Themes

Article highlights

• HMS Fearless in the Falklands

• Britain's amphibious capabilities

• Fearless in the Task Group

• Heading South

• Ascension Island - preparation for war

• To the TEZ

• Preparing to land

• Further duties

• The return home

Further duties

As the landings were taking place HMS Fearless moved to an anchorage in San Carlos water, which became more affectionately known as 'Bomb Alley'. The ship stayed there for the next six days.

During this time the efficient Argentinean air strikes in the area meant that the ship was subjected to regular air attacks, severely affecting follow up troop and equipment movement to the shore.

On 23 May HMS Antelope was sunk. LCUs and LCVPs from HMS Fearless rescued the ship’s company.

Memorial to those lost in HMS Ardent and HMS Antelope during the Falklands War. (RNM)

Success for the ship’s company came on 27 May when two gunners shot down Argentinean Mirage Aircraft.

On 28 May Fearless put to sea to refuel. The ship returned to San Carlos Water 31 May where the ship’s company carried out support operations. They provided fire fighting and damage control parties and even ran a captured Argentinean oil rig supply vessel.

Helicopters flew from Fearless and sister ship HMS Intrepid in support of the ground troops in providing stores ammunition and the movement of gun batteries. The helicopters were also involved in search and rescue missions from the ship.

On 6 June the ship moved to a point close to Choiseful Sound. The ship’s LCU F4, which was transporting communication Land Rovers to the ground troops was sunk with the loss of six members of the crew.

A team from Fearless was also sent to survey the wrecks at Bluff Cove following the tragedy which saw the LSLs Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram carrying half a battalion of Welsh Guards bombed by enemy air craft.