The role of Fort Rosalie and Fort Austin is to replenish Royal Navy warships with dry stores such as food, spare parts and ammunition while underway. This complex task is carried out by the RFA and warship steaming along side-by-side and transferring stores along a cable rigged between the two vessels. Both ships are fitted with large flight decks and each ship has hangar space allowing them to operate a number of Sea King helicopters. This gives the ship an enhanced capacity to resupply by employing the VERTREP process to transfer supplies from ship to ship by helicopter. It also means that these ships can operate as independent force units with their four helicopters in the anti-submarine or commando role.
The ability to re- arm and re-supply the Royal Navy while underway, coupled to their capacity to carry extra helicopters, makes these ships a highly flexible and important part of any naval task group. They have extensive storage areas for stowage of everything from food to weapons.
RFA Fort Rosalie was built by Scotts, being launched in 1976. She was accepted into service in 1978.
RFA Fort Austin was built by Scotts, being launched in 1977. She was accepted into service in 1979.
She is currently laid up in Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
RFA Fort Rosalie (taken from the Forth Road Bridge)
And again her departure from the Forth Road Bridge
RFA Fort Austin as she departed Crombie Pier and was heading down the Firth Of Forth a few years back taken from the escorting Forth Ports tug MT Beamer (I was at the very top of the mast next to the top fire hose), I also have images of HMS Exeter (top of mast), (deck level) if you compare these two shots you can see the difference in height and you will see they are not taken NOT a helicopter , these were the days when you could get access to the tugs - see also my HMS's Tyne, Illustrious, Ark Royal, RFA Orangeleaf and HrMs Zuiderkruis shots.
