Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 363145
Class: ROVER CLASS Small Fleet Tanker
Pennant No: A271
Laid down:
Builder: Swan Hunter, Wallsend
Launched: 7 March 1973
Into Service: 22 March 1974
Out of service: 6 March 2017
Fate: Scrapped
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: In 1967, tenders were invited for what eventually turned out to be five ships in this Class. Owing to unsatisfactory performance from the original engines, which had been a political decision, the first three ships in the Class were re-engined in 1974. The final two ships differed slightly from the earlier three and had improved accommodation standards and different stern anchor arrangements
7 March 1973 launched by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd, Wallsend as Yard Nr: 59 named GOLD ROVER. The Lady Sponsor was Mrs M. Lovett, the wife of Mr P.J. Lovett MBE, the then DST (AS)
6 December 1973 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her
9 March 1974 Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA appointed as Master
Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA
22 March 1974 completed at a cost of £7.7m and accepted in the RFA service
23 March 1974 sailed the River Tyne to the Isle of Grain berthing on BP No: 5 berth. Loaded 3,899 tons of diesel as cargo
24 March 1974 sailed the Isle of Grain
25 March 1974 anchored at Spithead
26 March 1974 berthed alongside the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
30 March 1974 loaded 347 tons of AVCAT as cargo
9 April 1974 sailed Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
11 April 1974 sailed Plymouth Sound to Gibraltar
17 April 1974 berthed on Nr: 50 berth on the South Arm at Gibraltar Dockyard
19 April 1974 loaded 1,249 tons of FFO as cargo
23 April 1974 sailed Gibraltar
26 April 1974 arrived at Portland
1 May 1974 to 3 May 1974 deployed in the Portland Exercise Area
3 May 1974 berthed alongside at Portland
6 May 1974 to 10 May 1974 deployed in the Portland Exercise Area
10 May 1974 secured to A2 Buoy at Portland Harbour
13 May 1974 deployed to the Portland Exercise Area
17 May 1974 arrived at Plymouth Sound
20 May 1974 deployed to the Plymouth Exercise Area
21 May 1974 at Plymouth Sound with RMAS WATERFOWL alongside receiving 48 tons of sullage
RMAS Waterfowl
22 May 1974 to 26 May 1974 deployed to the Plymouth and Portland Exercise Areas
26 May 1974 arrived at Portland
28 May 1974 deployed to the Portland Exercise Area
1 June 1974 secured to A2 Buoy, Portland Harbour
3 June 1974 to 12 June 1974 deployed to the Portland Exercise Area
13 June 1974 sailed Portland to Gibraltar Exercise Area
16 June 1974 arrived at Gibraltar moored alongside at 22/23 berths
17 June 1974 sailed Gibraltar to the Gibraltar Exercise Area
27 June 1974 moored alongside at 22 berth, Gibraltar
2 July 1974 sailed Gibraltar to Civitavicchia
5 July 1974 berthed at Civitavicchia
8 July 1974 sailed Civitavicchia to Gaeta
9 July 1974 sailed Gaeta to Elba, Portoferracio
10 July 1974 until 30 September 1974 stood by off Cyprus following a coup d’etat attempt and subsequent Turkish invasion with a Task Force including the carrier HMS HERMES with 41 Commando Royal Marines and RFA’s OLNA (3), OLWEN (2) and REGENT
13 July 1974 sailed Elba to Malta
15 July 1974 berthed at Malta
16 July 1974 sailed Malta to Livorno and the Malta Exercise Area
21 July 1974 sailed for Cyprus
22 July 1975 along with RFA’s TARBATNESS and TIDESPRING (1) sailed from the U.K. as part of Task Group 317.3 led by the guided missile destroyer HMS GLAMORGAN
1 August 1975 with RFA’s TARBATNESS and TIDESPRING (1) berthed at Malta as part of Task Group 317.3 led by the guided missile destroyer HMS GLAMORGAN
4 August 1975 with RFA’s TARBATNESS and TIDESPRING (1) sailed from Malta for exercises with HMS GLAMORGAN and other RN ships
October 1975 involved in exercises with Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy ships in the South China Sea
20 October 1975 during a helicopter transfer a Wessex HAS1 number XM328 had her main rotor blade damaged when a mail sack blew through the rotor disc
24 June 1977 to 29 June 1977 took part in the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead with eight other RFA’s and units of the Royal Navy and foreign navies
