British naval forces in the Falklands War

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This is a list of the naval forces from the United Kingdom that took part in the Falklands War. For a list of naval forces from Argentina, see Argentine Naval Forces in the Falklands War.

Contents

[edit] Royal Navy

HMS Conqueror returning to Faslane Naval Base after the war, flying the Jolly Roger to signal her sinking of the ARA General Belgrano
HMS Conqueror returning to Faslane Naval Base after the war, flying the Jolly Roger to signal her sinking of the ARA General Belgrano
Command

In Northwood, London[1]:

In the South Atlantic:

  • Commander Task Group 317.8 (Carrier/Battle Group) and Flag Officer, First Flotilla: Rear-Admiral J. 'Sandy' Woodward (HMS Hermes)
  • Commander Task Group 317.0 (Amphibious Task Group) and Commodore Amphibious Warfare: Commodore M. Clapp (HMS Fearless)
  • Supply force: Commodore S.C. Dunlop
Centaur class aircraft carrier - V/STOL carrier
Invincible class aircraft carriers
Landing Platform Docks
HMS Bristol
HMS Bristol
Type 82 destroyer
Type 42 destroyers
County class destroyers
Type 22 frigates
Type 21 frigates
HMS Antelope returning to San Carlos, 23 May 1982
HMS Antelope returning to San Carlos, 23 May 1982
Leander class frigates
Rothesay class frigates
Ice patrol ship
HMS Endurance
HMS Endurance
Castle class patrol vessels

As despatch vessels, carrying mail between the Task Force and Ascension Island.

Churchill class submarines
Oberon class submarines
  • HMS Onyx (S21) - ran aground - Moderate Damage
    • Lt-Cdr. A. O. Johnson
Valiant class submarines
Swiftsure class submarines
Hecla class survey vessels

2,744 t, used as casualty ferries

Trawler/Minesweepers

Civilian trawlers converted to Extra-Deep Armed Team Sweep (EDATS) with acoustic and electro-magnetic tow. Manned by RNR personnel[2].

  • HMS Cordella 1,238 t
  • HMS Farnella 1,207 t
  • HMS Junella 1,615 t
  • HMS Northella 1,238 t
  • HMS Pict 1,478 t
    • All five minesweepers cleared two minefields in Port Stanley.

[edit] Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Tankers

Landing Ship Logistic

RFA Sir Lancelot. San Carlos Water
RFA Sir Lancelot. San Carlos Water
RFASir Tristram at Fitzroy, late June 1982
RFASir Tristram at Fitzroy, late June 1982

Supply Ships

Helicopter Support Ship

[edit] Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service

RMAS Typhoon off Stanley
RMAS Typhoon off Stanley

[edit] Ships Taken Up From Trade

SS Canberra and HMS Andromeda. She was not attacked, because the Argentine pilots thought the white ship was a hospital ship.
SS Canberra and HMS Andromeda. She was not attacked, because the Argentine pilots thought the white ship was a hospital ship[3].

The following Merchant Navy ships were requisitioned, as Ships Taken Up From Trade (STUFT).

Liners
Roll-on-Roll-off ferries
  • Elk 5,463 t
  • Baltic Ferry 6,455 t
  • Europic Ferry 4,190 t
  • Nordic Ferry 6,455 t
  • Norland 12,990 t — carried 2 Para to San Carlos
  • St Edmund 8,990 t[4]
  • Tor Caledonia 5,056 t
Container / Cargo ships
Atlantic Conveyor
Atlantic Conveyor
  • Atlantic Causeway 14,946 t — carried ASW Sea Kings
  • Contender Bezant 11,000 t — purchased as RFA Argus post-war
  • Geestport 7,730 t
  • Laertes 11,804 t
  • Lycaon 11,804 t
  • Saxonia 12,029 t
  • St. Helena 3,150 t — minesweeper support ship
Tankers
  • Alvega 33,000 t
  • Anco Charger 25,300 t
  • Balder London 19,980 t
  • British Avon 15,640 t
  • British Dart 15,650 t
  • British Esk 15,643 t
  • British Tamar 15,646 t
  • British Tay 15,650 t
  • British Test 16,653 t
  • British Trent 15,649 t
  • British Wye 15,649 t — hit by bomb from Lockheed C-130 Hercules - Minor Damage
  • Eburna 19,763 t
  • Fort Toronto 31,745 t — fresh water tanker
  • G.A.Walker 18,744 t
  • Scottish Eagle 33,000 t
Tugs / Repair / Support Ships
  • British Enterprise III 1,595 t — diving support ship
  • CS Iris 3,873 t — cable ship as despatch vessel
  • Irishman 686 t — ocean tug
  • Salvageman 1,598 t — ocean tug
  • Stena Inspector 7,000 t — purchased as RFA Diligence post-war
  • Stena Seaspread 6,061 t — oilfield support ship
  • Wimpey Seahorse 1,599 t — oilfield supply vessel
  • Yorkshireman 686 t — ocean tug

[edit] Weaponry

HMS Cardiff Sea Dart Launcher
HMS Cardiff Sea Dart Launcher
Type 42 destroyer returning from a nightly shelling
Type 42 destroyer returning from a nightly shelling

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sir Lawrence Freeman (2005). The Official History of the Falkands Campaign. Routledge. ISBN 0-7146-5207-5. 
  2. ^ Antony Preston: Sea combat off the Falklands, 1982, Willow Books, ISBN 0-00-218046-4
  3. ^ Ward, Sharkey (1992). Sea Harrier over the Falklands. Cassell Military Paperbacks, 271. ISBN 0-304-35542-9. 
  4. ^ British Railways - Sealink.
  • Hastings, Max; Jenkins, Simon (1983). The Battle for the Falklands. Michael Joseph Ltd.. ISBN 0-7181-2228-3. 
  • Puddefoot, Geoff (2007). No Sea Too Rough. Chatam Publishing. ISBN 97-1-86176-314-3. 
  • Clapp, Michael; Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (1996). Amphibious Assault Falklands. Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-420-2. 

[edit] External links

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Falklands War
Military forces
Timeline
Battles
Operations