RFA Tidesurge (1)
Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Previous name: Tiderange
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 187362
Class: Tide Class Fleet Replenishment Tanker
Pennant No: A98
Laid down: 1 July 1953
Builder: Laing, Deptford Yard
Launched: 1 July 1954
Into Service: 30 August 1955
Out of service: May 1976
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: The four ships in this Class were the first Admiralty-designed purpose-built Fleet replenishment tankers intended for enduring front-line support. They evolved from the valuable practical experience gained from HMS BULAWAYO, RFA OLNA (2) and from a number of the WAVE CLASS tankers. Their forward defensive armament fit was a gun platform designed to carry a 4-inch gun and it’s director. Single 20mm Oerlikon mounts were fitted to both bridge wings and twin 40mm Bofors, together with their directors, could be mounted to port and starboard of the funnel. Accommodation was also provided for DEMS Ratings, although in practice these guns were not mounted. All four vessels gave valuable world -wide service and were the pioneers of aspects of RFA life which later became standard. 3 of them were near Suez when the Suez Conflict broke out in 1956. One of them was short on fuel and was ordered back to Malta to replenish her tanks. Unfortunately the wrong one returned and it was found that in two of them their names were too similar so they were renamed in 1958.
1 July 1954 launched by Mrs F R Parham wife of Vice Admiral Frederick R Parham CB, CBE, DSO, MID then Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport.
12 January 1955 Mr Ronald C Putt MID RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Ronald C Putt MID RFA
1 February 1955 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
5 February 1955 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
1 March 1955 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
17 March 1955 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
24 March 1955 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
14 April 1955 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
19 April 1955 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
25 June 1955 berthed at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
13 October 1955 Captain Albert E Curtain OBE RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
8 February 1956 Captain Henry F Colbourne RFA appointed as Master
3 March 1956 arrived at the River Tyne
13 March 1956 berthed on the Admiralty Quay, River Tyne
26 March 1956 arrived Hebburn, River Tyne after builders trials
27 March 1956 at South Shields, River Tyne Shipping Office signed on a new crew
3 April 1956 sailed the River Tyne from the Admiralty Quay for Southampton arriving 5 April 1956
10 April 1956 sailed Southampton for Curaçao arriving 22 April 1956
25 April 1956 sailed Curaçao for Buenos Aires arriving 12 May 1956
12 May 1956 at Buenos Aires Fireman Charles Stanley Dack left the ship apparently to go swimming and did not return. He was discharged dead – presumed drowned and the date of his death was recorded as 13 May 1956
17 May 1956 sailed Montevideo for Punta Cardon, Venezuela arriving 31 May 1956
1 June 1956 sailed Punta Cardon, Venezuela for Thameshaven arriving 15 June 1956
2 June 1956 sailed Curaçao
21 June 1956 sailed Shellhaven for Curaçao arriving 3 July 1956
22 June 1956 passed Dover sailing west bound
4 July 1956 sailed Curaçao for Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Jetty arriving 19 July 1956
22 July 1956 sailed Old Kilpatrick OFJ for Hebburn on Tyne arriving 24 July 1956
28 July 1956 sailed Hebburn on Tyne to Devonport arriving the next day
16 August 1956 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
30 August 1956 arrived at Devonport
1 September 1956 sailed Devonport to Gibraltar and Malta arriving 8 September 1956
5 September 1956 arrived at Gibraltar
19 September 1956 sailed from Malta
25 September 1956 sailed Malta for Toulon, France
October 1956 berthed at Toulon, France together with HMS EAGLE
2 October 1956 off Malta RASing with HMS EAGLE
6 October 1956 arrived at Malta
RFA Tiderange at Grand Harbour, Malta on 6 October 1956 on the buoys ahead of RFA Tiderace with RFA Retainer on RFA Tiderace’s starboard quarter