16 August 1977 Captain Rex A Cooper RFA appointed as Master
5 September 1977 carried out successful feasibility abeam refuelling trials with the British merchant tanker BRITISH TAMAR which was earmarked for duties in wartime as a Convoy Escort Oiler, to establish whether or not an RFA oiler could load its own cargo tanks by accepting fuel from commercial products tankers underway without the need for prior fitting of specialised RAS equipment on the commercial vessel
18 June 1978 at Portsmouth Harbour berthed outboard of RFA PLUMLEAF (2)
© Tim Webb – used with permission
3 April 1979 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
7 April 1979 at Faslane
9 May 1980 at Belfast
25 July 1980 at Portland
12 November 1980 at Portland
8 May 1981 at Portland
10 July 1981 at Portland
11 September 1981 at Portland as FOST tanker
11 November 1981 at Portland
25 March 1982 at Portland
8 April 1982 at Gibraltar
1982 did not see service during the Falklands Conflict as she was in Singapore at the time
25 July 1982 at Portland
29 July 1982 assisted a Special Forces demonstration in Poole Bay
1 August 1982 at Portland
14 December 1982 at Portland
28 January 1983 at Portland
22 June 1984 in Portland Exercise area
25 June 1984 sailed Portland
29 June 1984 berthed at Portland
2 July 1984 sailed Portland
7 July 1984 berthed at Portland
11 July 1984 sailed Portland
13 July 1984 berthed at Portland
16 July 1984 sailed Portland
19 July 1984 berthed at Portland
23 July 1984 sailed Portland
2 August 1984 berthed at Portland
13 August 1984 sailed Portland
15 August 1984 berthed at Copenhagen
20 August 1984 sailed from Copenhagen
23 August 1984 berthed at Plymouth and engaged in Plymouth Navy Days until 28 August 1984
28 August 1984 sailed Plymouth
31 August 1984 berthed at Portland
5 September 1984 sailed Portland
7 September 1984 berthed at Portland
10 September 1984 sailed Portland
14 September 1984 berthed at Portsmouth
20 September 1984 sailed Portsmouth
24 September 1984 arrived and anchored in Gibraltar Bay prior to entering Gibraltar Dockyard for refit
1 November 1984 Mr Edward M Quigley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 November 1984 sailed Gibraltar after refit – the last RFA to be refitted in the HM Dockyard there
RFA Gold Rover being escorted out of Gibraltar Harbour by RFA Agile
© MOD
19 November 1984 arrived off the Nab Tower prior to entering Portsmouth Dockyard
30 November 1984 sailed Portsmouth for Portland arriving the same day
3 December 1984 sailed Portland for BOST ’84’
4 December 1984 berthed at Portland
10 December 1984 sailed Portland for BOST ’84’
13 December 1984 berthed at Portland
17 December 1984 sailed Portland for BOST ’84’
20 December 1984 berthed at Rosyth Dockyard
29 December 1984 sailed Rosyth Dockyard
3 January 1985 berthed at Portland
8 January 1985 sailed Portland returning 11 January 1985
14 January 1985 sailed Portland returning 18 January 1985
22 January 1985 sailed Portland returning 25 January 1985
28 January 1985 sailed Portland returning 1 February 1985
6 February 1985 sailed Portland returning 8 February 1985
12 February 1985 sailed Portland returning 17 February 1985
4 April 1985 sailed Portland
5 April 1985 entered Ijmueden Locks and berthed at Amsterdam
9 April 1985 sailed Amsterdam
10 April 1985 berthed at Portland
3 June 1985 at Plymouth
18 July 1985 sailed Nassau, Bahamas to Belize arriving 18 July 1985
25 July 1985 sailed Belize to Bridgedown, Barbados arriving 31 July 1985
4 August 1985 sailed Bridgetown, Barbados to Carriacou arriving the next day
7 August 1985 Carriacou to Virgin Gorda arriving the next day
10 August 1985 sailed Virgin Gorda to St Thomas arriving the same day
12 August 1985 sailed St Thomas to Roosevelt Roads arriving the next day
14 August 1985 sailed Roosevelt Roads to San Juan, Puerto Rico arriving 16 August 1985
19 August 1985 sailed San Juan, Puerto Rico
31 August 1985 berthed at Pensacola after avoiding Hurricane Elena in the Gulf of Mexico
2 September 1985 sailed Pensacola
6 September 1985 anchored off Georgetown, Grand Cayman
8 September 1985 sailed Grand Cayman Gordoa
12 September 1985 anchored in Vieus Fort Bay, St Lucia
13 September 1985 berthed at Castries, St Lucia
