RFA Operations since 1905

1958-61 The 1st Cod War

The Cod Wars, which have also been called the Iceland Cod Wars, were a series of confrontations between 1958 and 1976 between the United Kingdom and Iceland over fishing rights around the coast of Iceland.

There were basically three confrontations which have become known as the 1^st Cod War, the 2^nd Cod War and the 3^rd Cod War and ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary were deployed in support of the Royal Navy in each.

Icelandic Coast Guard Ship Odin and HMS Scylla

Each confrontation involved the Icelandic Government’s decision to extend fishing limits over the seas round their country.

The 1^st Cod War

1 September 1958 to 11 March 1961

Iceland declared that its territorial limit had been extended to 12 miles from their coast line.

The following RFA’s were deployed to support the Royal Navy off the coast of Iceland during the 1^st Cod War:-

RFA Black Ranger

RFA Tidereach

RFA Wave Baron

RFA Wave Chief

RFA Wave Laird

RFA Wave Master

RFA Wave Prince

RFA Wave Ruler

RFA Wave Sovereign

RFA Wave Victor

Other ships of the RFA were deployed off Iceland in support of Royal Naval ships on dates outside of those determined as the Cod Wars.