Cape Town, Singapore, Darwin, Busan, Goa and Mombasa. Not your usual holiday itinerary.
But then this is no holiday – it’s a few of the ports visited by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Tidespring, which has completed the majority of the Royal Navy’s premier deployment of the year, Carrier Strike Group 25.
The tanker has provided fuel and other supplies to British warships, led by Fleet Flagship HMS Prince of Wales, and those of our allies and partners, with her presence making the task group truly expeditionary and sparing the need for the warships to make frequent port calls.
Since leaving the UK in April this year, Tidespring has completed 79 Replenishments at Sea (RAS) – an average of three each week – supplying 30,120 cubic metres of diesel – the equivalent of filling 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or the tanks of over half a million cars– and 4,200 cubic metres of aviation fuel.
“This is my last appointment after 44 years of service and I could not have asked for a better team, with their commitment, drive and their ability to keep the UK Carrier Strike Group and allied forces moving,” said the tanker’s Commanding Officer, Captain Mike Lawrence.
The RFA, which this year has celebrated its 120th anniversary, has been superbly represented by RFA Tidespring, which has so far covered 36,358 nautical miles – more than one and a half times around the globe – with at least another 13,457 to go before Christmas.
Among her milestones are:
- Operated with naval forces from the UK, USA, Canada, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Japan, India, and Indonesia.
- Visited Capetown in South Africa, Duqm in Oman, Singapore, Darwin in Australia (all twice), Busan in South Korea, Goa in India and Mombasa in Kenya.
- Operated with USS George Washington Carrier Battle Group, USS America Amphibious Group, Japanese Ship Kaga Naval Group in the Indo-Pacific region and aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and supporting Indian Naval Force during Exercise Konkan across the Indian Ocean.
- Completed three crew changes, with two Commanding Officers
- Embarked and operated with one Merlin Mk 2 from 814NAS and operated Drones from 700X NAS.
- Has embarked Royal Marines from 42 Commando
Completed a Freedom of Navigation passage via the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. - Crossed the Equator three times north to south with the usual Ceremony for King Neptune (and have one more crossing to make).
- Navigated the Archipelagic Sea Lanes through the Arafura Sea, Banda Sea and Molucca Sea.
- Operated in the North and South Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Timor Sea, Philippine Sea and Pacific.