1924 sailed Tampico for Antwerp
29 February 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal station on the Lizard sailing east
1 April 1924 arrived at Bermuda when on passage from Antwerp to Tampico
22 April 1924 sailed from Bermuda
30 April 1924 sailed Tampico for Rotterdam
21 June 1924 arrived Tampico
21 July 1924 berthed at King George’s Dock, Hull from Antwerp
7 August 1924 sailed Hull for New York
22 August 1924 arrived at New York
14 October 1924 sailed from Mexican port for Baltimore
24 January 1925 at New Orleans
24 February 1925 passed the Lloyds Signal station on the Lizard sailing east
25 February 1925 arrived at Southampton from New Orleans
26 March 1925 passed Key West
18 April 1925 sailed Southampton for Aruba
23 August 1925 Captain James D Ashworth RFA appointed as Master
Captain James D Ashworth RFA
11 September 1925 arrived Port Said from Rosyth while on passage to Abadan
11 November 1925 arrived at the River Tyne from Grangemouth
26 November 1925 passed Gebrotte for Abadan
4 December 1925 arrived Port Said from the River Tyne while on passage to Abadan
10 December 1925 passed Perim
2 January 1926 berthed at Kings Dock, Swansea
28 January 1926 sailed from Swansea to Abadan
2 April 1926 berthed at Grangemouth from Abadan with a cargo of crude oil
10 June 1926 berthed at Grangemouth from Abadan with a cargo of crude oil
15 June 1926 sailed Grangemouth for Trinidad in ballast
27 July 1926 arrived at Glasgow from Trinidad
9 August 1926 sailed Devonport
17 August 1926 berthed at Malta from Devonport
10 September 1926 at 26º 24N 55º 52E Third Engineer Officer Walter Leslie Evans RFA discharged dead – natural causes – buried at sea
24 November 1926 arrived at Kings Dock, Swansea
8 December 1926 sailed from Kings Dock, Swansea
7 January 1927 sailed Abadan for Malta
6 February 1927 at Malta
12 February 1927 arrived at Alexandria
26 February 1927 sailed Alexandria for Abadan
15 March 1927 sailed Abadan for Port Said
31 March 1927 sailed from Port Said
29 April 1927 sailed Abadan for Trincomali
26 May 1927 sailed Abadan
25 June 1927 sailed Abadan
17 July 1927 at Malta
21 July 1927 sailed from Malta for Abadan
29 August 1927 sailed Trincomali, Ceylon for Rangoon, Burma
19 September 1927 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
30 September 1927 at Abadan
2 October 1927 sailed Abadan for Portsmouth
7 October 1927 Captain Richard D Williams RFA appointed as Master
Captain Richard D Williams RFA
31 October 1927 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
2 November 1927 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
8 November 1927 at Chatham
16 November 1927 sailed Sheerness for Curaçao
4 December 1927 arrived at Curaçao
3 June 1928 sailed from Las Piedras for New York
11 June 1928 arrived at New York from Las Piedras
31 August 1928 at Long Island Hospital, New York – Fireman Arthur Costa discharged dead after suffering with a fractured skull, a fractured right shoulder and fractured ribs
7 January 1929 passed Lloyd’s Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound from Pembroke Dock, later berthed at Devonport and Captain James D Ashworth RFA was appointed as Master
12 June 1929 sailed from Grangemouth
27 June 1929 passed Lloyd’s Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
12 July 1929 arrived on the Tees from New Orleans via Devonport
15 July 1929 arrived at Plymouth
22 July 1929 ss Vimeria with a cargo of gas oil hit an iceberg off the Grand Banks. Taken in tow by RFA OLNA (1) and towed towards Halifax – a distance of over 700 miles in five days. The tow parted on three occasions. After repairs the Vimeria sailed for Rotterdam where she caught fire killing 15 of her crew
ss Vimeira
28 July 1929 arrived at Halifax NS towing the ss Vimeira
1 August 1929 the Dundee Evening Telegraph reported –
8 September 1929 at Ostermoor, Keil Canal
18 September 1929 the Yorkshire Post newspaper reported on the towing of the ss Vimeira (see above) –
27 September 1929 arrived Plymouth from Antwerp
30 October 1929 at Tampico, Florida, USA Captain William C Meikle RFA discharged dead suffering from Malaria
Captain William C Meikle RFA
13 November 1929 Captain Percival Skone Rees RFA appointed as Master
14 November 1929 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
21 December 1929 in W/T communications with the Cable & Wireless Station on Bermuda
28 February 1930 anchored in Stokes Bay, Gosport
8 May 1930 arrived at Suez
17 May 1930 arrived at Gibraltar from Abadan with a cargo of oil for the Naval Base
24 June 1930 sailed from Los Angles for Devonport
28 July 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
3 August 1930 sailed from Falmouth
8 October 1930 arrived at Devonport from Los Angles
13 October 1930 arrived at Port Victoria, Sheerness
15 October 1930 Mr J S Harrison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 November 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
15 November 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
12 January 1931 arrived at Devonport from Abadan
20 January 1931 Mr Henry Baker DSO RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 March 1931 sailed from Devonport for Falmouth
27 April 1931 arrived Galveston, Texas from Falmouth
8 June 1931 at Montreal, Canada
21 July 1931 sailed Houston, Texas for Montreal, Canada
2 September 1931 sailed from Montreal. Canada
26 September 1931 due at Montreal, Canada
24 October 1931 struck by s.s. Cairnross while at anchor in St. Lawrence River in thick fog having arrived loaded from Port Arthur. RFA Olna (1) damaged – proceeding to Montreal and arrived 25 October 1931 for survey
s.s. Cairnross
12 December 1931 at Sunderland
30 December 1931 in dry dock at Sunderland
4 January 1932 in refit at Greenwell’s Quay, Sunderland
28 January 1932 due at Cartagena, Spain
30 March 1932 arrived at Milford Haven
10 April 1932 when on passage to Port Arthur, Texas reported she was 257 nmiles SSW of Vanentia
28 April 1932 arrived at Port Arthur, Texas sailing later in the day for Montreal, Canada
11 May 1932 arrived at Quebec, Canada
22 June 1932 berthed at Port Arthur, Texas
24 June 1932 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Montreal, Canada
8 July 1932 sailed Montreal, Canada
26 August 1932 on passage to Port Arthur, Texas
17 September 1932 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Montreal, Canada
21 October 1932 sailed Texas City for Gibraltar
12 December 1932 passed Malta
30 December 1932 at Belfast
4 January 1933 sailed Belfast for Las Palmas
3 March 1933 arrived at the River Wear – Captain P Skone Rees RFA appointed as Master and Mr H Baker DSO RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 March 1933 in South Docks, Sunderland
30 March 1933 sailed Sunderland for Devonport and Las Piedras
31 March 1933 passed St Catherines Point sailing west
18 April 1933 sailed Las Piedras for Trinidad
9 May 1933 passed passed St Catherines Point sailing east
10 May 1933 off Caister, Norfolk
24 May 1933 reported she was 200 nmiles SSW of Land End
2 June 1933 on passage to Trinidad
27 June 1933 passed St. Abbs Head
2 July 1933 reported she was 10 nmiles NW of Cape Wrath
23 July 1933 sailed Aruba for Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
9 August 1933 arrived at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
10 August 1933 sailed from Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot for Aruba
12 October 1933 arrived at Portland
13 December 1933 arrived Avonmouth from Trinidad
19 December 1933 at Devonport
4 January 1934 by wireless reported she was 25 nmiles S.W. of Lands End while on passage to Aruba and Trinidad
28 January 1934 sailed Trinidad
8 February 1934 by wireless reported she was 1,300 nmiles S.W. Valentia
9 February 1934 by wireless reported she was 870 nmiles W. Valentia
15 February 1934 arrived at Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde
17 February 1934 sailed the River Clyde
19 February 1934 arrived Manchester
9 March 1934 at Manchester
16 March 1934 sailed Eastham for Aruba
28 April 1934 sailed Old Kilpatrick, River Clyde for Trinidad
20 May 1934 arrived at Manchester
22 May 1934 sailed Manchester for Aruba
23 May 1934 by wireless reported she was 220 nmiles S.W. Valentia when on passage to Aruba
29 June 1934 berthed at Old Kilpatrick
4 July 1934 berthed at Manchester
9 July 1934 sailed Manchester
13 July 1934 was in wireless contact with Valentia when on passage to Aruba
26 July 1934 at Aruba
31 August 1934 Mr Joseph S Harrison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 September 1934 passed Perim when on passage to Abadan
14 September 1934 sailed from Abadan
1 October 1934 st Singapore
12 November 1934 at Suez
16 December 1934 arrived at London from Constantza
