Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Official Number: 722239
Class: FORT CLASS Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment Ship
Pennant No: A388
Signal Letters: GCOG
Laid down: 9 March 1989
Builder: Swan Hunter, Wallsend
Launched: 1 March 1991
Into Service: 16 July 1993
Out of service: June 2011
Fate: To ship breakers
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: The “one-stop” concept of the two ships in this Class dates back to 1978 with a Staff Target being generated in 1981. Feasibility studies were conducted by both the MoD and Industry, and a Staff Requirement was endorsed at the end of 1983. Ministerial approval was given in 1984 to invite Industry to tender for a provisional Class of six vessels. A wide range of shipbuilders and defence firms were invited to tender, but only two consortia submitted designs – Harland and Wolff (in association with Yarrow Shipbuilders) and Swan Hunter (in association with British Aerospace/Marconi). The tender submitted by Harland and Wolff was technically preferred by both the MoD and external consultants as it offered earlier delivery and a keener price. The Government announced on 24 April 1986 that a “design and build” contract had been awarded to Harland and Wolff to build the first ship of the Class. A second (and final) order was awarded to Swan Hunter the following year
18 December 1987 ordered
1 September 1988 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
1 March 1991 launched by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders, Wallsend as Yard Nr: 129 named FORT GEORGE. Cost £130860 million – source MOD contract records.The Lady Sponsor was Lady Annie Slater, wife of Admiral Sir Jock Slater, the Commander in Chief Fleet
11 March 1991 the Newcastle Journal reported …
February 1992 the ship became affiliated with TS Ganges, the Cambridge Sea Cadet Unit.
16 July 1992 the National Audit Office reported that both of the FORT CLASS AOR’s were subject to delays and cost overruns, FORT GEORGE being four months behind schedule. Delays in the development of the command system for their air defence capability and difficulties in obtaining parts mean that neither AOR will go to sea with full air defence capabilities for some considerable time
9 January 1993 commenced sea trials
24 March 1993 ship formally affiliated with the South Tyneside Council. The Affiliation Cemermony took place at the Council Chamber from 1930hrs to 2200hrs this day.
30 March 1993 delivered by the builders to the RFA
11 April 1993 sailed Newcastle to Portland arriving 13 April 1993
26 April 1993 to 30 April 1993 involved in prelimitary safety training at and around Portland
4 May 1993 sailed Portland to Devonport arrived the same day
24 June 1993 sailed Portland on exercise berthed at Le Havre on 26 June 1993
28 June 1993 sailed Le Havre on exercises until 3 July 1993 when she berthed on Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty, Devonport
14 July 1993 sailed Devonport to Tyne Coal Terminal, arriving on 15 July 1993
16 July 1993 officially dedicated for RFA Service at Tyne Dock, South Shields
20 July 1993 sailed River Tyne via Portland to North Wall, Rosyth arriving on 26 July 1993
20 August 1993 sailed Rosyth via Rona DW Noise Range to A3 Buoy, Portland arriving on 27 August 1993
2 September 1993 sailed Portland to anchor off Bournemouth – the same day
3 September 1993 to D Buoy, Plymouth arriving on 4 September 1993
6 September 1993 moved to No 1 Jetty, Devonport
14 September 1993 sailed Devonport to Santa Cruz de Tenerife arriving alongside on 17 September 1993
21 September 1993 sailed Tenerife for exercises off the Island to Spithead on 3 October 1993
5 October 1993 Captain Anthony F Pitt DSC RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain A F Pitt DSC RFA
7 October 1993 arrived Portsmouth
11 October 1993 sailed Portsmouth to undertake flying trials in the SW Approaches returning to Portsmouth on 25 October 1993
28 October 1993 sailed Portsmouth to Newcastle – Hebburn dry dock arriving 29 October 1993
1 December 1993 Captain Anthony F Pitt DSC RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
5 January 1994 sailed Newcastle to Spithead arriving 6 January 1994
7 January 1994 sailed Spithead for trials returning to Gosport Oil Fuel Depot the same day
10 January 1994 sailed Gosport to undertake First of Class flying trials returning to D Buoy, Plymouth on 19 January 1994
31 January 1994 sailed Devonport for trials in Torbay.
1 February 1994 at anchor in Torbay
5 February 1994 sailed from Torbay to Portland
6 February 1994 sailed Portland for further trials
8 February 1994 arrived and berthing on D Buoy, Plymouth Sound
15 February 1994 moved to Yonderberry Pier, Devonport and then on 19 February 1994 to No 5 basin
18 July 1994 Captain Anthony F Pitt DSC RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
1 August 1994 sailed Yonderberry Pier to run measured mile off Looe and other trials returning to Plymouth Sound on 8 August 1994
10 August 1994 sailed Plymouth Sound for further trials off Portland returning to ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound on 12 August 1994
16 August 1994 sailed Plymouth Sound to Portland for trials and then to Cherbourg arriving on 18 August 1994
22 August 1994 sailed Cherbourg to Portland for trials and then to Devonport No 1 Jetty on 26 August 1994
12 September 1994 Captain Peter J Lannin RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Peter J Lannin RFA
22 September 1994 sailed Plymouth Sound for further trials returning to ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound the next day
8 November 1994 sailed Plymouth Sound for shaft trials returning to No 1 Berth at Devonport on 11 November 1994
18 November 1994 sailed Deconport for full power trials and RAS trials with stores rigs with RFA Black Rover returning to Plymouth Sound on 1 December 1994
8 December 1994 moved from Plymouth Sound to Devonport Dockyard
5 January 1995 sailed Devonport to Portland and BOST returning to Devonport on 7 February 1995
14 February, 1995 sailed Devonport JMC and exercise Strong Resolve achoring at Trondheim Bay on 1 March 1995
2 March 1995 sailed Trondheim Bay to Rosyth Dockyard arriving 4 March 1995
11 March 1995 sailed Rosyth Dockyard to anchor in Kirkcaldy Bay
5 April 1995 sailed Kirkcaldy Bay to Rosyth Dockyard arriving 5 April 1995
7 April 1995 sailed Rosyth Dockyard variously to Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty arriving on 25 April 1995
27 April 1995 moved Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty to Portsmouth Dockyard
29 April 1995 sailed Portsmouth Dockyard to exercise Lemon Peel returning to Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty on 6 May 1995
11 May 1995 sailed Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty variously anchoring in Lyme Bay on 14 May 1995
15 May 1995 sailed Lyme Bay to exercise Hallser Link to alongside at Portland Harbour on 18 May 1995
22 May 1995 sailed Portland Harbour to take part in Exercise Lined Seas returning to Portland Harbour on 9 June 1995
12 June 1995 sailed Portland Harbour to Portsmouth Dockyard arriving 16 June 1995
22 June 1995 sailed Portsmouth Dockyard to No 22 Anchorage at Plymouth Sound arriving on 23 June 1995
7 July 1995 sailed Plymouth to Hebburn on Tyne arriving 9 July 1995
11 September 1995 Captain Peter A Taylor OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
25 September 1995 sailed Hebburn on Tyne on sea trials returning to Hebburn on Tyne the next day
7 October 1995 sailed Hebburn on Tyne to Devonport via Ushant arriving 9 October 1995
31 October 1995 sailed Devonport to Glen Mallen via Ushant arriving 2 November 1995
10 November 1995 involved in an unberthing incident when departing Glen Mallen Jetty resulting very minor grazed paint on the ship’s port quarter and minor disturbance to the corner of the jetty arriving at Plymouth on 17 November 1995
29 November 1995 sailed Plymouth SCXA to Plymouth BOST returning there on 13 December 1995
6 January 1996 at Plymouth
29 January 1996 sailed Plymouth ASWEX96 returning to Plymouth on 8 February 1996
20 February 1996 sailed Plymouth ‘C’ Buoy to Harstad arriving on 24 February 1996
27 February 1996 sailed Harstad on Exercise Battle Griffin with Flying Ops RASing with HMS Sheffield and berthing at Loch Striven on 16 March 1996
20 March 1996 sailed Loch Striven to Portsmouth arriving 27 March 1996
2 April 1996 cold move to Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty – moved back to Portsmouth on 10 April 1996