1 November 1956 deployed on Operation Musketeer – the Suez Crisis until 29 November 1956 and from 12 December 1956 to 22 December 1956 the entire crew qualified for Naval General Service Medal with the “Near East” clasp – in Task Force 325.8, the Logistics Group supporting the carriers – along with RFA’s FORT SANDUSKY, OLNA (2), RETAINER and TIDERACE (1)
21 November 1956 off Port Said
1 December 1956 arrived at Malta
10 December 1956 sailed Malta for Port Said arriving 16 December 1956
22 December 1956 sailed Port Said for Malta arriving 26 December 1956
7 January 1957 sailed Malta for Trinidad arriving 21 January 1957
10 January 1957 passed Gibraltar sailing west bound
22 January 1957 sailed Trinidad for Devonport arriving 5 February 1957
8 February 1957 sailed Devonport for North Shields, River Tyne arriving 10 February 1957 for refit
12 February 1957 Captain Herbert W Flint RFA appointed as Relieving Master
2 March 1957 in refit at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne
28 March 1957 in refit at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne together with RFA ABBEYDALE
7 May 1957 arrived at the River Tyne after trials
26 May 1957 sailed from Trinidad
9 June 1957 sailed from Bermuda for Trinidad
14 June 1957 sailed from Trinidad
18 July 1957 arrived at Devonport
4 August 1957 sailed Curaçao for Plymouth
14 August 1957 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
1957 supported Operation Grapple – the British H-bomb test at Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean – as one of the 16 RFA’s taking part.
4 September 1957 sailed Devonport for Portland
7 September 1957 arrived at Devonport
12 September 1957 sailed from Devonport for the Clyde
13 September 1957 along with RFA’s TIDEREACH and OLNA (2) she assembled on the River Clyde with other units for the Home Fleet Exercises with the Depot Ship HMS MAIDSTONE as the Flagship
16 September 1957 arrived at Old Kilpatrick Fuel Depot, River Clyde
17 September 1957 Captain Frank A Shaw RD RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
2 October 1957 arrived at Devonport and the Daily Mirror newspaper reported that –
11 October 1957 sailed from Devonport
26 October 1957 arrived at Bermuda
2 November 1957 sailed Curaçao for Plymouth
18 November 1957 arrived at Devonport
30 November 1957 at North Shields, River Tyne
14 December 1957 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne together with RFA’s WAVE REGENT
28 December 1957 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne
1 February 1958 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne together with RFA SOMERSBY and RFA WAVE RULER (1)
15 February 1958 at North Eastern Marine, River Tyne
29 April 1958 arrived at Honolulu
16 May 1958 transitted the Panama Canal
20 May 1958 sailed Curaçao
31 May 1958 arrived at Greenock
2 June 1958 sailed from Greenock for the River Tyne
4 June 1958 arrived at the River Tyne and berthed on the tank cleaning berth before discharging the crew at North Shields Shipping Office
5 June 1958 engaged a crew at the South Shields Shipping Office
7 June 1958 at South Shields, River Tyne
8 June 1959 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound. Signalled she was bound for Plymouth
18 June 1958 arrived at Portland
20 June 1958 arrived at Plymouth
28 June 1958 name changed to TIDESURGE
6 July 1958 sailed Curaçao for Bermuda
12 July 1958 sailed from Bermuda
19 July 1958 sailed from Curaçao
9 August 1958 sailed Malta
14 August 1958 RASed with HMS BERMUDA off Cyprus
18 August 1958 Mr G J Mathews RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 August 1958 RASed with HMS BERMUDA while on passage from Cyprus to Malta
31 August 1958 arrived at Malta
21 September 1958 sailed from Malta
16 October 1958 RASed with HMS BERMUDA while on passage from Malta to Famagusta Bay, Cyprus
27 October 1958 to 30 October 1958 off Malta involved in Exercise MEDASWEX 26 with RN and other Naval units together with RFA’s FORT DUQUESNE and BLUE RANGER
7 November 1958 arrived Port Said
12 November 1958 arrived at Aden
18 November 1958 sailed from Aden
19 December 1958 arriving at Hong Kong
2 January 1959 sailed from Hong Kong for Singapore
21 January 1959 sailed from Singapore
