RFA Argus: Exclusive tour of UK Armed Forces' hospital ship

RFA Argus is a Primary Casualty Receiving Ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary - the flagship 'hospital ship' of the UK's Armed Forces.
Forces News has been given an exclusive tour of the floating medical facility, getting the chance to see the operating theatre, intensive care units, and even the fridges where blood is stored.
In case of a war or a crisis, RFA Argus has 100 beds on board and, according to Lieutenant Dave Roper, the only CT scanner on board a British ship.
More here: www.forces.net/news/rfa-argus...
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[@diggilad781]

fun fact: I was actually christened on RFA Argus, My Dad was a Deck officer then and they decided to hold a christening onboard for me, my dad still works in the RFA and recently got promoted to Captain.

[@craiggallagher1912]

Congratulations. What is his name?

[@forces_news]

Hi, @diggilad781, we at Forces News would love to hear more about your story. If you're willing to tell us more, please contact me @ [e-mail]!

[@misterbig9025]

How did your mom get to RFA Argus?

[@TG-rm3vo]

OPsec... Jesus mate.

[@papa12213]

Proud she is a wallsend lass!

[@eltel4397]

My first ship when I joined RFA . As a assistant cook went to be chief cook . Was on there when the first uk lottery was drawn live on tv good company to join especially learn excellent skills

[@AndyNixon185]

My dad worked on Argus at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead when the hospital was being installed. He gave me a private tour when I was about 13, a cherished memory. Thanks for the video.

[@robmcilwaine4276]

I worked on the reconstruction of this ship in H&W Belfast in the 80s. The ship was originally a car/ cargo ferry from the Great Lakes in America as far as I can remember. It came in to Belfast harbour so the public could look round it about 15 years ago and I took my kids for a look round.

[@burnseric64]

She was called the Contender Brezant and she was a container vessel. Before H&W got her for conversation to Argus

[@happyslappy5203]

wiki: "The ship was built by Società Italiana Ernesto Breda at Marghera in Italy for Contender 2 Ltd (Sea Containers, Managers) of Hamilton, Bermuda, and was launched on 28 November 1980. In May 1982, the Contender Bezant was taken-up from trade by the Ministry of Defence (MoD)"

[@Alan_AB]

I was on her too.

[@colcot50]

She was Italian, I did several trips on her for qualifying pilots on Lynx helicopters on 702 squadron. Great ship, but there was very few RN people on it apart from the AED (Air Engineering Department) supporting deployed squadrons, obviously that’s now changed

[@ianwoodford9725]

Living in Falmouth I see Argus in port regularly. It's nice to have a look inside. Thanks.

[@colonelbogie4763]

Argus was formerly the Contender Bezant - my dad went down to the Falklands war on it & flew Chinooks from it. It’s lasted well!

[@thuggo15]

I had to polish those steps all the way from 1 deck to the bridge many, many years ago.

[@kolasillers7776]

I did it too. Worked for AtoZ and Future.

[@maxsteele20]

Fun fact - RFA Argus was used in the film World War Z as the UN command ship.

[@Alan_AB]

Wow. I worked in the construction of the Argus for two years while it was being built, or rather converted, at Harland and Wolff shipyards in Belfast. It was actually designed and built as an Aviation Training Ship with a hanger deck and flight deck. It was converted from an old Italian Roll on-Roll off ferry called the Contender Bezant. Remind me sometime to tell you about the time that the hydraulics pipes burst where I was just about to start work on the gearbox for the Aft Aircraft Lift. Them were the days. Some stories to tell.

[@terencericketts8017]

Thank you for sharing this video and your service in the RFA⚓️

[@burnseric64]

Spent a lot of time keeping that old lady running (REFIT in Falmouth A&P) , shes here now getting ready

[@gledhill4911]

Did 8 trips on her and 2 refits in Falmouth. I was on her during the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone... Even got the medal.