13 April 1996 sailed Portsmouth to Plymouth.
17 April 1996 sailed Plymouth RASed with RFA Black Rover and embarked 845 Sqn NAS and various RN units arriving at Sunny Point, North Carolina on 26 April 1996
26 April 1996 in collision with tug ‘Charles D McAllister’ while berthing at the Military Ocean Terminal, Sunny Point, North Carolina, United States of America. No apparent damaged suffered by tug. Fort George suffered indentation of approx 250mm localised between and in the region of frames 111 and 112 port side at 2 deck level
29 April 1996 sailed Sunny Point to Fort Storey, Virginia
3 May 1996 sailed Fort Storey, Virginia and RASed with RFA Oakleaf (2) then to Camp Pendleton, Virginia arriving on 4 May 1996
5 May 1996 sailed Camp Pendleton and RASed with RFA Sir Tristram and RFA Sir Galahad (2) and various USS units before anchoring at Morehead City, North Carolina on 7 May 1996
8 May 1996 sailed Morehead City, North Carolina – 12 May 1996 RASed with RFA OAKLEAF (2). 845 Sqd NAS disembarked. RASed with various USS units berthing at Cape Fear River on 15 May 1996
18 May 1996 sailed Cape Fear River to Norfolk Virginia arriving on 20 May 1996
4 June 1966 at Norfolk Virginia (see note 2)
13 June 1996 sailed Norfolk Virginia
17 June 1996 – 19 June 1996 while on passage from Norfolk, Viginia to Plymouth responded to a Mayday Call from the yacht Tiberius. Damage control party on yacht. Released from Mayday call by RCC, Norfolk, Virginia.
22 June 1996 RASed (S) with RFA FORT VICTORIA off Cape Finisterre
24 June 1996 berthed at ‘C’ Buoy Plymouth Sound
15 July 1996 deployed from Plymouth – SCXA – RASing with RFA FORT GRANGE on 18 July 1996 returning to Plymouth Sound on 20 July 1996
22 July 1996 sailed Plymouth – SCXA – Towing Exercise with RFA OLWEN on 25 July 1996 returning to Plymouth on 26 July 1996
12 August 1996 sailed Plymouth to Loch Striven arriving 14 August 1996
23 August 1996 sailed Loch Striven – various exercises with HMS LONDON to Plymouth ‘C’ Buoy on 10 October 1996
22 October 1996 at Plymouth (see note 2)
25 October 1996 sailed Plymouth to anchor in the Solent on the same day
29 October 1996 sailed the Solent to Loch Striven jetty arriving 31 October 1996
16 November 1996 sailed Loch Striven to South Coat Exercise Argas (FOST)
17 November 1996 suffered steering gear failure – repaired
22 November 1996 berthed on ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
27 November 1996 sailed Plymouth Sound on Exercise Lobster Pot returning to ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound on 29 November 1996
5 December 1996 sailed Plymouth Sound on exercise returning the next day to ‘C’ Buoy
11 December 1996 sailed Plymouth Sound ‘C’ Buoy to Glen Mallan Jetty arriving the next day
4 January 1997 berthed at Glen Mallen
6 January 1997 sailed Glen Mallen to Loch Striven arriving the next day
7 January 1997 sailed Loch Striven to Plymouth arriving 9 January 1997 – moored on ‘C’ Buoy
15 January 1997 sailed Plymouth to Valencia, Spain arriving 22 January 1997 sailed as part of Task Group 327.01 – the Ocean Wave 97 Deploymentto the Far East led by the carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS – along with RFA’s DILIGENCE, FORT AUSTIN, OLNA (3), SIR GALAHAD(2), SIR GERAINT and SIR PERCIVALE
27 January 1997 sailed Valencia to Soudha Bay, Crete arriving 13 February 1997 – during this voyage 153 hours were spent sailing on a single engine or being totally stopped with engine problems
18 February 1997 sailed Soudha Bay to Suez Canal – transit the Canal and then to Jebel Ali arriving 2 March 1997
19 March 1997 sailed Jebel Ali to Singapore arriving 10 April 1997
15 April 1997 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong arriving 30 April 1997
3 May 1997 Captain Brian J Waters OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Brian J Waters OBE RFA
6 May 1997 sailed Hong Kong to Pusan, South Korea arriving 24 May 1997
28 May 1997 sailed Pusan, South Korea to Sasebo, Japan arriving 30 May 1997
9 June 1997 sailed Sasebo, Japan to Kota Kinabalu arriving 17 June 1997
21 June 1997 sailed Kota Kinabalu to Freemantle, Australia arriving 15 July 1997
21 July 1997 sailed Freemantle, Australia to Diego Garcia arriving 2 August 1997. During voyage on 22 July 1997 suffered filter problems and sailed 4.6 hours on a single engine. Further filter problems and steering motor problems occured on 27 July 1997
4 August 1997 sailed Diego Garcia to Suez arriving 13 August 1997
14 August 1997 sailed Suez to Soudha Bay, Crete arriving on 16 August 1997
19 August 1997 sailed Soudha Bay, Crete to Portsmouth arriving 27 August 2007
13 September 1997 at Plymouth
19 September 1997 sailed Portsmouth to the Mediterranean on exercises and then Gibraltar arriving 10 October 1997
14 October 1997 sailed Gibraltar to Glen Mallen arriving 20 October 1997
24 October 1997 sailed Glen Mallen on exercises to Loch Striven arriving 7 November 1997
21 November 1997 sailed Loch Striven to Plymouth arriving 24 November 1997
1 December 1997 Captain (E) Kenneth Holder RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer and sailed Plymouth for the Plymouth Exercise area and then to DM Crombie arriving 8 December 1997
17 January 1998 sailed DM Crombie to Loch Striven arriving the next day
19 January 1998 sailed Loch Striven arriving the same day at Glen Mallan
21 January 1998 sailed Glen Mallan
26 January 1998 at Valencia, Spain
3 February 1998 berthed at Gibraltar
5 February 1998 sailed Gibraltar to Toulon arriving 9 February 1998
10 February 1998 sailed Toulon to Akrotiri Bay, Cyprus arriving 17 February 1998
18 February 1998 sailed Akrotiri Bay, Cyprus to Port Said arriving 20 February 1998 for Suez Canal transit
21 February 1998 sailed Suez for Dubai arriving 4 March 1998
6 March 1998 sailed Dubai for Suez and Akrotiri Bay, Cyprus arriving 19 March 1998
19 March 1998 sailed Akrotiri Bay, Cyprus to Split arriving 21 March 1998