2 February 1959 arrived at Abadan
12 February 1959 sailed from Aden
20 February 1959 arrived at Malta
March 1959 during Exercise Dawn Breeze RASed with HMS GAMBIA
© MOD
19 March 1959 and 20 March 1959 RASed with HMS CENTAUR at 48°24.3N 9°29.5W
23 March 1959 arrived at Plymouth Sound
31 March 1959 discharged the crew at the North Shields Shipping Office
2 April 1959 berthed at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne
4 May 1959 Captain Leslie G Rowling DSC RFA appointed as Master
8 June 1959 sailed the River Tyne for Devonport
9 June 1959 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover sailing west bound
10 June 1959 arrived at Devonport
13 June 1959 sailed from Devonport for Gibraltar
16 June 1959 sailed from Gibraltar for Malta
20 June 1959 berthed at Malta
23 June 1959 off Malta RASed with HMS CENTAUR
27 June 1959 off Tobruk RASed with HMS CENTAUR
4 August 1959 sailed from Aden
5 September 1959 arrived at Singapore after taking part in Exercise ‘Jet’ with HMS CENTAUR and other RN and RAN units
31 August 1959 together with HMS’s CEYLON, SOLEBAY and HMAS ANZAC sailed Trincomalee for Singapore
5 October 1959 off Pulo Aur light jackstay transfer of mail to HMAS ANZAC
7 October 1959 while on passage to Hong Kong RASed with HMAS ANZAC
14 October 1959 when off the west coast of the Phillipines RASed with HMAS ANZAC
18 October 1959 off Okinawa, Japan RASed with HMAS ANZAC
21 October 1959 while on passage to Japan RASed with HMAS ANZAC prior to berthing at Yokosuka
2 November 1959 RASed with HMAS ANZAC
16 November 1959 off Hong Kong RASed with HMAS’s ANZAC and TOBRUK
10 December 1959 along with RFA’s WAVE PRINCE, RELIANT (2), RETAINER and HMS’s CENTAUR, SOLEBAY, LAGOS, FINNISTERRE, LLANDAFF and ALERT engaged in Queensland Centenary Celebrations
14 December 1959 off Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia RASed with HMS CENTAUR and HMS LAGOS
21 April 1960 sailed Malta for the UK
26 April 1960 at Devonport at Plymouth Sound with RFA AIRSPRITE berthed alongside
27 April 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
30 April 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
10 June 1960 on the River Tyne and Captain G O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master
25 July 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
26 July 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
3 August 1960 at Devonport moved from No: 9 buoy to Plymouth Sound
25 August 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty. RFA EDDYNESS berthed outboard of her
26 August 1960 at Devonport at Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty. RFA EDDYNESS moved from outboard of RFA TIDESURGE (1) but returned later the same day
29 August 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound.
26 October 1960 Mr G S Burnett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 November 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
16 November 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
14 December 1960 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
15 December 1960 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Plymouth Sound
11 January 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 1 buoy. RFA EDDYNESS berthed alongside
13 January 1961 at Devonport while made fast to No: 1 buoy RFA EDDYNESS berthed alongside
17 January 1961 at Devonport while made fast to No: 1 buoy RFA EDDYNESS sailed from alongside her to Plymouth Sound
23 January 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 1 buoy to Plymouth Sound
18 February 1961 supported HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS LONDONDERRY on a visit to New York – she sailed from New York on 20 February 1961
28 February 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
1 March 1961 while berthed on Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty RFA EDDYNESS berthed alongside
2 March 1961 while berthed on Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty RFA EDDYNESS which had been berthed alongside moved to Turnchapel
7 March 1961 at Devonport moved from No: 6 buoy to Plymouth Sound
1961 her refit this year included the fitting of the first RFA Crew Bar. She represented the RFA at Rosyth Navy Days as an integral unit for the first time.
