1982 - Preparations for Falklands War
2nd April. At 2-45 am while the people of Portsmouth slept, the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher received a message informing her of Argentina’s impending invasion of the Falkland Islands. “Operation Corporate” (Falklands War, 1st April to 14th June) started with the sailing of HMS “Invincible ” & HMS “Hermes” on 5th April. One third of the ships involved were prepared at Portsmouth. The Dockyard labour force, already under threat of redundancies, worked long hours.
Portsmouth ship, HMS “Sheffield” was hit by Exocet missiles on 4th May with the loss of 20 of her crew. She sank under tow on 11th May.
Royal Navy ships prepared for Falklands operation at Portsmouth:
Hermes…..............…...Aircraft Carrier. Invincible……………….Aircraft Carrier.
Intrepid…………..….....Assault ship. Fearless……………….Assault ship.
Bristol……………..Type 82 destroyer. Diomede…...…………Leander class frigate.
Herald……….....…Ambulance Ship. Hydra…………………..Ambulance ship
Dumbarton Castle……Patrol ship. Leeds Castle..……………Patrol ship
Ledbury……………...Minesweeper.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships:
Brambleleaf…………..Tanker; Black Rover……………..Tanker
Grey Rover………...…Tanker; Olna……………………...Tanker
Stromness…………….Stores ship
Shipwork brought forward to meet Falklands operation:
Illustrious…………….Aircraft Carrier
Damage repairs after Falklands Operations
Glamorgan……………County class destroyer……………..Exocet missile damage.
S.T.U.F.T. (Ships taken up from trade). Work undertaken at Portsmouth:
Alvega…………………….Motor tanker……………………Silver Line
Anco Charger…………Motor Chemical Parcel tanker……Panocean
Avelona Star……………General cargo vessel………..Blue star Line
Balder London…………Motor tanker……………………Lloyds Industrial Leasing
Baltic Ferry…………….Roll-on/Roll-off ferry…………..Stena Cargo Line
British Avon………………Motor tanker………………British Petroleum Tanker
British Dart……………….. “ “ ………….....................……. “ “ “
British Tamar…………….. “ “ ………......................……… “ “ “
British Test………………. “ “ …….......................………… “ “ “
British Trent……………… “ “ …………......................…… “ “ “
British Wye………………. “ “ ………………....................... “ “ “
Geestport………………….Refrigerated cargo vessel………..Geest Line
Nordic Ferry………………Roll-on/Roll-off ferry……………Stena Cargo Lines
Norland……………………Roll-on/Roll-off ferry…………North Sea Ferries
Saxonia…………………….Refrigerated cargo vessel…………Cunard
Scottish Eagle…………...…Motor tanker……………………...King Line