RFA Tarbatness (A345) was a fleet stores ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.[1]

RFA Tarbatness (A345)
History
RFA EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameRFA Tarbatness
Ordered7 December 1964
BuilderSwan Hunter
Yard number2018
Laid down15 April 1966
Launched28 February 1967
Commissioned10 August 1967
Decommissioned1980
FateChartered by US MSC, later bought
United States
NameUSNS Spica
Acquired30 September 1981
Commissioned1 November 1981
Decommissioned26 January 2008
Renamed5 November 1981
FateSunk as target in Training exercise Sinkex, 9 May 2009.
General characteristics
Class and typeNess-class combat stores ship
Displacement16,792 long tons (17,061 t) full load
Length523 ft 4 in (159.51 m)
Beam72 ft 3 in (22.02 m)
Draft25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
Propulsion1 × 8-cylinder Sulzer diesel
Speed17 knots (31 km/h)
Complement110 RFA + 50 Stores Working Party
Aviation facilitiesFitted with a flight deck but no hangar facilities until purchased by USMSC

In 1981, the ship was bought by the United States Military Sealift Command to serve as USNS Spica (T-AFS-9).[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "RFA Tarbatness". Historical RFA. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2024.