25 March 1961 at Devonport moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
26 March 1961 at Devonport moved from Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty to Gravesend mooring
27 March 1961 while berthed on Gravesend mooring RFA EDDYFIRTH berthed alongside of her
28 March 1961 at Devonport moved to Plymouth Sound
27 June 1961 at Rosyth Donkeyman Greaser Henry Strahan discharged dead – natural causes – heart attack
24 September 1961 sailed from Smith’s Dock, River Tyne
23 October 1961 at anchor with Plymouth Sound with RFA BIRCHOL (2) berthed alongside her. RFA BIRCHOL (2) which sailed moved for Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
23 November 1961 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
28 December 1961 sailed Mombasa with RFA RETAINER and RN units lead by HMS CENTAUR due to reported tension in the Middle East. Reported by the Coventry Evening Telegraph this day …
28 January 1962 involved in South China Sea 200 miles south east of Saigon in the rescue of survivors from a Greek owned tanker Stanvac Sumatra with RN, US Naval ships and aircraft of the RAF. The Greek ship had split in half in bad weather in position 09°05N 109°55E. One survivor was saved by the Tidesurge
1 May 1962 while on passage to Manila RAS’ed with HMAS MELBOURNE
5 May 1962 RAS’ed with HMAS’s PARRAMATTA and YARRA at Manila Bay
18 June 1962 during exercise Potluck RAS’ed HMAS PARRAMATTA
28 June 1962 RAS’ed astern with HMAS PARRAMATTA
1 July 1962 Mr G D J Garside RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 July 1962 Assistant Steward Norman Andrew Claxton logged as deserted. He appeared at the Ninth Magistrate’s Court, Singapore on 13 July 1962 and pleaded guilty
7 August 1962 RAS’ed with HMAS PARRAMATTA off Singapore
24 August 1962 the Royal Australian Navy ‘Navy News’ newspaper reported –
18 February 1963 Mr V J Paflin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 February 1963 Captain Alf Waters RFA appointed as Master
3 March 1963 at Devonport arrived from Sea to Plymouth Sound
4 March 1963 moved from Plymouth Sound to Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty
May 1963 supported the carrier HMS ARK ROYAL from the U.K. to the Far East along with RFA’s FORT DUQUESNE and RETAINER
18 August 1963 Yeoman Robert Arthur Fletcher RFA discharged dead. He died at the British Military Hospital, Singapore from meningitis. He is buried in Kranji Military Cemetery, Singapore in Plot 13, Row A Grave 22
Image courtesy of Tony Beck, with thanks
23 January 1964 RASed with HMS CENTAUR while enroute to Mombassa
13 March 1964 while on passage from Singapore to Subic Bay RAS’ed with HMAS YARRA
28 March 1964 Mr H W Jackinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 April 1964 sailed from Malta for Plymouth
22 June 1964 Captain William R Town RFA appointed as Master
1 December 1964 in the Sulu Sea RAS’ed with HMAS DERWENT
3 December 1964 together with RFA FORT DUNVEGAN RASed with HMS CENTAUR
20 December 1964 off Aden RAS’ed with HMS MOWHAWK
2 February 1965 refuelled HMAS GULL alongside
3 February 1965 off Tanjong Tohov RASed with HMAS DERWENT
RFA TIDESURGE (1) image taken from HMAS DERWENT
8 February 1965 while berthed at Singapore Dockyard – berth No: 7 – with HMAS IBIS alongside being refuelled
12 February 1965 off One Fathom Bank RAS’ed with HMAS DUCHESS
