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Replenishment oiler

January 01, 1970

A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers.

The replenishment oiler HMAS Sirius (right) providing fuel to the amphibious warfare ship USS Juneau while both are underway

The United States Navy's hull classification symbol for this type of ship was 'AOR' (Auxiliary Oil Replenishment). Replenishment oilers are slower and carry fewer dry stores than the US Navy's modern fast combat support ships, which carry the classification 'AOE'. In 2020 the US Navy began to develop a new type of ship, the 'AOL' or light replenishment oiler; construction of the first is planned for 2026.[1]

History edit

 
RFA Tiderace performing a dual repenishment of Royal Navy frigates HMS Lancaster and HMS Westminster.

The development of the "oiler" paralleled the change from coal- to oil-fired boilers in warships. Prior to the adoption of oil fired machinery, navies could extend the range of their ships either by maintaining coaling stations or for warships to raft together with colliers and for coal to be manhandled aboard. Though arguments related to fuel security were made against such a change, the ease with which liquid fuel could be transferred led in part to its adoption by navies worldwide.

One of the first generation of "blue-water" navy oiler support vessels was the British RFA Kharki, active 1911 in the run-up to the First World War. Such vessels heralded the transition from coal to oil as the fuel of warships and removed the need to rely on, and operate within range of coaling stations. During the Second World War, the United States Navy's dramatically enlarged fleets, especially those in the Pacific Theater, required massive quantities of black oil, diesel oil, avgas, and other fuels and lubricants to support American land, sea, and air operations against remote, widely dispersed Japanese forces. Those supply demands resulted in U.S. Navy personnel refining many established practices for oilers and creating new procedures for replenishing warships while underway and for transporting highly combustible materials with increased effectiveness through hostile waters and over vast ocean distances.[2][3]

Modern examples of the fast combat support ship include the large British Fort class, displacing 31,066 long tons (31,565 t) and measuring 669 feet (204 m) in length and the United States' Supply-class USNS Arctic, which displaces 48,800 long tons (49,600 t) and has an overall length of 754 feet (230 m).

Characteristics edit

 
Replenishment oiler USS Wabash at work

For all but the largest navies, replenishment oilers are typically one of the largest ships in the fleet. Such ships are designed to carry large amounts of fuel and dry stores for the support of naval operations far away from port. Replenishment oilers are also equipped with more extensive medical and dental facilities than smaller ships can provide.

Such ships are equipped with multiple refueling gantries to refuel and resupply multiple ships at a time. The process of refueling and supplying ships at sea is called underway replenishment. Furthermore, such ships often are designed with helicopter decks and hangars. This allows the operation of rotary-wing aircraft, which allows the resupply of ships by helicopter. This process is called vertical replenishment. These ships, when operating in concert with surface groups, can act as an aviation maintenance platform where helicopters receive more extensive maintenance than can be provided by the smaller hangars of the escorting ships.

Their size, additional facilities, and ability to support the operation of other vessels, means that replenishment oilers have been used as command ships, with some ships, such as the French Durance class, this capability being built into the vessels from the start.

Armament edit

Because the replenishment oiler is not a combat unit, but rather a support vessel, such ships are often lightly armed, usually with self-defense systems (such as the Phalanx CIWS close-in weapons systems), small arms, machine guns and/or light automatic cannons. They may also carry man-portable air-defense systems for additional air defense capability.

Operators edit

Former operators edit

United States Navy oilers edit

Further information: List of United States Navy oilers
 
USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198) an underway replenishment oiler.
 
US sailors aboard the USS Makin Island (LHD-8) prepare to receive replenishment from the USNS Yukon (T-AO-202)

In the United States Navy, an Oiler is a Combat Logistics ship that replenishes other ships with fuel and in some cases food, mail, ammunition and other necessities while at sea, in a process called Underway Replenishment or UNREP.[5] Up through the Second World War Navy oilers used commercial tanker hulls, with the addition of UNREP gear, defensive guns, and military electronic and damage-control equipment; since the 1950s however they have been built from the keel up as specialized naval auxiliaries. They were previously classified as Fleet Oilers[6] in the 20th century; under the current MSC operation their full classification is listed as Fleet Replenishment Oilers.[7] Since the 1960s the classification Transport Oiler (AOT) has applied to tankers which ship petroleum products to depots around the world, but do not engage in UNREP.

