The Fort Victoria or Fort II class is a class of replenishment oiler of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, a role that combines the missions of a tanker and stores supply ship.[1] As such they are designated auxiliary oiler replenisher (AOR). They are tasked with providing ammunition, fuel, food and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world. There were two ships in the class, and ; the latter being taken out of service and despatched for scrapping at a Turkish breakers as a consequence of budgetary cutbacks.
Six ships were initially planned to supply the Type 23 frigates in their North Atlantic anti-submarine role. The Type 23 was at the time planned to be a low cost, lightly armed vessel and the Fort-class ships were therefore expected to defend themselves with the Sea Wolf vertical launch surface-to-air missile (SAM).
The lessons of the Falklands War meant the Type 23 developed as a much more potent, multi-role vessel carrying the Sea Wolf missile.[2] [3] [4] The requirement for the Fort class was reduced from six to two.
Fort Victoria was built by Harland and Wolff and Fort George by Swan Hunter and the ships entered service in 1994 and 1993 respectively. Fort Victoria was delayed when she was bombed by the IRA on 6 September 1990 and nearly sunk.[5]
In the 2030s, the Fort Victoria-class will be succeeded by a new class of three solid support ships, under the Fleet Solid Support Ship Programme.
| Name | Pennant | Builder | Ordered | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A387 | Harland and Wolff, Belfast/Cammell Laird[6] | 23 April 1986 | 4 April 1988 | 12 June 1990 | 24 June 1994, under "assisted maintenance" at Rosyth Dockyard | Active as of 2023 | ||
| A388 | Swan Hunter, Wallsend-on-Tyne | 18 December 1987 | 9 March 1989 | 1 March 1991 | 16 July 1993 | Decommissioned April 2011 Scrapped 2013 |
Fort class replenshipment ships at the Royal Navy website