Replenishemnt at sea in Mediterranean?

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Dili
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Replenishemnt at sea in Mediterranean?

#1

Post by Dili » 14 Oct 2015, 21:24

Did Royal Navy made fuel replenishment at sea in Mediterranean? And if so when was the first instance and what tanker ships were able to do it.

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Urmel
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Re: Replenishemnt at sea in Mediterranean?

#2

Post by Urmel » 15 Oct 2015, 09:25

Good question, never come across this. Given the distances involved, it hardly seems to have been required though? The longest missions I can think of are the bombardments of Genoa and Tripoli, both a straight return journey of 1,700ish nm. One-ways to Malta were only 850nm. Even with zigzagging and considering the fleet not going on economical speed, even the destroyers should hardly break in a sweat. The I-class has an economical range of 5,530nm, and that seems to have been a standard destroyer range for the RN.
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42


Dili
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Re: Replenishemnt at sea in Mediterranean?

#3

Post by Dili » 15 Oct 2015, 11:11

Found this Operation Substance, i think it means refueling underway. If so in 1941
The operation commenced on 21.7 with the departure of the oiler BROWN RANGER escorted by the destroyer BEVERLEY to provide refuelling within the Mediterranean for the destroyers escorting the convoy.
http://www.naval-history.net/xAH-MaltaSupply01b.htm

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Urmel
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Re: Replenishemnt at sea in Mediterranean?

#4

Post by Urmel » 15 Oct 2015, 14:09

Good find. Here's another one:

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono ... _Maori.htm

Go to 22 July 1941.

RFA Brown Ranger also participated in Pedestal.
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

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Ironmachine
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Re: Replenishemnt at sea in Mediterranean?

#5

Post by Ironmachine » 15 Oct 2015, 14:39

RFA Brown Ranger also participated in Pedestal.
During that operation she and RFA Dingledale refuelled 26 destroyers and 3 cruisers.

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Pips
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Re: Replenishemnt at sea in Mediterranean?

#6

Post by Pips » 16 Oct 2015, 05:13

So the RN did make use of replenishment at sea. Very interesting.

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Andy H
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Re: Replenishemnt at sea in Mediterranean?

#7

Post by Andy H » 19 Oct 2015, 15:27

Hi

Brown Ranger also partook in Op Harpoon June'42

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Andy H

Dili
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Re: Replenishemnt at sea in Mediterranean?

#8

Post by Dili » 23 Oct 2015, 00:16

Thanks everyone.

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