RFA Tidespring (1)
Reproduced with permission of the MOD
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 304379
Class: Improved TIDE Class Fleet Replenishment Tanker
Pennant No: A75
Laid down: 24 July 1961
Builder: Hawthorne Leslie, Hebburn on Tyne
Launched: 3 May 1962
Into Service: 18 January 1963
Out of service: 1992
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: Authorised under the 1961/62 Navy Estimates, the two ships in this Class were developed from the original TIDE CLASS and were highly specialised ships for fuelling and storing naval vessels at sea and were capable of high performance under rigorous service conditions. Their capability was further enhanced as they were the first front-line RFA’s to have a single-spot 50 ft x 70 ft helicopter flight deck and full hangar arrangements incorporated into their design.
28 February 1961 ship ordered
13 November 1961 Mr John R Warne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer John R Warne RFA
24 July 1961 laid down
3 May 1962 launched by Hawthorn Leslie Shipbuilders Ltd, Hebburn as Yard Nr: 752 named TIDESPRING. The Lady Sponsor was Lady Jarrett, the wife of Sir Clifford G Jarrett, the Secretary of the Admiralty. She was the 120th ship to be built at the Yard for the Admiralty
8 January 1963 commenced sea trials
18 January 1963 after bunkering at Spithead she was routed to Trinidad on a shake-down cruise but never reached her destination
19 January 1963 the Birmingham Daily Post reported that -
27 January 1963 during her maiden shakedown voyage to Trinidad she was diverted to rendezvous with RFA PEARLEAF (2) in mid-Atlantic after the latter had suffered a breakdown and escorted her to Horta in the Azores to await spares and repairs
6 February 1963 sailed Horta for the U.K.
7 March 1963 during her first exercise with the Home Fleet, a major mechanical defect occurred and she had to be withdrawn from the exercise and returned to her builders for defect rectification
11 April 1963 sailed from the Tyne on completion of defect rectifications
19 April 1963 sailed Devonport after loading cargo with the 4th Sea Lord embarked as a passenger for Gibraltar and the Mediterranean
28 April 1963 to 25 May 1963 acted as Station Tanker in the Mediterranean before returning to the U.K. for Builder’s Guarantee Surveys
18 May 1963 berthed at Malta on No 8 buoy - open to the public
16 June 1963 at Portland Dockyard
July 1963 accompanied the carrier HMS VICTORIOUS from the U.K. to the Far East along with RFA’s RELIANT(2), RESURGENT and WAVE RULER (1)
24 August 1963 Captain E Payne RFA appointed as Master
20 December 1963 at Newcastle upon Tyne
March 1964 took RFA ORANGELEAF (2) in tow after the latter had suffered an engine breakdown and towed her to Colombo where they arrived on Easter Saturday
18 April 1964 in company with HMS VICTORIOUS and HMAS PARRAMATTA sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
23 April 1964 off Hong Kong took part in a Shop Window with HMS VICTORIOUS, HMAS PARRAMATTA, HMS/m's AMBUSH and ANCHORITE
9 May 1964 while on passage to Yokusuka, Japan RAS'ed with HMAS YARRA
11 May 1964 RAS'ed with HMAS PARRAMATTA
12 May 1964 berthed at Yokusuka, Japan with RFA RETAINER, HMS VICTORIOUS and other RN and RAN units
27 May 1964 at Subic Bay, Phillippines together with RFA's RETAINER, RELIANT (2), FORT ROSALIE (1) and FORT CHARLOTTE arrived and together with HMAS SUPPLY and formed Task Group 490.7. RFA TIDEFLOW which should have joined the Task Group remained at Singapore due to a mechanical breakdown
5 November 1964 Captain G O W Evans DSC RFA appointed as Master
6 November 1964 at Smith's Dock, North Shields for repairs until 10 November 1964
9 November 1964 Mr E Smeaton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 January 1965 in the Singapore Straits RASed with HMAS DERWENT
