Navy

Before it's too late: Former RN commander calls for urgent action on depleted RFA

What safety issues with RFA Argus mean for the capabilities and reputation of the Royal Navy

A respected former Royal Navy commander has described the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as "withered," calling the state of its vessels one of the biggest defence scandals of today.

Tom Sharpe, who commanded four Royal Navy ships during a 27-year career, told BFBS Forces News the withdrawal of RFA Argus's safety certificate was "pretty grim" - and a sign of much deeper problems across the fleet.

Argus, in service for more than 40 years, is now considered so unsafe that her crew cannot even move her to another berth. She remains stranded in Portsmouth.

"Heaven forbid she'd sprung a leak at sea and sunk, and maybe lost a couple of lives," he said.

"That's what then triggers a coroner's inquest - like the Haddon-Cave inquiry into the Nimrod crash in 2006. That [inquest] eviscerated elements of decision-making within the RAF that led to that fatal crash.

"What we need to do in the case of the RFA, maybe using Argus as the lever, is commission something similar. But just for once, let’s do it before the accident."

Cdr Sharpe added it felt like "we are getting close" to a similar disaster.

Forces News understands that just two of the RFA's 10 vessels are currently operational.

RFA Tidespring is deployed in the Far East with the Carrier Strike Group, while RFA Tideforce is operating closer to home.

It's thought RFA Tiderace has been inactive for more than 400 days.

Cdr Sharpe said the question of blame was complex, but called for an inquest-style review to properly investigate the state of the RFA - and warned that the findings might be "very uncomfortable".

"We've had a number of near misses," he said. "So let's commission something into Argus that specifically answers the question.

RFA Argus taking part in Op Granby during the 1991 Gulf War. (Picture: BFBS) — RFA Argus took part in Op Granby during the 1991 Gulf War

"It's going to be very uncomfortable; there will be senior officers and civil servants probably still serving - although I think some of these things have such a long lead time it goes back decades - who need to be held to account.

"And they need to be held to account because lack of accountability is one of the real problems defence has across the board when it comes to making us better at these things in the future."

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: "We are collaborating closely with Lloyd's surveyors, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and our industry partners to address issues recently identified with RFA Argus.