Contents

RFA Cherryleaf (A82)

Cherryleaf in August 1975
History
Name	Overseas Adventurer (1963–73; 1980–81)[1] RFA Cherryleaf (1973–80)[1] Petrostar XVI[2]
Owner	London and Overseas Bulk Carriers (1963–81)[1] Petrostar Co Ltd (1981–86)[2]
Operator	London & Overseas Freighters (1963–73; 1980–81)[1] Royal Fleet Auxiliary (1973–80)[1]
Port of registry	London (1963–73; 1980–81) (1973–80) (1981–87)
Builder	Nordseewerke[1]
Yard number	321[1]
Launched	16 October 1962[1]
Completed	21 February 1963[1]
Decommissioned	1980 (RFA)[2]
Renamed	Overseas Adventurer (1962–73; 1980–81)[1] Petrostar XVI (1981–87)[2]
Identification	IMO number: 5407681 Pennant number: A82
Fate	Constructive total loss 1986[3] scrapped 1987[1]
General characteristics
Class and type	Leaf-class tanker
Tonnage	14,027 GRT[1] 7,764 NRT[1] 19,770 DWT
Displacement	18,560 t (18,267 long tons)
Length	559 ft 4 in (170.48 m)[1]
Beam	72 ft (22 m)[1]
Draught	29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)[1]
Depth	39 ft 4 in (11.99 m)
Installed power	8,400 bhp[1]
Propulsion	7–cylinder[4] MAN diesel[1]
Speed	14.5 knots (26.9 km/h)[1]

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

She was built by NordseewerkeinEmden, 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 BahraintoSharjah 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]

• ACIG (2004). "Tanker War, 1980-88". Arabian Peninsula & Persian Gulf Database. ACIG: 26.^{[dead link]}
• 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.

• "London & Overseas Freighters 1941-97". LOF–News.^{[dead link]}

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