Objectives
• Identify various types of ships that are used to
supply fuel and cargo
• Identify various types of equipment used during
UNREP
• Describe procedures for conducting a safe UNREP
• Name various types of replenishment rigs used
during fueling and cargo transfer
• Recognize the different types of standard tensioned
replenishment alongside method (STREAM) rigs used
• Identify procedures for conducting a safe VERTREP
• Describe the type of equipment used in VERTREP
From NROTC, 12-22-2007
Introduction
• The primary aim of an UNREP is the
safe delivery of the maximum amount
of cargo and fuel in the minimum
amount of time
• The operation must be conducted
without interfering with the mission of
the force
• Using UNREP procedures, a force can
remain at sea and on station indefinitely
Types of Underway
Replenishment
• Connected Replenishment (CONREP)
a method of transferring fuel, ammunition,
and stores from one ship to another through
lines and hoses connecting the two ships.
Types of Underway
Replenishment
• Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP)
a method of transferring ammunition and
stores from one ship to another by
helicopter
Replenishment Ships
Single purpose vs. Multi-
purpose
Navy vs. Military Sealift
Command Replenishment
Ships
• MSC Ships
• Former naval auxiliaries now manned with
civilian or civilian/military crews
• Identified with a “T” in front of their type
classification and are USNS vice USS
• Visually identify by blue and gold stripes
painted on their stacks for easy recognition
Oilers (AO)
• Cimarron Class (AO-177)
• Henry J Kaiser Class (TAO-187)
• Services
• Complete range of petroleum products
• Limited Cargo, Food, Stores
• Mail
HENRY J. KAISER Class (T-AO 187)
• 13 underway replenishment oilers
operated by Military Sealift Command
• provide underway replenishment of fuel
to U.S. Navy ships at sea and jet fuel
for aircraft assigned to ships
• UNREP stations on both sides of ship
• 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 20 kts
• ship’s company = 82 civ/1 O/20 E
• Helo platform only
Combat Stores Ships (AFS)
• Mars Class (TAFS-1)
• Sirius Class (TAFS-8)
• Services
• Food (Refrigerated and Frozen)
• Stores, Cargo
• Mail
Fast Combat Support Ships
(AOE)
*Largest, fastest, and most powerful auxiliary ship
*Deploy with CVBGs
• Sacramento Class (AOE-1)
• Supply Class (AOE-6)
• Services
• Fuel
• Ammunition
• Food, Stores, Cargo, Mail
• 2 CH-46s for VERTREP capability
SACRAMENTO Class (AOE-1)
• High-speed oiler, ammunition and supply ship
• 4 total (AOE 1-4)
• U.S. Navy’s largest combat logistics ship
• speed and armament to keep up with CVBG
• carries 177,000 barels of oil, 2,150 tons
of ammunition, 500 tons of dry stores,
and 250 tons of refrigerated stores
• reduces vulnerability of serviced ships by
reducing alongside time
• 4 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 26 kts
• ship’s company = 24 O/576 E
• 2 CH-46 helicopters
• NATO sea sparrow, two CIWS,
SUPPLY Class (AOE-6)
• 4 total ships (AOE 6-10)
• 4 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 25 kts
• ship’s company = 40 O/627 E
• 3 CH-46 helicopters
• NATO sea sparrow, two CIWS, two
25mm
Ammunition Ships (AE)
• Kilauea Class (TAE-26)
• Services
• Ammunition, bombs, missiles
• Limited dry cargo
• Helicopters for VERTREP ops
Other UNREP Ships
• Aircraft Carriers
• top off escort ships
• Amphibious Assault Ships
• Tarawa Class (LHA-1)
• Wasp Class (LHD-1)
Replenishment Planning
1 week - 4 days prior
submit logistics request (RASREQ)
• requested UNREP date
• rendezvous point
• fuel requisition
• stores requisition
Replenishment Planning
1 week - 4 days prior
RASREQ reply
• name of delivery ship
• rendezvous location and time
(considerations?)
• breakdown of supplies to be transferred
• expected replenishment course / speed
Day Prior to Replenishment
• Conduct UNREP brief
• ship/station sequence
• cargo sequence / flow
• masthead height of UNREP ship
• replenishment course / speed
• factors that could affect UNREP - sea state,
wind direction, operational considerations
• emergency procedures
• safety briefing
Day of Replenishment
• Rendezvous with UNREP ship
• Set UNREP detail
• Safety brief onstation
• Take station on UNREP ship (as
directed)
Personnel Requirements at
UNREP stations
• 1 Safety Officer (white helmet)
• 1 Rig Captain (yellow helmet)
• 1 Signalman (green helmet)
• 2 Phone talkers (green helmets)
• 1 Gunners Mate (red helmet and vest)
• 15 line handlers (blue helmets)
• 4 riggers (blue helmets,goggles, face
shields)
• 1 Corpsman (white helmet w/red cross)
Ready, aim, DUCK!
