At the time the first ship of the class was ordered for the Royal Australian Navy, it was to be the largest lighter ever built in Australia.

[2] The lighters were capable of carrying up to 1,204 tons of oil fuel, which was transferred to other vessels using four pumps.

The lighters were also fitted with accommodation spaces and a galley on their upper deck, and carried a 15-foot (4.6 m) dinghy.

[2] Eight ships of the class were eventually constructed, of which two were allocated names.

[2] OFLs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 1207 and 1208 remained in use with the Royal Australian Navy as of 1983.