RFA Tidesurge (A138)
RFA Tidesurge in Cornwall on 27 March 2018.
| |
History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | RFA Tidesurge |
Ordered | February 2012 |
Builder | DSME |
Laid down | 7 December 2015 |
Launched | 4 June 2016 |
Sponsored by | Lady Joanna Woodcock |
In service | 20 February 2019 |
Homeport | Marchwood Military Port, Southampton[1] |
Identification |
|
Status | In service |
General characteristics [2] | |
Class and type | Tide-class fast fleet tanker |
Displacement | 37,000 t (36,000 long tons) |
Length | 200.9 m (659 ft 1 in) |
Beam | 28.6 m (93 ft 10 in)[3] |
Draft | 10 m (32 ft 10 in) |
Propulsion | CODELOD |
Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
Range | 18,200 nautical miles (33,700 km; 20,900 mi) |
Capacity |
|
Complement | 63 plus 46 non-crew embarked persons (Royal Marines, flight crew, trainees) |
Sensors and processing systems |
|
Armament |
|
Aircraft carried | 1 medium helicopter with full hangar facilities (Merlin / Wildcat), flight deck capable of landing Chinook-size helicopter |
RFA Tidesurge is a
Construction
The third-in-class, Tidesurge was built by
Operational history
On 9 May 2019, Tidesurge joined two other RFA ships, Fort Victoria and Tideforce, to assist with the latter's sea trials. The manoeuvres involved the first "Tide-to-Tide" RAS in history.[13] Two months later, Tidesurge assisted with the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker, named Grace I, which was believed to be heading to Syria. Royal Marines from 42 Commando fast-roped onto the oil tanker via a Wildcat helicopter which launched from Tidesurge. The oil tanker was impounded in Gibraltar, an act which was condemned by Iran as an "act of piracy", before later being released.[14] Between entering service and August, Tidesurge had seen a "surge in demand", operating in the Norwegian Sea, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Circle, including with an 814 Naval Air Squadron Merlin helicopter on board.[15]
In October 2019, Tidesurge participated in
In January 2020, Tidesurge underwent general repair and maintenance at
References
- ^ "FOI(A) regarding the Royal Navy" (PDF). What do they know?. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ "Tide Class MARS Tanker". BMT. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^ "DSME Announced as Winning Bid for Royal Navy's MARS Tanker Competition". Defencepro Daily. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^ "Kelvin Hughes to supply equipment for 4 MARS tankers vessels for Royal Fleet Auxiliary". navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ^ "Last ditch defence – the Phalanx close-in weapon system in focus". Navy Lookout. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ "The all-rounder – the 30mm Automated Small Calibre Gun in focus". Navy Lookout. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ a b "RFA Tidesurge Welcomed to the Fleet". Royal Navy. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ a b c "RFA Tidesurge". Historical RFA. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Arrival of tanker Tidesurge is important milestone for RFA". The Packet. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Third Tide-Class Tanker – RFA Tidesurge – Arrives in UK". DE&S. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Trials to Launch and Land Chinooks on RFA Tidesurge". Royal Navy. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Tankers". TheyWorkForYou. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ships Link-up During Sea Trials". Royal Navy. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Action off Gibraltar". Save the Royal Navy. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Surge in Demand for New Tanker". Royal Navy. 22 August 2019.
- ^ "RFA Tidesurge Replenishes US Destroyer". Royal Navy. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "RFA Tidesurge Surges into Shipyard". Cammell Laird. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ @NavyLookout (October 8, 2023). "@NavyLookout. @RFATidesurge refit underway in No. 5 dock @CammellLaird" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 October 2023 – via Twitter.