RFA Mounts Bay

 

Mounts Bay 2006

Reproduced with permission of the MOD

 

RFA Mounts Bay

 

Largs_bay_Drawing

 

 

Copy_of_DSC00437

RFA Mounts Bay at Portland with her new engine exhausts

 
Subsequent name:

Official Number:                      9240770 

Class:                                      BAY CLASS Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary)

Pennant No:                            L3008

Signal Letters:                         GCIC

Laid down:                              14 January 2002
Builder:                                    BAE Systems, Govan
Launched:                                9 April 2004
Into Service:                            13 July 2006

Crew Number:                          58
Out of service:
Fate:

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

 

Background Data:

 

In  April 2000 an Invitation to Tender was issued for the design and build of two Alternative Landing Ships Logistics to replace RFA’s SIR PERCIVALE and SIR GERAINT which were to enter service in 2004 and 2005. Options would be provided for up to a further three vessels to replace the remainder of the ageing LSL,s. Three  U.K.yards submitted bids – Appledore Shipbuilders Limited, BAE Systems and Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd. On 26 October 2000 an official announcement was made that 4  new ships would be built in a £300 million deal and that subject to negotiation of satisfactory terms and conditions, Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd would be selected as lead shipyard for the programme. Two ships would be built at Wallsend with the other two being built to the Swan Hunter design by BAE Systems Marine at Govan. The ships would be based on the very successful Dutch ROTTERDAM design, but enlarged to give greater payload carrying capacity.

19 November 2001 ordered along with RFA CARDIGAN BAY

14 January 2002 laid down – being built in 7 blocks

9 April 2004 launched by BAE Systems Marine, Govan as Yard Number 0323 named MOUNTS BAY. The Lady Sponsor was Lady Band, wife of Admiral Sir Jonathon Band KCB, CinC FLEET. Named after Mounts Bay in Cornwall. When launched she struck a quay wall causing minor damage to her port quarter

May 2005 original in service date

8 September 2005 sailed Scotstoun for 2 weeks of sea trials

10 December 2005 delivered at a cost of £108 million pounds – source Hansard & National Audit Office report

15 December 2005 Captain Ross G Ferris OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer. Ship accepted and moved to Faslane

 

Capt Ross Ferris mugshot

Captain Ross G Ferris OBE RFA

10 January 2006 sailed HMNB Faslane

13 January 2006 arrived Portland Harbour

22 February 2006 sailed Portland Harbour

24 February 2006 arrived at Portsmouth and berthed on the NW Wall

24 March 2006 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

27 March 2006 at Portland. Captain (X) Trevor Isles RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 26 August 2006

3 April 2006 sailed Portland Harbour

4 April 2006 after exercises in Lyme Bay at anchor in Portland Anchorage

6 April 2006 to Portland Q4 pier

21 April 2006 at Portland

24 April 2006 to sea from Portland Harbour for sea trials then to Portland anchorage

29 April 2006 arrived Devonport berthing on D Buoy after part of her First of Class trials

3 May 2006 sailed Devonport to commence FOST Work-Up

6 May 2006 at St Peter Port

7 May 2006 sailed St Peter Port

8 May 2006 arrived at Portsmouth

12 May 2006 sailed Portsmouth

13 May 2006 arrived at Portland Harbour

19 May 2006 sailed from Portland Harbour to berth at Marchwood Military Port the same day

24 May 2006 sailed Marchwood Military Port and anchored in the Solent off Brown Down

26 May 2006 sailed the Solent anchorage for Plymouth

28 May 2006 arrived Plymouth Harbour making fast to C Buoy

30 May 2006 sailed Plymouth Harbour on exercises

1 June 2006 carried out loading trials with 539 ASRM / 17 Port Regt RCT

2 June 2006 berthed Devonport at number 16 wharf

4 June 2006 sailed Devonport

9 June 2006 arrived Plymouth Harbour making fast to D Buoy

10 June 2006 sailed Plymouth

16 June 2006 berthed Devonport at number 16 wharf

19 June 2006 sailed Devonport

24 June 2006 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour berthing on the NW wall

26 June 2006 sailed Portsmouth to Portland arriving the same day

30 June 2006 sailed Portland

2 July 2006 arrived at Plymouth

4 July 2006 sailed Plymouth returning the next day

10 July 2006 sailed Plymouth

13 July 2006 in service date

14 July 2006 arrived at Plymouth

17 July 2006 sailed Plymouth

20 July 2006 arrived at Plymouth

25 July 2006 completed her FOST Training. Sailed Plymouth for Falmouth

2 August 2006  Post-Acceptance Maintenance Period at Falmouth

30 August 2006 at Falmouth. Captain (X) Trevor Isles RFA appointed as Commanding Officer until 8 September 2006

Capt Trevor Iles

Captain (X) Trevor Isles RFA

 

4 September 2006 Operation VELA, a three month deployment to West Africa, was under the command of Commander UK Amphibious Group, Commodore Phil Jones. The VELA deployment involved a significant number of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, the Royal Marine Commandos and helicopters. The Task Group included HMS Albion, HMS Ocean, HMS Southampton, HMS Argyll, RFA Wave Knight (2), RFA Mounts Bay, RFA Sir Bedivere, RFA Fort Austin, HMS Enterprise, RFA Diligence, RFA Oakleaf (2), Mine Counter Measure Squadron 1 and a Fleet submarine together with the Fleet Lead Commando Group, consisting of 40 Commando Royal Marines, 59 Commando Independent Engineering Squadron, 29 Commando Royal Artillery and 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines. Also involved were elements of Fleet Diving Unit 2 and 849 (B) Flight from RNAS Culdrose. Embarked in HMS OCEAN for the deployment a Tailored Air Group (TAG) was formed, consisting of Sea King helicopters of 845 Naval Air Squadron, 846 Naval Air Squadron, Merlin Mk 1 aircraft from 820 Naval Air Squadron and Lynx helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron. The Vela task group conducted an amphibious exercise, Exercise Green Eagle, in Sierra Leone.

