RFA Tidespring (1)

Reproduced with permission of the MOD

Subsequent name:  

Official Number:                        304379                                                                      

Class:                                        Improved TIDE Class Fleet Replenishment Tanker

Pennant No:                              A75

Laid down:                                 24 July 1961
Builder:                                      Hawthorne Leslie, Hebburn on Tyne
Launched:                                 3 May 1962

Into Service:                              18 January 1963
Out of service:                           1992
Fate:                                          Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data: Authorised under the 1961/62 Navy Estimates, the two ships in this Class were developed from the original TIDE CLASS and were highly specialised ships for fuelling and storing naval vessels at sea and were capable of high performance under rigorous service conditions. Their capability was further enhanced as they were the first front-line RFA’s to have a single-spot 50 ft x 70 ft helicopter flight deck and full hangar arrangements incorporated into their design.

28 February 1961 ship ordered

13 November 1961 Mr John R Warne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer John R Warne RFA

24 July 1961 laid down

3 May 1962 launched by Hawthorn Leslie Shipbuilders Ltd, Hebburn as Yard Nr: 752 named TIDESPRING. The Lady Sponsor was Lady Jarrett, the wife of Sir Clifford G Jarrett, the Secretary of the Admiralty. She was the 120^th ship to be built at the Yard for the Admiralty

8 January 1963 commenced sea trials

18 January 1963 after bunkering at Spithead she was routed to Trinidad on a shake-down cruise but never reached her destination

19 January 1963 the Birmingham Daily Post reported that –

27 January 1963 during her maiden shakedown voyage to Trinidad she was diverted to rendezvous with RFA PEARLEAF (2) in mid-Atlantic after the latter had suffered a breakdown and escorted her to Horta in the Azores to await spares and repairs

6 February 1963 sailed Horta for the U.K.

7 March 1963 during her first exercise with the Home Fleet, a major mechanical defect occurred and she had to be withdrawn from the exercise and returned to her builders for defect rectification

8 March 1963 arrived at Devonport and berthed on Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty

18 March 1963 sailed from Devonport to sea

11 April 1963 sailed from the Tyne on completion of defect rectifications

19 April 1963 sailed Devonport after loading cargo with the 4th Sea Lord embarked as a passenger for Gibraltar and the Mediterranean

28 April 1963 to 25 May 1963 acted as station tanker in the Mediterranean before returning to the U.K. for Builder’s Guarantee Surveys

18 May 1963 berthed at Malta on No 8 buoy – open to the public with 515 visitors

16 June 1963 at Portland Dockyard

July 1963 accompanied the carrier HMS VICTORIOUS from the U.K. to the Far East along with RFA’s RELIANT(2), RESURGENT and WAVE RULER (1)

24 August 1963 Captain E Payne RFA appointed as Master

20 December 1963 at Newcastle upon Tyne

8 February 1964 sailed River Tyne for Rosyth  to load cargo. RFA EDDYFIRTH alongside at Rosyth supplying AVCAT

March 1964 took RFA ORANGELEAF (2) in tow after the latter had suffered an engine breakdown and towed her to Colombo where they arrived on Easter Saturday

18 April 1964 in company with HMS VICTORIOUS and HMAS PARRAMATTA sailed Singapore for Hong Kong

23 April 1964 off Hong Kong took part in a Shop Window with HMS VICTORIOUS, HMAS PARRAMATTA, HMS/m’s AMBUSH and ANCHORITE

9 May 1964 while on passage to Yokusuka, Japan RAS’ed with HMAS YARRA

11 May 1964 RAS’ed with HMAS PARRAMATTA

12 May 1964 berthed at Yokusuka, Japan with RFA RETAINER, HMS VICTORIOUS and other RN and RAN units

27 May 1964 at Subic Bay, Phillippines together with RFA’s RETAINER, RELIANT (2), FORT ROSALIE (1) and FORT CHARLOTTE arrived and together with HMAS SUPPLY and formed Task Group 490.7. RFA TIDEFLOW which should have joined the Task Group remained at Singapore due to a mechanical breakdown

5 November 1964 Captain G O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master

6 November 1964 at Smith’s Dock, North Shields for repairs until 10 November 1964

9 November 1964 Mr E Smeaton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

30 January 1965 in the Singapore Straits RASed with HMAS DERWENT

HMAS DERWENT

31 January 1965 berthed at Singapore Dockyard – berth No: 7 – with HMAS IBIS alongside being refuelled

17 March 1965 in the northern Malacca Straits RASed with HMAS DERWENT

2 April 1965 RASed with HMAS PARRAMATTA

19 May 1965 sailed Malta for Turkey and Singapore

15 July 1965 in the Malacca Strait RASed with HMAS PARRAMATTA supplying FFO

26 July 1965 at Singapore

7 August 1965 off Cape Rachdale RAS’ed with HMAS YARRA

12 October 1965 Wessex HAS1 helicopter no: XM923 – attached to the ship, made a precautionary landing after loss of oil pressure in Subic Bay

