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 < 8 knots = reduce rudder effect
-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
•Use Distance line fore/aft.
to determine range
between vessels.

•Order small course

and speed changes
to maintain relative
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