View source for RFA Bayleaf (A109)

{{Short description|1982 Leaf-class support tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary}}
{{Other ships|RFA Bayleaf}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:RFA Bayleaf 2008.JPG|300px|RFA Bayleaf]]
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag= [[File:British-Royal-Fleet-Auxiliary-Ensign.svg|70px|RFA Ensign]]
|Ship name=RFA ''Bayleaf''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship owner=
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry=
|Ship route=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Cammell Laird]], [[Birkenhead]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=1366
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down= 1 February 1975
|Ship launched=27 October 1981
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=25 March 1982
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=21 April 2011
|Ship in service=26 March 1982
|Ship out of service=28 April 2011
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|7342031}}
*[[Pennant number]]: A109
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=*[[Operation Corporate|Falkland Islands 1982]]
*[[Operation Granby|Kuwait 1991]]
*[[Operation Telic|Al Faw 2003]]
|Ship fate= [[Ship breaking|Scrapped]] 2012
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=[[File:Bayleaf Ships Badge.jpg|100px]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=Leaf-class support tanker
|Ship type=
|Ship tonnage= *{{GRT|20086}}
*{{NRT|11522}}
*{{DWT|29999}}
|Ship displacement= {{Convert|37390|t|LT|0|lk=out|abbr=on}}
|Ship length= {{convert|170.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|25.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship height= {{convert|43.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= {{convert|11|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth= {{convert|15.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship decks=
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship power= {{Convert|14000|hp|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*2 x 14-cylinder [[Crossley Pielstick]] PC2 V14 (14PC 2V) diesels
*one shaft
|Ship speed={{Convert|15|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=
|Ship complement=56
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*2 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon 20 mm guns]]
*4 × [[7.62 mm caliber|7.62 mm]] machine guns
|Ship armour=
|Ship aircraft=None
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label= 
|partof=
|codes=
|commanders=
|operations=*[[Operation Corporate]]
*[[Operation Granby]]
*[[Operation Telic]]
|victories=
|awards=
}}
|}
'''RFA ''Bayleaf'' (A109)''' was a [[Leaf class tanker|Leaf-class]] support tanker of the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] (RFA), the naval [[auxiliary fleet]] of the [[United Kingdom]], which served with the fleet for 30 years, tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to [[Royal Navy]] vessels around the world.

She was involved in the [[Falklands War]] in 1982, the [[Gulf War]] in 1991, and from January 2003 to April 2003 she was deployed for [[Operation Telic]] (Op TELIC), the codename for the United Kingdom's military operations in Iraq. ''Bayleaf'' had three Leaf-class sisters {{ship|RFA|Oakleaf|A111|2}}, {{ship|RFA|Brambleleaf|A81|2}} and {{ship|RFA|Orangeleaf|A110|2}} and all four were originally designed as commercial [[Tanker (ship)|tankers]] and underwent major conversions to bring them up to RFA standards and equip them for naval support.

She was the third Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel to bear [[RFA Bayleaf|the name]].

==Construction==
''Bayleaf'' was one of four ships ordered from [[Cammell Laird]] at [[Birkenhead]] in 1973, and laid down in 1975 as the ''Hudson Sound''. When the ordering company ran into financial difficulties, the ships were laid up, and later were offered for sale or charter. The ship was finally launched on 27 October 1981, the Lady Sponsor was Mrs Angela Pritchard, the wife of Mr K Pritchard, Director General of the Naval Stores and Transport, [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD). In January 1982 Captain A.E. Hunter, RFA, was appointed as Master and between 20 and 23 March she ran trials and when completed on 25 March she was then [[bareboat charter]]ed to the MoD and renamed ''Bayleaf''.<ref name="historicalrfa">{{cite web |url= http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-bayleaf |title=RFA ''Bayleaf'' | first1=Christopher J. |last1=White |first2=Peter |last2=Robinson |work=historicalrfa.org |year=2011 |accessdate=25 February 2011}}</ref>

== Operational history ==

=== 1980s ===

She was almost immediately put into active service, and sailed to [[Gibraltar]] and [[Ascension Island]] en route for service in "Operation Corporate" &ndash; the [[Falklands War]] &ndash; in company with the Royal Navy's amphibious warfare ship {{HMS|Intrepid|L11|2}}. She arrived at the [[Total Exclusion Zone]] on 9 June 1982, finally returning to HMMB Devonport on 31 August.<ref name="historicalrfa"/>