November 1965 in the Coral Sea engaged with RN, RAN & USN naval units in Operation Warrior

10 November 1965 when south of the Phillipines Wessex HAS1 Helicopter No: XS863 suffered an engine oil leak

9 December 1965 berthed at Hobart, Tasmanian with HMS BARROSA and HMS WHITBY

10 December 1965 a seaman from the ship appeared at Hobarth Magistrates’ Court, Tasmainia, Australia charged that on 7 December 1965 in the territorial waters off Sydney Heads deliberately immobilised the steering gear by damaging a telemotor pipe and deliberately closing four steering gear valves. He was remanded in custody

14 December 1965 sailed Hobart, Tasmania

18 December 1965 Seaman Dennis William Hellewell pleased Guilty to immobilised the steering gear by damaging a telemotor pipe and deliberately closing four steering gear valves on board when he appeared on remand at Hobart Magistrates’ Court (see above) – he was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment

27 December 1965 sailed from Gage Roads in company of RFA TIDEREACH with both ships bound for Singapore

10 January 1966 Mr V J Cooney RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 January 1966 Captain Alistair C Gibson RFA appointed as Master

27 February 1966 RASed with HMNZS TARANAKI off Singapore

27 March 1966 off Rachado refuelled HMAS GULL

12 June 1966 together with RFA’ s FORT LANGLEY and FORT DUNVEGAN at anchor off the eastern side of Pu Tioman

13 June 1966 RASed with HMAS DERWENT off Singapore

14 July 1966 berthed in Grand Harbour, Malta on Palatorial Wharf

4 October 1966 commenced to take part in Exercise Millsail – an advanced weapon exercise – in the Subic training areas, together with RFA’s RESURGENT, FORT DUQUESNE and FORT ROSALIE together with various RN and RAN units

18 November 1966 berthed at D Shed, Victoria Quay, Fremantle

25 November 1966 sailed from Freemantle together with HMS VICTORIOUS

18 April 1967 Captain C G Butterworth RFA appointed as Master

16 September 1967 at Singapore

5 October 1967 at Monbassa

11 October 1967 to 25 January 1968 was part of Task Force 318 – the Aden Task Force formed to cover the final British military withdrawal from the area codenamed Operation Magister – along with 9 other RFA’s

17 October 1967 at Aden

12 November 1967 Mr W M Clements RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

7 June 1968 at Singapore

28 July 1968 Captain G P A MacDougall RFA appointed as Master

20 August 1968 at Singapore

1 October 1968 RASed with HMAS YARRA during Operation Shadow (1)

16 October 1968 visited Auckland, New Zealand

6 December 1968 at Singapore

11 February 1969 at HMS TERROR sports ground Tidespring ‘C’ 6 a side Football team was beaten by a team from HMAS DUCHESS ‘A’ 2 goals to 1. Tidespring ‘B’ 6 a side Football team was beaten by a team from HMAS DUCHESS ‘A’ 2 goals to 1

11 July 1969 on the River Tyne

26 February 1970 at 4°00N 106°45E north east of Anambas Islands RAS’ed with HMAS’s SYDNEY and YARRA. HMAS SYDNEY received 2,074 tons of FFO

