RFA ''Gold Rover'' was a small fleet tanker of the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary and one of five
Rover-class ships that were designed by the Admiralty, all of which were built at the
Swan Hunter shipyard.
''Gold Rover'' and her sister ''
Black Rover'' were the last two in service with the RFA
on duty around the world. The class was phased out as part of a worldwide effort to replace single-hulled tankers with more environmentally safe
double-hulled
A double hull is a ship hull design and construction method where the bottom and sides of the ship have two complete layers of watertight hull surface: one outer layer forming the normal hull of the ship, and a second inner hull which is some dis ...
vessels.
''Gold Rover'' herself was decommissioned in a sunset ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base on 6 March 2017.
Characteristics
Ships of the Rover class were predominantly used to transport fuel, oil, and aviation fuel for services around the globe; they could also carry limited dried stores of such as munitions and refrigerated goods.
They were built with a flight deck large enough to accommodate two helicopters, although no hangar was fitted.
Operational history
1974–1980
In July 1974, ''Gold Rover'' participated in evacuation duties during the partition of Cyprus during the
Turkish invasion
The 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, code-named Operation Peace Spring ( tr, Barış Pınarı Harekâtı) by Turkey, was a cross-border military operation conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Syrian National Arm ...
of the island.
1981–1990
''Gold Rover'' was in
Singapore at the time of the
Falklands Conflict in 1982 and therefore took no part in the hostilities.
On 14 November 1984, ''Gold Rover'' sailed from
Gibraltar
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, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
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, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
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on completion of refit, the last RFA to be refitted in HM Dockyard Gibraltar.
''Gold Rover'' participated in the 1986 Jamaican flood relief operations.
On 1 December 1990, ''Gold Rover'' lost her rudder in severe weather in the South Atlantic and sent out a distress call. Some of her crew were airlifted off by a
Royal Air Force Sea King helicopter of No. 78 Squadron and she managed to get to anchor east of Lively island to ride out the storm before she was towed by the tug ''Oil Mariner'' to
Montevideo
Montevideo () is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
for repairs. The crew of the Sea King rescue helicopter, captained by Flt Lt David Kerr-Sheppard, received various awards for outstanding flying skill in such difficult weather conditions.
1991–2000
In January 2000, she was towed back to
Devonport by two
RMAS tugs after breaking down off
Lizard Point.
2001–2010
2006 was a busy year for ''Gold Rover''. She was in
Nigeria in June 2006 for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the formation of the
Nigerian Navy. As part of the celebrations there was a
Fleet Review by President
Olusegun Obasanjo.
[ On 6 October she, along with Royal Navy frigate and ]Royal Marines
The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...
from 40 Commando
40 Commando RM is a battalion-sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet. Their barracks are at Norton ...
, seized more than two tonnes of cocaine during a major drugs haul off the coast of West Africa. The illegal drugs, which were found in an unregistered vessel, had a UK street value of some £60 million.
''Gold Rover'' was part of a Royal Navy amphibious task group, the VELA Deployment 06, en route to Sierra Leone where she and other ships were taking part in a major amphibious exercise. Whilst on the way to West Africa ''Gold Rover'' was contributing to the global fight against terrorism and the Royal Navy's maritime security operations activity.
2011–2017
''Gold Rover'' entered refit in the middle of 2013. ''Gold Rover'' departed her home port for her last operational deployment in 2014.
Between 12 and 16 October 2015 ''Gold Rover'' and participated the bicentennial anniversary commemorations of Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
's arrival on Saint Helena
Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constitu ...
after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, and subsequent surrender to British forces.
In 2015, she participated in Operation UNITAS.
''Gold Rover'' entered Portsmouth for the final time on 22 February 2017, bowing out after 43 years of active service. On 29 August 2017 the Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) invited expressions of interest from companies interested in receiving an invitation to tender with respect to the proposed sale for the sole purpose of recycling of the former RFA ship.
She was scrapped at Aliaga on 3 September 2019.
References
External links
RFA ''Gold Rover'' at royalnavy.mod.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gold Rover
Tankers of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Rover-class tankers
1973 ships
Ships built by Swan Hunter
Ships built on the River Tyne