9th April 1982 - The Passenger Liner SS Canberra joins the Taskforce

9th April 1982, SS Canberra leaves port to join the majority of the Taskforce already sailing for Ascension

The SS Canberra was built by the famous Harland & Wolff in Belfast, the same company that built the RMS Titanic and a slew of other famous ships, for £17m. She was launched in 1960 and entered service with P&O Cruises as a luxury Ocean Liner in 1961.

in 1982, as war became increasingly likely, planners in the Admiralty began looking at ships they would need for an amphibious operation and it became clear the Royal Navy lacked anywhere near the number of ships it would need. In particular it lacked the nnumber of necessary tankers, supply ships, freighters and troop transports. P&O were contacted and informed that the Navy required to requisition the Queen Elizabeth II and the Canberra

At the time the Canberra was on a cruise of the Mediterranean and was heading for Gibraltar. On arrival at Gibraltar her captain received a message informing him that the ship had been requisitioned and he was required to set sale immediately for Southampton

She arrived in Southampton on 7th April where her passegers were unloaded in great haste and refit was hastily undertaken to prepare her for war. This was completed in only two days and the ship then onloaded the bulk of 3 Commando Brigade and 2 Para (elements of 3 Commando Brigade including Commando Logistics Regt had already sailed on the RFA Sir Lancelot on 6th April)

The QE2 was considered too vulnerable to enter the war zone itself and would remain outside the Total Exclusion Zone, but the Canberra would be right at the heart of the Amphibious phase of the operation anchored in San Carlos water. After unloading her troops she would act as a hospital ship during hostilities and afterwards would be used to repatriate many of the 10,000 Argentine prisoners


Picture is the Canberra in more peaceful times