Supporting the Naval Service

In keeping the Royal Navy supplied and operational, the RFA has a vital role in Britain’s defence and humanitarian activities around the world.

RFA’s civilian crews work with two main groups of people. The Royal Navy looks to RFA to supply and repair their warships away from home ports and provide training facilities for ratings and officers. Meanwhile, the Royal Marines Commandos (and the Army) rely on RFA to provide them with a floating base for their operations on shore.

The RFA fleet is specially designed and equipped to carry out these crucial tasks and consists of tankers, dry cargo replenishment ships, combined fuel and stores replenishment ships, landing ships, an aviation training ship and a forward repair ship. Almost all ships have large flight decks and hangars so they can land and carry helicopters.

Helicopters are used to carry loads out to warships as part of RFA’s supply work, but warships are also re-supplied with fuel and stores by the RAS (Replenishment at Sea) technique. This is a real test of seamanship and involves two, or sometimes three, ships sailing alongside each other at a constant speed at just 30 to 40 metres apart whilst fuel and water is pumped across in hoses and solid stores like food or ammunition are sent across on a pulley.