Falklands 40: the British Forces

Details of the British Forces used in the Falklands War, and the losses they took.

Admiral of the Fleet John David Elliott Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse, GCB, GBE, based at Northwood commanded the Falklands Task Force, which was split into four:

  • Land – Commanded by Major General Sir John Jeremy Moore, KCB, OBE, MC & Bar
  • Sea – Commanded by Admiral Sir John Forster "Sandy" Woodward, GBE, KCB
  • Amphibious – Commanded by Commodore Michael Cecil Clapp, CB, ADC
  • Submarines – Commanded from Northwood

The whole task force eventually comprised 127 ships: 43 Royal Navy vessels, 22 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships, and 62 merchant ships. (An RFA ship is a naval ship designed to support combatant ships and other naval operations).

The ocean liner SS Canberra was requisitioned and set sail with 3 Commando Brigade and the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 was requisitioned and left Southampton on 12 May with 5th Infantry Brigade on board.  These two brigades included Royal Marine Commandos, Special Boat Service and Special Air Service operatives, units from the Parachute Regiment, Scots Guards, Welsh Guards and Gurkha Rifles, members of the RAF Regiment, and many supporting engineers, logistics teams, artillery companies, medics and more.

These soldiers, sailors and aviators were additionally supported by the Merchant Marine and British Intelligence services who provided critical logistical and intelligence services to the task force.

After the war, the British Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher, said this about those who served in the conflict:

"Without warning, they and others were called upon to restore British people and British territory to the freedom and justice which we take for granted. It is men and women who fight battles, it is they who overcome danger, it is their character and courage, their professional judgement which triumphs over impossible odds and which restored liberty to those whose faith in Britain had been unshakeable."

Casualties of war

In total, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders died during the hostilities.  British Forces also suffered 775 wounded.  Yet they managed to capture over 10 thousand Argentinian regulars.

Britain lost seven ships (details below), 24 helicopters and 10 fighter jets in the war, though inflicted larger losses on the Argentinian forces, including the dramatic sinking of the cruiser ARA General Belgrano (though controversial at the time, this was later confirmed by the Belgrano's captain as being an entirely justified engagement).


Tuesday 4 May

  • HMS Sheffield - mortally damaged. Burnt out and sank in tow on Monday 10th May.


Friday 12 May

  • HMS Ardent - badly damaged. Sank the following evening.


Tuesday 25 May

  • HMS Coventry sunk north of Pebble Island in same attack by three bombs.
  • Atlantic Conveyor (Cunard container ship) - mortally. Burnt out and later sank in tow.


Tuesday 8 June

  • RFA Sir Galahad - mortally damaged. Later in June towed to sea and sunk as a war grave.
  • HMS Fearless - sunk
  • LCU F4 (Landing craft) - sunk

 

We remember those who sacrificed so much to liberate the Falkland Islands. Some never returned and some never recovered; all did their duty and SSAFA supports many of them and their families to this day.