RFA Tidepool

RFA Tidepool

 

 

 

 

Previous name:
Subsequent name:                  ALMIRANTE JORGE MONTT

Official Number:                        304555

Class:                                         IMPROVED TIDE CLASS Fleet Replenishment Tanker

Pennant No:                              A76

Laid down:                                4 December 1961
Builder:                                      Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn on Tyne
Launched:                                 11 December 1962

Into Service:                              28 June 1963
Out of service:                           13 August 1982
Fate:                                            Sold to Chile

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data: Authorised under the 1961/62 Navy Estimates, the 2 ships in this Class were developed from the original TIDE CLASS and were highly specialised ships for fuelling and storing naval vessels at sea and were capable of high performance under rigorous service conditions. Their capability was further enhanced as they were the first front-line RFA’s to have a single-spot 50 ft x 70 ft helicopter flight deck and full hangar arrangements incorporated into their design.

Involved in the 2nd and 3rd Cod Wars and also served on the Beira Patrol

 

 

29 October 1962 Mr E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

19 March 1963 Captain J A Dines RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master

2 July 1963 Sailed from the Tyne for Devonport to bunker.

4 July 1963 Maiden voyage  Devonport to Trinidad

20 August 1963 Supported the carrier HMCS BONAVENTURE in the English Channel

September 1963 Visited the International Maritime Exhibition at Kiel along with the survey ship HMS   SCOTT

24 June 1964 Captain John Ditchburn RFA appointed as Master

May 1965 Supported Operation Seahorse - a SEATO maritime operation in the South China Sea  along with RFA’s RELIANT (2), RESURGENT and TIDEREACH 

25 June 1965 Mr Ken Robinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 August 1965 Captain A R Wheeler RD RFA appointed as Master

19 November 1965 berthed at Glasgow for refit

17 March 1966 Along with RFA’s RELIANT (2) and RESURGENT was in support of the destroyer HMS CAMBRIAN and the frigate HMS PLYMOUTH on the Beira Patrol in the Mozambique Channel

20 May 1966 arrived at Singapore Dockyard after 80 days at sea supporting RN units on the Beira oil blockade

6 August 1966 Captain P T Taylor RFA appointed as Master

19 September 1966 in collision with a Japanese cargo ship in fog off Yokohama harbour. There were no casualities

12 April 1967 Mr T J W Humphrey RFA RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

June 1967 Claimed to have undertaken the highest level RAS when she replenished the destroyer  HMS HAMPSHIRE in the Welland Canal during a Canadian trip.

19 December 1967 Captain C G D Barker RFA appointed as Master

11 April 1968 Mr P Ryan RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

November 1968 took part in Naval Exercises in the Mediterranean with 17 RN vessels and 33 other ships from Greece, Italy, the USA and France together with RFA's Olwen (2), Olmeda, Lyness and Resource

20 April 1969 to 2 May 1969 took part in a NATO exercise in the Mediterranean with 60 warships and 300 aircraft from five nations including one RN frigate - HMS Lynx

29 December 1969 Humanitarian aid - her Doctor was transferred to the frigate HMS CHICHESTER by  helicopter to assist in the treatment of burns casualties resulting from an explosion aboard the Shell tanker MACTRA  in the Mozambique Channel.

30 December 1969 all casualties from the explosion had been transferred to the tanker TEXACO TRINIDAD and the Doctor and an LMA from HMS CHICHESTER were transferred  by seaboat to her to tend to the casualties who were later flown by helicopter from the frigate HMS EURYALUS to Beira Airport where ambulances awaited to transport them to hospital.

May 1971 in the Atlantic Ocean 200 n.miles from the Sicilies took part in scientific trials with the deliberate spilling of a small quantity of FFO into the sea under strictly controlled conditions and monitored by naval scientists from the Admiralty Oil Laboratory, the Admiralty Materials Labaoratory and the Hydrographic Department. A Naval helicopter from RNAS Culdrose also took part

30 October 1971 took part in the final steam past of the Far East Fleet in the Singapore Straits after the   closure of the naval base there along with 6 other RFA’s.

10 December 1972 In Operation Zealous - on standby off East Africa in case of a requirement t evacuate British nationals from Uganda - along with RFA’s TIDESURGE and TIDEREACH.

28 October 1973 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 2nd Cod War until 6 November 1973

1975 ran aground in Brodick Bay but was subsequently refloated.

29 November 1975 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 3rd Cod War until 13 December 1975

6 September 1974 at Gibraltar

9 September 1974 sailed Gibraltar for Plymouth arriving 12 September 1974

13 September 1974 moved fro Plymouth Sound to Yonderberry Jetty

15 September 1974 to Cawsand Bay at anchor

16 September 1974 sailed on NATO exercise with RFA REGENT, HMS TIGER and HMS FEARLESS

17 September 1974 still on NATO exercise, joined by HMS Hermes and three Dutch frigates

18 September 1974 RASed with all ships on NATO exercise while being monitored by Russian 'spy' trawler

19 September 1974 arrived Invergordon and loaded from RFA DEWDALE. Sailed at 17:30hrs to NATO exercise.

20 September 1974 RASed with RN and Dutch naval units on NATO exercise

21 September 1974 refuelled by RFA PEARLEAF in North Atlantic off Iceland - monitored by Russian Destroyer and 'Spy' trawler all day