1 April 1970 together with USS Mattaponi (AO41) sailed from Manila

2 April 1970 RAS’ed with HMAS DERWENT

4 April 1970 RAS’ed HMAS MELBOURNE

14 July 1970 sailed from Hong Kong for Kobe, Japan

18 July 1970 arrived at Kobe, Japan

21 July 1970 sailed from Kobe, Japan for Pearl Harbour

30 July 1970 berthed at Pearl Harbour

3 August 1970 sailed from Pearl Harbour for Balboa, Republic of Panama

22 August 1970 arrived at Balboa, Republic of Panama

24 August 1970 sailed from Cristobal, Republic of Panama for Curaçao

26 August 1970 berthed at Curaçao

27 August 1970 sailed from Curaçao for Bermuda

30 August 1970 berthed at Bermuda

2 September 1970 sailed from Bermuda for Plymouth

10 September 1970 arrived at Plymouth

13 September 1970 sailed from Plymouth for Liverpool Bar

14 September 1970 arrived at Liverpool

17 September 1970 sailed from Liverpool for the River Clyde

18 September 1970 arrived at the River Clyde and entered refit at Barclay Curle, Scotstun

3 November 1970 sailed from the River Clyde to Plymouth

5 November 1970 arrived at Plymouth

26 November 1970 sailed from Plymouth to Portland Port

27 November 1970 arrived at Portland Port

1 December 1970 at Portland Port engaged in Work Up until 10 December 1970

10 December 1970 sailed from Portland Port for Portsmouth arriving the same day

14 December 1970 sailed from Portsmouth for Curaçao

24 December 1970 arrived at Curaçao

25 December 1970 sailed from Curaçao for Portsmouth

5 January 1971 arrived at Portsmouth

14 January 1971 sailed from Portsmouth for the Isle of Grain arriving the same day

15 January 1971 sailed from the Isle of Grain for Milford Haven

16 January 1971 arrived at Milford Haven

17 January 1971 sailed from Milford Haven for Plymouth

23 January 1971 arrived at Plymouth

24 January 1971 sailed from Plymouth

1 February 1971 berthed at Gibraltar

3 February 1971 sailed from Gibraltar returning there on 6 February 1971

8 February 1971 sailed from Gibraltar

12 February 1971 arrived at Villefranche

17 February 1971 sailed from Villefranche

19 February 1971 arrived at Malta

22 February 1971 sailed from Malta returning there on 4 March 1971

8 March 1971 sailed from Malta

10 March 1971 arrived at Cagliari

12 March 1971 sailed from Cagliari

13 March 1971 arrived at Malta

22 March 1971 sailed from Malta

30 March 1971 berthed at Gibraltar

2 April 1971 sailed from Gibraltar

6 April 1971 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth

27 April 1971 sailed from Portsmouth

13 May 1971 arrived at Naples

18 May 1971 sailed from Naples

19 May 1971 arrived at Malta

24 May 1971 sailed from Malta

25 May 1971 arrived at Augusta

28 May 1971 sailed from Augusta returning there the next day

31 May 1971 sailed from Augusta

1 June 1971 arrived at Taranto

2 June 1971 sailed from Taranto

3 June 1971 arrived at Malta sailing the same day for Izmir

7 June 1971 arrived at Izmir

9 June 1971 sailed from Izmir for Thessalonika

10 June 1971 arrived at Thessalonika

11 June 1971 sailed from Thessalonika

13 June 1971 arrived at Augusta sailing the same day for Malta

14 June 1971 arrived at Malta

15 June 1971 sailed from Malta returning the on 18 June 1971

21 June 1971 sailed Malta for Plymouth

3 July 1971 arrived at Plymouth

9 July 1971 sailed from Plymouth for Falmouth arriving the same day

15 July 1971 sailed from Falmouth for Plymouth arriving the same day

23 September 1971 on the River Tyne

21 February 1972 the Birmingham Daily Post reported that –

April 1972 humanitarian aid – along with RFA STROMNESS she provided assistance to Rodrigues Island 350 miles east of Mauritius after it had been battered by a cyclone and aid was airlifted in

May 1972 in the Indian Ocean RASed with the Royal Yacht Britannia

10 June 1972 RASed with HMS KIRKLISTON

3 August 1972 visited Pitcairn Island, Pacific to collect Royal Engineers who had been delivered by RFA TIDEPOOL on 29 June 1972

27 April 1973 at Invergordon

5 May 1973 Wessex HAS1 (converted to HAS3) helicopter XP 118 made a precautionary landing at Portland Bill due to the aviation fuel on the ship being contaminated

8 June 1973 along with RFA REGENT, sailed Portsmouth as part of Task Group 317.1 – the first Group deployment, led by the cruiser HMS TIGER

22 December 1973 in the Indian Ocean together with RFA TIDEREACH RASed with USS Brumby (DE1044) and USS Koelsh (DE1049)

16 June 1974 in the Coral Sea after exercise Kangaroo One RASed with HMAS SUPPLY

29 August 1974 arrived at Cape Town, South Africa with various RN ships together with RFA’s TARBATNESS and TIDEREACH for exercises with the South African Navy

31 December 1974 arrived at Devonport from Sea

13 January 1975 sailed from Devonport to sea

February 1975 off Rosyth deployed on JMC 751 (Joint Maritime Course)

June 1975 deployed on JMC 753 (Joint Maritime Course) – location not currently known

10 July 1975 at Rosyth

22 July 1975 Along with RFA’s GOLD ROVER and TARBATNESS sailed U.K. as part of Task Group 317.3 led by the guided missile destroyer HMS GLAMORGAN

15 January 1976 visited Auckland, New Zealand

20 April 1976 at Rosyth

13 April 1977 at Rosyth

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

30 June 1977 at Portland

5 July 1977 RASed with HMAS BRISBANE during Exercise High Wood

7 July 1977 RASed with HMAS BRISBANE during Exercise High Wood

30 August 1977 Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA appointed as Master

Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA

11 September 1977 at Rosyth Dockyard

11 December 1977 at Rosyth Dockyard

1 April 1978  at Rosyth Dockyard

31 May 1978 along with RFA’s GREEN ROVER and STROMNESS sailed Portsmouth as part of Task Group 317.7 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS BLAKE

