RFA Regent (A486)

RFA Regent A486 was an ammunition, explosives, and stores supply ship in the 'Royal Fleet Auxiliary'. She was commissioned in 1967 and took part in the Falklands War.

Her part in the Falklands War
After taking on stores at Glen Douglas and Plymouth, RFA Regent sailed from Plymouth on 19 April 1982, arriving in the Total Exclusion Zone...(TEZ) on 8 May. She spent much of her time with the Carrier Group, replenishing ships in the group, day and night.

Surviving at least one Exocet attack, the most publicised was on May 25th, Argentina's National Day. She was North East of East Falkland, having just taken part (or just completing) a 'Vertrep' ('Vertical Replenishment'... a helicopter stores transfer) and / or 'RAS' (Replenishment at Sea) with the 'SS Atlantic Conveyor' (with whom she had been sailing the same track with all day), when the 'Air Raid Warning Red Alarm' sounded, and the two ships took evasive action. The 'SS Atlantic Conveyor' was struck by one of the two Exocet Missile's launched, (some have reported two struck, although it is believed the second one flew on a short distance before ditching into the sea), 'Chaff' launched from several ships confused the Exocet's, and one of them (?) locked onto the biggest target available on their new course.

It was a bad day for 'British Task Force', having already lost 'HMS Coventry' only a few hours before.

'RFA Regent' carried on supplying the Task Force until the third week of August, becoming one of the longest serving ships that took part in the Conflict. She eventually arrived back in the UK at (Rosyth, in Scotland) on 15 September, after 148 days at sea, and replenishing most of the ships in the RN at least once. She had sailed more than 35,000 nautical miles.

Later service
She helped with the evacuation of British nationals from Cyprus during the Turkish invasion 1974. She also took part in the first Gulf War 1991.

Regent was decommissioned on October 1992. She sailed from Devonport on 21 January 1993 under the name Shahzadelal, for the delivery run to the Indian breakers. She arrived at Alang for scrapping on 19 February 1993.