RFA Plumleaf (A78)

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

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

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 & awards	Falkland Islands 1982
Fate	Scrapped in Kaohsiung 17 December 1986
General characteristics
Class & 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)

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]