28 August 1978 at San Diego, California

13 December 1978 at Portsmouth

24 January 1979 Captain Bruce A Seymour RFA was the ships Master and Mr Vernon Reed RFA was the ships Chief Engineer Officer

18 May 1979 at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

1 August 1979 at Wallsend on Tyne

21 September 1979 at Wallsend on Tyne

5 October 1979 at Wallsend on Tyne

13 November 1979 at Portland

14 January 1980 Wessex HU5 Helicopter No: XS522 from NAS 772 ‘C’ Flight allocated to RFA TIDESPRING (1)

18 March 1980 at Plymouth

3 November 1980 at Rosyth

11 February 1981 RASed with RFA RESOURCE (2)

20 March 1981 at Rosyth

25 August 1981 at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour (see note 1)

5 October 1981 at Portsmouth (see note 1)

3 January 1982 Captain Shane Redmond RFA appointed as Master

Captain Shane Redmond RFA

January 1982 sailed Rosyth supporting HMS FEARLESS and other RN ships on exercise with US Naval units visiting Puerto Rico, Virgin Gorda, Aruba. On 18 January 1982 during the deployment rammed by FGN frigate AUGSBERG during a RAS (Port side just aft of forward structure the deck was lifted anout five feet) – returned to UK in March 1982

5 March 1982 at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

30 March 1982 sailed Gibraltar and was diverted south for Operation Corporate – the Falklands Conflict. Was part of TG 317.8 / 1 – the Main Battle Group – consisting of the County-class destroyers HM ships ANTRIM and GLAMORGAN, the Type 42 destroyers HM ship COVENTRY, GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD, the Type 22 frigate HMS BRILLIANT ,the Type 21 frigate HMS ARROW and the Rothesay class frigate HMS PLYMOUTH.

10 April 1982 arrived Ascension Island in company with the destroyer HMS ANTRIM and the frigate HMS PLYMOUTH and a small Task Group to retake South Georgia was formed.

11 April 1982 sailed Ascension Island with 2 x Wessex 5 helicopters from “C” Flight 845 NAS and 87 marines from “M” Company 42 Commando embarked in company with the destroyer HMS ANTRIM and the frigate HMS PLYMOUTH

13 April 1982 rendezvoused with RFA FORT AUSTIN to embark a full RN surgical support unit for the South Georgia Task Force

14 April 1982 rendezvoused with the Ice Patrol Ship HMS ENDURANCE and improvised a method to refuel her as she was not equipped to refuel at sea . The whole Group then  proceeded to South Georgia

16 April 1982 RASed with HMS ANTRIM

17 April 1982 entered the TEZ (Total Exclusion Zone) around the Falkland Islands

21 April 1982 Operation Paraquat commenced and Special Forces from the ship landed on Fortuna Glacier

22 April 1982 two helicopters operating from Tidespring crashed one on lift off, the other when returning to the ship with troops on board

Badge drawing by Ed Buscall – with grateful thanks

1982, the above unofficial badge was presented to the senior pilot of ‘C’ flight 845 NAS by his maintainance crew, after the loss of the two Wessex HU 5’s whilst attempting to extract special forces from Fortuna Glacier in South Georgia

23 April 1982 rendezvoused with RFA BRAMBLELEAF (3) for a much-needed pump over about 100 miles off South Georgia. This had to be aborted owing to a threat from the Argentinian submarine SANTA FE

24 April 1982 completed the pumpover – received 3,505 tons of diesel and 1,200 tons of FFO

26 April 1982 anchored in Cumberland Bay to unload her cargo of Royal Marines and ammunition then spent the night at sea

27 April 1982 returned to Cumberland Bay and embarked 187 PoW’s and  Argentinian / Uruguayan civilians.after the recapture of  South Georgia 2 days earlier

1 May 1982 sailed South Georgia to rendezvous with the Main Task Force enroute to Ascension Island in company with the destroyer HMS ANTRIM. Had restricted use of radar and displayed no navigation lights

7 May 1982 rendezvoused with and helped to refuel the main body of the amphibious assault vessels. RASed with the Hospital Ship Uganda then proceeded northwards accompanied by the frigate HMS ANTELOPE

12 May 1982 arrived Ascension Island with 153 PoW’s, 32 Argentinian and 2 Uruguyan civilians

13 May 1982 HMS/m ONYX and HMS’s NORTHELLA, CORNELLA moored alongside

14 May 1982 HMS’s FARNELLA and DUMBARTON CASTLE moored alongside

15 May 1982 replenished HMS/M ONYX alongside at Ascension Island with fuel, distilled water and naval stores

HMS/M Onyx alongside at Ascension Island

15 May 1982 RASed with HMS Exeter

16 May 1982 sailed Ascension Island with 2 new Wessex helicopters embarked, escorted by the frigate HMS ANTELOPE, to rejoin the main Carrier Task Group

20 May 1982 engaged in flying operations

26 May 1982 engaged in flying operations

27 May 1982 crashboat launched to provide medical assistance to RFA PEARLEAF (2)

2 June 1982 RASed with mv British Trent receiving 1,640 tons of FFO, 6,303 tons of diesel and 250 tons of Avcat. Also refuelled mv Baltic Ferry alongside in San Carlos Water

6 June 1982 engaged in VERTREP with mv Irishman

7 June 1982 engaged in VERTREP with mv British Trent and RFA RESOURCE

12 June 1982 one of her replacement Wessex helicopters was onboard the destroyer HMS GLAMORGAN when the warship was hit by an Exocet missile and the helicopter was destroyed in the explosion

17 June 1982 RASed with HMS’s BRILLIANT and ANDROMEDA and a VERTREP with HMS BROADSWORD

18 June 1982 engaged in VERTREP with stores and mail from HMS DUMBARTON CASTLE

19 June 1982 engaged in a pumpover from RFA BAYLEAF (3) receiving 3,361 tons of diesel and 1,125 tons of Avcat

22 June 1982 engaged in VERTREP with HMS BROADSWORD and a further pumpover with RFA BAYLEAF (3) receiving 3,867 tons of Diesel

26 June 1982 anchored at San Carlos Water engaged in flying operations

28 June 1982 sailed San Carlos Water

2 July 1982 sailed towards Ascension Island

6 July 1982 stopped and launched the crash boat to collect mail and stores from HMS LEEDS CASTLE

7 July 1982 pump over with mv British Tamar

11 July 1982 off Ascension Island

12 July 1982 sailed Ascension Island for Portsmouth

22 July 1982 secured to the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

27 July 1982 discharged ashore 2,303 tons of FFO, 7,519 tons of Diesel and 2,548 tons of Avcat

5 August 1982 sailed Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty for Devonport

6 August 1982 discharged 2,900 tons of FFO at Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty

12 August 1982 sailed Devonport for Gibraltar

15 August 1982 anchored in Gibraltar Bay

16 August 1982 moved from the anchorage to No: 43 berth at Gibraltar Dockyard

17 August 1982 cold move from No 43 berth to No 1 Dry Dock. Crew paid off. Articles closed. 4th Engineer Officer Henry Lobo RFA discharged dead

11 October 1982 the Times newspaper reported –

24 October 1982 berthed on Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty

8 November 1982 Sea King HAS5 helicopter no: ZA129 attached 826 NAS to Falklands Islands in the ship

1 February 1983 to 4 February 1983 with the frigate HMS ARIADNE she was in Operation Matchstick – a very low key operation to destroy the base on the island of Thule in the South Atlantic

15 April 1983 berthed at Rosyth

2 February 1984 at Portland

22 February 1984 Sea King HAS2 helicopter no: XZ575 to the UK in the ship

12 July 1984 at Rosyth

17 July 1984 Captain Anthony Pitt DSC RFA appointed in command

19 August 1984 berthed at the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

4 October 1984 was awarded the Falkland Islands 1982 Battle Honour at Gosport by Captain C.G. Butterworth RFA CMS – her only Battle Honour as she was the first ship with her name

7 October 1985 at Rosyth

2 December 1985 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

30 March 1986 in the Persian Gulf engaged in a PassEx with HMS’s BROADSWORD and CARDIFF together with USS Enterprise (CVAN65)

13 July 1986 at Plymouth

5 January 1987 at Portsmouth

14 May 1987 at Falmouth

8 June 1987 at Falmouth

3 June 1988 at Dubai

20 November 1988 at Rosyth

2 February 1989 at Immingham. Captain Alan Roach RFA appointed in command

Captain Alan Roach RFA

1989 was awarded an inscribed plaque from the General Council of British Shipping to commemorate her service on Armilla Patrol between November 1986 and 20 August 1988 when the “Accompanying Policy” was in force. Other recipients were RFA’s APPLELEAF (3), BRAMBLELEAF (3), DILIGENCE, OLNA (3) and ORANGELEAF (3)

7 April 1989 at Portland

10 August 1989 at Devonport

30 August 1989 at Devonport

6 December 1989 at Portsmouth

8 April 1990 berthed at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

May 1990 in Operation Eldorado – standing by off the coast of Monrovia to assist with any evacuation during the Civil War there supporting the frigate HMS BROADSWORD