23 December 1934 arrived Greenwell’s Dock, Wearmouth from Sheerness in ballast
21 January 1935 sailed Plymouth passing the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
17 February 1935 sailed Houston for Port de Bouc
9 March 1935 passed Gibraltar
29 March 1935 sailed from Gibraltar for Port Arthur
19 April 1935 from Gibraltar arrived Beaumont
30 May 1935 at Quebec, Canada when on passage to Montreal
31 May 1935 sailed from Montreal, Canada for Port Arthur
22 August 1935 sailed from Quebec, Canada for Port Arthur
5 September 1935 at Port Arthur
19 September 1935 sailed from Quebec, Canada
18 October 1935 sailed from Quebec, Canada for Houston, Texas
13 December 1935 arrived at Portishead from Trinidad
17 December 1935 passed the Lloyds SIgnal Station on St Catherines Point sailing east bound on passage to Rosyth
22 December 1935 arrived at the Sunderland from Rosyth
23 December 1935 berthed at Greenwells Quay, Sunderland
9 January 1936 berthed at Greenwells Quay, Sunderland
10 January 1936 sailed from Sunderland
17 March 1936 at Trinidad
19 March 1936 sailed from Trinidad
15 April 1936 passed Dungeness
31 May 1936 arrived at Manchester
14 July 1936 Captain Reginald J Harland RFA appointed as Master
30 August 1936 arrived at Eastham
8 September 1936 at Manchester ship canal Greaser John Newby Power discharged dead by drowning – no evidence as to how he entered the water
28 September 1936 passed Gibraltar when on passage to Abadan
13 November 1936 sailed from Abadan for Singapore
11 December 1936 on passage to Singapore
16 January 1937 passed Gibraltar sailing west
2 February 1937 sailed Plymouth for Abadan
15 March 1937 sailed from Aden for Abadan
7 October 1937 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
9 October 1937 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
26 October 1937 Captain Isaac Evans RFA appointed as Master
6 November 1937 sailed from the River Wear to Sheerness in ballast
7 November 1937 transferred to Admiralty management and manning as an RFA
10 November 1937 sailed Sheerness
16 November 1937 berthed at Gibraltar from Sheerness to discharge
2 December 1937 sailed Aden for Abadan
2 March 1938 sailed Aden for Abadan
3 May 1938 arrived Auckland, New Zealand
10 May 1938 sailed Auckland, New Zealand for Yokohama
27 July 1938 arrived Garden Island, Sydney, NSW, Australia from Abadan to discharge
29 July 1938 sailed Garden Island, Sydney for Abadan to load
5 August 1938 passed Thursday Island when on passage to Abadan
November 1938 undertook trials with bow protection gear – minesweeping paravane
16 November 1938 at Sunderland Fireman Lam Fatt discharged dead – natural causes
21 November 1938 the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail newspaper reported –
2 December 1938 arrived at Sheerness
25 January 1939 ran aground on Alphee Shoal near Batticaloa, Ceylon while on passage to Trincomalee towing a battle target and with a cargo of fuel oil. She managed to back off after some hours but had badly damaged her keel and had fouled her screw with the towing wire. She was towed, leaking, to the outer approaches of Trincomalee by the cruiser HMS MANCHESTER and a boom defence vessel of the BAR Class. Her cargo was taken to the oil depot in several trips by RFA SLAVOL after which she sailed for Bombay for extensive repairs and these took several months
HMS MANCHESTER
27 January 1939 the Yorkshire Evening Post reported –
3 April 1939 arrived at Sunderland from Bombay for refit
16 May 1939 Mr William C Elliott RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 May 1939 at T W Greenwells, Sunderland still under going a refit
11 June 1939 Captain Douglas N J Williams RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Douglas N J Williams RFA
16 June 1939 arrived the River Wear sailing the same day
3 September 1939 at Portsmouth on the outbreak of WW2
15 September 1939 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard
22 September 1939 sailed from Simonstown Dockyard
25 September 1939 whilst under the orders of the cruiser HMS AJAX she grounded but no damage was recorded
30 January 1940 sailed Mauritus to Port Victoria, Seychelles arriving 4 February 1940
6 February 1940 sailed Seychelles to Mauritius arriving 11 February 1940
19 April 1940 sailed Mauritius to Aden arriving 1 May 1940
2 May 1940 sailed Aden to Suez arriving 9 May 1940
18 May 1940 arrived Alexandria from Suez
20 July 1940 at Alexandria with HMAS VENDETTA alongside to refuel
HMAS VENDETTA
29 July 1940 at Alexandria with HMAS VENDETTA alongside to refuel
3 August 1940 at Alexandria with HMAS VENDETTA alongside to refuel
13 August 1940 at Alexandria with HMAS VENDETTA alongside to refuel
29 October 1940 sailed Alexandria together with RFA BRAMBLELEAF (1) with the armed boarding vessels CHAKLA and FIONA, minesweeper FAREHAM, net layer PROTECTOR and escorted by anti-aircraft cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY and destroyers VAMPIRE, VOYAGER, WATERHEN, WRYNECK
RFA Officers and some crew members – believed taken in Crete in 1941
1 November 1940 arrived Suda Bay, Crete protected by HMS’s CALCUTTA and WRYNECK
2 November 1940 sailed Suda Bay, Crete for Piraeus, Greece protected by HMS’s WRYNECK and FAREHAM
3 November 1940 at Piraeus, Greece the Ship’s Cook Hing Yee discharged dead – he died from natural causes – heart attack
7 November 1940 at Suda Bay, Crete with HMAS SYDNEY alongside to refuel
13 November 1940 at Alexandria with HMAS VENDETTA alongside to refuel
17 November 1940 at Alexandria with HMAS VENDETTA alongside to refuel
22 December 1940 at Suda Bay, Crete with HMS GLOUCESTER alongside to refuel
31 December 1940 at Sunda Bay, Crete
12 January 1941 at Suda Bay, Crete with HMAS VENDETTA alongside to refuel
9 February 1941 at Suda Bay, Crete
18 February 1941 at Suda Bay, Crete
26 March 1941 at Salamis Roads HMAS PERTH alongside to refuel
27 March 1941 at Salamis Bay with HMAS VENDETTA alongside to refuel
5 April 1941 at Piraeus, Greece HMAS PERTH alongside to refuel
18 May 1941 again at Suda Bay, Crete she was bombed by German aircraft and was set on fire. She was beached nearby but unfortunately burnt out. One of her Ratings was injured and he died from these injuries the following month
1945 found as a wreck at Scarramanga after the War, fit only for scrap
RFA Olna (2)
Previous name: Hyalina, HMS Olna:
Official Number: 180853
Class: Fleet Oiler
Pennant No: X116 / B516 / A216
Laid down:
Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend.
Launched: 28 December 1944
Into Service: 27 April 1945
Out of service: November 1966
Fate: Scrapped
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data:
In 1944, following the success of the American T-2 tankers, the Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd ordered 3 turbo-electric tankers of approximately 18000 tonnes from Tyneside builders. The first two of these were taken over by the Admiralty as the creation of the British Pacific Fleet Train had heralded the need for faster tankers to replace the older and slower vessels then in service. The problem was to find the capacity to build these ships. The position was unacceptable and to overcome it, compromises were reached and the two Shell tankers became stopgaps. The first of these, named HYALINA,was modified for Fleet Support Duties with the building of an OAS platform above her Upper Deck on the starboard side and the provision of state of the art OAS equipment. She commissioned as HMS OLNA,with a Naval Crew of 183 and was extensively armed with 1 x 4” gun aft, 4 x 40mm Bofors, 8 x 20mm Oerlikons on sponsors, Upper Deck stowage for depth charges on the port side, 60 lb of protective plating on the deck and side in the area of the petrol storage tanks, degaussing equipment and paravane gear. Initially it was not intended to retain her after the end of the War, but as she was so advanced, successful and much-needed, the Treasury approved her purchase in 1946. In the meantime her sister named HELICINA, which was to have been renamed HMS OLEANDER had not the War finished before her completion, was returned to her owners. HMS OLNA was converted to Merchant Ship status in 1946 and was transferred to the RFA. She was constantly used for fuelling-at-sea experiments and the ship itself and her RAS rigs underwent many modifications during her long career. The third ship in the series was not launched until 1948, also named HYALINA
28 December 1944 Launched by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd at their Neptune Yard, Wallsend as Yard Nr 1689 named HYALINA for the Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London. She was taken over by the Admiralty before completion and was modified for OAS duties.
27 April 1945 Commissioned as HMS OLNA for service with the British Pacific Fleet Train with a Naval Crew numbering 183, commanded by a Lieutenant Commander RNR
May 1945 arrived Scapa Flow for RAS trials prior to deployment in the Pacific
29 June 1945 sailed Curaçao for Balboa
2 July 1945 sailed Balboa to Eniwetok
26 July 1945 RASed with HMS KING GEORGE V abeam
31 July 1945 at 0900 hours TF 37 RV’ed with TU 112 which consisted of oilers HMS OLNA (later to become RFA OLNA (2)), RFA’s WAVE GOVERNOR and WAVE KING and the MV CARELIA, stores supply ships MV GLENARTNEY and MV CORINDA, ammunition issuing ship MV ROBERT MAERSK, escort carriers HMS’s CHASER, RULER and SPEAKER, the corvette converted to a radar and radio maintenance ship HMNZS ARBUTUS, escorted by destroyers NORMAN and NEPAL, sloops CRANE, PHEASANT, WOODCOCK and REDPOLE, frigates ODZANI and DERG and minesweeper HMAS PIRIE, in replenishment area, BRITISH TIZZY. At 1000 hours replenishment commenced. The weather in the area was less than ideal, with a heavy swell running caused by a succession of typhoons to the east of the area. However, because the British were now mastering replenishment at sea (RAS) the weather did not affect the operation as much as it would have done just a few weeks ago. HMS KING GEORGE V again refuelled by the abeam method and was able to take on fuel at 840 tons per hour. (KGV maximum fuel capacity 4100 tons, average capacity 3886 tons)
August 1945 Captain P L Williams RD RNR in command
8 August 1945 RAS’ed astern with HMAS BURNIE
HMAS Burnie
11 August 1945 RAS’ed astern with HMAS’s GERALDTON, NAPIER and IPSWICH
13 August 1945 as HMS OLNA and with RFA WAVE EMPEROR provided last RAS during War time to the British Pacific Fleet to HMS’s RULER, PHESANT, FINDHORN, USK, BARLE and CRANE plus units of the Australian and US Navies
23 August 1945 report published on the manning, decommissioning and converting to RFA manning and transferring her to the Director of Stores
26 August 1945 at Leyte refuelled HMAS STUART
14 September 1945 at Subic Bay refuelled alongside HMAS’s GOULBURN and PIRIE
11 September 1945 at Hong Kong
3 October 1945 records show that a decision of Admiralty tanker requirements reviewed the future of OLNA (2) and her sister OLEANDER (which never entered service)
6 October 1945 at Subic Bay
14 October 1945 at the Yangtze River Mouth, China together with USS Cony
23 October 1945 arrived at Subic Bay
25 October 1945 sailed Subic Bay for Manus arriving 1 November 1945
8 November 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands for Morotai arriving 11 November 1945
13 November 1945 sailed Morotai to Singapore and area and then onto Colombo, Ceylon arriving 29 November 1945
15 December 1945 sailed Colombo, Ceylon to Abadan arriving 22 December 1945
25 December 1945 sailed Abadan to Port Said arriving 5 January 1946
5 January 1946 sailed Port Said, passed Gibraltar 22 January 1946 to the River Tyne arriving 28 January 1946
10 January 1946 Treasury approval obtained for her formal transfer to Admiralty ownership
28 January 1946 at Swan Hunter, Tyne for docking ,repairs and alteration to Merchant Ship status.
1 February 1946 Mr Mortimer J Lawrence DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Mortimer J Lawrence DSC RFA
20 March 1946 transferred to the RFA with a crew of just 77, name now RFA OLNA
© IWM (FL 16970)
1 April 1946 Captain Stanley G Kent OBE RFA appointed as Master
Captain Stanley G Kent OBE RFA
7 May 1946 ran trials off the River Tyne returning the next day
13 May 1946 caused damaged to The Commission Quay, River Tyne, North Shields while berthing.
14 May 1946 sailed the River Tyne, passed Gibraltar 18 May 1946, anchored at Suez 25 May 1946, to Aden 28 May 1946 to Abadan arriving 3 June 1946
7 June 1946 sailed Abadan to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 14 June 1946
15 June 1946 sailed Colombo, Ceylon to Singapore arriving 20 June 1946
7 July 1946 arrived at Bombay from Singapore
24 August 1946 sailed Bombay to Abadan
29 August 1946 ran aground in the Abadan River. Refloated 2 September 1946
4 September 1946 at Muscat having arrived from Abadan
7 September 1946 at Aden
10 September 1946 sailed Aden for Abadan arriving 16 September 1946
16 September 1946 sailed Abadan to Colombo arriving 25 September 1946
6 October 1946 at Port Darwin, NT, Australia
9 October 1946 sailed Port Darwin to Port Moresby
14 October 1946 sailed Port Moresby to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 25 October 1946
23 October 1946 at sea Fireman Oosman Ismail discharged dead. Believed drowned by jumping over the side
26 October 1946 sailed Colombo, Ceylon to Abadan arriving 2 November 1946
14 November 1946 sailed Abadan passing Aden on 21 November 1946 for Suez
23 November 1946 developed leak in port main condenser
25 November 1946 at Port Said sailing on 30 November 1946 to Abadan arriving 9 December 1946
10 December 1946 sailed Abadan to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 17 December 1946
18 December 1946 sailed Colombo, Ceylon to Singapore arriving 23 December 1946
7 January 1947 at Abadan
10 February 1947 sailed Cape Town, South Africa for Abadan
26 February 1947 sailed from Abadan
4 March 1947 at Aden
17 March 1947 passed Lloyd’s Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south
7 April 1947 at Abadan
20 April 1947 sailed Port Said
1 May 1947 at Sheerness
27 May 1947 in refit by Barclay, Currie & Co at Stobcross Quay on the River Clyde
9 June 1947 Captain H M Sinclair RFA appointed as Master
22 June 1947 Mr Harold M Pearson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
11 August 1947 sailed Curaçao for LEFO
21 August 1947 passed Lloyd’s Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
16 September 1947 passed Lloyd’s Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
21 November 1947 passed the Lloyd’s Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south
6 March 1948 berthed at Saltend on the Humber with 15,000 tons of FFO from Abadan
27 May 1948 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound for Sheerness
4 June 1948 passed Lloyd’s Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
30 August 1948 passed Flamborough Head sailing north bound
31 August 1948 arrived at the River Tyne from Sheerness – the Shields Daily News reported –
3 September 1948 berthed at the Admiralty Tier, Hebburn on Tyne. Captain William B Browne OBE RFA appointed as Master
6 September 1948 Mr Alexander B McIntyre RD RFA (Commander (E) RNR (ret)) RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer – vessel still berthed at the Admiralty Tier, Hebburn on Tyne
Chief Engineer Officer Alexander B McIntyre RD RFA
15 September 1948 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
24 September 1948 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
28 September 1948 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
2 October 1948 berthed at Swan Hunter Walker, River Tyne
6 October 1948 berthed at Swan Hunter Walker, River Tyne
13 October 1948 berthed at Swan Hunter Walker, River Tyne
16 October 1948 berthed at Swan Hunter Walker, River Tyne
2 November 1948 berthed at Swan Hunter Walker, River Tyne
5 November 1948 berthed at Swan Hunter Walker, River Tyne
16 November 1948 berthed at Swan Hunter Walker, River Tyne
18 November 1948 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
24 January 1949 arrived at Aden
28 January 1949 sailed Aden for Abadan
1 February 1949 arrived Abadan
3 February 1949 sailed Abadan
12 February 1949 arrived at Suez
14 February 1949 arrived at Port Said
21 February 1949 sailed from Port Said
26 February 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing westbound
8 March 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
13 March 1949 arrived at Port Said
22 March 1949 arrived at Abadan
24 March 1949 sailed Abadan for Bombay
16 April 1949 arrived Chowder Bay, Mosman, NSW, Australia from Abadan to discharge.
20 April 1949 sailed for Abadan
9 May 1949 arrived at Abadan
11 May 1949 sailed Abadan for the UK
18 May 1949 passed Aden
21 May 1949 arrived at Suez
27 May 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Sheerness
5 June 1949 sailed Sheerness for Falmouth
16 June 1949 while on passage from Falmouth to Abadan passed Ushant this day sailing south
19 June 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
23 June 1949 arrived at Port Said
24 June 1949 sailed from Suez
2 July 1949 berthed at Abadan
3 July 1949 sailed Abadan
16 July 1949 arrived at Suez
22 July 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
26 July 1949 berthed at Saltend, on the Humber from Abadan and Captain Thomas H Card OBE RFA appointed as Master
1 August 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
6 August 1949 arrived at Port Said
7 August 1949 sailed from Suez
27 August 1949 arrived at Suez
5 September 1949 sailed Port Said
14 September 1949 Mr Alexander B McIntyre RD (Commander (E) RNR (ret)) RFA appointed again as Chief Engineer Officer
20 September 1949 passed Gibraltar sailing east
29 November 1949 arrived at Hebburn on Tyne from Sheerness
10 December 1949 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne in refit
29 December 1949 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne in refit
30 December 1949 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne in refit
9 January 1950 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne in refit
11 January 1950 berthed on the River Tyne in refit
13 January 1950 berthed at Swan Hunter (Wallsend) in refit
21 February 1950 sailed from Abadan for Sydney, NSW
16 March 1950 Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer David C Leathley RFA
13 June 1950 passed Dover sailing west bound
21 June 1950 arrived at Port Said
15 July 1950 sailed Banar Mashur for La Plata
29 September 1950 passed Dover sailing west bound
13 October 1950 sailed Suez
24 October 1950 sailed Abadan
30 October 1950 arrived at Bombay
4 November 1950 sailed Colombo, Ceylon
15 November 1950 arrived at Freemantle, Australia from Abadan
18 November 1950 sailed Freemantle, Australlia for Colombo, Ceylon
26 November 1950 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Abadan
3 December 1950 arrived at Abadan
6 December 1950 sailed from Abadan for Trincomalee, Ceylon
19 December 1950 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
31 December 1950 arrived at Abadan
2 January 1951 sailed Abadan for Aden
13 January 1951 sailed Aden for Abadan
21 January 1951 sailed from Abadan for the UK
23 January 1951 sailed Shat el Arab bar
31 January 1951 arrived at Suez
1 February 1951 Mr William J Brown OBE DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 February 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
21 February 1951 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
22 February 1951 berthed at TIC Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
6 March 1951 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne
10 March 1951 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne
14 March 1951 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne and Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer David C Leathley RFA
16 March 1951 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne
19 March 1951 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne
6 April 1951 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne
10 April 1951 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne
20 April 1951 berthed at Swan Hunter, Wallsend, River Tyne
30 April 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
5 May 1951 arrived at Port Said
17 May 1951 sailed Abadan for Trincomalee, Ceylon
25 May 1951 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
28 May 1951 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
4 June 1951 arrived at Abadan
22 June 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound for Invergordon
19 July 1951 sailed from Suez
31 July 1951 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon for Singapore
7 August 1951 sailed from Singapore for Trincomalee, Ceylon
15 August 1951 sailed Trincomalee, Ceylon
11 September 1951 arrived at Singapore
26 September 1951 sailed from Bahrein for Trincomalee, Ceylon
7 October 1951 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
5 November 1951 sailed from Bombay
10 November 1951 sailed from Bahrein for Trincomalee, Ceylon
22 November 1951 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
29 November 1951 arrived at Bahrein
1 December 1951 sailed Bahrein for Trincomalee, Ceylon
9 December 1951 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
18 December 1951 arrived Bahrein
21 December 1951 at sea at 26°35.30N 55°39.30E Fireman Mohamed Sab Hossien Mea discharged dead having suffered pneumonia and heart failure. Buried at sea.
