Tide Class Tankers (MARS) (RFA)

[bobp]

RFA Tidespring is underway currently moving through the East China Sea, in a busy shipping lane. Bearing in mind that the MOD have accepted the ship already, this could be the delivery voyage possibly.

[SDL]

How long would it take for it to get here if it was finally on it's way?

[bobp]

You may have got yourself a "scoop!"

I just happened to have a look, I usually do once or twice a week. Looking at the track she is making I think its more trials or they are training the crew. She is going around in tight circles.

[Ianmb17]

Missed post above but track below

[bobp]

Heading back to port now by the looks of it.

[Flybri]

Have the RN applied to the local authorities to undertake naval activities in such disputed waters??
Rhetorical sarcastic question

[Pseudo]

Have the RN applied to the local authorities to undertake naval activities in such disputed waters??
Rhetorical sarcastic question

I expect that HMG will imminently release a press statement about this incredibly successful freedom of navigation patrol.

[Defiance]

Publicity is publicity I suppose

[hovematlot]

She's back alongside again

[bobp]

She's back alongside again

She is out again at this moment seems to have done another circuit.

[bobp]

RFA Tidespring still cruising in the S. China Sea.

[RichardIC]

RFA Tidespring still cruising in the S. China Sea.

You know she really isn't - she hasn't been anywhere near the South China Sea from what I can tell. She's in the Korea Strait if anything.

The South China Sea is the bit that's flanked by Vietnam, the Philipines and Malaysia...

[bobp]

She's in the Korea Strait if anything.

Yes you are right, apologies for my error, geography is not my strong point.

[RichardIC]

Only of consequence in relation to the current disputes there.

[RichardIC]

For what it's worth:

http://qnadailyreport.blob.core.windows ... pdf#page12

RFA Tidespring
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the original planned date for acceptance into service of Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tidespring; and what is now the planned date for acceptance into service. [HL5144]
Earl Howe: At contract award in 2012, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tidespring was expected to enter service in October 2016.
In order to address emergent technical issues, the programme schedule was revised in 2016, and RFA Tidespring was accepted off-contract in January 2017. On current plans, we expect RFA Tidespring to start UK customisation and capability assessment trials in the spring, before entering service with the RFA by the end of 2017.
We expect all four Maritime Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) tankers to have entered service with the RFA by the end of 2018, as planned.

[bobp]

So even after delivery sometime this Spring it will be almost a year before she goes into service. Meanwhile Tidespring in amongst the Islands of Japan.

[jonas]

Tidespring transitting Kanmon Strait to Yokosuka Japan :-

[ArmChairCivvy]

Impressive looks... though I still wonder if the double funnel was the only way to go within the given size envelope?
- the size of the hangar was the "cost" of that decision

[SKB]

Pretty tanker.

[bobp]

Tidespring transitting Kanmon Strait to Yokosuka Japan :-

Excellent find.

[90inFIRST]

http://navaltoday.com/2017/02/09/rfa-ti ... ome-to-uk/

[donald_of_tokyo]

Impressive looks... though I still wonder if the double funnel was the only way to go within the given size envelope?
- the size of the hangar was the "cost" of that decision

What is wrong with the hangar size? If you make it larger, you need to enlarge the bridge structure to handle the increased space = larger hull will be needed. Also there is no strong need for helicopter to be carried on AO, to my understanding.
- In many cases, AOs were operated without helicopter in the past. So 1 Merlin capable hangar is already a big jump.
- FAA does not have any redundant Wildcats nor Merlin, as well as its crew and maintenance engineers.
- RN is going to have a big big "hangar", 2 CVFs, so what is in short is not hangar but air frames.
- With small hangar, the ship will be "a little" cheaper.
Only good thing is there and I find almost nothing bad...

[bobp]

Hi Donald do you know where Tidespring is stopping for a visit?

[jonas]

She's flying the Blue Ensign already?

Why not, as far as I'm aware she is now in RFA hands, being sailed by an RFA crew. These vessels don't have a commissioning ceremony as do the RN.

[jonas]

Hi Donald do you know where Tidespring is stopping for a visit?

One would assume that as she is transitting the Kanmon Strait to Yokosuka, and that is were the Japanese have a naval base, then that is where she is visiting.