British Warships in the Falklands

Two of this class, Ardent and Antelope sunk in the Falklands Campaign. Arrow and Avenger were damaged.

Crew 175 or maximum of 192 possible

Full load Displacement 3,250 tons+

Length (m): 117

Beam (m): 12.7

Draught (m): 5.9

Propulsion COCOG arrangement, Two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines and Two Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1A gas turbines powering two shafts

Maximum Speed 30 knots on Olympus turbines or 18knots on Tynes. Range 4,600 miles at 17 knots or 1,380 miles at 30 knots

Aircraft One Westland Wasp or Lynx helicopter

Sensors Marconi 992Q surveillance and target indication radar plus others

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: Four Exocet SSM in Single Launchers, and one Quadruple Sea Cat SAM launcher

Guns: One 4.5in L/55 in a single Mk 8 mounting and Two 20mm Oerlikon in single mountings

Torpedoes: Two triple tube mountings for 12.75in Mk 46 A/S torpedoes

Bristol (Type 82) Class Guided Missile Destroyer

Only HMS Bristol built, she served in the Falklands.

Crew 407

Full load Displacement 7,100 tons

Length (m): 154.5

Beam (m): 16.8

Draught (m): 7

Propulsion COSAG arrangement. Two Admiralty Standard Range turbines and two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM1A gas turbines supplying two shafts

Maximum Speed 28 knots. A range of 5,755 miles at 18 knots

Aircraft Facility for One Wasp helicopter

Sensors One Marconi Type 965 air-search radar with double AKE2 array, plus various others

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: One Twin launchers for 40 Sea Dart missiles

Guns: One 4.5in L/55 DP in one Mk 8 single mounting and Two 20mm Oerlikon AA in two Mk 7 single mountings

Torpedoes: None; One launcher for 40 Ikara ASW missiles

Broadsword (Type 22) Class Frigate

Two Ships, HMS Brilliant and HMS Broadsword served in the Falklands and both were damaged during the campaign.

Crew 223

Full load Displacement 4,200 tons

Length (m): 131.2

Beam (m): 14.8

Draught (m): 6

Propulsion 2-shaft COCOG. 2 Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B and 2 Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C gas turbines

Maximum Speed 30-32 knots. On Tynes a maximum of 18 knots

Aircraft One or Two Lynx Mk 2 aircraft

Sensors Type 967 and Type 968 Surveillance radars. Two Type 910 SAM control radars. Type 1008 Navigation sonar. Type 2050 and Type 2008.

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: 4 Exocet missiles.
Two Six cell Seawolf SAM launchers, One fore and One aft

Guns: Two single 20mm GAM-BO1 guns

Torpedoes: Two Triple torpedo tubes for Mk 46 or Stingray Torpedoes

Churchill & Valiant Class Submarines

HMS Conqueror was a Churchill Class Submarine, and as such has the distinction of being the only nuclear-powered submarine to have sunk a surface warship in anger. She used Conventional Mk 8 Torpedoes instead of her wire-guided Tigerfish torpedoes. Three Churchill and Valiant class Submarines served in the Falklands, HMS Conqueror, HMS Valiant and HMS Courageous.

Crew	103
Full load Displacement	4,900 tons dived
Length (m):	86.9
Beam (m):	10.1
Draught (m):	8.2
Propulsion	One Pressurized water cooled reactor supplying steam to two English Electric geared turbines delivering 20,000shp to one shaft
Maximum Speed:	28knots submerged
Sensors	One Kelvin Type 1008 surface-search radar, plus varied sonar equipment and a Type 2024 towed sonar
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	Six Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles
Guns:
Torpedoes:	Six 21inch bow tubes for 26 torpedoes

County Class Guided Missile Destroyer

Two County Class ships served in the Falklands, HMS Antrim and Glamorgan, both were damaged.

