British naval forces in the Falklands War

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.

Royal Navy

Command

In Northwood, London:^[1]

• Commander-in-Chief, Fleet: Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse
• Commander Task Group 324.3 and Flag Officer Submarines: Vice-Admiral Peter G. M. Herbert

In the South Atlantic:

• Commander Task Group 317.8 (Carrier/Battle Group) and Flag Officer, First Flotilla: Rear-Admiral John Woodward (HMS Hermes)
• Commander Task Group 317.0 (Amphibious Task Group) and Commodore Amphibious Warfare: Commodore Mike Clapp (HMS Fearless)

Centaur-class aircraft carrier - V/STOL carrier

• HMS Hermes - Flagship (†3) 2 SHAR pilots
  • Captain Lin Middleton RN (Linley E Middleton)
  • 706 Naval Air Squadron (4 Sea Kings)^[2]
  • 800 Naval Air Squadron (12 BAE Sea Harriers)
  • part 809 Naval Air Squadron (4 BAE Sea Harriers)
  • 826 Naval Air Squadron (12 Sea King HAS.5)^[2]
  • 846 Naval Air Squadron (6 Sea King HC.4)^[2]

Invincible class aircraft carriers

• HMS Invincible (†3) 2 SHAR pilots
  • Captain Jeremy J. Black RN
  • 801 Naval Air Squadron (8 BAE Sea Harriers) - Lieutenant-Commander 'Sharkey' Ward RN
  • part 809 Naval Air Squadron (4 BAE Sea Harriers)
  • 820 Naval Air Squadron (10 Sea King HAS.5)^[2]

Landing Platform Docks

• HMS Fearless (†6)
  • Commodore Mike Clapp RN + Captain Jeremy Larken RN (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)

• HMS Intrepid
  • Captain Peter Dingemans RN (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)

Type 82 destroyer

• HMS Bristol
  • Captain Alan Grose RN (A Grose)

Type 42 destroyers

• HMS Sheffield - set on fire by an Aérospatiale AM39 Exocet (Air-to-Surface) Anti-ship missile launched from a Dassault Super Étendard May 4, (†20) - Fatal Damage (sank on May 10)
  • Captain Sam Salt RN (J F T G Salt)
• HMS Coventry - sunk on May 25 by three bombs from a Douglas A-4B Skyhawk (†19+1) - Fatal Damage
  • Captain David Hart Dyke RN
• HMS Glasgow - hit by unexploded bomb from a Douglas A-4B Skyhawk May 12, withdrawn from war - Moderate Damage
  • Captain Paul Hoddinott RN (A P Hoddinott)
• HMS Cardiff
  • Capt. Mike G.T. Harris
• HMS Exeter
  • Capt. Hugh Balfour

County class destroyers

• HMS Glamorgan - hit by an Aérospatiale MM38 Exocet (Surface-to-Surface) Anti-ship missile on June 11 (†14) - Major Damage
  • Capt. Mike E. Barrow
• HMS Antrim - hit by unexploded bomb from an IAI Dagger - Major Damage
  • Capt. Brian G. Young

Type 22 frigates

• HMS Brilliant - hit by IAI Dagger cannon fire - Minor Damage
  • Capt. John F. Coward
• HMS Broadsword - hit by IAI Dagger cannon fire, later damaged by bomb from Douglas A-4B Skyhawk - Moderate Damage
  • Capt. William R. Canning

Type 21 frigates

• HMS Active
  • Cdr. Paul C.B. Canter
• HMS Alacrity - sank Argentine transport ship ARA Isla de Los Estados. Slightly damaged by bomb. Lynx helicopter damaged by return fire from armed coaster ARA Monsunen.
  • Cdr. Chris J.S. Craig
• HMS Antelope - sank May 24 due to unsuccessful defusing attempt of unexploded bombs from Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (†2) - Fatal Damage
  • Cdr. Nicholas Tobin
• HMS Ardent - sank May 21 by bombs from IAI Daggers and Douglas A-4Q Skyhawks (†22) - Fatal Damage
  • Cdr. Alan West (Later Admiral Sir Alan West, First Sea Lord 2002 - 2006)
• HMS Ambuscade
  • Cdr. Peter J. Mosse
• HMS Avenger
  • Capt. Hugo M. White
• HMS Arrow - hit by IAI Dagger cannon fire - Minor Damage
  • Cdr. Paul J. Bootherstone

