RFA Appleleaf (3) on passage from Curacao to the U.K. with a full cargo is diverted to Gibraltar to embark general naval stores then proceed south to support HMS Endurance and RFA Fort Austin

29 March 1982

RFA Fort Austin sailed from Gibraltar to support HMS Endurance in the South Atlantic

1 April 1982

RFA Stromness begins restoring at Portsmouth

2 April 1982

Argentine military forces invaded the Falkland Islands

RFA Appleleaf (3) sailed from Gibraltar to take up refuelling duties with the Task Force escorted by the frigate HMS Plymouth

RFA Sir Bedivere was recalled to the U.K. from the West coast of Canada

RFA Sir Tristram sailed from Belize for Ascension Island

RFA Tidespring sailed from Gibraltar

3 April 1982

Argentine military forces invaded South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

RFA Sir Percivale arrived at Marchwood Military Port from Zeebrugge

4 April 1982

RFA Tidepool was recalled after arrival at Arica in Chile

5 April 1982

RFA Brambleleaf (3) diverted from Armilla Patrol duties in the Arabian Gulf to proceed round the Cape of Good Hope for service during Operation Corporate and sailed from the Gulf of Oman to land embarked wives at Mombasa

RFA Olmeda with 2 x Seaking helicopters from ‘A’ Flight 824 Naval Air Squadron embarked sailed from Devonport

RFA Olna (3) sailed from Mombasa to the UK

RFA Pearleaf (2) loaded with FFO for HMS Hermes, the only RN ship to use this type of fuel sailed from Portsmouth

RFA Resource with 1 x Wessex 5 helicopter from ‘A’ Flight 845 Naval Air Squadron and part of Zulu Company 45 Royal Marine Commando embarked sailed from Rosyth

RFA Sir Lancelot with 3 x Gazelle helicopters and part of HQ Company 45 Royal Marine Commando embarked sailed from Marchwood Military Port

RFA Sir Percivale with 3 x Gazelle helicopters and part of HQ Company 45 Royal Marine Commando embarked sailed from Marchwood Military Port

6 April 1982

RFA Fort Austin arrived at Ascension Island

RFA Sir Galahad (1) with 3 Gazelle helicopters and 350 Royal Marines embarked sailed from Devonport

RFA Sir Geraint with 3 x Gazelle helicopters and part of ‘Z’ company, 45 Royal Marine Commando embarked sailed from Devonport

7 April 1982

Amphibious Landing Group assembled at sea. This consisted of RFA’s Sir Galahad (1), Sir Geraint and Sir Percivale escorted by the LPD HMS Fearless and HM frigates Alacrity and Antelope

RFA Pearleaf (2) joined the Amphibious Landing Group

RFA Stromness sailed from Portsmouth having rapidly restored and with 429 Royal Marines embarked

9 April 1982

RFA Fort Austin having embarked 3 x Lynx equipped with Sea Skua missiles and 2 x Wessex 5 helicopters from 815 and 845 Naval Air Squadrons sailed from Ascension Island

10 April 1982

RFA Tidespring arrived at Ascension Island

11 April 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) arrived at Ascension Island as part of TG 317.8 / 11

RFA Resource and RFA Stromness joined the Amphibious Landing Group at sea

12 April 1982

RFA Fort Austin replenished HMS Endurance then headed back north to meet the South Georgia Task Group

RFA Tidepool arrived Willemstad, Curacao to load cargo, stores and a full RFA complement

RFA Tidespring sailed from Ascension Island with the ‘Antrim’ Group and with 2 x Wessex 5 helicopters from ‘C’ Flight 845 Naval Air Squadron embarked

13 April 1982

RFA Brambleleaf (3) off the Cape of Good Hope en-route to the TEZ (Total Exclusion Zone) around the Falkland Islands