Crew 472

Full load Displacement 6,800 tons

Length (m): 158.7

Beam (m): 16.5

Draught (m): 6.3

Propulsion COSAG arrangement. Two Babcock & Wilson boilers and Four G.6 gas turbines driving two shafts

Maximum Speed 30 knots. Range of 4,000 miles at 28 knots

Aircraft One Wessex helicopter in aft hanger

Sensors Marconi 965M air search radar plus various other, including Type 904 Sea Cat fire control radars

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: Four container-launchers for Exocet anti-ship missiles
One twin launcher for 36 Seaslug Mk 2 SAM missiles
Two quadruple launchers for 32 Sea Cat SAM missiles

Guns: Two 4.5in L/45 DP in Mk 6 twin mounting and two 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mountings

Torpedoes: Two triple 12.75in torpedo tubes for 12 Mk 46 A/S torpedoes

Fearless Class Assault Ship

Both the Fearless and Intrepid served in the Falklands war and won a reprieve from being sold off as a consequence of the Falklands War.

Crew 580

Full load Displacement 12,120 tons full load (16,950 tons flooded down)

Length (m): 158.5

Beam (m): 24.4

Draught (m): 6.2 (9.8 when flooded down)

Propulsion Two Babcock and Wilcox boilers supplying steam to two sets of English Electric geared turbines delivering 22,000shp to two shafts

Maximum Speed 21 knots; Range of 9,250 kilometres at 20 knots

Aircraft Five Westland Wessex Helicopters

Sensors One Plessey Type 994 combined air and surface search radar. One Decca Type 978 navigation radar, One computer assisted Action information System and Two Knebworth Corvus chaff launchers

Payload: Four LCM (9), Four LCVPs carried in davits, Typical load of 15 Main Battle Tanks, seven 3-ton trucks and 20 Land Rovers. Normal troop load of 400, but up to 700 in austere conditions

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: Four Quadruple launchers for Sea Cat SAM missiles

Guns: Two 40mm Bofors in two single mountings

Hermes Class Aircraft carrier

HMS Hermes was commissioned 25/11/1959, and converted to ASW carrier in 1976, being refitted for Sea Harriers in 1980.

Crew	2,100
Full load Displacement	27,800 tons deep load
Length (m):	236
Beam (m):	45
Draught (m):	8.48
Propulsion	2 Parsons geared turbines. 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers developing 76,000 shp
Maximum Speed	28 knots. Range of 4,040 miles at 20 knots
Aircraft	12 Sea Harriers and 18 Sea Kings
Flight Deck (m):	226.91 x 44; 8 degree angled deck
Sensors
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	Two Quadruple Sea Cat SAM
Guns:	Four single 3 pounder saluting guns

Invincible Class Aircraft Carrier

Crew	670 plus 284 air group
Full load Displacement	19,500 tons
Length (m):	206.6
Beam (m):	27.5
Draught (m):	8
Propulsion	2-shaft gas turbine powered by 4 Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B
Maximum Speed	28 knots; Range of 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots
Aircraft	8 Sea Harriers and 15 Sea Kings
Flight Deck (m):	167.8 x 13.4
Sensors	Type 1022 surveillance radar Type 992 R Search radar Two Type 909 Fire Control Radars for Sea Darts Two Type 1006 navigation radars
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	One Twin Sea Dart SAM launcher
Guns:	None
Torpedoes:	None

Leander (Exocet Group) Class Guided Missile Frigate

HMS Argonaut, Penelope and Minerva served in the Falklands from this Class. Only Argonaut was damaged.

Crew 223

Full load Displacement 3,200 tons

Length (m): 113.4

Beam (m): 12.5

Draught (m): 5.8

Propulsion Two Babcock & Wilcox boilers supplying steam to two sets of White-English Electric double-reduction geared turbines to two shafts

Maximum Speed 28 knots; Range of 4,600 miles at 15 knots

Aircraft One Lynx or Wasp helicopter in aft hanger

Sensors Marconi air-search radar, one Plessey 994 combined air and surface search radar plus others

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: Four container launchers for four Exocet missiles
Three quadruple launchers for Sea Cat surface-to-air missiles

Guns: Two 40mm Bofors L/60 AA in two single mountings

Torpedoes: Two triple Mk 32 tubes for 12.75inch Mk 44/46 A/S torpedoes

Leander (Broad Beam Group) Frigate

HMS Andromeda was the only ship to serve in the Falklands from this class. She was not damaged.