Leander class frigates

• HMS Andromeda
  • Capt. James L. Weatherall
• HMS Argonaut - hit by Aermacchi MB.339A cannon/rocket and unexploded bombs from Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (†2) - Major Damage^[3]
  • Capt. Christopher H. Layman
• HMS Minerva
  • Cdr. S.H.G. Johnston
• HMS Penelope
  • Cdr. P.V. Rickard

Rothesay class frigates

• HMS Yarmouth
  • Cdr. Anthony Morton
• HMS Plymouth - unexploded bombs from IAI Daggers - Major Damage
  • Capt. David Pentreath

Ice patrol ship

• HMS Endurance
  • Captain Nick Barker RN (Nicholas J Barker)

Castle class patrol vessels

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

• HMS Leeds Castle
• HMS Dumbarton Castle

Churchill class submarines

• HMS Conqueror - sank the ARA General Belgrano
  • Cdr. Christopher L. Wreford-Brown
• HMS Courageous
  • Cdr. Rupert T.N. Best

Oberon class submarines

• HMS Onyx - ran aground - Moderate Damage
  • Lt-Cdr. A. O. Johnson

Valiant class submarines

• HMS Valiant - Argentine fighters returning from an aborted mission jettisoned bombs nearby - Minor Damage^[4]
  • Cdr. Tom M. Le Marchand

Swiftsure class submarines

• HMS Spartan
  • Cdr. J.B. Taylor
• HMS Splendid
  • Cdr. Roger C. Lane-Nott

Hecla class survey vessels

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

• HMS Hecla
  • Captain Geoff Hope RN (G L Hope)
• HMS Herald
  • Commander Robert Halliday RN (R I C Halliday)
• HMS Hydra
  • Commander Richard Campbell RN (R J Campbell)

Trawler/Minesweepers - Minesweeper Auxiliary (MSA) 11th MCM Squadron

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.

• HMS Cordella 1,238 GRT^[5]
  • Lt-Cdr Martyn Holloway
• HMS Farnella 1,207 GRT^[5]
  • Lt Bob Bishop
• HMS Junella 1,615 GRT^[5]
  • Lt-Cdr Mark Rowledge
• HMS Northella 1,238 GRT^[5]
  • Lt-Cdr Jeremy Greenop
• HMS Pict 1,478 GRT^[5]
  • Lt-Cdr David Garwood

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Tankers

• RFA Olna (A123) 36,000 t
  • J.A. Bailey
• RFA Olmeda (A124) 36,000 t
  • G.P. Overbury
• RFA Tidespring (A75) 27,400 t
  • S. Redmond
• RFA Tidepool (A76) 27,400 t
  • J.W. Gaffrey
• RFA Blue Rover (A270) 11,522 t
  • D.A. Reynolds
• RFA Appleleaf (A79) 40,870 t
  • G.P.A. McDougall
• RFA Brambleleaf (A81) 40,000 t
  • M.S.J. Farley
• RFA Bayleaf (A109) 40,000 t
  • A.E.T. Hunter
• RFA Plumleaf (A78) 25,790 t
  • R.W.M. Wallace
• RFA Pearleaf (A77) 25,790 t
  • J. McCulloch

Landing Ship Logistic

RFA Sir Lancelot. San Carlos Water.

