Previous name:
Subsequent name:              KRI Arun

Official Number:                    337864

Class:                                     ROVER CLASS Small Fleet Tanker

Pennant No:                           A268 / 903

Laid down:                             28 February 1968
Builder:                                   Swan Hunter, Hebburn on Tyne
Launched:                              19 December 1968 
Into Service:                           15 August 1969
Out of service:                       1992
Fate:                                        In service with Indonesian Navy as 'KRI Arun'

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   In 1967, tenders were invited for what eventually turned out to be 5 ships in this Class. Owing to unsatisfactory performance from the original engines, which had been a political decision, the first 3 ships in the Class were re-engined in 1974. The final 2 ships differed slightly from the earlier 3 and had improved accommodation standards and different stern anchor arrangements.

January 1968 ordered

28 February 1968 laid down

19 December 1968 Launched by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd, Hebburn  as Yard Nr 6  named GREEN ROVER. The Lady Sponsor was Mrs R.H. Shipway, the wife of the Director of Fuel, Movements & Transport (Naval)

March 1969 Captain Archibald Proudlock RFA appointed as Master

9 July 1969 her Ship’s Badge was officially presented to her

15 August 1969 completed at a cost of £3m

16 August 1969 was accepted from the builders. 2 months ahead of the original planned date

17 August 1969 sailed from the Tyne after acceptance from the builders and proceeded to Chatham  for Navy Days there

September 1969 towed the disabled RFA APPLELEAF (2) from the North Atlantic to Devonport where she underwent extended repairs

17 September 1971 carried out deck landing trials with the new Harrier Jump Jet in the Pool of London

December 1971 visited Jamestown, St. Helena

20 June 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 25 June 1973

29 June 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 4 July 1973

8 July 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 11 July 1973

27 July 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 30 July 1973

4 August 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 9 August 1973

14 August 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 19 August 1973

26 August 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 2 September 1973

6 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 14 September 1973

19 September 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 22 September 1973

December 1973 re-engined with 2 x 16 cyl Pielstick 400 x 460mm diesel engines by Crossley Premier Engines Ltd, Manchester. 15360 bhp. Speed now 19½ knots

17 September 1974 along with RFA’s OLNA (3) and STROMNESS, sailed Portsmouth as part of TaskGroup 317.2 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS BLAKE

29 March 1975 to 26 April 1975 humanitarian aid - was part of Operation Stella along with the frigate HMS LOWESTOFT - the evacuation of refugees from Vietnam

24 November 1975 to 1 June 1976 provided support during the Third  Cod War - the Fishing Dispute with Iceland

25 January 1977 Along with RFA’s STROMNESS and TIDEPOOL sailed Devonport as part of Task Group 317.5 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS TIGER

31 May 1978 along with RFA’s STROMNESS and TIDESPRING sailed Portsmouth as part of  Task Group 317.7 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS BLAKE

5 July 1978 to 7 July 1978 With the frigate HMS JUNO was present off the Virgin Islands owing to internal  security problems

7 August 1980 to 12 August 1980  involved with the frigate HMS SCYLLA off Cayman Islands providing humantarian relief in the wake of Hurricane Allen

1982 Was one of the very few RFA vessels which did not see service during the Falklands Conflict

16 May 1985 The Greek Government refused permission for Green Rover to use refueling facilities at Souda Bay, Crete while the ship was taking part in a NATO Exercise 'Distant Hammer'. The Greek Government was boycotting the NATO Exercise. The ship was deployed to Izmir, Turkey instead

18 August 1985 transferred 1350 gallons of fuel to Richard Branson’s VIRGIN ATLANTIC CHALLENGER during its Blue Riband attempt. Unfortunately the 32-ton vessel overturned just 140 miles (224km) short of its target, the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall  and sank just 4 hours later without completing its Atlantic crossing.

19 May 1988 entered Portsmouth Harbour

27 May 1988 placed in reserve on 30 days notice and was laid up in No 3 Basin

7 April 1992 purchased by her builders who then resold her to the Indonesian Navy for £6m

9 April 1992 Was towed from Portsmouth to the Tyne renamed  KRI ARUN  to be taken in hand for a 4 month refurbishment before re-entering service for her new owners. She became the Flagship of the Training Commander.

22 October 1993 with other Indonesian Naval units berthed at Sydney, NSW on a visit to RAN Navy

24 April 2000 At least 900 people comprising of local elite, religious and community leaders launch a reconciliation effort on aboard to reduce religious tension in Maluku.

11 November 2000 used as a Vice Presidential Yacht by Megawati Sukarnoputri the Vice President of Indonesia for two days in the city of Ambon and Tual, Southeast Maluku District.  112 Navy personnel were deployed to secure the KRI Arun

28 June 2004 caught Hong Kong flagged motor vessel Law Kit Ting carrying about 300 kilogrammes of live Napoleon fish. The ship was also carrying 1.5 tons of group and live lobsters. The ship did not have the necessary authorities to catch this type of fish

14 October 2004 to 17 October 2004 visited Perth, Western Australia with two other units of the Indonesian Navy. The three ships were under the command of Commodore Agus Suhartono, Commander of the Command Task Group

9 December 2004 with two other ships from the Indonesian Navy held joint exercises with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces

February 2006 KRI Arun and two other ships of the Indonesian Navy  impounded fourteen Chinese and Thai as well as nine Indonesian-flagged vessels after catching them red-handed fishing illegally in the Aru Sea, Maluku Province. All of the apprehended vessels were held at the Navy`s bases in Timika and Merauke, Papua Province pending legal proceedings. The Chinese flagged vessels` names were KM Hai Wang, KM Dech Alsung, MV Qiong Yu Wanyu-01, MV Qiong Yu Wanyu-02, MV Hai Xing-01 and MV Hai Xing-02, and the Thai-flagged ones MV Phong Thip Piyapoom, MV Phong Thip Cholphum, MV Por Ruanglarp, MV Netchantri-12, MV Or Apirachainapiee, MV Apirachainapiee-05, MV Sea Hunter, and MV Chaipichitnapiee-12

30 December 2006 A ship with 25 crew members was reported to have sunk in the Suar mandalika waters some 30 nautical miles of South Kalimantan at the early hours "The East Java naval base has sent KRI Arun, another warship and an aircraft to help rescue the victims

23 May 2007 involved in Naval and Army exercises 'Striker Quick Reaction Force'  in Tarakan, East Kalimantan (Kaltim) to enhance the capabilities, skills and professionalism of the Indonesian Forces

10 April 2008 arrested a tramp ship belonging to a Chinese national in the Fak-Fak waters, Papua province. MV Fuyuan Yu F 80  1,344 GT vessel was skippered by Cheng Kong Zhang and had served as a tramper to collect fish catch. It was reported she had the capacity of carry 1,000

12 August 2009 to 20 August 2009 took part in Exercise Sail Bunaken activities with 24 other ships from 14 countries

Notes:

1.  KRI = Kapal Republik Indonesia  = Republic of Indonesia Ship