The Wave-class tankers are a class of
fast fleet tankers in service with the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The class is tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to
Royal Navy vessels around the world. There are two ships in the class, and . The ships were ordered to replace the aging s and .
The two vessels have seen service in a number of locations, including anti-drug and hurricane relief operations in the
Caribbean Sea,
anti-piracy activities around the
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
, and deterrent patrols in the
South Atlantic. As of early 2022, both ships were earmarked for "extended readiness" status (i.e. uncrewed reserve).
History
A contract was placed for the vessels in 1997 with
Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (Marconi Marine VSEL). Construction of ''Wave Knight'' began in 1998 at VSEL's
Barrow-in-Furness yard and the ship was
launched in 2000.
With the acquisition of
Marconi Electronic Systems and its Marconi Marine subsidiary in 1999
British Aerospace became
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. ...
. BAE now owns VSEL in Barrow and the
Yarrow and
Govan shipyards on the
Clyde. BAE transferred the construction of ''Wave Ruler'' to Govan in 2000 and the vessel was launched in 2001. Both vessels were
commissioned in 2003.
Design
The ships have the capability to supply fuel and other liquid cargo to vessels using
replenishment rigs on port and starboard beams and through a Hudson reel-type stern rig. When providing support for amphibious operations, the ships are also able to deliver fuel to
dracones positioned alongside. The equipment load includes cranes (for stores handling and abeam replenishment), steering and rudder gear, thyristor-controlled winch/windlasses and double drum mooring winches. Up to of liquids and of general solids can be carried. In addition,
reverse-osmosis
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that uses a partially permeable membrane to separate ions, unwanted molecules and larger particles from drinking water. In reverse osmosis, an applied pressure is used to overcome osmotic pr ...
equipment is fitted enabling the production of of drinkable water per day.
The vessels were designed with
double hull
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 ...
s to prevent or reduce environmental pollution from oil spills if damage is sustained to the outer hull.
The ships can operate a
Merlin HM1 helicopter, or other helicopters of similar size, from a hangar and flight deck at the stern. On deployments to
Atlantic Patrol Task (N) they have typically embarked a Royal Navy
Lynx
A lynx is a type of wild cat.
Lynx may also refer to:
Astronomy
* Lynx (constellation)
* Lynx (Chinese astronomy)
* Lynx X-ray Observatory, a NASA-funded mission concept for a next-generation X-ray space observatory
Places Canada
* Lynx, Ontar ...
or a
United States Coast Guard helicopter.
The vessels have a standard crew of 80 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel with provision for a further 22 Royal Navy personnel to conduct helicopter and weapons systems operations.
They carry a full medical team and sick bay and are capable of distributing 2,000 emergency relief packages in times of crisis.
Construction programme
Future
In June 2018 it was reported by the Brazilian press that the
UK MoD
The Ministry of Defence (MOD or MoD) is the department responsible for implementing the defence policy set by His Majesty's Government, and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces.
The MOD states that its principal objectives are to ...
had offered to sell one or both of the Wave-class tankers to
Brazil. As early as 2010, BAE Systems had proposed providing Brazil with a variant of the Wave-class, tailored to meet the specific aviation, stores and personnel requirements of the
Brazilian Navy.
As of June 2020, ''Wave Ruler'' was reported to be in reduced readiness but maintained in good condition and available for reactivation.
In February 2022, it was reported that both tankers would be placed in "extended readiness" (uncrewed reserve).
Gallery
File:RFA Wave Knight (A-389).jpg, ''Wave Knight'' prepares to transfer fuel to the amphibious assault ship during a replenishment at sea.
File:RFA Wave Ruler (A390).jpg, ''Wave Ruler'' underway with a United States Coast Guard Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopter embarked
File:Wave Ruler refuels Robert G Bradley.jpg, ''Wave Ruler'' (background) refuels in the Pacific Ocean.
File:US Navy 070409-N-5459S-082 From right to left, RFA Wave Ruler (A390), USS Mahan (DDG 72), CS Almirante Latorre (FFG 14), FGS Sachsen (F 219), and USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) navigate together in formation during an exercise.jpg, ''Wave Ruler'' (foreground), , ''Almirante Latorre'', ''Sachsen'', and navigate in formation.
File:RAF Wave Knight replenishing French frigate Germinal.jpg, ''Wave Knight'' resupplying French frigate ''Germinal''.
References
External links
Video of RFA ''Wave Ruler'' (A390) near Plymouth on 9 October 2009.
{{Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships
Auxiliary replenishment ship classes
Wave Knight
Auxiliary ships of the United Kingdom