17 September 1985 sailed from Castries, St. Lucia
18 September 1985 arrived at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico
21 September 1985 sailed Roosevelt Roads
23 September 1985 arrived at Montego Bay, Jamaica
26 September 1985 sailed Montego Bay, Jamaica to St Thomas
30 September 1985 sailed St Thomas for Portsmouth
10 October 1985 at Portsmouth Harbour
16 April 1986 at Portland
9 June 1986 humanitarian relief – was in Operation Jubilee along with the frigate HMS ARIADNE after heavy rains in Jamaica
8 September 1986 at Portsmouth
10 October 1986 arrived at Portsmouth
21 October 1986 sailed Portsmouth for Portland Harbour arriving the same day – anchored at G3
6 November 1986 at Portland
1 December 1986 at Portsmouth
August 1987 off Gourock
4 March 1987 at Portland
1 April 1987 at Portland
7 June 1987 at Portland
23 November 1987 at Rosyth
30 August 1988 at Portland
3 February 1989 at Portland
16 July 1989 at Falmouth
25 September 1989 at Falmouth. Mr Kenneth Holder RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 November 1989 at Gosport
26 July 1990 Captain Brian J Waters RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Brian J Waters RFA
20 November 1990 Captain Peter Robinson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
1 December 1990 lost her rudder in severe weather in the South Atlantic and sent out a distress call. Some of her crew were airlifted off and she managed to get to anchor seventeen miles east of Lively island to ride out the storm then towed by the tug Oil Mariner to Montevideo for repairs
1 March 1992 at Plymouth
18 April 1992 Humanitarian aid – along with the frigate HMS CAMPBELTOWN, she assisted the Panamanian-registered tanker WORLD HITACHI ZOSEN on fire after a collision off West Africa with the bulk carrier CLIPPER PIONEER
25 August 1992 at East Cove Military Port, Falkland Islands
21 July 1994 at Middlesborough, River Tees
26 July 1994 sailed from Middlesborough, River Tees returning the next day
5 August 1994 sailed from Middlesborough, River Tees
8 August 1994 arrived at Portsmouth Dockyard
17 August 1994 moved from Portsmouth Dockyard to Gosport Oil Fuel Depot
15 April 1995 Captain Peter A Robinson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Peter A Robinson RFA
11 October 1995 at Montevideo
13 March 1996 at the Falkland Islands
13 April 1996 put on standby off Liberia after breakdown in civil rule in that country
22 May 1996 Captain (E) Robert Settle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 September 1996 at St. Kitts
16 October 1996 Humanitarian aid – rescued three St Vincent nationals adrift in an open boat
16 November 1996 at Tampa, Florida, USA
3 April 1997 at Portsmouth
12 April 1998 at Buenos Aires
16 April 1998 at Falkland Islands
20 July 1998 sailed Montevideo for the East Cove, Falkland Islands
28 July 1998 berthed at East Cove, Falkland Islands
11 August 1998 sailed East Cove, Falkland Islands on patrol returning 14 August 1998
18 August 1998 sailed East Cove Main Jetty, Falkland Islands
20 August 1998 anchored off Bird Island, South Georgia
23 August 1998 arrived at Fortuna Bay, South Georgia
25 August 1998 sailed South Gerogia for the Falkland Islands
28 August 1998 berthed at the Ro-Ro Jetty, East Cove, Falkland Islands
31 August 1998 sailed the Ro-Ro Jetty, East Cove, Falkland Islands
2 September 1998 returned to the Ro-Ro Jetty, East Cove, Falkland Islands with Main Engine defect
9 September 1998 sailed the Ro-Ro Jetty, East Cove, Falkland Islands on patrol
12 September 1998 anchored in San Carlos Water, Falkland Islands
17 September 1998 berthed on the Ro-Ro Jetty, East Cove, Falkland Islands
22 September 1998 Captain Roger Robinson-Brown RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Roger Robinson-Brown RFA
6 October 1998 anchored in Queen Charlotte Bay, Falkland Islands
9 October 1998 berthed at the Ro-Ro Jetty, East Cove, Falkland Islands
24 October 1998 made fast to Port William Buoy, Stanley, Falkland Islands
2 to 4 November 1998 Humanitarian aid – whilst supporting the frigate HMS SUTHERLAND she acted as a helicopter refuelling point off South Georgia during the evacuation of a seriously ill woman from the cruise liner EXPLORER
