Wave-class tanker

Wave class
	RFA Wave Ruler (left) carrying out a replenishment at sea with the frigate HMS Iron Duke in 2006
Class overview
Name	Wave class
Builders	VSEL (later BAE Systems Marine)
Operators	Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Preceded by	Ol class
Succeeded by	Tide class
In commission	8 April 2003–present
Completed	2
Laid up	2 (both ships in "extended readiness" - uncrewed reserve)
General characteristics
Type	Fast fleet tanker
Displacement	31,500 tonnes approx
Length	196.5 m (644 ft 8 in)
Beam	28.25 m (92 ft 8 in)
Draft	9.97 m (32 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric:; 4 × Wartsila 12V 32E/GECLM diesel generators 25,514 metric horsepower (18.76 MW); 2 × GEC Alstom motors with Cegelec variable speed converters 19,040 metric horsepower (14 MW); 1 × shaft; 18t thrust electric Kamewa bow thruster and 12t thrust electric stern thruster, both powered by Cegelec variable speed drives and motors;
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h)
Range	10,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Capacity	16,000 m3 of liquids (of which 3,000 m3 aviation fuel & 380 m3 fresh water) ; 125 tonnes of lubricating oil; 500 m3 of solids; 150 tonnes of fresh food in eight 20 ft refrigerated container units.;
Complement	80 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel with provision for 22 Royal Navy personnel for helicopter and weapons systems operations
Sensors and ; processing systems	Surface search: E/F band; Navigation: Kelvin Hughes Ltd SharpEye navigation radar; IFF: Type 1017;
Armament	2 × DS30B 30 mm guns;; 2 × 7.62 mm Mk.44 miniguns;; 5 × 7.62 mm L7 machine guns;; 2 × Vulcan Phalanx CIWS (all weapons removed given uncrewed reserve status);
Aircraft carried	1 × Merlin helicopter with full hangar facilities

The Wave-class tankers are a class of fast fleet tankers in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The class is tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world. There are two ships in the class, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler. The ships were ordered to replace the aging Ol-class tankers RFA Olna and RFA Olwen. The two vessels have seen service in a number of locations, including anti-drug and hurricane relief operations in the Caribbean Sea, anti-piracy activities around the Horn of Africa, and deterrent patrols in the South Atlantic. As of early 2022, both ships were earmarked for "extended readiness" status (i.e. uncrewed reserve).

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