Royal Fleet Auxiliary

The most important role provided by the RFA is replenishment at sea (RAS), therefore the mainstay of the current RFA fleet are the replenishment ships.[9] Three classes of vessel are in service as of 2023: Fort Victoria, the Tide class and the Wave class.

The Wave class are designated 'Fleet Tankers', which primarily provide under way refuelling to Royal Navy ships, but can also provide a limited amount of dry cargo. The Tide class are designated 'Fast Fleet Tankers' that were ordered in February 2012. The four tankers were ordered from DSME, South Korea with design support from Britain's BMT Defence Services, the first of which Tidespring entered service in 2017.[10] From 2022, only the Tide class were to be active with both Wave-class vessels being placed in extended readiness (uncrewed reserve).[11]

RFA Fort Victoria is a 'one-stop' replenishment ship, capable of providing under way refuelling and dry cargo (i.e. rearming, victualling and spares). Until 2011, she had a sister ship in RFA Fort George until she was decommissioned as a result of defence cuts. Two ships of the Fort Rosalie class also provided dry stores replenishment but were placed into extended readiness in 2020.[12] The two ships were later decommissioned, leaving Fort Victoria the only fleet solid support ship in service.[13][14] In 2023, Fort Victoria was reported to be in "reduced readiness" but available for deployment in an emergency.[15][16] A class of three new fleet solid support ships are expected to arrive starting in 2031 under the Fleet Solid Support Ship Programme.[17][18][19][20] The manufacturing contract for this acquisition, valued at £1.6 billion, was signed in January 2023.[21]

The Wave class, Tide class and Fort Victoria incorporate aviation facilities, providing aviation support and training facilities as well as vertical replenishment capabilities. They are capable of operating and supporting Merlin and Lynx Wildcat helicopters, both of which are significant weapons platforms. The presence of aviation facilities on RFA ships allows for them to be used as 'force multipliers' for the task groups they support in line with Royal Navy doctrine.

• 
  Tiderace (Tide class)
• 
  Wave Knight (Wave class)
• 
  Fort Victoria (Fort Victoria class)

The RFA is tasked with the role of supporting Royal Navy amphibious operations through its three Bay-class dock landing ships (LSD). Typically one Bay-class vessel (as of 2023 RFA Cardigan Bay) is also assigned as a permanent 'mothership' for Royal Navy mine countermeasures vessels in the Persian Gulf. The 2021 defence white paper proposed the acquisition of a new class of up to six Multi-Role Support Ships to support littoral strike operations. These seemed likely to replace the Bay-class ships by the 2030s. In the interim, the white paper had proposed to upgrade one of the Bay-class vessels with permanent hangar facilities in order to carry out the littoral strike role.[34][35] However, in July 2022 it was reported that the future littoral strike role would in fact be assumed by RFA Argus after a refit to convert her to this role.[36]

Argus is a unique support ship in the RFA and has served in various aviation support roles. On active operations, she can deploy as a Primary Casualty Receiving Ship (PCRS); essentially a hospital ship. She cannot be described as such – and was not afforded such protection under the Geneva Convention – as she is armed. Argus completed a refit in May 2007 intended to extend her operational life to 2020.[37] Prior to the announcement that she would take on the Littoral strike role, Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin indicated that it was planned to retain the ship in service beyond 2030 rather than retiring her in 2024 as previously planned.[38][39] The 2021 defence white paper did not specifically mention her replacement. However, Minister Quinn indicated that her functions are projected as likely to be taken over by the new Multi-Role Vessels, approved for acquisition in the 2021 defence white paper.[40][34][35]

• 
  Cardigan Bay (Bay class)

• 
  Argus

The RFA has acquired a Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship to protect undersea critical national infrastructure, such as gas pipelines and undersea cables.[48] In February 2023, the vessel identified for this role - MV Topaz Tangaroa - was acquired and in October 2023 entered service as RFA Proteus. She was purchased for some £70 million and was converted to act as a mothership for autonomous systems and have military communications and light defensive armament added.

It is reported that a second MROS ship is envisaged, which is to be a new build vessel and as of 2023 is in the concept stage with service entry envisaged in about 2029.[49][50]

• 
  Proteus at Cammell Laird

In December 2022, it was reported that a commercial vessel was being sought for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which would act as a trials vessel to further develop the concept of deploying autonomous minehunting systems from command and support motherships.[52] The new vessel, to be named RFA Stirling Castle,[53] is the former offshore support vessel MV Island Crown which, after her entry into service, is likely to be based at the Clyde naval base[54] to operate with 1 Mine Countermeasures Squadron which deploys the Royal Navy's autonomous vessels. The ship was purchased for £40 million and arrived at HMNB Devonport in January 2023. Her conversion was not anticipated to be lengthy and it was reported that she is to be in service by August 2023.[55]

From the mid-2020s, up to three additional ships are also planned for acquisition in the mine countermeasures command and support role,[56][57] one of which is intended to replace RFA Cardigan Bay and some of the other vessels in 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron operating from HMS Jufair in Bahrain. Cardigan Bay would then be returned to a primary amphibious operations role.[58]

• 
  Stirling Castle

The Point-class sealift ships were acquired in 2002 under a £1.25bn private finance initiative with Foreland Shipping known as the Strategic Sealift Service. These ships are Merchant Navy vessels leased to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as and when needed and as such are not part of the RFA. However, they are listed here due to their role in expeditionary military operations and in provisioning U.K. military bases and facilities.

