RFA Orangeleaf was a Leaf-class fleet support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary[2] (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom, and which served with the fleet for over 30 years, tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy and allied naval vessels around the world.
She was used by the RFA in the Falklands War in 1982, but she was then known as MV Balder London. From January 2003 to April 2003 Orangeleaf was deployed for Operation Telic, the codename for the United Kingdom's military operations in Iraq. She had three Leaf-class sisters Oakleaf, Brambleleaf and Bayleaf and all four were originally designed as commercial tankers and underwent major conversions to bring them up to RFA standards and equip them for naval support.
She was the third Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel to bear the name.
Construction
Orangeleaf was one of four ships ordered from Cammell Laird at Birkenhead by Hudson Steamship Co, Brighton, and was laid down in 1973 as Hudson Progress. When the ordering company ran into financial difficulties the builders completed three of the ships but they were then laid up and later offered for charter or for purchase. On 12 February 1975 Hudson Progress was launched and the Lady Sponsor was Mrs J Appleby, wife of John Appleby, managing director of the Hudson Steamship Co. She later ran builder’s trials in July 1975, but then on completion she was laid up at Birkenhead.[3]
In June 1979 Hudson Progress was purchased by Lloyds Industrial Leasing, London and sailed from the Mersey to the Clyde for trials. In July she was leased to Parley Augustsson, Oslo and renamed Balder London.[4]
She was bareboat chartered on 2 May 1984 by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and was renamed Orangeleaf. Shortly afterwards she arrived in Falmouth, Cornwall for a partial conversion. In September 1985 Orangeleaf arrived on the River Tyne for full conversion which was completed and entered operational service on 2 May 1986.[3]
Orangeleaf saw action in the Gulf War. On 9 August 1990 she was deployed in support of the Royal Navy's Type 42destroyerYork, following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait,[8] and whilst on Armilla Patrol in the Gulf, when Operation Granby – the Gulf War – was approved.[9]
Puddefoot, Geoff (2009). The Fourth Force The Untold Story of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary since 1945. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-046-8.
