MoD: Royal Fleet Auxiliary refuels HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Iron Duke on exercise after foreign ship jibe

RFA Tidespring has carried out replenishment at sea exercises with HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Iron Duke during Exercise Strike Warrior near Scotland. The 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier is taking charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) as part of the operation.

During the exercise, RFA personnel will be supporting their naval companions by supplying them with ammunition, equipment, food and other stocks. Controversy hit the force after The Daily Telegraph reported that RFA Fort Victoria, originally due to join the UKCSG, was unable to do so due to a lack of sailors.

Recruitment and retention problems have been impacting the RFA for a number of years - one of the many reasons why officers belonging to seafarers unions have been striking in recent months over pay and conditions. The matter was addressed in parliament on Monday. RFA Fort Victoria is one of the UK’s only solid stores support ship. The Telegraph said the Navy will be more reliant on foreign support due to a lack of personnel, with HNoMS Maud already refuelling HMS Prince of Wales in the North Sea.

Tom Sharpe, a former navy commander, told the Telegraph that carrier strike losing RFA Fort Victoria was a “problem”, and not using your own ships can make “an already complex business harder, less efficient and less resilient”. A Royal Navy spokesperson told the national publication that the RFA continues “to provide crucial support to the delivery of operations in conjunction with the Royal Navy”, and RFA Fort Victoria’s status doesn’t affect the fleet’s operational integrity.

RFA Tidespring posted on X about refuelling HMS Iron Duke, a Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate. In regards to HMS Prince of Wales, the account said: “39 000 tonnes of Auxiliary Oiler meets 65 000 tonnes of Flat Top. The skills our people have to make this happen.” In response to the HMS Iron Duke post, the Royal Navy posted: “Strike Warrior is a multi-national training exercise where we routinely work with our allies. Replenishment at sea is part of this exercise but is not exclusive to ships of different countries as @RFATideSpring and @HMSIronDuke demonstrate.”

Personnel in the formation - which includes F-35B Lightning jets, frigates, destroyers, submarines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers, and helicopters - will come up against intensive warfare scenarios to test their ability to protect the 65,000 tonne warship and carry out flying operations. UKCSG will be joined by Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 to test themselves in a range of exercises including anti-submarine warfare, countering attacks from un-crewed systems, air defence exercises, pilot rescues and sailings through narrow spaces while under threat from opposition.

F-35B jets from 809 Naval Air Squadron will be flying sorties, where they will attack from defensive positions. This is part of preparations for HMS Prince of Wales’ deployment to Japan and the Indo-Pacific region next year - where they will lead the UK Carrier Strike Group and join allies for other operations.