1 January 1952 arrived at Singapore
30 January 1952 arrived Sydney, NSW, Australia from Singapore
RFA Olna (2) alongside at Sydney, NSW on 31 January 1952
5 February 1952 sailed Sydney, NSW, Australia for Bahrein
19 February 1952 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon when on passage to Bahrein
25 February 1952 arrived Bahrein
28 February 1952 sailed from Bahrein for Singapore
29 March 1952 sailed from Mena Al Ahmadi
2 May 1952 arrived River Tyne and Captain Cyril F Cunningham RFA appointed as Master
Captain Cyril F Cunningham RFA
21 May 1952 berthed at Swan Hunter Walker, River Tyne
23 June 1952 sailed from the River Tyne on trials
September 1952 took part in Operation Mainbrace involving US and RN units in a major NATO naval exercise in the Northern North Sea and the Artic
19 May 1953 arrived at the River Tyne from Rotterdam berthing on the Admiralty Quay
20 May 1953 engaged officers at the South Shields Shipping Office
28 May 1953 still berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
15 June 1953 took part in the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead along with other RFA‘s in Row H
20 June 1953 Captain Cyril F Cunningham RFA appointed as Master and Mr David C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 July 1953 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s ARNDALE & WAVE VICTOR
11 July 1953 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s ARNDALE & WAVE VICTOR
14 July 1953 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA ARNDALE
21 July 1953 Mr H C A Brain RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 July 1953 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA ARNDALE
11 August 1953 still at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA’s ARNDALE and ROBERT DUNDAS
22 August 1953 still at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA DINGLEDALE
3 September 1953 still at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit together with RFA DINGLEDALE
5 September 1953 sailed River Tyne for Invergordon
September 1953 took part in Exercise Mariner
15 May 1954 involved in a collision with HMS BULWALK while RASing in the English Channel
HMS BULWALK
23 June 1954 Captain William W Peddle RFA appointed as Master
Captain William W Peddle RFA
5 August 1954 berthed this day at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne for refit – reported in the Shields Daily News also of this day
October 1954 took part in supporting the Home Fleet in Exercises ‘Morning Mist’ and ‘Polar Mist’ (convoy exercises from Invergordon to Norway)
3 October 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing southbound – signalled she was heading for the Isle of Grain
19 October 1954 berthed on the River Tyne at No: 2 Tier together with RFA WAVE MASTER
20 October 1954 discharged officers at the Newcastle Shipping Office
26 October 1954 berthed at the Admiralty Quay, Hebburn on Tyne
30 November 1954 at Palmer’s Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RETAINER
13 December 1954 transfered crew with RFA WAVE GOVERNOR
23 December 1954 at Palmer’s Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RETAINER
28 December 1954 at Palmer’s Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RETAINER
30 December 1954 at Palmer’s Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RETAINER
4 January 1955 alongside at Palmer’s Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RETAINER and with Mr G J Mathews RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 January 1955 at Palmer’s Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RETAINER
11 January 1955 at Palmer’s Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RETAINER
13 January 1955 at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s RETAINER and WAVE SOVEREIGN
18 January 1955 at Palmer’s Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s RETAINER and WAVE SOVEREIGN
25 January 1955 at Newcastle Shipping Office completed engaging a crew
1 February 1955 pass Dover sailing east bound
20 February 1955 arrived at Gibraltar
22 February 1955 sailed Gibraltar for Malta
27 February 1955 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
March 1955 RASed with HMS CENTAUR during Exercise Sea Lance
1 April 1955 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi for LEFO
10 April 1955 sailed Port Said for the UK
14 June 1955 with British Royal Naval Squadron under Admiral Sir Michael Denny, Commander in Chief, Home Fleet made a week’s official visit to Stockholm, Sweden
20 July 1955 sailed Tromso for Sheerness
29 July 1955 Captain Frank A Shaw RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (Ret) appointed as Master
9 August 1955 at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA’s WAVE KNIGHT (1) & WAVE SOVEREIGN
11 August 1955 engaged a crew at the Newcastle Shipping Office
21 August 1955 sailed from the River Tyne for Devonport
19 November 1955 arrived at Port Said
27 November 1955 arrived at Aden
1956 along with RFA FORT DUQUESNE, she starred in the film “Battle of the River Plate” with Peter Finch as Captain Langsdorff and Anthony Quale as Commodore Harewood and played the part of the German supply tanker ALTMARK
RFA Olna (2) in the guise of the German supply ship Altmark
9 February 1956 together with RFA WAVE KING and WAVE PRINCE in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
18 February 1956 together with RFA WAVE PRINCE in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
13 March 1956 together with RFA C635, and RFA WAVE PRINCE in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
27 March 1956 in refit at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
15 July 1956 at Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle on Tyne Seaman Harold Mossman English discharged dead – natural causes
16 August 1956 berthed at Malta from Curaçao and discharged 14,000 tons of FFO
1 September 1956 sailed from the River Tyne for Devonport
31 October 1956 deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis – until 29 November 1956 – along with RFA’s FORT SANDUSKY, RETAINER, TIDERACE and TIDERANGE where she was in Task Force 325.8, the Logistics Group supporting the carriers and the entire crew qualified for the award of the Naval General Service Medal (1915) with the “Near East” Clasp
25 January 1957 discharged the crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
12 February 1957 in refit at Palmer’s, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA TIDE AUSTRAL
2 March 1957 in refit at Palmer’s, Hebburn on Tyne
14 March 1957 at Palmer’s, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RETAINER both in refit
28 March 1957 at Admiralty Quay, Hebburn on Tyne
19 April 1957 sailed the River Tyne passing Flamborough Head south bound for Sheerness and then Curaçao
2 May 1957 sailed Curaçao
28 May 1957 whilst enroute from Malta to South America at 21° 04N 56° 55W she passed the MAYFLOWER II which was making it’s historic voyage from Plymouth, UK to Plymouth, Mass, USA and exchanged flashing light signals with her
3 June 1957 sailed from Curaçao
4 June 1957 arrived at Lisbon
18 June 1957 sailed Lisbon for Curaçao
25 June 1957 sailed from Bermuda
23 July 1957 Mr D C Leathley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 July 1957 sailed Avonmouth for Curaçao
6 August 1957 arrived at Curaçao
7 August 1957 sailed from Curaçao
19 August 1957 berthed at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
22 August 1957 arrived at the Clyde Anchorage
30 August 1957 arrived at Devonport
11 September 1957 sailed Devonport for the River Clyde
12 September 1957 broke down in the Irish Sea. A tug from the Clyde and HMS APOLLO from Milford Haven sailed to provide assistance
13 September 1957 together with RFA’s TIDEREACH and TIDERANGE (1) at the Clyde for NATO Exercise ‘Strikeback’
25 September 1957 Captain Alfred M Uglow RFA appointed as temporary Master until 4 October 1957