Originally six ships were part of the deal, allowing the MoD use of four of the ships with two being made available for commercial charter, these latter two were released from the contract in 2012.[61] The MoD also contracts to secure fuel supplies for facilities overseas. For sometime this requirement was maintained through charter of the vessel Maersk Rapier.[62] The ship was tasked with supplying fuel to the United Kingdoms various naval establishments at home and overseas, as well as providing aviation fuel to RAF stations at Cyprus, Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands.[62] The MoD chartered the vessel to commercial companies during periods where she was not in use for defence purposes.[62][63] Since the end of the contract for the use of Maersk Rapier, a further contract for the use of another tanker, renamed the Raleigh Fisher, has been secured.[64][65]

• Not part of the RFA, under charter to the MoD

• 
  Hartland Point (Point class)

• 
  Raleigh Fisher

Rank insignia of RFA officers are the same as for the other Royal Navy branches; however, the RFA makes use of the diamond used by merchant shipping rather than the loop used by the RN. The rank of commodore is the most senior in the RFA.

RFA Officer Ranks and Insignia

Rank	Commodore	Captain	Chief Officer	First Officer	Second Officer	Third Officer	Officer Cadet
Insignia
Abbreviation	Cdre	Capt	C/O	1/O	2/O	3/O	CDT
Analogous RN Rank*	Commodore	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant	Sub Lieutenant	Midshipman

Department Colours

The RFA uses distinctive cloth to distinguish the branch of its officers. The Royal Navy ceased this practice for most officers in 1955, with the exception of medical and dental officers who are denoted by red and orange cloth respectively.

Marine Engineers may also have maroon coloured cloth in place of purple.

No. 1 dress

This is the formal uniform worn on ceremonial occasions. For all officers it consists of a double-breasted, navy blue reefer jacket with four rows of two RFA buttons; matching trousers; white shirt and black tie; peaked cap; and black leather shoes. Rank insignia is denoted on the lower sleeve.

For ratings this uniform is a single breasted tunic fastened with four RFA buttons, with flapped chest pockets and hip pockets; white shirt and black tie, peaked cap for Petty Officers and above and a light blue beret for other ratings; and black leather shoes. Rank insignia is denoted on the lower sleeve.

No. 2A dress, as worn by the Duke of Edinburgh

Number 2A dress is the formal evening dress for ceremonial dinners; it consists of a navy blue mess jacket with a white waistcoat (black cummerbund for female officers) with miniature medals. 2B is "mess undress" for other mess functions, and is worn with either a black cummerbund or navy blue waistcoat and miniature medals. 2C, "red sea rig", is worn for informal evening wear on board ship; it consists of a white short sleeved shirt, worn with shoulderboards, without medals and with black trousers, black shoes and a black cummerbund.

This is worn all year round for general duties. It consists of a white shirt with rank insignia on the shoulders, and appropriate headgear. For officers 3A dress includes a long-sleeved shirt and tie, while 3B includes a short-sleeved shirt worn with hard shoulder boards. 3C is the same in all respects as 3A but with the addition of a navy blue woollen jersey. This is the same as for Officer's No. 3 dress but with the relevant rate insignia and beret. Junior rates are only issued with short-sleeve shirts and are not issued with ties. Thus No.3 dress is divided into 3B (without jersey) and 3C dress (navy-blue jersey worn over the shirt with the shirt collar out). There is no equivalent of 3A dress for junior ratings.

Number 4 dress is the working uniform of the RFA. It is referred to as Royal Fleet Auxiliary Personal Clothing System (RFAPCS); it consists of a navy blue fire-retardant jacket, navy blue baseball cap and beret, navy blue stable belt, navy-blue fire-retardant trousers, dms boots, black T-shirt and an optional navy-blue microfleece. Number 4R dress is the same only without the jacket and with an optional baseball cap. RFAPCS is distinguished from its RNPCS counterpart by the RFA blue ensign and 'ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY' tape replacing the white ensign and 'ROYAL NAVY' tape worn on the left arm and left chest pocket respectively. Junior ratings may also wear an RFA badged baseball cap in this order of dress, whilst undertaking courses at Royal Navy establishments.

Number 5 dress is the collective category for all specialist working uniforms. They are worn as required for duties.

• List of active Royal Navy ships
• List of active Royal Marines military watercraft
• List of ships of Serco Marine Services

• His Majesty's Naval Service
• List of Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship names
• Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)
• Royal Research Ship
• Military Sealift Command – the United States Navy's analogue to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
• Solid Support Ship