On 30 September 1982 ''Bayleaf'' sailed from [[HMNB Devonport]] in support of the Dartmouth Training Squadron's [[Mediterranean]] deployment. She arrived at [[Gibraltar]] on 4 October and then throughout the months of October and November she called at the [[Italy|Italian]] city of [[Naples]], followed by [[Brindisi]] in Southern Italy, then onto [[Salonika]] in [[Greece]], next to [[Istanbul]] in Turkey and then the city and seaport of [[Trieste]] in Italy, before returning to the United Kingdom, arriving at [[Plymouth]] on 24 November.<ref name="historicalrfa Bayleaf">{{Cite web|title=RFA Bayleaf - Historical RFA |url=https://historicalrfa.uk/rfa-bayleaf/ |website=historicalrfa.uk |access-date=4 July 2024}}</ref>
[[File:RFA Bayleaf (A109) underway in 1983.JPEG|thumb|left|''Bayleaf'' underway during exercise "Distant Drum", in 1983.]]
In December 1982 she sailed from Plymouth to [[Liverpool]] and entered refit, exiting in March 1983, then sailed back to Plymouth to re equip. ''Bayleaf'' spent two weeks in April undergoing [[Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training#Training regime|Basic Operational Sea Training]] (BOST) at [[Portland Harbour|Portland]] and then spent May in the Mediterranean taking part in Exercise “Distant Drum”. Between June and August, ''Bayleaf'' sailed from [[HMNB Portsmouth]] to [[Singapore]] and back, via [[Port Said]] and [[Bahrain]]. By the end of 1983 she was back in Gibraltar.<ref name="historicalrfa Bayleaf"/>

=== 1990s ===

In January 1991 she sailed from the United Kingdom to relieve sister Leaf-class support tanker {{Ship|RFA|Orangeleaf|A110|2}}, during "[[Operation Granby]]" &ndash; the First Gulf War.<ref name="historicalrfa"/>

On 1 March 1997 she collided with the Royal Yacht {{Ship|HMY|Britannia}} while carrying out a [[replenishment at sea]] (RAS) off [[Karachi]].<ref name="historicalrfa"/>

=== 2000s ===

In 2001 ''Bayleaf'' was purchased outright by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD).<ref name="historicalrfa"/>

On 28 June 2001 she deployed to relieve sister Leaf-class support tanker ''Orangeleaf'' and was then permanently based in the [[Persian Gulf|Gulf]]. During June and August she performed [[replenishment at sea]] (RAS) with various RN, [[Royal Canadian Navy|HMCS]], [[United States Navy|USN]] and other Allied ships, returning to either anchor off [[Dubai]] or berthing at [[Port Rashid]].<ref name="historicalrfa Bayleaf"/> In September she took part in Exercise Argonaut 2001, which included [[Exercise Saif Sareea]], together with the {{sclass|Invincible|aircraft carrier|1}} {{HMS|Illustrious|R06|2}}, fourteen other Royal Navy warships and the RFA's [[Replenishment oiler|replenishment ships]] {{ship|RFA|Fort Victoria|A387|2}}, {{ship|RFA|Fort Rosalie|A385|2}} and {{ship|RFA|Fort Austin|A386|2}}, the [[Round Table class landing ship logistics]] {{ship|RFA|Sir Tristram|L3505|2}}, {{ship|RFA|Sir Bedivere|L3004|2}}, {{ship|RFA|Sir Percivale|L3036|2}} and {{ship|RFA|Sir Galahad|1987|2}} (II), sister Leaf class {{ship|RFA|Oakleaf|A111|2}} and the forward repair ship {{Ship|RFA|Diligence|A132|2}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/2000s/2001/navy-news-november-2001-issue-568.pdf |title=Heat fails to blunt Fearless |magazine=Navy News |access-date=5 July 2024}}</ref>

On 5 September 2002 she provided humanitarian aid, rescuing five crew from the [[Guinea|Guinean]] cargo ship MV ''Falcon'' which sank in the [[Indian Ocean]], and landed them at Dubai.{{sfn|Adams|Smith|2005|p=161}}

From January to April 2003 she was deployed on [[Operation Telic]] &ndash; the Second Gulf War.<ref name="historicalrfa"/>
[[File:USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) and RFA Bayleaf (A109).jpg|thumb|left|RFA Bayleaf (left) with {{USS|Carter Hall|LSD-50|6}} (right) in 2006]]
On 2 June she began refit at [[Singapore]] and on 23 June Captain Alistair Swatridge, RFA, was appointed as [[Commanding Officer]]. Over 11, 12 and 17 August, ''Bayleaf'' underwent post-refit [[sea trial]]s, and between 8 and 10 September she underwent [[Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training|Fleet Operational Standards and Training]] (FOST) in the [[South China Sea]]. Between October 2003 and April 2006 she deployed from and berthed at Dubai, Port Rashid and [[Jebel Ali]], taking part in Exercise Khunjar Hadd between 5 and 9 June 2004 and conducting replenishment at sea (RAS) with many RN, RFA, [[Royal New Zealand Navy|RNZN]], RAN, USN and other Allied naval vessels including with the amphibious assault ship {{USS|Nassau|LHA-4}} and the dock landing ship {{USS|Carter Hall|LSD-50}} on 19 February 2006, in the [[Persian Gulf]].  She arrived at [[Sembawang]], Singapore, on 8 May 2006 for a refit and on 28 August Captain (X) Kim Watts, RFA, was appointed as commanding officer. Just over a fortnight later, on 14 September, she sailed out of Kepple Yard, Singapore for sea trials and then onto Sembawang, arriving 15 September 2006.<ref name="historicalrfa Bayleaf"/>

