At the time of the 2021 lecture, the RFA included Tide- and Wave-class tankers, RFA Fort Victoria, Bay-class landing ships, and RFA Argus. Point-class sealift vessels occupied a less clear position in relation to the formal auxiliary fleet. Fast fleet tankers were smaller and quicker because they had to reach carrier groups operating at higher speed. General replenishment tankers could carry more and were adequate for amphibious task groups moving more slowly. Support-ship value therefore depends on the formation it must sustain rather than on speed alone.
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The 2021 RFA matched support ships to force speed
A snapshot of the RFA in 2021 shows fast tankers serving carrier groups while slower replenishment ships could accompany amphibious forces.