5th April 1982 - The Royal Nav, STUFT and 3 Cdo Brigade

Royal Navy and Stuft; Assembling the Largest Amphibious Fleet Since WWII

5th April 1982: In under 1 week, the UK has assembled the largest amphibious assault force since WWII totalling over 100 ships.

Due to budget cuts in the UK leading to demomissioning over several years of a great number of vessels required for this type of operation so far from home ports, roughly 50% are ships 'taken up from trade'. These are vessels requisitioned from commercial use and hastily adapted for use in hostile seas

Royal Navy ships sent include:

• 2 Carriers, including Hermes, the Taskforce Flagship carrying Admiral Sandy Woodward, Commander Carrier/ Battle Group and Flag Officer. The carriers will be the essential ships that enable the operation, now named 'Corporate' to take place.
• 2 Landing Platform Docks, specialised amphibious assault vessels, including HMS Fearless, carrying Commodore Mike Clapp, Commander Amphibious Task Group
• 1, Type 82 Destroyer,  
• 5 Type 42 Destroyers, 

  2 County Class Destroyers, 

• 2 Type 22 Frigates, 

• 7 Type 21 Frigates, 

• 4 Leander Class Frigates, 

• 2 Rothesay Class Frigates, 

• 1 Ice Patrol Ship, 

• 2 Castle Class Patrol Vessels, 

• 2 Churchill Class Submarines (Including HMS Conqueror), 

• 1 Oberon Class Submarine, 

• 1 Valiant Class Submarine, 

• 2 Swiftsure Class Submarines, 

• 3 Survey Vessels, 

• 5 Trawler/Minesweepers (these will not reach the islands until after hostilities have been concluded)

Royal Fleet Auxilliary Vessels Included:

• 10 Tankers, 
• 6 Landing Ships Logistics (Including RFA Galahad), 
• 5 Supply Ships, 
• 1 Helicopter Support Ship,

• 2 Royal Maritime Auxillary Service ships

Commercial Ships taken up from trade included:

• 3 Passenger Liners, 
• 8 Roll On Roll Off Ferries (Built for short trips across the English Channel and North Sea), 
• 4 Container Cargo Ships (including Atlantic Conveyor), 
• 7 Freighters, 
• 15 Fuel Tankers, 
• 8 assorted Tugs Repair and Support Vessels

  Not all of these ships will be available immediately. Some will need to return to the UK from their commercial or naval movements to be refitted or stored for operations. Aver the coming weeks they will leave in small packets to sail for Ascension Island. Due to the rush they have not been stored for war and will require re-storing enroute and at Ascension Island


Picture is HMS Hermes in 1982

 

 

 

3 Commando Brigade Leaves the UK

5th April 1982, aboard the task force sailing to Acension Island, and further South, is 3 Commando Brigade under Brigadier Julian Thompson.

The Bigade Comprised:
29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery with 18 105mm guns
40 Commando Royal Marines
42 Commando Royal Marines
45 Commando Royal Marines
2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment (including attached Support Arms)
3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment
Commando Logistics Regiment
3 Commando Brigade HQ and Signals Squadron
Reconnaisance Troops of B Sqn Blues and Royals with 8 CVRTs and a Samson
T Battery Air Defence Regiment
Air Defence Troop
Raiding Sqn Royal Marines (Rigid Raiders)
Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre Royal Marines
2, 3 and 6 Sections SBS
D and G Sqns 22 SAS
3 Tactical Air Control Parties
Air Maintenance Group
Rear Link Detachment 30 Signal Rgt
Elements of 17 Port Rgt Royal Corps of Transport with their Mexifloats
3 Surgical Support Teams
Postal Courrier Communications Detachment of 1 PC Rgt
Detachment 47 Air Despatch Sqn RCT
59 Independent Commando Sqn Royal Engineers
Detachment 49 EOD Sqn 33 Royal Engineer Rgt
Y Troop Detachment Communications
Commando Forces Band (who in times of war are employed as Stretcher Bearers)

Some of these forces will go to teh South Atlantic ahead of the main force for special operations and preparative reconnaisance and other tasks

The majority of troops sailing from home have been given 24 to 48 hours notice