RFA Sir Tristram being carried home after the war by MV Dan Lifter

• RFA Sir Bedivere (L3004) - bombed by Douglas A-4B Skyhawk - Minor Damage
  • P.J. McCarthy
• RFA Sir Galahad (L3005) - bombed on May 24 and June 8 by Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (sunk by torpedo on June 21 and declared a war grave) (†48) - Fatal Damage
  • Paul J.G. Roberts
• RFA Sir Geraint (L3027)
  • D.E. Lawrence
• RFA Sir Lancelot (L3029) - damaged by unexploded bombs from Douglas A-4B Skyhawks
  • Christopher A. Purtcher-Wydenbruck
• RFA Sir Percivale (L3036)
  • A.F. Pitt
• RFA Sir Tristram (L3505) - bombed June 8 by Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (†2) - Major Damage
  • G.R. Green

Supply ships

• RFA Regent (A486) 22,890 t
  • J. Logan
• RFA Resource (A480) 22,890 t
  • B.A. Seymour
• RFA Fort Austin (A386) 23,600 t
  • Commodore Sam Dunlop RFA (S C Dunlop)
• RFA Fort Grange (A385) 23,600 t
  • D.G.M. Averill
• RFA Stromness (A344) 16,792 t - attacked by A-4C on May 24 - Minor Damage
  • J.B. Dickinson

Helicopter support ship

• RFA Engadine (K08) 9,000 t
  • D.F. Freeman

Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service

• RMAS Typhoon (A95)
• RMAS Goosander (A94)

Ships taken up from trade

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

Liners

• SS Canberra 44,807 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad^[5] and carried personnel of the 3rd Commando Brigade to San Carlos on 21 May.^[6]
• RMS Queen Elizabeth 2. 67,140 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad^[5] 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.^[7][8]
• SS Uganda 16,907 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad and used as hospital ship from 11 May.^[5][9]

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^[5][10]
• 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^[5][11]
• 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^[5][12]
• Nordic Ferry 6,455 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad and carried troops, stores, and ammunition to Falklands on 29 May^[5][13]
• Norland 12,990 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad^[5] carried 800 men of 2 Para and men of 848 Naval Air Squadron to San Carlos on 21 May^[14]
• 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.^[5][15]
• St Edmund 8,987 GRT^[16] — equipped with helicopter pad and carried troops and vehicles^[5]
• Tor Caledonia 5,056 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad and carried vehicles and equipment; arrived 12 June^[5][17]

Container / Cargo ships

• Astronomer 27,867 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and carried thirteen helicopters; arrived after cease fire.^[18]
• Atlantic Conveyor 14,946 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad^[5] and carried eight BAE Sea Harriers (809 Squadron - aircraft later transferred to the two carriers), six Hawker Siddeley Harriers, six Westland Wessex helicopters, and four CH-47 Chinook helicopters (18 Squadron RAF); arrived 19 May^[2][5][19] - hit 25 May by one or two Aérospatiale AM39 Exocet Air-to-Surface Anti-ship missile(s) launched from a Dassault Super Étendard (†12) - Fatal Damage: Sank in tow 28 May - 6 embarked Wessex HU.5 helicopters, 3 embarked Chinook HC.1 helicopters, 1 embarked Sea Lynx HAS.2, heavy equipment intended for airfield construction, and the bulk stock of tents intended for infantry shelter ashore were lost
• Atlantic Causeway 14,946 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad^[5] and carried eight ASW Sea Kings and twenty Westland Wessex helicopters; arrived 27 May.^[20]
• Contender Bezant 11,445 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad and carried nine Wasp helicopters and 4 Harriers; arrived after cease fire.^[5][21] - purchased as RFA Argus post-war
• MV Myrmidon 23,413 GRT-equipped with tented accommodation and portakabins armed with 20mm Oerlikon cannons, arrived after ceasefire

