RFA Wave Ruler (A390)

Wave Ruler underway with a United States Coast Guard Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopter embarked
History
United Kingdom
Name:	RFA Wave Ruler
Operator:	Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Ordered:	12 March 1997
Builder:	Kvaerner Govan BAE Systems Marine
Launched:	9 February 2001
Commissioned:	27 April 2003
Identification:	Pennant number A390
Status:	in active service
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Wave-class Tanker
Displacement:	31,500 tonnes approx
Length:	196.5 metres
Beam:	28.25 metres
Draft:	9.97 metres
Propulsion:	Diesel-electric: 4 × Wartsila 12V 32E/GECLM diesel generators 25,514 metric horsepower (18.76 MW) 2 × GEC Alstom motors with Cegelec variable speed converters 19,040 metric horsepower (14 MW) 1 × shaft 18t thrust electric Kamewa bow thruster and 12t thrust electric stern thruster, both powered by Cegelec variable speed drives and motors
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h)
Range:	10,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Capacity:	16,000 m3 of liquids (of which 3,000 m3 aviation fuel & 380 m3 fresh water) 125 tonnes of lubricating oil 500 m3 of solids 150 tonnes of fresh food in eight 20 ft refrigerated container units.
Complement:	80 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel with provision for 22 Royal Navy personnel for helicopter and weapons systems operations
Sensors and processing systems:	Surface search: E/F band Navigation: KH 1077, I-band IFF: Type 1017
Armament:	2 × DS30B 30 mm cannon; 2 × 7.62 mm Mk.44 Miniguns; 5 × 7.62 mm L7 machine guns; 2 × Vulcan Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried:	1 × Merlin helicopter with full hangar facilities

RFA Wave Ruler is a Wave-class tanker fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) of the United Kingdom tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world.

Wave Ruler was built by Kvaerner Govan (after 1999, BAE Systems Marine) and launched in 2001. She was accepted into service in 2003 and is the 2nd ship to bear this name in RFA service. Wave Ruler and her sister Wave Knight, were designed to replace Olna and Olwen, two Ol-class tanker 36,000 ton fast fleet tankers which were built at Swan Hunter and Hawthorn Leslie in the 1960s.

Wave Ruler was the last tanker commissioned into the RFA until RFA Tidespring becomes operational in late 2017.

Wave Ruler has a standard crew of 80 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel with provision for a further 22 Royal Navy personnel to conduct helicopter and weapons systems operations. She carries a full medical team and sick bay and is capable of distributing 2,000 emergency relief packages in times of crisis.

The ship has the capability to supply fuel and other liquid cargo to vessels using replenishment rigs on port and starboard beams and through a Hudson reel-type stern rig. When providing support for amphibious operations, Wave Ruler is also able to deliver fuel to dracones positioned alongside. In addition to fuel, the ship carries ammunition and other stores which can be transferred while underway. She can operate a Merlin HM1 helicopter, or other helicopters of similar size, from a hangar and flight deck at the stern.