The first fleet oilers[8] were identified by the hull designation AO, which is still in use.[7] Large, fast multifunction oilers which also provide ammunition and dry stores are identified as Fast Combat Support Ships (AOE),[9] and mid-size ones Replenishment Oilers (AOR). The AOR designation is no longer in use. All of these oilers provide the combined services of the AO, AE, AFS and AK.

The style "USNS" and prefix "T" identify a ship as being operated by a civilian crew under the Military Sealift Command (known as the Military Sea Transportation Service until 1970).

Current classes edit

There are three classes of vessels currently in commissioned service:

Both the Henry J. Kaiser-class and Supply class will be replaced by the John Lewis-class ships.

References edit

  1. ^ "Report to Congress on Navy Light Replenishment Oiler". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. April 2023.
  2. ^ "Tankers Built in U.S. During World War II", American Merchant Marine at War (usmm.org). Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. ^ Sawyer, L. A.; Mitchell, W. H. (1974). Victory ships and tankers; the history of the "Victory" type cargo ships and of the tankers built in the United States of America during World War II. Cornell Maritime Press, Cambridge, Maryland, 1974.
  4. ^ "Marinha vai propor ao próximo Governo a compra de mais dois submarinos". Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  5. ^ "UnRep". Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division. US Navy. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  6. ^ "Fleet Oilers". Hyperwar. Ibiblio. 2002-09-01. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  7. ^ a b "Fleet Replenishment Oilers". US Navy Fact File. US Navy. 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  8. ^ "Fleet Oilers". HyperwarUS Navy Fact File. Ibiblio. 2002-09-01. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  9. ^ "Fast Combat Support Ships". US Navy Fact File. US Navy. 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2009-04-10.

External links edit

  • DANFS USS KALAMAZOO (AOR-6) website
  • US Naval Vessel Register
  • KMS Dithmarschen
  • Spanish Navy Patino Class AOR
  • HMAS Success, AOR-304
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oilers.

