Ol-class tanker (1946)

The Ol-class coastal tankers were a class of harbour or port oilers used by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. They were built between 1945–46 and served for just over twenty years.

Class overview
Name	Ol class
Builders	Lobnitz & Co Ltd, Renfrew
Operators	Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Built	1945–1946
In service	1946–1971
Planned	4
Completed	4
Retired	4
General characteristics
Type	Coastal tanker
Displacement	2,670 long tons (2,713 t)
Length	218 ft (66 m)
Beam	39 ft (12 m)
Draught	15 ft (4.6 m)
Installed power	1,140 indicated horsepower (850 kilowatts)
Propulsion	1 x enclosed, single screw, steam reciprocating engine (252 rpm)
Speed	11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h)
Complement	26
Notes	[1]

History

These vessels were a series of four Admiralty designed coastal tankers which were classified as Port Oilers. They were all built by the Lobnitz & Co Ltd shipbuilding company in Renfrew, Scotland, and all launched during 1946. Displacing just over 2,500 tons, the ships were just over 200 ft in length, just under 40 ft breadth with a 15 ft draught and could achieve 11 knots.^[1]

Three of the class, Birchol, Oakol and Teakol served with the RFA through to the mid-1960s,^[2] although Rowenol which operated out of Malta, was taken out of service in 1971.^[3]

Construction programme

Name	Pennant	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Into Service	Out of Service	Ref
Birchol	A127	Lobnitz & Co Ltd, Renfrew	-	19 February 1946	12 June 1946	1965	[4]
Rowenol	A284		27 September 1945	15 May 1946	21 August 1946	1971	[5]
Oakol	A300		12 December 1945	28 August 1946	1 November 1946	February 1965	[6]
Teakol	A167		27 May 1946	14 November 1946	14 January 1947	1969	[7]

See also

• List of replenishment ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary