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Falkands War order of battle: British naval forces

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This is a list of the naval forces from the United Kingdom that took part in the Falklands War, often referred to as "the Task Force" in the context of the war.[1] For a list of naval forces from Argentina, see Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War.

Royal Navy

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Operation Corporate command structure 1982
The flagship of the Carrier Group, HMS Hermes, alongside HMS Broadsword
Command

In Northwood, London:[2]

In the South Atlantic:

  • Commander Task Group 317.8 (Carrier/Battle Group) and Flag Officer, First Flotilla: Rear-Admiral J.F. Woodward (HMS Hermes)
  • Commander Task Group 317.0 (Amphibious Task Group) and Commodore Amphibious Warfare: Commodore M.C. Clapp (HMS Fearless)
Centaur-class aircraft carrier - V/STOL carrier
HMS Invincible in the South Atlantic.
Invincible-class aircraft carriers
Landing platform docks
Large Foxtrot - Fearless LCU at Red Beach.
  • HMS Fearless - Flagship Task Group 317.0 (†6)
    • Captain E.S.J. Larken
    • 4 LCU (Foxtrot One to Four), 100 troops or one Main Battle Tank. LCU Foxtrot Four, bombed and sunk in the Choiseul Sound by A-4B Skyhawks
    • 4 LCVP (Foxtrot Five to Eight), 25 troops or a Land Rover with trailer.
    • flight deck for 4 Sea King HC.4 (not embarked)
Large Tango - Intrepid LCU.
  • HMS Intrepid
    • Captain P.G.V. Dingemans
    • 4 LCU (Tango One to Four)
    • 4 LCVP (Tango Five to Eight)
    • flight deck for 4 Sea King HC.4 (not embarked)
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
Leander-class frigates
Rothesay-class frigates
HMS Endurance
Ice patrol ship
Castle-class patrol vessels

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

HMS Conqueror returning to Faslane Naval Base after the war, flying the Jolly Roger to signal her sinking of ARA General Belgrano
Churchill-class submarines
Oberon-class submarines
  • HMS Onyx - ran aground - Moderate Damage
    • Lieutenant-Commander A. O. Johnson
Valiant-class submarines
  • HMS Valiant - Argentine fighters returning from an aborted mission jettisoned bombs nearby - Minor Damage[5]
    • Commander T.M. Le Marchand
Swiftsure-class submarines
Hecla-class survey vessels

2,744 t, used as casualty ferries (hospital ships)

Trawler/Minesweepers - Minesweeper Auxiliary (MSA) 11th MCM Squadron
HMS Northella departing Portsmouth Harbour

Civilian trawlers converted to Extra-Deep Armed Team Sweep (EDATS) with some extempore acoustic and sonar equipment. They were manned by Royal Naval personnel, mainly from 1st MCM Squadron based at Rosyth. All five minesweepers were involved in clearing two minefields off Port Stanley.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

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RFA Olmeda (A124)

Tankers

Landing Ship Logistic

The peacetime crews of the Round Table-class ships – British merchant seamen, operating under Ministry of Defence jurisdiction – were joined by British servicemen as signalmen, stevedores and gunners.[7][8]

RFA Sir Lancelot. San Carlos Water.
RFA Sir Tristram being carried home after the war by MV Dan Lifter

Supply ships

Helicopter support ship

Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service

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RMAS Typhoon off Stanley.

Ships taken up from trade

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Canberra in San Carlos Water. May 1982

