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

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]:

• 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

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• HMS Glasgow (D88) - hit by unexploded bomb from a Douglas A-4B Skyhawk May 12, withdrawn from war - Moderate Damage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) - downed a British Army Gazelle, June 6.
  • 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

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.K. 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 Codella 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

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

RMAS Typhoon off Stanley

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

Ships Taken Up From Trade

SS Canberra in San Carlos Water, May 1982. She was not attacked, because the Argentine pilots thought the white ship was a hospital ship^[2].

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^[3]
• Tor Caledonia 5,056 t

Container / Cargo ships

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

• 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

1. ^ Sir Lawrence Freeman (2005). The Official History of the Falkands Campaign. Routledge. ISBN 0-7146-5207-5. 
2. ^ Ward, Sharkey (1992). Sea Harrier over the Falklands. Cassell Military Paperbacks, 271. ISBN 0-304-35542-9. 
3. ^ 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. 

External links

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

Donate to Wikimedia