In June of 1997, Argus was positioned off the west coast of Africa with her helicopters covering "Operation Tiller" in Sierra Leone, as the possibility existed that British citizens would have to be evacuated from the continent due to ongoing fighting. In February of 1998, a Spanish container ship - the MV Delfin Meditteraneo - was adrift in heavy seas in the deadly North Atlantic. The RN Air Station Culdrose sent three RN helicopters to Argus where they were able to rescue 12 members of the crew before the ship sank 100 miles off Maderia. The Argus medical detachment was utilized off the coast of Freetown in 2000 in support of British operations against an armed rebel group in Sierra Leone during "Operation Barras". The rebel force was defeated by British units in September. Argus was sent back to the Persian Gulf for the 2003 US-led Invasion of Iraq, and was given the nickname "BUPA Baghdad". She operated as a hospital for coalition and hostile troops in support of the British amphibious assault on the Al-Faw Peninsula.
A number of her missions required Argus to operate as a Landing Pad Helicopter (LPH) ship which she was not designed for and in this role she fell short of the MoD's expectations. The MoD then decided to update the medical facilities on Argus and move her away from LPH-type mission. The decision to use Argus as a causality ship was timely and lead to the thinking at the MoD to change her primary role from the Aviation Support Vessel to a "Primary Casualty Reception Ship".
The MoD allocated 37 funds to this new initiative in 2007 and the upgrades are proposed to extend her operational life until 2020. The MoD expenditure was seen as necessary due to a current shortage of ships that could support heavy helicopter lift capability in both the RN and RFA Navy's. This shortfall was expected to continue until 2018 by which time new aircraft carriers and LPH/D's were expected to enter service. RFA Argus is expected to help fill the void until her replacements come online.
Extensive planning took place in a new design with upgraded hospital facilities to be incorporated into an existing ship. An enclosed triage area was built on the flight deck level with a wide door so casualties could enter and be evaluated then moved to the correct medical level for treatment. To accomplish this, the forward amidships aircraft lift was removed so a wide switchback ramp could be added allowing hospital trollies and patients to be moved quickly to the appropriate medical care unit as directed by medical staff. Also, within feet of the triage area, were two 50-man stainless steel passenger elevators that lead to the four lower decks, giving access to the surgery, ICU, labs, general ward, and the morgue. The removal of the aircraft elevator also required a new bulkhead in the forward machinery space needing four new steel 20-ton hanger watertight doors.
In 2009, RFA Argus continued her refit begun in 2007 with a number of modifications. The original cramped bridge was expanded out for additional space and new windows were added. The crew spaces were gutted allowing for a larger deluxe galley plus new accommodations, not only for the crew, but the Royal Marines and air crews. The hull, flight deck, and hangers, were painted - a massive project in itself. The electrical fire system was replaced throughout the ship along with the station-to-station communication system needing a new switchboard. The PCRF received a new CT scanner and reception area and the wards and intensive care facilities were upgraded. A new 3D X-ray imagery machine was added to ICU along with the latest scanning equipment and a new sterilizing machine. The air-conditioning and refrigeration plant was updated to meet the Montreal protocol standards. For fast movement, a new marine evacuation system was added on the flight deck along the port side. The overall upgrades required 600 tons of new fabricated steel and 10 months to complete.
As a Primary Casualty Receiving Facility, Argus can now accommodate 100 casualties at any one time. The new design of the PCRF is designed to save lives of wounded personnel moving them from the helicopter to the surgery in minimal time. The patient-friendly design and state-of-the-art medical facilities make Argus one of the ships soldiers require in combat zones. She has four operating tables, 10 intensive care beds, 20 emergency room beds and 70 general ward beds. New digital x-ray equipment and comprehensive laboratory facilities and a blood bank are also provided.
In November of 2002, as a Sea King Helicopter from 848 Naval Air Squadron was taking off from the ship in Lyme Bay, the helicopter blade struck the ship and crashed. The crew escaped unhurt from the aircraft but three deck hands were injured by flying debris and airlifted to the Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester England. The Argus had the medical facility to treat the wounded but she lacked the required medical personnel at the time. In January 2003 Argus was sent back to the Persian Gulf for a six month tour supporting "Operation Telic" with 2 Sea King helicopters with 820 troops on board. The Canadian submarine HMCS Chicoutimi was near Ireland in October of 2004 and reported an onboard fire and Argus responded with her helicopters and medical staff.
In 2008 RFA Argus was again in Persian Gulf waters and supported the HMS Chatham, HMS Montrose, and HMS Edinburgh with her fast craft and helicopters in seizing 23 tons of narcotics. After a long tour of duty, Argus entered dry dock for a needed refit at Falmouth, England. In 2009, during the repairs, a fire broke out below deck and this was promptly extinguished by fire fighters. In mid-2010 she was back on station in the Gulf of Aden with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to repress piracy off the coast of Somalia. In March 2011, the civil war in Libya was expanding and Argus was off shore to assist with the rescue of British nationals. Leaving the Libyan coast, she proceeded to Cyprus to load provisions and to embark 40 Royal Marines commandos. She then steamed to the Gulf of Aden to conduct counter-piracy patrols. In June of 2011 she was sent to the Mediteriterrian and berthed at Gibraltar. In November of 2011, the new RN Westland Lynx Wildcat Helicopter was assigned to Argus for aviation trials. Argus moved to the south coast of England for four weeks of trials for Wildcat air and ground crew. The Wildcat is a new variant of the long-running Westland Lynx helicopter that has seen service since 1974.
In June of 2012, Argus sailed to the coast of the United States to join OPSAIL during Fleet Week in New York City, designed to celebrate the Bi-Centennial of the War of 1812. Argus was birthed in Brooklyn and allowed thousands of visitors onboard for above- and below-deck detailed tours by informed officers and crewmen. After leaving New York, her mission called her to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief to British Territories about the Caribbean islands during the 2012 hurricane season. The RFA Argus has a unique design allowing her to complete varied and meaningful missions for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).
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