MBAY Officers Crew and customers

 

9 September 2006 sailed from Queens Wharf, Falmouth then returned to Falmouth after sea trials after post acceptance maintenance

15 September 2006 First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathan Band, KCB, accompanied by Lady Sarah Band, attended a Service of Dedication for the ship at Falmouth Docks where Lady Band, the ship’s sponsor, was the guest of honour. Over 350 guests were invited to attend the event with music provided by the Royal Marine Band from Devonport

18 September 2006 sailed Falmouth for Marchwood Military Port to load stores

19 September 2006 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

21 September 2006 sailed Marchwood Military Port

22 September 2006 arrived at Cawsands Bay and anchored

23 September 2006 sailed from Cawsands Bay

26 September 2006 berthed at Lisbon alongside

1 October 2006 sailed from Lisbon

11 October 2006 Exercise Green Eagle commenced

20  October 2006 anchored off Sierra Leone during Operation Vela (see above)

24 October 2006 until 27 October 2006 engaged in Operation Vela

11 November 2006 berthed alongside at Las Palmas

16 November 2006 sailed Las Palmas for Marchwood Military Port

21 November 2006 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

5 December 2006 sailed Marchwood Military Port

9 December 2006 berthed alongside at Sorreisa, Norway

10 December 2006 sailed from Sorreisa, Norway

16 December 2006 berthed at Portland and Captain (X) Trevor Isles RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

19 December 2006 sailed Portland on sea trials anchoring overnight

20 December 2006 berthed at Portland

23 January 2007 sailed Portland on sea trials

24 January 2007 berthed at Portland

28 January 2007 sailed Portland

1 February 2007 arrived at Marchwood Military Port then sailed the same day to Portland

2 February 2007 berthed at Portland

6 February 2007 sailed Portland

8 February 2007 the port side Fast Rescue Craft was deployed for training. The automatic release hook did not release and the 2 man crew were thrown into the sea. They were rescued after 10 minutes and returned to the ship unharmed. There was a Marine Accident Investigation

9 February 2007 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

12 February 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port

13 February 2007 berthed at Flushing

16 February 2007 arrived at Marchwood Military Port sailing later the same day for Portland

17 February 2007 arrived at Portland

8 March 2007 at Portland

12 March 2007 at Portland

21 March 2007 sailed Portland

22 March 2007 arrived at Dover for the Maritime Careers Festival berthing on the Western Docks

25 March 2007 sailed from Dover

26 March 2007 arrived at Portland

30 March 2007 sailed from Portland

1 April 2007 arrived at Falmouth and entered No: 2 Dry Dock

10 April 2007 moved from No: 2 Dry Dock to Queens Wharf, Falmouth

12 April 2007 sailed from Falmouth on trials

14 April 2007 returned from trials and berthed at Falmouth

15 April 2007 ship granted the Freedom of Falmouth

18 April 2007 sailed Falmouth for Greenock

20 April 2007 at Tail o the Bank with HMS BANGOR

21 April 2007 to 3 May 2007 exercise Neptune Warrior with RFA LARGS BAY

1 May 2007 participated in the Carina Deployment to the Baltic together with RFA LARGS BAY

4 May 2007 berthed at Marchwood Military Port from Gothenburg

5 May 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port for the Baltic and involvement in Exercise Noble Mariner until 28 May 2007

30 May 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port for La Pallice

1 June 2007 at La Pallice

2 June 2007 sailed La Pallice

3 June 2007 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

4 June 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port for exercises off Browndown Camp in the Solent and then to La Pallice arriving 8 June 2007

10 June 2007 sailed La Pallice

12 June 2007 arrived at Marchwood Military Port

14 June 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port for Falmouth

15 June 2007 berthed at Dutchy Wharf, Falmouth for a Maintenance Period

22 June 2007 entered No: 2 Dry Dock at Falmouth

4 July 2007 floated out of No: 2 Dry Dock and berthed on Dutchy Wharf at Falmouth. Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

14 July 2007 sailed Falmouth for Marchwood Military Port arriving the next day

16 July 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port for Zeebrugge arriving the next day

18 July 2007 sailed Zeebrugge for Marchwood Military Port arriving the same day

25 July 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port for Abaeron arriving 27 July 2007

30 July 2007 sailed Abaeron for Leith arriving 1 August 2007

1 August 2007 to 24 August 2007  at Ocean Quay, Leith, Edinburgh. Flagship to FOSNNI Rear Admiral Charles A Johnston-Burt and to RM Association of Scotland

25 August 2007 sailed Leith Docks for Portland arriving 27 August 2007

17 September 2007 sailed Portland for Cawsand arriving the next day and anchored

15 September 2007 Captain (X) Ross Ferris OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

20 September 2007 arrived at Marchwood Military Port

25 September 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port for an exercise which included RFA’s ARGUS, FORT ROSALIE (2) and LARGS BAY

5 October 2007 arrived at Falmouth Bay from Portland

6 October 2007 sailed Falmouth Bay for Devonport berthing on No: 1 Jetty

13 October 2007 sailed Devonport and engaged in Exercise Sea Spear

15 October 2007 berthed at No: 20 Jetty at Den Helder

20 October 2007 sailed Den Helder still engaged in Exercise Sea Spear

25 October 2007 berthed at Amsterdam until 27 October 2007

28 October 2007 berthed at Marchwood Military Port and Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

29 October 2007 to 9 November 2007 deployed to Harstad, Northern Norway

30 October 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port

10 November 2007 at Marchwood Military Port and Captain (X) Ross Ferris OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

