They have the capacity to store 3500long ton of stores, including refrigerated items, in four holds. They are capable of replenishment at sea (RAS), using three 10-ton and three 5-ton cranes and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). For the latter role there are generous flight facilities; a single spot flight deck, an emergency landing platform atop the hangar and a complement of up to four (but usually one) Fleet Air Arm Westland Sea King helicopters and the requisite maintenance facilities. As such, they are often used for aviation training.
Two ships were ordered in 1971, with the first entering service in 1978. Both ships saw service in the Falklands War, the then Fort Grange being shadowed by Argentine Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft while still 1000nmi from the combat area and Fort Austin being attacked while sitting in San Carlos Water. Fort Austin supported the British intervention in Sierra Leone in 2000.
Fort Austin was mothballed in 2009 but was reactivated following the 2010 SDSR at the expense of . Both Fort Rosalie and Fort Austin have had major refits at Cammell Laird to enable another decade of service. In 2011 it was announced that the service lives of Fort Austin and Fort Rosalie would be extended by another two years to 2023 and 2024 respectively.[1] They will ultimately be replaced by the new Solid Support Ships.[2]
As of June 2020, both ships were reported to be in either reduced (base maintenance period) or extended readiness (unmanned reserve) with replenishment rigs not compatible with the s.[3]
The 2021 defence white paper announced that both ships of the class would be decommissioned and eventually replaced by new Fleet Solid Stores Support Vessels.[4] In May 2021, both ships were put up for sale to be scrapped.[5] The notice for recycling was subsequently withdrawn, and in October 2021 it was announced by the Defence Equipment Sales Authority and Defence Equipment and Support that both ships of the class had been sold to the Egyptian Navy, with refurbishment work expected to be undertaken by Cammell Laird prior to their export.[6] [7] While awaiting their refit, it was reported that Fort Austin would be renamed ENS Luxor and Fort Rosalie would be renamed ENS Abu Simbel.[8]
| Name | Pennant | Builder | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(ex-Fort Grange) | A385 | Scott Lithgow, Greenock | 6 April 1978 | Decommissioned 31 March 2021, sold to Egypt October 2021 Renamed ENS Abu Simbel |
| A386 | 11 May 1979 | Decommissioned 31 March 2021, sold to Egypt October 2021 | ||