RFA Tidesurge, the third Tide-class tanker, replenished the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Donald Cook. Credit: Royal Navy.

The British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tide-class tanker RFA Tidesurge has replenished the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Donald Cook.

Tidesurge performed the operation in the mid-Atlantic where they met briefly after the completion of multinational Exercise Joint Warrior 19-2 off the coast of Scotland.

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Replenishment of the guided-missile destroyer is said to be a first for the class.

RFA Tidesurge operations officer First Officer Duncan MacColl said: “Over the past couple of months, RFA Tidesurge has consistently displayed the advanced capability and flexibility of the Tide Class in support of Flag Officer Sea Training on the south coast, before heading north as one of 14 ships participating in the multi-national Exercise Joint Warrior and Griffin Strike off the west coast of Scotland.

“Tidesurge was required to deal with air, surface and sub-surface attacks during the exercise.”

The tanker is the third in the class of four ships that form the UK’s new tanker fleet.

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The 39,000t ships can provide fuel, food, fresh water, and other supplies to British vessels at sea.

Flight Commander lieutenant Tom Wallis said: “It is great to be able to show the flexibility of the Tide-class with an embarked Merlin Mk2, and the significant operational capability that this combination provides.

“Over the past three weeks, we have partaken in Exercise Joint Warrior 19-2, sharpening our warfighting teeth in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare roles, switching quickly to transfer personnel and then back into operational tasking to support USS Donald Cook.

“This is only possible through the dedication of the crew of RFA Tidesurge, 814 NAS, 1700 NAS and the Fleet Hydrographic and Meteorology Unit, and our ability to exercise and operate efficiently and at very high readiness.”

Tideforce, the fourth in the class, is currently deployed as part of the HMS Queen Elizabeth-led carrier strike group off the east coast of the US.