RFA Olna (A216)

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

History
United Kingdom
Name	RFA Olna
Builder	Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend
Launched	28 December 1944
Commissioned	27 April 1945 (as HMS Olna)
In service	20 March 1946 (transferred to the RFA)
Out of service	November 1966
Identification	Pennant number A216
Fate	Scrapped in Spain, 1967
General characteristics
Type	Fleet tanker
Tonnage	12,660 GRT 7,412 NRT 17,500 DWT
Displacement	17,000 t
Length	583 ft 5 in (177.83 m)
Beam	70 ft 2 in (21.39 m)
Draught	31 ft 8 in (9.65 m)
Depth	40 ft 6 in (12.34 m)
Installed power	11,000 shp (8,200 kW)
Propulsion	2 x British Thomson-Houston steam turbines 1 × shaft
Speed	17 knots (31.5 km/h)
Complement	77 RFA 183 RN
Armament	1 x 4-inch gun 4 x 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns 8 x 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns

RFA Olna (A216) was one of two ships built for Shell. She was originally named Hyalina and taken up for Fleet Service soon after building.

She was taken into service as a fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). The ship was built for service with the British Pacific Fleet against Japan, and was commissioned into the Royal Navy for that purpose. However, after the Second World War the ship was quickly transferred to the RFA, making the move in 1946. Olna was crucial to the development of replenishment at sea doctrines for the British fleet, and saw service up until 1966.

In 1955 when serving with the Mediterranean fleet, Olna was used in the making of the film Battle of the River Plate to depict the German supply ship Altmark.

References

• RFA Olna at RFA Ships