The following vessels were in commission, planned or under construction for HM Royal Navy in 1982. Many of these vessels took part in the 1982 Falklands War.
Aircraft Carriers – . – , , & .
The carriers Hermes and Invincible were deployed to the Falkland Islands in April 1982 as the centre piece of Rear Admiral Woodward's Carrier Battle Group. Illustrious deployed to the Falkland Islands in late summer 1982 to relieve Invincible.
Destroyers Type 82 – . Type 42 – , , , , , , , , & (commissioned in December 1982) and four more fitting-out/in-build as of end-1982. – , & .
The destroyers Bristol, Sheffield, Coventry, Exeter, Cardiff, Glasgow, Antrim & Glamorgan were all present in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War.
Sheffield and Coventry were lost to enemy action, Sheffield by air launched Exocet missile and Coventry to bombs. Glamorgan was struck by a modified air-launch Exocet from a land-based launcher causing extensive damage, however she was not crippled.
Frigates Type 22 – Broadsword, Battleaxe, Brilliant & Brazen, Boxer, & Beaver + 2 planned. Type 21 – Amazon, Antelope, Active, Ambuscade, Arrow, Alacrity, Ardent & Avenger. (Type 12I) – Batch 1 (Ikara Group): Aurora, Euryalus, Galatea, Arethusa, Naiad, Dido, Leander, & Ajax. Batch 2 (Exocet Group): Cleopatra, Sirius, Phoebe, Minerva, Danae, Juno, Argonaut, & Penelope Batch 3 (Broad-Beamed Group): Achilles, Diomede, Andromeda, Hermione, Jupiter, Apollo, Scylla, Ariadne, & Charybdis – Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Brighton, Rothesay, Londonderry, Falmouth, BerwickStand-by Squadron, Plymouth, & Rhyl. – Torquay & EastbourneHarbour training ship. Type 81 - Gurkha, Tartar & Zulu (all reactivated from reserve for Falklands War)
Ardent and Antelope lost due to enemy action.
Amphibious Units – Fearless & Intrepid. Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Sir Bedivere, Sir Galahad, Sir Geraint, Sir Lancelot, Sir Percivale & Sir Tristram. Logistic Landing Craft (RCT) – HMAV Ardennes & HMAV Arakan. LCM (9) Type – 14 craft LCM (7) Type – 2 craft Avon-class RPL – Avon, Bude, Clyde, Dart, Eden, Forth, Glen, Hamble, Itchen, Kennet, London & Medway. LCVP - LCVP 1: 9 craft LCVP 2: 8 craft LCVP 3: 9 craft LCP(R) – 3 craft
Sir Galahad lost due to enemy action, Sir Tristram heavily damaged (returned to the U.K. on a heavy-lift vessel).
Mine Warfare Forces . – Brecon, Ledbury, Cattistock, Cottesmore, Brocklesby, Middleton, Chiddingfold, Dulverton & Hurworth. .
Mine Hunters: Bilderston, , Brinton, , Bossington, Gavinton, Hubberston, Iverston, Kedleston, Kellington, Kirkliston, Maxton, Nurton & Sheraton. Minesweepers: Alfringston, Bickington, Crichton, Cuxton, Glasserton, Hodgeston, Laleston, Pollington, Shavington, Upton, Walkerton, Wotton, Soberton, Stubbington, Lewiston & Crofton. – St. David & Venturer. – Aveley. – Dittisham, Flintham & Thornham.
Ice Patrol Ship
Offshore Patrol Vessels
Castle-class - Leeds Castle, Dumbarton Castle Island-class - Anglesey, Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey, Shetland, Orkney, Lindisfarne
Submarine Service - Resolution, Renown, Repulse, Revenge - Five fitting out/in build as of December 1982 - Swiftsure, Sovereign, Superb, Sceptre, Spartan, Splendid - Valiant, Warspite - Churchill, Conqueror, Courageous - Oberon, Ocelot, Odin, Olympus, Onslaught, Onyx, Opportune, Oppossum, Oracle, Orpheus, Osiris, Otter, Otis, Porpoise-class - Porpoise, Finwhale (harbour training vessel), Sealion, Walrus
See also List of Royal Navy vessels active in 1981
Notes † - Royal Navy Reserve
References