Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is a civilian manned organisation owned and tasked by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). It exists to support the Royal Navy worldwide by supplying food, fuel and other stores to warships, thereby allowing them to stay at sea for long periods of time. In recent years the composition of the RFA has diversified as it has taken on additional roles- transporting equipment and troops, providing maintenance and aviation training. Although the Royal Fleet Auxiliary has decreased in size along with the Navy, it has played a vital part in recent operations, most notably the Falklands and Gulf Conflicts.

R.F.A Diligence- Forward Repair Ship	R.F.A Argus- Aviation Training Vessel
Rover Class Small Fleet Tankers	Sir Lancelot Class Landing Ships (Logisitc)
Leaf Class Support Tankers	R.F.A Sea Crusader- Strategic Lift Transport
Fort Class Stores Ships	4-Runner Class Roll-On / Roll-Off Transports
Fort Class One Stop Replenishment Vessels..

Above: RFA Fort Victoria at sea with two Duke Class Frigates. The two Fort Class auxiliaries were originally intended to support these warships on Cold War patrols. However the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the Soviet Union led to a change in requirements and the cancellation of four additional units.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

[Return to Warships & Auxiliaries]

© Written and researched by Jeremy Olver. Last updated 3rd September 2000. Disclaimer.