RFA Fort Austin rendezvoused with RFA Tidespring for a fuel transfer and to transfer food, ammunition and the SAS/SBS teams to the destroyer HMS Antrim and the frigate HMS Plymouth and to transfer a full RN Surgical Support Team to RFA Tidespring in preparation for Operation Paraquat - the retaking of South Georgia

14 April 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) sailed Ascension Island for “tanking duties“ in the region of 40 degrees south

RFA Tidespring and the Antrim Group rendezvoused with HMS Endurance

16 April 1982

RFA Blue Rover sailed from Portsmouth

RFA Fort Austin RASed with HMS Brilliant and HMS Sheffield

17 April 1982

RFA Resource arrived at Ascension Island

RFA Tidepool sailed from Willemstad

RFA Tidespring entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

18 April 1982

RFA’s Olmeda and Resource sailed from Ascension Island as part of the Carrier Battle Group

19 April 1982

Amphibious Landing Group arrived at Ascension Island where they were joined by RFA Sir Tristram

RFA Brambleleaf (3) entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands having encountered severe weather in the South Atlantic causing bow damage which led to some of her tanks becoming contaminated with seawater

RFA Plumleaf (2) sailed from Portland

RFA Regent with 2 x Wessex 5 helicopters from ‘A’ Flight 848 Naval Air Squadron embarked sailed Plymouth

20 April 1982

RFA Resource RASed with HMS Broadsword

RFA Stromness arrived at Ascension Island

RFA Tidespring edged within 200 miles of South Georgia

21 April 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) “motorway tanking” in the vicinity of 40 degrees south

RFA Fort Austin arrived back at Ascension Island to restore

RFA Tidespring arrived off South Georgia for Operation Paraquat with M Coy 45 Commando

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Ardent and HMS Argonaut

22 April 1982

RFA Pearleaf (2) arrived at Ascension Island

RFA Tidespring’s 2 x Wessex helicopters crashed on Fortuna Glacier and were lost

23 April 1982

RFA Brambleleaf (3) joined Operation Paraquat - the retaking of South Georgia. Proceeded 200 miles off South Georgia with RFA Tidespring for a pump over which had to be abandoned due to a submarine alert which turned out to be the Argentinean Sante Fe

RFA Fort Austin sailed Ascension Island to rejoin the Carrier Battle Group

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Ardent and HMS Argonaut

24 April 1982

RFA Tidespring’s pump over with RFA Brambleleaf (3) was completed

RFA Brambleleaf (3) sailed for the U.K.

RFA Tidespring RASed with HMS Brilliant

25 April 1982

RFA Olmeda entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Pearleaf (2) sailed from Ascension Island and conducted a record pump over with British Tamar

RFA Resource entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Sir Bedivere arrived at Marchwood Military Port from Vancouver

26 April 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) relieved from “motorway tanking duties” and headed for the TEZ

RFA Bayleaf (3) sailed direct from her builder’s yard to Portland to stretch her RAS rigs with RFA Grey Rover then sailed for Gibraltar and Ascension Island in company with the LPD HMS Intrepid

RFA Blue Rover arrived Ascension Island and then sailed again that same day for South Georgia

RFA Fort Austin entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Tidepool arrived at Ascension Island

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Ardent and HMS Argonaut

27 April 1982

RFA Tidespring embarked 187 Argentinean PoW’s at Cumberland Bay in South Georgia

28 April 1982

RFA Regent with RFA Plumleaf (2) at 03 30N 16.31W receiving 790 tons of fuel

29 April 1982

Amphibious Landing Group sailed from Ascension Island

RFA Appleleaf (3) joined the Carrier Battle Group to commence RAS (L) operations

RFA Regent arrived at Ascension Island

RFA Sir Bedivere sailed from Marchwood Military Port

30 April 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) pumped her remaining avcat to RFA Olmeda and then detached to replenish her own tanks from the requisitioned BP tanker British Esk

1 May 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) arrived at Ascension Island and also RASed with the troopship Canberra