January 01, 1970
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A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment UNREP at sea Many countries have used replenishment oilers The replenishment oiler HMAS Sirius right providing fuel to the amphibious warfare ship USS Juneau while both are underway The United States Navy s hull classification symbol for this type of ship was AOR Auxiliary Oil Replenishment Replenishment oilers are slower and carry fewer dry stores than the US Navy s modern fast combat support ships which carry the classification AOE In 2020 the US Navy began to develop a new type of ship the AOL or light replenishment oiler construction of the first is planned for 2026 1 Contents 1 History 2 Characteristics 3 Armament 4 Operators 4 1 Former operators 5 United States Navy oilers 5 1 Current classes 6 References 7 External linksHistory edit nbsp RFA Tiderace performing a dual repenishment of Royal Navy frigates HMS Lancaster and HMS Westminster The development of the oiler paralleled the change from coal to oil fired boilers in warships Prior to the adoption of oil fired machinery navies could extend the range of their ships either by maintaining coaling stations or for warships to raft together with colliers and for coal to be manhandled aboard Though arguments related to fuel security were made against such a change the ease with which liquid fuel could be transferred led in part to its adoption by navies worldwide One of the first generation of blue water navy oiler support vessels was the British RFA Kharki active 1911 in the run up to the First World War Such vessels heralded the transition from coal to oil as the fuel of warships and removed the need to rely on and operate within range of coaling stations During the Second World War the United States Navy s dramatically enlarged fleets especially those in the Pacific Theater required massive quantities of black oil diesel oil avgas and other fuels and lubricants to support American land sea and air operations against remote widely dispersed Japanese forces Those supply demands resulted in U S Navy personnel refining many established practices for oilers and creating new procedures for replenishing warships while underway and for transporting highly combustible materials with increased effectiveness through hostile waters and over vast ocean distances 2 3 Modern examples of the fast combat support ship include the large British Fort class displacing 31 066 long tons 31 565 t and measuring 669 feet 204 m in length and the United States Supply class USNS Arctic which displaces 48 800 long tons 49 600 t and has an overall length of 754 feet 230 m Characteristics edit nbsp Replenishment oiler USS Wabash at work For all but the largest navies replenishment oilers are typically one of the largest ships in the fleet Such ships are designed to carry large amounts of fuel and dry stores for the support of naval operations far away from port Replenishment oilers are also equipped with more extensive medical and dental facilities than smaller ships can provide Such ships are equipped with multiple refueling gantries to refuel and resupply multiple ships at a time The process of refueling and supplying ships at sea is called underway replenishment Furthermore such ships often are designed with helicopter decks and hangars This allows the operation of rotary wing aircraft which allows the resupply of ships by helicopter This process is called vertical replenishment These ships when operating in concert with surface groups can act as an aviation maintenance platform where helicopters receive more extensive maintenance than can be provided by the smaller hangars of the escorting ships Their size additional facilities and ability to support the operation of other vessels means that replenishment oilers have been used as command ships with some ships such as the French Durance class this capability being built into the vessels from the start Armament editBecause the replenishment oiler is not a combat unit but rather a support vessel such ships are often lightly armed usually with self defense systems such as the Phalanx CIWS close in weapons systems small arms machine guns and or light automatic cannons They may also carry man portable air defense systems for additional air defense capability Operators edit nbsp Argentine Navy operates a single Durance class tanker purchased from France nbsp Royal Australian Navy operates two Supply class replenishment oilers nbsp Brazilian Navy operates the Almirante Gastao Motta nbsp Royal Canadian Navy operates the MV Asterix nbsp Chilean Navy operates a single Henry J Kaiser class replenishment oiler purchased from the United States and the Araucano nbsp People s Liberation Army Navy operates two Fuyu class fast combat support ships four Dayun class general stores issue ships nine Fuchi class replenishment ships and a single Fusu class replenishment ship nbsp Republic of China Navy operates the ROCS Wu Yi and ROCS Panshih nbsp Colombian National Navy operates two Luneburg class replenishment ships purchased from Germany nbsp Egyptian Navy operates a single Luneburg class replenishment ship purchased from Germany being supplemented or replaced by two Fort Rosalie class replenishment ships purchased from the United Kingdom nbsp French Navy operates one Jacques Chevallier class and two Durance class tankers nbsp German Navy operates six Elbe class replenishment ships two Rhon class tankers and three Berlin class replenishment ships nbsp Hellenic Navy operates a single Etna class replenishment oiler and two Luneburg class replenishment ships purchased from Germany nbsp Indian Navy operates