22 February 1965 anchored off Cape Rachado with HMAS DUCHESS alongside refuelling
11 March 1965 together with RFA’s WAVE SOVEREIGN and FORT ROSALIE (1) joined in the Singapore Exercise area with HM Ships ALAX, LINCOLN, ZEST, BARROSA, CAESAR, CARYSFORT and WHITY plus HMAS PARRAMATTA for exercises
16 March 1965 – RASed with HMAS DERWENT
17 May 1965 Mr T S W Humphrey RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 June 1965 Captain Basil V Dobbie RFA appointed as Master
2 December 1965 the Daily Mirror newspaper reported …
18 January 1966 Mr E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 March 1966 at Singapore (see note 1)
6 March 1966 in the Malacca Strait refuelled HMAS GULL
2 May 1966 sailed RAF Gan for the Mozambique Channel – eta 9 May 1966
21 June 1966 at Plymouth (see note 1)
9 July 1966 Captain Donald G Averill RFA appointed as Master
Captain Donald G Averill RFA
12 September 1966 at Plymouth
25 February 1967 at Singapore
1 June 1967 at Hong Kong
25 August 1967 in the Indian Ocean RASed with USS Forrestal CVA 59 over a period of 8 hours. USS Forrestal had been severely damaged by fire and explosions on 29 July 1967 off Vietnam. On 11 August 1967 she sailed from Leyte Pier, Cubi Point Naval Air Station, Subic Bay, Philippines via the Indian and Atlantic Oceans to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA, USA for major repairs
27 November 1967 at Greenock, River Clyde
14 December 1967 Captain Archibald M M Telfer RFA appointed as Master
Captain Archibald M M Telfer RFA
23 January 1968 at Portland
16 March 1968 Mr E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 April 1968 RASed with HMAS SYDNEY off Singapore
31 October 1968 berthed at Simonstown Dockyard, South Africa
27 November 1968 at Falmouth
1 September 1969 was berthed at Mombasa
6 Setember 1969 sailed on Beira patrol
8 September 1969 RAS’ed with RFA Dewdale (2)
9 September 1969 RAS’ed with HMS YARMOUTH the HMS LYNX. Involved in exercises with Royal Naval boarding parties. First party was intercepted and locked in a rope store. The next boarding party released them and then had difficulties finding the RFA crew hiding among the pipes on the tank deck.
10 September 1969 anchored off Beira
12 September 1969 RAS’ed with HMS’s GALATEA and YARMOUTH simultaniously. Plotting courses and speeds of ships approaching Beira for reporting to the Royal Navy
14 September 1969 RAS’ed with RFA TARBATNESS – fuel and stores
15 September 1969 RAS’ed with HMS AJAX and then a night RAS with HMS GALATEA
16 September 1969 RAs’ed with HMS LYNX. Anchored off Beira
19 September 1969 RAS’ed with HMS AJAX
22 September 1969 RAS’ed with HMS AJAX
23 September 1969 RAS’ed with HMS LYNX plus jackstay transfer of oil drums
25 September 1969 berthed at Durban
2 October 1969 sailed from Durban – a crew member Hogarth – jumped ship during the stay in Durban
6 October 1969 RAS’ed with HMS’s ANDROMEDA and WHITBY. Anchored off Beira.
10 October 1969 weighed anchor. RAS’ed with HMS’s WHITBY and then ANDROMEDA and returned to anchor off Beira
11 October 1969 Cadets onboard transferred to HMS ANDROMEDA until 13 October 1969 in exchange for RN Midshipmen
13 October 1969 RAS’ed with HMS WHITBY
14 October 1969 RAS’ed with RFA ENNERDALE (2)
15 October 1969 RAS’ed with RFA RESURGENT – stores and oil
