RFA ships have been involved in naval operations, humanitarian and life saving actions in both peace and war since the Service’s formation in 1905.

Details of the operations or actions where RFA’s were involved are listed below.

This list is far from complete and as further research identifies additional operations, humanitarian and life saving actions these will be added with as much back ground details as can be ascertained: –

1954 – Operation Elba Isle

On 10 January 1954 a De Havilland Comet aircraft registration G-ALYP operated by BOAC crashed into the sea off the Island of Elba killing all those onboard. A number of Royal Navy ships together with RFA SEA SALVOR were deployed…
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1993 – Operation Sharp Guard

NATO/WEU OPERATION SHARP GUARD Operation to monitor and enforce compliance with UN sanctions in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 713, 757, 787 , 820 and 943. Combined Task Force 440, in particular, was to prevent all unauthorized shipping…
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RFA ORANGELEAF MOD04101338

1940 Operation Pilgrim

 Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic, but fortunately was dissuaded from this by…
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1940 Operation Tonic

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic, but fortunately was dissuaded from this by…
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1940 Operation Thruster

  Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic, but fortunately was dissuaded from this…
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1940 Operation Springboard

  Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic, but fortunately was dissuaded from this…
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1940 Operation Sackbut

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic, but fortunately was dissuaded from this by…
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1940 Operation Gray

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic, but fortunately was dissuaded from this by…
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1940 Operation Challenge

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic, but fortunately was dissuaded from this by…
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1940 Operation Brisk

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic, but fortunately was dissuaded from this by…
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1954 – Operation Elba Isle

On 10 January 1954 a De Havilland Comet aircraft registration G-ALYP operated by BOAC crashed into the sea off the Island of Elba killing all those onboard. A number of…
View more

1993 – Operation Sharp Guard

RFA ORANGELEAF MOD04101338
NATO/WEU OPERATION SHARP GUARD Operation to monitor and enforce compliance with UN sanctions in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 713, 757, 787 , 820 and 943. Combined Task…
View more

1940 Operation Pilgrim

 Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands…
View more

1940 Operation Tonic

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands…
View more

1940 Operation Thruster

  Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde…
View more

1940 Operation Springboard

  Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde…
View more

1940 Operation Sackbut

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands…
View more

1940 Operation Gray

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands…
View more

1940 Operation Challenge

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands…
View more

1940 Operation Brisk

Planned Operations Against the Atlantic Islands in WW2 Early in WW2 Adolf Hitler conceived plans known as Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar and the Azores, Canary and Cape Verde Islands…
View more