Commodore RFA

The RFA is managed by the Commodore RFA who is directly responsible to Commander in Chief Fleet, as a Fleet Type Commander, for the day to day administration and operation of the RFA Flotilla.

History

By the end of the 19th century, wooden hulls and sails had given way to ironclads and steam and the Royal Navy’s supply chain spread across the world with a network of base ports, coaling stations and depots. These were serviced, in the main, by Merchant Navy ships, owned or chartered by the Admiralty. Then, in 1905 the Lords Commissioners issued an instruction that stated: “Auxiliaries which belong to the Admiralty will be styled ‘Royal Fleet Auxiliaries’.... those on charter will be styled ‘Merchant Fleet Auxiliaries’.” Thus the RFA came into being.

It began by carrying coal bunkers and other stores, acquiring a tanker fleet as British warships became oil burning during World War I. The RFA saw service in every naval theatre of operations (from the Arctic to the Pacific) in the Second World War, including the Maltese, Russian and other convoys. Since then it has supported the Royal Navy and the Army in Korea, Suez, Cyprus, Beira, Kuwait, Borneo, Belize, Aden and in the Icelandic Wars. During the Falklands Conflict in 1982, the RFA spearheaded logistic support for the Task Force, losing RFA Sir Galahad to heavy air attack at Fitzroy.

Throughout its history RFA officers and men have distinguished themselves, many being decorated for their gallantry and fortitude. More recently, the RFA played a fundamental role in the Gulf War supporting the British task Force, and in the Adriatic supporting the UN Task Force.

Replenishment at Sea (RAS)

Despite having a network of re-supply and refuelling stations, the Royal Navy wanted the facility to refuel and resupply its ships while at sea, and this was initially carried out with stores and bags of coal passed from the stern of the supply ship to the bow of the warship by a system of ropes and blocks. Later, techniques were developed for transfer of fuel oil, still using the astern method, with oil pumped over through a flexible bronze hose. It was not until the Second World War that replenishment at sea became well established. The German method of transferring fuel in rubber hoses was adapted and experience, particularly gained from Pacific operations, led to the abeam method of fuel replenishment and the heavy jackstay method for transfer of stores.

Today, replenishment at sea is a routine operation, carried out from RFA ships in operations, exercises and deployments throughout the world. It remains, nevertheless, an evolution calling for the highest standards of seamanship as the ships sail in close proximity, linked together, in daytime or at night and in all weathers.

The Personnel

The RFA employs over 2000 civilian officers and ratings, and is one of the biggest employers in British Shipping. UK personnel serve under RFA conditions of service which contain clauses that take account of the Service centred around replenishment at sea, and also provide that the crew stay with the ship in the event of its being directed to an area where warlike hazards may arise. Personnel follow the traditional training paths of their Merchant Navy counterparts to obtain professional qualifications, but with a substantial overlay of Navy training to develop the skills needed in an operational environment. Many RFA ships carry naval or military parties for tasks such as the operation and maintenance of helicopters.

The Ships

RFAs are distinguished by their grey colour and their flag, the blue ensign defaced by an upright gold anchor. Reflecting this task as their core role, the RFA’s current flotilla of eighteen ships contains thirteen tankers and stores ships. Two new purpose-built Fast Fleet Tankers joined the flotilla in 2002 - RFA Wave Knight, launched at Barrow in September 2000, and RFA Wave Ruler, launched at Govan in February 2001. These 31,500-tonne ships are diesel-electric powered, with three refueling rigs, and aviation facilities to operate Merlin helicopters. They are proving to be a great asset to the Royal Navy Fleet.