HMAS DERWENT
31 January 1965 berthed at Singapore Dockyard - berth No: 7 - with HMAS IBIS alongside being refuelled
17 March 1965 in the northern Malacca Straits RASed with HMAS DERWENT
2 April 1965 RASed with HMAS PARRAMATTA
19 May 1965 sailed Malta for Turkey and Singapore
15 July 1965 in the Malacca Strait RASed with HMAS PARRAMATTA supplying FFO
26 July 1965 at Singapore
7 August 1965 off Cape Rachdale RAS'ed with HMAS YARRA
12 October 1965 Wessex HAS1 helicopter no: XM923 - attached to the ship, made a precautionary landing after loss of oil pressure in Subic Bay
November 1965 in the Coral Sea engaged with RN, RAN & USN naval units in Operation Warrior
10 November 1965 when south of the Phillipines Wessex HAS1 Helicopter No: XS863 suffered an engine oil leak
9 December 1965 berthed at Hobart, Tasmanian with HMS BARROSA and HMS WHITBY
10 December 1965 a seaman from the ship appeared at Hobarth Magistrates' Court, Tasmainia, Australia charged that on 7 December 1965 in the territorial waters off Sydney Heads deliberately immobilised the steering gear by damaging a telemotor pipe and deliberately closing four steering gear valves. He was remanded in custody
14 December 1965 sailed Hobart, Tasmania
18 December 1965 Seaman Dennis William Hellewell pleased Guilty to immobilised the steering gear by damaging a telemotor pipe and deliberately closing four steering gear valves on board when he appeared on remand at Hobart Magistrates' Court (see above) - he was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment
27 December 1965 sailed from Gage Roads in company of RFA TIDEREACH with both ships bound for Singapore
10 January 1966 Mr V J Cooney RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 January 1966 Captain Alistair C Gibson RFA appointed as Master
27 February 1966 RASed with HMNZS TARANAKI off Singapore
27 March 1966 off Rachado refuelled HMAS GULL
12 June 1966 together with RFA' s FORT LANGLEY and FORT DUNVEGAN at anchor off the eastern side of Pu Tioman
13 June 1966 RASed with HMAS DERWENT off Singapore
14 July 1966 berthed in Grand Harbour, Malta on Palatorial Wharf
4 October 1966 commenced to take part in Exercise Millsail - an advanced weapon exercise - in the Subic training areas, together with RFA's RESURGENT, FORT DUQUESNE and FORT ROSALIE together with various RN and RAN units
18 November 1966 berthed at D Shed, Victoria Quay, Fremantle
25 November 1966 sailed from Freemantle together with HMS VICTORIOUS
18 April 1967 Captain C G Butterworth RFA appointed as Master
11 October 1967 to 25 January 1968 was part of Task Force 318 - the Aden Task Force formed to cover the final British military withdrawal from the area codenamed Operation Magister - along with 9 other RFA’s.
12 November 1967 Mr W M Clements RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 September 1967 at Singapore
17 October 1967 at Aden
28 July 1968 Captain G P A MacDougall RFA appointed as Master
1 October 1968 RASed with HMAS YARRA during Operation Shadow (1)
16 October 1968 visited Auckland, New Zealand
11 February 1969 at HMS TERROR sports ground Tidespring 'C' 6 a side Football team was beaten by a team from HMAS DUCHESS 'A' 2 goals to 1. Tidespring 'B' 6 a side Football team was beaten by a team from HMAS DUCHESS 'A' 2 goals to 1
26 February 1970 at 4°00N 106°45E north east of Anambas Islands RAS'ed with HMAS's SYDNEY and YARRA. HMAS SYDNEY received 2,074 tons of FFO
1 April 1970 together with USS Mattaponi (AO41) sailed from Manila
2 April 1970 RAS'ed with HMAS DERWENT
4 April 1970 RAS'ed HMAS MELBOURNE
1 March 1971 at Grand Harbour, Malta
8 April 1971 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth
23 September 1971 on the River Tyne
21 February 1972 the Birmingham Daily Post reported that -
