RFA Tidespring (A75)

1963-1991

Flight Deck:	TS
Call Sign:	GJNC
Shipyard:	Hawthorn Leslie

Timeline

Date	Event
Feb 28, 1961	Ordered
Jul 24, 1961	Laid down	at Hebburn, as Yard No 752
May 3, 1962	Launched
Jan 18, 1963	Commissioned	to replace RFA Wave Master.
Nov 1967	Deployment	part of Task Force 318 to cover the British withdrawal from Aden during Operation Magister.
Sep 20, 1968	Deployment	participated in Exercise Coral Sands, until 13 Oct. Exercise Exercise Coral Sands
1971	Deployment	R A S with RAN Ships in South China Sea. Wessex helicopter from HMAS Melbourne 817 Squadron were onboard.
Jun 8, 1973	Deployment	departed HMNB Portsmouth as support for HMS Tiger, Flagship for Far East group deployment of Task Group 317.1, in company with RFA Regent. The group was escorted by HMS Dido, HMS Hermione and HMS Rhyl, until it returned to the UK on 21 Dec 1973.
Jul 22, 1975	Deployment	departed UK as support for HMS Glamorgan, flagship of global Task Group 317.3, accompanied by RFA Gold Rover and RFA Tarbatness. Escorted by elements of the 8th Frigate Squadron HMS Ajax, HMS Berwick, HMS Plymouth and HMS Rothesay. Returned 14 Apr 1976
Jun 25, 1977	Deployment	Present at Silver Jubilee Fleet Review, off Bramble anchorage Fleet Review: Silver Jubilee of HM The Queen
May 31, 1978	Deployment	departed HMNB Portsmouth supporting HMS Blake, Flagship of Task Group 317.7 for a 6.5 month Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific group deployment in company with HMS Juno, and RFA Green Rover and RFA Stromness. This group joined with the Devonport group of HMS Ambuscade, HMS Hermione and HMS Leander, returned to UK 12 Dec 1978.
Apr 2, 1982	Deployment	Ordered to South Atlantic whilst exercising, she was assigned to the South Georgia recovery via Ascension Island. She continued as a fleet tanker, leaving theatre and arriving back at Portsmouth on 22 Jul 1982. Operation Corporate
Apr 14, 1982	Aircraft	Grytviken Embarked 845 NAS, C Flt Wessex HU.5 (XT464 & XT473) on 11 Apr 1982 for Operation Paraquat. Operation Paraquat
May 14, 1982	Deployment	Georgetown called at Ascension Island to restore and collect attrition replacement Wessex HU.5 for 845Sq C Flt. Attrition replacement Operation Corporate
Aug 15, 1982	Refit	Gibraltar Harbour Refit at Gibraltar, departed for HMNB Devonport on 6 Sep.
Oct 25, 1982	Deployment	South Atlantic Departed HMNB Devonport for South Atlantic, embarking one 826 NAS Sea King. Returned to Rosyth 25 Mar 1983.
Nov 1986	Deployment	Persian Gulf In Persian Gulf until Aug 1988. Between Oct and Dec 1987 hosted Lynx detachment of 815 NAS, 241 Birmingham Flt Armilla Patrol
Jul 28, 1989	Deployment	HMD Devonport present at Plymouth Navy Days 1989 Navy Days 1989
Dec 13, 1991	Decommissioned
Mar 20, 1992		departed Portsmouth under tow, for India and the breakers yard.
Jul 2, 1992	Fate: scrapped	Alang scrapping begun at Alang, in India, 18 days after first arrival. Breakers Yard

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