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Rover-class tanker

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RFA Black Rover
RFA Black Rover in Plymouth 2005.
Class overview
BuildersSwan Hunter
Operators
Succeeded byTide-class tanker
Built1968–1974
In commission1970–2017 (RFA)
Completed5
Active0
General characteristics
Displacement
LengthTemplate:Rover class tanker length
BeamTemplate:Rover class tanker beam
DraughtTemplate:Rover class tanker draught
PropulsionTemplate:Rover class tanker propulsion
SpeedTemplate:Rover class tanker speed
RangeTemplate:Rover class tanker range
CapacityTemplate:Rover class tanker capacity
ComplementTemplate:Rover class tanker complement
Sensors and
processing systems
Template:Rover class tanker sensors
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Template:Rover class tanker EW
ArmamentTemplate:Rover class tanker armament
Aircraft carriedTemplate:Rover class tanker aircraft

The Rover class is a British ship class of "Small Fleet Tanker", active from 1970 to 2017 with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Two remain in service, one having been sold to Portugal and one to Indonesia; the rest have been scrapped or are awaiting disposal. 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 (VERTREP) with helicopters.

History

Tenders for what became 5 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.[1]

Ships

Name Pennant Builder Commissioned Fate
Green Rover A268 Swan Hunter, Hebburn 15 August 1969 To Indonesian Navy 1992
Grey Rover A269 Swan Hunter, Hebburn 10 April 1970 Scrapped 2010
Blue Rover A270 Swan Hunter, Hebburn 15 July 1970 To Portuguese Navy 1993 as Berrio
Gold Rover A271 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 22 March 1974 Decommissioned 6 March 2017
Black Rover A273 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 23 August 1974 Decommissioned 2016, awaiting disposal

Photos

References

Notes
Bibliography
  • Warships of the Royal Navy, Captain John E. Moore RN, Jane's Publishing, 1979, ISBN 0-531-03730-4
  • Britain's Modern Royal Navy, Paul Beaver, Patrick Stephens Limited, 1996, ISBN 1-85260-442-5