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:

• 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 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

• HMS Hermes (R12) - Flagship (†3) 2 SHAR pilots
  • Capt. L.E. Middleton

Invincible class aircraft carriers

• HMS Invincible (R05) (†3) 2 SHAR pilots
  • Capt. J.J. Black

Landing Platform Docks

• HMS Fearless (L10) (†6) from LCU Foxtrot Four
  • Capt. E.S.L. Larken
• HMS Intrepid (L11)
  • Capt. P.G.V. Dingemans

HMS Bristol

Type 82 destroyer

• HMS Bristol (D23)
  • Capt. A. Grose

Type 42 destroyers

• HMS Sheffield (D80) - set on fire by a Aérospatiale AM39 Exocet (Air-to-Surface) Anti-ship missile launched from a Dassault Super Étendard May 4, (†20) - Fatal Damage (sank on May 10)
  • Capt. S. Salt
• HMS Glasgow (D88) - hit by unexploded bomb from a Douglas A-4B Skyhawk May 12, withdrawn from war - Moderate Damage
  • Capt. A.P. Hoddinott
• HMS Coventry (D118) - sunk on May 25 by three bombs from a Douglas A-4B Skyhawk (†19) - Fatal Damage
  • Capt. D. Hart-Dyke
• HMS Exeter (D89)
  • Capt. H.M. Balfour
• HMS Cardiff (D108)
  • Capt. M.G.T. Harris

County class destroyers

• HMS Glamorgan (D19) - hit by an Aérospatiale MM38 Exocet (Surface-to-Surface) Anti-ship missile on June 11 (†13) - Major Damage
  • Capt. M.E. Barrow
• HMS Antrim (D18) - hit by unexploded bomb from a IAI Dagger - Major Damage
  • Capt. B.G. Young

Type 22 frigates

• HMS Brilliant (F90) - hit by IAI Dagger cannon fire - Minor Damage
  • Capt. J.F. Coward
• HMS Broadsword (F88) - hit by IAI Dagger cannon fire, later damaged by bomb from Douglas A-4B Skyhawk - Moderate Damage
  • Capt. W.R. Canning

Type 21 frigates

File:HMS Antelope.1982.jpg

HMS Antelope returning to San Carlos, 23 May 1982

• HMS Active (F171)
  • Cdr. P.C.B. Canter
• HMS Alacrity (F174) - slightly damaged by bomb
  • Cdr. C.J.S. Craig
• HMS Antelope (F170) - sank May 24 due to unsuccessful defusing attempt of unexploded bombs from Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (†2) - Fatal Damage
  • Cdr. N. Tobin
• HMS Ardent (F184) - sank May 21 by bombs from IAI Daggers and Douglas A-4Q Skyhawks (†22) - Fatal Damage
  • Cdr. A. West (Later Admiral Sir Alan West, First Sea Lord 2002 - 2006)
• HMS Ambuscade (F172)
  • Cdr. P.J. Mosse
• HMS Avenger (F185)
  • Capt. H.M. White
• HMS Arrow (F173) - hit by IAI Dagger cannon fire - Minor Damage
  • Cdr. P.J. Bootherstone

Leander class frigates

• HMS Andromeda (F57)
  • Capt. J. L. Weatherall
• HMS Argonaut (F56) - hit by Aermacchi MB.339A cannon/rocket and unexploded bombs from Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (†2) - Major Damage [1]
  • Capt. C.H. Layman
• HMS Minerva (F45)
  • Cdr. S.H.G. Johnston
• HMS Penelope (F127)
  • Cdr. P.V. Rickard

Rothesay class frigates

• HMS Yarmouth (F101)
  • Cdr. A. Morton
• HMS Plymouth (F126) - unexploded bombs from IAI Daggers - Major Damage
  • Capt. D. Pentreath

Ice patrol ship

HMS Endurance

• HMS Endurance (A171)
  • Capt. N.J. Barker

Castle class patrol vessels

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

• HMS Leeds Castle (P258)
• HMS Dumbarton Castle (P265)

Churchill class submarines

• HMS Conqueror (S84) - sank the ARA General Belgrano
  • Cdr. C.L. Wreford-Brown
• HMS Courageous (S50)
  • Cdr. R.T.N. Best

Oberon class submarines

• HMS Onyx (S21) - ran aground - Moderate Damage
  • Lt-Cdr. A. O. Johnson

Valiant class submarines

• HMS Valiant (S102)
  • Cdr. T.M. Le Marchand

Swiftsure class submarines

• HMS Spartan (S105)
  • Cdr. J.B. Taylor
• HMS Splendid (S106)
  • Cdr. R.C. Lane-Nott

Hecla class survey vessels

2,744 t, used as casualty ferries

• HMS Hecla (A133)
  • G.L. Hope
• HMS Herald (H138)
  • R.I.C. Halliday
• HMS Hydra (A144)
  • R.J. Campbell

Trawler/Minesweepers

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

• 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.

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

File:RFA Sir Tristram.1982.jpg RFASir Tristram at Fitzroy, late June 1982

• 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 as war grave) (†48) - Fatal Damage
  • P.J.G. Roberts
• RFA Sir Geraint (L3027)
  • D.E. Lawrence
• RFA Sir Lancelot (L3029) - damaged by unexploded bombs from Douglas A-4B Skyhawks
  • C.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
  • Cdre. 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

File:Typhoonw.jpg

RMAS Typhoon off Stanley

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

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.

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

Liners

• SS Canberra 44,807 t — carried personnel of the 3rd Commando Brigade.
• RMS Queen Elizabeth 2. 67,107 t — carried personnel of the 5th Infantry Brigade.
• HMHS Uganda 16,907 t — hospital ship.

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
• Tor Caledonia 5,056 t

Container / Cargo ships

File:Atlantic conveyor.jpg

Atlantic Conveyor

• Atlantic Conveyor 14,496 t — sunk by one or two Aérospatiale AM39 Exocet Air-to-Surface Anti-ship missile(s) launched from a Dassault Super Étendard (†12) - Fatal Damage

• 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

Weaponry

HMS Cardiff Sea Dart Launcher

Type 42 destroyer returning from a nightly shelling

• 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

References

• Hastings, Max (1983). The Battle for the Falklands. Michael Joseph Ltd. ISBN 0-7181-2228-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Puddefoot, Geoff (2007). No Sea Too Rough. Chatam Publishing. ISBN 97-1-86176-314-3. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
• Clapp, Michael (1996). Amphibious Assault Falklands. Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-420-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

External links

• Ships of the Royal Navy - Royal Fleet Auxiliary - Merchant Navy