Built as fast fleet tanker under yard No. 752 by Hawthorn Leslie Shipbuilders, Hebburn-on-Tyne for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
28 February 1961 ordered.
24 July 1961 keel laid down.
03 May 1962 launched under the name RFA TIDESPRING (A 75) one of the Tide Class. Launching was performed by Lady Jarret, wife of the Secretary to the Admiralty.
Tonnage 14.129 grt, 18.800 dwt, displacement, 8.531 tons light and full load 27.400 tons. Dim. 177.72 x 21.65 x 9.76m. (draught).
Powered by two Pametrade steam turbines, manufactured by Hawthorn Leslie, double reduction geared to one shaft, 15.000shp., speed 17 knots.
Bunker capacity 2.248 tons.
Range by 17 knots, 15.000 mile.
Cargo capacity 9.950 ton heavy fuel, 5.500 tons diesel oil, 2.000 avcat oil. The forward hold could be used for limited dry cargo.
Ice class 3.
Landing helicopter platform for Wessex helicopters.
Crew 110, naval of air crew 24, total accommodation for 131.
18 January 1963 commissioned. Homeport London.
Her principal job was to provide fuel replenishment at sea for Royal navy vessels around the world; she was equipped with RAS derricks to port and starboard
She supported British frigates on Cod War patrols off Iceland.
1979 Attended Jubilee Fleet Review.
1982 Served in the Falkland War under command of Captain S. Redmond.
30 March 1982 she sailed from Gibraltar homeward bound, but on 02 April she received orders to proceed to Ascension.
At Ascension embarked 87 Royal Mariners and two Wessex V helicopters from the 848 Squadron for retaking South Georgia.
After the successful recapture of the island in which both her helicopters were lost, she embarked 185 Argentinean prisoners of war at South Georgia and transported them to Ascension Island.
Then she returned to the Total Exclusive Zone around the Falkland, and operated in support of the battle group, supplying the ships with bunkers.
One of her Wessex helicopters was transferred to HMS GLAMORGAN, who had lost her helicopter due to an Exocet attack.
Spent a short time at San Carlos at anchor before she on 29 July 1982 left these waters.
She was due for retirement in 1981/82 but due to the Falkland War was kept in service. Later for the need to supply the extended Royal navy commitments in maintaining patrols around the Persian Gulf and the South Atlantic as well as NATO commitments she was kept in service, and underwent a life extending refit in 1984.
August 1991 was she involved in Operation Darvish ’91 when she supported HMS LONDON in an Anglo-Soviet operation to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the Russian convoys.
Then she made the same month a visit to Kiel, Germany.
Her last duty was the attachment to the NATO Atlantic Squadron. After the squadron visited London in early December, she headed to Portsmouth where she arrived 06 December.
13 December 1991 decommissioned at Portsmouth.
1992 Sold by the British Ministry of Defence (Navy) to Indian shipbreakers.
20 March 1992 she left under tow of the tug STAKHANOVETS Portsmouth, and was towed to Alang where she arrived prior 02 July 1992.
The Ascension 35p stamp depict the RFA TIDESPRING re-fuelling HMS ANTRIM.
Ascension 2007 35c sgMS?, scott?.
Tristan da Cunha 2003 20p sg?, scott?
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFA_Tidespring http://www.btinternet.com/~warships/Pos ... A/tide.htm Merchant Ships at War by Captain Roger Villar. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary by Adams & Smith. Marine News 1992/148, 570.