Wave Knight class tanker

Wave class
Class overview
RFA Wave Wave Ruler (at left) carrying out a replenishment at sea with the frigate HMS Iron Duke in 2006
Name:	Wave class
Builders:	VSEL (later BAE Systems Marine)
Operators:	Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Preceded by:	Ol class
Succeeded by:	Tide class
In commission:	8 April 2003–present
Completed:	2
Active:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Fast fleet tanker
Displacement:	31,500 tonnes approx
Length:	196.5 m (644 ft 8 in)
Beam:	28.25 m (92 ft 8 in)
Draft:	9.97 m (32 ft 9 in)
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 Kelvin Hughes Ltd SharpEye navigation radar 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

The Wave-class tankers are a class of fast fleet tankers in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The class is tasked with providing fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world. There are two ships in the class, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler. The ships were ordered to replace the aging Ol-class tankers RFA Olna and RFA Olwen. The two vessels have seen service in a number of locations, including anti-drug and hurricane relief operations in the Caribbean Sea, anti-piracy activities around the Horn of Africa and deterrent patrols in the South Atlantic.

A contract was placed for the vessels in 1997 with Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (Marconi Marine VSEL). Construction of Wave Knight began in 1998 at VSEL's Barrow-in-Furness yard and the ship was launched in 2000. With the acquisition of Marconi Electronic Systems and its Marconi Marine subsidiary in 1999 British Aerospace became BAE Systems. BAE now owns VSEL in Barrow and the Yarrow and Govan shipyards on the Clyde. BAE transferred the construction of Wave Ruler to Govan in 2000 and the vessel was launched in 2001. Both vessels were commissioned in 2003.

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