Crew 260

Full load Displacement 2,960 tons

Length (m): 113.4

Beam (m): 13.1

Draught (m): 5.5

Propulsion Two Babcock & Wilcox boilers supplying steam to two sets of White-English Electric double-reduction geared turbines to two shafts

Maximum Speed 28 knots; Range of 4,600 miles at 15 knots

Aircraft One Lynx in aft hanger

Sensors Marconi 965 air-search radar, one Plessey 994 combined air and surface search radar. Plus various others.

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: Four container-launchers for Exocet missiles and one Sextuple Seawolf launcher

Guns: Two 4.5in L/45 DP in one Mk 6 Twin mounting and two 20mm AA in single mountings or Two 40mm Bofors AA in single mountings

Torpedoes: One Limbo three-barrel mortar or Two triple Mk 32 tube mountings for 12.75in Mk 44/46 torpedoes

Oberon & Porpoise Submarines

HMS Onyx was the only submarine from this class to serve in the Falklands.

Crew 69

Full load Displacement 2,410 tons dived

Length (m): 90

Beam (m): 8.1

Draught (m): 5.5

Propulsion Diesel-electric arrangement with Two Admiralty standard Range diesels and two electric motors driving two shafts

Maximum Speed 12 knots surfaced and 17 knots submerged; Range of 10,350 miles at cruising speed on the surface

Sensors One Type 1002 surface search radar, One EMI 187 attack sonar and one GEC 2007 long-range passive sonar

Weapons Systems:

Torpedoes: Six 21-inch bow torpedo tubes and two aft 21inch Anti-Submarine tubes. 24 weapons carried

Rothesay (Modified Type 12) Frigate

Both Yarmouth and Plymouth, the only two ships in this class, served in the Falklands. HMS Plymouth was damaged.

Crew 235

Full load Displacement 2,800 tons

Length (m): 112.8

Beam (m): 12.5

Draught (m): 5.3

Propulsion Two Babcock & Wilcox boilers supplying steam to two sets of Admiralty Standard Range double-reduction geared turbines to two shafts

Maximum Speed 30 knots; range of 5,200 miles at 12 knots

Aircraft One Westland Wasp in aft hanger

Sensors Plessey 994 surface search radar plus others

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: One quadruple launcher for Sea Cat SAM missiles

Guns: Two 4.5in L/45 in one Mk 6 twin mounting

Anti-submarine Armament: One Limbo three-barrel mortar

Sheffield (Type 42) Class Destroyer

The Falklands saw both HMS Sheffield and HMS Coventry lost from this class, HMS Cardiff, Exeter, and Glasgow also served in the Falklands Campaign. HMS Glasgow was damaged.

Crew 253

Full load Displacement 4,100 tons

Length (m): 125

Beam (m): 14.3

Draught (m): 5.8

Propulsion 2-shaft COCOG (2 Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B and 2 Rolls-Royce Tyne RMIC gas turbines)

Maximum Speed 29 knots; Range of 4,000 nautical miles at 18 knots

Aircraft One Lynx Helicopter

Sensors Type 1022 search radar
One Type 992Q/R surveillance and target indication radar
Two Type 909 Sea Dart fire control radar and One Type 1006 navigation radar. One Type 184M sonar in hull mount.

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: One forward Twin Sea Dart launchers, with 22 missiles in magazine

Guns: One forward 4.5inch/55 Mk 8 gun
Two 20mm Oerlikon (GAM-B01)

Torpedoes:

Sir Bedivere Landing Ship Logistic

Six ships served in the Falklands, including Sir Bedivere, Sir Galahad, Sir Geraint, Sir Percivale, Sir Tristram and Sir Lancelot. Sir Galahad was sunk and Sir Tristram and Sir Lancelot were damaged.

Crew 68

Full load Displacement 5,675 tons

Length (m): 125.1

Beam (m): 19.6

Draught (m): 4.3

Propulsion Two Mirrless Blackstone diesels powering two shafts

Maximum Speed 17 knots; Range of 9,200 miles at 15 knots

Aircraft Provision for helicopters on aft platform, no hanger

Sensors Navigation radar

Payload: 340 troops or 534 in austere conditions. Beaching cargo capacity is 340 tons, and included may be 16 tanks, 34 mixed vehicles, 120 tons of petroleum produce and 30 tons of ammunition. Landing craft can be carried in place of lifeboats, but unloading is mainly handled by three cranes

Weapons Systems:

Guns: Two 40mm Bofors AA in two single mountings

Swiftsure

Two submarines of this class, HMS Spartan and HMS Splendid served in the Falklands War.

Crew 97

Full load Displacement 4,500 tons dived

Length (m): 82.9

Beam (m): 9.8

Draught (m): 8.2

Propulsion One pressurized-water cooled Rolls-Royce nuclear reactor driving steam turbines with one Paxman auxiliary diesel, driving one shaft

Maximum Speed 28 knots surfaced and 30knots submerged. Diving depth of 400m and maximum of 600m

Sensors Hughes Type 1006 surface search radar. Varied sonar equipment and one towed sonar

Weapons Systems:

Missiles: Five Sub-Harpoon missiles

Torpedoes: Five 21inch bow tubes for 20 torpedoes

Shipboard Missiles

Ikara

Body Diameter (m):
Fin Span (m):	1.52
Length (m):	3.42
Height (m):	1.57
Warhead:	One ASW torpedo
Maximum Range (km)	24+
Minimum Range (km)	3
Maximum speed:	Approximately Mach 0.8

Sea Cat

The Sea Cat equipped the HMS Hermes in The Falklands War,

Body Diameter (m):	0.6
Fin Span (m):	0.65
Length (m):	2
Overall weight (kg):	68
Maximum Range (km)	5km +
Minimum Range (km)	0.5
Maximum speed:	Mach 0.8

Sea Dart

Equipping the Type 42 Destroyers and HMS Invincible in the Falklands

Body Diameter (m):	0.42
Fin Span (m):	0.9
Length (m):	4.36
Overall weight (kg):	500kg at launch
Maximum Range (km)	25-30 nautical miles
Minimum Range (km)	2
Maximum speed:	About Mach 2

Seaslug

Carried by the County Class destroyers

Body Diameter (m):	0.41
Fin Span (m):	1.4
Length (m):	6
Overall weight (kg):	252
Weight of Warhead (kg):	35
Maximum Range (km)	45+
Minimum Range (km)	1
Maximum speed:	Approximately Mach 0.9

Seawolf

Body Diameter (m):	0.18
Fin Span (m):	0.7
Length (m):	2
Overall weight (kg):	80
Maximum Range (km)	10
Minimum Range (km)	0.3
Maximum speed:	Approximately Mach 2

Back to Falklands War Index

Crew	175 or maximum of 192 possible
Full load Displacement	3,250 tons+
Length (m):	117
Beam (m):	12.7
Draught (m):	5.9
Propulsion	COCOG arrangement, Two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines and Two Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1A gas turbines powering two shafts
Maximum Speed	30 knots on Olympus turbines or 18knots on Tynes. Range 4,600 miles at 17 knots or 1,380 miles at 30 knots
Aircraft	One Westland Wasp or Lynx helicopter
Sensors	Marconi 992Q surveillance and target indication radar plus others
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	Four Exocet SSM in Single Launchers, and one Quadruple Sea Cat SAM launcher
Guns:	One 4.5in L/55 in a single Mk 8 mounting and Two 20mm Oerlikon in single mountings
Torpedoes:	Two triple tube mountings for 12.75in Mk 46 A/S torpedoes

Crew	407
Full load Displacement	7,100 tons
Length (m):	154.5
Beam (m):	16.8
Draught (m):	7
Propulsion	COSAG arrangement. Two Admiralty Standard Range turbines and two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM1A gas turbines supplying two shafts
Maximum Speed	28 knots. A range of 5,755 miles at 18 knots
Aircraft	Facility for One Wasp helicopter
Sensors	One Marconi Type 965 air-search radar with double AKE2 array, plus various others
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	One Twin launchers for 40 Sea Dart missiles
Guns:	One 4.5in L/55 DP in one Mk 8 single mounting and Two 20mm Oerlikon AA in two Mk 7 single mountings
Torpedoes:	None; One launcher for 40 Ikara ASW missiles