11 to 16 November 2007 participated in amphibious exercise on Kenpack Sands, Lizard Peninsula along with Dutch warships Johan de Witte and Rotterdam together with RFA’s LARGS BAY and LYME BAY

11 November 2007 Rememberance Ceremonies at Marchwood Military Port

12 November 2007 sailed Marchwood Military Port

13 November 2007 arrived at Falmouth Bay

15 November 2007 sailed from Falmouth Bay

16 November 2007 berthed at Portland

20 November 2007 sailed Portland for Poole

23 November 2007 berthed at Portland

5 January 2008 sailed Portland

6 January 2008 arrived at Dundee

7 January 2008 sailed from Dundee for Bogen

12 January 2008 sailed Bogan

14 January 2008 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

15 January 2008 sailed Marchwood Military Port

19 January 2008 arrived at Hellebogen

20 January 2008 sailed Hellebogen to Bogen arriving the next day

21 January 2008 sailed Bogen for Portland arriving 25 January 2008

27 January 2008 sailed Portland for Browndown and Plymouth arriving 2 February 2008

5 February 2008 sailed Plymouth for Glasgow    

9 February 2008 anchored in the River Clyde off Port Glasgow

10 to 15 February 2008 alongside KGV Dock at Glasgow

15 February 2008 sailed the River Clyde to Hammerfest, Norway arriving 20 February 2008

21 February 2008 at Rypefjord, Norway sailing for Bogen

9 March 2008 sailed Bogen for Dundee arriving 12 March 2008

13 March 2008 sailed Dundee to Browndown arriving 15 March 2008 then onward to Portland arriving the next day

24 March 2008 Temporary Acting Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

 

Rick Taylor 2

Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA

26 March 2008 sailed for Rota, Spain to join in the Spanish led Espabras Exercise to Brazil. The only British participant

30 March 2008 at Rota, Spain embarking Spanish Marines

3 April 2008 Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA presented to the Principe de Asturias Phillipe (the future King of Spain)

13 April 2008 sailed Rota, Spain for Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

17 April 2008 arrived at Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

18 April 2008 sailed Las Palmas, Gran Canaria for Rio de Janerio

1 May 2008 arrived at Rio de Janeiro

5 May 2008 sailed Rio de Janeiro

16 May 2008 arrived at Salvador

18 May 2008 sailed Salvador

2 June 2008 berthed at Portland

7 June 2008 sailed Portland for Falmouth Bay

8 June 2008 alongside at Dutchy Wharf, Falmouth

14 July 2008 in dry dock at Falmouth

28 July 2008 sailed Falmouth

1 August 2008 at St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands anchorage

3 August 2008 sailed St. Peter Port, Guernsey

8 August 2008 at New Quay (Wales) Regatta until 11 August 2008

13 August 2008 at Belfast until 19 August 2008

21 August 2008 at Fowey Regatta until 25 August 2008

26 August 2008 at Plymouth

27 August 2008 at Bournemouth Air Show until 1 September 2008

1 September 2008 berthed at Portland

4 September 2008 sailed from Portland to Portland anchorage

6 September 2008 sailed Portland anchorage for Plymouth arriving the next day

7 September 2008 sailed Plymouth

12 September 2008 alongside at Loch Ewe

17 September 2008 arrived at Peel, Isle of Man sailing the same day

19 September 2008 at Marchwood Military Port

23 September 2008 Captain (X) Ross Ferris RFA appointed as Commanding Officer. The same day sailed Marchwood Military Port for La Rochelle

