RFA Diligence
RFA Diligence (A132) is a fleet repair ship in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
RFA Diligence first served with the RFA during the Falklands War as a civilian owned ship taken up from the trade. As MV Stena Inspector, the ship repaired many British vessels, and was purchased by the Government in 1983 and renamed RFA Diligence.
... supported the multinational minesweeping operation to clear that vital choke point....
RFA Diligence has provided the Royal Navy and US Navy with damage repair work many times. At the end of the Iran-Iraq War, the Straits of Homuz were mined, and RFA Diligence supported the multinational minesweeping operation to clear that vital choke point.
RFA Diligence also helped to repair HMS Southampton after collision damage. The ship returned to the Gulf in 1990 to support operations during the Gulf War by repairing, among others, American ships damaged by mines.
During Operation Ocean Wave 97, RFA Diligence was deployed to the Far East as a submarine support ship. The following year, the ship supported the 3rd Mine counter Measures Squadron in the Persian Gulf. After retuning to the UK for just two weeks, RFA Diligence departed for the south Atlantic, returning to Faslane in December 1998. Early 1999 saw the ship again deployed to the Falklands region. In 2001 RFA Diligence supported the four MCMV’s involved in a large exercise in Oman. The ship's next wartime role came with the large task force deployed against Iraq in 2003. Returning to familiar territory, RFA Diligence supported the largest British fleet deployed since the Falklands War. RFA Diligence was originally a North Sea support ship, and fitted with a dynamic positioning system. Designed with a flat hull for her original role, RFA Diligence rolls easily in any sea condition.
|
