Supply-class replenishment oiler
The Supply class is a class of replenishment oilers of the Royal Australian Navy, a role that combines the missions of a tanker and stores supply ship. As such they are designated auxiliary oiler replenisher (AOR). They are tasked with providing ammunition, fuel, food and other supplies to Royal Australian Navy vessels around the world. There are two ships in the class, Supply and Stalwart. The project is expected to cost anywhere between $1 and $2 billion. Navantia were selected to build a design based on the Spanish Navy's current replenishment vessel Cantabria, which entered service in 2011.
Stalwart in Cockburn Sound, December 2021
HMAS Supply and Stalwart are based on the Spanish oiler Cantabria shown here in March 2011.
INS Shivalik undergoing replenishment from Stalwart during a Malabar exercise.
A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers.
The replenishment oiler HMAS Sirius (right) providing fuel to the amphibious warfare ship USS Juneau while both are underway
RFA Tiderace performing a dual repenishment of Royal Navy frigates HMS Lancaster and HMS Westminster.
Replenishment oiler USS Wabash at work
USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198) an underway replenishment oiler.