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, 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.

Contents

Royal Navy

Operation Corporate command structure 1982 Operation Corporate command structure 1982.png
Operation Corporate command structure 1982
The flagship of the Carrier Group, HMS Hermes, alongside HMS Broadsword HMS Broadsword and Hermes, 1982 (IWM).jpg
The flagship of the Carrier Group, HMS Hermes, alongside HMS Broadsword
Command

In Northwood, London: [2]

In the South Atlantic:

Centaur-class aircraft carrier - V/STOL carrier
HMS Invincible in the South Atlantic. Invincible 1982.JPG
HMS Invincible in the South Atlantic.
Invincible-class aircraft carriers
Landing platform docks
Large Foxtrot - Fearless LCU at Red Beach. Foxtrotcallsign.jpg
Large Foxtrot - Fearless LCU at Red Beach.
Large Tango - Intrepid LCU. Tangocallsign.jpg
Large Tango - Intrepid LCU.
HMS Bristol HMS Bristol storing at Ascension Island 1982.JPG
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 1982.jpg
HMS Antelope returning to San Carlos, 23 May 1982
Leander-class frigates
Rothesay-class frigates
HMS Endurance EndurancePic.jpg
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 HMS Conqueror (S48).jpg
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
Valiant-class submarines
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 Northella.jpg
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

Tankers

Landing Ship Logistic

The peacetime crews of the "Round Table" 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 Lancelot.San Carlos Water.1982.jpg
RFA Sir Lancelot. San Carlos Water.
RFA Sir Tristram being carried home after the war by MV Dan Lifter RFA Sir Tristram & MV Dan Lifter late 1982.JPG
RFA Sir Tristram being carried home after the war by MV Dan Lifter

Supply ships

Helicopter support ship

Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service

RMAS Typhoon off Stanley. RMAS Typhoon.jpg
RMAS Typhoon off Stanley.

Ships taken up from trade

Canberra in San Carlos Water. May 1982 "Canberra" - San Carlos, 1982.jpg
Canberra in San Carlos Water. May 1982

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

Liners
Roll-on-Roll-off ferries
Container / Cargo ships
Atlantic Conveyor approaching the Falklands Atlantic Conveyor (cropped).jpg
Atlantic Conveyor approaching the Falklands
Freighters
Geestport, refrigerated ship, in Southampton Docks Geestport.jpg
Geestport, refrigerated ship, in Southampton Docks
Tankers
Tugs / Repair / Support Ships
Cable ship Iris CS Iris.jpg
Cable ship Iris
MV Stena Seaspread MV Stena Seaspread (11653272595).jpg
MV Stena Seaspread

Weaponry

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

See also

Notes

  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. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 Villar (1984) p.182
  28. 1 2 Villar (1984) p.53
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Villar (1984) p.169
  30. 1 2 Villar (1984) p.176
  31. 1 2 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%5B%5D

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References

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