RFA Fort Austin

RFA Fort Austin

RFA Fort Austin is a fleet stores ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was laid down at Scott Lithgow in 1975, launched in 1978 and commissioned in 1979. These ships were designed to carry a wide range of stores to support other ships supplying them with ammunition, food and explosives. They have extensive aviation facilities, with two flight decks, one to the stern and one spot on top of the hangar. Up to four Sea Kings can be stored in the large hangar. These ships also have the capability to replenish at sea (RAS) via six replenishment stations, three on each side. When the Falklands War began, the ship headed south, taking part in the landings at San Carlos Water as an ammunition ship. In 2000, the ship was part of the British deployment to help restore order in Sierra Leone. As of September 2007, the ship was undergoing a major refit and modernisation at the A&P Tyne shipyard in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear In the Summer of 2009, RFA Fort Austin was placed in reserve.