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'RFA ''Black Rover'' (A273)' is a small fleet tanker of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She is designed to replenish ships underway at sea with fuel, fresh water, and stores in all weather conditions. She has a helicopter deck served by a stores lift and is capable of conducting helicopter replenishment. Displacing 11,500 tonnes, she is powered by twin diesels and has a ship's company of 56.
RFA Black Rover was built by Swan Hunter, being launched in 1973. She was accepted into service in 1974. She is scheduled to be decommisioned by 2010.
In 2000 RFA Black rover participated in Exercise Unified Spirit 2000 and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 01-1. The combined exercise, which took place in the waters off the US East Coast and in the Caribbean, began Oct. 9 and included the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) Battle Group, USS NASSAU (LHA 4) Amphibious Ready Group and 14 NATO ships from Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Only 2 ships from the UK participated one being Black Rover the other Type 42 Destroyer HMS Cardiff.
By February 2001 RFA Black Rover has set sail from Devonport Naval Base at the start of an 11-month deployment as Atlantic Patrol Tanker (South). She and HMS Glasgow set off to do a number of port visits as they sail south and made their way to the coast of West Africa to support British forces in and around Sierra Leone. Later in 2001 the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker will cross the Atlantic and head even further south as she proceeds to the more traditional patrol area of the Falkland Islands, and she is expected to return home to the UK in December in time for Christmas.
In recent deployments RFA Black Rover has deployed from UK in June 2005 and their tasking includes assisting with post-Tsunami reconstruction and participation in multi-national exercises in the Far East as the UK's component of the Five Power Defence Arrangement. On the deployment RFA BLACK ROVER was commanded by Captain K Rimell.
She know has the role of FOST (Flag Officer Sea Training) Tanker, and in September 2006 she had the pleasure of hosting the RFA recruitment video film crew. RFA Black Rover’s role as FOST (Flag Officer Sea Training) Tanker, provided the perfect opportunity for the filmmakers to capture many of the RFAs abilities. Due to the busy nature of the FOST schedule, the film crew experienced a wide variety of exercises and evolutions during their time on board.