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| RFA Tideforce (A139) | |
|---|---|
| Ship name | Tideforce |
| Caption | RFA Tideforce at sea |
| Ship country | United Kingdom |
| Ship operator | Royal Fleet Auxiliary |
| Ship class | Tide-class replenishment oiler |
| Ship builder | Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering |
| Ship laid down | 2016 |
| Ship launched | 2018 |
| Ship commissioned | 2019 |
| Ship length | 200m |
| Ship beam | 38m |
| Ship speed | 26kn |
| Ship capacity | 19,000t fuel |
RFA Tideforce (A139) is the third of four Tide-class replenishment oilers built for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary to provide underway replenishment to the Royal Navy fleet. Entering service in 2019, Tideforce has supported Carrier Strike Group 21, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), and multinational exercises while being maintained by a mix of British and South Korean industry partners. The ship has participated in global operations across the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indo-Pacific theatres and has been involved in several high-profile incidents and refits.
Tideforce was designed as part of the Tide-class program won by a consortium including BAE Systems, BMT Group, and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering under a contract managed by the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Keel-laying and hull construction occurred at the Okpo Shipyard on Geoje Island, combining commercial shipbuilding practices with naval auxiliaries’ requirements. The design emphasized interoperability with Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier operations, including VERTREP and replenishment at sea rigging compatible with NATO procedures and systems used by the United States Navy and Royal Australian Navy. Integration of automated cargo handling and fuel transfer systems leveraged technology from Rothesay, Babcock International, and Siemens for propulsion and power management.
Tideforce is 200 metres long with a beam of 38 metres and a full-load displacement in the range of the Tide-class sisters. Propulsion consists of diesel-electric machinery utilizing engines by MAN Energy Solutions driving twin shafts and providing a service speed of about 26 knots to maintain pace with modern carriers like HMS Prince of Wales (R09). Fuel capacity includes approximately 19,000 tonnes of marine diesel and aviation kerosene for F-35B Lightning II operations aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), together with dry and refrigerated stores, ammunition handling spaces, and aviation support facilities for a flight deck operating Merlin HM2 and Wildcat HMA2 helicopters. Communications, navigation, and replenishment control suites incorporate equipment from Thales Group, Raytheon Technologies, and Honeywell International to meet NATO standards and STANAG protocols.
After commissioning, Tideforce joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary alongside sisters RFA Tidespring (A138), RFA Tiderace (A137), and RFA Tidesurge (A136) to enable extended deployments such as Operation Shader, Operation Kipion, and carrier strike deployments associated with Carrier Strike Group 21. The vessel conducted cross-deck replenishments with HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), performed combined logistics operations with the Royal Canadian Navy, United States Sixth Fleet, and Spanish Navy, and supported exercises including Joint Warrior, BALTOPS, and RIMPAC. Tideforce also made port visits to Gibraltar, Fujairah, Singapore, and Norfolk, Virginia to cooperate with allied logistics and sustainment echelons.
Tideforce underwent planned maintenance periods coordinated by the Defence Equipment and Support agency and carried out at facilities including Cammell Laird and commercial yards in Falmouth and South Korea. These refits addressed hull preservation, replenishment-at-sea gear, and updates to electrical distribution and automation informed by lessons from HMS Ocean (L12) and the Tide-class review. Upgrades included installation of enhanced defensive measures compatible with Defence Secretary guidance, overhauls of MAN engines under warranty agreements with Daewoo subcontractors, and software migration to new navigation suites aligning with IMO regulations and NATO interoperability initiatives.
Tideforce’s service has seen controversies typical of large procurement and operational programs. Early delivery delays and cost adjustments drew scrutiny from House of Commons committees and reporting by National Audit Office, while interoperability teething problems led to temporary restrictions during Carrier Strike Group workups. The ship was involved in at-sea replenishment incidents requiring investigation by the Royal Navy and Maritime and Coastguard Agency after rigging faults and minor fuel spills; environmental concerns were raised by Greenpeace and regional port authorities. Safety improvements were mandated following an internal Service Inquiry that recommended procedural updates, retraining with Royal Marines and helicopter aircrews, and equipment modifications overseen by MOD Procurement teams.
As of the latest in-service lifecycle planning, Tideforce remains active within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary with mid-life support scheduled under the Navy Command logistics roadmap and industry frameworks such as Ship Sustainment Strategy. Long-term disposition options for Tide-class auxiliaries will be influenced by Strategic Defence and Security Review outcomes, asset transfer agreements with allied navies, or potential civilian conversion contracts overseen by Maritime and Coastguard Agency and commercial yards. Possible decommissioning, if pursued, would follow established processes including hazardous material removal conforming to International Maritime Organization conventions and disposal protocols coordinated with the Environment Agency.
Category:Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships Category:Tide-class replenishment oilers