Bâtiment Ravitailleur de Forces – did someone ask for jet fuel?

It is a somewhat niche quiz question, but then dear reader, you are then one who decided to show up here, so here we go: What is the largest vessel of the Royal Norwegian Navy? If your mind goes to the 5,300 ton and 134 meter long Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates, that is very understandable, but also wrong. The upcoming 7,700 ton and 150 meter long Type 26 will be larger, but even they won’t take the top spot of the podium. The correct answer is the KNM Maud, at 27,500 ton and a mighty 183 meters in length, the replenishment oiler with some margin takes the crown. The replenishment oilers are often treated as something of an afterthought in the public discussion, a ‘not quite a real warship’ if you like. But the fact is you can make a solid argument that the presence of an oiler is the actual mark of a true blue-water navy. Because while sailing from point A to point B is impressive, if you need to stop at friendly ports to top up your stores at every turn you will be severely limited…