Fort Rosalie-class replenishment ship

{{Short description|Class of fleet replenishment vessel of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary}}

{{Infobox ship image

|Ship image=Fort Rosalie class replenishment ship.JPG

|Ship caption=RFA Fort Rosalie at HMNB Plymouth Navy Days

}}

{{Infobox ship class overview

|Name=

|Builders=Scott Lithgow

|Operators=Royal Fleet Auxiliary

|Class before=

|Class after={{sclass|Fort Victoria|replenishment oiler|4}}

|Subclasses=

|Cost=

|Built range=1973–1979

|In service range=

|In commission range=1978–2021

|Total ships building=

|Total ships planned=

|Total ships completed=2

|Total ships cancelled=

|Total ships active=

|Total ships lost=

|Total ships retired=2 (sold to Egypt)

|Total ships preserved=

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

|Hide header=

|Header caption=

|Ship type=Replenishment ship

|Ship tonnage= {{GT|18,029}}

|Ship displacement=23,890 tons (full load)

|Ship length={{convert|185.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship beam= {{convert|24|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship height=

|Ship draught={{convert|9|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship depth=

|Ship power=

|Ship propulsion=Sulzer 8-cylinder RND90 {{convert|22,300|shp|lk=on|abbr=on}}, 1 shaft

|Ship speed= {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}}

|Ship range= {{convert|10000|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|20|kn|abbr=on}}

|Ship endurance=

|Ship boats=

|Ship capacity=

|Ship troops=

|Ship complement=*127 RFA

45 RN
36 STO(N) civilians

|Ship crew=

|Ship time to activate=

|Ship sensors=*Kelvin Hughes Ltd SharpEye navigation radar{{cite web|title=New navigation radar system for Royal Navy|date=28 January 2016|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-navigation-radar-system-for-royal-navy|website=Gov.uk}}

|Ship EW=

|Ship armament=*2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS

2 × 20 mm Oerlikon/BMARC KAA guns in GAM-B01 mounts
4 × 7.62 mm L7 GPMGs

|Ship armour=

|Ship aircraft= Up to 4 × Westland Sea King-sized helicopters

|Ship aircraft facilities=

|Ship notes=

}}

The Fort Rosalie or Fort class of fleet replenishment vessel of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary were designed to replenish Royal Navy taskgroups with various armaments and victualling stores while under way. Unlike the bigger {{sclass|Fort Victoria|replenishment oiler|4}}, they supply dry stores and not fuel. RFA Fort Rosalie was originally known as Fort Grange but was renamed in 2000 to avoid confusion with the new Fort Victoria-class replenishment oiler {{ship|RFA|Fort George|A388|6}}. Both ships were withdrawn from service and later sold in 2021.

Design

They have the capacity to store {{convert|3,500|long ton|lk=on}} of stores, including refrigerated items, in four holds. They are capable of replenishment at sea (RAS), using three 10-ton and three 5-ton cranes and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). For the latter role there are generous flight facilities; a single spot flight deck, an emergency landing platform atop the hangar and a complement of up to four (but usually one) Fleet Air Arm Westland Sea King helicopters and the requisite maintenance facilities. As such, they are often used for aviation training.

History

Two ships were ordered in 1971, with the first entering service in 1978. Both ships saw service in the Falklands War, the then Fort Grange being shadowed by Argentine Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft while still {{convert|1,000|nmi|km|lk=in}} from the combat area and Fort Austin being attacked while sitting in San Carlos Water. Fort Austin supported the British intervention in Sierra Leone in 2000.

Fort Austin was mothballed in 2009 but was reactivated following the 2010 SDSR at the expense of {{ship|RFA|Fort George|A388|6}}. Both Fort Rosalie and Fort Austin have had major refits at Cammell Laird to enable another decade of service. In 2011 it was announced that the service lives of Fort Austin and Fort Rosalie would be extended by another two years to 2023 and 2024 respectively.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130611/text/130611w0001.htm#130611102000062|title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers|date=11 June 2013|publisher=UK Parliament}} They will ultimately be replaced by the new Solid Support Ships.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/492800/20150118-SDSR_Factsheets_1_to_17_ver_13.pdf|title=SDSR 2015 Defence Fact Sheets|date=2015|website=Gov.uk}}

As of June 2020, both ships were reported to be in either reduced (base maintenance period) or extended readiness (unmanned reserve) with replenishment rigs not compatible with the {{sclass|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier}}s.{{cite web |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-rfa-trio-remain-extended-readiness-reduced/ |title=PREMIUM: RFA trio remain in extended readiness as reduced fleet continues to support RN deployments |website=shephardmedia.com |date=2 June 2020 |access-date=21 August 2020}}

The 2021 defence white paper announced that both ships of the class would be decommissioned and eventually replaced by new Fleet Solid Stores Support Vessels.{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2021/march/23/1sl-message-on-integrated-review |title=First Sea Lord's Message on Integrated Review |publisher=Royal Navy |date=23 March 2021 |access-date=29 March 2021}} In May 2021, both ships were put up for sale to be scrapped.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-of-the-potential-sale-of-the-former-rfa-austin-and-rfa-rosalie-for-recycling-only |title=Notice of the potential sale of the former RFA Austin and RFA Rosalie for recycling only |publisher=Gov.uk |date=21 May 2021 |access-date=24 May 2021}} The notice for recycling was subsequently withdrawn, and in October 2021 it was announced by the Defence Equipment Sales Authority and Defence Equipment and Support that both ships of the class had been sold to the Egyptian Navy, with refurbishment work expected to be undertaken by Cammell Laird prior to their export.{{cite web |last1=Neumann |first1=Norbert |title=UK sells Royal Navy ships to Egypt for first time in 30 years |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/news/royal-navy-sells-ships-to-egypt-desa-royal-fleet-auxiliary-fort-austin-fort-rosalie/ |website=www.naval-technology.com |access-date=29 October 2021 |date=29 October 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Walters |first1=Alex |title=Done deal: First Royal Navy ships sold to Egypt in 30 years |url=https://www.forces.net/news/done-deal-first-royal-navy-ships-sold-egypt-30-years |website=www.forces.net |access-date=29 October 2021 |date=29 October 2021}} While awaiting their refit, it was reported that Fort Austin would be renamed ENS Luxor and Fort Rosalie would be renamed ENS Abu Simbel.{{cite tweet|number=1493172590709518336|user=NavyLookout|title=Ex-RFA Fort Austin and RFA Fort Rosalie await refurbishment package at @CammellLaird to be undertaken in next coupl…|date=14 February 2022}}

Ships

class="wikitable"

!Name

!Pennant

!Builder

!Commissioned

!Status

{{ship|RFA|Fort Rosalie|A385|2}}
(ex-Fort Grange)

|A385

|rowspan=2 align=center |Scott Lithgow, Greenock

|6 April 1978

|Decommissioned 31 March 2021, sold to Egypt October 2021 Renamed ENS Abu Simbel

|A386

|11 May 1979

|Decommissioned 31 March 2021, sold to Egypt October 2021

Fort Rosalie-class replenishment ship

Design

History

Ships

See also

References

Further reading