Reproduced with permission of the MOD
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
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
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.
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
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 (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 (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 RFA
11 April 2016 berthed at Gibraltar
14 April 2016 Captain (X) David J Buck RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
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
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
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 (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
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
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
2 October 2017 at St Martins refuels from HNLMS Karel Doorman
19 November 2017 berthed at Key West, Florida
10 December 2017 sailed from Key West, Florida
15 December 2017 berthed at Bermuda
28 December 2017 Captain David J Buck OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
4 January 2018 berthed at Nassau, Bahamas to refuel
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.
Panoramic view of Road Town, BVI and the damage caused
Damage caused to the class rooms
RFA Mounts Bay’s working party clearing a class room
Mounts Bay’s volunteers and the BVI Governor
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
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
and cleaned the memorial
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
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 –
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
© MOD
2 October 2018 sailed from St. John’s, Antigua
22 October 2018 berthed at Nassau, Bahamas
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
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
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 –
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
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
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
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
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.