On 1 November 2008 she sailed from HMNB Devonport and entered [[Cammell Laird]], Merseyside, three days later, for a £9.1 m refit.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cammell Laird completes work on £9.1m MOD contract |url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/13531-cammell-laird-completes-work-on-9.1m-mod-contract |website=thebusinessdesk.com |access-date=9 July 2024}}</ref> On 7 April 2009, Captain Charles F. Simmons, RFA, was appointed as commanding officer and on 5 June she sailed from Birkenhead, on completion of the refit, to HMNB Devonport. Later in June ''Bayleaf'' sailed to [[Loch Striven]], a sea loch in [[Argyll and Bute]], Scotland, to undertake various trials there. On 17 July, Captain (X) Nigel Budd, RFA, was appointed as commanding officer.<ref name="historicalrfa Bayleaf"/>

In autumn 2009 ''Bayleaf'' underwent FOST at Portland and upon completion sailed to [[Soudha Bay]], Crete, before transiting the [[Suez Canal]] arriving at Bahrain on 18 November.

=== 2010s ===

In January 2010 she deployed as the Gulf Tanker, Captain S.P. Donkersly, RFA, was appointed as the new commanding officer on 21 April 2010 and during May, June and July she RAS’ed with many RN, [[Royal Australian Navy|RAN]], USN and various other Allied naval vessels.<ref name="historicalrfa Bayleaf"/>

Following the reductions to the Royal Navy fleet outlined in the 2010 "[[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|Strategic Defence and Security Review]]", published in October 2010, it was decided that ''Bayleaf'' would be paid off in April 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hmforces.co.uk/Join_The_Forces/articles/992-more-vessels-of-the-royal-fleet-auxiliary---part-2 |title=More Vessels of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary |first=Peter |last=Padley |work=hmforces.co.uk |year=2011 |accessdate=25 February 2011}}</ref>

On 20 October 2010, Captain Charles F. Simmons, RFA, was appointed as commanding officer and ''Bayleaf'' continued with various duties until 13 February 2011 when she sailed from Dubai eventually arriving at HMNB Portsmouth on 15 April 2011.<ref name="historicalrfa"/>

== Decommissioning and fate ==

The [[Blue Ensign#Defaced Blue Ensign|Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ensign]] was lowered for the final time on 20 April 2011 for ''Bayleaf'', she was removed from the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary#Fleet|RFA Flotilla]] and a ceremony was held to commemorate all she and her crew have achieved since 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1120-trusty-tanker-bayleaf-bows-out.aspx|title=Trusty tanker Bayleaf bows out|author=Navy News|date=22 March 2011|accessdate=27 March 2011|archive-date=26 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326061032/http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1120-trusty-tanker-bayleaf-bows-out.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

LEYAL Ship Recycling Ltd, a [[Turkey|Turkish]] company, were awarded preferred bidder status for the disposal of the vessel in 2012. Following this, the ex-RFA ''Bayleaf'' was towed out of Portsmouth on 2 August 2012. She arrived in [[Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard|Aliağa]], Turkey, on 22 August where the ship was [[Ship breaking|broken up]]. On 10 December it was reported she had been dismantled and recycled, taking four months to complete.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Recycling of Ex-RFA Bayleaf |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7e3d8340f0b6230268a11c/20141029-Ex_RFA_Bayleaf_re-design.pdf |website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk |access-date=9 July 2024}}</ref>

== Battle honours ==

On 12 April 1985 RFA ''Bayleaf'' was awarded her [[Falklands War|Falkland Islands]] 1982 [[Battle honour]] by Mrs Angela Pritchard, wife of Director General Stores and Transport (Navy) (DGST (N)).<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2011 |title=Operation Corporate Battle Honour Awards - Historical RFA |url=https://historicalrfa.uk/operation-corporate-battle-honour-awards/ |website=historicalrfa.uk |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MOD Acronyms and Abbreviations |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a757b41e5274a1622e2221e/acronyms_and_abbreviations_dec08.pdf |website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Bristol Group]]
* [[List of replenishment ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary]]

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Adams |first1=Thomas A |last2=Smith |first2=James R |title= The Royal Fleet Auxiliary A Century of Service |year=2005 |publisher= Chatham Publishing |location= [[London]], UK |isbn= 1-86176-259-3 |language=en}}

{{Refend}}

{{Leaf-class tanker}}
{{Falklands War British ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bayleaf}}
[[Category:Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary]]
[[Category:Leaf-class tankers]]
[[Category:Falklands War naval ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1981 ships]]