MarketFalklands War order of battle: British naval forces
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Falklands War order of battle: British naval forces

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. For a list of naval forces from Argentina, see Falklands War order of battle: Argentine air forces.

Royal Navy
;Command In Northwood, London: • 826 Naval Air Squadron (12 Sea King HAS.5) Sank Argentine transport ship on 10 May. • Commander C.J.S. Craig • - sank 24 May after an unsuccessful attempt to defuse unexploded bombs from a Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (†2) - Fatal Damage • Commander N.J. Tobin • - sank 21 May by bombs from IAI Daggers and Douglas A-4Q Skyhawks (†22) - Fatal Damage • Commander A.W.J. West • • Commander P.J. Mosse • • Captain H.M. White • - hit by IAI Dagger cannon fire - Minor Damage • Commander P.J. Bootherstone ; s • • Captain J.L. Weatherall • - hit by Aermacchi MB.339A cannon/rocket and unexploded bombs from Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (†2) - Major Damage • Captain C.H. Layman • • Commander S.H.G. Johnston • • Commander P.V. Rickard ; s • • Commander A.S. Morton • - unexploded bombs from IAI Daggers - Major Damage • Captain D. Pentreath • - Ascension Island Guardship ;Ice patrol ship • • Captain N.J. Barker ; s As despatch vessels, carrying mail between the Task Force and Ascension Island. • • Lt Commander C.F.B. Hamilton • • Lt Commander N.D. Wood after the war, flying the Jolly Roger to signal her sinking of ; s • - sank • Commander C.L. Wreford-Brown • • Commander R.T.N. Best ; s • - ran aground - Moderate Damage • Lieutenant-Commander A. O. Johnson ; s • - Argentine fighters returning from an aborted mission jettisoned bombs nearby - Minor Damage • Commander T.M. Le Marchand ; s • • Commander J.B. Taylor • • Commander R.C. Lane-Nott ; s 2,744 t, used as casualty ferries (hospital ships) • • Captain G.L. Hope • • Commander R.I.C. Halliday • • Commander 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 crewed by Royal Naval personnel, mainly from 1st MCM Squadron based at Rosyth. All five minesweepers were involved in clearing two minefields off Port Stanley. • 1,238 GRT • Lieutenant-Commander M. Holloway • HMS Farnella 1,207 GRT • Lieutenant R. Bishop • 1,615 GRT • Lieutenant-Commander M. Rowledge • 1,238 GRT • Lieutenant-Commander J. Greenop • 1,478 GRT • Lieutenant-Commander D. Garwood ==Royal Fleet Auxiliary==
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Tankers • 36,000 t • J.A. Bailey • 36,000 t • G.P. Overbury • 27,400 t • S. Redmond • 27,400 t • J.W. Gaffrey • 11,522 t • D.A. Reynolds • 40,870 t • G.P.A. McDougall • 40,000 t • M.S.J. Farley • 40,000 t • A.E.T. Hunter • 25,790 t • R.W.M. Wallace • 25,790 t • J. McCulloch Landing Ship Logistic The peacetime crews of the Round Table-class ships – British merchant seamen, operating under Ministry of Defence jurisdiction – were joined by British servicemen as signalmen, stevedores and gunners. • - bombed by Douglas A-4B Skyhawk - Minor Damage • P.J. McCarthy • - bombed on 24 May and 8 June by Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (sunk by torpedo on 21 June and declared a war grave) (†48) - Fatal Damage • Paul J.G. Roberts • • D.E. Lawrence • - damaged by unexploded bombs from Douglas A-4B Skyhawks • Christopher A. Purtcher-Wydenbruck • • A.F. Pitt • - bombed 8 June by Douglas A-4B Skyhawks (†2) - Major Damage • G.R. Green Supply ships • 22,890 t • J. Logan • 22,890 t • B.A. Seymour • 23,600 t • Commodore Sam Dunlop RFA (S C Dunlop) • 23,600 t • D.G.M. Averill • 16,792 t - attacked by A-4C on 24 May - Minor Damage • J.B. Dickinson Helicopter support ship • 9,000 t • D.F. Freeman ==Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service==
Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service
. • • ==Ships taken up from trade==
Ships taken up from trade
The following Merchant Navy ships were requisitioned, as Ships Taken Up From Trade (STUFT). ;Liners • 44,807 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad • . 67,140 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad • 16,907 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and used as hospital ship from 11 May. ;Roll-on-Roll-off ferries • 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 • 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 • 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 • 6,455 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried troops, stores, and ammunition to Falklands on 29 May • 12,990 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad • 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. • 8,987 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried RAF crews (18 Sqn), troops and vehicles ;Container / Cargo ships • Astronomer 27,867 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and carried thirteen helicopters; arrived after cease fire. • 14,946 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad - 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 • 14,946 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad • Contender Bezant 11,445 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried 9 Wasp helicopters, 4 Harriers and 3 Chinooks; arrived after cease fire. - purchased as post-war • Myrmidon 23,413 GRT-equipped with tented accommodation and Portakabins armed with 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, arrived after ceasefire ;Freighters • Avelona Star 9784 GRT (refrigerated) – equipped with helicopter pad and carried provisions; arrived after cease fire • Geestport 7,730 GRT (refrigerated) – equipped with helicopter pad and carried provisions and stores; arrived 11 June • Saxonia 8,547 GRT (refrigerated) – carried provisions; arrived 23 May ;Tankers • Alvega 33,000 t (57,372 DWT) – used as base storage tanker at Ascension from mid-May • Anco Charger 24,500 DWT – used as auxiliary support tanker from 24 April with capability to transport 42 different liquids at once • British Esk 15,643 t (25,905 DWT) – fitted with over-the-stern underway refueling equipment for use as the first convoy escort oiler • 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 • British Test 16,653 t (25,641 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 14 April • Irishman 686 GRT – ocean salvage tug from 24 May. • Stena Inspector 5,814 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and used as repair ship after the cease fire. - purchased as RFA Diligence post-war • Stena Seaspread 6,061 GRT – diving vessel, oilfield support ship equipped with helicopter pad and used as repair ship from 16 May. "Quote": Supreme effort to prepare fleet for battle: Not for the first time has the versatility and technological capability of the offshore support fleet astounded the military - it only comes as a surprise to those not familiar with the offshore oil industry and the demands it places on ships and those crewing them, that the navies of the world do not have the same level of technology available and their personnel often lack the same levels of skills and experience. Most noteworthy was the MSV Stena Seaspread, a refitted diving and maintenance vessel which was taken to the Falklands to act as a floating workshop for the warships. During the period of hostilities the MSV Stena Seaspread carried out damage and other repairs in mid-ocean to more than 50 ships, including 10 warships and 4 captured vessels. • Wimpey Seahorse 1,599 GRT – oilfield supply vessel used as mooring tender and tug from 8 June. • Yorkshireman 686 GRT – ocean salvage tug from 24 May. == Weaponry ==
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