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. 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.
History
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. The requirement for the Fort class was reduced from six to two.
Fort Victoria was built by Harland & 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.From an interview with shipbuilder Sir John Parker published by Sunday Times, 13 March 2006: :The contract for Fort Victoria was won, but the ship became a target for the IRA. "She was afloat in the dock when we got the call from the IRA. Later that day the bomb went off and blew a hole in the engine room of the ship. The ship heeled over to about 45 degrees and we thought we were going to lose her. Fortunately some very courageous engineers went on board and lowered pumps in to clear the engine room so we could save the ship." The next day there was a call about a second bomb. It took two weeks to find it and make it safe – valuable time lost. Such incidents moulded Sir John and taught him patience and resolve, the like of which is rare in many boardrooms.
Fort George was retired in 2011 while Fort Victoria was relegated to "extended readiness" (uncrewed reserve) status in 2024. She was taken in hand for reactivation in 2026 in order to serve as a "bridge" capability in advance of the entry into service of new solid stores support ships in the 2030s. Fort Victoria will be succeeded by a new class of three solid support ships, under the Fleet Solid Support Ship Programme.
Class details NamePennantBuilderOrderedLaid downLaunchedCommissionedFateA387Harland & Wolff, Belfast/Cammell LairdJane's Fighting Ships, 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Limited. p. 818. .23 April 19864 April 198812 June 199024 June 1994, under "assisted maintenance" at Rosyth DockyardIn refit for reactivation as of September 2026A388Swan Hunter, Wallsend-on-Tyne18 December 19879 March 19891 March 199116 July 1993Decommissioned April 2011Scrapped 2013
See also List of replenishment ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Rosalie or Fort I class RFA replenishment ships
Notes
Bibliography Beaver, Paul, Britain's Modern Royal Navy, Patrick Stephens Limited, 1996,
External links Fort class replenshipment ships at the Royal Navy website