16 October 1969 anchored with Beira
17 October 1969 on passage to Mombassa
20 October 1969 moored to buoys in Mombassa
24 October 1969 sailed from Mombassa
26 October 1969 RAs’ed with RFA DEWDALE (2)
27 October 1969 anchored off Beira
28 October 1969 RAs’ed with HMS WHITBY and HMS ANDROMEDA
31 October 1969 RAS’ed with RFA RESURGENT
1 November 1969 RAS’ed with HMS’s JUNO, WHITBY, ZULU and ANDROMEDA (in that order)
4 November 1969 RAS’ed with RFA REGENT
6 November 1969 RAS’ed with HMS’s JUNO and ZULU
9 November 1969 Army sergeant transferred by helicopter to be taken to hospital in Durban
11 November 1969 berthed at Durban
12 November 1969 sailed from Durban
17 November 1969 tank cleaning
20 November 1969 crossed the Equator
21 November 1969 tank cleaning
22 November 1969 anchored off Freetown. The ship suffered a fire on the main switchboard resulting in the need of oil anchor lights until 20:30hrs
23 November 1969 moored to the oil jetty
24 November 1969 sailed from the oil jetty and anchored off shore. Sailed 21:00hrs
27 November 1969 RAS’ed with RFA TIDESPRING (1) of all ship’s mogas. Thick fog
28 November 1969 emergency alarm during dinner. Crew went to stations. There had been a diesel overflow in the engine room
3 December 1969 berthed at Plymouth prior to sailing to the River Tyne for a refit at Palmer’s, Hebburn
8 December 1969 at the River Tyne
9 January 1970 between Malta and Crete involved in searching for two Soviet Seaman lost over the side from their Koltin Class Soviet warship when it was involved in a collision with HMS ARK ROYAL
March 1970 visited Jamestown, St. Helena
13 April 1970 at Portsmouth (see note 2)
8 June 1970 anchored in Irvine Bay, Scotland
9 June 1970 the Master and Officers entertained the Provost and members of the Town Council of Irvine on board
12 June 1970 sailed Irvine Bay
27 June 1970 at Liverpool
6 August 1970 sailed from Malta for Gibraltar
15 August 1970 at Portsmouth (see note 2)
26 October 1970 sailed from Malta
14 November 1970 south of Crete with HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS EXMOUTH stood by HMS FIFE which had a fire in her gas turbine room
3 December 1970 at the River Clyde (see note 2)
13 January 1971 at the River Clyde (see note 2)
24 September 1971 at Singapore (see note 2)
November 1971 visited Jamestown, St. Helena
17 July 1972 entered KGV docks
October – December 1972 supported Operation Zealous – on standby off East Africa in case of the requirement to evacuate British nationals from Uganda – along with RFA’s TIDEPOOL and TIDEREACH
3 February 1974 berthed at Lyttleton, New Zealand
1 March 1974 at Port Moresby, Papua New Guninea a ships team played a team from the Port Moresby Teachers College at football
August 1974 to July 1975 served as the final Fleet Oiler on the Beira Patrol
22 January 1975 at Durban, South Africa
4 February 1975 at 12°24S 41°39E RASed with RFA PLUMLEAF (2)
22 June 1975 berthed at Mombassa
2 October 1975 at Cape Town
October 1975 Captain David J Boydon RFA in command
December 1975 off loaded the remaining cargo from the hulked RFA WAVE RULER (1) at Gan
18 February 1976 at Curaçao
25 February 1976 to 4 April 1976 with the frigate HMS ESKIMO she was diverted to the South Atlantic in view of a possible Argentinian adventure against the Falkland Islands.