August 1991 along with the frigate HMS LONDON was scheduled to visit Soviet Arctic ports to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Operation Dervish – the supply convoy to Murmansk and Archangel – but the visits were cancelled owing to the coup in the Soviet Union

5 December 1991 passed through the Thames Barrier, River Thames

6 December 1991 arrived at Portsmouth to destore for disposal

18 December 1991 laid up at Z Moorings at Portsmouth on the Disposal List. During her career she had  steamed a total of 1,270,388 nautical miles

20 March 1992 towed out of Portsmouth enroute to the ship breakers

2 July 1992 arrived at Arlang, India to be broken up by Incom Shiptrade.

20 July 1992 breaking up began

Notes

1. Locations kindly provided by Bosun George Collings RFA (Retired) from his Discharge Book

 RFA Tidespring (2)

Subsequent name:  

Official Number:                                                                   

Class:                                     Fast Fleet Tanker (MARS)

Pennant No:                            A136

Signal Letters:                         GXRG

Laid down:                               22 December 2014
Builder:                                    Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), South Korea
Launched:                                25 April 2015

Into Service:                             12 January 2017

Crew number                            59         
Out of service:                          
Fate: 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data: A class of four tankers at a total cost of £452 million – designed by BMT Defence Services, Bath

22 February 2012 ordered

24 June 2014 at the DSME yard in Okpo-dong, South Korea the head of the RFA Commodore Rob Dorey cut the first steel for the ship

July 2014 Yard Nr: 7044 IMO Nr: 9655535

21 August 2014 Lady Boyce, the wife of the former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Boyce has accepted the invitation to be the ship’s lady sponsor

2 November 2014 the Commodore in Chief, HRH the Prince Edward, visited the DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea to inspect the work being undertaken by the ship builders to built RFA TIDESPRING (2)

The Commodore in Chief with the ship yards CEO Mr Ko Jae-ho

22 December 2014 laid down                 

RFA Tidespring (2) under construction

25 April 2015 lauched (floated out)

22 July 2015 Captain (X) Duncan Lamb RFA appointed as Commanding Officer and Captain (E) Terence J M Edwards RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Captain (X) Duncan Lamb RFA

11 September 2015 Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA

4 October 2015 Captain (X) Shaun P Jones OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

Captain (X) Shaun P Jones OBE RFA

7 October 2015 officially named RFA Tidespring by Lady Boyce, the ships Lady Sponsor, in the company of the Lord Boyce KG GCB, the 1st Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC ADC FRAeS and Commodore Rob Dorey RFA as well as other distinguished guests

29 January 2016 to 6 February 2016 conducted basin trials

1 March 2016 preparing for builders sea trials

26 March 2016 – the ship’s official stamp –

29 March 2016 sailed on builders trials from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea

13 April 2016 berthed at DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea after builders trials

21 April 2016 Captain (E) Paul A Jenkins RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 April 2016 Captain (X) Simon Herbert RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

17 May 2016 sailed on builders second sea trials from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea

20 May 2016 berthed at DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea having completed second sea trials

8 June 2016 Captain (X) Shaun P Jones OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

12 June 2016 Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 June 2016 sailed on third series of builders sea trails from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea. Anchored at Busan New Port anchorage sailing again 16 minutes later

DSME Sea Trial area

1 July 2016 berthed at DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea having completed her contractors sea trials

2 November 2016 sailed from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea returning the same day

8 November 2016 in Parliament the Scottish National Party MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, Mr Douglas Chapman MP, asked the Ministry of Defence what the principal technical faults are that have led to the delay of the transfer of the RFA Tidespring to the UK for customisation and capability assessment trials until 2017. The Parlimentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Ms Harriett Baldwin MP replied –  “Delays in finalising elements of electrical design and the installation of Multi-Cable Transit insulation in accordance with new legislative regulations resulted in some adjustments in the build schedule. These issues have now been resolved and Tidespring is expected to arrive in the UK in early 2017 to begin UK customisation and capability assessment trials. Notwithstanding these issues, which are not unusual for any First of Class ship, build of the remaining ships in the Class is progressing well and we remain confident that all four tankers will be in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by the end of 2018, as planned”

22 November 2016 sailed from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea return later the same day

12 January 2017 accepted into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary from the builders by Captain Shaun Jones OBE RFA on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (Navy)

5 February 2017 sailed from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea

RFA Tidespring (2) sails for home

11 February 2017 berthed at Yokosuka, Japan

RFA Tidespring entering Hawaiian waters

© Wade Armstrong

23 February 2017 Captain (E) Paul A Jenkins RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

24 February 2017 berthed alongside at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii

3 March 2017 sailed from Pearl Harbour

17 March 2017 arrived at Panama City anchorage and later entering and berthed at the US Naval Base at Rodman. Captain (X) Simon C Herbert RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

18 March 2017 transitted the Panama Canal 

20 March 2017 arrived at Curaçao

RFA Tidespring (2) alongside at Curaçao

21 March 2017 sailed from Curaçao

31 March 2017 arrived at Falmouth anchorage

2 April 2017 berthed at Falmouth

RFA Tidespring (2) arrives at Falmouth Docks

27 April 2017 entered dry dock at Falmouth 

10 May 2017 the  58 year old crane alongside the ship in Falmouth Dry Dock collapsed crashing onto acetylene cylinders on the dockside causing a leak. Cornwall Fire Service and the Cornwall Constabulary attended and the Docks were evacuated.

