Wave-class tanker

The Wave-class tankers are a class of two fast fleet tankers which were in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary the naval auxiliary fleet of the United Kingdom. The class was tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world. The two ships in the class are: and. These were ordered to replace the aging s and.
The two vessels have seen service in a number of locations, including anti-drug and hurricane relief operations in the Caribbean Sea, anti-piracy activities around the Horn of Africa, and deterrent patrols in the South Atlantic. As of early 2022, both ships were earmarked for "extended readiness" status. In November 2024, the newly elected Labour government indicated that both ships would be removed from service by March 2025.

History

A contract was placed for the vessels in 1997 with Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. Construction of Wave Knight began in 1998 at VSEL's Barrow-in-Furness yard and the ship was launched in 2000. With the acquisition of Marconi Electronic Systems and its Marconi Marine subsidiary in 1999 British Aerospace became BAE Systems. BAE now owns VSEL in Barrow and the Yarrow and Govan shipyards on the Clyde. BAE transferred the construction of Wave Ruler to Govan in 2000 and the vessel was launched in 2001. Both vessels were commissioned in 2003.

Design

The ships have the capability to supply fuel and other liquid cargo to vessels using replenishment rigs on port and starboard beams and through a Hudson reel-type stern rig. When providing support for amphibious operations, the ships are also able to deliver fuel to dracones positioned alongside. The equipment load includes cranes, steering and rudder gear, thyristor-controlled winch/windlasses and double drum mooring winches. Up to of liquids and of general solids can be carried. In addition, reverse-osmosis equipment is fitted enabling the production of of drinkable water per day.
The vessels were designed with double hulls to prevent or reduce environmental pollution from oil spills if damage is sustained to the outer hull.
The ships can operate a Merlin HM1 helicopter, or other helicopters of similar size, from a hangar and flight deck at the stern. On deployments to Standing [Royal Navy deployments#Atlantic Patrol Task.28North.29|Atlantic Patrol Task (N)] they have typically embarked a Royal Navy Lynx or a United States Coast Guard helicopter.
The vessels have a standard crew of 80 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel with provision for a further 22 Royal Navy personnel to conduct helicopter and weapons systems operations. They carry a full medical team and sick bay and are capable of distributing 2,000 emergency relief packages in times of crisis.

Construction programme

The vessels were constructed in twelve modular segments that were subsequently assembled. For RFA Wave Knight, the cargo tankage was fabricated at Harland and Wolff in Belfast, while the 1,000-tonne stern block was produced at Cammell Laird in Newcastle and shipped by sea to Barrow. The funnel was sourced from Appledore Shipbuilders in North Devon. In contrast, RFA Wave Ruler was predominantly built at Govan, although some of the steel components originated from Barrow.

Name	Pennant	Builder	Ordered	Laid down	Launched	In service
	A389	VSEL, Barrow-in-Furness	12 March 1997	22 October 1998	29 September 2000	8 April 2003
	A390	BAE Systems, Govan	12 March 1997	10 February 2000	9 February 2001	27 April 2003

Decommissioning and fate

In June 2018 it was reported by the Brazilian press that the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence had offered to sell one or both of the Wave-class tankers to Brazil. As early as 2010, BAE Systems had proposed providing Brazil with a variant of the Wave-class, tailored to meet the specific aviation, stores and personnel requirements of the Brazilian Navy.
In June 2020, RFA Wave Ruler was reported to be in extended readiness but maintained in good condition and available for re-activation. In February 2022, it was reported that both tankers of the class would be kept in "extended readiness". In June 2023, one report suggested that due to manning shortages in the RFA, both ships would be decommissioned and potentially sold abroad. However, in the same month James Cartlidge, the then Minister of State for Defence Procurement, stated that both ships were to be retained in extended readiness until 2028 with the option of potentially reactivating them if required.
On 20 November 2024, the Secretary of State for Defence John Healey announced that both Wave-class oilers were to be decommissioned by March 2025, three years earlier than initially planned, in order to reduce expenses.