April 1972 humanitarian aid - along with RFA STROMNESS she provided assistance to Rodrigues Island 350 miles east of Mauritius after it had been battered by a cyclone and aid was airlifted in
May 1972 in the Indian Ocean RASed with the Royal Yacht Britannia
3 August 1972 visited Pitcairn Island, Pacific to collect Royal Engineers who had been delivered by RFA TIDEPOOL on 29 June 1972
5 May 1973 Wessex HAS1 (converted to HAS3) helicopter XP 118 made a precautionary landing at Portland Bill due to the aviation fuel on the ship being contiminated
8 June 1973 along with RFA REGENT, sailed Portsmouth as part of Task Group 317.1 - the first Group deployment, led by the cruiser HMS TIGER
22 December 1973 in the Indian Ocean together with RFA TIDEREACH RASed with USS Brumby (DE1044) and USS Koelsh (DE1049)
16 June 1974 in the Coral Sea after exercise Kangaroo One RASed with HMAS SUPPLY
29 August 1974 arrived at Cape Town, South Africa with various RN ships together with RFA's TARBATNESS and TIDEREACH for exercises with the South African Navy
February 1975 off Rosyth deployed on JMC 751 (Joint Maritime Course)
June 1975 deployed on JMC 753 (Joint Maritime Course) - location not currently known
22 July 1975 Along with RFA’s GOLD ROVER and TARBATNESS sailed U.K. as part of Task Group 317.3 led by the guided missile destroyer HMS GLAMORGAN
15 January 1976 visited Auckland, New Zealand
13 April 1977 at Rosyth
24 June 1977 to 29 June 1977 took part in the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead with eight other RFA's and units of the Royal Navy and foreign navies
30 June 1977 at Portland
5 July 1977 RASed with HMAS BRISBANE during Exercise High Wood
7 July 1977 RASed with HMAS BRISBANE during Exercise High Wood
30 August 1977 Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA appointed as Master
Captain Barry H Rutterford RFA
11 September 1977 at Rosyth Dockyard
11 December 1977 at Rosyth Dockyard
1 April 1978 at Rosyth Dockyard
31 May 1978 along with RFA’s GREEN ROVER and STROMNESS sailed Portsmouth as part of Task Group 317.7 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS BLAKE
28 August 1978 at San Diego, California
13 December 1978 at Portsmouth
24 January 1979 Captain Bruce A Seymour RFA was the ships Master and Mr Vernon Reed RFA was the ships Chief Engineer Officer
5 October 1979 at Wallsend on Tyne
14 January 1980 Wessex HU5 Helicopter No: XS522 from NAS 772 'C' Flight allocated to RFA TIDESPRING (1)
18 March 1980 at Plymouth
3 November 1980 at Rosyth
11 February 1981 RASed with RFA RESOURCE (2)
20 March 1981 at Rosyth
25 August 1981 at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour (see note 1)
5 October 1981 at Portsmouth (see note 1)
3 January 1982 Captain Shane Redmond RFA appointed as Master
Captain Shane Redmond RFA
January 1982 sailed Rosyth supporting HMS FEARLESS and other RN ships on exercise with US Naval units visiting Puerto Rico, Virgin Gorda, Aruba. On 18 January 1982 during the deployment rammed by FGN frigate AUGSBERG during a RAS (Port side just aft of forward structure the deck was lifted anout five feet) - returned to UK in March 1982
5 March 1982 at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
30 March 1982 sailed Gibraltar and was diverted south for Operation Corporate - the Falklands Conflict. Was part of TG 317.8 / 1 - the Main Battle Group - consisting of the County-class destroyers HM ships ANTRIM and GLAMORGAN, the Type 42 destroyers HM ship COVENTRY, GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD, the Type 22 frigate HMS BRILLIANT ,the Type 21 frigate HMS ARROW and the Rothesay class frigate HMS PLYMOUTH.
10 April 1982 arrived Ascension Island in company with the destroyer HMS ANTRIM and the frigate HMS PLYMOUTH and a small Task Group to retake South Georgia was formed.