The four fleet support tankers, RFAs Bayleaf, Brambleleaf, Oakleaf, and Orangeleaf were all built as commercial tankers, but underwent conversion to bring them to RFA standards and equip them for naval support when they entered RFA service. One of this class is normally based permanently in the Gulf to support the Royal Navy’s Armilla Patrol ships. The three small fleet tankers, RFAs Black Rover, Gold Rover, and Grey Rover complete the tanker fleet. These ships, too, are normally deployed away for long periods, one to support the Falkland Islands Guard ship and another with West Indies Guard ship. RFAs Fort Victoria and Fort George are combined fleet support tanker and stores ships, designed to give “one-stop” support to naval task groups. Large ships of 31,500 tonnes displacement, they are able to supply both fuel and stores to ships at sea. The other two Fort class ships, RFAs Fort Austin and Fort Rosalie, are fleet support stores ships to replenish warships with stores such as food, spare parts and ammunition.

All the tankers and stores ships, with the exception of the Leaf-class, have large flight-decks, and facilities to embark helicopters. These can be used to carry out re-supply by transferring underslung loads, but can also operate from the RFAs as anti-submarine or troop carriers, thus making the RFA ships “force multipliers”, additional operational units to the task force. RFA Fort George and her sister-ship RFA Fort Victoria routinely operate with a Royal Navy air squadron with all the aircrews and support staff embarked.

RFA Argus’ primary role is to provide operational flying training for Royal Navy aircrews. More than two-thirds of her length is given over to a five-spot flight deck, enabling her to operate all types of helicopters. The ship is effectively a small aircraft carrier, with a flying control position, and her two lifts built into the flight deck serve four hangar spaces below, where embarked aircraft are serviced and maintained. She can also function as an operational helicopter carrier, particularly in the amphibious warfare role, and as a logistic ship, able to transport cargo and vehicles in the hangars and on the deck. This flexible ship has one other important secondary role –that of primary casualty reception facility. Equipped with a hospital complex comprising four operating theatres and 100 beds, she can accept casualties flown straight out to the ship by helicopter.

The role of the RFA’s three landing ships logistic (LSLs) is to provide sea-borne logistic transport and amphibious support to the British Army and Royal Marines. They are able to transport large numbers of troops and equipment to a secure port or to a beach-head. In a port they unload as conventional roll on-roll off ferries, but at a beach-head they may either unload onto smaller landing craft or beach themselves directly on shore. These highly versatile ships continue to form a key part of Britain’s amphibious capability and are frequently deployed with British forces on NATO and UN operations.

This class of ship entered service with the RFA back in the mid-sixties. RFA Sir Tristam was extensively re-built in 1985, following severe damage sustained in the Falklands War. Her sister-ship, RFA Sir Galahad, was lost in that conflict, and the present ship of that name, built to replace her, entered service in 1988. All of these ships are to be replaced with a new generation of landing ships over the next four years. The third ship of the class, Sir Bedivere, recently completed a three year ship life extension programme, equipping her for a further 12 years life.

The new landing ships will be larger vessels of some 16,000 tonne displacement, more versatile and capable than their predecessors. They will be able to carry 36 battle tanks on their main vehicle deck, and their internal floodable dock and large flight deck will provide fast onload and offload on amphibious operations. These ships will be named as Bay Class. The first of class, RFA Largs Bay, was floated out and named in August 2003 and should enter RFA service in 2007. The three others will enter service by the following year.

Forward repair is the final element of the RFA’s capability. This is provided by RFA Diligence, a complex ship fitted with workshops and equipment to cater for a wide range of repair and maintenance requirements at the front line of maritime operations. While battle damage repair is her wartime role, the ship is used extensively in her forward support role, acting as mother ship in support of Royal Navy units - usually minehunters or submarines - on distant deployments. Besides her heavy repair facilities, she is equipped to provide auxiliary electrical power, fuel, fresh water, feed water, and crew accommodation.

Over the years the RFA has developed into a complex multi-purpose flotilla, providing the Royal Navy with replenishment, training and forward repair capabilities, and the Army and Royal Marines with secure sea-borne logistical support. Despite all the changes one thing remains constant. The RFA continues to be manned by British seafarers who are part of the British Merchant Navy.