While the RFA is struggling to get ships to sea, the most active vessel in its fleet, RFA Tidesurge has been sustaining allied warships in the Atlantic and High North.
After conducting a training RAS with HMS Somerset on 30th August, RFA Tidesurge went to Scotland to take on fuel at Loch Striven. She left the Clyde on 5th September and has spent the last two months operating in the Atlantic, Denmark Strait and the Arctic, covering 13,500 miles.
The tanker transferred thousands of litres of fuel to warships that would otherwise have to return to port. The Tide-class also carry limited dry stores including food, consumables, and everyday essentials which were transferred either on a pallet by Jackstay or by VERTREP. Tidesurge did not have her own embarked helicopter for this deployment.

Tidesurge’s recent activities are quite routine and have been carried out by the RFA going back decades but supporting warships operating in these areas is a critical role. This type of deployment attracts little attention as warships and their support vessels are at sea for long periods and make few port visits. While some of the warships are transiting to join exercises or conducting general patrols, the majority are focused on monitoring Russian submarine activity. European navies are short of naval auxiliaries that can provide fuel at sea and the RFA is a key enabler. Down to just two active tankers, the declining numbers has an impact across NATO and the US Navy cannot always be relied upon to take up the slack.

RFA sailors must be able to conduct demanding RAS serials at anytime day or night, often in very poor weather conditions that are frequently encountered in these areas. For many of Tidesurge’s crew, this was their first experience of operating inside the Arctic Circle (66° 30’N latitude) and they were awarded ‘blue noses’ in a traditional ceremony with a visit from King Neptune. Other highlights included observing the Northern Lights, icebergs and the ship being accompanied by whales, dolphins and other marine mammals. Tidesurge will return to Portland shortly for maintenance and a crew change before heading back to sea again.
Great job done.
👍
Slightly off topic, but RFA Cardigan Bay left Portland a couple of weeks ago. I presume to Falmouth, but can’t confirm that bit.
Not OT at all. At least she has moved hopefully to her scheduled refitting?
Thanks for the update
A great advert for the RFA which is a lot more than a floating fuel station.
An absolutely bit ad l capability that costs peanuts but changes the RN from a coastal navy to one with legs.
Even if we went back to a Cold War ASW posture in North Atlantic you still need carriers and RFA to keep them on station for protracted periods.
Perhaps a reminder that the RFA supports NATO could be mentioned to whoever is dragging their heels on RFA pay. It’s no good having a NATO first slogan and not making best use of it to clear blockages.
All
As the RN only have fuel tankers and our NATO allies only have solid stores ships..
Ex-BBC children’s TV presenter Noel Edmunds should now be brought in…
…to run, each Saturday morning, a new version of his much-loved phone-in programme:
Peter (Irate Taxpayer)
PS and what is happening with the procurement of our vital new FSSS ships ??????
wait and see I guess for the moment:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrj7d0pe2go
A little picky but liquids are measured in cubes (cubic meters) not litres “The tanker transferred thousands of litres of fuel to warships”.
Just like all these articles we read nowadays saying kilometres, last I checked we use miles in the UK (OS grid on maps being the exception), nautical miles for, well nautical stuff, and knots as a measure of speed for ships and aircraft.
Russ
Please remember that one of our NATO allies – those good old boys over in the US of A – landed a dozen men on the moon over half a century ago……
……….using only feet, inches and pounds.
Peter (Irate Taxpayer)
Peter, we don’t organise RAS’s using litres in NATO.