11 April 1982 sailed Ascension Island with 2 x Wessex 5 helicopters from “C” Flight 845 NAS and 87 marines from “M” Company 42 Commando embarked in company with the destroyer HMS ANTRIM and the frigate HMS PLYMOUTH
13 April 1982 rendezvoused with RFA FORT AUSTIN to embark a full RN surgical support unit for the South Georgia Task Force
14 April 1982 rendezvoused with the Ice Patrol Ship HMS ENDURANCE and improvised a method to refuel her as she was not equipped to refuel at sea . The whole Group then proceeded to South Georgia
16 April 1982 RASed with HMS ANTRIM
17 April 1982 entered the TEZ (Total Exclusion Zone) around the Falkland Islands
21 April 1982 Operation Paraquat commenced and Special Forces from the ship landed on Fortuna Glacier
22 April 1982 two helicopters operating from Tidespring crashed one on lift off, the other when returning to the ship with troops on board
Badge drawing by Ed Buscall - with grateful thanks
1982, the above unofficial badge was presented to the senior pilot of 'C' flight 845 NAS by his maintainance crew, after the loss of the two Wessex HU 5's whilst attempting to extract special forces from Fortuna Glacier in South Georgia
23 April 1982 rendezvoused with RFA BRAMBLELEAF (3) for a much-needed pump over about 100 miles off South Georgia. This had to be aborted owing to a threat from the Argentinian submarine SANTA FE
24 April 1982 completed the pumpover - received 3,505 tons of diesel and 1,200 tons of FFO
26 April 1982 anchored in Cumberland Bay to unload her cargo of Royal Marines and ammunition then spent the night at sea
27 April 1982 returned to Cumberland Bay and embarked 187 PoW’s and Argentinian / Uruguayan civilians.after the recapture of South Georgia 2 days earlier
1 May 1982 sailed South Georgia to rendezvous with the Main Task Force enroute to Ascension Island in company with the destroyer HMS ANTRIM. Had restricted use of radar and displayed no navigation lights
7 May 1982 rendezvoused with and helped to refuel the main body of the amphibious assault vessels. RASed with the Hospital Ship Uganda then proceeded northwards accompanied by the frigate HMS ANTELOPE
12 May 1982 arrived Ascension Island with 153 PoW’s, 32 Argentinian and 2 Uruguyan civilians
13 May 1982 HMS/m ONYX and HMS's NORTHELLA, CORNELLA moored alongside
14 May 1982 HMS's FARNELLA and DUMBARTON CASTLE moored alongside
15 May 1982 replenished HMS/M ONYX alongside at Ascension Island with fuel, distilled water and naval stores
HMS/M Onyx alongside at Ascension Island
15 May 1982 RASed with HMS Exeter
16 May 1982 sailed Ascension Island with 2 new Wessex helicopters embarked, escorted by the frigate HMS ANTELOPE, to rejoin the main Carrier Task Group
20 May 1982 engaged in flying operations
26 May 1982 engaged in flying operations
27 May 1982 crashboat launched to provide medical assistance to RFA PEARLEAF (2)
2 June 1982 RASed with mv British Trent receiving 1,640 tons of FFO, 6,303 tons of diesel and 250 tons of Avcat. Also refuelled mv Baltic Ferry alongside in San Carlos Water
6 June 1982 engaged in VERTREP with mv Irishman
7 June 1982 engaged in VERTREP with mv British Trent and RFA RESOURCE
12 June 1982 one of her replacement Wessex helicopters was onboard the destroyer HMS GLAMORGAN when the warship was hit by an Exocet missile and the helicopter was destroyed in the explosion
17 June 1982 RASed with HMS's BRILLIANT and ANDROMEDA and a VERTREP with HMS BROADSWORD
18 June 1982 engaged in VERTREP with stores and mail from HMS DUMBARTON CASTLE
19 June 1982 engaged in a pumpover from RFA BAYLEAF (3) receiving 3,361 tons of diesel and 1,125 tons of Avcat
22 June 1982 engaged in VERTREP with HMS BROADSWORD and a further pumpover with RFA BAYLEAF (3) receiving 3,867 tons of Diesel
26 June 1982 anchored at San Carlos Water engaged in flying operations
28 June 1982 sailed San Carlos Water
2 July 1982 sailed towards Ascension Island
6 July 1982 stopped and launched the crash boat to collect mail and stores from HMS LEEDS CASTLE
7 July 1982 pump over with mv British Tamar
11 July 1982 off Ascension Island
12 July 1982 sailed Ascension Island for Portsmouth
22 July 1982 secured to the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
27 July 1982 discharged ashore 2,303 tons of FFO, 7,519 tons of Diesel and 2,548 tons of Avcat
5 August 1982 sailed Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty for Devonport
6 August 1982 discharged 2,900 tons of FFO at Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
12 August 1982 sailed Devonport for Gibraltar
15 August 1982 anchored in Gibraltar Bay
16 August 1982 moved from the anchorage to No: 43 berth at Gibraltar Dockyard
17 August 1982 cold move from No 43 berth to No 1 Dry Dock. Crew paid off. Articles closed. 4th Engineer Officer Henry Lobo RFA discharged dead
11 October 1982 the Times newspaper reported -
24 October 1982 berthed on Yonderberry Oil Fuel Jetty
8 November 1982 Sea King HAS5 helicopter no: ZA129 attached 826 NAS to Falklands Islands in the ship
1 February 1983 to 4 February 1983 with the frigate HMS ARIADNE she was in Operation Matchstick - a very low key operation to destroy the base on the island of Thule in the South Atlantic
15 April 1983 berthed at Rosyth
22 February 1984 Sea King HAS2 helicopter no: XZ575 to the UK in the ship
12 July 1984 at Rosyth
17 July 1984 Captain Anthony Pitt DSC RFA appointed in command
19 August 1984 berthed at the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
4 October 1984 was awarded the Falkland Islands 1982 Battle Honour at Gosport by Captain C.G. Butterworth RFA CMS - her only Battle Honour as she was the first ship with her name
7 October 1985 at Rosyth
2 December 1985 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
30 March 1986 in the Persian Gulf engaged in a PassEx with HMS's BROADSWORD and CARDIFF together with USS Enterprise (CVAN65)
3 June 1988 at Dubai
20 November 1988 at Rosyth
2 February 1989 at Immingham. Captain Alan Roach RFA appointed in command
Captain Alan Roach RFA
1989 was awarded an inscribed plaque from the General Council of British Shipping to commemorate her service on Armilla Patrol between November 1986 and 20 August 1988 when the “Accompanying Policy” was in force. Other recipients were RFA’s APPLELEAF (3), BRAMBLELEAF (3), DILIGENCE, OLNA (3) and ORANGELEAF (3)
7 April 1989 at Portland
10 August 1989 at Devonport
30 August 1989 at Devonport
6 December 1989 at Portsmouth
8 April 1990 berthed at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
May 1990 in Operation Eldorado - standing by off the coast of Monrovia to assist with any evacuation during the Civil War there supporting the frigate HMS BROADSWORD
August 1991 along with the frigate HMS LONDON was scheduled to visit Soviet Arctic ports to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Operation Dervish - the supply convoy to Murmansk and Archangel - but the visits were cancelled owing to the coup in the Soviet Union
5 December 1991 passed through the Thames Barrier, River Thames
6 December 1991 arrived at Portsmouth to destore for disposal
18 December 1991 laid up at Z Moorings at Portsmouth on the Disposal List. During her career she had steamed a total of 1,270,388 nautical miles
