Wave-class tanker

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Not to be confused with Wave-class oiler.

Wave class
RFA Wave Ruler (left) carrying out a replenishment at sea with the frigate HMS Iron Duke in 2006
Class overview
NameWave class
BuildersVSEL (later BAE Systems Marine)
OperatorsRFA Ensign Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Preceded byOl class
Succeeded byTide class
In service8 April 2003–March 2025
Completed2
Retired2
General characteristics [1][2][3]
TypeFast fleet tanker
Displacement31,500 tonnes approx
Length196.5 m (644 ft 8 in)
Beam28.25 m (92 ft 8 in)
Draft9.97 m (32 ft 9 in)
Propulsion
  • Diesel-electric:
  • 4 × Wartsila 12V 32E/GECLM diesel generators 25,514 metric horsepower (18.76 MW)
  • 2 × GEC Alstom motors with Cegelec variable speed converters 19,040 metric horsepower (14 MW)
  • 1 × shaft
  • 18t thrust electric Kamewa bow thruster and 12t thrust electric stern thruster, both powered by Cegelec variable speed drives and motors
Speed20 knots (37 km/h)
Range10,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Capacity
  • 16,000 m3 of liquids (of which 3,000 m3 aviation fuel & 380 m3 fresh water)
  • 125 tonnes of lubricating oil
  • 500 m3 of solids
  • 150 tonnes of fresh food in eight 20 ft refrigerated container units.
Complement80 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel with provision for 22 Royal Navy personnel for helicopter and weapons systems operations
Sensors &
processing systems
  • Surface search: E/F band
  • Navigation: Kelvin Hughes Ltd SharpEye navigation radar[4]
  • IFF: Type 1017
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Sea Gnat decoy launcher system[5]
Armament
Aircraft carried1 × Merlin helicopter with full hangar facilities

The Wave-class tankers are a class of two fast fleet tankers which were in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) 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: RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler. These were ordered to replace the aging Ol-class tankers RFA Olna and RFA Olwen.[3]

The two vessels have seen service in a number of locations, including anti-drug and hurricane relief operations in the Caribbean Sea,[7][8][9] anti-piracy activities around the Horn of Africa,[10][11] and deterrent patrols in the South Atlantic.[12][13] As of early 2022, both ships were earmarked for "extended readiness" status (i.e. uncrewed reserve).[14] In November 2024, the newly elected Labour government indicated that both ships would be removed from service by March 2025.[15]

History

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A contract was placed for the vessels in 1997 with Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (Marconi Marine VSEL). Construction of Wave Knight began in 1998 at VSEL's Barrow-in-Furness yard and the ship was launched in 2000.[1] 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

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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 (for stores handling and abeam replenishment), steering and rudder gear, thyristor-controlled winch/windlasses and double drum mooring winches. Up to 16,000 m3 (570,000 cu ft) of liquids and 500 m3 (18,000 cu ft) of general solids can be carried. In addition, reverse-osmosis equipment is fitted enabling the production of 100 m3 (3,500 cu ft) of drinkable water per day.[3]

The vessels were designed with double hulls to prevent or reduce environmental pollution from oil spills if damage is sustained to the outer hull.[2]

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 Atlantic Patrol Task (N) they have typically embarked a Royal Navy Lynx or a United States Coast Guard helicopter[citation needed].

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.[3] They carry a full medical team and sick bay and are capable of distributing 2,000 emergency relief packages in times of crisis.[16]

Construction programme

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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.[17]

Name Pennant Builder Ordered Laid down Launched In service
Wave Knight A389 VSEL (later BAE Systems), Barrow-in-Furness[1] 12 March 1997[1] 22 October 1998[1] 29 September 2000[1] 8 April 2003[1]
Wave Ruler A390 BAE Systems, Govan[1] 10 February 2000[1] 9 February 2001[1] 27 April 2003[1]

Decommissioning and fate

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In June 2018 it was reported by the Brazilian press that the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MoD) had offered to sell one or both of the Wave-class tankers to Brazil.[18] 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.[19]

In June 2020, RFA Wave Ruler was reported to be in extended readiness (uncrewed reserve)[20] but maintained in good condition and available for re-activation.[21] In February 2022, it was reported that both tankers of the class would be kept in "extended readiness".[14] In June 2023, one report suggested that due to manning shortages in the RFA, both ships would be decommissioned and potentially sold abroad.[22] 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.[23]

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.[24][25]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004–2005. Jane's Information Group Limited. p. 817. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.
  2. ^ a b Wave Class Fast Fleet Tankers at the Royal Navy homepage Archived 28 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c d "Wave Class Royal Fleet Auxiliary, United Kingdom". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  4. ^ "New navigation radar system for Royal Navy". Government of the United Kingdom. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Royal Navy to equip 19 ships with trainable decoy launchers". Navy Lookout. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  6. ^ "In focus: the 50 cal heavy machine gun in Royal Navy service". Navy Lookout. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Navy ships help after hurricane". BBC News. 31 August 2008.
  8. ^ "5am update: Storm causes damage, slams Sister Islands". Cayman Compass. 8 November 2008. Archived from the original on 12 November 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
  9. ^ "Cuba welcomes RN anti-drug ship". BBC News. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Sailors Help Foil Pirate Attacks". Western Morning News. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2015. [permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "RFA Wave Knight Disrupts Pirate Attacks". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Gordon Brown says UK is prepared in Falkland Islands". BBC News. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  13. ^ "HMS York - at world's end". Navy News. 29 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011.
  14. ^ a b @NavyLookout (21 February 2022). "NAO report on EP says MoD has decided to place both Wave Class RFA tankers in "extended readiness" saving £79M over…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Vock, Ido (20 November 2024). "UK to decommission ships, drones and helicopters to save £500m". BBC.
  16. ^ http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1251-lynx-flies-the-atlantic.aspx [dead link]
  17. ^ "RFA Wave Knight - Historical RFA". historicalrfa.uk. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  18. ^ "EXCLUSIVO: Ingleses sondam interesse da MB em um navio-tanque classe 'Wave'". June 2018.
  19. ^ "Technology Transfer Key to BAE Systems' Proposal to the Brazilian Navy". Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  20. ^ "RFA trio remain in extended readiness as reduced fleet continues to support RN deployments - Shephard Media".
  21. ^ "The Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 2021 | Navy Lookout". 29 January 2021.
  22. ^ @NavyLookout (10 June 2023). "@NavyLookout Given crew shortages, it has been decided RFA Wave Ruler and RFA Wave Knight will be permanently decommissioned" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 June 2023 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ Allison, George (17 June 2023). "Wave class tankers to remain in extended readiness to 2028". UK Defence Journal.
  24. ^ "Sky news report: UK to scrap 5 warships". 20 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Britain's Wave class tankers to be scrapped". ukdefencejournal.org.uk. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
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