MERLIN HELICOPTER JOINS RFA VESSEL FOR TRIALS
Royal Navy News
1/09/2003
A Merlin helicopter will fly onto RFA Wave Ruler, one of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's newest vessels, for the first time in Plymouth Sound on Friday 10 January.
The helicopter and the vessel will take part in trials designed to establish safe operating limits in various weather conditions and sea states. Trials will take place in the South West approaches and last approximately three weeks.
RFA Wave Ruler is one of two new Fleet replenishment tankers and will formally enter RFA service later this year. The ship's role is to provide Royal Navy and allied warships with replacement oil, aviation fuel and stores while at sea.
The vessel has a fuel capacity of up to 16,000 cubic metres (including up to 3,000 cubic metres of aviation fuel), 380 cubic metres of fresh water and up to 500 cubic metres of dry cargo and eight refrigerated containers.
The double-hulled RFA Wave Ruler is diesel-electric powered, with one 14-megawatt electric main propulsion motor coupled to four diesel generators. She is almost 200 metres in length, with a beam of 27 metres. She has a range of 10,000 nautical miles and a speed of 18 knots. Her crew comprises 80 RFA personnel, and, when operational, will have a further 22 Royal Navy personnel embarked. She has a large flight deck and hangar and will be able to operate all types of naval helicopters. The ship is equipped for self-defence with two Phalanx Close In Weapons Systems and two 30mm cannon.
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