| Royal Fleet Auxiliary | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1905–present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Auxiliary force |
| Role | Replenishment & Operational Support |
| Size | 1,750 personnel (as of late 2022);[1] combined vessel displacement c. 341,000 tonnes |
| RFA Headquarters | Leach Building, Whale Island, Portsmouth, England, UK |
| Colours | Blue and gold |
| Fleet | |
| Decorations | Kings Colour |
| Website | http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/royal-fleet-auxiliary |
| Commanders | |
| Commodore in Chief | Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh |
| Commodore RFA | Commodore Sam Shattock |
| Insignia | |
| Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ensign |  |
| Royal Fleet Auxiliary Jack |  |
| Abbreviation | RFA |
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is a naval auxiliary fleet owned by the UK's Ministry of Defence. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service and provides logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The RFA ensures the Royal Navy is supplied and supported by providing fuel and stores through replenishment at sea, transporting Royal Marines and British Army personnel, providing medical care and transporting equipment and essentials around the world. In addition the RFA acts independently providing humanitarian aid, counter piracy and counter narcotic patrols together with assisting the Royal Navy in preventing conflict and securing international trade.[2] They are a uniformed civilian branch of the Royal Navy staffed by British merchant sailors.[3] The RFA is one of five RN fighting arms.[4]
RFA personnel are civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence and members of the Royal Naval Reserve and Sponsored Reserves. Although RFA personnel wear Merchant Navy rank insignia with naval uniforms, they are part of the Royal Navy. RFA vessels are commanded and crewed by these sailors, augmented with regular and reserve Royal Navy personnel who perform specialised functions such as operating and maintaining helicopters or providing hospital facilities. Royal Navy personnel are also needed to operate certain weapons, such as the Phalanx; however, other weapons (such as the DS30B 30 mm cannon) are operated by RFA personnel. The RFA counts an aviation support vessel and dock landing ships amongst its assets.
As of late 2024, the RFA was suffering from severe manpower shortages resulting in only 6 of 13 vessels being able to be crewed on a regular basis.[5][6]
- ^ "Navy struggling to keep RFA Fort Victoria operational". NavyLookout. 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Support the Fleet that Protects Our Nation's Interest". Royal Navy. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ^ "Royal Fleet Auxiliary". Royal Navy. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ^ "THE ROYAL NAVY'S SURFACE FLEET" (PDF). royalnavy.mod.uk. MOD UK. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Sharpe, Tom (26 September 2024). "Hey, Starmer and Reeves. This group of public sector workers really deserves a pay rise". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "RFA Fort Victoria to be placed in long-term lay up". Navy Lookout. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.