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RFA Tidespring’s unstinting support to Carrier Strike Group
30 October 2025
Cape Town, Singapore, Darwin, Busan, Goa and Mombasa. Not your usual holiday itinerary.
But then this is no holiday – it’s a few of the ports visited by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Tidespring, which hascompleted the majority of the Royal Navy’s premier deployment of the year, Carrier Strike Group 25.
The tanker has provided fuel and other supplies to British warships, led by Fleet Flagship HMS Prince of Wales, and those of our allies and partners, with her presence making the task group truly expeditionary and sparing the need for the warships to make frequent port calls.
Since leaving the UK in April this year, Tidespring has completed 79 Replenishments at Sea (RAS) – an average of three each week – supplying 30,120 cubic metres of diesel – the equivalent of filling 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or the tanks of over half a million cars– and 4,200 cubic metres of aviation fuel.
“This is my last appointment after 44 years of service and I could not have asked for a better team, with their commitment, drive and their ability to keep the UK Carrier Strike Group and allied forces moving,” said the tanker’s Commanding Officer, Captain Mike Lawrence.
The RFA, which this year has celebrated its 120th anniversary, has been superbly represented by RFA Tidespring, which has so far covered 36,358 nautical miles – more than one and a half times around the globe – with at least another 13,457 to go before Christmas.
Among her milestones are:
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Operated with naval forces from the UK, USA, Canada, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Japan, India, and Indonesia.
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Visited Capetown in South Africa, Duqm in Oman, Singapore, Darwin in Australia (all twice), Busan in South Korea, Goa in India and Mombasa in Kenya.
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Operated with USS George Washington Carrier Battle Group, USS America Amphibious Group, Japanese Ship Kaga Naval Groupin the Indo-Pacific region and aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and supporting Indian Naval Force duringExercise Konkan across the Indian Ocean.
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Completedthree crew changes, with two Commanding Officers
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Embarked and operated with one Merlin Mk 2 from 814NAS and operated Drones from 700X NAS.
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Has embarked Royal Marines from 42 Commando
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Completed a Freedom of Navigation passage via the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
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Crossed the Equator three times north to south with the usual Ceremony for King Neptune (and have one more crossing to make).
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Navigated the Archipelagic Sea Lanes through the Arafura Sea, Banda Sea and Molucca Sea.
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Operated in the North and South Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Timor Sea, Philippine Sea and Pacific.
“This is my last appointment after 44 years of service and I could not have asked for a better team, with their commitment, drive and their ability to keep the UK Carrier Strike Group and allied forces moving.”
“Operation Highmast has been a fantastic experience for the ship’s company of Tidespring,” said Captain Lawrence.
“Having departed the UK late April, the ship has transited to the Mediterranean, circumnavigated the African Continent, Indian Ocean, through the Malacca straits, passage past Krakatoa into the Temor Sea,north via the Archipelagic Sea Lanes into the PhilippianSea, passing west of Okinawa into the Korean Straits and Sea of Japan before returning west via the South China Sea to Singapore.
“Thereafter returning to the Atlantic again crossing the Indian Ocean and circumnavigating the African continent. The ship’s company have visited Cape Town, Duqm, Singapore, Darwin, Busan,Goa and Mombasa making many new friends and participating in Defence engagement activities along the way.
“Partaking in ship visits, receptions, and formal dinners, along with attending a remembrance event in South Korea to mark the UK losses in the Korean War and commemorate the end of the Korean War, it has been an excellent opportunity to create and strengthen those friendships.”
The tanker has maintained a ship’s company of 108 throughout the deployment, consisting of 75 RFA personnel, with the remainder made up of Royal Navy weapon system operators and maintainers from 1700 NAS,aviators from 814NAS, Drone team from 700x Sqn and Royal Marines from 42 Commando.
Lt Cdr Mike Curd, 814’s Swordfish Flight Commander, said: “RFA Tidespring is not just a tanker but a capable aviation platform, adding another element of flexibility to the Operation Highmast air wing.”
His Merlin HM2 has conducted anti-submarine warfare, surface searches, casualty evacuation and the transfer of stores and personnel around the task group.
Tidespring also undergone a two-week Directed Training Programme from Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST staff) for some bespokeCondition 1 training between Singapore to Oman, conducting a joint exercise with the Indian Navy.
Communications rating Piran Smith said: “The Carrier Strike Group’s real-world scenarios have provided key learning opportunities for both junior and seasoned seafarers, delivering new travel experiences and accessing differing cultures.”
CaptainLawrence added: “It’s been a fantastic opportunity for all to experience such a wide variety of cultures, food, language and vibrant cities and towns as well as see the wildlife of Africa, India, Australia and the Far East. “
And while the rest of the Carrier Strike Group return to the UK at the end of the year, Tidespring will not see these shores until 2026.