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The city prepared key aircraft carriers that formed the Task Force sent to retake the islands.
Amphibious assault ships carrying Royal Marines and landing craft also departed Portsmouth. Destroyers and frigates deployed from the city provided escort, air defence and naval gunfire support.
Several Portsmouth-based ships were lost during the campaign. Memorials to their crews remain in the city.
Portsmouth’s dockyard played a wider role fitting out vessels, loading stores and converting civilian ships for military use.
The city’s contribution to Operation Corporate, at sea and ashore, was central to the UK’s ability to mount and sustain the campaign in the South Atlantic.
Here are a selection of ships that served our country proud during the conflict with the Argentinian junta, from a range of different classes and capabilities.
5. HMS Exeter
HMS Exeter, a Portsmouth‑commissioned Type 42 destroyer, deployed with improved Type 1022 radar. On May 30, she shot down two low-level A‑4 Skyhawks and is credited with potentially intercepting an Exocet missile. Exeter’s enhanced detection and Sea Dart capability provided robust air defence, compensating for the losses of earlier destroyers. Her performance underscored the value of advanced radar systems in countering sea-skimming missile and aircraft threats. | The News Portsmouth
6. HMS Andromeda
HMS Andromeda, a Leander-class frigate homeported at Portsmouth, sailed with the “Bristol Group” and entered the Total Exclusion Zone on May 25. Acting as close escort for carriers, she provided anti-air and anti-submarine defence. Andromeda remained undamaged, and after the conflict supported operations around South Georgia before returning home. Her protective presence helped ensure safe carrier operations throughout the campaign. | The News Portsmouth
7. HMS Minerva
HMS Minerva, a Leander-class frigate from Portsmouth, joined the Task Force later and arrived May 26. Assigned escort duties, she performed air-warning and radar surveillance. On June 1, her radar spotted an Argentinian C‑130, directing Sea Harriers which ultimately downed the aircraft. Minerva completed her deployment unscathed and returned to Devonport, contributing to ongoing South Atlantic presence post-conflict. | The News Portsmouth
8. HMS Herald
HMS Herald, a Portsmouth-based survey vessel, was deployed to the South Atlantic during the Falklands War. Though not a combatant, she undertook hydrographic surveys, charting waters for amphibious operations and safe navigation. Herald’s topographical mapping of seabed, channels, and landing zones was vital for amphibious landings and logistical routing, contributing to overall operational planning and mission safety. | The News Portsmouth