Sprite-class tanker
Class of two aviation spirits carriers of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sprite class were a class of spirit tankers that served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, supporting the Royal Navy during the Second World War. They went on to support British and allied fleet units during the Cold War.
NameSprite class
BuildersBlythswood Shipbuilding Company Ltd
Operators
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Fleet AuxiliaryPreceded byDale class
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sprite class |
| Builders | Blythswood Shipbuilding Company Ltd |
| Operators | Royal Fleet Auxiliary |
| Preceded by | Dale class |
| Succeeded by | Ranger class |
| Built | 1940–1943 |
| In commission | 1941–1964 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Spirits tanker |
| Tonnage | 965 GRT |
| Length | 204 ft 6 in (62.33 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft 3 in (10.13 m) |
| Draught | 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) |
| Propulsion | Triple-expansion engines, 900 ihp (670 kW) |
| Speed | 11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h) |
Class overview
Two ships were eventually built by the Blythswood Shipbuilding Company Ltd, Airsprite and Nasprite. They entered service in the during the Second World War and were used to carry aviation fuel and petroleum.[1] Both survived the war, serving mainly in British waters and the Mediterranean Sea, and continued in service until being retired in the early 1960s and scrapped soon afterwards.[2]