Royal Fleet Auxiliary

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.

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
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
Hydra	14/5/82	2,744	RFA Casualty ferry
Herald	15/5/82	2,744	RFA Casualty ferry
Hecla	9/5/82	2,744	RFA Casualty ferry
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
Pict	18/5/82	1,478	United Trawlers; Req as Minesweeper Tender
Cordella	18/5/82	1,238	J. Marr trawler; Req as Minesweeper
Farnella	18/5/82	1,207	J. Marr trawler; Req as Minesweeper
Hunella	18/5/82	1,615	J. Marr trawler; Req as Minesweeper
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
Tankers
Bayleaf	9/6/82	40,000	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
Dart	14/5/82	15,650	Chartered BP tanker
Test	21/5/82	16,653	Chartered BP tanker
Tay	23/4/82	15,650	Chartered BP tanker
Trent	5/5/82	15,649	Chartered BP tanker
Wye	25/5/82	15,649	Chartered BP tanker
Eask	22/4/82	15,643	Chartered BP tanker
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