The ''Fort Victoria'' or Fort II class is a
class
Class, Classes, or The Class may refer to:
Common uses not otherwise categorized
* Class (biology), a taxonomic rank
* Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects
* Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used d ...
of
replenishment oiler
A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers.
Th ...
of the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is a naval auxiliary fleet owned by the UK's Ministry of Defence. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service and provides logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
The RF ...
, a role that combines the missions of a tanker and stores supply ship.
As such they are designated auxiliary oiler replenisher (AOR). They are tasked with providing ammunition, fuel, food and other supplies to
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
vessels around the world. There were two ships in the class, and ; the latter being taken out of service and despatched for scrapping at a Turkish breakers as a consequence of budgetary cutbacks.
History
Six ships were initially planned to supply the
Type 23 frigate
The Type 23 frigate or Duke class is a class of frigates built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The ships are named after British Dukes, thus leading to the class being commonly known as the Duke class. The first Type 23, , was commission ...
s in their North Atlantic anti-submarine role. The Type 23 was at the time planned to be a low cost, lightly armed vessel and the Fort-class ships were therefore expected to defend themselves with the
Sea Wolf vertical launch surface-to-air missile (SAM).
The lessons of the
Falklands War
The Falklands War () was a ten-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982 over two British Overseas Territories, British dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and Falkland Islands Dependenci ...
meant the Type 23 developed as a much more potent, multi-role vessel carrying the Sea Wolf missile.
The requirement for the Fort class was reduced from six to two.
''Fort Victoria'' was built by
Harland & Wolff
Harland & Wolff Holdings plc is a British shipbuilding and Metal fabrication, fabrication company headquartered in London with sites in Belfast, Arnish yard, Arnish, Appledore, Torridge, Appledore and Methil. It specialises in ship repair, ship ...
and ''Fort George'' by
Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter, formerly known as Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, is a shipbuilding design, engineering, and management company, based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England.
At its apex, the company represented the combined forces of three pow ...
and the ships entered service in 1994 and 1993 respectively.
''Fort Victoria'' was delayed when she
was bombed by the IRA on 6 September 1990 and nearly sunk.
[From an interview with shipbuilder Sir John Parker published by '']Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
'', 13 March 2006: :''The contract for Fort Victoria was won, but the ship became a target for the IRA. "She was afloat in the dock when we got the call from the IRA. Later that day the bomb went off and blew a hole in the engine room of the ship. The ship heeled over to about 45 degrees and we thought we were going to lose her. Fortunately some very courageous engineers went on board and lowered pumps in to clear the engine room so we could save the ship." The next day there was a call about a second bomb. It took two weeks to find it and make it safe – valuable time lost. Such incidents moulded Sir John and taught him patience and resolve, the like of which is rare in many boardrooms.''
In the 2030s, the ''Fort Victoria''-class will be succeeded by a new class of three solid support ships, under the
Fleet Solid Support Ship Programme
The Fleet Solid Support Ship Programme (FSSP) aims to deliver up to three fleet solid support ships to the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The ships will be used to provide underway replenishment of dry stores, such as ammunition, spare parts an ...
.
Class details
See also
*
List of replenishment ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
This is a list of replenishment ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom.
Active
Tankers
* Tide (II)-class fast fleet tanker (2017)
**
** '' ''Tiderace' (in extended readiness - uncrewed rese ...
*
''Fort Rosalie'' or Fort I class RFA replenishment ships
Notes
Bibliography
* Beaver, Paul, ''Britain's Modern Royal Navy'', Patrick Stephens Limited, 1996,
External links
''Fort'' class replenshipment ships at the Royal Navy website
{{Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships
Auxiliary replenishment ship classes