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Battle Atlas of the Falklands War 1982
BRITISH AND ARGENTINE
UNITS TAKING PART
(Parts 7-16)
Part 12. MERCHANT
NAVY SHIPS
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Vital Need for
Merchant Ships - Up to the surrender in mid-June, 40
merchantmen totalling over 500,000 grt reached the South Atlantic. Without them, the war would not
have been won as the Royal Fleet Auxiliary lacked the
ships to transport the land forces and then support them
and the warships 8,000 miles from home.
Chartered
(Ch) when
available ......
requisitioned
(Req) when under
contract ........
the Ships Taken Up From
Trade (Stuft) from Britain's dwindling merchant fleet
were rapidly converted to their military role in naval
and civilian dockyards, but mainly Devonport and Portsmouth. All received:
Minimum naval
communications and some Satnav (SN) and Satcom
(SC) equipment, Most were fitted for RAS, Many with one or two helipads (H or 2H) and
Some with extra accommodation and light AA weapons.
Crew
of tug "Yorkshireman" at South Georgia
(Courtesy - United Towing Ltd)
Soon loaded, most sailed
with Naval Parties embarked for ciphering, RAS, vertrep
and other duties. Taking only those ships which arrived
on station before the end of the war, their main military
roles, starting with the troop and equipment transports
were:
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Transports
reaching
TEZ mid-May with 3 Cdo Bde
and more aircraft |
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"Canberra" |
44,800 grt |
Req/2H |
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"Elk" |
5,500 grt |
Req |
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"Europic
Ferry" |
4,200 grt |
Req/SN/SC |
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"Norland" |
13,000 grt |
Req/2H/SN/SC |
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"ATLANTIC
CONVEYOR" - aircraft and helicopter
support ship
(sunk by Exocet) |
15,000 grt |
Req/flight deck/SC |
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Transports arriving end
of May with 5th Inf Bde and
military stores |
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"Queen
Elizabeth 2" |
67,100 grt |
Req/2H |
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"Baltic
Ferry" |
6,500 grt |
Req/2H/SN/SC |
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"Nordic
Ferry" |
6,500 grt |
Req/2H/SN/SC |
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"Lycaon"
- ammunition ship |
11,800 grt |
Ch/SC |
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"Atlantic
Causeway" - helicopter support ship |
15,000 grt |
Req/flight deck
& hangar/SC |
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Transports arriving in June |
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"St.
Edmund" - troopship |
9,000 grt |
Req/2H/SN/SC |
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"Tor
Caledonia" - transport |
5,100 grt |
Req |
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"Contender
Bezant" - aircraft and helicopter
carrier |
11,400 grt |
Ch/flight deck
& hangar |
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Oil
Tankers, mostly used to replenish
RFA's in the tanker holding areas set out
in the order: |
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"British
Esk", "British Tay",
"British Test", "British
Tamar",
"British Trent" |
all 15,600 grt |
All chartered |
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"Anco
Charger" |
15,600 grt |
Chartered |
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"British
Dart", "British Wye",
"British Avon" |
all 15,600 grt |
All chartered |
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"Alvega" |
33,300 grt |
Chartered |
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"Eburna" |
19,800 grt |
Chartered |
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"Balder
London" |
20,000 grt |
Chartered |
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Other
vessels and approximate order
of departure were: |
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"Irishman",
"Yorkshireman" - ocean tugs |
both 700 grt |
Req |
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"Salvageman"
- ocean tug |
1,600 grt |
Req |
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"Wimpey
Seahorse" - mooring vessel |
1,600 grt |
Req/SC |
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"Stena
Seaspread" - repair ship |
6,100 grt |
Req/SN/SC |
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"Fort
Toronto" - water tanker |
20,000 grt |
Ch |
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"Uganda"
- hospital ship |
16,900 grt |
Req/H/SC |
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"Cordella",
"Farnella",
"Junella",
"Northella", "Pict" -
minesweepers |
1,200 to 1,600 grt |
Req |
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"Iris" -
despatch vessel |
3,900 grt |
Req/H/SC |
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"Saxonia"
- refrigerated stores ship |
12,000 grt |
Ch/H/SN/SC |
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"Geestport"
- refrigerated stores ship |
7,700 grt |
Req/H |
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With 40 merchantmen
already in the South Atlantic or on their way by Week
Nine, more were needed.Before the surrender a further eight
set out, including during the week, tanker "Scottish
Eagle" from Milford Haven and offshore ship "British Enterprise
III" from Rosyth.
The complete list was:
Tankers "Scottish
Eagle" (33,000 grt, Ch/SC) and "G A
Walker" (18,700 grt, Ch) Despatch vessel "British Enterprise III"
(1,600 grt, Req) Repair ship "Stena Inspector" (6,100 grt,
Ch/SN/SC) Helicopter carrier and repair ship
"Astronomer" (27,900 grt, Req/flight deck
and hangar) Ammunition ship "Laertes" (11,800 grt, Req)
Refrigerated stores ship "Avelona Star"
(9,800 grt, Ch/H) Minesweeper support ship "St Helena" (3,100
grt, Req/H/SN/SC)
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