Freighters

• Avelona Star 9784 GRT (refrigerated) — equipped with helicopter pad and carried provisions; arrived after cease fire^[5][22]
• Geestport 7,730 GRT (refrigerated) — equipped with helicopter pad and carried provisions and stores; arrived 11 June^[5][17]
• Laertes 11,804 GRT — Soviet-built with armored cable trunks and damage control centers - carried general supplies; arrived after cease fire^[5][17]
• Lycaon 11,804 GRT — Soviet-built with armored cable trunks and damage control centers - carried ammunition and supplies; arrived 28 May^[5][23]
• Saxonia 8,547 GRT (refrigerated) — carried provisions; arrived 23 May^[5][17]
• Strathewe 12,598 GRT — carried supplies and landing craft; arrived after cease fire^[5][17]
• 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^[5][24]

Tankers

• Alvega 33,000 t (57,372 DWT) — used as base storage tanker at Ascension from mid-May^[25]
• Anco Charger 24,500 DWT — used as auxiliary support tanker from 24 April^[26] with capability to transport 42 different liquids at once^[5]
• Balder London 19,980 t (33,751 DWT) — used as auxiliary support tanker from 12 May^[5][26]
• British Avon 15,640 t (25,620 DWT) — used as auxiliary support tanker from 25 April^[5][26]
• British Dart 15,650 t (28,488 DWT) — used as auxiliary support tanker from 22 April^[5][27]
• British Esk 15,643 t (25,905 DWT) — fitted with over-the-stern underway refueling equipment for use as the first convoy escort oiler^[5][28]
• 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 ^[5][28]
• British Tay 15,650 t (25,650 DWT) — used as auxiliary support tanker from 12 April^[5][29]
• British Test 16,653 t (25,641 DWT) — used as auxiliary support tanker from 14 April^[5][26]
• British Trent 15,649 t (25,147 DWT) — used as auxiliary support tanker from 18 April^[5][26]
• British Wye 15,649 t (25,197 DWT) — used as auxiliary support tanker from 25 April^[5][26] - 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^[5][26]
• Fort Toronto 25,498 DWT — fresh water tanker from 19 April^[5][27]
• G.A.Walker 18,744 t (30,607 DWT) — used as auxiliary tanker from 10 June^[26]
• 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^[25]

Tugs / Repair / Support Ships

• 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.^[5][30]
• Irishman 686 GRT — ocean salvage tug from 24 May.^[5][24]
• 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)^[31]
• Stena Inspector 5,814 GRT — equipped with helicopter pad and used as repair ship after the cease fire.^[32] - purchased as RFA Diligence post-war
• Stena Seaspread 6,061 GRT — oilfield support ship equipped with helicopter pad and used as repair ship from 16 May.^[5][33]
• Wimpey Seahorse 1,599 GRT — oilfield supply vessel used as mooring tender and tug from 8 June.^[5][9]
• Yorkshireman 686 GRT — ocean salvage tug from 24 May.^[5][9]

Weaponry

• Surface-to-air missiles
  • Sea Slug
  • Sea Cat
  • Sea Wolf
  • Sea Dart
• Surface-to-surface missiles
  • Aérospatiale MM38 Exocet (Anti-ship missile)
  • Ikara (Anti-submarine missile)
• Artillery
  • 4.5 inch (114 mm) L/55 Mark 8 gun
  • 4.5 inch (114 mm) L/45 Mark 6 gun
  • Bofors 40 mm L/60 Mark 9 anti-aircraft (A/A) gun
  • Oerlikon 20 mm A/A gun
  • L7A2 7.62 mm GPMG General purpose machine gun
  • Limbo Mark 10 anti-submarine mortar
• Torpedoes
  • Mark 24 Tigerfish torpedo
  • Mark 8 torpedo

Notes

References

• Baker, A.D.III (June 1983). "Sealift, British Style". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. 
• 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. 
• Puddefoot, Geoff (2007). No Sea Too Rough. Chatam Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-314-3. 
• Trotter, Neville (June 1983). "The Falklands and the Long Haul". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. 
• Villar, Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War The Falklands Experience. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-845-X. 

External links

• Ships of the Royal Navy - Royal Fleet Auxiliary - Merchant Navy
• STUFT Photo Gallery