25 September 2008 arrived at La Rochelle

29 September 2008 sailed La Rochelle

2 October 2008 arrived at Faslane on the Clyde to participate in Exercise Joint Warrior 02

6 October 2008 sailed Faslane

10 October 2008 arrived Loch Eribol

12 October 2008 sailed Loch Eribol

13 October 2008 arrived Loch Ewe

15 October 2008 sailed Loch Ewe

17 October 2008 arrived at Plymouth

23 October 2008 sailed Plymouth participated in Staff College Sea Days in the English Channel along with RFA FORT AUSTIN

24 October 2008 arrive Portland

7 November 2008 sailed Portland

8 November 2008 arrived at Marchwood Military Port

11 November 2008 sailed Marchwood Military Port

12 November 2008 arrived at Portland

27 November 2008 sailed Portland

29 November 2008 arrived at Plymouth

5 December 2008 alongside at Devonport

9 December 2008 sailed Plymouth Sound (‘C’ Buoy) for week 2 of FOST work up

13 December 2008 on ‘C’ Buoy, Playmouth Sound

15 December 2008 sailed Plymouth Sound (‘C’ Buoy) for week 3 of FOST work up

19 December 2008 berthed on ‘Q’ Pier at Portland

18 January 2009 sailed Portland

25 January 2009 berthed on No: 4 berth, Marchwood Military Port

27 January 2009 sailed Marchwood Military Port

28 January 2009 on ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound

2 February 2009 sailed Plymouth Sound to participate in Exercise SW Sword

5 February 2009 on ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound

6 February 2009 sailed Plymouth for Exercise Sun Sword returning to Plymouth on 10 February 2009

11 February 2009 sailed Plymouth for Marchwood Military Port arriving 13 February 2009

16 February 2009 sailed Marchwood Military Port for Portland arriving the same day

22 February 2009 sailed Portland for Gibraltar arriving 27 February 2009

2 March 2009 sailed Gibraltar to Kusadasi, Turkey

13 March 2009 with HMS OCEAN berthed at Kusadasi North Pier, Turkey

18 March 2009 sailed Kusadasi, Turkey for Exercises

29 March 2009 with RFA FORT AUSTIN and HMS OCEAN berthed at Izmir, Turkey

31 March 2009 sailed Izmir, Turkey to Plymouth arriving 8 April 2009

9 April 2009 sailed Plymouth for Marchwood Military Port arriving the same day

20 April 2009 sailed from Marchwood Military Port to Portland arriving the next day

24 April 2009 sailed Portland for Hebburn on Tyne arriving 27 April 2009

23 May 2009 sailed from Hebburn, River Tyne to Portland arriving 25 May 2009

1 June 2009 sailed Portland return there on 5 June 2009

8 June 2009 sailed Portland for Liverpool

13 June 2009 and 14 June 2009 alongside the QM2 Berth at Liverpool

15 June 2009 sailed Liverpool to Portsmouth berthing on the Sheer Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour on 16 June 2009

20 June 2009 sailed from Portsmouth to take part in a joint Indo-UK Naval Exercise until 25 June 2009 together with RFA FORT ROSALIE, HMS’s WESTMINSTER and LANCASTER together with INS Delhi, INS Brahmaputra and the Indian Navy replenshipment ship INS Aditya

26 June 2009 berthed at Sheer Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour

29 June 2009 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Den Helder berthing at Berth 20 on 3 July 2009

6 July 2009 sailed Den Helder for Portland Harbour arriving the next day

27 July 2009 sailed Portland Harbour deep water berth returning to Q2/4 Pier, Portland Harbour on 31 July 2009

6 August 2009 sailed Portmouth Harbour for County Wharf, Falmouth arriving the next day

10 August 2009 sailed Falmouth for Pollock Dock, Belfast arriving 12 August 2009

17 August 2009 sailed Belfast for Portland Harbour arriving the next day

19 August 2009 sailed Portland Harbour and anchored off Bournemouth

24 August 2009 sailed from Bournemouth anchorage to Plymouth Sound making fast to ‘C’ Buoy

3 September 2009 moved from Plymouth Sound to 15/16 Wharf at Devonport

4 September 2009 Captain (X) Gerard A Patterson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

 

Captain_G_Patterson

Captain (X) Gerald A Patterson RFA

8 September 2009 sailed Devonport to Portland Harbour arriving 25 September 2009

2 October 2009 sailed from the River Tyne

4 October 2009 at Portland

5 October 2009 sailed Portland and berthed on Wharf 6 & 7 at Devonport

14 October 2009 sailed Devonport for Portmouth arriving the next day

5 November 2009 sailed Portsmouth

6 November 2009 a British fisherman from the beam trawler Koremeloem fell overboard roughly 20 miles off Hastings, East Sussex. He was rescued by a French helicopter and landed on Mounts Bay but the fisherman died. An inquest on 23 July 2010 at Torquay Town Hall recorded a verdict of ‘accidental death’

8 November 2009 berthed at Dundee – Eastern Wharf

9 November 2009 sailed Dundee

13 November 2009 berthed at Hadstad RoRo Wharf

14 November 2009 sailed Hadstad

20 November 2009 berthed at Portland

18 December 2009 arrived on the River Tyne

11 January 2010 sailed the Tyne after being berthed at A & P’s yard at Hebburn for a full survey

8 February 2010 Assistant Cook David Stephen Trotter discharged dead

12 February 2010 involved with Royal Marine and Army Units in Operation Cold Response at Harstad, Norway

8 March 2010 berthed at Dundee

5 April 2010 at Portland

14 April 2010 commenced a refit at Falmouth

12 May 2010 dry docked at Falmouth

8 July 2010 flooded out of dry dock at Falmouth

11 August 2010 completed refit at Falmouth

13 December 2010 alongside at Portland

3 April 2011 anchored in the Solent big ships anchorage

29 April 2011 off Plymouth

3 June 2011 berthed in Malta GC

21 June 2011 anchored in the Solent big ships anchorage

5 August 2011 sailed Portsmouth Naval Base

15 August 2011 anchored of Bournemouth

16 August 2011 alongside at Portland

18 September 2011 off Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland

17 October 2011 sailed Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre and anchored in the Solent big ships anchorage off Browndown Camp

9 January 2012 at Portland the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond boarded the ship for a meeting with the Dorset Police to discuss security at the part of the Olympic Games being held locally

16 January 2012 sailed Faslane Naval Base

1 April 2012 sailed Duchy wharf, Falmouth to sea

9 April 2012 sailed Marchwood Military Port berthing at Porland the same day

12 April 2012 sailed Portland to Plymouth arriving the same day

14 April 2012 sailed Plymouth

16 April 2012 off Greenock Esplanade with Naval units from the Royal Navy, the USA, Denmark, Norway, France, Canada, Germany (FGS Emden – F210, FGS Hessen – F221, FGS FrankfurtAm Main – A1412) and the Netherlands. Sailed for Exercise Joint Warrior off Scotland

3 May 2012 sailed Plymouth Sound

4 May 2012 berthed at Marchwood Military Port

8 May 2012 sailed Marchwood Military Port

11 May 2012 berthed at Portland

14 May 2012 sailed Portland

24 June 2012 alongside at Rotterdam, Holland

30 June 2012 at Plymouth with HMS ARGYLL conducted a steam past as part of the Armed Forces Day with HMS ARGYLL, firing a 21-gun salute in honour of the presence of The Earl of Wessex

6 September 2012 Captain (X) David J Buck RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

13 October 2012 berthed at Gibraltar

27 October 2012 alongside at Toulon, France

19 November 2012 berthed at Malta GC with HMS BULWALK, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and MV Hartland Point

