View source for RFA Stromness

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=RFA Stromness DN-SC-87-05079.jpeg
 |image_caption= RFA ''Stromness'' (A344) underway in the North Atlantic {{circa}} 1982
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=
 |country= United Kingdom
 |flag= [[File:British-Royal-Fleet-Auxiliary-Ensign.svg|100x35px|border|RFA Ensign]]
 |name= RFA ''Stromness''
 |namesake= [[Stromness]], [[Orkney]], Scotland
 |ordered= 7 December 1964
 |builder= [[Swan Hunter]]
 |original_cost=
 |yard_number= 2017
 |way_number=
 |laid_down= 5 October 1965
 |launched= 16 September 1966
 |acquired=
 |commissioned=
 |decommissioned=
 |in_service=
 |out_of_service=
 |struck=
 |reinstated=
 |honours=
 |fate= Sold to US Navy
 |notes=
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header= title
 |country= United States
 |flag={{USN flag|2009}}
 |name=USNS ''Saturn''
 |acquired= 1 January 1983
 |in_service= 1 January 1983
 |out_of_service= 6 April 2009
 |renamed=
 |reclassified=
 |refit=
 |struck=
 |reinstated=
 |homeport=
 |identification= *{{IMO Number|6709787}}
                  *[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NADH
 |motto=
 |nickname=
 |honors=
 |captured=
 |fate= Sunk 27 October 2010
 |notes=
 |badge=
 }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption=
 |class=*RFA: ''Ness''-class fleet stores ship
        *USN: ''Sirius''-class [[combat stores ship]]
 |type=
 |tonnage= *6475 [[deadweight tonnage]]
           * {{GT|14660}}
 |displacement= 10,205 tons
 |length={{convert|523|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|o/a]]
 |beam= {{convert|72|ft|m|abbr=on}}
 |height= 
 |draft= {{convert|26|ft|m|abbr=on}} (max.)
 |depth=
 |hold_depth=
 |propulsion=8-cylinder Sulzer RD 76 turbocharged [[diesel engine]],  {{convert|11520|bhp|0|abbr=on}} at 118 RPM, single propeller
 |speed={{convert|18|kn|km/h}}
 |range=
 |endurance=
 |capacity=
 |troops=
 |complement=*RFA: 110 RFA + 50 Stores Working Party
             *USN: 123 Civilian, 47 Navy
 |sensors=
 |EW=
 |armament= 6x pintle mounts for [[M240B]] 7.62mm machine guns or [[Browning M2]] 12.7mm machine guns in MSC service. Guns not normally fitted
 |armor= 
 |aircraft=2 × [[CH-46 Sea Knight|UH-46 Sea Knight]] or [[MH-60S Seahawk]] helicopters
 |aircraft_facilities=Fitted with a flight deck but no hangar facilities until purchased by U.S. [[Military Sealift Command]], hangar for 2 CH-46, MH-60 or Super Puma post-refit
 |notes= 
 }}
}}
'''RFA ''Stromness'' (A344)''' was a fleet stores ship which served the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] until sold to the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy's]] [[Military Sealift Command]] in 1983. While in the service of British forces, it saw service in the [[Falklands War]]. After the sale to the United States, it was renamed '''USNS ''Saturn'' (T-AFS-10)''' and acted as a [[combat stores ship]] until it was deactivated in 2009; it was able to supply two other ships at once. In 2010, it was [[SINKEX|sunk in an exercise]] by the U.S. [[Carrier Strike Group Two]] off the coast of North Carolina.

==Construction==
Originally known as RFA ''Stromness'' (A344), the vessel was built at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend as Yard Nr 2017, [[United Kingdom]], for the [[Royal Navy]]. She was laid down on 5 October 1965 and launched on 16 September 1966.