2 Images above © Falmouth Packet

Drone image above © BBC

29 May 2017 RFA TIDESPRING (2) was found to be under wraps during her militarisation 

17 June 2017 floated in the dock

22 June  2017 released from the confines of the dry dock –

© Barrie Clark – used with grateful thanks

22 August 2017 Captain (E) Thomas M Nugent RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

23 August 2017 sailed Falmouth

27 August 2017 arrived at Plymouth Sound

31 August 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound for Portland Anchorage arriving the same day

 

RFA Tidespring (2) RAS’s with HNMOS Thor Heyerdahl

 

 

25 April 2018 RASed with FGS Lubeck, HNLMS Eversten and HDMS Vaedderen

 

 

27 April 2018 berthed at Faslane

 

30 April 2018 sailed Faslane

 

1 May 2018 berthed at Faslane

 

20 May 2018 Captain (X) Karl R Woodfield RFA appointed as Commanding Officer

 

21 May 2018 sailed Faslane

 

23 May 2018 berthed at Faslane

 

29 May 2018 sailed from Faslane berthing at Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot later the same day

 

4 June 2018 sailed Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot and RASed with HMS WESTMINSTER

 

7 June 2018 berthed at Faslane

 

9 June 2018 sailed from Faslane

 

20 June 2018 RASed with HMS Queen Elizabeth

 

 

 

 

RFA Tidespring (2) RASes with HMS Queen Elizabeth

both © MOD

 

21 June 2018 berthed at Faslane

 

24 June 2018 sailed from Faslane

 

6 July 2018 arrived at Campbletown anchorage

 

9 July 2018 sailed from Campbeltown achorage

 

19 July 2018 arrived at Plymouth Sound

 

4 August 2018 sailed from Plymouth Sound

 

6 August 2018 berthed at Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot

 

10 August 2018 sailed from Loch Striven OFD berthing at Faslane later in the day

 

12 August 2018 sailed from Faslane

 

28 August 2018 arrived at Faslane

 

30 August 2018 Captain (E) Richard M Maddock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

 

 

Captain (E) Richard M Maddock RFA

 

1 September 2018 sailed from Fasland arriving at Loch Striven OFD later the same day 

 

3 September 2018 sailed Loch Striven OFD

 

8 September 2018 arrived Douglas, Isle of Man anchorage

 

14 September 2018 arrived Portland

 

17 September 2018 Captain Richard Davies RFA appointed as Commanding Officer and the ship sailed from Portland

 

Captain Richard Davies RFA

 

21 September 2018 berthed at Portland

 

15 October 2018 sailed from Portland

 

16 October 2018 ‘Hooked up’ with RFA TIDERACE (2)

 

17 October 2018 flying serials with helicopters from 824 NAS

 

 

 

6 November 2018 RASed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

 

  

 

 

© MOD

 

 

18 November 2018 sailed from Norfolk, Virginia

 

20 November 2018 berthed at Norfolk, Virginia

 

30 November 2018 sailed from Norfolk, Virginia

 

6 December 2018 RASed with HMS MONMOUTH

 

 

 

© MOD

 

10 December 2018 arrived at the Portsmouth big ships Anchorage and anchored

 

 

© George Mortimer – RFAHS member – acknowledged

 

 

11 December 2018 moved from Portsmouth big ships Anchorage to the Nab Anchorage

 

12 December 2018 sailed from the Nab Anchorage arriving at Plymouth Sound later the same day

 

13 January 2019 sailed from HM Naval Base, Devonport and Plymouth Sound

 

 

 

 

 

 

 lower image © RFA Nostalgia

 

 

18 January 2019 arrived at the River Clyde and later berthed at Garelochead

 

 

 

 

21 January 2019 sailed from Garelochhead and RASed with HMS St ALBANS

 

23 January 2019 awarded ‘Ship pf the Year award –

 

 

 

 

24 January 2019 berthed at Portland

 

27 January 2019 Captain (E) Gareth H Coomber RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

 

28 January 2019 sailed from Portland

 

30 January 2019 berthed at Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot

 

7 February 2019 sailed from Loch Striven

 

9 February 2019 berthed at Birkenhead

 