1957 to 1960 supported Operation Grapple – the British H-bomb test at Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean – along with 16 other RFA’s
28 October 1957 Captain Griffith O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master
20 November 1957 passed Tail of Bank
18 December 1957 moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
1 January 1958 moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 9 Buoy
14 January 1958 moved from No: 9 Buoy passing down after HMS BERMUDA to Plymouth Sound
15 January 1958 arrived at Portland Port
January 1958 supporting the Home Fleet during a visit to the West Indies
15 February 1958 RASed with HMS BERMUDA while on passage from Barbados to Grenada
22 February 1958 arrived at Kingston, Jamaica with HMS’s BARFLEUR and CAMPERDOWN while supporting HMS BULWALK
14 April 1958 sailed from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
22 April 1958 on the Tyne for a refit at Palmers, Hebburn together with RFA RESURGENT which was being converted
8 May 1958 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RESURGENT which was being converted
15 May 1958 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RESURGENT which was being converted
10 June 1958 in refit at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne together with RFA RESURGENT which was being converted
29 June 1958 arrived at the Isle of Grain
5 July 1958 arrived at Plymouth
12 July 1958 deployed for duties in support of Operation Grapple on Christmas Island with 1 ton 4cwt of cargo
23 July 1958 arrived at Curaçao
October 1958 Fleet Train support to HMS ALBION and her deployment to the Far East
7 December 1958 Donkeyman Greaser John Stroughair discharged dead – apparent natural causes – heart failure – buried at sea
January 1959 supporting HMS ALBION during visit to Australia and New Zealand
23 January 1959 arrived Auckland, New Zealand
7 February 1959 to 11 February 1959 together with RFA RELIANT (2) and RN units visited Hobart, Tasmania
11 February 1959 off Tasmania exercise RASes with HMAS SWAN abeam and astern and a light jackstay transfer
19 February 1959 together with RFA RELIANT (2) and RN units visited Sydney
24 February 1959 RASed with HMAS MELBOURNE
27 February 1959 off Jervis Bay RASed HMAS ANZAC
1 March 1959 sailed from Jervis Bay with RFA RELIANT (2), RN and RAN units
12 March 1959 RASed with HMAS MELBOURNE supplying 1,235 tons of FFO and also with HMAS VOYAGER
13 March 1959 RASed astern with HMS ALBION
20 March 1959 undertook a series of RAS’s with HMAS VOYAGER and other RN & RAN watships
21 March 1959 while on passage to Singapore RASed with HMAS MELBOURNE
24 March 1959 RASed with HMAS VOYAGER supplying 297 tons of FFO
7 April 1959 RASed with HMAS VOYAGER twice
10 April 1959 at Singapore Dockyard berthed with HMAS ANZAC alongside
24 June 1959 Mr K Jones RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 July 1959 Captain Robert H Venning RFA appointed as Master
7 August 1959 engaged officers at the Newcastle on Tyne Shipping Office
11 August 1959 at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne
14 August 1959 at River Tyne
18 August 1959 at Palmers Yard, Hebburn on Tyne – berthed with RFA TIDEREACH
26 August 1959 moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
28 August 1959 sailed from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
24 October 1959 deployed for the second time for duties in support of Operation Grapple on Christmas Island with 88 tons 15.25 cwt of cargo
25 December 1959 RASed with HMAS QUICKMATCH
1960 supporting units of the Far East Fleet
13 July 1960 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
14 July 1960 at River Tyne
7 September 1960 Captain Franklin G Edwards RFA appointed as Master
20 October 1960 at Plymouth Sound with RFA BIRCHOL (2) alongside her
24 February 1961 Captain John M Humphrey DSC OBE RFA appointed as Master
April 1961 on the Tyne for a refit
8 May 1961 supporting Fishery Protection RN units off Iceland
1 June 1961 off SE Iceland transfered mail to HMS DUNCAN
2 June 1961 off SE Iceland RASed with HMS DUNCAN
June 1961 supporting RN Units on exercises in the North Sea
30 June 1961 sailed Gibraltar supporting HMS CENTAUR during the Kuwait crisis
5 July 1961 at Port Said
6 July 1961 transited through the Suez Canal with HMS CAMPERDOWN, HMS SAINTES, HMS MESSSINA, HMS FINISTERRE and the aircraft carrier HMS CENTAUR
August 1961 supported HM carriers CENTAUR and VICTORIOUS during Operation Vantage – the Kuwait Crisis – along with 12 other RFA’s
28 August 1961 sailed Mombassa for Aden RASed with HMS VICTORIOUS off Zanzibar to Bahrain to load.
29 August 1961 Captain Cyril Alexander DSC RFA appointed as Master
2 September 1961 sailed Singapore with RFA RELIANT (2)
2 September 1961 and 7 September 1961 RASed HMS VICTORIOUS
15 September 1961 arrived Singapore
5 October 1961 sailed Singapore for Exercise ‘Fotex’
13 October 1961 sailed to Hong Kong arriving 17 October 1961
25 October 1961 sailed Hong Kong for Exercise Crosstie at Subic Bay
31 October 1961 RASed USS Ticonderoga
4 to 14 November 1961 at Singapore
16 November 1961 to Mombassa still supporting HMS Victorious
22 November 1961 to Aden
29 November 1961 RASed HMS Victorious
2 December 1961 Suez northbound
5 December 1961 RASed HMS Victorious
5 December 1961 arrived at Malta
12 December 1961 involved in exercise ‘Royal Flush’
14 December 1961 RASed HMS Victorious
18 December 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
19 December 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
20 December 1961 at Southampton
1 January 1962 Mr A C Hawk RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 January 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
22 January 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
2 March 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
8 March 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound berthing on ‘C’ Buoy and later putting to sea
8 April 1962 supported HMS CENTAUR and other RN units during a courtesy visit to Istanbul
HMS CENTAUR
14 May 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
18 May 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
23 May 1962 Captain A Jackson OBE RFA appointed as Master
2 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
4 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
18 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
23 July 1962 at Devonport moved from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
13 October 1962 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to sea
21 February 1963 RASed HMNZS Taranaki off Hong Kong
1 March 1963 rescued eight Indonesian fishermen in the Straits of Malacca whose boats engine had broken down and who had been without food and water for five days
8 March 1963 rendevous with RFA GOLD RANGER during Indonesia confrontation support
12 April 1963 at Singapore
23 April 1963 at Gan, Indian Ocean
27 April 1963 at Aden
1 May 1963 Mr I M MacFarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
May 1963 Suez North bound
May 1963 at Malta docking then Mediterranean Fleet tanker
19 August 1963 RASed HMS Victorious off Malta
21 October 1963 Captain John Ditchburn RFA appointed as Master
2 January 1964 sailed Singapore with HMS Victorious
4 February 1964 arrived at Gan, Indian Ocean
21 February 1964 arrived at Zanzibar
15 March 1964 arrived at Mombassa
March 1964 involved in Exercise ‘Jet’ and then Suez Canal northbound
April 1964 at Malta in the floating dock
18 June 1964 entered Devonport and berthed at Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
July 1964 at Devonport open to the public for Navy Days for 3 days receiving 12.788 visitors (excluding VIPs). During these Navy Days was engaged with a twice daily RAS (L) with HMS EASTBOURNE (not underway)
1966 withdrawn from service and was laid up at Devonport.