RFA Tidespring sailed from Cumberland Bay to land her PoW’s at Ascension Island

2 May 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) rendezvoused with RFA Tidespring and transferred the latter’s avcat into her own tanks. The fuel had originally come from RFA Brambleleaf (3)

RFA Blue Rover entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Regent sailed from Ascension Island

RFA Tidespring sailed with 185 Argentinian Prisoners of War embarked

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with British Tamar and received 503 tons of fuel

3 May 1982

RFA Fort Austin rejoined the Carrier Battle Group

RFA Tidespring rendezvoused with RFA Appleleaf for a pump over

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Fearless, HMS Ardent and HMS Argonaut

4 May 1982

RFA Fort Austin embarked 170 survivors and the Lynx helicopter from the stricken destroyer HMS Sheffield after the Exocet attack on the latter

RFA Pearleaf (2) entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

6 May 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) headed south in company with RFA Blue Rover escorted by the frigate HMS Plymouth

RFA Plumleaf (2) sailed from Ascension Island

RFA Tidepool sailed from Ascension Island with 2 x Wessex 5’s from E Flight 845 NAS embarked

8 May 1982

Amphibious Landing Group entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Appleleaf (3) rendezvoused with RFA’s Fort Austin and Olmeda and commenced a pump over to the latter

RFA Regent entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

9 May 1982

RFA Blue Rover arrived at Cumberland Bay, South Georgia to act as Station Tanker there

RFA Fort Austin RASed with HMS Hermes

RFA Olna (3) sailed from Gosport with 2 x Wessex 5 helicopters from ‘B’ Flight 848 Naval Air Squadron embarked as part of the HMS Bristol Task Group

10 May 1982

RFA Engadine with 4 x Wessex helicopters from ‘A’ Flight 847 Naval Air Squadron and a maintenance crew from 825 Naval Air Squadron embarked sailed from Devonport

RFA Plumleaf (2) entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Sir Bedivere arrived at Ascension Island

11 May 1982

RFA Bayleaf (3) sailed from Gibraltar to Ascension Island

RFA Regent joined the Carrier Battle Group

RFA Tidepool joined the Amphibious Landing Group

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with RFA Sir Geraint

12 May 1982

RFA Brambleleaf (3) arrived at Portland to tank clean and for repairs

RFA Sir Bedivere at Ascension Island – FCDT3 embarked

RFA Sir Tristram at Ascension Island – FCDT1 embarked

RFA Tidespring arrived at Ascension with Argentine prisoners from South Georgia being returned to their country

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Plymouth

13 May 1982

RFA Fort Grange having completed a refit one month early sailed from Devonport with 3 x Seaking helicopters from 824 Naval Air Squadron 'C' Flight embarked

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with RFA Pearleaf (2)

RFA Sir Bedivere sailed from Ascension Island

RFA Sir Tristram sailed from Ascension Island

RFA Stromness entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Tidepool entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

14 May 1982

RFA Resource RASed with HMS Invincible

15 May 1982

RFA Engadine arrived at Gibraltar enroute to the Falkland Islands

RFA Resource RASed with RFA Regent

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Antrim

16 May 1982

RFA Fort Austin recovered a number of Special Forces and their equipment which had been parachuted into the South Atlantic from a Hercules transport aircraft

RFA Plumleaf (2) detached from Amphibious Group to act as a “motorway station” for southbound ships

RFA Tidespring sailed from Ascension Island with 2 replacement Wessex 5 helicopters to the TEZ for replenishment of ships of the Task Group

17 May 1982

RFA Fort Austin RASed with RFA Regent

RFA Regent RASed with HMS Coventry

18 May 1982

RFA Sir Bedivere entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Plumleaf RASed with the tanker British Dart and received 8201 tons of fuel

19 May 1982

RFA Bayleaf (3) arrived at Ascension Island

20 May 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Ambuscade and HMS Exeter

21 May 1982

Amphibious Landing Group entered San Carlos Water led by RFA Sir Lancelot

RFA Stromness and RFA Fort Austin entered Falkland Sound along with the HMS Fearless Group and claimed a kill on an Argentinean aircraft in San Carlos Water

