RFA Plumleaf (A78)

For other ships with the same name, see RFA Plumleaf.

Plumleaf refueling USS America (CVA-66), circa 1970
History
United Kingdom
Name	RFA Plumleaf
Operator	Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Builder	Blyth Shipbuilding & Dry Docks Company Ltd
Launched	29 March 1960
Completed	August 1960
Decommissioned	May 1986
In service	24 August 1960
Out of service	1986
Identification	IMO number: 5279979 Pennant number: A78
Honours and awards	Falkland Islands 1982
Fate	Scrapped in Kaohsiung 17 December 1986
General characteristics
Class and type	Leaf-class tanker
Tonnage	12,692 GRT 7,306 NRT 18,562 DWT
Displacement	24,940 t (24,546 long tons)
Length	562 ft 0 in (171.30 m)
Beam	72 ft 1 in (21.97 m)
Draught	30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
Depth	39 ft 1 in (11.91 m)
Installed power	9,500 bhp
Propulsion	1 × 6-cylinder Doxford diesel.
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h)

RFA Plumleaf (A78) was a Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom.

Launched on 29 March 1960, she measured 12,692 gross register tonnage, with a length of 562 feet, a beam of 72 feet 1 inch and a draught of 30 feet 1⁄4 inch. She was powered by a 6-cylinder diesel engine giving the ship a top speed of 14 knots.^[1]

Plumleaf was built for Wm Cory & Son Ltd, London, as Corheath, by Blyth Shipbuilding Company, however, her charter was agreed early and she ran trials as Plumleaf before entering RFA service in 1960.^[2]

She saw service during the Falklands War. Plumleaf was decommissioned in 1986, arriving at Kaohsiung for demolition on 17 December 1986.^[3]

Battle honours

On 23 November 1984 Plumleaf received her Falklands Islands 1982 Battle honour, presented by Admiral Sir Nicolas Hunt, GCB LVO – FOSNI.^[4][5]

References

Citations

1. "Plumleaf (5279979)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
2. Puddefoot 2009, p. 188.
3. "RFA Plumleaf (II)". historicalrfa.org. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
4. "Operation Corporate Battle Honour Awards - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
5. "MOD Acronyms and Abbreviations" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2024.

Bibliography

• Puddefoot, Geoff (2009). The Fourth Force The Untold Story of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary since 1945. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-046-8.