[11][12] On 31 August 2008 Wave Ruler was dispatched with HMS Iron Duke to assist relief efforts in the Caribbean for the Atlantic Hurricane Gustav.

The vessels distributed food, water and first aid supplies to victims of the disaster as well as providing support restoring local infrastructure.

[22] In late 2014, Wave Ruler deployed as part of the Cougar 14 Task Group, along with HM Ships Bulwark and HMS Northumberland, RFA Lyme Bay and the French frigate Courbet for naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf.

[24] Wave Ruler spent the latter part of 2016 and early 2017 operating in Scottish waters and the English Channel in support of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST).

[25] As of June 2020, Wave Ruler was reported to be in "reduced readiness" (reserve - base maintenance period)[26] but maintained in good condition and available for reactivation.

[29] As early as 2010, BAE Systems had proposed providing Brazil with a variant of the Wave class, tailored to meet the specific aviation, stores and personnel requirements of the Brazilian Navy.

[30] Nevertheless, the ship was still part of the RFA fleet (though maintained in reserve) as of late 2021, with the 2021 defence white paper apparently having had no overt impact on that status.

In November 2024, the newly elected Labour government indicated that both Wave Ruler and her sister ship, would, in fact, be removed from service by March 2025.