== RFA operational history ==
In 1973 she brought the expedition members of the [[Joint Services]] Egmont Islands Expedition (JSEI) from the [[Egmont Atoll]] back to [[Gan, Addu Atoll]] after their mission was over. Led by Sqn Leader "Dickie" Bird [[RAF]], it was the first [[scuba diving]] expedition in the [[Chagos Archipelago]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20091102040112/http://www.asada.org.uk/Archive/20081205ASADA_History.htm The History of Army Recreational Diving and the Army Sub-Aqua Diving Association (ASADA)]}}</ref> Following its success, a second expedition was undertaken to [[Danger Island, Great Chagos Bank|Danger Island]] the following year.<ref>Baldwin, EA (ed.), ''A report on the Joint Services Expedition to Danger Island in the central Indian Ocean, December 1974 to April 1975'', Ministry of Defence Publication, London 1975</ref>

In 1982, ''Stromness'' saw service during the [[Falklands War]], where she carried over 400 troops of [[45 Commando]] [[Royal Marines]] to the beach landing in [[San Carlos Water]].

==Sale to the U.S. Navy==
In 1983 ''Stromness'' was sold to the United States Navy.  She was placed into non-commissioned service with Military Sealift Command and renamed USNS ''Saturn'' (T-AFS-10).

==Military Sealift Command Mission ==
''Saturn'' was one of five [[combat stores ship]]s operated by Military Sealift Command. She provided fuel, food, ammunition and ocean towing services to [[U.S. Navy]] ships around the world. ''Saturn'' carried virtually every type of food and supply needed by Navy ships. ''Saturn'' carried spare and repair parts for other ships and aircraft and also had a limited capability to transfer fuel to other Navy ships at sea. Supplies and fuel are transferred to other ships using lines and hoses suspended above the water to another ship as the ships move forward at the same speed and sometimes less than 50 feet apart.

[[File:US Navy 020209-N-1587C-079 USS Stennis - CH-46.jpg|thumb|left|USNS ''Saturn'' (T-AFS-10)]]
''Saturn'' was capable of replenishing two ships at the same time, one on either side, using this side-by-side technique. Dry stores were also transferred by using [[helicopter]]s to lift large cargo nets and pallets loaded with supplies and parts. ''Saturn'' had elevators and mobile equipment for handling stores internally on the ship. Helicopters were not assigned to ''Saturn'' on a full-time basis, but flew aboard for extended periods of time while the ship was at sea.

Civilian Mariners (CIVMARS) on board USNS ''Saturn'' were a vital part of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Fleet. Their areas of expertise encompass a wide variety of occupations ranging primarily from the engineering, deck and supply departments. Final complement was approximately 120 personnel. Tour lengths were 4 months in duration with an extension option available.

Enlisted ratings on board included Operations Specialists, Information Systems Technicians, Electronics Technicians, Personnelmen and Storekeepers. Final tour length for enlisted military members aboard ''Saturn'' was 12 months. Officers served up to a two-year tour.

==''Saturn'' operational history==
[[File:US_Navy_101027-N-8913A-252_Rounds_from_a_Mk-15_Phalanx_Close-in_Weapon_System_(CIWS)_from_the_guided-missile_destroyer_USS_Mitscher_(DDG_57)_impact.jpg|thumb|20mm rounds from a [[Phalanx CIWS]] hitting ''Saturn'' during the sinking exercise in 2010.]]

The ''Saturn'' was deactivated on 6 April 2009 and sunk as a [[target ship]] for weapons in a sinking exercise (SINKEX) by ships and aircraft of the [[George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group]] off the coast of North Carolina on 27 October 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wvec.com/news/Bush-Strike-Group-sinks-ship-during-exercise-105911148.html |title=Bush Strike Group sinks ship during exercise &#124; WVEC.com Norfolk - Hampton Roads |website=www.wvec.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308103146/http://www.wvec.com/news/Bush-Strike-Group-sinks-ship-during-exercise-105911148.html |archive-date=8 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References==
{{reflist}}
* {{navsource|09/52/5210|USNS Saturn (T-AFS-10) – ex-RFA Stromness (A-344)}}
* [http://www.msc.navy.mil/saturn/ USNS ''Saturn '' (T-AFS 10)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916232950/http://www.msc.navy.mil/saturn/ |date=16 September 2008 }}

{{Ness class combat stores ship}}
{{Falklands War British ships}}
{{2010 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stromness}}
[[Category:Ness-class combat stores ships]]
[[Category:1966 ships]]
[[Category:Falklands War naval ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sirius-class combat stores ships]]
[[Category:Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]
[[Category:Ships built by Swan Hunter]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2010]]