3 November 1966 advertised for sale ‘as lying’ at Devonport by the Ministry of Transport in the Times of this day
6 January 1967 sailed Devonport in tow after sale to Spanish breakers for £125,000
19 January 1967 arrived Castellon, Spain for breaking up by L.E.Varela Davalillo.
Note: Was part of the British Pacific Fleet hence the ‘B’ Pennant number
RFA Olna (3)
Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Subsequent name: Kos
Official Number: 308070
Class: OLYNTHUS (later OLWEN) CLASS Large Fleet Tanker
Pennant No: A123
Laid down: 2 July 1964
Builder: Hawthorn, Leslie at Hebburn
Launched: 28 July 1965
Into Service: 1 April 1966
Out of service: 24 September 2000 (Laid up at Portsmouth)
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: The 1962 Defence Estimates included plans for “front line support ships” which would be capable of maintaining “fleet speed” a term which was later defined as sustained steaming at 20 knots. It was noted during the Kuwait Crisis in the summer of 1961 that the 4 oilers of the TIDE CLASS, together with OLNA (2) were the only RFA’s with this capability. Invitations to Tender were issued during 1962 and on the 4February 1963, it was officially announced that an order had been placed for 3 ships in what became known as the OLYNTHUS CLASS. Early official references to the Class suggest that up to 6 ships were planned. They were designed by the builders to meet specific requirements and this design built on the success of the IMPROVED TIDE CLASS and when they entered service they were the largest and fastest ships in the RFA Fleet. Capable of operating 3 x Sea King helicopters, they had full hangar facilities too. 2 of the Class were renamed in 1967 to obviate confusion with the names of HM ships. When built, the Class cost approx £10½m
4 February 1963 ordered as AO 16
2 July 1964 laid down
28 July 1965 launched by Hawthorn Leslie Shipbuilders Ltd, Hebburn as Yard Nr 756 named OLNA (3). The Lady Sponsor was Mrs Sydney Redmand, wife of the Deputy Under Secretary of State (Naval)
9 March 1965 Mr John R Warne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer John R Warne RFA
4 November 1965 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
RFA Olna’s Bell – still in RFA possession
Image © RFA Nostalgia
1 April 1966 completed a year after the original planned completion date
7 February 1966 Captain A R Wheeler RD RFA appointed as Master
19 June 1966 humanitarian aid – rescued 26 survivors from the Greek liberty ship ZANETA which had sunk after developing leaks in the Arabian Sea off the Kuria Muria Islands and landed them in Aden
Captain Ross Wheeler talking to Captain Demitros Rodokanakis the Master of the ss Zanata
22 June 1966 the Birmingham Daily Post reported –
7 November 1966 sailed the Firth of Forth to rendevouz with HMS HERMES and other RN units
14 March 1967 at Newcastle upon Tyne
May 1967 refuelled the British freighter CLAN MACTAGGART at sea after the latter had suffered a go-slow by the bunkering firms in Aden
1 June 1967 Mr George S Burnett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 August 1967 sailed Singapore for Albany, Western Australia
28 August 1967 the Olynthus Class was redesignated as the Olwen Class
4 September 1967 sailed Fremantle with RFA’s OLEANDER (4) and RELIANT (2) together with HMS’s HERMES and MINERVA
16 September 1967 off Durban, South Africa – RAS with HMS EAGLE
22 September 1967 at Gan, Maldives alongside RFA WAVE VICTOR – hulk – pumpover
28 September 1967 off Gan RASed with HMS EAGLE and RFA STROMNESS
11 October 1967 to 25 January 1968 was part of TF 318 – the Aden Task Forcecovering the final British military withdrawal from the area codenamed Operation Magisteralong with nine other RFA’s – and took part in the final Fleet Review along with five of the other RFA‘s involved
20 January 1968 sailed Singapore for exercises off Gan
24 January 1968 RASed with HMAS YARRA while the warship was on passge to GAN to join Exercise Partner
HMAS YARRA
27 January 1968 RASed with HMAS YARRA during Exercise Partner
28 January 1968 RASed with HMAS YARRA during Exercise Partner
30 January 1968 RASed with HMAS YARRA during Exercise Partner
1 February 1968 RASed with HMAS YARRA during Exercise Partner
3 February 1968 off Gan RASed RFA TIDEREACH
4 February 1968 RASed with HMAS YARRA during Exercise Partner
18 February 1968 Captain P T Taylor RFA appointed as Master
5 March 1968 off the NSW Coast, Australia RASed with HMAS PARRAMATTA
7 March 1968 sailed Jervis Bay, Australia together with RFA STROMNESS and units of the RN and RAN Navies after Execises and made passage to Singapore
17 March 1968 RASed with HMAS STUART off the southern entrance to the Sunda Strait
2 April 1968 at Gibraltar to load
6 April 1968 berthed at Portsmouth to discharge and clean tanks
12 April 1968 berthed at Newcastle on Tyne for refit
30 April 1968 berthed at Smiths, River Tyne during her refit
30 August 1968 rendezvoued with HMNZS OTAGO and HMAS PARRAMATTA to carry out a Casex A17 with HMS/m ANDREW. Then RASed with HMAS PARRAMATTA
21 September 1968 RASed with HMAS PARRAMATTA in the Solomon Sea
14 October 1968 together with HMAS SUPPLY (previous RFA Tide Austral) took part in Operation Corals Sands off North Queensland, Australia together with units of the Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy and a unit from the United States Navy
24 June 1969 Westland Wasp HAS1 helicopter No: XS437 – detached to the ship at Rosyth
23 August 1969 to 25 August 1969 at Devonport Dockyard open to the public during Navy Days. 20,847 members of the public visited the ship
24 September 1969 during Operation Peacekeeper RASed with HMS EAGLE and RFA RESOURCE (2)
Operation Peacekeeper RASing with HMS EAGLE and RFA RESOURCE (2)
7 October 1969 stood by with HMS LEANDER and Barra Life Boat after HMS FOX was driven ashore on the Island of Mingay off the Isle of Skye
29 October 1969 berthed at the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
7 March 1970 berthed at the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
26 June 1970 passed the Hook of Holland inbound to Rotterdam
30 June 1970 the Daily Telegraph and the Brighton Evening Argus newspapers both reported that a Royal Air Force airsea rescue helicopter of 22 Squadron from RAF Thorney Island had airlifted an officer from the ship to the Royal Naval Hospital at Haslar after the officer had broken both legs as the result of a fall in the engine room
17 July 1970 sailed from Yonderbury Oil Fuel Pier, Devonport arriving at Portland Port the same day for work up
6 August 1970 sailed from Portland Port at the end of work up
7 August 1970 arrived at Portsmouth
10 August 1970 sailed from Portsmouth
12 August 1970 arrived at Haakonsvern Dockyard, Bergen, Norway
13 August 1970 sailed from Haakonsvern Dockyard, Bergen, Norway
21 August 1970 arrived at Haakonsvern Dockyard, Bergen, Norway
24 August 1970 sailed from Haakonsvern Dockyard, Bergen, Norway
27 August 1970 arrived at Portsmouth
3 August 1970 sailed from Portsmouth
4 September 1970 anchored at Torbay, Devon
6 September 1970 sailed from Torbay, Devon
11 September 1970 arrived at Plymouth
15 September 1970 sailed from Plymouth
17 September 1970 arrived at Loch Striven
19 September 1970 sailed from Loch Striven
28 September 1970 arrived at Oslo, Norway
2 October 1970 sailed from Oslo, Norway
5 October 1970 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour
7 October 1970 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
10 October 1970 arrived at Gibraltar
12 October 1970 sailed from Gibraltar
15 October 1970 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta
16 October 1970 sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta
19 October 1970 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta
26 October 1970 sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta
5 November 1970 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta
6 November 1970 sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta
14 November 1970 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta
17 November 1970 sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta
18 November 1970 arrived at Augusta, Sicily sailing the same day
22 November 1970 arrived at Augusta, Sicily
25 November 1970 sailed from Augusta, Sicily
26 November 1970 berthed at Masha Slot, Malta
27 November 1970 sailed from Masha Slot, Malta
3 December 1970 arrived at Naples, Italy
8 December 1970 sailed from Naples, Italy
15 December 1970 arrived at Brodick Bay, Isle of Arran
16 Deccember 1970 sailed from Brodick Bay, Isle of Arran
18 December 1970 arrived at Rosyth
5 January 1971 sailed from Rosyth
7 January 1971 berthed at Milford Haven alongside the hulk of HMS Warrior which had been used as an oil jetty from 1927 until 1979
8 January 1971 sailed Milford Haven arriving at Plymouth later the same day
11 January 1971 sailed from Plymouth
12 January 1971 arrived at Rotterdam, Netherlands
13 January 1971 sailed from Rotterdam, Netherlands
15 January 1971 arrived at Portland sailing the same day
17 January 1971 berthed at Gibraltar
20 January 1971 sailed from Gibraltar
18 February 1971 arrived at Gibraltar and sailed the same day
1 March 1971 berthed at Genoa, Italy
6 March 1971 sailed from Genoa, Italy
8 March 1971 berthed at Gibraltar
9 March 1971 sailed from Gibraltar
11 March 1971arrived at Portland sailing the same day for Portsmouth arriving also the same day
19 March 1971 sailed from Portsmouth
20 March 1971 arrived at Newcastle on Tyne at Wallsend Slipway for refit. During this time the ship was alongside and the Tyne shipyard workers went on strike before she entered the Drydock. It was decided to send the ship to Falmouth for drydocking
22 April 1971 sailed from Newcastle on Tyne
23 April 1971 arrived at Falmouth
2 May 1971 sailed from Falmouth arriving at Plymouth the same day
10 May 1971 sailed from Plymouth arriving at Portland the same day
19 May 1971 at 21.37hrs involved in a collision with RFA REGENT off Portland. During a RAS approach on Olna’s port side Regent’s bow hit the midships area of Olna before being pushed by Olna’s bow which resulted in extensive damage to the port side of the foc’cle and bow of Olna. Once the ships had parted, a ten foot hole was discovered on the port side of the bulbous bow. The damage was deemed so severe that Olna was ordered to discharge and tank clean in Portsmouth before sailing to Southampton for emergency drydocking. Olna returned to anchorage at Portland that night
