RFA Tidespring (A75)
A75 Tidespring moored at Gosport in 1979 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | RFA Tidespring |
| Ordered | 28 February 1961 |
| Builder | Hawthorn Leslie and Company |
| Yard number | 752 |
| Laid down | 24 July 1961 |
| Launched | 3 May 1962 |
| In service | 18 January 1963 |
| Out of service | 18 December 1991 |
| Identification |
|
| Honours & awards | Falkland Islands 1982 |
| Fate | Scrapped 1992 |
| Notes | |
| Badge | |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Tide-class replenishment oiler |
| Tonnage | |
| Displacement | 27,400 long tons (27,840 t) |
| Length | 583 ft 8 in (177.90 m) |
| Beam | 71 ft 3 in (21.72 m) |
| Draught | 32 ft 1 in (9.78 m) |
| Depth | 40 ft 6 in (12.34 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 17 knots (20 mph; 31 km/h) |
| Complement | 110 - plus embarked RN flight party |
| Aircraft carried | 3 × Westland Wessex helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Helicopter deck, hangar |
| Notes | |
| Service record | |
| Operations: |
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RFA Tidespring (A75) was a Tide-class replenishment oiler of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. As a replenishment oiler, her main purpose was to refuel other ships. The ship had a long career in the RFA, entering service in the early 1960s, and finally being decommissioned in 1991.
Tidespring took part in the Falklands War, particularly in the recapture of South Georgia. At the time, she was carrying "M" Company of 42 Commando Royal Marines. The ship accommodated prisoners of war taken during operations. The Falklands conflict provided a reprieve of ten years for Tidespring which had been due to decommission in 1982.