The Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the South Atlantic
 |
During the Falklands war, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary played a vital role supporting and supplying the Falklands Task force during Operation Corporate. The ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary listed below served in the Falklands along with the requisitioned ships also listed below. Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are manned by RFA officers and civilian crews, their normal peacetime defenses were supplemented by whatever was available and the weapons of any troops they carried. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary suffered devastating losses when the Atlantic Conveyor was sunk and endured terrible risks in daylight supply runs and transporting troops to the beachheads as evidenced when the Landing Ship Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram crewed by RN, RFA personnel and civilians were bombed while attempting a landing of the Welsh Guards at Bluff Cove. RFA Engadine used as a maintenance support ship for the helicopters used during the conflict. It transported four Wessex Mk V helicopters of 847 Sqdn with their C/O Lt Cdr Booth. Once in San Carlos Bay, the Wessex dissembarked enabling aircraft of 825 Sqdn to embark for essential maintenance.
|
Landing Ship Logistics | |
| Please see: British Ships for technical information about these ships. | |
Name |
Entered Warzone |
RFA Sir Galahad |
|
RFA Sir Tristram |
|
RFA Sir Percivale |
|
RFA Sir Geraint |
|
RFA Sir Lancelot |
|
RFA Sir Bedivere |
|
|
Troop Transports |
|||
Name |
Entered Warzone |
Tonnage |
Origin |
Queen Elizabeth 2 |
23/5/82 |
67,000 |
Cunard Liner; Req |
Canberra |
13/5/82 |
44,807 |
P&O Liner; Req |
Norland |
13/5/1982 |
12,000 |
P&O Ro-Ro ferry; Req |
Tor Caledonia |
6/6/82 |
10,000 |
Whitwill Ro-Ro ferry; Req |
St Edmunds |
7/6/82 |
9,000 |
Sealink Ro-Ro ferry; Req |
Nordic Ferry |
25/5/82 |
6,500 |
Townsend Thorsen Ro-Ro ferry; Req |
Baltic ferry |
25/5/82 |
6,500 |
Townsend Thorsen Ro-Ro ferry; Req |
Elk |
13/5/82 |
5,463 |
P&O Ro-Ro ferry; Req; 2 40mm guns |
Europe |
13/5/82 |
4,190 |
Townsend Thorsen Ro-Ro ferry; Req |
Atlantic Conveyor |
13/5/1982 |
14,496 |
Cunard Container ship; red and converted to aircraft ferry; Sunk |
Contender Bezant |
7/6/82 |
11,000 |
Sea Containers Ltd container ship; req |
TEV Rangatira |
? |
? |
Transported regular and reserve troops to the Falklands from the UK. |
Astronomer |
? |
? |
Taken up from trade and converted to a make-shift aircraft carrier, departed Portsmouth on 8th June 1982. |
Atlantic Causeway |
? |
? |
Ro-Ro container ship converted to makeshift helicopter carrier |
|
Supply Ships |
|||
Fort Austin |
26/4/82 |
23,600 |
RFA Fleet Replenishment Ship |
Fort Grange |
26/5/82 |
23,600 |
RFA Fleet Replenishment Ship |
Resource |
25/4/82 |
22,890 |
RFA Fleet Replenishment Ship |
Regent |
8/5/82 |
22,890 |
RFA Fleet Replenishment Ship |
Stromness |
13/5/82 |
16,792 |
RFA Stores support ship |
Saxonia |
20/5/82 |
8,000 |
Cunard freighter; Req |
Lycaon |
21/5/82 |
11,804 |
Chartered freighter; China Mutual steamship |
Geestport |
6/6/82 |
9,750 |
Chartered Freighter |
|
Support Ships |
|||
Uganda |
8/5/82 |
16,907 |
P&O liner; Req and Converted to hospital ship |
British Enterprise |
|
1,600 |
BUE North-sea oil-rig support ship; Req |
Stena Seapsread |
8/5/82 |
6,061 |
Stena North-Sea oil rig support ship; req |
Stena Inspector |
|
7,000 |
Stena North-Sea oil rig support ship; req |
Engadine |
2/6/82 |
9,000 |
RFA Helicopter Support Ship |
HMS Pict |
18/5/82 |
1,478 |
United Trawlers; Req as Minesweeper Tender |
HMS Cordella |
18/5/82 |
1,238 |
J. Marr trawler; Req as Minesweeper |
HMS Farnella |
18/5/82 |
1,207 |
J. Marr trawler; Req as Minesweeper |
HMS Junella |
18/5/82 |
1,615 |
J. Marr trawler; Req as Minesweeper |
HMS Northella |
18/5/82 |
1,238 |
J. Marr trawler; Req as Minesweeper |
Salvageman |
2/5/82 |
1,568 |
United Towing ocean tug; req |
Yorkshireman |
9/5/82 |
689 |
United Towing ocean tug; Req |
Irishman |
9/5/82 |
689 |
United Towing ocean tug; Req |
Wimpey Seahorse |
2/6/82 |
1,599 |
Wimpey marine ocean tug; Req |
St Helena |
|
3,150 |
United International Bank Ltd island supply ship; Req |
Iris |
21/5/82 |
3,873 |
Chartered BT cable ship |
Avelona Star |
? |
? |
Refrigerated stores ship, loaded with food. |
Laertes |
? |
? |
Ammunition ship |
Europic Ferry |
? |
4190 tons |
Townsend Thoresen ferry, carried war supplies. |
MV Strathewe |
? |
? |
General Cargo Ship |
|
Tankers |
|||
Bayleaf |
9/6/82 |
40,000 |
RFA Tanker |
Brambleleaf |
Before 21/4/1982, was in the south atlantic at start of hosilities. (Possibly earlier, can anyone provide a firm date of arrival please? Email:james@britains-smallwars.com |
40,000 |
RFA Tanker |
Plumleaf |
25,790 tons |
RFA Tanker |
|
Scottish Eagle |
10/6/82 |
33,000 |
Chartered King Line tanker |
Alvega |
|
33,000 |
Chartered Finance for Shipping Ltd tanker |
Balder London |
|
33,000 |
Chartered Llyods of London tanker |
Olmeda |
25/4/82 |
36,000 |
RFA Tanker |
Olna |
23/5/82 |
36,000 |
RFA Tanker |
Tidespring |
17/4/82 |
27,400 |
RFA Tanker |
Tidepool |
13/5/82 |
27,400 |
RFA Tanker |
Pearleaf |
4/5/82 |
25,790 |
RFA Tanker |
Fort Toronto |
12/5/82 |
19,982 |
Chartered Canadian Pacific water tanker |
Eburna |
27/5/52 |
19,763 |
Chartered Shell tanker |
G.A. Walker |
? |
18,744 |
Chartered Canadian Pacific tanker |
British Dart |
14/5/82 |
15,650 |
Chartered BP tanker |
British Tamar |
? |
? |
Chartered BP tanker |
British Test |
21/5/82 |
16,653 |
Chartered BP tanker |
British Tay |
23/4/82 |
15,650 |
Chartered BP tanker |
British Trent |
5/5/82 |
15,649 |
Chartered BP tanker |
British Wye |
25/5/82 |
15,649 |
Chartered BP tanker |
British Esk |
22/4/82 |
15,643 |
Chartered BP tanker |
British Avon |
? |
15,640 |
Chartered BP tanker |
Anco Charger |
15/5/82 |
15,974 |
Chartered P&O tanker |
Blue Rover |
2/5/82 |
11,522 |
RFA Tanker |
|
|