Timeline Details
Preserve us from the dangers of the sea and of the air and from the violence of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, and her dominions
(Extract from the Naval Prayer)
1981 – HMS Endurance scheduled to be decommissioned in Defence Review naval cuts by Secretary of State John Nott
17 March 1982 – HMS Antrim sails from Portsmouth for Exercise Springtrain in Gibraltar areas. Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward embarked.
22 March– ARA Bahia Buen Suceso lands 39 scrap metal merchants who raise Argentine flag In South Georgia
2 April– Argentine Forces Invade Falkland Islands, Task Force turns South
3 April– Argentine Forces Invade South Georgia
5 April – Carrier Group sails from UK
7 April – Maritime exclusion zone established around the Falkland Islands
Shuttle diplomacy. Mar -Apr 82. US Secretary of State Al Haig mediates between Buenos Aries and London.
7 April – Antrim and Plymouth with RFA Tidespring detached to Ascension Island
10-12 April – Anchored off Ascension Island Special Forces and M Coy RM embark
12 April – Start of Operation Paraquet (Official Name), Paraquat (Unofficial Name)
April 1982 - US President Reagan and US Ambassador to UN debate whether to support UK or Argentina
14 April – Rendezvous with HMS Endurance who came up from the south
21-22 April – Land and recover Special Forces recce party by Helicopter Fortuna Glacier
23 April - Land Special Forces recce party by boat
24 April - Intelligence received about the presence of submarine Santa Fe. Escort Tidespring north out of Exclusion Zone
24 April - Argentine Junta rejects final Haig peace proposals
25 April - Santa Fe sighted on the surface leaving Grytviken. 'Humphrey' crippled her with depth charges, helicopters from HM Ships Plymouth, Brilliant and Endurance strafe her as she returns to Grytviken. Ships bombard (NGS) Grytviken hinterland and scratch force of RMs and SFs landed by helicopter. 1705z White flags in Grytviken. 1715z Union Flag and White Ensign hoisted in Grytviken. Argentine garrison surrendered. Argentine senior officers invited to dinner onboard Antrim.
26 April - Formal surrender signed. 200 Argentine prisoners, one wounded. No British casualties.
27 April - Santa Fe moved across the harbour; accidental shooting of CPO Artuso.
1 May - Funeral of CPO Artuso with full military honours.
2 May – Depart for Ascension with Tidespring
2 May - Argentine cruiser General Belgrano torpedoed by HMS Conqueror
3 May – First mail for 3 weeks received onboard.
4 May – HMS Sheffield fatally hit by Argentine Exocet missile.
8 May - Transfer prisoners to Tidespring which continues to Ascension. Antrim collects Landing Ship Group and heads south again.
16,18 May - Rendezvous with Amphibious and Carrier Groups respectively.
20 May - Antrim at Action Stations leads HMS Ardent at high speed to be the first ships to enter Falkland Sound
21 May - 'Humphrey' and another helicopter land Special Forces on Fanning Head.
- 0320z Enter Falkland Sound.
- 0452z commence bombarding Fanning Head.
- 1247z overflown by A4 Skyhawks.
- 1325z under heavy attack by A4s and Mirage Vs.
- 1331z struck by 1000 lb bomb which failed to explode. Shrapnel casualties and ‘Humphrey’ damaged.
- 1500z Bomb Disposal team arrive and work whilst ship under continuing attack.
- 2014z final air raid.
- 2258z start lifting bomb up and out of the ship.
- 2358z bomb lowered into deep water.
Antrim leaves the area for repairs.
22 May - 1500z Secure from Action Stations after 35 hours closed up
25 May - R/V with Stena Seaspread for repairs at sea. Coventry and Atlantic Conveyor sunk. Later, Antrim detached for South Georgia and r/v with RMS Queen Elizabeth II on 27 May - embark Major-General Jeremy Moore and staff of 5 Infantry Brigade and transfer them to HMS Fearless on 29 May.
31 May - Leave the main force for South Georgia and duties as Air Defence Guardship
12/13 June - 4.5in gun barrel change at anchor
14 June – Argentine Forces surrender in the Falklands.
6 July - 100th day since leaving Portsmouth.
16 July - Commander in Chief Fleet embark off Portland for passage up-channel. Anchor overnight at Spithead
17 July - arrive alongside Portsmouth. Blue skies – tumultuous welcome. HOME