Crew	223
Full load Displacement	4,200 tons
Length (m):	131.2
Beam (m):	14.8
Draught (m):	6
Propulsion	2-shaft COCOG. 2 Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B and 2 Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C gas turbines
Maximum Speed	30-32 knots. On Tynes a maximum of 18 knots
Aircraft	One or Two Lynx Mk 2 aircraft
Sensors	Type 967 and Type 968 Surveillance radars. Two Type 910 SAM control radars. Type 1008 Navigation sonar. Type 2050 and Type 2008.
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	4 Exocet missiles. Two Six cell Seawolf SAM launchers, One fore and One aft
Guns:	Two single 20mm GAM-BO1 guns
Torpedoes:	Two Triple torpedo tubes for Mk 46 or Stingray Torpedoes

Crew	472
Full load Displacement	6,800 tons
Length (m):	158.7
Beam (m):	16.5
Draught (m):	6.3
Propulsion	COSAG arrangement. Two Babcock & Wilson boilers and Four G.6 gas turbines driving two shafts
Maximum Speed	30 knots. Range of 4,000 miles at 28 knots
Aircraft	One Wessex helicopter in aft hanger
Sensors	Marconi 965M air search radar plus various other, including Type 904 Sea Cat fire control radars
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	Four container-launchers for Exocet anti-ship missiles One twin launcher for 36 Seaslug Mk 2 SAM missiles Two quadruple launchers for 32 Sea Cat SAM missiles
Guns:	Two 4.5in L/45 DP in Mk 6 twin mounting and two 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mountings
Torpedoes:	Two triple 12.75in torpedo tubes for 12 Mk 46 A/S torpedoes

Crew	580
Full load Displacement	12,120 tons full load (16,950 tons flooded down)
Length (m):	158.5
Beam (m):	24.4
Draught (m):	6.2 (9.8 when flooded down)
Propulsion	Two Babcock and Wilcox boilers supplying steam to two sets of English Electric geared turbines delivering 22,000shp to two shafts
Maximum Speed	21 knots; Range of 9,250 kilometres at 20 knots
Aircraft	Five Westland Wessex Helicopters
Sensors	One Plessey Type 994 combined air and surface search radar. One Decca Type 978 navigation radar, One computer assisted Action information System and Two Knebworth Corvus chaff launchers
Payload:	Four LCM (9), Four LCVPs carried in davits, Typical load of 15 Main Battle Tanks, seven 3-ton trucks and 20 Land Rovers. Normal troop load of 400, but up to 700 in austere conditions
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	Four Quadruple launchers for Sea Cat SAM missiles
Guns:	Two 40mm Bofors in two single mountings

Crew	223
Full load Displacement	3,200 tons
Length (m):	113.4
Beam (m):	12.5
Draught (m):	5.8
Propulsion	Two Babcock & Wilcox boilers supplying steam to two sets of White-English Electric double-reduction geared turbines to two shafts
Maximum Speed	28 knots; Range of 4,600 miles at 15 knots
Aircraft	One Lynx or Wasp helicopter in aft hanger
Sensors	Marconi air-search radar, one Plessey 994 combined air and surface search radar plus others
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	Four container launchers for four Exocet missiles Three quadruple launchers for Sea Cat surface-to-air missiles
Guns:	Two 40mm Bofors L/60 AA in two single mountings
Torpedoes:	Two triple Mk 32 tubes for 12.75inch Mk 44/46 A/S torpedoes

