Royal Fleet Auxilliary Ship 'Fort George' Returns Home
Royal Fleet Auxilliary Ship ‘Fort George’ Returns Home To Crombie After Five Month Caribbean Deployment.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort George returns to Crombie in Fife on Friday October 23 after five months’ patrol in the Caribbean, including the hurricane season, sailing into port just after midday.
The deployment of RFA Fort George in company with Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke to the region formed part of the UK Government’s continued support for drug interdiction and developing the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief programme for British Overseas Territories.
The deployments also support continuing regional engagement with the Commonwealth islands in the area.
RFA Fort George is, in simple terms, a supply vessel which has a critical role in maintaining the functional ability of any Royal Navy on deployment.
The RFA vessels carry with them everything from missiles to fuel, food to replacement parts – in short, everything required to ensure that a warship can remain potent no matter how long the patrol.
The highlight of the trip was the seizure by members of HMS Iron Duke’s boarding party of over five and a half tonnes of cocaine, with a street value of £240 million, in an operation off the coast of South America.
In addition to this significant achievement, the ship visited several overseas territories including Anguilla, Turks & Caicos and Montserrat where training and exercises were carried out with local Disaster Relief Forces.
These exercises were conducted to help improve the islands’ own infrastructure but also to give the islands confidence in demonstrating the capabilities the ship can offer should she be called upon to assist following a hurricane strike. Fortunately this season proved to be a relatively quiet one with only Hurricane Bill briefly posing a serious threat, though ultimately it passed the islands uneventfully.
The ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain James Murchie, said: “I am delighted to be able to bring Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort George back to Crombie following her very successful deployment to the Caribbean.
“The ship forged close links with local disaster relief organisations throughout the islands and helped provide confidence to the islanders by demonstrating the range of help which would be offered if a hurricane had struck one of the islands.
“Fort George’s close involvement in the drugs seizure by HMS Iron Duke demonstrates the value of these deployments to the region. "
During the deployment Fort George covered more than 28,000 nautical miles (round the equator is only 21,600), visited 10 countries and conducted 15 replenishments at sea with HMS Iron Duke and ships from the Dutch, US and Australian navies.
The primary role of RFA Fort George is to supply Royal Navy, NATO and other allied ships whilst at sea, with fuel, food, stores and ammunition to remain operational whilst deployed.
Dual-purpose replenishment rigs are fitted amidships, enabling transfer of fuel and stores to two ships simultaneously and there is a capability to fuel vessels by stern rig.
RFA Fort George also provides aviation support to the Royal Navy and is equipped with an extensive flight deck, with hangar capacity for three Sea King or Merlin helicopters including full maintenance facilities.
She is capable of concurrent operations by Replenishment at Sea (RAS) and a flying capability. The ship has a combined complement of 132 Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Royal Navy and Defence Equipment and Support personnel. These personnel can form specialist teams to go ashore and provide support in engineering, medical, fire fighting and the ship’s small boats can provide flexibility and access in a variety of different scenarios.