HMS Fearless served as one of two principal amphibious assault ships, deploying her four Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel and Helicopter deck to land Royal Marine Commandos at San Carlos Water. As the amphibious command centre, she housed Commodore Clapp’s headquarters and coordinated beach landings, logistic convoys, and special forces insertions. Despite constant Argentine air attacks, her Seacat missile system successfully defended the fleet. The ship's critical troop deployment and command functions significantly enabled the British land campaign.placeholder image
HMS Fearless served as one of two principal amphibious assault ships, deploying her four Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel and Helicopter deck to land Royal Marine Commandos at San Carlos Water. As the amphibious command centre, she housed Commodore Clapp’s headquarters and coordinated beach landings, logistic convoys, and special forces insertions. Despite constant Argentine air attacks, her Seacat missile system successfully defended the fleet. The ship's critical troop deployment and command functions significantly enabled the British land campaign. | The News Portsmouth

Heroic Portsmouth Royal Navy ships that served the UK with pride in the Falklands War, including HMS Hermes

Freddie Webb
By Freddie Webb

Defence Reporter

Published 18th Jun 2025, 12:32 GMT

The city of Portsmouth was a central hub for Britain’s response to the Falklands conflict in 1982.

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.

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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.

HMS Coventry, a Portsmouth‑based Type 42 destroyer, was deployed early alongside Sheffield and Glasgow to screen carriers. Using Sea Dart, she achieved three aerial kills. On May 25, she was overwhelmed by simultaneous air strikes and sank. Her loss, amid intense air assaults, highlighted the crucial yet vulnerable role of destroyers in fleet air defence.

9. HMS Coventry

HMS Coventry, a Portsmouth‑based Type 42 destroyer, was deployed early alongside Sheffield and Glasgow to screen carriers. Using Sea Dart, she achieved three aerial kills. On May 25, she was overwhelmed by simultaneous air strikes and sank. Her loss, amid intense air assaults, highlighted the crucial yet vulnerable role of destroyers in fleet air defence. | The News Portsmouth archive

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HMS Glamorgan, a County-class destroyer homeported in Portsmouth, provided shore bombardment and air defence. Sailing south early, she delivered naval gunfire against Argentine targets. On June 12, she was hit by an Exocet missile fired from land, severely injuring crew and damaging her stern. The attack led to improved missile counter‑measures and marked Glamorgan as one of the few RN ships hit but surviving direct Exocet fire.

10. HMS Glamorgan

HMS Glamorgan, a County-class destroyer homeported in Portsmouth, provided shore bombardment and air defence. Sailing south early, she delivered naval gunfire against Argentine targets. On June 12, she was hit by an Exocet missile fired from land, severely injuring crew and damaging her stern. The attack led to improved missile counter‑measures and marked Glamorgan as one of the few RN ships hit but surviving direct Exocet fire. | Contributed

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