1987    

UK Argus class

UK Engadine class

Helicopter Carrier

ships



Helicopter Carrier Argus class





  Specifications


28480full load (tn)
175.10length (m)
30.65beam (m)
8.19draught (m)
20000range (nm)
18max speed (knots)
23400power (shp)

2Naval Engine diesel - SEMT Pielstick

2Naval Gun single 20 mm

1Naval Radar navigation radar Type 1006
1Naval Radar surface and low level air search radar Type 994

helicopter   Aircraft


Typical Max
UK Royal Navy Westland Sea King 06
UK Royal Navy AW EH101 04









  List of Ships


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1982--UKRoyal Fleet AuxiliaryA135RFA Argus GDSA - AS





1 units



  Events


1982-aprCommissionedCommissioned UK A135 RFA Argus Operation Corporate taken up from trade (mv Contender Bezant) for South Atlantic operations. Departed Plymouth Sound 20 May 1982 with Wasp HAS.1 XS562/371 and XT427/372 embarked, returned to Southampton 1 Aug 1982.
1982-jun-17Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus Operation Corporate called at Port William to discharge vehicles and supplies.
1982-aug-07DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus departed UK for a further South Atlantic deployment but without Ships Flight.
1984RefitRefit UK A135 RFA Argus until 1988 at Harland and Wolff
1984-febFate: transferedFate: transfered UK A135 RFA Argus purchased by MoD for RFA service
1984-marRefitRefit UK A135 RFA Argus conversion from RO-RO ferry in Belfast, until 3 Mar 1988.
1988-jul-26AircraftAircraft UK A135 RFA Argus Sea King HAS.5 ZE418 and Lynx XZ690 whilst on ship hot weather trials
1990-octRefitRefit UK A135 RFA Argus rapid refit to add primary casualty receiving facilities as response to Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
1990-octDeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus Operation Desert Shield/Storm departed HMNB Devonport for Persian Gulf, embarked Sea Kings of 846 NAS en route and arrived in theatre 15 Nov.
1991-apr-02Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus Arrived Portland Harbour and disembarked Sea Kings of 846 and 848 Squadrons after combat service in the Gulf.
1991-apr-20DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus Operation Haven Departed UK with eight 846 NAS and two 845 NAS Sea King HC.4, plus six Lynx and four Gazelles from 3 CBAS, for Iskenderun to deploy the air assets as part of Operation Haven, arriving on 30 Apr.
1992-novDeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus departed UK for the Adriatic, with 4 Sea King HC.4 of 845 Sq B Flt embarked..
1993-janDeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus UNPROFOR for Adriatic deployment to assist UNPROFOR, as aviation support for HMS Ark Royal, troop transportation and medical support for the group. Returned to UK in Jun.
1994-jan-11 UK A135 RFA Argus major fire at Portland. Delayed return to service after refit
1999-jun-01DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus replaced HMS Invincible off Kosovo.
2000-novDeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus ordered to join Operation Basilica to Sierra Leone, replacing HMS Fearless (after her boiler fire off Sicily).
2001-aug-24Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus International Festival of Sea 2001 Present at IFOS Portsmouth.
2002-nov-13AircraftAircraft UK A135 RFA Argus While operating in Lyme Bay, the rotors of 848 NAS Sea King ZF123/ZQ struck the ship and crashed.
2003-jan-15DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus Operation Telic to support operations in Iraq as Primary Casualty Receiving Station with 2 Sea King from 820 NAS embarked, completing 28 May 2003.
2006-octRefitRefit UK A135 RFA Argus weapons systems upgrade at A&P Falmouth Docks, completed mid Jan 2007
2009-jan-21RefitRefit UK A135 RFA Argus Major refit of casualty receiving facilities at A&P Falmouth (pic 1), until Nov 2009
2010-jun-13 UK A135 RFA Argus Participated with 100 years AERONAVALE with R91 Charles de Gaulle at Rade d hyeres.