23 March 1998 sailed Split to Plymouth berthing on ‘C’ Buoy on 30 March 1998
3 May 1998 sailed Plymouth Sound to La Corunna arriving 9 May 1998
11 May 1998 sailed La Corunna to Crombie arriving 18 May 1998
25 May 1998 sailed Crombie to Yonderberry Pier, Devonport arriving 28 May 1998
6 June 1998 cold move from Yonderbury Pier, Devonport to No 1 Jetty Devonport
18 June 1998 sailed Devonport to Tyne Tees Dockyard arriving 21 June 1998
6 November 1998 sailed Tyne Tees Dockyard to No Jetty, Devonport arriving 10 November 1998
21 November 1998 sailed Devonport to Loch Striven and then Glen Mallan arriving 23 November 1998
2 December 1998 berthed at Glen Mallan
5 December 1998 sailed Glen Mallan to Portland arriving 7 December 1998
7 December 1998 sailed on exercises returning to Portland and then to Plymouth ‘D’ Buoy on 18 December 1998
13 January 1999 sailed ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound on exercise and then to ‘G3’ anchorage Portland arriving 16 January 1999
17 January 1999 sailed Portland from ‘G3’ anchorage again on RAS exercises with three ships until 23 January 1999 berthed on ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
25 January 1999 sailed ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth undertaking further RAS exercises until 29 January 1999 berthing at Glen Mallen
9 February 1999 sailed Glen Mallen undertaking further RAS’s until 14 February 1999 berthing at Loch Striven
16 February 1999 sailed Loch Striven to Glen Mallen arriving 18 February 1999
23 February 1999 sailed Glen Mallen taking part in JMC991 until 1 March 1999 anchoring off Stornaway
1 March 1999 to 4 March 1999 anchored off Stornaway
4 March 1999 sailed Stornaway to Loch Striven arriving on the next day
14 March 1999 sailed Loch Striven for exercises berthing on ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound on 19 March 1999
22 March 1999 sailed Plymouth ‘C’ Buoy for RASing with RN and other Allied ships returning to Plymouth Sound ‘D’ Buoy on 2 April 1999
6 April 1999 sailed Plymouth Sound RASing with RN, RFA and Allied ships berthing at Glen Mallen on 10 April 1999
15 April 1999 moved to Loch Striven
18 April 1999 sailed Loch Striven to RAS with RN ships berthing at Glen Mallen on 26 April 1999
23 May 1999 sailed Glen Mallen to RAS RN, RFA, US and other Allied ships returning to Glen Mallen on 2 June 1999
8 June 1999 sailed Glen Mallen to take part in JMC992 – RASing with RN and other Allied ships returning to Glen Mallen on 18 June 1999. On 13 June 1999 during RAS with HMS Chiddingfold was involved in an emergency breakaway
22 June 1999 sailed Glen Mallen for exercises with NAS 810 and a two day pumpover with RFA Bayleaf
9 July 1999 disembarked flight in Mounts Bay – then moved to Tor Bay
10 July 1999 sailed Tor Bay to Glen Mallen arriving on 12 July 1999
8 August 1999 sailed Glen Mallen to Plymouth berthing on ‘D’ Buoy on 10 August 1999
17 August 1999 sailed ‘D’ Buoy at Plymouth Sound returning to No 23 anchorage in Plymouth Sound on 19 August 1999
20 August 1999 sailed Plymouth Sound to RAS with RN Units and arrived at Alicante, Spain on 25 August 1999
27 August 1999 sailed Alicante, Spain to Augusta, Sicily with RN and Allied Units arriving 30 August 1999
4 September 1999 sailed Augusta, Sicily to Izmir, Turkey after RASing with RN Units arrived 7 September 1999
8 September 1999 sailed Izmir to Saros Bay RASing with RN and Allied Units arriving on 16 September 1999
18 September 1999 sailed Saros Bay to Soudha Bay, Crete RASing with RN and other units arriving on 26 September 1999
7 October 1999 sailed Soudha Bay, Crete
10 October 1999 undertook a pump over with RFA Olna
12 October 1999 anchored at Alexandria, Egypt
13 October 1999 sailed Alexandria, Egypt to RAS (various) returning on 24 October 1999
24 October 1999 moved to Arab’s Gulf and anchored
27 October 1999 sailed Arab’s Gulf to RAS (various) returning to the same anchorage later in the day
29 October 1999 sailed Arab’s Gulf to RAS (various) to Mersin, Turkey on 4 November 1999
16 November 1999 sailed Mersin to pump over with RFA Oakleaf and then anchoring at Akrotiri on 17 November 1999
19 November 1999 sailed Akrotiri to Karystos Bay (anchorage) on 21 Noevmebr 1999
21 November 1999 sailed Karystos Bay to commence Exercise Western Approaches and RAS HMS OCEAN and then to anchor at Thessaloniki on 30 November 1999
1 December 1999 sailed Thessalonnika and RASed with HMS Edinburgh with fuel to Souda Bay on 2 December 1999
3 December 1999 sailed Souda Bay to Malaga, Spain arriving 7 December 1999
9 December 1999 sailed Malaga to Glen Mallen arriving on 12 Decenber 1999
13 January 2000 sailed Glen Mallen to r.v. with Task Group 1800 and RAS (various) until 24 January 2000 detached from Task Group 1800 – then on passage to Augusta, Italy arriving 28 January 2000
1 February 2000 sailed Augusta, Italy to Port Said arriving at anchorage on 4 February 2000
5 February 2000 transit of Suez Canal
6 February 2000 sailed Suez to Persian Gulf RASed enroute (various RN ships) to Dubai arriving on 14 February 2000
17 February 2000 sailed Dubai to Bahain arriving on 22 February 2000 (anchorage) during the passage RASed with HMS Illustrious
23 February 2000 sailed Bahrain – RASed with HMS Illustrious then to anchorage at Fujairah on 3 March 2000
4 March 2000 sailed Fujairah after loading stores, further loading stores at Muscat then to Beira arriving on 11 March 2000
11 March 2000 the ship was sent to Mozambique to help with disaster relief work following devestating floods with embarked assets of 820 NAS – Operation Barwood
14 March 2000 berthed alongside at Beira
15 March 2000 sailed Beira returning variously until 24 March 2000
24 March 2000 sailed Beira to Mombasa arriving on 27 March 2000
30 March 2000 sailed Mombasa to Suez arriving 6 April 2000
7 April 2000 transit Suez Canal northwards
8 April 2000 sailed Port Said to Augusta arriving 10 April 2000
16 April 2000 sailed Augusta to Cadiz – enroute RASed with HMS GLOUCESTER – fuel and stores arriving at Cadiz on 20 April 2000
23 April 2000 sailed Cadiz to Brest – RASed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS twice and conducted flying ops with the carrier on four days arriving Brest on 28 April 2000
30 April 2000 sailed Brest to join Exercise Linked Seas – detached on 7 May 2000 from Exercise Link Seas to join Operation Pallister including a pump over from RFA BAYLEAF (3) on 15 May 2000
May 2000 she accompanied HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to Sierra Leone to support British Operations to restore stabability to that country – Operation Pallister
22 May 2000 berthed at Dakar
23 May 2000 sailed Dakar – Operation Palliser – returning on 31 May 2000
2 June 2000 sailed Dakar – Operation Palliser – returning on 9 June 2000
11 June 2000 sailed Dakar – Operation Palliser
16 June 2000 met RFA BRAMBLELEAF (3) for pump over
18 June 2000 RASed RFA FORT AUSTIN and RFA SIR BEDIVERE
19 June 2000 berthed at Las Palmas, Grand Canaria
22 June 2000 sailed Las Palmas to Plymouth arriving on 26 June 2000 moored to ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
27 June 2000 sailed Plymouth Sound to Spithead arriving the next day
2 July 2000 sailed Spithead to the Irish Sea
3 July 2000 RAsed with RFA BRAMBLELEAF (3)
5 July 2000 berthed on ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
7 July 2000 was presented with a Commendation from the Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir Nigel Essenheigh by Commodore Peter J Lannin for her humanitarian relief work in both Mozambique and Sierra Leone
7 August 2000 berthed at Plymouth
22 August 2000 sailed Plymouth Sound to Loch Striven arriving on 24 August 2000
25 August 2000 sailed Loch Striven to Glen Mallen arriving the same day
2 September 2000 sailed Glen Mallen
7 Septmber 2000 RASed with HMS INVINCIBLE
8 September 2000 berthed ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
10 September 2000 sailed Plymouth Sound
21 September 2000 RASed with RFA BRAMBLELEAF (3)
26 September 2000 Humanitarian aid – in company with the carrier HMS INVINCIBLE, the destroyer HMS LIVERPOOL and the frigate HMS CUMBERLAND she assisted survivors from the Greek ferry EXPRESS SAMINA which had struck prominent rocks off the island of Paros and had quickly sunk with the loss of 76 passengers and crew
28 September 2000 anchored at Akrotri Bay then sailed to Haifa, Israel arriving the next day
3 October 2000 sailed Haifa, Israel
8 October 2000 RASed with RFA BRAMBLELEAF (3)
9 October 2000 anchored at Akrotri Bay
11 October 2000 sailed Akrotri Bay to Augusta arriving 17 October 2000
21 October 2000 sailed Augusta
31 October 2000 RASed with RFA BRAMBLELEAF (3)
13 November 2000 berthed ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
19 November 2000 sailed Plymouth Sound to Poole Bay anchorage arriving the next day
21 November 2000 sailed Poole Bay to Portland Harbour anchorage
23 November 2000 sailed Portland Harbour to Torquay Bay anchorage arriving the next day
27 November 2000 sailed Torquay Bay to Vigo arriving 6 December 2000
7 December 2000 sailed Vigo to Loch Striven arriving 11 December 2000
17 December 2000 sailed Loch Striven to Crombie arriving 19 December 2000
8 January 2001 sailed Crombie for exercises with 655 Squadron Army Air Corp arriving Plymouth ‘D’ Buoy on 17 January 2001
22 January 2001 sailed Plymouth for exercises with 819 Squadron NAS and RASing with various RN units before returning to Plymouth Sound on 1 February 2001
7 February 2001 sailed Devonport to take part in ‘Thursday War’
12 February 2001 RASed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
14 February 2001 alongside at Glen Mallen
22 February 2001 moved berths from Glen Mallen to Loch Striven
2 March 2001 sailed Loch Striven – took part in Exercise Joint Winter – arrived Narvik 8 March 2001
11 March 2001 involved in minor berthing incident at Narvick, Norway when the ships accomodation ladder platform contacted a tubular steel upright supporting iron ore hopper which was over hung the jetty edge
11 March 2001 sailed Narvik – took part in Exercise Tartan Relief – arrived at Glen Mallen to destore 22 March 2001
3 April 2001 sailed Glen Mallen to Devonport arriving alongside 8 April 2001 after being delayed by bad weather
3 May 2001 sailed Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty, Devonport to Tyne Commission Quay arriving 5 May 2001 to await entry into dry dock
3 August 2001 sailed the River Tyne after refit to Devonport to restore arriving on 6 August 2001
13 August 2001 at Devonport
22 August 2001 sailed Devonport to Loch Striven arriving 24 August 2001
28 August 2001 moved berth from Loch Striven to Glen Mallan
14 September 2001 sailed Glen Mallan to Devonport arriving 21 September 2001
26 September 2001 to 28 September 2001 post refit training
1 October 2001 sailed Plymouth Sound to La Corunna arriving 5 October 2001
8 October 2001 sailed La Corunna to Plymouth arriving 12 October 2001
16 October 2001 to 25 October 2001 further training
27 October 2001 sailed Plymouth to Glen Mallen arriving 29 October 2001
8 November 2001 MOD reported that RFA Fort George had been awarded the Royal Navy Wilkinson Sword of Peace for 2000 for her above efforts in Mozambique
19 November 2001 sailed Glen Mallen – suffered engine defect and diverted to Plymouth for repairs arriving 23 November 2001
28 November 2001 sailed Plymouth with FOST staff onboard. In Gibraltar Bay 1 December 2001. FOST staff depart 6 December 2001 when anchored in Akrotiri Bay, Cyprus
6 December 2001 sailed Akrotiri Bay, Cyprus to Port Said arriving 7 December 2001
8 December 2001 transit of the Suez Canal from Port Said arriving Suez the next day
9 December 2001 sailed Suez to Salalah arriving 14 December 2001
16 December 2001 sailed Salalah to Mahe, Seychelles. While on passage King Neptune boarded for a Crossing the line ceremony on 22 December 2001.
23 December 2001 arrived at Mahe, Seychelles
2 January 2002 sailed Mahe, Seychelles to Dubai arriving 11 January 2002
14 January 2002 sailed Dubai to patrol
27 January 2002 while in the Arabian Sea her embarked Sea King helicopters from A Flight, 820 Squadron RNAS rescued 14 crew members of the mv Parvin Sagar a sinking 50 foot dhow – landed at Muscat via an Omani COast Guard Service launch
6 February 2002 took mv Zakat in tow to Dubai arriving on 11 February 2002
25 February 2002 sailed Dubai
11 March 2002 RASed HMS YORK
25 March 2002 moored alongside at Salalah
26 March 2002 sailed Salalah to Fujayrah – anchored off
2 April 2002 sailed Fujayrah after FLYEX anchored again
3 April 2002 RFA DILLIGENCE alongside
4 April 2002 sailed again RASed HMS’s CAMBLETOWN and YORK returning to Dubai No 10 berth on 21 April 2002
1 May 2002 sailed Dubai to Salalah arriving on 18 May 2002
23 May 2002 sailed Salalah
25 May 2002 RASed (stern) HMS YORK
29 May 2002 anchored at Suez
30 May 2002 sailed Suez for Malaga, Spain
1 June 2002 RASed HMS YORK
4 June 2002 berthed alongside at Malaga
10 June 2002 sailed Malaga to Plymouth Sound – arriving 13 June 2002
18 June 2002 sailed Plymouth Sound to Loch Striven arriving 20 June 2002
25 June 2002 berthed at Loch Striven
27 June 2002 sailed Loch Striven for JMC. Embarked 820 Squadron NAS
3 July 2002 RASed HMS WESTMINSTER
16 July 2002 berthed at Crombie Jetty
17 July 2002 berthed at DM Crombie, River Forth
17 August 2002 sailed Crombie to Loch Striven arriving 20 August 2002
22 August 2002 sailed Loch Striven to Crombie Jetty arriving 24 August 2002
31 August 2002 sailed Crombie Jetty to anchor at Falmouth Bay arriving 7 September 2002 and discharged equiment and naval stores
8 September 2002 sailed Falmouth Bay anchorage to Weymouth Bay anchorage arriving 14 September 2002
15 September 2002 sailed Weymouth Bay to Cherbourg arriving 20 September 2002 secured alongside at Quay de France
22 September 2002 sailed Cherbourg to Spithead arriving the same day
23 September 2002 to 27 September 2002 sailed Spithead for Staff Course Sea Days (SCSD) returning to Spithead anchorage each night
28 September 2002 sailed Spithead anchorage to Crombie Jetty arriving 30 September 2002
2 October 2002 berthed at DM, Crombie, River Forth
22 October 2002 sailed Crombie Jetty to embark NAS flight
23 October 2002 returned to Combie Jetty to effect repairs
24 October 2002 sailed Crombie Jetty to Tail of the Bank anchorage arriving on 27 October 2002
28 October 2002 sailed Tail of the Bank for JMC until 7 November 2002
7 November 2002 berthed at Glen Mallen
4 December 2002 sailed Glen Mallen to berth on ‘C’ Buoy Plymouth Sound on 6 December 2002
10 December 2002 sailed Plymouth Sound for SCEXAS returning to Plymouth Sound ‘D’ Buoy on 13 December 2002
16 December 2002 sailed Plymouth for SCEXAS berthing at Victory Jetty, HMNB Portsmouth on 20 December 2002
3 January 2003 sailed HMNB Portsmouth to Southampton 38 Berth – arrived the same day
6 January 2003 sailed Southampton 38 berth for SCEXAS
9 January 2003 RASed with HMS Ocean
12 January 2003 secured alongside at Portland Harbour
14 January 2003 to sea SCEXAS
17 January 2003 secured to ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
21 January 2003 sailed Plymouth SCEXAS as FOST tanker duties returning to ‘C’ Buoy Plymouth Sound on 24 January 2003
31 January 2003 sailed Plymouth SCEXAS as FOST tanker duties returning to No 1 Jetty Devonport Dockyard the next day
8 March 2003 saild Devonport Dockyard to Greenock for refit arriving on 10 March 2003
14 July 2003 Captain (E) Edward M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 August 2003 sailed Greenock for sea trials
6 August 2003 berthed Greenock in Inchgreen Drydock
2 September 2003 sailed Greenock for Sea trials and then berthing alongside Loch Striven Fuel Jetty on 4 September 2003
5 September 2003 sailed Loch Strievn Fuel Jetty to No 1 Jetty, Devonport arriving the next day
21 September 2003 sailed No 1 Jetty, Devonport to G3 anchorage at Portland arriving the next day
24 September 2003 sailed Portland anchorage to Loch Striven Fuel Jetty arriving 26 September 2003
1 October 2003 sailed Loch Striven Fuel Jetty for DG trials at Glen Mallen and then to ‘D’ Buoy Plymouth Sound arriving 12 October 2003
22 October 2003 sailed Plymouth for FOST until returning to ‘D’ Buoy on 29 October 2003
4 November 2003 sailed Plymouth Sound for FOST until returning to ‘C’ Buoy on 8 November 2003
9 November 2003 sailed Plymouth Sound for FOST until returning alongside at Portland on 14 November 2003
16 November 2003 sailed Portland for FOST until returning to Portsmouth on 20 November 2003
25 November 2003 sailed Portsmouth to Las Palmas arriving on 29 November 2003
2 December 2003 sailed Las Palmas to off the Azores on 5 December 2003
6 December 2003 off the Azores RASed with HMS Manchester
HMS MANCHESTER
10 December 2003 berthed alongside at Portland Harbour. Then sailed, same day, to South Shields arriving alongside on 12 December 2003
17 December 2003 sailed South Shields via the Pentland Firth to Glen Mallen arriving 23 December 2003
2 February 2004 at Crombie
6 March 2004 sailed Glen Mallen for Exercise Joint Winter 04 visiting Oslo on 25 March 2004
30 March 2004 sailed Oslo to Crombie arriving 31 March 2004
28 April 2004 sailed Crombie to Loch Striven Fuel Jetty arriving the next day
5 May 2004 sailed Loch Striven Fuel Jetty to Charleston arriving the next day
1 July 2004 at New York
6 July 2004 sailed New York for DM Crombie, River Forth arriving 15 July 2004
21 September 2004 at Plymouth
12 January 2005 sailled Loch Striven
17 January 2005 with four Merlin’s of 820 NAS exercised in the Channel for MARSTRIKE 05 Deployment with HMS INVINCIBLE and several frigates including the French Ship Guepratte
18 January 2005 sailed Portland on Marstrike 05 Deployment
31 January 2005 sailed from Akrotiti Bay, Cyprus for Suez
1 February 2005 arrived at Suez
2 February 200s sailed Suez
10 February 2005 the ship rescued the only Yemeni survivor from a sunken fishing boat in the Red Sea who had been adrift on a crate for a week.
26 February 2005 RASed with FS Guepratte (F714)
March 2005 participated in Exercise Magis Carpet 05 off the Omani coast
17 April 2005 arrived at Loch Striven on completion of Marstrike 05 duties
21 May 2005 arrived at Gibraltar
1 June 2005 sailed from Crombie
6 June 2005 RASed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
8 June 2005 RASed with RFA ORANGELEAF (3)
9 June 2005 RASed with HMS LANCASTER
28 June 2005 with Prince and Princess Michael of Kent embarked, she took part in the International Fleet Review for Trafalgar 200 at Spithead along with RFA’s ARGUS, FORT VICTORIA, ORANGELEAF(3), SIR BEDIVERE, SIR GALAHAD (2), SIR TRISTRAM and WAVE RULER (2)
30 June 2005 sailed Spithead to Portland – anchored Portland anchorage the same day
5 July 2005 sailed sailed Portland Anchorage – overnight flying serials with 702 Sqd RNAS – to Plymouth Sound to load fresh water arriving 6 July 2005
6 July 2005 sailed Plymouth Sound to Brest, France – day and night flying serials with 702 Sqd Fleet Air Arm until 13 July 2005
13 July 2005 berthed at Brest, France
16 July 2005 sailed Brest, France – day and night flying serials with 702 Sqd Fleet Air Arm until 21 July 2005
21 July 2005 day and night flying serials with 702 and 848 Sqds Fleet Air Arm until 22 July 2005
22 July 2005 anchored at Portland sailing the same day to DM Crombie arriving 25 July 2005
4 August 2005 sailed DM Crombie to Leith arriving the same day
8 August 2005 sailed Leith to Brodick Bay anchorage, Isle of Arran arriving 10 August 2005
11 August 2005 sailed Brodick Bay anchorage, Isle of Arran to Spithead arriving 13 August 2005
15 August 2005 sailed Spithead to King George V dry dock, Southampton arriving the same day
12 September 2005 sailed King George V dry dock to Mounts Bay anchorage arriving 14 September 2005
15 September 2005 sailed Mounts Bay anchorage for day and night flying serials with 771 Sqd Fleet Air Arm returning to Mounts Bay anchorage on 17 September 2005
2 October 2005 sailed from Portland
7 October 2005 berthed at the Victory Jetty, Portsmouth
17 October 2005 sailed from Portsmouth to Broderick Bay anchorage
9 November 2005 sailed Portland to Crombie arriving on 13 November 2005
23 November 2005 HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KCVO, Commodore in Chief RFA, visited the ship at the Defence Munitions Centre, Crombie, Fife
9 December 2005 berthed at Crombie
13 January 2006 sailed Crombie to Bigbury Bay arriving 15 January 2006
16 January 2006 sailed Bigbury Bay to Gibraltar arriving 20 January 2006 – made fast on the South Mole
7 February 2006 sailed Gibraltar
11 February 2006 RASed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS while on passage from Gibraltar to Portland arriving 15 February 2006
23 March 2006 sailed Portland .
24 March 2006 embarked 824 Sqn RNAS enroute to Kristiansand for Exercise Brilliant Mariner.
25 March 2006 to 30 March 2006 took part in Exercise Brilliant Manner involving flying with 824 Sqn NAS
31 March 2006 arrived at Kristiansand berthed at No 13 berth
2 April 2006 sailed Kristiansand to continue Exercise Brilliant Manner involving flying with 824 Sqn NAS until 6 April 2006 arriving at Portland
26 April 2006 sailed Portland to Brodick Bay Anchorage arriving on 30 April 2006
2 May 2006 sailed Brodick Bay Anchorage to Loch Striven arriving the same day
22 May 2006 sailed Loch Striven to Portsmouth Middle Slip Jetty arriving 25 May 2006
28 May 2006 sailed Portsmouth Middle Slip Jetty to Portland anchorage arriving the same day
29 May 2006 engaged in exercises in the Portland area until 31 May 2006
1 June 2006 to Plymouth – berthed at Devonport Dockyard
7 June 2006 cold move to Yonderbury Oil Jetty
17 June 2006 sailed Yonderbury Oil Jetty for exercise with 820 Sqd NAS
22 June 2006 RASed with RFA Fort Austin
24 June 2006 anchored off Stornoway until 28 June 2006
29 June 2006 three helicopters from 820 Sqd NAS
30 June 2006 berthed at Glen Mallen JMC
4 July 2006 sailed Glen Mallen to Loch Striven arriving the same day
20 July 2006 sailed Loch Striven to Faslane arriving the same day
25 August 2006 sailed Faslane to Garelochhead arriving the same day
18 September 2006 sailed Garelochhead arriving the same day
26 September 2006 sailed Faslane to Garelochhead arriving the same day
18 October 2006 sailed Garelochhead to Tail of the Bank Anchorage A7 arriving the same day
24 October 2006 sailed Tail of the Bank anchorage to Garelochhead arriving the same day
2 November 2006 sailed Garelochhead to Princess Dock, Birkenhead arriving the next day
19 December 2006 sailed Princess Dock, Birkenhead to Loch Striven arriving the next day
5 January 2007 sailed Loch Striven to Tail of the Bank anchorage the same day
6 January 2007 sailed Tail of the Bank for testing equipment. Serials cancelled due to weather conditions – arrived Plymouth Sound made fast ‘C’ Buoy on 10 January 2007
16 January 2007 sailed Plymouth, conducting flying serials and other exercises. RASed with RFA Black Rover. Then passage to Crombie arriving 30 January 2007
2 March 2007 sailed Crombie to Plymouth Sound – ‘C’ Buoy – arriving 8 March 2007
18 March 2007 sailed Plymouth Sound and RASed with Allied ships, taking part in the Thursday War
19 March 2007 RASed with FGS Bayern – dry hook-up
20 March 2007 RASed with HMS SOUTHAMPTON – dry solids
21 March 2007 RASed with FGS Bayern – emergency break away also RASed with CS Almirante Cochrane – Test weight only
22 March 2007 RASed with FGS Bayern – emergency break away RASed a second time with FGS Bayern four hours later
23 March 2007 returned to Plymouth Sound ‘C’ Buoy
26 March 2007 sailed Plymouth Sound for exercises.
27 March 2007 undertook TOWing Exercises with HMS PORTLAND, Flying Exercise and RASed with FGS Augburg and Admirante Cochrane
28 March 2007 RASed with FGS Bayern and HMS PORTLAND.
29 March 2007 RASed with HMS PORTLAND (twice) and HMS SOUTHAMPTON
30 March 2007 exercise finished then on passage to Crombie arriving 2 April 2007
20 April 2007 sailed Crombie for exercise Neptune Warrior with 820 NAS and RASing with with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS (on 4 occasions), HMS MANCHESTER (twice) and HMS KENT(once).
3 May 2007 returned to Loch Striven
7 May 2007 sailed Loch Striven conducting flying operations
9 May 2007 RASed with HMS MANCHESTER
10 May 2007 arrived at Stavanger, Norway
13 May 2007 sailed Stavanger, Norway taking part in Exercise Noble Mariner in the Baltic Sea returning to Loch Striven on 29 May 2007
16 May 2007 RASed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS -Avcat & Diesel
19 May 2007 RASed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS (twice)
23 May RASed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
1 June 2007 sailed Loch Striven to Glen Mallen arriving the same day
22 June 2007 sailed Glen Mallen on exercises in the Irish Sea, Bristol Channel, off Plymouth returning to the Firth of Clyde (No 6 Anchorage) on 1 July 2007
24 June 2007 arrived at Devonport from Loch Long
27 June 2007 RASed with HMS’s ILLUSTRIOUS and MANCHESTER
2 July 2007 sailed No 6 Anchorage, Firth of Clyde to Glen Mallen arriving the same day.
5 July 2007 sailed Glen Mallen to Mounts Bay anchorage arriving 12 July 2007
July 2007 with FOST
12 July 2007 moved from Mounts Bay anchorage to Falmouth Bay Anchorage and then to ‘C’ Buoy Plymouth Sound arriving on 13 July 2007
16 July 2007 sailed Plymouth ‘C’ Buoy returning to the same buoy the same day
19 July 2007 sailed Plymouth ‘C’ Buoy returning to the same buoy the next day
23 July 2007 sailed Plymouth ‘C’ Buoy returning to No 21 Anchorage, S Plymouth Break Water on 26 July 2007
24 July 2007 RASed – jackstay – with the Chilean Navy Frigate Admirante Lynch and RASed – fuel – with SAS Amatola
25 July 2007 RASed with HMS’s ARGYLE, NOTTINGHAM and SAS Amatola
27 July 2007 sailed No 21 Anchorage, S Plymouth Break Water to ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
3 August 2007 sailed ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound RASing with HMS Illustrious, HMS Clyde anchoring at Kirkcaldy Bay K2 Anchorage on 12 August 2007
6 August 2007 RASed with HMS’s ILLUSTRIOUS and CLYDE
13 August 2007 sailed Kirkcaldy Bay K2 Anchorage to Crombie arriving the same day
18 September 2007 sailed Crombie to Loch Striven OFJ arriving 21 September 2007
23 September 2007 sailed Loch Striven OFJ to Mounts Bay Anchorage arriving 24 September 2007
24 September 2007 sailed Mounts Bay anchorage via Adriatic to take part in Exercise Noble Midas undertaking RAS’s with various HM warships
1 October 2007 Humanitarian assistance: whilst enroute to a major NATO exercise in the Adriatic, she provided medical assistance to a passenger on the Italian ferry RIVIERA DEL COVERO and one of her embarked helicopters airlifted the patient to Split
2 October 2007 RASed with HMS’s CHATHAM and YORK
5 October 2007 RASed with HMS’s YORK, CHATHAM and SPS CANARIAS
7 October 2007 RASed with HMS’s ILLUSTRIOUS
15 October 2007 passed Gibraltar westbound to anchor in Mounts Bay on 18 October 2007
19 October 2007 sailed Mounts Bay anchorage to Crombie arriving 21 October 2007
25 October 2007 sailed Crombie for exercises returning there on 27 October 2007
28 October 2007 sailed Crombie – RASed with HMS Illustrious
30 October 2007 RASed with RFA Orangeleaf
2 November 2007 arrived Leixoes
7 November 2007 sailed Leixoes to Rota arriving on 14 November 2007
17 November 2007 sailed Rota returning there on 23 November 2007
26 November 2007 sailed Rota to Loch Striven arriving 30 November 2007
5 January 2008 sailed Loch Striven to Glen Mallen arriving the same day
18 February 2008 sailed from Liverpool
22 February 2008 at Devonport
26 February 2008 sailed from Devonport
5 March 2008 arrived at Devonport
1 April 2008 in Plymouth Sound
5 April 2008 berthed at Devonport Dockyard
9 May 2008 arrived Birkenhead and entered No:5 Dock for refit
June 2008 in refit at Northwestern Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders Limited (NSL) in Birkenhead, Wirral
22 October 2008 Captain James Murchie RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
20 November 2008 one man and one woman were injured on board and hospitalised while the ship was under refit at Cammell Laird Shipyard, Birkenhead. The Police were investigating
28 November 2008 towed from No: 5 Dock to Gladstone Dock, Birkenhead
15 December 2008 Captain (E) Robert Settle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 December 2008 sailed Gladstone Dock, Liverpool for post refit sea trials and then to Loch Striven arriving on 19 December 2008
11 February 2009 sailed Loch Striven to Portsmouth arriving 13 February 2009
26 February 2009 sailed Portsmouth to Plymouth (5 & 6 Berth) arriving the next day
5 March 2009 sailed Plymouth to Portland arriving the next day for FOST
10 March 2009 sailed Portland to Plymouth Sound on ‘D’ Buoy arriving the same day
13 March 2009 sailed Plymouth Sound returning the same evening to ‘C’ Buoy
16 March 2009 sailed Plymouth Sound returning the next day to ‘C’ Buoy
18 March 2009 sailed Plymouth Sound returning the 20 March 2009 to ‘C’ Buoy
23 March 2009 sailed Plymouth Sound returning the same evening to ‘C’ Buoy
31 March 2009 sailed Plymouth Sound returning the next day to ‘C’ Buoy
1 April 2009 commenced OST until 14 April 2009 berthed at No 1 Jetty, Devonport
15 April 2009 sailed No 1 Jetty, Devonport to Portland arriving 17 April 2009
20 April 2009 sailed Portland to Yonderberry Oil Jetty, Devonport arriving 22 April 2009
24 April 2009 sailed Yonderberry Oil Jetty, Devonport to Loch Striven arriving 26 April 2009
Captain Paul Kehoe RFA
8 May 2009 Captain D P Kehoe RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
15 May 2009 sailed Loch Striven to Crombie arriving 17 May 2009
24 May 2009 sailed Crombie to take up duties as FOST tanker SCEXA until 29 May 2009 arrived at Plymouth Sound ‘C’ Buoy
1 June 2009 continued as FOST tanker SCEXA
2 June 2009 as FOST tanker RASed HMS Monmouth
4 June 2009 as FOST tanker RASed HMS Monmouth
5 June 2009 secured to ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound
9 June 2009 sailed Plymouth to Mayport USA arriving 20 June 2009
24 June 2009 sailed Mayport to take up duites as APT(N)
25 June 2009 RASed HNLMS Van Amstel
29 June 2009 RASed with HMS IRON DUKE
1 July 2009 berthed alongside at Fort Lauderdale
5 July 2009 sailed Fort Lauderdale
6 July 2009 RASed RFA LARGS BAY
13 July 2009 RASed USS Hawes (FFG53)
15 July 2009 anchored at Little Bay, Montserrat
20 July 2009 sailed Montserrat
21 July 2009 RASed with HMS IRON DUKE
24 July 2009 RASed HMS MANCHESTER
26 July 2009 anchored Crocus Bay, Anguilla
29 July 2009 sailed Anguilla to Curacao arriving 3 August 2009
9 August 2009 sailed Curacao
10 August 2009 RASed HMAS BALLARAT
11 August 2009 RASed HMAS SYDNEY – emergency breakaway
17 August 2009 RASed with HMS IRON DUKE
21 August 2009 arrived Guantanamo Bay
25 August 2009 sailed Guantanamo Bay
28 August 2009 RASed with HMS IRON DUKE
2 September 2009 RASed with HMS IRON DUKE
7 September 2009 berthed at Trinidad
10 September 2009 sailed Trinidad
12 September 2009 RASed USS Hawes (FFG53)
15 September 2009 with HMS Iron Duke and a unit of the US Coast Guard they stopped a vessel mv Crystal found to be carrying five and a half tons of cocaine in 212 bales.
The drugs found hidden onboard were reported as being worth £240 million on the streets of the UK
16 September 2009 RASed with HMS IRON DUKE – emergency breakaway
18 September 2009 anchored off St Kitts
21 September 2009 sailed St Kitts to undertake further APT(N) duties
24 September 2009 anchored off Grenada
30 September 2009 sailed Grenada to undertake further APT(N) duties
5 October 2009 berthed at Curacao
9 October 2009 sailed Curacao to RAS with HMS IRON DUKE and then to return to UK waters
21 October 2009 RASed with HMS DARING
23 October 2009 berthed at Crombie
18 November 2009 sailed Crombie to Portland arriving the next day
20 November 2009 at Portland small fire onboard – extinguished
21 November 2009 off Portland flying ops conducted
22 November 2009 off Portland flying ops conducted – casualty on flight deck – moved to hospital for observation
23 November 2009 to 27 November 2009 between Portland and Plymouth flying ops conducted
27 November 2009 RASed with HMS ARK ROYAL
29 November 2009 FOST tanker variously deployed until 11 December 2009 when secured on D Buoy at Plymouth
30 November 2009 RASed with HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS CHATHAM
1 December 2009 RASed with HMS ST ALBANS and with FGS Niedersachen – emergency breakaway with the FGS ship
2 December 2009 RASed with FGS Niedersachen
3 December 2009 RASed with HMS CHATHAM and with FGS Niedersachen
8 December 2009 – RASed with HMS ARK ROYAL
9 December 2009 RASed with FGS Niedersachen twice – emergency breakawy on both occasions. RASed with HMS LIVERPOOL
10 December 2009 RASed with HMS ST. ALBANS and HMS ARK ROYAL
14 December 2009 sailed Plymouth. RASed with HMS ARK ROYAL – emergency breakaway
15 December 2009 RASed with HMS ST ALBANS
16 December 2009 RASed and VERTREP with HMS ARK ROYAL – stores
18 December 2009 alongside at Loch Striven
5 January 2010 sailed Loch Striven to Glen Mallan
24 January 2010 sailed Glen Mallen – Scexas to Mounts Bay arriving 5 February 2010
27 January 2010 RASed with HMS LIVERPOOL – emergency break away
28 January 2010 RASed with HMS LIVERPOOL
5 February 2010 sailed Mounts Bay to Crombie arriving 8 February 2010
March 2010 Captain Dale Worthington OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Dale Worthington OBE RFA
15 April 2010 sailed Crombie to RAS with RN and other Allied naval units arriving at Loch Striven on 20 April 2010
22 April 2010 sailed Loch Striven as temporary flagship for the initial phase of the Auriga 10 Deployment until the arrival of the carrier HMS ARK ROYAL
16 April 2010 RASed with HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS LIVERPOOL
18 April 2010 RASed with RASed with HMS ARK ROYAL, HMS LIVERPOOL, HMS SUTHERLAND, HMS CUMBERLAND and other Allied ships
26 April 2010 RASed with USS Barry (DDG52) and HMS SUTHERLAND
30 April 2010 RASed with USS Barry (DDG52) and HMS SUTHERLAND
1 May 2010 RASed with USS Barry (DDG52)
USS Barry (DDG52)
5 May 2010 RASed with HMS SUTHERLAND
6 May 2010 RASed with USS Barry and HMS SUTHERLAND
10 May 2010 RASed with USS Barry and HMS SUTHERLAND
11 May 2010 with other units (RN, US and French) of the Auriga multinational naval task group arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, USA for a three day visit
14 May 2010 sailed Norfolk, Virginia to take part in Exercise Capella Strike
17 May 2010 Jackstay transfer to HMS SUTHERLAND
18 May 2010 RASed USS Barry and HMS SUTHERLAND
20 May 2010 RASed and V/TREP with HMS ARK ROYAL
21 May 2010 RASed with USS Barry
23 May 2010 RASed with HMS SUTHERLAND and HMS LIVERPOOL
24 May 2010 RASed and V/TREP with HMS ARK ROYAL
25 May 2010 Jackstay transfer with HMS LIVERPOOL and RASed with USS Barry
26 May 2010 RASed with HMS LIVERPOOL and HMS ARK ROYAL
27 May 2010 pump over with USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196)
29 May 2010 berthed at Mayport, Florida
4 June 2010 sailed Mayport, Florida to take part in Exercise Seaswiti RASing with HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS LIVERPOOL
11 June 2010 berthed at Norfolk, Virginia
14 June 2010 sailed Norfolk Virginia to take part in Exercise Halcyon Rendevous berthing at Halifax NS on 23 June 2010
28 June 2010 anchored in the Bedford Basin, Halifax, Nova Scotia during the International Fleet Review
30 June 2010 sailed Halifax taking part in Exercise Kearsage arriving at Port Canaveral on 27 July 2010
2 August 2010 sailed Port Canaveral, RASed with various RN units arriving 13 August 2010 when 814 Squadron NAS disembarked thence to Crombie arriving 16 August 2010. During the deployment the ship conducted 75 fuelling replenishments at sea and 19 stores replenishments at sea
20 August 2010 sailed Crombie to Loch Striven via Rothsay Sound arriving on 23 August 2010
27 August 2010 sailed Loch Striven to Crombie arriving 29 August 2010
22 September 2010 sailed Crombie to Weymouth Bay arriving 24 September 2010
27 September 2010 sailed Weymouth Bay to Loch Striven arriving 1 October 2010
3 October 2010 sailed Loch Striven to take part in Exercise Joint Warrier 1 & 2 returning to Loch Striven on 13 October 2010 during the exercised with RN and other Allied units
13 October 2010 sailed Loch Striven to Broderick Bay anchorage arriving 15 October 2010
17 October 2010 sailed Broderick Bay to Glen Mallen and Tail of Bank anchorage
19 October 2010 announced by the Defence Secretary that she was to be withdrawn from service in April 2011 as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review along with RFA’s BAYLEAF(3) and LARGS BAY
25 October 2010 secured alongside at Glen Mallen
2 November 2010 sailed Glen Mallen to Loch Striven arriving the same day
3 November 2010 sailed Loch Striven to Lyme Bay and then to Crombie arriving 20 November 2010
8 December 2010 sailed Crombie to the River Tyne
9 December 2010 berthed at Northumbrian Quay, North Tyneside
13 December 2010 sailed North Tyneside to Garelochhead arriving 15 December 2010 – on film HERE
6 January 2011 sailed Garelochhead to Loch Striven arriving the same day
28 January 2011 sailed Loch Striven to Plymouth Sound
1 February 2011 berthed at Devonport to de-store prior to being laid up
22 February 2011 having destored sailed Devonport for Liverpool arriving 23 February 2011
RFA Fort George sailing Plymouth for the last time on 22 February 2011
June 2011 donations amounting to £1,244.21 were made to Secretary of the Eyemouth RNLI life boat and to the Commanding Officer of the South Shields Sea Cadet Unit – TS Collingwood from the officers and crew of the Fort George by Chief Officer (X) Martyn Bunker RFA the ships last (XO). TS Collingwood was the ship’s affiliated Sea Cadet Unit.
24 July 2012 offered for sale this day by the MOD Disposal Services Authority ‘As is’ at Liverpool
16 January 2013 sailed Liverpool under tow of the tug Christos XXIII this day to shipbreakers at Aliaga, Turkey
February 2013 berthed at Leyal Recycling Ltd, Aliaga, Turkey: –
Courtesy and © of Leyal Recycling Ltd
Notes:
1. The Navy had a requirement for at least 4 of this Class and had originally hoped for 6, but Defence Budgets reduced this to a Class of just 2
2. Locations kindly provided by 2nd Cook Ian Fisher RFA (Retired) from his Discharge Book