RFA Tidespring (A136)

For other ships with the same name, see RFA Tidespring.
RFA Tidespring
History
United Kingdom
NameRFA Tidespring
NamesakeRFA Tidespring
OrderedFebruary 2012
BuilderDSME
Laid downDecember 2014
LaunchedApril 2015
In service27 November 2017
HomeportMarchwood Military Port, Southampton[1]
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeTide-class fast fleet tanker
Displacement37,000 t (36,000 long tons)
Length200.9 m (659 ft 1 in)
Beam28.6 m (93 ft 10 in)[3]
Draft10 m (32 ft 10 in)
PropulsionCODELOD
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range18,200 nautical miles (33,700 km; 20,900 mi)
Capacity
  • Tanks for diesel oil, aviation fuel (19,000 m³) and fresh water (1,400 m³)
  • Lubrication oil stored in drums
  • Stowage for up to eight 20 ft containers
Complement63 plus 46 non-crew embarked persons (Royal Marines, flight crew, trainees)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Kelvin Hughes Integrated Bridge System
  • Servowatch IPMS System
  • 3 × SharpEye radar[4]
Armament
  • 2 × Phalanx CIWS (fitted for, depending on deployment)[5]
  • 2 × 30 mm cannons (fitted for, depending on deployment)[6]
Aircraft carried1 medium helicopter with full hangar facilities (Merlin / Wildcat), flight deck capable of landing Chinook-size helicopter

RFA Tidespring is a Tide-class replenishment tanker of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). Built by DSME in 2016, the ship entered service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in November 2017.

  1. ^ "FOI(A) regarding the Royal Navy" (PDF). What do they know?. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Tide Class MARS Tanker". BMT. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  3. ^ "DSME Announced as Winning Bid for Royal Navy's MARS Tanker Competition". Defencepro Daily. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Kelvin Hughes to supply equipment for 4 MARS tankers vessels for Royal Fleet Auxiliary". navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Last ditch defence – the Phalanx close-in weapon system in focus". Navy Lookout. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  6. ^ "The all-rounder – the 30mm Automated Small Calibre Gun in focus". Navy Lookout. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2023.