Australia's first Supply-class fleet replenishment vessel conducts pre-delivery sea trials

The NUSHIP Supply (A 195) undergoing sea trials off the coast of Ferrol, Spain. Photo c/ o Navantia.

The new auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel bound for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the first ship of the Supply-class fleet replenishment vesses NUSHIP Supply (A 195), has started sea trials in Spain.

The ship was built by Spanish naval shipbuilder Navantia at their Ferrol Shipyard, and is based on the Cantabria-class design originally built for the Spanish Navy.

The first sea trial, with 135 men on board, conducted a 3-day, 2-night test of the ship. Several more sea trials are expected until the ship passes all quality requirements and the RAN satisfied before delivery.

The ship is expected to sail to Australia for delivery by 23 August 2020, and arrive in Australia by 28 September 2020. The ship will continue undergoing fit-out of additional equipment including defensive weapon systems, communications and combat systems suite in Australia between October to December 2020.

Navantia is also commissed by the RAN to provide support for the ship's entre maintenance life cycle.

The ship, which will be named HMAS Supply (A 195) once in RAN service by late 2020, is replacing the former replenishment oil HMAS Success (OR 304) which was retired in 2019.

Another ship of the class built by Navantia is undergoing final fit-out works, and is expected to be named as HMAS Stalwart (A 304) once commissioned with the RAN in 2021.

The Supply-class replenishment ships are intended to carry fuel, dry cargo, water, food, ammunition, equipment and spare parts to provide operational support for the deployed naval or combat forces operating far from the port on the high seas for longer periods.

In addition to replenishment, the vessels can be used to combat against environmental pollution at sea, provide logistics support for the armed forces, and to support humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations following a natural disaster.


[1] Navantia
[2] Royal Australian Navy[3] Australian Naval Institute