Crew	260
Full load Displacement	2,960 tons
Length (m):	113.4
Beam (m):	13.1
Draught (m):	5.5
Propulsion	Two Babcock & Wilcox boilers supplying steam to two sets of White-English Electric double-reduction geared turbines to two shafts
Maximum Speed	28 knots; Range of 4,600 miles at 15 knots
Aircraft	One Lynx in aft hanger
Sensors	Marconi 965 air-search radar, one Plessey 994 combined air and surface search radar. Plus various others.
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	Four container-launchers for Exocet missiles and one Sextuple Seawolf launcher
Guns:	Two 4.5in L/45 DP in one Mk 6 Twin mounting and two 20mm AA in single mountings or Two 40mm Bofors AA in single mountings
Torpedoes:	One Limbo three-barrel mortar or Two triple Mk 32 tube mountings for 12.75in Mk 44/46 torpedoes

Crew	69
Full load Displacement	2,410 tons dived
Length (m):	90
Beam (m):	8.1
Draught (m):	5.5
Propulsion	Diesel-electric arrangement with Two Admiralty standard Range diesels and two electric motors driving two shafts
Maximum Speed	12 knots surfaced and 17 knots submerged; Range of 10,350 miles at cruising speed on the surface
Sensors	One Type 1002 surface search radar, One EMI 187 attack sonar and one GEC 2007 long-range passive sonar
Weapons Systems:
Torpedoes:	Six 21-inch bow torpedo tubes and two aft 21inch Anti-Submarine tubes. 24 weapons carried

Crew	235
Full load Displacement	2,800 tons
Length (m):	112.8
Beam (m):	12.5
Draught (m):	5.3
Propulsion	Two Babcock & Wilcox boilers supplying steam to two sets of Admiralty Standard Range double-reduction geared turbines to two shafts
Maximum Speed	30 knots; range of 5,200 miles at 12 knots
Aircraft	One Westland Wasp in aft hanger
Sensors	Plessey 994 surface search radar plus others
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	One quadruple launcher for Sea Cat SAM missiles
Guns:	Two 4.5in L/45 in one Mk 6 twin mounting
Anti-submarine Armament:	One Limbo three-barrel mortar

Crew	253
Full load Displacement	4,100 tons
Length (m):	125
Beam (m):	14.3
Draught (m):	5.8
Propulsion	2-shaft COCOG (2 Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B and 2 Rolls-Royce Tyne RMIC gas turbines)
Maximum Speed	29 knots; Range of 4,000 nautical miles at 18 knots
Aircraft	One Lynx Helicopter
Sensors	Type 1022 search radar One Type 992Q/R surveillance and target indication radar Two Type 909 Sea Dart fire control radar and One Type 1006 navigation radar. One Type 184M sonar in hull mount.
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	One forward Twin Sea Dart launchers, with 22 missiles in magazine
Guns:	One forward 4.5inch/55 Mk 8 gun Two 20mm Oerlikon (GAM-B01)
Torpedoes:

Crew	68
Full load Displacement	5,675 tons
Length (m):	125.1
Beam (m):	19.6
Draught (m):	4.3
Propulsion	Two Mirrless Blackstone diesels powering two shafts
Maximum Speed	17 knots; Range of 9,200 miles at 15 knots
Aircraft	Provision for helicopters on aft platform, no hanger
Sensors	Navigation radar
Payload:	340 troops or 534 in austere conditions. Beaching cargo capacity is 340 tons, and included may be 16 tanks, 34 mixed vehicles, 120 tons of petroleum produce and 30 tons of ammunition. Landing craft can be carried in place of lifeboats, but unloading is mainly handled by three cranes
Weapons Systems:
Guns:	Two 40mm Bofors AA in two single mountings

Crew	97
Full load Displacement	4,500 tons dived
Length (m):	82.9
Beam (m):	9.8
Draught (m):	8.2
Propulsion	One pressurized-water cooled Rolls-Royce nuclear reactor driving steam turbines with one Paxman auxiliary diesel, driving one shaft
Maximum Speed	28 knots surfaced and 30knots submerged. Diving depth of 400m and maximum of 600m
Sensors	Hughes Type 1006 surface search radar. Varied sonar equipment and one towed sonar
Weapons Systems:
Missiles:	Five Sub-Harpoon missiles
Torpedoes:	Five 21inch bow tubes for 20 torpedoes