 

                        

 RFA Tidespring (2) arriving at Birkenhead

both kindly donated and © S P Jones

 

 

RFA Tidespring (2) flying her Fleet Effectiveness Award & RFA Ship of the Year Flag 2018/2019 at Birkenhead

kindly donated and © S P Jones

 

 

17 December 2019 sailed from Birkenhead

 

20 December 2019 arrived at Plymouth and berthed at Devonport Dockyard alongside RFA TIDEFORCE

 

 

 

 

25 January 2020 sailed from Devonport Dockyard to sea

 

27 January 2020 berthed at Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot

 

31 January 2020 sailed from Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot

 

12 February 2020 at the Mersey

 

26 February 2020 at anchor at the Brodick Bay anchorage

 

2 March 2020 at anchor in the Sound of Mull

 

4 March 2020 entered Scapa Flow sailing the same day

 

5 March 2020 arrived at the Tyne anchorage

 

14 March 2020 berthed at Portland

 

18 March 2020 sailed from Portland

 

 

 

RFA Tidespring (2) off Guernsey 

© Tony Rive

 

 

20 March 2020 berthed at Portland Port

 

30 March 2020 sailed from Portland Port

 

10 April 2020 arrived at Plymouth Sound and made fast to ‘C’ Buoy

 

15 April 2020 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea

 

18 April 2020 anchored at the Browndown big ships anchorage in the Solent

 

20 April 2020 sailed from the Browndown big ships anchorage in the Solent

 

24 April 2020 arrived at Plymouth Sound and made fast to ‘C’ Buoy

 

6 May 2020 sailed from the Oil Fuel Depot at Loch Striven

 

9 May 2020 arrived at Devonport Dockyard from sea

 

14 June 2020 sailed Devonport Dockyard to sea

 

22 June 2020 at Liverpool anchorage

 

3 July 2020 arrived at Plymouth Sound and made fast to ‘D’ Buoy

 

6 July 2020 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea

 

17 July 2020 berthed at Portland Port

 

31 July 2020 berthed at Portland Port

 

3 August 2020 berthed at Portland Port

 

18 August 2020 berthed at Portland Port

 

30 August 2020 sailed from Portland Port

 

25 September 2020 sailed from Portland Port later anchoring in Portland anchorage

 

1 October 2020 entered Plymouth Sound and berthed on ‘C’ Buoy

 

5 October 2020 sailed from Plymound Sound to sea anchoring at Portsmouth 9 hours later

 

 

 

RFA Tidespring (2) sailing from Plymouth sound on 5 October 2020

With greatful thanks to RFA Nostalgia 

 

 

RFA Tidespring (2) at anchor in the Big Ships Anchorage at

Stokes Bay off Ryde, Isle of Wight on 6 October 2020

 

 

8 October 2020 sailed from Stokes Bay off Ryde, Isle of Wight to sea

 

9 October 2020 arrived from sea into Plymouth Sound and made fast to ‘C’ Buoy

 

12 October 2020 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea

 

16 October 2020 arrived from sea into Plymouth Sound and made fast to ‘C’ Buoy

 

19 October 2020 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea

 

23 October 2020 arrived from sea into Plymouth Sound and made fast to ‘C’ Buoy

 

26 October 2020 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea later anchoring at the Poole Anchorage

 

28 October 2020 anchored in the Big Ships Anchorage, Stokes Bay

 

29 October 2020 sailed from the Big Ships Anchorage, Stokes Bay

 

1 November 2020 berthed at Portland port

 

3 November 2020 sailed from Portland port

 

5 November 2020 berthed at Portland port

 

9 November 2020 sailed from Portland Port

 

13 November 2020 arrived from sea and made fast to ‘D’ Buoy in Plymouth Sound

 

16 November 2020 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea

 

20 November 2020 anchored in the Big Ships Anchorage, Stokes Bay

 

22 November 2020 sailed from the Big Ships Anchorage, Stokes Bay

 

27 November 2020 berthed at Portland Port

 

 

 

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

 

 

15 January 2021 berthed at Portland Port

 

18 January 2021 sailed from Portland Port

 

23 January 2021 arrived at Plymouth Sound making fast to ‘C’ Buoy

 

25 January 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea

 

27 January 2021 RASed with HMS RICHMOND

 

29 January 2021 RASed with RFA FORT VICTORIA

 

30 January 2021 RASed with HNLMS Rotterdam

 

1 February 2021arrived at Plymouth Sound from the sea berthing at Devonport

 

23 February 2021 moved from Devonport to Plymouth Sound making fast to ‘C’ Buoy

 

25 February 2021 sailed from Plymouth Sound to sea

 

5 March 2021 arrived at Portland Port and berthed

 

16 March 2021 sailed from Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot