The Fourth Force: The Untold Story of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary since 1945

by Geoff Puddefoot

Overview

Set up in August 1905, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary was originally a logistic support organization, part of the Navy proper but run on civilian lines, comprising a miscellaneous and very unglamorous collection of colliers, store ships and harbor craft. Just over a century later it has evolved beyond recognition: its ships compare in size, cost and sophistication with all but the largest warships, and the RFA itself has developed into an essential arm of all three Services. It is truly the Fourth Force as it is known to its own personnel and without it, the current worldwide deployment of British service men and women would be simply impossible.This book charts the veritable revolution that has overtaken the RFA since the end of the Second World War. New technology and techniques reflect the rapid growth in the importance of logistics in modern warfare, while the broadening role of the RFA is to be seen in the history of its operations, many of them little known to the public. Woven together from a combination of technical ship data, official correspondence and personal recollections, it is predominantly about the men and women of the RFA and their stories an insight into the underreported history of a service whose initials unofficially translate as Ready For Anything.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783830596
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	01/31/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	14 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

Acknowledgements and Preface ix

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 Postwar Changes and the First Tide Class: 1950-9 1

Chapter 2 Korea, 'Grapple' and the Cod Wars 11

Chapter 3 A Fleet Within a Fleet: 1960-9 29

Chapter 4 Aden and the RNSTS 49

Chapter 5 The Doldrum Years: 1970-9 61

Chapter 6 Apollo, Malta and a Pre-'Corporate' Trip 71

Chapter 7 The Falklands War and the RFA: 1980-3 89

Chapter 8 South Georgia, 'Sutton' and Fitzroy 111

Chapter 9 Force Multipliers, Modern Sea War and the New RFA: 1982-99 128

Chapter 10 Saddam Hussein, Bosnia and Humanitarian Aid 148

Chapter 11 The Twenty-first Century: 2000-? 158

Ship Data Tables 178

Appendix 1 Chronology of World Events and RFA Involvement 1950-2008 207

Appendix 2 Modern Replenishment at Sea 226

Appendix 3 Battle Honours Awarded RFA ships 231

Appendix 4 Marchwood Military Port 232

References 237

Index 239