A Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker has made history by conducting a replenishment at sea (RAS) with a Mexican warship.

RFA Wave Ruler supplied the Allende (Knox) class frigate AM Guadaloupe Victoria with fuel in the Mexican Caribbean during the auxiliary’s deployment as Atlantic Patrol Tanker (North).

The Mexican Navy is undergoing significant expansion and modernisation, and a request was made for British assistance in training in relation to the expanding navy’s efficiency, and to verify the operation and efficacy of their RAS equipment.

Initial training and co-operation began when Wave Ruler visited the port of Cozumel in May, when harbour exercises involved seamanship skills with the RAS rig, tactical communication training and command and control aspects – and it helped develop a healthy rapport between the RFA and Mexican sailors.

Then came the critical test.

RASing requires the ships concerned – Wave Ruler can refuel two ships at once, one either side – steaming close together and, while under way, passing the refuelling hose between them.

The ships then maintain parallel courses while the fuel is pumped – an operation which requires a high degree of seamanship.

After a couple of tentative trial approaches, the 4,260-ton Guadaloupe Victoria – formerly the American frigate USS Pharris – approached Wave Ruler, which displaces 31,500 tons fully loaded, accepted the hose, connected up and took on fuel in a faultless procedure.

The Commanding Officer of the Mexican frigate declared himself “delighted”, praising both his crew and that of Wave Ruler.