RFA Tidesurge (A138)

RFA ''Tidesurge'' is a replenishment tanker of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). Built by DSME in 2017, she entered service with the RFA on 20 February 2019.

Construction

The third-in-class, ''Tidesurge'' was built by DSME in Okpo, Geoje, South Korea. She was laid down on 7 December 2015 and was launched six months later on 4 July 2016. A series of builder's sea trials commenced soon after and, during November 2017, the ship formed a "sistership bond" with the Republic of Korea Navy frigate ROKS ''Daegu''. Following the completion of builder's sea trials, ''Tidesurge'' departed Opko en route for her delivery to the United Kingdom. During her journey, she made stopovers at United States Fleet Activities Sasebo in Japan and Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. She then transited the Panama Canal into the Atlantic Ocean, anchoring off Antigua before continuing her transit to Falmouth, England. She arrived in Falmouth on 27 March 2018 and underwent UK customisation work, including the fitting of self-defence weaponry, communications systems and armour, in the A&P Falmouth shipyard. Further trials took place within British waters and, in November 2018, the ship carried out helicopter landing trials with a Chinook helicopter — a "first" for the class. In February 2019, she carried out her first replenishment at sea (RAS) with Royal Navy destroyer and, on 20 February 2019, she was welcomed into the RFA fleet in a ceremony attended by her Lady Sponsor, Joanna Woodcock, in the ship's affiliated town of Greenock.

Operational history

On 9 May 2019, ''Tidesurge'' joined two other RFA ships, and ''Tideforce'', to assist with the latter's sea trials. The manoeuvres involved the first "Tide-to-Tide" RAS in history. Two months later, ''Tidesurge'' assisted with the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker, named ''Grace I'', which was believed to be heading to Syria. Royal Marines from 42 Commando fast-roped onto the oil tanker via a Wildcat helicopter which launched from ''Tidesurge''. The oil tanker was impounded in Gibraltar, an act which was condemned by Iran as an "act of piracy", before later being released. Between entering service and August, ''Tidesurge'' had seen a "surge in demand", operating in the Norwegian Sea, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Circle, including with an 814 Naval Air Squadron Merlin helicopter on board.

In October 2019, ''Tidesurge'' participated in Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) before joining Exercise Joint Warrior, a large-scale NATO military exercise in Scotland. During the exercise, she carried out a RAS with U.S. Navy destroyer — reportedly a "first" for the class.

In January 2020, ''Tidesurge'' underwent general repair and maintenance at Cammell Laird's shipyard in Birkenhead, England.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tidesurge
Tide-class tankers
2016 ships
Ships built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering