Rover-class tanker

Last updated

Rover class tanker.JPG
RFA Black Rover in Plymouth 2005
Class overview
Builders Swan Hunter
Operators
Preceded by Dale class
Succeeded by Tide class
Built1968–1974
In commission1970–2017 (RFA)
Completed5
Active1
Retired4
General characteristics
Type Tanker
Tonnage6,692 t  DWT
Displacement16,160 t (15,900 long tons) [1]
Length461 ft (141 m)
Beam63 ft (19 m)
Draught24 ft (7.3 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × SEMT-Pielstick 16 PA 4 diesel engines
  • 1 × shaft
  • Bow thruster
  • 15,360 hp (11,450 kW)
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range15,000 nmi (28,000 km; 17,000 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Capacity3,000 m3 (19,000 bbl) of fuel
Complement
  • 16 officers
  • 31 ratings
Sensors &
processing systems		 Sperry Marine Visionmaster radars and ECDIS. 1690 I band navigation radars
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • 2 × Corvus and 2 × Plessey Shield decoy launchers
  • Graseby Type 182 towed torpedo decoy
Armament
Aviation facilities Helicopter deck (no hangar)

The Rover class is a British ship class of five small fleet tankers, active from 1970 to 2017 with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. One remains in service, having been sold to Indonesia; the rest have been scrapped or are awaiting disposal, including the one sold to Portugal. They are tasked with the replenishment at sea (RAS) of naval warships with fuel oils and with limited supplies of other naval stores. For RAS tasking, they can refuel a vessel on either beam and a third trailing astern and have a large flight deck to allow vertical replenishment with helicopters.

Contents

History

Tenders for what became five ships were invited in 1967. Problems with the original propulsion led to the first three of the class being re-engined in 1974. The final two had minor changes including improved accommodation and different stern anchor arrangements. Blue Rover suffered a fire during construction in 1970 which killed two shipyard workers. Costs ranged from £3m for Green Rover to £7.7m for Gold Rover, last of the class. [2] [3]

Design

The Rover class are a 461 feet (141 m) long, displacement 16,160 t, design of small fleet tanker, intended to operate with frigates or small fleet units. [4]

For propulsion the first three vessels of the class, Green Rover, Grey Rover and Blue Rover, were powered by two 16-cylinder Ruston & Hornsby diesel engines capable of 16,000 bhp (12,000 kW). [4] The choice of engine was a political one [5] and they were found to be problematic with vibration issues. [6]

These ships were all designed to replenish warships underway with diesel, aviation fuel, lubricating oil and fresh water. They can also supply a limited amount of dry and refrigerated stores. [4] Situated in their middle, each ship was equipped with a single fuel replenishment gantry which supported a pair of abeam replenishment cranes. The ship could also supply fuels via stern hoses. [6]

Additionally, to facilitate VERTREP (vertical replenishment) operations, the Rover-class tankers also had a helicopter flight deck which was located behind the accommodation structure and they were fitted with an aircraft refuelling facility, but the vessels had no aircraft hangar available. [4]

The Rover-class tankers were launched in two batches; Green Rover, Grey Rover and Blue Rover were ordered in January 1968 with Gold Rover and Black Rover being ordered in November 1971 and differed slightly from the earlier batch. Following the issues with the Ruston & Hornsby diesel engines fitted to the earlier three, these were replaced with two 16-cylinder Crossley-Pielstick diesel engines capable of 15,382 bhp (11,470 kW). Swapping out was completed in March 1973 for Blue Rover, in June 1974 for Green Rover, and September 1975 for Grey Rover. Gold Rover and Black Rover were fitted with two 16-cylinder Crossley-Pielstick diesel engines capable of 15,360 bhp (11,450 kW), from the outset. [4]

Name Gross register tonnage Net register tonnage Deadweight tonnage Displacement (full load) tonnage
Green Rover7,5033,1866,82211,520
Grey Rover7,5093,1856,82211,520
Blue Rover7,5113,1867,06011,520
Gold Rover7,5743,2566,79911,520
Black Rover7,5743,2566,79911,522

Ships

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

NamePennantBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedFate
Green Rover A268 Swan Hunter, Hebburn 28 February 196819 December 196815 August 1969To Indonesian Navy 1992
Grey Rover A26928 February 196817 April 196910 April 1970Scrapped 2010
Blue Rover A27030 December 196811 November 196915 July 1970To Portuguese Navy 1993 as Berrio
Gold Rover A271Swan Hunter, Wallsend -7 March 197322 March 1974Scrapped 2019
Black Rover A273-30 August 197323 August 1974Scrapped 2020

Indonesian Navy

NameAcquiredIn serviceOut of serviceNotes
KRI Arun (903) (ex-Green Rover)7 April 1992September 1992In active service

Portuguese Navy

NameAcquiredIn serviceOut of serviceNotes
NRP Bérrio (A5210) (ex-Blue Rover)31 March 19931 June 2020decommissioned

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Royal-Fleet-Auxiliary/Tankers/RFA-Black-Rover [ dead link ]
  2. ↑ RFA Gold Rover Royal Fleet Auxiliary Historical Society
  3. ↑ Five Small Ships Ships Monthly March 2020 pages 58-62
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Puddefoot 2009, p. 196.
  5. ↑ "RFA Gold Rover". historicalrfa.org. Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  6. 1 2 "The Adventures Of A Conway Lad On RFA Grey Rover 1973-74". historicalrfa.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2024.

Bibliography


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