15 September 1999 sailed Mayport naval base to avoid Hurricane Floyd bearing down on the port.
18 January 2000 towed back to Plymouth by two RMAS tugs when she broke down off the Lizard Point.
15 February 2000 rescued trawler taking in water in the English Channel after pan pan alert from Brixham coast guard
28 May 2001 along with RFA’s TIDESPRING (1), SIR PERCIVALE and DILIGENCE she featured on a postage stamp issued by South Georgia and the South Sandwich Isles
13 November 2001 Humanitarian aid – rescued 4 crew from the yacht BON SOCOUR in the North Atlantic
23 February 2002 Captain Peter Farmer RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Peter Farmer RFA
23 August 2002 to 26 August 2002 berthed Gibraltar
27 August 2002 Captain Roger Robinson-Brown RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
14 October 2002 to 20 December 2002 in refit
6 January 2003 at Plymouth
1 April 2003 in Plymouth Sound
4 April 2003 alongside at Devonport
16 May 2003 to 17 May 2003 berthed at Gibraltar
May 2003 visited Freetown, Sierra Leone
8 July 2003 at East Cove, Falkland Islands
19 November 2003 at Ascension Island
11 December 2003 visited Luanda, Angola with HMS GLASGOW for a courtesy call
28 March 2004 at Monte Video – Captain Shaun Jones RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Shaun Jones RFA
3 April 2004 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
20 May 2004 anchored off Ascension Island
22 May 2004 undertook a towing exercise (TOWEX) with HMS CARDIFF
13 June 2004 alongside at Monte Video, Uruguay
17 July 2004 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
6 August 2004 at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
29 September 2004 Captain Paul Kehoe RFA appointed Commanding Officer
Captain Paul Kehoe RFA
29 March 2005 Captain (E) Robert J Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
11 April 2005 berthed at Devonport
3 July 2005 alongside on the River Tyne in refit
4 September 2005 alongside on the River Tyne in refit
28 November 2005 berthed at Devonport
RFA GOLD ROVER
December 2005 in company with the frigate HMS IRON DUKE, met up with solo yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur 2 degrees north of the equator on her yacht B & Q
13 April 2006 Captain (E) Robert J Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 June 2006 accompanied the frigate HMS CHATHAM to Lagos to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Nigerian Navy at their Fleet Review by President Obassango
28 June 2006 involved in exercises with Brazillian frigate BNS Bossio and HMS Liverpool off Brazil
29 July 2006 berthed alongside at Rio de Janeiro
6 October 2006 while supporting the frigate HMS ARGYLL in a multi-national operation off West Africa, intercepted mv STER 11 seized 1.8 tonnes of cocaine off the coast of West Africa worth an estimated £60 million
1 March 2007 Captain Anthony McNally RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 10 July 2007
22 March 2007 Captain (E) Robert J Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 June 2007 with HRH Prince Edward embarked the Captain and a contingent of the crew attended a memorial service at Fitzroy, East Falkland to those killed on RFA SIR GALAHAD (1) and RFA SIR TRISTRAM during the Falklands War
8 July 2007 Captain (X) Paul B Minter RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Paul Minter RFA
30 October 2007 arrived at Tristan da Cunha with HMS SOUTHAMPTON
19 November 2007 Captain Paul B Minter RFA, Commanding Officer of the Gold Rover presented a copy of ‘No Sea to Rough’ to the Governor of St. Helena
16 December 2007 arrived at Tristan da Cunha after having been tasked to urgently resupply drugs and medical stores to the island after 271 members of the islands population suffered a viral infection which depleted stocks to a dangerous level
13 March 2008 Captain (E) Robert J Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 April 2008 berthed at Gibraltar from Freetown
20 April 2008 Captain (X) Paul B Minter RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