2011-nov-07TrialsTrials UK A135 RFA Argus Hosted first deck landing for Lynx Wildcat by 700W Squadron for c 1 month of type handling trials
2012-aprAircraftAircraft UK A135 RFA Argus 815 NAS 228 Flt Lynx HMA.8 /322 assigned as Argus Flt
2012-may-12DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus left UK for a 7 month Caribbean maritime security and anti-narcotic deployment as Atlantic Patrol Task (North), and to be on station during the hurricane season to provide disaster relief
2012-aug-10Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus 3 day visit to Cayman Islands during APT(N) deployment
2012-sep-05Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus 3 day visit to Montserrat for disaster planning and coordination exercise
2012-novDeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus operating in Caribbean on counter-narcotics mission with Dutch Navy frigate ZrMs Van Amstel.
2013-jan-21RefitRefit UK A135 RFA Argus refit at A&P Falmouth, principally addressing main machinery and engine control systems plus improvements to medical facilities, completing 10 Jul.
2013-oct-18TrialsTrials UK A135 RFA Argus sea trials with AW139 Wildcat until Nov 7
2014-mar-31DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus Exercise Joint Warrior 14-1 JW 14-1
2014-oct-11Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus arrived in Falmouth, to load medical supplies before setting off for Sierra Leone as part of the UK contribution (Operation Gritrock, qv) to combat the 2014 Ebola outbreak. 3x Merlin HM.2 of 820 NAS embarked.
2014-oct-17DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus Operation Gritrock departed Falmouth for Sierra Leone to assist British nationals in fighting the Ebola outbreak. Arrived Freetown 30 Oct and first of 6 UK built hospitals opened on 5 Nov. Departed Freetown on 27 Mar 2015, for return to Mounts Bay (pic 2) on 6 Apr and Falmouth on 7 Apr.
2014-oct-17AircraftAircraft UK A135 RFA Argus embarked Merlin HM.2 ZH850, ZH856, ZH864 of 820 NAS. Disembarked to RNAS Culdrose on return to UK, from Mounts Bay, 6 Apr 2015
2015-apr-11DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus Exercise Joint Warrior 15-1 participated in JW 15-1, off NW Scotland
2015-mayRefitRefit UK A135 RFA Argus entered Falmouth for 11 month refit, completed 24 Mar 2016
2017-jun-24Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus Arrived at Greenwich for Armed Forces Day and Seafarers Day celebrations. Departed 28 Jun.
2019-jun-06Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus BALTOPS 19 visited Kiel, in company with other NATO warships, in preparation for Baltic exercise 9-21 Jun.
2019-oct-05DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus Exercise Joint Warrior 19-2 Participated in JW19-2
2020-apr-02DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus Departed HMNB Devonport for Caribbean HADR mission in run up to Hurricane season. 3x Merlin HC.4 from 845 NAS embarked (ZJ122 / F, ZJ125 / J and ZJ127 /L) plus 815 NAS 203 Flt Wildcat HMA.2 ZZ531, Royal Marines from 47 CDO and 24 CDO Royal Engineers. Returned to UK 18 Dec.
2020-may-03Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus 3 day visit to Cayman Islands for Hurricane season preparedness.
2020-junDeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus In Cayman Island waters for a fortnights anti-narcotic, border security and medevac support mission while both RCIPS H145 are in US for depth maintenance. Departed 19 Jun for Turks and Caicos Islands.
2023-oct-09DeploymentDeployment UK A135 RFA Argus departed HMNB Devonport for Gibraltar (arr 12 Oct), en route Duqm, will hold in Eastern Mediterranean, as contingency for Palestinian-Israeli crisis.
2024-aug-14Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus Press Briefing in Singapore on RN role in Indo-Pacific, Merlin HC.4 ZJ136 / U tied down on deck.
2024-sep-01Port VisitPort Visit UK A135 RFA Argus visited Diego Garcia









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