The Ship Model Forum

British Navy Sees Delay In Delivery Of South Korean-Built Tanker
Andrew Chuter
2:30 p.m. EDT August 1, 2016
The First Ship, the RFA Tidespring, Is Now Seven Months Late

London — The first of four fleet tankers being built in South Korea to support Royal Navy operations still has not been accepted by the British Ministry of Defence, seven months after it was due to be handed over.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Tidespring was expected to be accepted off contract by the British in January this year with the expectation it would enter service in September. But the vessel, part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) program, is still undergoing trials with builder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea.

It is unclear exactly what h(as triggered the delay in the handover of the tankers.

The MoD declined to answer questions about the delay in accepting the tanker or when the Tidespring would sail for the UK.

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Admiral John Byng, they are using a double hull design as stated in that link.

New tanker RFA Tidespring enters service
By
George Allison -
November 28, 2017

RFA Tidespring is the first of four Tide Class tankers and a dedication service took place in Portsmouth to officially welcome her into the fleet.

RFA Tidespring’s Commanding Officer Captain Simon Herbert said he was looking forward to taking the helm of the vessel:

“Sailing the first class of any ships is an immense privilege and I am extremely proud to be able to bring this highly modern, capable ship into Portsmouth Naval Base.”

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Third new Tide class tanker arrives in UK
By
George Allison -
March 28, 2018

The third of four new support tankers to be delivered to the UK has arrived in Cornwall for customisation and trials before entering service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and being deployed on operations with the Royal Navy.

The arrival of RFA Tidesurge comes just weeks after her sister ship, RFA Tidespring, met up at sea with aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time.

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Final Tide-class tanker joins Royal Navy fleet
Almost a year after arriving in the UK for military customization and armament, Tide-class tanker RFA Tideforce entered service.
Tideforce is the final of four ships in the class acquired to support Royal Navy, NATO and ally ship operations by providing fuel and fresh water.
After receiving military equipment – communications and IT systems, defensive weaponry – fitted in Falmouth to turn a tanker into a naval tanker and extensive trials, Tideforce recently arrived in Portland to be officialy accepted into operational service.
“It’s incredible to think it’s taken only 13 months since delivery to today.” Said Commodore Duncan Lamb, head of the RFA.
Fleet Commander Admiral Kyd – first commanding officer of carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth which the Tides were built to support – hailed the advent of the fourth and final ship in the class.
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