[@AtheistOrphan]

My mistake. I misread that this was going to be a tour of ARGOS.

[@henryvagincourt4502]

Excellent, such an underrated ship, but so hard working over it's lifetime, long my it serve.

[@steverhysjenks]

I'm surprised how small the hospital facilities are. I was imaging multiple wards and multiple operating rooms (not just the 2 shown)

[@SuperKylewood]

The ship has 70 beds so there must be another ward(s) that wasn't shown

[@redvelvetshoes]

@@SuperKylewoodthere’s a general ward.

[@gledhill4911]

There are, they just didn't show them.

[@stuartandrews4344]

@@SuperKylewood 100-bed medical complex on board,according to RN site.

[@mcallahan9060]

I was expecting to see more of the wards and patient support spaces as well rather than the rather generic looking bridge.

[@whya2ndaccount]

Right so its a "Primary Casualty Receiving Ship". Its not a hospital ship. That comes with a bunch of requirements - painted white, large red crosses, unarmed, .... and under the Laws of Armed Conflict is treated differently. It would be nice if the people who wrote the blurb above actually thought about it.

[@mrm6783]

Pretty common for people to not know much about the laws behind the terminology if it isn't RN, just happy that they didnt call her HMS Argus.

[@whya2ndaccount]

@@mrm6783 Well the people from Forces News should. Surely they get someone to vet / review this stuff before they just post it? Like most organisations with a Social Media policy?

[@whya2ndaccount]

@@lloydpallister582 I never said it did. I'm talking about the title "Behind the Scenes: HOSPITAL SHIP RFA Argus" and the sub title: "RFA Argus: Exclusive tour of UK Armed Forces' hospital ship" Someone who should know (or whose work should have been checked) wrote those two lines.

[@nemo6686]

Obviously the wardroom chefs are top-notch; is there a wardroom tattooist too?

[@guy-on-a-ch]

Wow respect to the militaryy

[@steveclem]

I loved my time on Argus 1996-99. Cushy number.

[@knowlesyknowles5753]

Brings back memories of Freeport back in 2000….

[@robnewman6101]

God Save The King. Long Live The King.

[@Pesmog]

They only toured about a third of the ship in the video, it has a very large helicopter hanger which they should have shown us. When I got a tour of the vessel the thing that I always remember was the massive internal airport style zig-zag ramp for moving hospital beds between decks that could be used if the lifts were unavailable.

[@gledhill4911]

It's called the ramp. Personally I used the lifts.

[@robnewman6101]

Pitty there was no ships like this back in Horatio Nelson's Times. Thank God. I have done my duty.

[@andycoombes161]

Old Ships. I was part of the embarked Naval Party for the First Gulf War. Not my favourite vessel at the time coming from Frigates and Destroyers but good to see inside again

[@robertseddon3242]

I see it every day here in Falmouth :)

[@mcallahan9060]

This ship is pretty long in the tooth. She started out life as an Italian commercial container ship in the early 1980's. Bought by the brits and converted into a helicopter support ship. She actually served in the Falklands conflict. She looks to be in great shape for a ship that is pushing 50-years old. Although considered a "Hospital ship" she is armed and thus is not painted white as per the Geneva Convention rules regarding hospital ships and does not enjoy the protections against being targeted and attacked in times of war. I'm not sure why this is, since the weapons it does have are rather anemic and little more than small arms... a couple of 20mm cannons and a few 7.62 miniguns presumably for port defense.

[@bugattieb110ss]

The Special Forces love this thing. It's regularly used for that purpose as it is large, big flight deck but has a small crew. A lot less conspicuous than a Carrier!

[@johnnunn8688]

A ship with a hospital, Shirley, not a hospital ship. Or it would have red crosses and no weapons, like Wildcats.

[@garrywynne1218]

A hospital “ bay” is not a hospital ship .

[@norman6595]

You are correct - it cannot be designated as a hospital ship under the Geneva Conventions as it is not solely dedicated to medical purposes.

