1978    

UK Fort I class (1978)



Support Ship

ships



Support Ship Fort I class (1978)





Derivatives / Succeeded by
1992 UK Fort II class (1992)



  Specifications


8300light (tn)
23500full load (tn)
185.10length (m)
24beam (m)
9draught (m)
10000range (nm)
22max speed (knots)
23200power (shp)

1Naval Engine diesel

2Naval Gun single 20 mm
2Chaff and decoys Corvus chaff launcher

helicopter   Aircraft


Typical Max
UK Royal Navy Westland Wessex 04
UK Royal Navy Westland Sea King 04
UK Royal Navy AW EH101 04








  Shipyards


UK Scott Lithgow (Greenock) - Greenock1



  List of Ships


Filter:     Hide Transfers     Hide derivatives

19781999UKRoyal Fleet AuxiliaryA385RFA Fort GrangeGSEU - FG
2000-- A385 RFA Fort Rosalie
2023-- EG Egyptian Navy 233 ENS Abu Simbel
1979--UKRoyal Fleet AuxiliaryA386RFA Fort Austin GSEV - FA
19932011UKRoyal Fleet AuxiliaryA388Fort II class (1992) RFA Fort George GCOG - FO
1994--UKRoyal Fleet AuxiliaryA387Fort II class (1992) RFA Fort Victoria GACE - FV


4 units



  Events


1971-novOrderedOrdered UK A385 RFA Fort Grange
1971-novOrderedOrdered UK A386 RFA Fort Austin
1973-nov-09Laid downLaid down UK A385 RFA Fort Grange Yard No 737
1975-dec-09Laid downLaid down UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Yard No 738
1976-dec-09LaunchedLaunched UK A385 RFA Fort Grange as RFA Fort Grange
1978-febAircraftAircraft UK A385 RFA Fort Grange 1st RFA ship to be assigned Sea King HAS.1. 706 Sq XV714 as Fort Grange Flt / 343-FG until c Sep 1978.
1978-mar-08LaunchedLaunched UK A386 RFA Fort Austin
1978-apr-06CommissionedCommissioned UK A385 RFA Fort Grange
1978-apr-15HomeportHomeport UK A385 RFA Fort Grange Devonport, Plymouth
1978-nov-13AircraftAircraft UK A385 RFA Fort Grange Sea King XV666
1979-may-11CommissionedCommissioned UK A386 RFA Fort Austin
1979-jul-12HomeportHomeport UK A386 RFA Fort Austin arrived HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
1980-decDeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Armilla Patrol with RFA Tidepool, supported deployment to Middle East for Armilla Patrol, with HMS Ardent and HMS Apollo.
1981-jan-20DeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Recovered ditched 824 NAS Sea King HAS.2A XV665 by crane, after being towed to the ship by HMS Apollo.
1981-marDeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Grange Armilla Patrol deployed on Armilla Patrol with HMS Rothesay, HMS Newcastle and RFA Olna.
1982-mar-29DeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Operation Corporate Departed Gibraltar from exercise for the South Atlantic, initially to support HMS Endurance. Left theatre 7 Jun 1982.
1982-may-14DeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Grange Operation Corporate Departed HMNB Devonport (while still named RFA Fort Grange) for South Atlantic with 824 Squadron C Flt embarked (XV697, XV698 and the recently transferred XV672, from 706 NAS). She left theatre on 17 Sep and disembarked the Flight to RNAS Culdrose on 2 Oct before returning on 3 Oct 1982.
1982-jul-11AircraftAircraft UK A385 RFA Fort Grange accident Sea King XV698
1982-nov-19 UK A385 RFA Fort Grange Departed HMNB Devonport, embarked 4x 826 NAS Sea King and sailed for South Atlantic arriving 31 Dec. Returned to UK 24 Jun 1983.
1983-febDeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Atlantic Patrol Task (South) on Atlantic Patrol Task (South) in support of Royal Navy presence, until Dec 1983.
1984-junDeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Departed Ascension Island for UK with 845 NAS Wessex HU.5 XT455 / YU embarked
1986-apr-13AircraftAircraft UK A385 RFA Fort Grange Embarked 3 Sea Kings of recently formed 814 NAS A Flt for initial operations of GLOBAL 86 deployment and in support of the RIMPAC 86 exercise. Dismbarked at end of Jul 1986 in Singapore.
1986-oct-02Port VisitPort Visit UK A385 RFA Fort Grange visited Sydney Harbour
1987-mar-10DeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Grange sailed from Plymouth to Northern Norway to support Exercise Cold Winter 87, returned via Spithead.
1988-jun-02DeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin visit to Rockall by embarked Sea Kings of 820 NAS
1988-sep-26Port VisitPort Visit UK A385 RFA Fort Grange Fleet Review: Australia Bi-centennial Naval Salute to Sydney for Australian Bi-centennial Fleet Review
1989-jun-05AircraftAircraft UK A386 RFA Fort Austin 826 NAS Sea King XV699 / 134 departed ship for RNAS Culdrose but conducted emergency landing at Pont Henri, nr Llanelli.
1990-apr-18DeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Grange departed Portsmouth for 10 week western North Atlantic deployment supporting TG 318.1, with HMS Ark Royal (flagship), HMS Glasgow, HMS Brave and HMS Cumberland and RFA Olna.
1991-apr-23DeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Grange Bangladesh Cyclone relief In Bay of Bengal for Cyclone relief operations, 826 NAS D Flt embarked.
1991-jun-07AircraftAircraft UK A386 RFA Fort Austin embarked 826 NAS D Flt from RFA Fort Grange, until Aug 1991.
1993-janDeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Grange UNPROFOR operated with 4 Sea King HAS.6 of 820 NAS in support of HMS Ark Royal off Bosnia, with RFA Olwen until Jul 1993.
1996-augDeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Grange departed from HMNB Portsmouth at end Aug 1996 supporting HMS Invincible and HMS Sheffield for exercises in Mediterranean and Persian Gulf (from Nov) before returning to Portsmouth during Dec.
1997-aprDeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Grange SFOR (stabilisation force) Off Splyt, Croatia as part of UN SFOR until Jan 2000.
2000-may UK A385 RFA Fort Grange renamed from RFA Fort Grange to RFA Fort Rosalie
2000-mayDeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie to Gibraltar to support HM Submarine Tireless, returning to HMNB Devonport on 16 May 2001.
2000-mayDeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Operation Palliser ordered off Freetown, Sierra Leone to support Operation Palliser.
2003-jan-15DeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Operation Telic departed UK for Arabian Gulf in support of 2nd Gulf War operations. Embarked 4 Sea King of 820 NAS. Returned to the Clyde on 29 May 2003.
2003-jan-15DeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie Operation Telic departed HMNB Devonport to support combat operations in Iraq. Commenced in theatre on 9 Feb, completing 28 May 2003.
2006-oct-11DeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Operation Vela (Green Eagle) in support of Exercise Green Eagle phase of Operation Vela, off Sierra Leone
2007-febDeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin support ship for CTF 158 in northern Arabian Gulf
2008-mayRefitRefit UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie Refit at Birkenhead until 2009
2008-oct-04DeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Exercise Joint Warrior 08-2 participated in bi-annual multi-national exercise off Scottish coast, until 17 Oct
2008-oct-25Port VisitPort Visit UK A386 RFA Fort Austin 3 day visit to Douglas, Isle of Man.
2009-jul-14 UK A386 RFA Fort Austin to HMNB Portsmouth for planned period of extended lay-up.
2009-jul-14Port VisitPort Visit UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie visit to Cherbourg for Bastille Day celebrations
2010-aug-10 UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie Fleet Review: 500 years anniversary of RDN .
2011-aprDeploymentDeployment UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie Operation Unified Protector supported the contribution to the international forces and the UK Response Force Task Group with ammunition and stores. On 11 Jun, delivered Apache AH.1 ZJ179 from Cyprus to HMS Ocean, off Libya.
2011-may-27RefitRefit UK A386 RFA Fort Austin departed HMNB Portsmouth under tow for refit at Cammell Laird Dry Dock No.5, on Merseyside.
2012-feb-02Port VisitPort Visit UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie in Caribbean as Atlantic Patrol Task (North) and arrived off Cayman Islands in early Feb 2012 for 4 day visit.
2012-feb-06Port VisitPort Visit UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie 4 day visit to Veracruz, Mexico
2012-jun-08Port VisitPort Visit UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie visited Havana, Cuba as part of British Culture Week (8-16 Jun 2012)
2012-dec UK A386 RFA Fort Austin returned to the fleet after 3 years in reserve and a regeneration refit at Birkenhead
2013-jan-07RefitRefit UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie arrived Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, (after de-storing at Glenmallan on 3 Jan) for 5 month refit. Sailed from Birkenhead on 19 Oct.
2013-jul UK A386 RFA Fort Austin equipment fit at Crombie, pre-deployment
2013-augDeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin Cougar 13 departed UK for Middle East support duties as part of Ex Cougar 13. Relieved RFA Fort Victoria on station on 18 Oct to take over her role with CTF-151.
2014-mayAircraftAircraft UK A386 RFA Fort Austin embarked 857 NAS for Force Protection of the Coalition Task Force operating in the Persian Gulf, until Dec 2014.
2014-nov-07DeploymentDeployment UK A386 RFA Fort Austin International Mine Counter Measures Exercise 2014 participated in major multi-national Gulf exercise, together with a number of UK warships and MCM vessels.
2014-decAircraftAircraft UK A386 RFA Fort Austin embarked Sea King ASaC.7 from Normandy Flt of 849 NAS (relieving 857 NAS) for Force Protection of the Coalition Task Force operating in the Persian Gulf.
2016-jul-12Port VisitPort Visit UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie to Cork, for Cork Week
2017-apr UK A386 RFA Fort Austin crossed the Mersey to tie up at Birkenhead
2017-aug-15RefitRefit UK A386 RFA Fort Austin damaged by fire during refit at Birkenhead. No injuries, but future not looking good. Still present Sep 2020.
2021-oct-29Fate: transferedFate: transfered UK A385 RFA Fort Rosalie sold to Egyptian Navy as Abu Simnel.
2023-jul-06Port VisitPort Visit EG 233 ENS Abu Simbel departed Birkenhead under tow, for Egypt









Helicopters for sale
Accidents
Acronyms
Airshows
Future helicopters
Flying a helicopter
Helicopter stories
TV and movies

Helicopter books
Helicopter patches
Helicopter model kits


az