Replenishment oiler
A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval
The
History
The development of the "oiler" paralleled the change from coal- to oil-fired boilers in warships. Prior to the adoption of oil fired machinery, navies could extend the range of their ships either by maintaining
One of the first generation of "blue-water" navy oiler support vessels was the British RFA Kharki, active 1911 in the run-up to the
Modern examples of the fast combat support ship include the large British Fort class, displacing 31,066 long tons (31,565 t) and measuring 669 feet (204 m) in length and the United States' Supply-class USNS Arctic, which displaces 48,800 long tons (49,600 t) and has an overall length of 754 feet (230 m).
Characteristics
For all but the largest navies, replenishment oilers are typically one of the largest ships in the fleet. Such ships are designed to carry large amounts of fuel and dry stores for the support of naval operations far away from port. Replenishment oilers are also equipped with more extensive medical and dental facilities than smaller ships can provide.
Such ships are equipped with multiple refueling gantries to refuel and resupply multiple ships at a time. The process of refueling and supplying ships at sea is called underway replenishment. Furthermore, such ships often are designed with helicopter decks and hangars. This allows the operation of rotary-wing aircraft, which allows the resupply of ships by helicopter. This process is called vertical replenishment. These ships, when operating in concert with surface groups, can act as an aviation maintenance platform where helicopters receive more extensive maintenance than can be provided by the smaller hangars of the escorting ships.
Their size, additional facilities, and ability to support the operation of other vessels, means that replenishment oilers have been used as command ships, with some ships, such as the French Durance class, this capability being built into the vessels from the start.
Armament
Because the replenishment oiler is not a combat unit, but rather a support vessel, such ships are often lightly armed, usually with self-defense systems (such as the
Operators
- Argentine Navy operates a single Durance-class tanker purchased from France.
- Royal Australian Navy operates two Supply-class replenishment oilers.
- Brazilian Navy operates the Almirante Gastão Motta
- Royal Canadian Navy operates the MV Asterix.
- Chilean Navy operates a single Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler purchased from the United States, and the Araucano.
- Fusu-class replenishment ship.
- ROCS Wu Yi and ROCS Panshih
- Colombian National Navy operates two Lüneburg-classreplenishment ships, purchased from Germany.
- Egyptian Navy operates a single Lüneburg-class replenishment ship, purchased from Germany (being supplemented or replaced by two Fort Rosalie-class replenishment ships, purchased from the United Kingdom).
- French Navy operates one Jacques Chevallier-class and two Durance-class tankers
- German Navy operates six Elbe-class replenishment ships, two Rhön-class tankers, and three Berlin-class replenishment ships.
- Hellenic Navy operates a single Etna-class replenishment oiler and two Lüneburg-class replenishment ships, purchased from Germany.
- Indian Navy operates two Deepak-class fleet tankers, one Aditya-class auxiliary ship, and a single Komandarm Fedko-class oiler.
- Indonesian Navy operates a single Rover-class tanker purchased from the United Kingdom, two Tarakan-class tankers and more on order.
- Italian Navy operates a single Etna-class replenishment oiler and two Stromboli-class replenishment oilers.
- Islamic Republic of Iran Navy operates two Bandar Abbas-class replenishment ships.
- Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force operates three Towada-class replenishment ships and two Mashū-class replenishment ships.
- Republic of Korea Navy operates three Cheonji-class fast combat support ships, and the ROKS Soyang
- Royal Netherlands Navy operates HNLMS Karel Doorman
- Royal New Zealand Navy operates HMNZS Aotearoa.
- Royal Norwegian Navy operates HNoMS Maud.
- Fuqing-class replenishment tanker and the PNS Moawin
- Peruvian Navy operates the BAP Tacna
- Polish Navy operates the ORP Bałtyk
- Russian Navy operates three Boris Chilikin-class fleet oilers, one Dora-class tanker, two Uda-class tankers, one Iman-class tanker, four Altay-class tankers, three Dubna-class tankers, two Kaliningradneft-class tankers, and a single Project 23130 replenishment oiler.
- Royal Saudi Navy operates two Durance-class tankers.
- South African Navy operates the SAS Drakensberg
- Spanish Navy operates the Patiño and Cantabria.
- Royal Thai Navy operates the HTMS Similan
- Turkish Navy operates two Akar-class replenishment oilers and one Derya class.
- British Royal Fleet Auxiliary operates one Fort Victoria-class replenishment oiler, four Tide-class tankers and two Wave-class tankers (maintained in reserve).
- United States Military Sealift Command operates two John Lewis-class replenishment oilers, fifteen Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oilers, fourteen Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ships, and two Supply-classfast combat support ships.
- National Navy of Uruguay operates a single Lüneburg-class replenishment ship purchased from Germany
- Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela operates the RBNV Ciudad Bolívar
Former operators
- Philippine Navy decommissioned BRP Lake Caliraya in 2020.
- NRP Bérrio in 2020. Two new Replenishment Oilers will be received until 2028.[4]
- Ukrainian Navy decommissioned its only Boris Chilikin-class fleet oiler in 2001.
In the
The first fleet oilers
The style "USNS" and prefix "T" identify a ship as being operated by a civilian crew under the
Current classes
There are three classes of vessels currently in commissioned service:
Both the Henry J. Kaiser-class and Supply class will be replaced by the John Lewis-class ships.
References
- ^ "Report to Congress on Navy Light Replenishment Oiler". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. April 2023.
- ^ "Tankers Built in U.S. During World War II", American Merchant Marine at War (usmm.org). Retrieved June 9, 2017.
- ^ Sawyer, L. A.; Mitchell, W. H. (1974). Victory ships and tankers; the history of the "Victory" type cargo ships and of the tankers built in the United States of America during World War II. Cornell Maritime Press, Cambridge, Maryland, 1974.
- ^ "Marinha vai propor ao próximo Governo a compra de mais dois submarinos". Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "UnRep". Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division. US Navy. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
- ^ "Fleet Oilers". Hyperwar. Ibiblio. 2002-09-01. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
- ^ a b "Fleet Replenishment Oilers". US Navy Fact File. US Navy. 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
- ^ "Fleet Oilers". HyperwarUS Navy Fact File. Ibiblio. 2002-09-01. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
- ^ "Fast Combat Support Ships". US Navy Fact File. US Navy. 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
External links
- DANFS USS KALAMAZOO (AOR-6) website
- US Naval Vessel Register
- KMS Dithmarschen
- Spanish Navy Patino Class AOR
- HMAS Success, AOR-304