21 April 2008 sailed Gibraltar for Portsmouth
4 November 2008 Captain (X) Paul B Minter RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
25 January 2009 alongside at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
29 April 2009 visited the Island of St. Helena where wreaths were laid at the RFA Darkdale memorial on the Island’s Cenotaph in the capital Jamestown
Captain Paul Minter RFA laying his wreath at the RFA Darkdale memorial
© The St. Helena Independent acknowledged
6 May 2009 South Atlantic – found yacht ‘Sea Jade’ reported long overdue enroute from St. Helena to Capte Town. As Falklands Island news service reported ‘Found needle in field of haystacks’. Yacht was reported with faulty steering and damage to the rigging and had been believed to have been lost in very heavy weather until the successful search undertaken by Gold Rover
20 August 2009 Captain (E) Robert Settle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 October 2009 Captain (X) Paul B Minter RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
12 January 2010 berthed at East Cove Military Port, Falkland Islands with HMS YORK outboard
14 January 2010 sailed East Cove Military Port, Falkland Islands
30 January 2010 anchored off Jamestown, St. Helena
26 February 2010 berthed at Devonport
10 November 2010 berthed at Birkenhead
3 March 2011 Captain (X) Nigel Budd RFA appointed Commanding Officer
24 April 2011 joined Lyme Regis and Weymouth RNLI Lifeboats, Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue helicopters from Lee-on-Solent in the search for a missing diver reported to be a man aged 61 and from Bristol, was in an eight-strong group of visiting and local divers operating from a charter boat out of Lyme Regis. Not found – diver given up for dead
26 April 2011 entered Plymouth Sound
8 July 2011 berthed on Yonderberry Pier, Devonport
3 August 2011 Captain (X) Nigel Budd RFA appointed Commanding Officer
28 August 2011 alongside at Las Palmas
17 January 2012 Captain (X) David J Buck RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) David J Buck RFA
17 May 2012 Captain (X) Nigel Budd RFA appointed Commanding Officer
22 July 2012 at Simon’s Town
13 November 2012 at East Cove, Falkland Islands
20 December 2012 berthed at Simon’s Town, South Africa sailing on 18 January 2013
14 January 2013 Captain (X) Nigel Budd RFA appointed Commanding Officer
28 February 2013 at East Cove, Falkland Islands
17 April 2013 berthed at Abijan, Ivory Coast sailing again on 20 April 2013
28 April 2013 berthed at Luanda, Angola sailing again on 1 May 2013
5 May 2013 berthed at Walvis Bay sailing again on 8 May 2013
23 May 2013 berthed at Las Palmas, Canary Islands sailing again on 26 May 2013
31 May 2013 berthed at Devonport
25 June 2013 Captain (X) Nigel Budd RFA appointed Commanding Officer
28 June 2013 sailed Devonport to Liverpool arriving 1 July 2013
28 March 2014 at Birkenhead
13 April 2014 moved from No: 6 Dry Dock at Birkenhead to Transmere Basin
27 April 2014 arrived at Liverpool
13 May 2014 sailed Liverpool after refit for Loch Striven
16 May 2014 having sailed from Loch Striven passing Cloch Point, Gourock
21 May 2014 sailed Glenmallen assisted by tugs SD Dependable and SD Resourceful to Falmouth Bay arriving the next day
23 May 2014 sailed Falmouth Bay to Portland
24 May 2014 at Portland
9 June 2014 sailed Portland
12 June 2014 berthed at Portland
14 June 2014 Captain Shaun P Jones OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
16 June 2014 sailed Portland for Plymouth Sound
20 June 2014 arrived Plymouth Sound
30 June 2014 sailed Plymouth Sound
10 July 2014 RASed with USS Oscar Austin (DDG79)
16 July 2014 RASed with RFA Wave Knight (2) in FOST Training Area
18 July 2014 berthed at Portland
11 August 2014 sailed Portland
13 August 2014 arrived at Plymouth Sound sailing the next day
18 August 2014 berthed at Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot assisted by the tug SD Reliable
26 September 2014 berthed at Portland Harbour
12 October 2014 Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA
19 October 2014 berthed alongside at Portland Harbour
27 October 2014 sailed Portland Harbour
1 November 2014 in the North Atlantic in company with HMS DRAGON
9 November 2014 berthed at Caracas Bay, Curaçao
12 November 2014 sailed Caracas Bay, Curaçao
14 November 2014 anchored off Colon, Republic of Panama
15 November 2014 transitted the Panama Canal
17 November 2014 berthed at Rodman, Balboa, Panama City
19 November 2014 sailed Balboa into the Pacific Ocean
27 November 2014 in the Pacific Ocean RAS’ed with HMS DRAGON
6 December 2014 Captain (X) Philip T Hanton RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
6 December 2014 at East Cove, Falkland Islands
15 December 2014 RAS’ed with HMS CLYDE
6 February 2015 berthed at Simons Town, South Africa
26 February 2015 sailed Simons Town, South Africa
4 March 2015 berthed in Cape Town, South Africa
13 March 2015 sailed Cape Town, South AFrica
19 March 2015 anchored in Cape Lopez Bay, off Port Gentil, Gabon
21 March 2015 sailed Cape Lopez Bay
4 April 2015 berthed at Dakar
6 April 2015 sailed Dakar
12 April 2015 berthed at Sao Vicente, Cape Verde Islands. Captain (X) Peter N Selby RFA appointed as Commanding Officer & Captain (E) Roger M Parnell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 April 2015 sailed Sao Vicente, Cape Verde Islands
4 May 2015 berthed in the outer basin of Simon’s Town Dockyard, South Africa
25 May 2015 sailed Simon’s Town Dockyard, South Africa
20 June 2015 berthed at Falkland Islands. Leading Hand (Cook) Thomas Logan discharged dead
RFA Gold Rover and HMS Lancaster on exercises in the South Atlantic
10 July 2015 Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA
13 August 2015 berthed at Simon’s Town Dockyard, South Africa
2 September 2015 Captain (X) Peter N Selby RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
5 September 2015 at Simon’s Town Dockyard, South Africa
8 September 2015 Captain (E) Martin J Stone RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 September 2015 sailed Simon’s Town, South Africa to engaged in exercises with RN and SA Naval units
23 September 2015 berthed Cape Town
28 September 2015 sailed Cape Town
4 October 2015 berthed at Lobito, Angola
8 October 2015 sailed from Lobito, Angola
13 October 2015 with HMS LANCASTER anchored off Jamestown, St Helena
Some of crew of RFA Gold Rover and HMS Lancaster at Napoleon’s empty tomb
15 October 2015 sailed Jamestown, St. Helena to Ascension Island
22 October 2015 arrived at Kortu-Gon, Tema, Ghana
25 October 2015 sailed Tema, Ghana
2 November 2015 berthed at Lome, Togo
5 November 2015 sailed from Lome, Togo
8 November 2015 RASed with HMS LANCASTER
12 November 2015 anchored off Ascension Island
18 November 2015 sailing off Florianopolis, Brazil
19 November 2015 berthed at Rio de Janerio, Brazil
1 December 2015 sailed Rio de Janerio, Brazil
11 December 2015 berthed at Simonstown, South Africa
7 February 2016 Captain (E) Peter R G Dear RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 February 2016 sailed Simonstown, South Africa
6 March 2016 passed St. Helena
8 March 2016 anchored off Ascension Island
11 March 2016 sailed from Ascension Island
26 March 2016 berthed at Sekondi-Takoradi
30 March 2016 sailed Sekondi-Takoradi
8 April 2016 anchored off Georgetown, Ascension Island
12 April 2016 sailed from the anchorage off Georgetown, Ascension Island
17 April 2016 arrived off Georgetown, Ascension Island sailing later the same day
24 April 2016 off the coast of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil
20 May 2016 arrived at Jamestown, St. Helena
30 May 2016 sailed the anchorage off Jamestown. St. Helena
6 June 2016 in the South Atlantic off the coast Brazil
7 June 2016 berthed at Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Captain (E) Martin J Stone RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 June 2016 sailed from Rio de Janerio, Brazil
20 June 2016 arrived at Ascension Island
21 June 2016 sailed from Ascension Island
1 July 2016 berthed at Simonstown, South Africa
