VOLUME I Multinational Maritime Tactical Instructions and Procedures

MTP 1(D), Vol. I
c. OPSTAT RAS. For use by supplying ships to provide customer ships with details of rigs and
types of stores that can be delivered from respective transfer stations.
d. OPSTAT UNIT. For use by all ships to promulgate details of transfer stations.
e. OPSTAT CARGO. For use by supplying ships to report cargo remaining to the OTC after an
RAS operation and on changing operational control.
Details and examples of these RAS signals are provided in APP-11. It should be noted that the use of
MTMS RAS signals requires that transfer stations should be numbered.
1232 OPTASK RAS: THE OTC PROMULGATING THE REPLENISHMENT PROGRAM
a. Replenishment Program. When he has received the ships’ requirements, the OTC will arrange
and promulgate the replenishment sequence. This should arrive in the ships concerned as soon as possible
before the RAS operation to enable the supplying ships to prepare their stores and pre-dump as required.
RAS operations involving several replenishment units should be planned on RAS sheets (see APP 4).
The complete replenishment program will be passed by signal to all ships. A replenishment program
of a more complex kind can be signaled by Method A, and one which involves a small number of moves by
Method B.
(1) Method A. Paragraphs E1 and E2 of the OPTASK RAS are used for this method and list first
the supplying ships in sequence from the planning sheet, and then the customer ships and the coded description
of their replenishment program taken from the RAS sheet.
(a) On receipt of the OPTASK RAS signal, individual ships should use a standard RAS
plotting sheet to ascertain their own ship’s replenishment program.
(2) Method B. Paragraphs F1 and F2 of the OPTASK RAS are used for this method and list the
sides of the supplying ships that will be used for replenishment, followed by the customer ships and the
transfer station numbers from the RAS sheet.
b. Preliminary Movements. When the OTC of the combatant force orders his ships to
“Replenish,” the ships shown in the signal as being first to replenish are to proceed to the supplying ship.
Remaining escorts are to join the screen and heavy units are to proceed to their allocated stations in the
formation. Unless otherwise ordered by the OTC, replenishments should then proceed as follows:
(1) Ships replenishing are to conform to the replenishment sequence laid down without further orders.
(2) Heavy units are to take up the waiting position automatically when the ship ahead reports that
she expects to disengage in 15 minutes, and are to replenish when it is clear to do so.
(3) Escorts are to proceed as described in paragraph 1232(1) above, if they have been ordered to relieve
at the replenishment unit. If they have been ordered to relieve on station, escorts are to proceed to
replenish as soon as they have been relieved in their station, without further signal.
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