20 November 2012 the ship was visited by the Commodore in Chief – the Earl of Wessex and the Countess of Wessex. Later the Countess presented to St Johns Ambulance, Malta GC two ambulances which had been donated by the East Midland Ambulance Service and conveyed to the islands by RFA Mounts Bay

22 November 2012 sailed from Grand Harbour, Malta GC

1 May 2013 at Falmouth and Captain Gerard A Patterson RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

22 July 2013 at Falmouth

19 August 2013 berthed at Gibraltar with RFA LYME BAY and HMS WESTMINSTER

22 August 2013 sailed Gibraltar

22 October 2013 at Falmouth

11 December 2013 at Plymouth Sound

14 February 2014 at Falmouth

12 May 2014 berthed at Falmouth

10 August 2015 Captain (X) David J Buck RFA appointed as Commanding Officer and Captain (E) Richard M Maddock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Captain David Buck

Captain (X) David J Buck RFA

19 October 2015 Captain (E) Paul Petersen RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 November 2015 sailed Falmouth

15 December 2015 Captain (X) Richard Taylor RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

19 January 2016 berthed at Gibraltar with Lieutenant General Edward Davis CB CBE the new Governor of Gibraltar onboard to take up his appointment

January 2016 the newly formed “Special Purpose Task Group” (SPTG) set up for deployments to the Mediterranean. The task group is formed around Zulu Company of the Arbroath-based 45 Commando Royal Marines. Additional enabling personnel from 29 Regiment Royal Artillery, 17 Port and Maritime Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps, 24 Engineer Regiment, and 30 (Information Exploitation) Commando Royal Marines were attached to provide specialist capabilities and expertise. The Task Group has been deployed on RFA Mounts Bay

5 March 2016 at Split, Croatia. Assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) in support of the migrant crisis in the Aegean Sea where she patrolled the Straits off the island of Lesbos detecting, reporting and escorting over 350 migrants to safety

18 March 2016 Captain (E) Richard M Maddock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

 

Captain E Richard M Maddock

Captain (E) Richard M Maddock RFA

 

11 April 2016 berthed at Gibraltar

14 April 2016 Captain (X) David J Buck RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

 

RFA Mounts Bay Lyme Bay 060516 33

RFA Mounts Bay alongside the South Arm of Gibraltar Dockyard – RFA Lyme Bay maneuvering off  ‘The Tower’ 

© Gibdan

11 May 2016 while the ship was berthed in Gibraltar, the Foreign Secretary – the Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP – came on board to meet the Commanding Officer and the crew

30 May 2016 sailed Gibraltar

22 June 2016 Captain (E) Charles Stevenson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

13 August 2016 Captain (X) Christopher G Clarke MBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

1 September 2016 anchored in Gibraltar Bay

19 September 2016 joined HMS’s OCEAN and BULWARK together with MV Eddystone Point on a joint expeditionary deployment to the Mediterrean and the Middle East. Other RN, US and French Naval vessels were reported to be joining the deployment later

 

MBAY Bulwalk Ocean

RFA Mounts Bay together with HMS’s Bulwalk and Ocean on deployment
© MOD acknowledged
 

14 October 2016 berthed at Grand Harbour, Malta

14 December 2016 sailed ‘D’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound to sea

17 December 2016 arrived at Plymouth Sound

21 December 2016 Captain (X) David J Buck OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

4 February 2017 Sea Cadets from the Junior Section of the Falmouth & Penryn Sea Cadet Unit  visited the ship

18 February 2017 Sea Cadets from the Truro & Padstow Sea Cadet Unit  visited the ship

 

Mounts Bay at Falmouth

RFA Mounts Bay berthed at Falmouth

 

25 February 2017 Sea Cadets from the Senior Section of the Falmouth & Penryn Sea Cadet Unit  visited the ship

23 April 2017 Captain (X) Christopher Clarke MBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

Captain Chris Clarke RFA

Captain (X) Christopher Clarke MBE RFA

6 May 2017 sailed Falmouth

10 May 2017 at Falmouth anchorage

11 May 2017 sailed from Falmouth anchorage

12 May 2017 berthed at Portland Harbour

25 May 2017 sailed Portland Harbour to Marchwood Military Port berthing the same day then sailing six hours later for Plymouth Sound arriving 26 May 2017

29 May 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound returning later the same day and mooring on Buoy D

30 May 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound

8 June 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound

9 June 2017 berthed at Falmouth

11 June 2017 sailed Falmouth

30 June 2017 took over as APT(N) from RFA WAVE KNIGHT (2) at Fort de France, Martinique

8 July 2017 anchored off Governor’s Beach, Grand Cayman and landed vehicles, stores etc

 

Mounts Bay Grand Cayman 1

 

10 July 2017 Captain (E) Gareth H Coomber RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 August 2017 at Montserrat seeking with the local Police Force fields of marijuna plants – nine suspected fields were sighted by the ship Wildcat helicopter crew

 

wildcat helicopter uncovers drug plantations

One of the nine suspected fields of marijuna plants spotted on Montserrat by RFA Mounts Bay’s helicopter
© Navaltoday.com
 

17 August 2017 Captain (X) Stephen J Norris RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

24 August 2017 Captain (E) Nicholas S P Pilling RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 September 2017 off Anguilla to provide support and assistance after Hurricane Irma had hit the island

7 September 2017 at Anguilla provided repairs to the Islands hospital and a Police Station and six tonnes of aid

9 September 2017 arrived at the British Virgin Islands to provide support and assistance after Hurricane Irma had caused serious damage to the island

