Built as a tanker under yard no 468 by the Furness Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Haverton Hill, U.K. for the South Georgia Co. Ltd. (Christian Salvesen & Co.) Leith.
08 February 1955 launched under the name SOUTHERN SATELLITE.
Tonnage 12.481 gross, 6.949 net,17.475 dwt., dim. 556.5 x 71.7 x 31ft.
Powered by a 6 cyl. Doxford oil engine, 6.850 bhp, speed 15 knots. The engine was manufactured by North-Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., Wallsend. Single screw
She has been the only tanker built new for the company, the Salvesen Company was involved in whaling in the Antarctic, and the SOUTHERN SATELITTE had double pipelines throughout so that edible oils and fuel oil could be pumped simultaneously, when she supplied fuel to the factory ships and took of the whale oil. She had also extra accommodation for transporting whale crews. She sailed from England with fuel oil to the Antarctic and returned with whale oil.
When whaling declined in the Antarctic waters, the chance came to charter her out for a long time on a bareboat charter to the Royal Navy on 25 May 1959. Renamed in RFA ORANGELEAF.
By the Royal Navy she was fitted out as a support tanker, and mostly used for the transportation of fuels between MOD depots and fuel terminals, she did belong to the Leaf Class.
1969 She suffered a tank explosion whilst at Falmouth.
1978 Returned to owners and sold July 1978 for scrap to Goldwills (Hong Kong) Ltd., at Singapore.
September 1978 resold to Samsung Co. Seoul and demolition commenced.
Tristan da Cunha 1978 5p sg250, scott?
Sources: From 70 North to 70 South by Graeme Somner. Navicula. Register of Merchant Ships Completed in 1955. http://www.btinternet.com/~warships/Pos ... A/leaf.htm