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A task force consisting of carriers and amphibious ships was sailed within 4 days to scenes of amazing patriotic fervour and the merchant navy were once again called to the nations colours. Within 7 days of the order in council being signed the P&O ships CANBERRA and ELK sailed to become part of that task force.

In all 52 merchant ships from 33 different companies were taken up from trade, plus 2 RMAS and of course the 22 RFA merchant ships that always support the fleet; in total 76 merchantmen.
They were of all types and were essential to support a maritime amphibious operation in the Southern Ocean 8,000 miles from home.

There were troopships such as CANBERRA, NORLAND and QE2.Hospital ships such as UGANDA, aircraft and ammunition carriers such as ATLANTIC CONVEYOR and ELK. Repair ships, minesweepers, general support ships, tankers, despatch vessels, tugs and so on.

Many went right into the thick of the action particularly those that formed an integral part of the amphibious force such as EUROPIC FERRY, NORLAND and CANBERRA plus FORT AUSTIN and the Landing Ships Logistics such as SIR GALAHAD, SIR TRISTRAM etc. But even those out in the open ocean were at risk as was shown when an Argentinian C130 narrowly failed to damage a tanker with a bomb.

RFA OLMEDA conducted 185 replenishments during the war and
to support such RFAs 13 tankers were needed of which 8 were BP river class and shell, Panocean, P&O and Parley Augustssen provided one each. Canadian Pacifics FORT TORONTO provided fresh water.

The STENA INSPECTOR and others were there to repair and support damaged ships. 3 large tugs the biggest of which was SALVAGEMAN who tried to tow the stricken ATLANIC CONVEYOR to the repair area until she sank parting the towline.

Most of the stores ships were chosen because they had their own cranage plus there were refrigerator ships. There were ro-ro ships with vehicles and carrying construction equipment. RMS SAINT HELENA was converted to provide full support to 2 Hunt class MCMVs.

WIMPEY SEAHORSE one of the biggest anchor handling tugs ever built was laying buoys in sheltered waters in the region.
On almost all of these ships there was an RN liaison officer and in many RN signallers.

By the time of the Falklands war the UK Merchant Fleet had declined to 29 million tons and many ships taken from trade were not British owned, all foreign crews were replaced by British seamen. In 1975 there had been 41,000 British officers in the merchant marine. By 1982 28,000 officers and 20,000 ratings so it was still feasible

But notwithstanding warnings given just post the Falkland War this decline has continued and we now have less than 5,000 officers and 9,000 ratings. Could we man a sufficient merchant fleet to support our much diminished Royal Naval fleet in war?

Margaret Thatchers Minister for trade Nicholas Ridley when asked what the then conservative government meant to do about the decline of the merchant fleet said we would rather see it disappear rather than give it any subsidy. The manning of red ensign ships was further affected in 1995 when John Majors government announced that posts of master, chief officer and chief engineer were open to any nationality.

As a result of the tonnage tax in 2000 there was an increase in the number of red ensign ships but the numbers of British seafarers is alarmingly small. In a time of dreadful youth unemployment perhaps we should find a way of encouraging a new generation of British youth to become seafarers.

We remember our merchant sailors who died in the retaking of the islands. Those such as Captain North lost in the ATLANTIC CONVEYOR and the many men in RFA SIR GALAHAD. And those who are alive but still suffer physically or mentally as a result of the war.

The Merchant Navy was stalwart under fire and crucial to our success in 1982 and we should all be proud of it and what was achieved. We forget this at our nations peril.