Tide class replenishment oiler
Encyclopedia
The Tide class was a series of replenishment oiler
Replenishment Oiler
A replenishment oiler or fleet tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds, which can replenish other ships while underway in the high seas. Such ships are used by several countries around the world....
s used by the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...
(RFA), the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
(RAN), and the Chilean Navy
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
.
The class was based on HMS Olna, which had served with the British Pacific Fleet
British Pacific Fleet
The British Pacific Fleet was a British Commonwealth naval force which saw action against Japan during World War II. The fleet was composed of British Commonwealth naval vessels. The BPF formally came into being on 22 November 1944...
during World War II. Three ships were laid down for the RFA in 1953, while a fourth was ordered by the RAN at the same time. Two more ships, built to a modified design, were launched in 1962.
Upon completion, the Australian Tide Austral could not be accepted into service because of manpower and financial difficulties. The ship was instead loaned to the RFA until 1962, when she was returned to the RAN and commissioned as HMAS Supply.
The first three ships were removed from service and scrapped during the late 1970s. The two modified ships saw service in the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, after which one was sold to the Chilean Navy and still in service as of 1996, while the other remained with the RFA and was scrapped in 1992. Supply remained with the RAN until 1985.
Ships
- RFA Tidereach (A96)RFA Tidereach (A96)RFA Tidereach was a of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.Laid down on 2 June 1953 by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, and launched on 2 June 1954, Tidereach was commissioned on 30 August 1955 and served until March 1978....
, launched 1954, scrapped 1979 - RFA Tideflow (A97)RFA Tideflow (A97)RFA Tideflow was a of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.Commissioned in 1956, the ship was originally named Tiderace, but was renamed Tideflow in 1958 to avoid confusion with other members of the class....
, launched 1954, scrapped 1976 - RFA Tidesurge (A98)RFA Tidesurge (A98)RFA Tidesurge was a of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.Launched in 1954, the ship was originally named Tiderange but was renamed in 1958 to avoid confusion with other members of the class....
, launched 1954, scrapped 1977 - RFA Tide Austral (A99), ordered by Australia, launched 1954, loaned to RFA 1955, returned to Australia and recommissioned as 1962, paid off 1985
- RFA Tidespring (A75)RFA Tidespring (A75)RFA Tidespring was a of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. As an "oiler," its main purpose was to refuel other ships. The ship had a long career in the RFA, entering service in the early 1960s, and finally being decommissioned in 1991....
, launched 1962, scrapped 1992 - RFA Tidepool (A76)RFA Tidepool (A76)RFA Tidepool was a of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.Tidepool had a long and busy life in the fleet. The ship participated in both the Cod Wars and the Beira Patrol during the 1970s. In 1982 when the Falklands War broke out Tidepool was actually on its way to Chile to be disposed of...
, launched 1962, sold to Chile 1982, renamed Almirante Jorge Montt and in service as of 1996.