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

Liners
  • SS Canberra 44,807 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad[6] and carried personnel of the 3rd Commando Brigade to San Carlos on 21 May.[9]
  • MV Queen Elizabeth 2. 67,140 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad[6] and carried 3,200 men of the 5th Infantry Brigade. At South Georgia, the men of 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and 1/7 Gurkha Rifles were transferred to Canberra, Norland and RFA Stromness on 27 May for transport to San Carlos.[10][11]
  • SS Uganda 16,907 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and used as hospital ship from 11 May.[6][12]
Roll-on-Roll-off ferries
  • Elk 5,463 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and two Bofors 40 mm guns to carry three Sea King helicopters, ammunition, and heavy vehicles including eight Bofors 40 mm guns, four FV101 Scorpion and four FV107 Scimitar light tanks - joined carrier battle group on 16 May[6][13]
  • Baltic Ferry 6,455 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried three Army helicopters, 105 troops, and 1,874 tons of stores and ammunition to Ajax Bay on 1 June[6][14]
  • Europic Ferry 4,190 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried vehicles, ammunition, fuel, and four Scout helicopters of 656 Squadron Army Air Corps to San Carlos on 21 May[6][15]
  • Nordic Ferry 6,455 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried troops, stores, and ammunition to Falklands on 29 May[6][16]
  • Norland 12,990 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad[6] carried 800 men of 2 Para and men of 848 Naval Air Squadron to San Carlos on 21 May[17]
  • Rangatira 9,387 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon to carry 1,000 engineers with vehicles and equipment, but sailed after cease fire.[6][18]
  • St Edmund 8,987 GRT[19] – equipped with helicopter pad and carried RAF crews (18 Sqn), troops and vehicles[6]
  • Tor Caledonia 5,056 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried vehicles and equipment; arrived 12 June[6][20]
Container / Cargo ships
Atlantic Conveyor approaching the Falklands
Freighters
Geestport, refrigerated ship, in Southampton Docks
  • Avelona Star 9784 GRT (refrigerated) – equipped with helicopter pad and carried provisions; arrived after cease fire[6][25]
  • Geestport 7,730 GRT (refrigerated) – equipped with helicopter pad and carried provisions and stores; arrived 11 June[6][20]
  • Laertes 11,804 GRT – Soviet-built with armored cable trunks and damage control centers - carried general supplies; arrived after cease fire[6][20]
  • Lycaon 11,804 GRT – Soviet-built with armored cable trunks and damage control centers - carried ammunition and supplies; arrived 28 May[6][26]
  • Saxonia 8,547 GRT (refrigerated) – carried provisions; arrived 23 May[6][20]
  • Strathewe 12,598 GRT – carried supplies and landing craft; arrived after cease fire[6][20]
  • St Helena 3,150 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and four Oerlikon 20 mm cannon for use as minesweeper support ship after the cease fire[6][27]
Tankers
  • Alvega 33,000 t (57,372 DWT) – used as base storage tanker at Ascension from mid-May[28]
  • Anco Charger 24,500 DWT – used as auxiliary support tanker from 24 April[29] with capability to transport 42 different liquids at once[6]
  • Balder London 19,980 t (33,751 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 12 May[6][29]
  • British Avon 15,640 t (25,620 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 25 April[6][29]
  • British Dart 15,650 t (28,488 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 22 April[6][30]
  • British Esk 15,643 t (25,905 DWT) – fitted with over-the-stern underway refueling equipment for use as the first convoy escort oiler[6][31]
  • British Tamar 15,646 t (25,498 DWT) – fitted with over-the-stern underway refueling equipment for use as convoy escort oiler from 13 April[6][31]
  • British Tay 15,650 t (25,650 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 12 April[6][32]
  • British Test 16,653 t (25,641 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 14 April[6][29]
  • British Trent 15,649 t (25,147 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 18 April[6][29]
  • British Wye 15,649 t (25,197 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 25 April[6][29] - hit by bomb from Lockheed C-130 Hercules - Minor Damage
  • Eburna 19,763 t (31,374 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 26 April[6][29]
  • Fort Toronto 25,498 DWT – fresh water tanker from 19 April[6][30]
  • G.A.Walker 18,744 t (30,607 DWT) – used as auxiliary tanker from 10 June[29]
  • Scottish Eagle 33,000 t (54,490 DWT) – used as base storage tanker at South Georgia from 18 June and then moved to Falklands on 14 July[28]
Tugs / Repair / Support Ships
Cable ship Iris
MV Stena Seaspread
  • British Enterprise III 1,595 t – diving support ship
  • Iris 3,873 GRT – cable ship equipped with helicopter pad and two Oerlikon 20 mm cannon for use as despatch vessel from late May.[6][33]
  • Irishman 686 GRT – ocean salvage tug from 24 May.[6][27]
  • Salvageman 1,598 GRT – ocean salvage tug from 7 May.(the most powerful tug on British registry with 11,000 brake horsepower and 170 ton bollard pull)[34]
  • Stena Inspector 5,814 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and used as repair ship after the cease fire.[35] - purchased as RFA Diligence post-war
  • Stena Seaspread 6,061 GRT – diving vessel, oilfield support ship equipped with helicopter pad and used as repair ship from 16 May.[6][36] "Quote": Supreme effort to prepare fleet for battle: Not for the first time has the versatility and technological capability of the offshore support fleet astounded the military - it only comes as a surprise to those not familiar with the offshore oil industry and the demands it places on ships and those crewing them, that the navies of the world do not have the same level of technology available and their personnel often lack the same levels of skills and experience. Most noteworthy was the MSV Stena Seaspread, a refitted diving and maintenance vessel which was taken to the Falklands to act as a floating workshop for the warships. During the period of hostilities the MSV Stena Seaspread carried out damage and other repairs in mid-ocean to more than 50 ships, including 10 warships and 4 captured vessels.[37]
  • Wimpey Seahorse 1,599 GRT – oilfield supply vessel used as mooring tender and tug from 8 June.[6][12]
  • Yorkshireman 686 GRT – ocean salvage tug from 24 May.[6][12]

