Following operations with the Royal Australian Navy, RFA Fort Rosalie is now supporting the US Navy’s Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group.
According to the Royal Navy:
“The trip enabled personnel to get first-hand knowledge of how the US Military Sealift Command ship operates her helicopters, flight deck and equipment during high-tempo Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) operations with the US aircraft carrier.”
CO of Fort Rosalie Capt Karl Woodfield said:
“This opportunity for Fort Rosalie to see at first hand and then conduct high tempo carrier support operations is a major plus as ships of the RFA prepare to support the UK’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The RFA has a longstanding close relationship with the Military Sealift Command and I spent three very enjoyable years as the RFA exchange officer working in MSC Command in Washington DC.
It was therefore great to see at first hand again the professional service and renew my links with the MSC. Fort Rosalie will be supplying the ships in the group with food, mail and stores.”
Fort Rosalie was launched in 1976 on the Clyde and commissioned the next year. The ship saw her first war service during the Falklands War, and also supported British forces in the Balkans alongside at the port of Split from at least 1994-2000. Fort Rosalie also oversaw repairs to HMS Tireless at Gibraltar later in 2000.
Spent 2 happy years on her when she was known as the Fort Grange Joined her in the builders and did all the cold and warm weather trials on her When we came back after i think the first trial which was about 3 months there was splits all over the place and i dont mean small cracks When they went to dock us she bumped into the corner of the entrance to the dry dock which did a lot of damage to the side which had to be repaired Also remember when we were in the western approaches we… Read more »
Any idea why they changed her name if she was originally Fort Grange? Also puts nicely into perspective HMS QE’s seal leak and sprinkler glitch, but, of course, back then we didn’t have an hysterical press seemingly perpetually on the verge of apoplexy over every single thing and incapable or unwilling to differentiate between serious issues, not so serious issues and the trivial.
clive – I had to explain to my Grandson that having a biro run out of ink really isn’t a ‘nightmare’….
Was subject to confusion in signals, Fort George, Fort Grange. FTG.
Ah, okay, thank you.
Have seen her on the Clyde, a Joint Warrior I think. Mighty fine looking ship.