RFA Eddyfirth
Class overview
Name	Eddy class
Operators	Royal Fleet Auxiliary
In commission	1951–1981
Planned	10
Completed	8
Cancelled	2
Retired	8
General characteristics
Type	Coastal tanker
Tonnage	2,200 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Length	286 ft 5 in (87.3 m)
Beam	46 ft 4 in (14.1 m)
Draft	17 ft 3.5 in (5.3 m)
Propulsion	3-cylinder triple expansion steam engine
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	38

The Eddy-class coastal tankers were Royal Fleet Auxiliary Replenishment oilers built from 1951–1953 tasked with transporting and providing fuel and other liquids to Royal Navy vessels and stations around the world.

History

There were originally ten ships planned in the class, although the final two were cancelled in 1952. Originally designed to act as fleet attendant oilers, in this role the ships were obsolete almost as soon as they were built due to the increasing prevalence of replenishment at sea, and their role was refocused to coastal transport duties.^[1]

Most of the class had relatively short service careers, although Eddyfirth remained in service until 1981. Several of the vessels were based at Gibraltar in the Mediterranean for most of their service years.

Ships

See also

• T1 tanker US coastal tanker
• T2 tanker
• T3 Tanker
• Replenishment oiler
• Escambia-class replenishment oiler

References