[@burnseric64]

And currently sporting to new phalanx Ciws systems

[@oml81mm]

As I understand it a hospital ship's primary purpose must be medical. It's hull should be painted white with either a red or green band, depending on who operates it. It should fly the Red Cross flag in addition to it's national flag. It should be open to inspections by belligerents. There is more, but those are the main stipulations.

[@vollelektrolysierer5773]

@@oml81mm You forgot unarmed, which is one of the key requirements. Also, all outer areas (hull and superstructure) must be painted white, with one or multiple large red crosses for visibility both from sea and air and not only must the purpose be primarily medical, it may be the only purpose.

[@redvelvetshoes]

In fact, I know Lt Roper from back when he was an LMA. Hiya Dave, it’s Billy C xxx

[@richardnewcombe9449]

Other than upgrades to machinery etc i dont see any reason to dispose of her. Is it true that the flight deck has a very thick concrete and steel deck?

[@charliedrake247]

In my day RFA where merchant navy/and Royal Navy personal is this still the same .

[@Autofleet4429]

Yes

[@gledhill4911]

It's the officers bar not the wardroom. And, all emergencies are handled by HQ1 which is in the machinery control room 1 deck below the bridge, which you conveniently missed out.

[@markbenjamin1703]

We could really do with two large hospital ships RFA Nightangale and RFA Seacole, take £2bn from the Foreign Aid Budget, and use them to support the Carribbean and OSTs

[@georgegeorgakopoulos5956]

In Forces News we trust

[@TheJbsportstech]

Jesus Lieutenant there never skips a meal, must have a galley!

[@goelnuma6527]

An Italian ship from 1980 and still going...

[@gaycaswell6204]

Loued working on board RFA

[@redvelvetshoes]

I crewed this, way back

[@liamd7383]

Would they have to carry patients down the stairs or is there another way to transport them into the hospital ward (i.e; an elevator).

[@andywilliams7323]

The ship has large-sized elevators, (obviously). They don't carry patients up the stairs, they take then on trolleys and beds in the elevators.

[@blazer666del]

There are lifts (elevators) for hospital patients and also ramps covering all decks in case the lifts are out of service

[@superyachtchef]

✳️ why is this 'hospital ship' not painted white with a red cross on each side, as per the. Geneva Convention? Does this vessel have any arms onboard and/or defense/countermeasure systems?

[@dragonov5224]

Bro be flexin that Hossie Boat

[@liammcgrath2306]

Is Argus just for the Navy and Marines? Or are the Army treated on board as well?

[@andywilliams7323]

She is a primary casualty receiving ship and when needed receives and treats casualties from all branches of British and allied armed forces, and civilians.

[@henryvagincourt4502]

@@andywilliams7323 That's her secondary role, shes an aviation training ship, that is what she was built for, in fact she was built (converted) to operate Sea Harriers.

[@gledhill4911]

RFA Argus is crewed and manned by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary service. Everyone else is a passenger. When there's no flight or hospital staff etc the ship is run by 65 crew.

[@henryvagincourt4502]

@@gledhill4911 The ships armament is manned by Royal Navy personnel.

[@robnewman6101]

21st Century British Royal Navy to hunt and catch pirates.

[@f49h]

No Mention of the RFA personel that keep the ship running. Navy blowing smoke up their asses again.

[@blazer666del]

Dont have wardrooms on RFA ships they are called Saloons

[@misterbig9025]

What happens to the patients if the ship were to sink? How do they get evacuated?

[@andywilliams7323]

By helicopters and lifeboats.

[@gledhill4911]

They have a marine evaluation system. Basically massive enclosed rubber rafts with slides. Patients are put into tobbagan type things and sent down the slides, under control of course.

[@RR-us2kp]

0:48 I promise it's not a patient under there 🤣

[@stevedoggart2805]

Death Star, I hated EVERY single second I served on that heap of schyght.

