RFA Cherryleaf (A82) was a Leaf-class small fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom, in service from 1973 to 1980.

Cherryleaf in August 1975
History
Name
  • Overseas Adventurer (1963–73; 1980–81)[1]
  • RFA Cherryleaf (1973–80)[1]
  • Petrostar XVI[2]
OwnerLondon and Overseas Bulk Carriers (1963–81)[1] Petrostar Co Ltd (1981–86)[2]
Operator
Port of registry
  • United Kingdom London (1963–73; 1980–81)
  • United Kingdom (1973–80)
  • Saudi Arabia (1981–87)
BuilderNordseewerke[1]
Yard number321[1]
Launched16 October 1962[1]
Completed21 February 1963[1]
Decommissioned1980 (RFA)[2]
Renamed
  • Overseas Adventurer (1962–73; 1980–81)[1]
  • Petrostar XVI (1981–87)[2]
Identification
FateConstructive total loss 1986[3] scrapped 1987[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeLeaf-class tanker
Tonnage
Displacement18,560 t (18,267 long tons)
Length559 ft 4 in (170.48 m)[1]
Beam72 ft (22 m)[1]
Draught29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)[1]
Depth39 ft 4 in (11.99 m)
Installed power8,400 bhp[1]
Propulsion7–cylinder[4] MAN diesel[1]
Speed14.5 knots (26.9 km/h)[1]

History

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She was built by Nordseewerke in Emden, Germany and launched in 1962 as Overseas Adventurer for London and Overseas Bulk Carriers,[1] a subsidiary of London & Overseas Freighters (LOF). She was bareboat chartered for the RFA in February 1973 and renamed RFA Cherryleaf.[5]

In 1980 she was returned to LOF and her name reverted to Overseas Adventurer.[2] In 1981 LOF sold her to Petrostar Co Ltd of Saudi Arabia who renamed her Petrostar XVI.[2]

On 5 April 1986 during the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War she was off Halul Island[2] en route from Bahrain to Sharjah when Iranian helicopters[2] hit her with AGM-65 Maverick missiles.[3] Her accommodation was gutted by fire and four crewmembers were killed.[2] She was towed to Sharjah where she was declared a constructive total loss on 9 April 1986[2] and laid up for disposal.[4] She was sold to National Ship Demolition Co Ltd of Taiwan, arrived Kaohsiung on 24 January 1987 and her demolition began on 19 February 1987.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Sedgwick et al., p. 101
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Sedgwick et al., p. 102
  3. ^ a b ACIG 2004, p. 26
  4. ^ a b "London & Overseas Freighters 1941–97". LOF–News. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  5. ^ Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue1993, pp. 101–102.

Sources and further reading

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