22 September 2017 near Puerto Rico the ships embarked helicopter rescues a woman and her children from a capsized ship after Hurricane Maria

 

MBay Heli saves lives 22 9 17 near Puerto Rico 

2 October 2017 at St Martins refuels from HNLMS Karel Doorman

MBay refuells from Karel Doorman

 

19 November 2017 berthed at Key West, Florida

10 December 2017 sailed from Key West, Florida

15 December 2017 berthed at Bermuda

 

Mounts Bay in Bermuda 15 12 2017

 RFA Mounts Bay alongside in Bermuda
courtesy of RFA Nostalgia
 

28 December 2017 Captain David J Buck OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

4 January 2018 berthed at Nassau, Bahamas to refuel

 

180118 Mounts Bay Bahamas 01

Captain David Buck RFA meets Commodore Tellis A Bethel, Commander Royal Bahamas Defence Force during the ships visit to Nassau
 © MOD

5 January 2018 sailed from Nassau, Bahamas

12 January 2018 berthed at Road Town, British Virgin Islands and a work part of 17 crew members and embarked military personel were engaged in assisting in the clearing up after Hurricanes Irma and Maria had hit the islands at the end of 2017. The two venues which are repaired and cleared up were the Emergency Response Centre and the Elmore Stoutt High School.

 

DSC07083 Panoramic image of the damage

Panoramic view of Road Town, BVI and the damage caused

damage to the classrooms at BVI post Hurricane

Damage caused to the class rooms

Mounts Bay volunteers at work

RFA Mounts Bay’s working party clearing a class room

Mounts Bay volunteers

Mounts Bay’s volunteers and the BVI Governor 

Mounts Bay from the top of Tortola

RFA Mounts Bay alongside at Road Town, BVI

 

15 January 2018 sailed Road Town, British Virgin Islands

17 January 2018 arrived off Anguilla for a 3 day visit

22 January 2018 berthed at Willemstad, Curaçao for a SMP

26 January 2018 a party from the ship visited the Commonwealth War Graves plot at Roodeweg Cemetery, Curaçao and laid a wreath

 

IMG 0508 RFA Mounts Bay Volunteers after the clean up of the site

IMG 0504 Close up of Wreath

 

3 February 2018 sailed from Willemstad, Curaçao

8 February 2018 at St Johns, Antigua

10 February 2018 sailed from St Johns, Antigua

12 February 2018 berthed at Bridgetown, Barbados and Captain (E) Robert C Stevenson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

14 February 2018 a party from the ship visited the Barbados Military Cemetery

 

Entrance to Barbados Military Cemetery

and cleaned the memorial

APP CIS John Millen Jet washing the memorial

Job Done Cadet Philip Brock CPO Mark Amato SG1 Ryan Kitchen SG1 Samuel Peacock SG1 Christopher Barber APP CIS John Millen APP CIS Bradley Priddey Curator Mr Morris

 

15 February 2018 sailed from Bridgetown, Barbados

22 February 2018 berthed at Cartagena, Columbia

26 February 2018 sailed from Cartagena, Columbia

1 March 2018 berthed at Kingston, Jamaica

6 March 2018 sailed from Kingston, Jamaica

10 March 2018 anchored in the Bahia de Amatigue in the Gulf of Honduras

16 March 2018 sailed from the Bahia de Amatigue in the Gulf of Honduras

19 March 2018 anchored off West Caicos, Turks & Caicos working alongside local law enforcement authorities, and regional partners, to conduct maritime and aerial surveillance and interdiction operations against the illegal landing of Haitain immigrants

29 March 2018 arrived at Charleston, South Carolina for a maintenance period

30 April 2018 Captain (E) Craig A Holden RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

15 May 2018 sailed from Charleston, South Carolina

18 May 2018 berthed at Mayport Basin, Mayport Naval Station, Florida sailing later the same day to sea

22 May 2018 berthed at Miami, Florida. Captain (X) Peter N Selby RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

27 May 2018 sailed from Miami, Florida

31 May 2018 anchored off George Town, Grand Cayman

2 June 2018 sailed from George Town, Grand Cayman anchorage

8 June 2018 berthed at Nassau, Bahamas

 

MBAY in Bhamas

 RFA Mounts Bay when berthed in the Bahamas

 

1 July 2018 sailed from Road Town, British Virgin Islands

3 July 2018 anchored off Anguilla

4 July 2018 sailed from the Anguilla anchorage

5 July 2018 the Jamaican Gleaner newspaper reported –

 

5 7 2018 Jamaican Gleaner Mounts Bay

 

7 July 2018 berthed at Willemstad, Curaçao

21 July 2018 Captain (E) Michael W Tarrant RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

22 July 2018 sailed from Willemstad, Curaçao

25 July 2018 anchored at Little Bay, Montserrat

30 July 2018 arrived at Road Town, British Virgin Islands

1 August 2018 sailed Road Town, British Virgin Islands

2 August 2018 berthed at San Juan, Puerto Rico

4 August 2018 sailed from San Juan, Puerto Rico

16 August 2018 berthed at Fort de France, Martinique

31 August 2018 sailed from Fort de France, Martinique

4 September 2018 arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

5 September 2018 sailed from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

11 September 2018 arrived Bridgetown, Barbados

14 September 2108 at Little Bay, Monterrat

15 September 2018 at St John’s, Antigua. Captain (E) Peter R G Dear RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

25 September 2018 at Antigua the ships football team played the Antiguan Defence Force but lost 4-2

 

25.9.2018 MBAY v Antiguia Defence Force

© MOD

 

2 October 2018 sailed from St. John’s, Antigua

22 October 2018 berthed at Nassau, Bahamas

 