22 September 1974 off Norway RASed with RFA REGENT, RN and Dutch naval units

23 September 1974 exercised with US and Swedish aircraft - Russian destroyer still in company

24 September 1974 0930hrs Russian trawler on deliberate collision course. 1200hrs RAS'ed with USS Cone

25 September 1974 RASed with HMS Hermes and Dutch naval units

26 September 1974 RASed with HMS Tiger and HMS Fearless

27 September 1974 RASed with Dutch units

30 September 1974 anchored off Copenhagen until 7 October 1974

7 October 1974 sailed Copenhagen

8 October 1974 RAsed HMSs HERMES, TIGER, FEARLESS and WHITBY

9 October 1974 berthed on Gosport oil jetty until 15 October 1974 to sea

16 October 1974 RASed HMS TIGER in the North Sea

17 October 1974 off the Firth of Forth RASed HMS CHARYBIDIS to starboard, HMS GURKHA to port and HMS BACCHANTEastern. Then sailed for Rotterdam

18 October 1974 berthed at Petrolhaven No 1 Pernis (Shell Refinery) until 21 October 1974

21 October 1974 sailed Rotterdam 

22 October 1974 off Plymouth RASed HMS HERMES and RFA RETAINER

23 October 1974 involved in a 'board & tow' exercise with HMS HERMES. Operation 'County Fair' commenced. RASed with HMS's FEARLESS, HERMIONE and DIDO

24 October 1974 involved in exercises off the Dorset Coast. RAS'ed Dutch frigate VANNES and with aRussian trawler in company

25 October 1974 exercise complete to Portland - at anchor until 28 October 1974

28 October 1974 sailed Portland for Portsmouth arrived next day - berthed Gosport oil jetty

4 November 1974 sailed Portsmouth for Clyde area

6 November 1974 in Clyde area - RASed HMS JUNO and HMS GURKHA. with Russian ships around all day.

12 November 1974 berthed at Rosyth until 19 November 1974 - sailed

20 November 1974 RASed HMS HERMES

22 November 1974 with NATO fleet in Moray Firth - RASed HMS Juno and French destroyer

23 November 1974 RASed HMS Glamorgan, German Frigate LUTJENS, Dutch Frigate VANNES - towards Scapa Flow

24 November 1974 at anchor Scapa Flow

25 November 1974 sailed Scapa Flow - RASed with HMSs RHYL, GLAMORGAN and JUNO together with Dutch, German and French naval units

27 November 1974 RASed HMS HERMES and a Dutch naval unit.

29 November 1974 berthed at Rosyth exercise complete

14 May 1975 during a RAS in the Mediterranean, the commando carrier HMS BULWARK collided with her

 

(image Crown Copyright via Lt Cdr Lester May RN)

 

5 January 1976 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 3rd Cod War until 15 January 1976

21 February 1976 1st Electrical Officer Robert G Bright RFA discharged dead

23 February 1976 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 3rd Cod War until 23 March 1976

5 March 1976 Whilst refuelling the frigate HMS NAIAD during the Third Cod War, the 2 ships had to  conduct an emergency breakaway when the Icelandic gunboat BALDUR positioned  herself 8 cables ahead of them and stopped dead in the water. BALDUR then crossed  2 cables ahead of TIDEPOOL.

23 April 1976 deployed in support of RN units off Iceland during 3rd Cod War until 25 May 1976

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

5 September 1977 along with RFA’s GREY ROVER, REGENT and TARBATNESS sailed Portsmouth  as part of Task Group 317.6 led by the helicopter cruiser HMS TIGER

23 February 1979 Captain Rex A Cooper RFA appointed as Master

10 February 1982 sailed North Shields after a refit in preparation for sale

22 February 1982 sailed Portsmouth with a mixed RFA and Chilean crew after sale to the Chilean Navy for £1.8m as a Defence Economy Measure. Proceeded to Portland for a brief work-up prior to heading for Chile.

4 April 1982 was recalled after arriving at Arica for handover to the Chilean Navy and sailed soon after arrival to proceed to Balboa enroute for service during Operation Corporate - the Falklands Conflict. Transitted the Panama Canal under cover of  darkness and headed for Curacao to load stores, fuel, discharge 6 containers of Chilean navy personnel  effects and to re-crew fully as an RFA.

14 April 1982 arrived Willemstad, Curacao

15 April 1982 approx 40 additional RFA personnel flew out from the U.K. to Willemstad

17 April 1982 sailed Cauracao

26 April 1982 arrived Ascension Island and embarked E Flight 845 NAS - 2 x Wessex HU5 helicopters

6 May 1982 sailed Ascension Island in company with RFA PLUMLEAF and HM frigates ARDENT and ARGONAUT

11 May 1982 joined the Amphibious Group

13 May 1982 entered the TEZ ( Total Exclusion Zone ) around the Falkland Islands

1982 - Battle Honour - Falklands 1982 granted.

13 August 1982 was finally delivered to the Chilean Navy at Talcahuano and was renamed ALMIRANTE JORGE MONTT  (AO 52). Her Chief Engineer remained behind after the rest of the RFA crew had departed to oversee essential repairs, etc required to bring the ship back to the condition it had been in prior to departure U.K.as it had suffered a fair amount of collision and weather damage during Operation Corporate.

15 December 1997 removed from the Chilean Navy List as she proved very expensive to run.

1999 sold for disposal