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
  • London and Overseas Freighters (1963–73; 1980–81)[1]
  • Royal Fleet Auxiliary (1973–80)[1]
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]
IdentificationIMO number: 5407681
FateConstructive total loss 1986[3] scrapped 1987[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeLeaf-class tanker
Tonnage
Length559 ft 4 in (170.48 m)[1]
Beam72 ft (22 m)[1]
Draught29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)[1]
Installed power8,400 bhp[1]
Propulsion7–cylinder[4] MAN diesel[1]
Speed14.5 knots (26.9 km/h)[1]

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

History

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

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Sedgwick et al., p. 101
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Sedgwick et al., p. 102
  3. 1 2 ACIG 2004, p. 26
  4. 1 2 "London & Overseas Freighters 1941–97". LOF–News. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  5. ↑ Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue1993, pp. 101–102.

Sources and further reading

  • ACIG (2004). "Tanker War, 1980-88". Arabian Peninsula & Persian Gulf Database. ACIG: 26.
  • Sedgwick, Stanley; Kinnaird, Mark; O'Donoghue, K.J. (1993) [1992]. London & Overseas Freighters, 1948-92: A Short History. World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-68-1.
  • Sedgwick, Stanley; Sprake, R.F. (1977). London & Overseas Freighters Limited 1949-1977. World Ship Society. ISBN 0905617037.
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