HMS Alacrity - sank Argentine transport ship ARA Isla de los Estados. Slightly damaged by bomb. Lynx helicopter damaged by return fire from armed coaster ARA Monsunen.
Civilian trawlers converted to Extra-Deep Armed Team Sweep (EDATS) with some extempore acoustic and sonar equipment. They were manned by Royal Naval personnel, mainly from 1st MCM Squadron based at Rosyth. All five minesweepers were involved in clearing two minefields off Port Stanley.
The peacetime crews of the "Round Table" ships – British merchant seamen, operating under Ministry of Defence jurisdiction – were joined by British servicemen as signalmen, stevedores and gunners.[7][8]
RFA Sir Galahad (L3005) - 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
The following Merchant Navy ships were requisitioned, as Ships Taken Up From Trade (STUFT).
Liners
SS Canberra 44,807 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad[6] and carried personnel of the 3rd Commando Brigade to San Carlos on 21 May.[9]
MV Queen Elizabeth 2. 67,140 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad[6] and carried 3,200 men of the 5th Infantry Brigade. At South Georgia, the men of 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and 1/7 Gurkha Rifles were transferred to Canberra, Norland and RFA Stromness on 27 May for transport to San Carlos.[10][11]
Elk 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][13]
Baltic Ferry 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[6][14]
Europic Ferry 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][15]
Nordic Ferry 6,455 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried troops, stores, and ammunition to Falklands on 29 May[6][16]
Norland 12,990 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad[6] carried 800 men of 2 Para and men of 848 Naval Air Squadron to San Carlos on 21 May[17]
Rangatira 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.[6][18]
St Edmund 8,987 GRT[19] – equipped with helicopter pad and carried RAF crews (18 Sqn), troops and vehicles[6]
Tor Caledonia 5,056 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried vehicles and equipment; arrived 12 June[6][20]
Container / Cargo ships
Atlantic Conveyor approaching the Falklands
Astronomer 27,867 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and carried thirteen helicopters; arrived after cease fire.[21]
Contender Bezant 11,445 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and carried 9 Wasp helicopters, 4 Harriers and 3 Chinooks; arrived after cease fire.[6][24] - purchased as RFA Argus post-war
MV Myrmidon 23,413 GRT-equipped with tented accommodation and Portakabins armed with 20mm Oerlikon cannons, arrived after ceasefire
Freighters
Geestport, refrigerated ship, in Southampton Docks
Avelona Star 9784 GRT (refrigerated) – equipped with helicopter pad and carried provisions; arrived after cease fire[6][25]
Geestport 7,730 GRT (refrigerated) – equipped with helicopter pad and carried provisions and stores; arrived 11 June[6][20]
Laertes 11,804 GRT – Soviet-built with armored cable trunks and damage control centers - carried general supplies; arrived after cease fire[6][20]
Lycaon 11,804 GRT – Soviet-built with armored cable trunks and damage control centers - carried ammunition and supplies; arrived 28 May[6][26]
Alvega 33,000 t (57,372 DWT) – used as base storage tanker at Ascension from mid-May[28]
Anco Charger 24,500 DWT – used as auxiliary support tanker from 24 April[29] with capability to transport 42 different liquids at once[6]
Balder London 19,980 t (33,751 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 12 May[6][29]
British Avon 15,640 t (25,620 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 25 April[6][29]
British Dart 15,650 t (28,488 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 22 April[6][30]
British Esk 15,643 t (25,905 DWT) – fitted with over-the-stern underway refueling equipment for use as the first convoy escort oiler[6][31]
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[6][31]
British Tay 15,650 t (25,650 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 12 April[6][32]
British Test 16,653 t (25,641 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 14 April[6][29]
British Trent 15,649 t (25,147 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 18 April[6][29]
British Wye 15,649 t (25,197 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 25 April[6][29] - hit by bomb from Lockheed C-130 Hercules - Minor Damage
Eburna 19,763 t (31,374 DWT) – used as auxiliary support tanker from 26 April[6][29]
Fort Toronto 25,498 DWT – fresh water tanker from 19 April[6][30]
G.A.Walker 18,744 t (30,607 DWT) – used as auxiliary tanker from 10 June[29]
Scottish Eagle 33,000 t (54,490 DWT) – used as base storage tanker at South Georgia from 18 June and then moved to Falklands on 14 July[28]
Tugs / Repair / Support Ships
Cable ship IrisMV Stena Seaspread
British Enterprise III 1,595 t – diving support ship
Iris 3,873 GRT – cable ship equipped with helicopter pad and two Oerlikon 20 mm cannon for use as despatch vessel from late May.[6][33]
Irishman 686 GRT – ocean salvage tug from 24 May.[6][27]
Salvageman 1,598 GRT – ocean salvage tug from 7 May.(the most powerful tug on British registry with 11,000 brake horsepower and 170 ton bollard pull)[34]
Stena Inspector 5,814 GRT – equipped with helicopter pad and used as repair ship after the cease fire.[35] - 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.[6][36] "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.[37]
Wimpey Seahorse 1,599 GRT – oilfield supply vessel used as mooring tender and tug from 8 June.[6][12]
Yorkshireman 686 GRT – ocean salvage tug from 24 May.[6][12]
Baker, A.D.III (June 1983). "Sealift, British Style". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Hastings, Max; Jenkins, Simon (1983). The Battle for the Falklands. Michael Joseph Ltd. ISBN0-7181-2228-3.
Morison, Samuel L. (June 1983). "Falklands (Malvinas) Campaign: A Chronology". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Puddefoot, Geoff (2007). No Sea Too Rough. Chatham Publishing. ISBN978-1-86176-314-3.
Trotter, Neville (June 1983). "The Falklands and the Long Haul". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Villar, Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War The Falklands Experience. Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-845-X.
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