Weaponry

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

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "British Task Force - Falklands War 1982". Naval History. 31 May 2013.
  2. ^ Sir Lawrence Freeman (2005). The Official History of the Falklands Campaign. Routledge. ISBN 0-7146-5207-5.
  3. ^ a b c d e Morison (June 1983) pp.119-124
  4. ^ Chard sailor's Falkland experience
  5. ^ West, Nigel (2010). Historical Dictionary of Naval Intelligence. Scarecrow Press, pp. 63-64. ISBN 0-8108-6760-5
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar Baker (June 1983) pp.111-118
  7. ^ "The War Within". South China Morning Post. 10 June 2007.
  8. ^ Roberts, P.J. (January 1984). "RFA Sir Galahad - The Demise of a Gallant Knight" (PDF). The Naval Review. 72 (1): 53–58. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  9. ^ Villar (1984) p.171
  10. ^ Trotter (June 1983) pp.108-111
  11. ^ Villar (1984) pp.49&173
  12. ^ a b c Villar(1984)p.183
  13. ^ Villar (1984) pp.9,37-38,40&171
  14. ^ Villar (1984) pp.43&173
  15. ^ Villar (1984) pp.44&172
  16. ^ Villar (1984) p.173
  17. ^ Villar (1984) pp.31&172
  18. ^ Villar (1984) pp.28&174
  19. ^ "British Railways - Sealink".
  20. ^ a b c d e Villar (1984) p.180
  21. ^ Villar (1984) pp.87&179
  22. ^ Villar (1984) pp.37&178-179
  23. ^ Villar (1984) pp.84&179
  24. ^ Villar (1984) pp.86&179
  25. ^ Villar (1984) pp.95&180
  26. ^ Villar (1984) p.179
  27. ^ a b Villar (1984) p.182
  28. ^ a b Villar (1984) p.53
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h Villar (1984) p.169
  30. ^ a b Villar (1984) p.176
  31. ^ a b Villar (1984) p.174
  32. ^ Villar (1984) p.175
  33. ^ Villar (1984) p.101
  34. ^ Villar (1984) p.116&182
  35. ^ Villar (1984) pp.67&178
  36. ^ Villar (1984) p.178
  37. ^ http://www.thenewscentre.co.uk/falklands[permanent dead link‍]

References

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  • Baker, A.D.III (June 1983). "Sealift, British Style". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Clapp, Michael; Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (1996). Amphibious Assault Falklands. Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-420-2.
  • Hastings, Max; Jenkins, Simon (1983). The Battle for the Falklands. Michael Joseph Ltd. ISBN 0-7181-2228-3.
  • Morison, Samuel L. (June 1983). "Falklands (Malvinas) Campaign: A Chronology". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Puddefoot, Geoff (2007). No Sea Too Rough. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-314-3.
  • Trotter, Neville (June 1983). "The Falklands and the Long Haul". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Villar, Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War The Falklands Experience. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-845-X.
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