20 May 1971 Olna was at anchor off Portland when the STANAVFORLAT flotilla left Portland Naval Base. A Royal Navy Wessex helicopter, XM875, carrying five press photographers was hovering above the ships. It suddenly lost power and ditched close to USS Bigelow and no more than 300 metres from the Olna. Olna sent her crash boat and 36ft workboat to help to rescue those on board the helicopter. Three of the five photographers were killed. Olna’s crash boat picked up one of the crew from the helicopter
20 May 1971 the Coventry Evening Telegraph newspaper reported …
21 May 1971 arrived at Portsmouth
28 May 1971 sailed from Portsmouth arriving at Southampton the same day entering King George V Drydock
7 June 1071 sailed from Southampton arriving at Portsmouth the same day
9 June 1971 sailed from Portsmouth arriving at Portland the same day
16 June 1971 sailed from Portland arriving at Plymouth the same day
18 June 1971 sailed from Plymouth
3 July 1971 arrived off Jamestown, St. Helena
6 July 1971 sailed from off Jamestown, St. Helena
11 July 1971 arrived at Cape Town, South Africa
14 July 1971 sailed from Cape Town, South AFrica
19 July 1971 arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius
20 July 1971 sailed from Port Louis, Mauritius
2 August 1971 arrived at Botany Bay, Australia
3 August 1971 sailed from Botany Bay, Australia and arriving the same day at Sydney, NSW
8 August 1971 sailed from Sydney, NSW
10 August 1971 to 14 August 1971 involved in Exercise Southern Clime One together with RFA’s RELIANT (2) and TIDEFLOW and various RN and RAN units
20 August 1971 arrived Auckland, New Zealand
31 October 1971 took part in the final steam past of seventeen ships from the RN, RAN, RNZN and RFA in the Far East Fleet in the Singapore Straits after the closure of the naval base there which also included RFA‘s FORT SANDUSKY, GOLD RANGER, RELIANT (2), RESOURCE, STROMNESS, TIDEFLOW and TIDEPOOL. Immediately afterwards for three hectic days she participated in Operation Curtain call – a combined RN, RAN, RNZN and RFA Fleet Exercise off the coast of NW Malaysia
4 November 1971 RASed with HMAS SYDNEY while she was on passage from Sydney, NSW to Vung Tau, Vietnam
December 1971 visited Jamestown, St. Helena
13 May 1973 at 22°00N 59°35W engaged in a pumpover with RFA CHERRYLEAF (3). During the pumpover RFA CHEERYLEAF (3)’s port quarter came into contact with the starboard quarter of RFA OLNA (3) causing minor damage
19 August 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 25 August 1973
1 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 6 September 1973
7 September 1973 at Rosyth
10 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 22 September 1973
15 September 1973 while conducting a VERTREP with Wessex HAS1 helicopter No: XM836 when the underslung load snagged – cable was cut
8 January 1974 sailed from the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
12 January 1974 berthed at Gibraltar
15 January 1974 sailed from Gibraltar
29 January 1974 berthed at Cape Town, South Africa
5 February 1974 sailed from Cape Town, South Africa
9 February 1974 berthed at Cape Town, South Africa
11 February 1974 sailed from Cape Town, South Africa
28 February 1974 berthed at Gibraltar
1 March 1974 sailed from Gibraltar
5 March 1974 berthed at Portland
8 March 1974 sailed from Portland
26 March 1974 berthed at Portland
27 March 1974 sailed from Portland
29 March 1974 berthed at Plymouth
9 April 1974 sailed from Plymouth berthing at Portland later in the day and then sailing from Portland also the same day
19 April 1974 berthed at Portland
20 April 1974 sailed from Portland
22 April 1974 berthed at Rosyth
26 April 1974 sailed from Rosyth
27 April 1974 arrived at the River Tyne for refit
20 June 1974 sailed from the River Tyne at the end of the refit and berthed at Rosyth the same day
5 July 1974 sailed from Rosyth
9 July 1974 berthed at Gibraltar
12 July 1974 sailed from Gibraltar
15 July 1974 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta from Gibraltar
16 July 1974 sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta
17 July 1974 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta
18 July 1974 sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta
18 July 1974 to 30 September 1974 stood by off Cyprus following a coup d’etat attempt and the subsequent Turkish invasion with a Task Force including the carrier HMS HERMES with 41 Commando Royal Marines and RFA’s GOLD ROVER, OLWEN (2) and REGENT
22 July 1974 Turkish aircraft bomb three of their own ships, one of which was sunk, TCG Kocatepe D 354 (ex USS Harwood) 64 killed, Olna picked up 72 of the survivors and this caused major concern to the British government and orders were given to transfer the wounded within 24hours. The RN Wasp helicopter from HMS ANDROMEDA carried out a dangerous but successful transfer of the survivors to the Turkish warship TGS Berk at night
22 and 23 July 1974 took part in the evacuation of British and foreign nationals from Deniz Kizi beach near Kyrenia in the North of the Island. Olna anchored in Kyrenia Harbour with HMS ANDROMEDA but had to make a hasty departure when a Turkish M-47 tank trained it’s gun on Olna. A very rapid double ring full astern was executed with the appropriate large plumes of black smoke. Approximately 250 people embarked on Olna, mostly by helicopters from HMS HERMES and they spent the night on board before being put ashore at Akrotiri or Dhekelia British bases. This included the Amateur Youth Folk Dancing Ensemble of the Kirovograd Institute, USSR, now Ukraine. They gave a short but very moving performance to the ship’s crew and other evacuees having only some musical instruments and just the clothes that they wore. The late British actor Anthony Valentine was one of the passengers on Olna
29 July 1974 arrived at Grand Harbour, Malta
30 July 1974 sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta
2 August 1974 arrived at Gibraltar sailing later the same day
5 August 1974 arrived at Plymouth
8 August 1974 sailed from Plymouth arriving at Portland the same day
14 August 1974 sailed from Portland returning there later in the day – start of work up
28 August 1974 at Portland at the end of the work up
29 August 1974 at Spithead
30 August 1974 sailed from Spithead
1 September 1974 arrived at Rosyth
16 September 1974 sailed from Rosyth
17 September 1974 along with RFA’s GREEN ROVER and STROMNESS sailed as part of Task Group 317.2 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS BLAKE
21 September 1974 arrived at Gibraltar
October 1974 while on passage to Malta RAS’ed with HMS ARK ROYAL. A winch jammed, the FFO and AVCAT hoses parted
10 & 11 March 1975 Humanitarian aid – Operation Faldage – stood by off Kom Pong Som, Cambodia along with the cruiser HMS BLAKE to evacuate British nationals
21 August 1975 at Portland
10 September 1975 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta
12 September 1975 sailed Grand Harbour, Malta with RN and other Allied Units and RFA’s BACCHUS (3), LYNESS, SIR GALAHAD (1) and SIR TRISTRAM taking part in ‘Deep Express 75’
17 September 1975 anchored 1½ miles off the coast 8 miles from Antalya, Turkey
18 September 1975 involved with RAS’s and anchoring off Turkish coast
22 September 1975 anchored naer Izmir in Saros Bay
29 September 1975 anchored off Izmir until 5 October 1975
21 May 1979 Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA appointed as Master
Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA
7 June 1979 at Wallsend on Tyne
20 December 1979 at Rosyth
28 May 1980 at Devonport
11 June 1980 berthed at Port Everglades, Florida while on passage from Devonport to Nassau, Bahamas
15 July 1980 at Rosyth
8 October 1980 at Portland
1980 was deployed to the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq conflict along with RFA’s FORT AUSTIN and OLMEDA
1 December 1980 at Rosyth
7 February 1981 the Newcastle Journal reported –
26 August 1981 at Smiths Dock, North Shields
7 September 1981 entered No: 8 dry Dock at Smiths Dock, North Shields
21 September 1981 left No: 8 dry dock and berthed at Bergan Quay later being moved to Smiths Quays
14 October 1981 on the River Tyne
4 November 1981 on the River Tyne
9 November 1981 on the River Tyne
23 November 1981 sailed from the River Tyne
25 November 1981 berthed at Portsmouth
11 December 1981 sailed from Portsmouth berthing at Fawley 3½ hours later
13 December 1981 sailed from Fawley
14 December 1981 anchored off Portland in Weymouth Bay
16 December 1981 anchored off Portland
17 December 1981 entered Portland Port making fast to the Outer Coaling Pier
29 December 1981 sailed from Portland
3 January 1981 RASed with HMS ORKNEY
9 January 1982 anchored off Portland Port
11 January 1982 entered Portland Port and made fast to A3 Buoy
14 January 1982 sailed from Portland Port
15 January 1982 Light Jackstay with RFA GREEN ROVER. Berthed alongside at Portland Port
18 January 1982 sailed from Portland Port. RAS with RFA GREEN ROVER
19 January 1982 RASed with RFA GREEN ROVER and HMS’s ANTRIM, ARDENT and LEANDER
20 January 1982 RASed with RFA SIR BEDIVERE and HMS BACCHANTE and later entered Portland Port and berthed
25 January 1982 sailed from Portland Port
29 January 1982 berthed at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
18 February 1982 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour berthing the same day at Portland Port
22 February 1982 sailed from Portland Port
26 February 1982 arrived at Gibraltar and berthed
1 March 1982 sailed from Gibraltar and RASed with HMS CARDIFF
8 March 1982 sailed from Port Said transitting the Suez Canal
10 March 1982 having cleared the Suez Canal RASed with RFA FORT AUSTIN
11 March 1982 anchored off Hudaydah, Yemen
14 March 1982 sailed from Hudaydah, Yemen and RASed fuel with HMS CARDIFF and HMS AMAZON
18 March 1982 RASed fuel with HMS CARDIFF and HMS AMAZON
22 March 1982 RASed fuel with HMS CARDIFF and HMS AMAZON
