Royal Australian Navy commissions fleet oiler Supply

The Royal Australian Navy commissioned its first of two auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ships in a ceremony on Saturday, April 10.

HMAS Supply will be used to carry fuel, water, food, parts, and dry cargo to provide logistics replenishment to naval combat units at sea. It will also be able to support humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations domestically and regionally.

Supply will be based at Fleet Base East, Sydney, while sister ship HMAS Stalwart will be based at Fleet Base West at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.

The vessel has a length of 173.9 metres, a beam of 23 metres, a draught of eight metres, a displacement of 19,500 tonnes at full load, and two MAN 18V 32/40 main engines that deliver speeds in excess of 20 knots and a range of over 6,000 nautical miles at 13 knots.

There is also an aft flight deck capable of accommodating one MRH90 utility helicopter.

Supply arrived in Australia in October 2020 following its delivery voyage from the facilities of Spanish shipbuilder Navantia.