Royal Navy welcomes return of HMS Queen Elizabeth support ship to action after 'extensive refit'

RFA Fort Victoria spent most of 2021 deployed with HMS Queen Elizabeth during its mission to the Indo-Pacific and back, keeping warships, aircraft and sailors fuelled and fed across a combined 500,000 nautical miles.

But much of this year has seen the support ship at Liverpool’s Cammell Laird shipyard, where she has undergone extensive repairs and upgrades, focusing on her engines.

Captain Martin Jones, Commanding Officer of Fort Victoria, said: ‘It’s pleasing to get Fort Victoria back to sea after a lengthy period in the shipyard and allow her to stretch her legs.

‘We are very much looking forward to returning to the fold of Carrier Strike and supporting Carrier Strike Group 23.’

That all leads up to her returning to the heart of the Carrier Strike Group in 2023, keeping it resupplied and ready for action wherever they might sail.

RFA Fort Victoria was launched in May 1990, and less than three months after being christened, a Provisional IRA (IRA) bombs caused extensive damage inside the engine room, which was holed and subsequently flooded.

She was repaired and has since undergone four refits throughout her time on active service.

Last month saw the Royal Navy announce the construction of three new supply ships, which are due to be operational by 2032.

Each one of the new supply vessels will be 216 metres long – making them the second longest ships in the Fleet – with a cargo space for 9,000 square metres of supplies and stores.