20 March 1992 towed out of Portsmouth enroute to the ship breakers
2 July 1992 arrived at Arlang, India to be broken up by Incom Shiptrade.
20 July 1992 breaking up began
Notes
1. Locations kindly provided by Bosun George Collings RFA (Retired) from his Discharge Book
RFA Tidespring (2)
Subsequent name:
Official Number:
Class: Fast Fleet Tanker (MARS)
Pennant No: A136
Laid down: 22 December 2014
Builder: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), South Korea
Launched: 25 April 2015
Into Service: 12 January 2017
Crew number 59
Out of service:
Fate:
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: A class of four tankers at a total cost of £452 million - designed by BMT Defence Services, Bath
22 February 2012 ordered
24 June 2014 at the DSME yard in Okpo-dong, South Korea the head of the RFA Commodore Rob Dorey cut the first steel for the ship
July 2014 Yard Nr: 7044 IMO Nr: 9655535
21 August 2014 Lady Boyce, the wife of the former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Boyce has accepted the invitation to be the ship's lady sponsor
2 November 2014 the Commodore in Chief, HRH the Prince Edward, visited the DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea to inspect the work being undertaken by the ship builders to built RFA TIDESPRING (2)
The Commodore in Chief with the ship yards CEO Mr Ko Jae-ho
22 December 2014 laid down
RFA Tidespring (2) under construction
25 April 2015 lauched (floated out)
22 July 2015 Captain (X) Duncan Lamb RFA appointed as Commanding Officer and Captain (E) Terence J M Edwards RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain (X) Duncan Lamb RFA
11 September 2015 Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA
4 October 2015 Captain (X) Shaun P Jones OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain (X) Shaun P Jones OBE RFA
7 October 2015 officially named RFA Tidespring by Lady Boyce, the ships Lady Sponsor, in the company of the Lord Boyce KG GCB, the 1st Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC ADC FRAeS and Commodore Rob Dorey RFA as well as other distinguished guests
29 January 2016 to 6 February 2016 conducted basin trials
26 March 2016 - the ship's official stamp -
29 March 2016 sailed on builders trials from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea
13 April 2016 berthed at DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea after builders trials
21 April 2016 Captain (E) Paul A Jenkins RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 April 2016 Captain (X) Simon Herbert RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
17 May 2016 sailed on builders second sea trials from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea
20 May 2016 berthed at DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea having completed second sea trials
8 June 2016 Captain (X) Shaun P Jones OBE RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
12 June 2016 Captain (E) Nigel M Sim RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 June 2016 sailed on third series of builders sea trails from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea. Anchored at Busan New Port anchorage sailing again 16 minutes later
DSME Sea Trial area
1 July 2016 berthed at DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea having completed her contractors sea trials
2 November 2016 sailed from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea returning the same day
8 November 2016 in Parliament the Scottish National Party MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, Mr Douglas Chapman MP, asked the Ministry of Defence what the principal technical faults are that have led to the delay of the transfer of the RFA Tidespring to the UK for customisation and capability assessment trials until 2017. The Parlimentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Ms Harriett Baldwin MP replied - "Delays in finalising elements of electrical design and the installation of Multi-Cable Transit insulation in accordance with new legislative regulations resulted in some adjustments in the build schedule. These issues have now been resolved and Tidespring is expected to arrive in the UK in early 2017 to begin UK customisation and capability assessment trials. Notwithstanding these issues, which are not unusual for any First of Class ship, build of the remaining ships in the Class is progressing well and we remain confident that all four tankers will be in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by the end of 2018, as planned"
22 November 2016 sailed from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea return later the same day
12 January 2017 accepted into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary from the builders by Captain Shaun Jones OBE RFA on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (Navy)
5 February 2017 sailed from DSME Yard, Okpo-dong, South Korea
RFA Tidespring (2) sails for home
11 February 2017 berthed at Yokosuka, Japan
RFA Tidespring entering Hawaiian waters
© Wade Armstrong
23 February 2017 Captain (E) Paul A Jenkins RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 February 2017 berthed alongside at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii
3 March 2017 sailed from Pearl Harbour
17 March 2017 arrived at Panama City anchorage and later entering and berthed at the US Naval Base at Rodman. Captain (X) Simon C Herbert RFA appointed as Commanding Officer
18 March 2017 transitted the Panama Canal
20 March 2017 arrived at Curaçao
RFA Tidespring (2) alongside at Curaçao
21 March 2017 sailed from Curaçao
31 March 2017 arrived at Falmouth anchorage
2 April 2017 berthed at Falmouth
RFA Tidespring (2) arrives at Falmouth Docks
27 April 2017 entered dry dock at Falmouth
10 May 2017 the 58 year old crane alongside the ship in Falmouth Dry Dock collapsed crashing onto acetylene cylinders on the dockside causing a leak. Cornwall Fire Service and the Cornwall Constabulary attended and the Docks were evacuated.
2 Images above © Falmouth Packet
Drone image above © BBC
29 May 2017 RFA TIDESPRING (2) was found to be under wraps during her militarisation
17 June 2017 floated in the dock
22 June 2017 released from the confines of the dry dock -
© Barrie Clark - used with grateful thanks
22 August 2017 Captain (E) Thomas M Nugent RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
23 August 2017 sailed Falmouth
27 August 2017 arrived at Plymouth Sound
31 August 2017 sailed Plymouth Sound for Portland Anchorage arriving the same day