24.10.2018 Wildcat Flight MBay

RFA Mounts Bay embarked Wildcat Flight fires 120 Flares 

 © MOD

 

26 October 2018 sailed from Nassau, Bahamas

3 November 2018 berthed at Charleston, NC

3 December 2018 sailed from Charleston, NC

13 December 2018 arrived at Willemstad anchorage, Curaçao sailing later the same day

14 December 2018 berthed at Caracas Bay, Curaçao

1 Januaary 2019 sailed from Caracas Bay, Curaçao

7 January 2019 berthed at Miami Florida

10 January 2019 sailed from Miami, Florida

26 January 2019 berthed at Willemstad, Curaçao

29 January 2019 sailed from Willemstad, Curaçao

7 February 2019 off Kingston, Jamaica later berthing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

17 February 2019 sailed from Guantanamo Bay

21 February 2019 arrived at Willemstad, Curaçao

24 February 2019 sailed from Willemstad, Curaçao

25 February 2019 arrived at Aruba

1 March 2019 sailed from Aruba

17 March 2019 arrived at Norfolk, Virginia

 

17 3 19 MBay arrives Norfolk Virginia copyright Mark D Faram

Arriving at the US Naval Base at Norfolk Virginia 

© Mark D Faram acknowledged

 

21 March 2019 sailed from Norfolk, Virginia for two weeks of trials with USN Mine Countermeasure and EOD Units

24 March 2019 berthed at Norfolk, Virginia

1 April 2019 berthed at Detyens Ship Yard, Charleston, South Carolina

11 May 2019 sailed from Charleston, South Carolina

18 May 2019 arrived at Bermuda

22 May 2019 sailed from Bermuda

27 May 2019 members of the humanitarian and disaster relief crew of RFA MOUNTS BAY and the RN helicopter paid a brief flying visit to the Virgin Islands later berthing at San Juan, Puerto Rico and then sailing later the same day

27 5 2019 Mounts Bay visit to BVI

 

Two BVI public officers joined a team from the RFA MOUNTS BAY aboard a Royal Navy helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron to examine landing sites and other critical areas around the territory as part of preparations for hurricane season, which will start on 1 June 2019

29 May 2019 berthed at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

1 June 2019 sailed from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

3 June 2019 arrived at Las Calderas Anchorage, Dominican Republic

4 June 2019 sailed from Las Calderas Anchorage, Dominican Republic

10 June 2019 sailed from Kingstown, St Vincent

12 June 2019 arrived at Fort de France, Martinique

13 June 2019 sailed from Fort de France, Martinique

21 June 2019 arrived at Bridgetown, Barbados sailing later the same day

29 June 2019 sailed from George Town, Grand Cayman

3 July 2019 arrived at San Juan, Puerto Rico sailing later the same day

4 July 2019 arrived at Road Bay anchorage, Anguilla

6 July 2019 sailed from Road Bay anchorage Anguilla

8 July 2019 anchored off Little Bay, Monserrat

12 July 2019 berthed at Caracas Bay, Curaçao

5 August 2019 sailed from Curaçao

9 August 2019 arrived Fort de France, Martintinque

10 August 2019 sailed from Fort de France, Martintinque

21 August 2019 berthed at Fort de France, Martintinque

24 August 2019 sailed from Fort de France, Martintinque

3 September 2019 commenced landing personnel and emergency relief aid on the Abaco Islands, Bahamas after they had been struck by Hurricane Dorian

11 September 2019 berthed at Port Everglades, Florida to reload new emergency relief aid

17 September 2019 sailed from Port Everglades, Florida

24 September 2019 berthed at Bridgetown, Barbados

29 September 2019 sailed from Bridgetown, Barbados

5 October 2019 berthed at Castries, St Lucia

12 October 2019 sailed from Castries, St Lucia

23 October 2019 berthed at Fort de France, Martinique

25 October 2019 sailed from Fort de France, Martinique arriving at Port of Kingstown, Saint Vincent & Genadines the same afternoon

28 October 2019 sailed from Kingstown, Saint Vincent & the Genadines

9 November 2019 Captain Rob Anders RFA and some of the crew prepare to take part in the British Legion Festival of Remberance at the Royal Albert Hall, London –

 

9 11 2019 MBay Fest of Rem

 

11 November 2019 berthed at Miami, Florida

15 November 2019 sailed from Miami, Florida

20 November 2019 berthed at Willemstad, Curaçao

21 January 2020 sailed from Willemstad, Curaçao

24 January 2020  together with the US Coatguard seized over £35 million pounds of cocaine off St Croix, US Virgin Islands

30 January 2020 berthed at St Johns, Antigua

3 February 2020 sailed from St Johns, Antigua

6 February 2020 anchoring off Grenada and attended the islands Independence Day celebrations

13 February 2020 berthed at Caracas Bay, Curaçao

29 February 2020 sailed from Caracas Bay, Curaçao

13 March 2020 arrived at the Solent and anchored at the Browndown Anchorage. Later the same day sailed from the Browndown Anchorage

 

13 3 2020 No 2 Mounts Bay

RFA Mounts Bay on passage to the Browndown anchorage

 © George Mortimer

 

14 March 2020 berthed at Portland port

24 March 2020 sailed from Portland port

25 March 2020 arrived at Marchwood Military Port

26 March 2020 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

27 March 2020 berthed at Falmouth

30 October 2020 sailed from Falmouth

31 October 2020 berthed at Falmouth

9 November 2020 sailed from Falmouth later arriving at Plymouth Sound and berthing at Devonport Dockyard

16 November 2020 sailed from Devonport Dockyard to sea

20 November 2020 arrived at Plymouth Sound from sea and berthed in Devonport Dockyard

11 December 2020 sailed from Plymouth Sound berthing at Portland port later the same day

17 December 2020 sailed from Portland Port

21 December 2020 berthed at Portland Port

3 January 2021 sailed from Portland Port berthing at Devonport later the same day

8 January 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea

9 January 2021 berthed at Portland Port

 

