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Royal Navy warships underway heading west across the Atlantic towards Roosevelt Roads and West Palm Beach, USA., having left Gibraltar on 14 February 1977. They were taking part in the Fourth Group Deployment (Task Group 317.5) that was carried out between 25 January - 23 May 1977. Ships included: In the lead is the nuclear-powered attack submarine
HMS Churchill (S46); she is followed by the 'Leander' class frigate
HMS Ariadne (F72), with an unidentified 'Leander' class frigate* to port. They are followed by the 'Leander' class frigate
HMS Danae (F47); next in line is the fleet replenishment tanker
RFA Tidepool (A76); next is the helicopter cruiser
HMS Tiger (C20) (flagship of the Group Commander Rear Admiral Martyn Wemyss, FOF2); next is the stores support ship
RFA Tarbatness (A345); and next the Type 21 frigate
HMS Antelope(F170). They are followed by the 'Leander' class frigate
HMS Euryalus (F15) and an unidentified 'Leander' class frigate* to port. They are followed by the fleet replenishment tanker
RFA Green Rover (A268). The two unidentified 'Leander' class frigates marked with an asterisk are
HMS Aurora (F10) and
HMS Jupiter (F60), exact position of these two ships in the photo is undetermined.Photo courtesy of Royal Navy Museum.
Photo and text from "Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy" by John Roberts.

USNS Spica (T-AFS-9) pulls alongside USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) for a vertical replenishment (VERTREP) at sea, 27 March 2002. Spica is outfitted with contracted French-made SA-330 "Puma" helicopters for the transfer of cargo. John C. Stennis and her battle group are deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.US Navy photo # 020327-N-4768W-011 ARABIAN SEA (27 March 2002) by PH3 Joshua Word.

Robert M. Cieri

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USNS Spica (T-AFS-9) approaches USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) prior to conducting underway replenishment with the carrier, 18 December 2002.
Underway Replenishment is the method by which provisions, ammunition and fuel are transferred from one ship to another at sea. The technique enables a fleet or naval formation to remain at sea for prolonged periods of time. US Navy photo by PH3 Christopher B. Stoltz USN. [021218-N-9964S-003].

USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193) provides fuel and supplies to the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89) and aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) during a replenishment at sea
(RAS) evolution in the Persian Gulf, 14 May 2005, while USNS Spica (T-AFS-9) steams alongside using helicopters to conduct a vertical replenishment (VERTREP). The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group was deployed conducting operations in support of multi-national forces in Iraq and maritime security operations in order to set the conditions for security and stability in the region. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier would end this deployment with a homeport
shift to Norfolk, Va., to commence a three-year refuel and complex overhaul. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's
Mate 3rd Class Dusty Howell (# 050514-N-3241H-002).

USN

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USNS Spica (T-AFS-9) underway on the Elizabeth River at Norfolk, VA., 19 September 2005.