A general overview.
The cargo tanks will be 3 abreast, with the centre tanks being designated as “Issue Tanks”.
The RAS system will be broadly similar to those on the “Waves”….with some differences.
The first main difference is the method to be used for tensioning the jackstay wire. The new system will use an HP air powered ram-tensioner rather than putting all the weight on the winch motors.
The Tides will also have a covered foc,s,le head. With all the usual gear protected from the sea. The focsle also seems to be fitted with a missle launcher. The photo of Wave Knight shows a Phalanx sort of weapon. But I expect the Tide class will be “fitted for but not with” the missile launcher. (As is “Fort Victoria”.
From a modellers point of view, this new class of RFA could well be the easiest one ever to model. How so?
Well, for a start look at the apparent emptiness/lack of clutter on the main deck. This is because all the winches and drives are situated underneath the main deck and protected from the elements. This will make maintenance work a lot easier.
Also, the RAS rigs themselves are to be “boxed in” as opposed to being a very hard to model lattice work affair. The rigs will carry 2 x 7” hoses and one 2.5” hose. (Diesel, Aviation fuel and Fresh water). Earlier build Fleet Tankers were also fitted to supply FFO, but no RN ship uses FFO any more. Perhaps some other nations still do, so if they want to be re-fuelled they’ll have to find another filling station.
The windowless part of the superstructure contains the Hanger and aviation support facilities.
The ships will be twin screw with a pair of 6.5m controllable pitch propellers supplied by Schottel. All propulsion and electrical generating equipment is duplicated port and starboard.
But these ships also have a Hybrid propulsion system.
Each shaft can be driven either by a main diesel engine or from the main diesel generators via a large motor-generator. This ystem can be used at speeds up to around 10 knots.
In the event of the main propulsion system becomes inoperable the secondary big “egg-beater system comes into action. This is fitted right forward and can provide a “Limp Home” capability….as well as acting as a bow thrusters unit.
On completion of the main building process, the ships will come to the UK for extensive “customisation”. That is, fitting the ships with all the “special” gear that makes an RFA an RFA.
This is a very truncated version of the main article…but the authors finished it off with a “silly statistic”.
A Range Rovers fuel tank connected to all 4 hoses would be full in 0.12 seconds. Unfortunately, the fuel would be passing through the nozzle at around Mach 2, thus completely destroying the car.