[@rickdeckard4213]

Exclusive tour!!!!!! You're having a laugh. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@ianpratt4109]

Spent a month on Argus back in 2004, a month too much. Hated it, worst trip of my RFA stint.

[@fToo]

what made you dislike Argus ?

[@ianpratt4109]

@@fToo ran too much like a warship. Queuing for scran, sharing bars. Cleaning & polishing stairs. Challenging individuals and work requests when the ship was coming out of refit & still in hands of the yard. List could go on. Worst ship in the RFA fleet and don’t know a single person who likes it, perhaps aside from the RN.

[@peterwright4224]

I would be interested in the pay compared to NHS workers

[@Wargunsfan]

That looks like very good duty. Serve on the Argus and get fat. LOL

[@kolasillers7776]

Confusing ship to navigate along. Been cleaning it for years, still don't know all places.

[@ianhobbs4984]

HOW OUTDATE HAVING BLOOD BANKS WHEN BLOODLESS SURGERY IS SO MUCH BETTER.

[@timwinfield2380]

If it is a Hospital Ship, why is it grey and not white? Also no red cross? Just wondering why not?🤷‍♂

[@andywilliams7323]

Because the title and discription of the video is wrong. RFA Argus is not a hospital ship. She is a primary casualty receiving ship. Armed and able to operate close to and in a combat zone, and receive and treat initial emergency casualties, before forwarding them on to an actual hospital ship or land hospital.

[@timwinfield2380]

@@andywilliams7323 Thank You

[@X737_]

FS dave, thought you’d have had the sense to retire by now 😂

[@Fester_]

Places that folk only want to see through a camera.

[@Josh-se2sj]

Wardroom?! 🤮 it’s the officers bar!

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

Fire up the boilers boys...when the shooting starts with Moscow, you'll be needed. Best Regards and Best Wishes!

[@paxundpeace9970]

2 Operating theaters and 10 Intensiv care beds wouldn't be enough then sadly

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

@@paxundpeace9970 Yep :(. Best Regards

[@gledhill4911]

It's powered by 2 x 18 cylinder Pielstick engines and 4 x rolls Royce Bergan generators plus one caterpillar generator.

[@dangunnell6319]

Use it to ease pressure on nhs

[@andywilliams7323]

It's tiny, it's only got 100 beds in total, and thus wouldn't even make a dent towards easing pressure on the NHS.

[@robnewman6101]

Rule Britannia.

[@lostpompeylad]

RFA was in world war Z, pretending to be a US warship.....

[@gledhill4911]

Aye uss Argus

[@Lookup2Wakeup]

That sailor showing us around is a bit unfit & over weight.....🤔

[@johnnunn8688]

Looks like a weightlifter, he’s probably fitter than you.

[@ianderbyshire384]

No stranger to a fish supper

[@burnseric64]

He's medical staff so it's his skills that are needed and not his fitness

[@Pr011]

He's a medical officer. I'm sure that matters when your life is in his hands. 🙄

[@Therealprinceofcobh]

More than likely he’s a reservist in the navy medical corp 👍

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

Naval officers are not what they used to be. A Lieutenant with those tattoos - disgraceful!

[@LadyZeldaia]

almost like the navy realised that people are people if you feel like a tatoo will stop you from being able to do your job or that its not "propper" for a battlefield then you have some serious problems

[@KARYTTAH_PopMetal_Rock_BAND]

-> 🤔 Maybe We're The 1st Spiritist* Pop-Metal Or Rock Band In This World... But Don't Pay Much Attention To Our Neanderthal English, HaHa ❤ *NOTE: -> Spiritist is who professes Spiritism, the Gospel continuation It has began with the books by Allan Kardec and continued in the books by Francisco C. Xavier, the greatest and more important medium/prophet of spirits of the last centuries... /++

[@burnseric64]

What the hell has this got do do with a RFA VESSEL