MK87 Mod1 Line Throwing Rifle - propels a buoyant rubber projectile
attached to a spool of international orange shotline
Safety Officer
• Qualify PQS Safety Officer, Underway
Replenishment
• Primary responsibility = prevent unsafe
activities on station
• conduct safety brief to all personnel
• ensure all personnel are in
Kapoks/MK5s and proper battle dress
with all watches and jewelry removed
• Be familiar for procedures with
receiving rig
General Safety
• Life buoy watches stationed
• Chemlights worn by all personnel at
night
• line handlers use “hand-over-hand”
method
• smoking lamp is OUT throughout the
ship while transferring fuel/ammo
UNREP Principles and
Procedures
• Receiving Ship
• Normally the approach ship
• Maintains station on the delivery ship
• receives fuel, ammunition, or stores from
the supply ship
Replenishment Stations
UNREP Ship
Replenishment Station
090° or 270°R
alongside UNREP ship
Waiting Station
500 yds astern
Lifeguard Station
180°R 1,000yds
Waiting Station
UNREP Ship
Waiting Station
Starboard
300-500 yds astern
While In Waiting Station
• Examine the wake of UNREP ship
• Your wake should be parallel / keep about
50yd separation between wakes
• Adjust speed to match UNREP ship
• Determine lateral separation using
Radian Rule
Lateral Separation
Requirements while Alongside
• 100-120 ft (35-40yds) for most
combatants
• 150ft (50yds) for carriers / less
maneuverable ships / inclement
weather
UNREP Approach for standard
120 lateral separation
UNREP Ship
Waiting Station
Starboard
500 yds astern
*Bearing offset from base course to tangent of side of
replenishment ship at a given distance
120 Degress Lateral
Separation Table
Range to UNREP ship (yards) Degrees difference
600 4
500 5
400 6
300 8
200 12
*If you are 600 yards away on unrep course of 150 degrees
true, delivery ship bears 146 degrees true from you.
Radian Rule
D 50 yds
R
D=( )
60
500
50 = ( )
500 yds R 60
= 6 degrees to
port or 354°R
UNREP Principles and
Procedures
Romeo Corpen / Speed:
• Naval terminology for replenishment
course and speed
*speed normally 13-15 knots
-never 15 knots = Venturi effect
• Considerations for selection include
sea conditions, wind direction and
velocity
Waiting station
• 300-500 yards astern
• Compare gyros/engine
rpm
• Use ROMEO flag signals
accordingly
Approach
Adjust course and speed
to take station 120 feet
off to the side of the 120 feet
Control Ship.
Alongside
•Find a "range" on the
other vessel in order
to gauge relative
position fore/aft.
•Use Distance line to
determine range
between vessels.
•Order small course
and speed changes to
maintain relative
position.
Breakaway
•Increase speed.
•Order small course
changes away until
well clear.
•Never cross the bow
of the Control Ship.
USE OF
FLAG
Approach ship
takes station in
waiting station
USE OF 300-500 yards
astern of control
FLAG ship and waits for
further instruction
from control ship
Use of the flag
ROMEO
(Control Ship)
ROMEO is placed at
the dip on side with
the rig.
Meaning: I am steady
on ROMEO course &
speed and preparing to
receive you alongside.
Signals While in
Waiting Station
Control Ship Approach Ship
1. Steady on R Corp/Speed In waiting station
2. Making preps to receive
on starboard side
Use of the flag ROMEO
(Approach Ship)
ROMEO is placed at the
dip on side where rig is
expected.
Meaning: I am ready to
come alongside.
Signals While in
Waiting Station
Control Ship Approach Ship
Ready to come alongside
as indicated by side of
Romeo
Flag
Use of the flag ROMEO
(Control Ship)
ROMEO is closed up.
Meaning: I am ready to
receive you alongside.
In Waiting Station
Control Ship Approach Ship
Ready for your In waiting station
approach
Use of the flag ROMEO
(Approach Ship)
ROMEO is closed up.
Meaning: I am
commencing my
approach.
Commencing Approach
Control Ship Approach Ship
Ready for your Commencing
approach my approach
*Increase speed by 3-
10 knots over signaled
UNREP speed
Coming Alongside
• Slow to Romeo speed as necessary
• Switch to RPM engine orders
• Line up the rigs
• Line-throwing guns on Delivery ship
send over messengers from each
station to opposite stations on receiving
ship
• Exception = danger of a/c on deck,
receiving ship fires shotlines at delivery
ship
Coming Alongside
• Word passed over the 1MC:
• Shot-delivering ship = “On the (receiving
ship’s name), stand by for shot lines. All
hands topside take cover.”
• One whistle signal from each station on
delivery ship
• Shot-receiving ship = “On the (ship’s
name), stand by for shot lines at (stations
concerned). All hands topside take cover.
• Two whistle signals from each station on
receiving ship
• Three whistle signals - delivery ship firing shot
Use of the flag ROMEO
(Control Ship & Approach ship)
ROMEO is hauled down when the first messenger
line is across.
While Alongside
• Maintain relative position
• 1-2 rpm speed changes
• ½° course changes
• Maintain lateral separation using phone-
distance line
• Be aware of spanwire tension/detension
Phone/Distance Line
- Assists the conning officer in monitoring the
distance between ships.
-350ft long with rectangular colored cloth
markings (flags) for 300 feet in the following
order:
Green = 0’
Red = 20’
Yellow = 40’
Blue = 60’
White = 80’
Green = 100’
Phone/Distance Line
Distance Line Provided by Receiving ship
•Hooked up on Delivery ship at the 0' end
•Tended by Receiving ship
An intertwined sound-powered phone line
allows communication between ships.
Phone and Distance Line
Day
G R Y B W G
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Night
Control Approach
Ship Double Blue Chemlights at Ship
60, 100, 140, 180 yds