14 March 1976 to 19 March 1976 alongside at Rio de Janeiro
19 March 1976 sailed Rio de Janeiro (delayed by engine problems) for Montevideo arriving 22 March 1976
22 March 1976 alongside at Montevideo
25 March 1976 sailed Montevideo (again delayed by engine problems) for Salvador
27 March 1976 RASed with HMS ESKIMO
28 March 1976 Light Jackstay transfer with HMS ESKIMO
29 March 1976 RASed with HMS ESKIMO
30 March 1976 RASed with HMS ESKIMO
31 March 1976 Exercise with Brazilian Navy off Salvador – RASed with Brazilian Destroyer ‘Mato Grosso’
1 April 1976 berthed at Salvador until 4 April 1976
4 April 1976 sailed
5 April 1976 RASed with HMS ESKIMO
8 April 1976 noon position 04° 22’S, 48° 23’W. 222 miles NE of the Amazon Estuary
11 April 1976 noon position 149 miles SE of PUERTO RICO
12 April 1976 RASed with HMS ESKIMO. Set sail for Portmouth
14 April 1976 broken down overnight. Noon position 570 miles SE of BERMUDA. 2,850 miles from PORTSMOUTH
16 April 1976 noon position 780 miles SW of the AZORES
18 April 1976 noon position 160 miles NW of the AZORES. 1,300 miles to PORTSMOUTH
20 April 1976 noon position 465 miles SW of LANDS END
21 April 1976 arrived at Plymouth until 29 April 1976
29 April 1976 sailed from Plymouth for Portsmouth arriving on 30 April 1976 berthing on the Gosport Oil Jetty.
31 April 1976 out of service
1 May 1976 to 30 May 1976 destoring
23 June 1976 laid up at Portsmouth
10 February 1977 the Board of Trade offered in the Lloyds List newspaper RFA TIDESURGE (1) for sale
February 1977 while awaiting sale at Portsmouth had 197.14 tons of FFO, Diesel oil and lubricating oil remaining on board valued at £13.188.11 and when sold this was paid for seperately
19 April 1977 left under tow from Portsmouth for Valencia, Spain to be broken up by Aguilar y Peris SA
Notes
1. Locations kindly provided by Bosun George Collings RFA (Retired) from his Discharge Book
2. Locations kindly provided by 2nd Cook Ian Fisher RFA (Retired) from his Discharge Book
RFA Tidesurge (2)
Subsequent name:
Official Number:
Class: Fast Fleet Tanker (MARS)
Pennant No: A138
Laid down: 7 December 2015
Builder: Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), South Korea
Launched: 5 March 2016
Into Service: Planned for 2016
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
July 2014 Yard Number 7046 IMO Nr: 9655559
7 December 2015 laid down. Captain (X) Shaun Jones OBE RFA assumed command
5 March 2016 floated out from dry dock
7 March 2016 re-entered dry dock for further construction work to be undertaken
A Tide without the Surge?
4 June 2016 launched
22 May 2017 moved berths
26 May 2017 sailed on builders trials from DSME, Okpo, South Korea
Sailing on Builders trials
DSME Sea Trials Area
1 June 2017 returned to DSME shipbuilders Yard after builders trials
2 July 2017 Captain (E) Nigel Sim RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain (E) Nigel Sim RFA
7 July 2017 Captain (X) Shaun Jones OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
28 July 2017 sailed DSME Shipbuilders Yard for further trials
1 August 2017 anchored in Okpo anchorage
2 August 2017 sailed from Okpo anchorage
5 August 2017 berthed at DSME shipbuilders Yard
29 August 2017 the ship was officially named by her Lady Sponsor, Mrs Joanna Woodcock wife of Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock OBE, the Second Sea Lord & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff accompanied, as well, by the British ambassador to South Korea Charles Hay
via RFANostalgia
The Official Naming Party
22 September 2017 being moved within DSME Shipbuilders Yard
November 2017 RFA TIDESURGE (2) and the Republic of South Korea frigate ROKS Dae-Gu formed a sistership bond at the DSME Shipbuilders Yard. Having been built side-by-side the respective crews of the two vessels had watched each other’s ships take shape over the past couple of years; the craft were even launched within two days of each other
The sisterhood ceremony took the shape of more than just signing a piece of paper, but a football match and a traditional Korean meal hosted by the officers of the Daegu.
The RFA crew were treated to a film on a history of the Korean Navy
The combined Football teams
15 November 2017 accepted off contract, Chief Officer Richard Davies RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Chief Officer Richard Davies RFA
16 November 2017 AIS transmitted –
24 November 2017 Captain Robert H Allan OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
15 December 2017 sailed Okpo
19 December 2017 berthed at the US Naval Base, Sasebo, Japan
25 December 2017 sailed from the US Naval Base, Sasebo, Japan
5 February 2018 berthed at the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbour
3 March 2018 arrived at the Pacific anchorage at the entrance to the Panama Canal
6 March 2018 Captain (E) Peter R G Dear RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 March 2018 entered the Panama Canal for its transit
RFA TIDESURGE (2) RASes with HMS DEFENDER
USNS William McLean
© GBC