Simonstown Dockyard with RFA Gold Rover alongside – July 2016
© Mike Loverock
20 July 2016 Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
8 August 2016 sailed Simonstown
15 August 2016 anchored off Ascension Island sailing later the same day
19 August 2016 berthed at Lomé, Togo. Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA was invited to inspect a Guard from the Togo Navy
The ship’s football team played a side from the Togo Navy and lost 3 goals to 1
Togo Navy Football team & RFA Gold Rover’s Football team
20 August 2016 sailed Lomé, Togo
23 August 2016 berthed at Tema, Ghana
25 August 2016 sailed from Tema, Ghana
30 August 2016 berthed at Lobito, Angola with a reception on board for senior members of the Angolan Naval, Army and Police, and His Excellency the Mayor of Lobito Senhor Alberto N’Gongo also attending
The ships 7-a-side football team with their winners trophy after playing an Angolan Naval team
2 September 2016 sailed Lobito, Angola
7 September 2016 berthed at Simontown Dockyard, South Africa
12 September 2016 the Captain and other ships Officers attended a Battle of Britain service at the Dockyard Church at Simonstown
Captain & Ships Officers after attending the Battle of Britain Church Service at the Dockyard Church, Simonstown
7 October 2016 sailed from Simonstown
October 2016 deployed in support of a French Operation CORYMBE together with the FS Dixmude and Ivorian ship Sekongo
FS Dixmude, RFA Gold Rover and Ivorian ship Sekongo
19 October 2016 berthed at Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The Commanding Officer inspected a Ivorian Navy Guard of Honour and the ships football team lost 5-2 against the Ivorian Navy
21 October 2016 sailed from Abidjan, Ivory Coast
21 October 2016 and 22 October 2016 RAS approaches and dry hook ups with FS Dixmude
23 October 2016 RASed with FS Dixmude
RFA Gold Rover and the French Naval Helicoper ship FS Dixmunde RAS off the coast of West Africa
1 November 2016 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
8 November 2016 sailed from Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa for the last time
RFA Gold Rover sails from Simontown for the last time
24 November 2016 off Terra del Fuego
29 November 2016 together with HMS PORTLAND anchored off Valpariso, Chile. Captain Jonathan P Huxley RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
RFA Gold Rover at anchor off Valpariso, Chile
9 December 2016 off Punta Arenas
25 December 2016 at East Cove, Falkland Islands
14 January 2017 anchored off Edinburgh, Tristan da Cunha
15 January 2017 sailed from Tristan da Cunha
23 January 2017 berthed at Rio de Janeiro
27 January 2017 sailed from Rio de Janeiro
3 February 2017 arrived at Ascension Island
5 February 2017 RASed with HMS PORTLAND
16 February 2017 berthed at Portland
21 February 2017 sailed from Portland Harbour
22 February 2017 berthed at Portsmouth Dock Yard to pay off, destore and be laid up
6 March 2017 End of Service Ceremony at Portsmouth Dockyard
29 August 2017 The Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) invited expressions of interest from companies interested in receiving an invitation to tender in respect to the proposed sale for the sole purpose of recycling of the former RFA ship Gold Rover (A271)
21 August 2018 at Portsmouth Harbour the ships hulk with tugs Tempest, Independent and Suzanne employed on Pilot Training
29 August 2018 at Portsmouth Harbour the ships hulk with tugs Tempest, Indulgent and Suzanne employed on Pilot Training
5 September 2018 at Portsmouth Harbour the ships hulk with tugs Bountiful, Independent and Suzanne employed on Pilot Training
12 September 2018 at Portsmouth Harbour the ships hulk with tugs Tempest, Independent and Suzanne employed on Pilot Training
13 August 2019 sailed, under tow of the tug Opal, from Portsmouth Harbour for the ship breakers in Turkey
lower image © George Mortimer RFAHS member
21 August 2019 passed Gibraltar under tow sailing eastbound
3 September 2019 arrived at Aliga, Turkey at the ship breakers to be demolished
2 December 2019 demolition completed