two Deepak class fleet tankers one Aditya class auxiliary ship and a single Komandarm Fedko class oiler nbsp Indonesian Navy operates a single Rover class tanker purchased from the United Kingdom two Tarakan class tankers and more on order nbsp Italian Navy operates a single Etna class replenishment oiler and two Stromboli class replenishment oilers nbsp Islamic Republic of Iran Navy operates two Bandar Abbas class replenishment ships nbsp Japan Maritime Self Defense Force operates three Towada class replenishment ships and two Mashu class replenishment ships nbsp Republic of Korea Navy operates three Cheonji class fast combat support ships and the ROKS Soyang nbsp Royal Netherlands Navy operates HNLMS Karel Doorman nbsp Royal New Zealand Navy operates HMNZS Aotearoa nbsp Royal Norwegian Navy operates HNoMS Maud nbsp Pakistan Navy operates a single Fuqing class replenishment tanker and the PNS Moawin nbsp Peruvian Navy operates the BAP Tacna nbsp Polish Navy operates the ORP Baltyk nbsp Russian Navy operates three Boris Chilikin class fleet oilers one Dora class tanker two Uda class tankers one Iman class tanker four Altay class tankers three Dubna class tankers two Kaliningradneft class tankers and a single Project 23130 replenishment oiler nbsp Royal Saudi Navy operates two Durance class tankers nbsp South African Navy operates the SAS Drakensberg nbsp Spanish Navy operates the Patino and Cantabria nbsp Royal Thai Navy operates the HTMS Similan nbsp Turkish Navy operates two Akar class replenishment oilers and one Derya class nbsp British Royal Fleet Auxiliary operates one Fort Victoria class replenishment oiler four Tide class tankers and two Wave class tankers maintained in reserve nbsp United States Military Sealift Command operates two John Lewis class replenishment oilers fifteen Henry J Kaiser class replenishment oilers fourteen Lewis and Clark class dry cargo ships and two Supply class fast combat support ships nbsp National Navy of Uruguay operates a single Luneburg class replenishment ship purchased from Germany nbsp Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela operates the RBNV Ciudad Bolivar Former operators edit nbsp Philippine Navy decommissioned BRP Lake Caliraya in 2020 nbsp Portuguese Navy decommissioned NRP Berrio in 2020 Two new Replenishment Oilers will be received until 2028 4 nbsp Ukrainian Navy decommissioned its only Boris Chilikin class fleet oiler in 2001 United States Navy oilers editFurther information List of United States Navy oilers nbsp USNS Big Horn T AO 198 an underway replenishment oiler nbsp US sailors aboard the USS Makin Island LHD 8 prepare to receive replenishment from the USNS Yukon T AO 202 In the United States Navy an Oiler is a Combat Logistics ship that replenishes other ships with fuel and in some cases food mail ammunition and other necessities while at sea in a process called Underway Replenishment or UNREP 5 Up through the Second World War Navy oilers used commercial tanker hulls with the addition of UNREP gear defensive guns and military electronic and damage control equipment since the 1950s however they have been built from the keel up as specialized naval auxiliaries They were previously classified as Fleet Oilers 6 in the 20th century under the current MSC operation their full classification is listed as Fleet Replenishment Oilers 7 Since the 1960s the classification Transport Oiler AOT has applied to tankers which ship petroleum products to depots around the world but do not engage in UNREP The first fleet oilers 8 were identified by the hull designation AO which is still in use 7 Large fast multifunction oilers which also provide ammunition and dry stores are identified as Fast Combat Support Ships AOE 9 and mid size ones Replenishment Oilers AOR The AOR designation is no longer in use All of these oilers provide the combined services of the AO AE AFS and AK The style USNS and prefix T identify a ship as being operated by a civilian crew under the Military Sealift Command known as the Military Sea Transportation Service until 1970 Current classes edit There are three classes of vessels currently in commissioned service Henry J Kaiser class John Lewis class Supply class Both the Henry J Kaiser class and Supply class will be replaced by the John Lewis class ships References edit Report to Congress on Navy Light Replenishment Oiler USNI News United States Naval Institute April 2023 Tankers Built in U S During World War II American Merchant Marine at War usmm org Retrieved June 9 2017 Sawyer L A Mitchell W H 1974 Victory ships and tankers the history of the Victory type cargo ships and of the tankers built in the United States of America during World War II Cornell Maritime Press Cambridge Maryland 1974 Marinha vai propor ao proximo Governo a compra de mais dois submarinos Jornal de Noticias in Portuguese Retrieved 2024 01 02 UnRep Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division US Navy Retrieved 2009 04 10 Fleet Oilers Hyperwar Ibiblio 2002 09 01 Retrieved 2009 04 13 a b Fleet Replenishment Oilers US Navy Fact File US Navy 2007 08 22 Retrieved 2009 04 10 Fleet Oilers HyperwarUS Navy Fact File Ibiblio 2002 09 01 Retrieved 2009 04 13 Fast Combat Support Ships US Navy Fact File US Navy 2007 08 22 Retrieved 2009 04 10 External links editDANFS USS KALAMAZOO AOR 6 website US Naval Vessel Register KMS Dithmarschen Spanish Navy Patino Class AOR HMAS Success AOR 304 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oilers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Replenishment oiler amp oldid 1213023618, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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