13 1 2021 TSpring and MBay

RFA Tidespring (2) berthed outboard of RFA Mounts Bay at Portland Port on 13 January 2021

 

25 January 2021 sailed from Portland Port

29 January 2021 entered Portland Port and berthed

22 February 2021 sailed from Portland Port

1 March 2021 sailed from Plymouth returning later the same day

5 March 2021 sailed from Plymouth returning later the same day

8 March 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound

12 March 2021 berthed on ‘C’ Buoy, Plymouth Sound

14 March 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound berthing at Portland Port later the same day

19 March 2021 sailed from Portland Port

20 March 2021 arrived at Plymouth Sound making fast to ‘C’ Buoy

23 March 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound

28 March 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound berthing at Portland Port the same day

1 April 2021 sailed from Portland Port

2 April 2021 berthed at Falmouth

5 May 2021 sailed from Falmouth

8 May 2021 arrived at Southampton

9 May 2021 sailed from Southampton

14 May 2021 arrived at Rosyth

15 May 2021 sailed from Rosyth

 M.Bay MC 22 Osprey RN 2

2021 Mounts Bay MV22 Osprey

RFA Mounts Bay exercising with the US Airforce’s MV22 Osprey

(both Images Copyright © MOD)

 

31 May 2021 at Tallin, Estonia

3 June 2021 sailed from Tallin, Estonia

10 June 2021 berthed at Frederikshaven, Denmark sailing the same day

24 June 201 sailed from Rosyth

27 June 2021 arrived at Southampton

28 June 2021 sailed from Southampton

29 June 2021 berthed at Portland Port

7 July 2021 sailed from Portland Port

9 July 2021 berthed at Portland Port

15 July 2021 sailed from Portland Port

16 July 2021 berthed at Portland Port

17 July 2021 sailed from Portland Port

26 July 2021 berthed at Gibraltar

13 August 2021 sailed from Gibraltar

17 August 2021 berthed at Portland Port

23 August 2021 sailed from Portland Port

27 August 2021  berthed at Portland Port

30 August 2021 sailed from Portland Port

3 September 2021  berthed at Portland Port

6 September 2021 sailed from Portland Port

10 September 2021 berthed at Portland Port

13 September 2021 sailed from Portland Port

15 September 2021 berthed at the Gareloch

20 September 2021 sailed from the Gareloch

8 October 2021 berthed at Falmouth

29 October 2021 sailed from Falmouth

9 November 2021 anchored in the Campbeltown anchorage

12 November 2021 arrived at Devonport

20 November 2021 sailed from Devonport

26 November 2021 berthed at Portland Port

29 November 2021 sailed from Portland Port

3 December 2021 berthed at Portland Port

6 December 2021 sailed from Portland Port

9 December 2021 berthed at Portland Port

12 December 2021 sailed from Portland Port

16 December 2021 berthed at the Gareloch

5 January 2022 sailed from the Gareloch

10 January 2022 berthed at the Gareloch

31 January 2022 sailed from the Gareloch

3 February 2022 berthed at Portland Port

7 February 2022 sailed from Portland Port

11 February 2022 berthed at Portland Port

21 February 2022 sailed from Portland Port

27 February 2022 berthed at Sorreisa, Norway

1 March 2022 sailed from Sorreisa, Norway

12 March 2022 berthed at Sorreisa, Norway

27 March 2022 sailed from Sorreisa, Norway

2 April 2022 anchored at the Big Ships Anchorage in the Solent

 

 IMG_0039.jpg

 RFA Mounts Bay in the Solent and shortly before sailing to Marchwood Military Port

 

 3 April 2022 sailed from the Solent and berthed at Marchwood Miliary Port

4 April 2022 sailed from Marchwood Military Port

7 April 2022 berthed at Falmouth

17 May 2022 sailed from Falmouth

18 May 2022 arrived at Portland sailing later the day

20 May 2022 berthed at Devonport

22 May 2022 sailed from Devonport

25 May 2022 berthed at Devonport

30 May 2022 sailed from Devonport

1 June 2022 berthed at Greenwich, River Thames

8 June 2022 sailed from Greenwich, River Thames

10 June 2022 berthed at Portland Port

13 June 2022 sailed from Portland Port

14 June 2022 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

24 June 2022 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

25 June 2022 berthed at Portland Port

27 June 2022 sailed from Portland Port

29 June 2022 berthed at Portland Port

3 July 2022 sailed from Portland Port

7 July 2022 berthed at Den Helder, Netherlands

11 July 2022 sailed from Den Helder, Netherlands

15 July 2022 berthed at Den Helder, Netherlands

20 July 2022 sailed from Den Helder, Netherlands

23 July 2022 off Plymouth Harbour

25 July 2022 at Southampton

28 July 2022 sailed from Southampton and berthed at Portland Port

21 August 2022 sailed from Portland Port

25 August 2022 anchored in Browndown anchorage in the Solent

26 August 2022 sailed from Browndown anchorage to Marchwood Military Port

 

 

Ships of the same name

Mounts Bay. (ex Loch Kilbirnie) a frigate of the “Bay” class launched by Pickersgill on the 8 June 1945. She served in the Korean War and was awarded the Korean War 1950 – 53 Battle Honour. Transferred to the Portuguese Navy on the 9 May 1961 and renamed Vasco da Gama. Sold on the 21 December 1971 for scrap.