26 March 1982 RASed stores with RFA BRAMBLELEAF
29 March 1982 RASed fuel with HMS CARDIFF and HMS AMAZON and later RASed stores with HMS CARDIFF
30 March 1982 RASed stores with HMS AMAZON
6 April 1982 arrived at Suez
7 April 1982 commenced Canal transit later cleared the canal and anchored
9 April 1982 anchored off Haifa, Israel
12 April 1982 at Haifa
10 May 1982 sailed Devonport as part of the HMS BRISTOL Task Force for service during Operation Corporate – the Falklands Conflict – with 848 NAS “B” Flight embarked – 2 x Wessex HU5 helicopters. The ships were the Type 82 destroyer HMS BRISTOL, the Leander class frigates HMS’s ANDROMEDA, MINERVA and PENELOPE, the Type 21 frigates HMS’s ACTIVE and AVENGER while the Type 42 destroyer HMS CARDIFF joined from Gibraltar during the passage southwards
23 May 1982 entered the TEZ ( Total Exclusion Zone) around the Falkland Islands
28 May 1982 operated with the carriers in the TEZ
30 May 1982 RASed with HMS EXETER
5 June 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL
8 June 1982 RASed with HMS FEARLESS then entered San Carlos Water
HMS FEARLESS
9 June 1982 RASed with HMS EXETER
14 June 1982 in San Carlos Water refueled HMS FEARLESS alongside
21 June 1982 RASed with the Hospital Ship Uganda
26 June 1982 in San Carlos Water RFA ENGADINE alongside loading 18 tons of fuel
9 July 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL – supplied 413 tons of fuel
12 July 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL – supplied 251 tons of fuel
15 July 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL
20 July 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL
23 July 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL
26 July 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL
3 August 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL – supplied 428 tons of fuel
7 August 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL – supplied 248 tons of fuel
9 August 1982 RASed with HMS BRISTOL
21 August 1982 sailed Falkland Islands for Portsmouth with the carrier HMS INVINCIBLE
17 September 1982 arrived at Portsmouth and berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty on completion of Operation Corporate duties during which she carried out 143 RAS’s
15 January 1983 at Rosyth
17 January 1983 at Rosyth
17 February 1983 at Ascension Island
27 May 1983 Westland Wasp HAS1 helicopter No: XV638 – ditched owing to engine failure at 06°05S 034°16W – 80 n.miles E of Natal, Brazil, salvaged by the ship
17 June 1983 Westland Wasp HAS1 helicopter No: XV638 – brought to Devonport by the ship
20 September 1983 at Gibraltar
10 October 1983 at Plymouth
21 March 1984 at Plymouth
4 April 1984 at Plymouth
11 January 1985 was presented with her Falkland Islands 1982 Battle Honour at Portsmouth by Rear Admiral J.C. Worsop CB, Flag Officer Portsmouth
3 May 1985 Sea King HAS5 helicopter no: ZA137 main rotor gearbox seized, tail damaged – airlift by RAF Chinook to ship and shipped to UK
March, 1985 involved with HMS ENDURANCE in the major rescue of a services expedition to Brabant Island (an island off the Antartic Peninsula) at about 64°00S 63°30W and bringing those involved back to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
17 June 1985 Sea King HAS5 helicopter no: ZA137 off loaded at Plymouth (see above)
10 July 1985 at Plymouth
10 October 1985 at the River Tyne
28 July 1986 whilst alongside in Fort Lauderdale, Florida the ship celebrated 21 years since her launch, a party on board was attended by a number of guests
26 June 1987 Babcok Thorn, Rosyth win contract to refit RFA OLNA (3)
1989 was awarded an inscribed plaque from the General Council of British Shipping to commemorate her service on Armilla Patrol between November 1986 and 20 August 1988 when the “Accompanying Policy” was in force. Other recipients were RFA’s APPLELEAF (3), BRAMBLELEAF (3), DILIGENCE, ORANGELEAF (3) and TIDESPRING (1)
24 February 1989 the Aberdeen Pree & Journal newspaper reported …
16 March 1989 Captain Anthony Pitt DSC RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
1 June 1989 humanitarian aid – assisted the blazing Greek tanker DRASTIRIOS 300 miles southeast of Fujairah
26 January 1990 berthed at Southampton and Captain Anthony Pitt DSC RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain A F Pitt DSC RFA
30 July 1990 berthed at Invergordon
8 August 1990 decision taken to deploy her to the Gulf along with RFA’s FORT GRANGE and DILIGENCE following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
17 August 1990 sailed Devonport for Operation Granby – the Gulf War – with 2 Sea King helicopters from 826 NAS “C” Flight embarked
24 August 1990 along with RFA FORT GRANGE she r/v off Gibraltar with HNLMS’s WITTE DE WITH and PIETER FLORIS
9 September 1990 arrived Jebel Ali and within days proceeded to operate on the so-called “tanker towline” supporting ships of the multi-national force, not just RN warships
22 October 1990 completed her 50th Gulf War RAS
December 1990 detached to Singapore for long overdue maintenance and returned to the Southern Gulf in mid-January 1990
February 1991 with the Task Group operating in the northern end of the Gulf she, along with RFA’s ARGUS and DILIGENCE, was brought forward to the vicinity of the D’horra Oilfield, outside the range of Silkworm missiles but within the radar clutter of the rigs
17 February 1991 in the vicinity of the D’horra Oilfield RASed with USS Princeton (CG59)
18 February 1991 following the mining of USS’s PRINCETON and TRIPOLI, the Americans were understandably unwilling to risk deploying their supply ships in the northern Gulf so OLNA (3) was offered to the USN and was gratefully accepted
11 April 1991 official Cease Fire comes into force
1991 was awarded the Kuwait 1991 Battle Honour along with 10 other RFA’s
1 June 1991 berthed at Portsmouth
23 August 1991 at Plymouth
15 October 1991 at Mayport
6 November 1991 to 13 November 1991 at Invergordon Oil Fuel Depot
24 May 1992 whilst operating off Scotland, she was left without power when a communications switchboard and generators caught fire. She was taken in tow by the tug ARCTIC NANOOK while the carrier HMS ARK ROYAL stood by. The fire was eventually contained by her crew
Tug ARCTIC NANOOK
25 August 1992 berthed at Portsmouth
17 March 1993 at Rosyth (see note 2)
1 May 1993 at Rosyth
23 May 1993 at Portsmouth
29 June 1993 at Portland
23 July 1993 at Portland (see note 2)
20 August 1993 at Portland
20 September 1993 refuelled the Fishery Protection vessel HMS GUERNSEY off Portland, whilst serving as FOST tanker
RFA Olna (3) RASing with HMS GUERNSEY
8 October 1993 at Portland
15 February 1994 Captain (E) Robert Settle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain (E) Robert Settle RFA
27 March 1994 at Portland, Dorset
12 August 1994 at Portsmouth and Captain Pat Thompson OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Pat Thompson OBE RFA
24 October 1994 at Cagliari, Sardinia
26 October 1994 sailed from Cagliari, Sardinia
2 November 1994 berthed at Cagliari, Sardinia
14 November 1994 sailed from Cagliari, Sardinia
1 December 1994 berthed at Soudha Bay, Crete
5 December 1994 sailed from Soudha Bay, Crete
18 December 1994 anchored off Augusta, Sicily
20 December 1994 sailed from Augusta, Sicily
23 December 1994 berthed at Trieste, Italy
2 January 1995 sailed from Trieste, Italy
20 January 1995 berthed at Cagliari, Sardinia
25 January 1995 sailed from Cagliari, Sardinia
9 February 1995 berthed at Trieste, Italy
14 February 1995 sailed from Trieste, Italy
23 February 1995 berthed at Gibraltar
10 March 1995 sailed from Gibraltar
14 & 15 March 1995 rescued three survivors and recovered five bodies, four crew from the Greek cargo ship m.v. PEELHUNTER which had sunk about 140 miles southeast of Catania the previous day with fifteen people on board. On the 15th she found more lifejackets and a further two bodies and directed the Portuguese frigate NRP VASCO DA GAMA to the scene to pick them up
27 March 1994 berthed at Portland
21 December 1994 at Soudha Bay, Crete
6 April 1995 berthed at Taranto, Italy
9 June 1995 Captain David Gerrard RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain David Gerrard RFA
January 1997 sailed U.K. as part of Task Force 327.01 – the Ocean Wave 97 Deployment to the Far East led by the carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS – along with RFA’s DILIGENCE, FORT AUSTIN, FORT GEORGE, SIR GALAHAD (2), SIR GERAINT and SIR PERCIVALE
5 February 1998 at Malaga, Spain
2 May 1998 to 28 August 1998 in refit on the Tyne
21 December 1998 at Portsmouth
1999 withdrawn from service as a defence economy measure and laid up at Gibraltar
11 November 1999 at Gibraltar and Captain Alan T Roach RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Alan T Roach RFA
2 December 1999 at Gibraltar
14 January 2000 Captain Trevor J Iles RFA appointed in command
Captain Trevor J Iles RFA
27 January 2000 Captain (E) Edward M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
11 April 2000 still at Gibraltar
May 2000 was reactivated to support the Fleet in place of RFA FORT GEORGE which was engaged off Sierra Leone
June 2000 Captain James Murchie RFA was in command
19 June 2000 berthed at Loch Striven
July 2000 conducted extensive trials with the new Merlin helicopter when operating to the west of the Outer Hebrides
31 July 2000 last operational RAS was with HMS COVENTRY
1 August 2000 at Plymouth
4 September 2000 Captain (E) Edward M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 September 2000 laid up at Portsmouth for disposal
12 October 2000 handed over for disposal
February 2001 purchased by Eckhardt Organisation, Germany for scrap
9 March 2001 sailed Portsmouth in tow of the St Vincent & The Grenadines-registered tug ANGLIAN EARL for the breakers.
May 2001 reported that her and her sister ship RFA OLWEN (2) had been banned from Turkish yards owing to high asbestos content. Was diverted to Greece and renamed KOS. Finally sailed via the Suez Canal for Indian breakers
20 June 2001 arrived Alang, India for breaking up
Notes:
1. Was one of the 17 tankers employed in the Mozchan on Beira Patrol duties
2. Locations kindly provided by 2nd Cook Ian Fisher RFA (Retired) from his Discharge Book