RFA's Sir Percivale, Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, Sir Tristram and Sir Geraint enter the Falkland Sound

22 May 1982

RFA Fort Grange arrived at Ascension Island

23 May 1982

RFA Olna (3) entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Resource entered San Carlos Water along with RFA’s Sir Bedivere and Tidepool

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Active, HMS Avenger and HMS Bristol

24 May 1982

RFA Fort Austin near-missed by Argentinean bombs in San Carlos Water along with RFA’s Resource and Stromness the later suffering minor damage

RFA Fort Grange sailed from Ascension Island

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Andromeda, HMS Cardiff and HMS Minerva

RFA Sir Bedivere whilst anchored in San Carlos Water was hit by an Argentinean bomb which cut through her crane’s steel plating and then bounced into the sea before exploding and caused minor damage. She also claimed one Mirage splashed

RFA Sir Galahad (1) hit by a 1000 lb bomb which failed to explode

RFA Sir Lancelot hit by 1000 lb bomb which failed to explode and two other bombs which bounced over the ship

25 May 1982

RFA Engadine arrived at Ascension Island sailing south the next day

RFA Fort Austin reported suspicious underwater noises and members of FCDT 1 and FCDT 3 searched the ships’ hulls of all RFA’s in the area to ensure that no explosive devices had been planted.

RFA Fort Austin embarked survivors from the destroyer HMS Coventry and sailed from San Carlos Water

RFA Resource sailed from Falkland Sound along with RFA’s Sir Percivale, Stromness and Tidepool escorted by the frigate HMS Ambuscade

RFA Sir Lancelot was bombed again and again the bomb failed to explode

MV Atlantic Conveyor, a STUFT ship was hit by an Exocet Missile. Ten people onboard were killed including all three embarked RFA personnel

26 May 1982

RFA Regent RASed with RFA Resource

RFA Fort Grange entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Sir Galahad (1)’s unexploded bomb was successfully removed

27 May 1982

RFA Bayleaf (3) sailed from Ascension Island

28 May 1982

RFA Blue Rover sustained slight damage while refuelling the ferry Norland

29 May 1982

RFA Blue Rover sailed from South Georgia to rendezvous with the Task Group

RFA Sir Lancelot’s unexploded bomb was safely removed

30 May 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Glasgow

RFA Sir Percivale used as temporary Argentine PoW accommodation

31 May 1982

RFA Blue Rover entered San Carlos Water

RFA Fort Grange attacked by an Argentinean C-130 on its way to join the Carrier Battle Group

RFA Resource sailed for South Georgia to replenish

1 June 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) re-assigned to “motorway tanking duties”

RFA Blue Rover entered San Carlos Water

RFA Brambleleaf (3) sailed Portland on her 2nd tour in the South Atlantic

RFA Sir Galahad (1) returned to full operational service

2 June 1982

RFA Bayleaf (3) RAS’ed with the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2

RFA Blue Rover sailed from San Carlos Water

RFA Fort Austin RAS’ed with HMS Invincible

RFA Olmeda RAS'ed with ss Uganda and HMS Hydra

3 June 1982

RFA Engadine over flown by an Argentinean Boeing 707 1000 miles northeast of the Falklands

RFA Fort Grange joined the Carrier Battle Group to relieve RFA Fort Austin

RFA Fort Austin RAS'ed with HMS Brilliant, HMS Glamorgan, RFA Resource, RFA Fort Grange and HMS Invincible

4 June 1982

RFA Blue Rover entered San Carlos Water

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Glasgow

5 June 1982

RFA Fort Austin began transferring stores to RFA Fort Grange

RFA Pearleaf (2) relieved RFA Blue Rover as Station Tanker at South Georgia

6 June 1982

RFA Blue Rover sailed from San Carlos Water

RFA Engadine entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Fort Austin sailed for South Georgia

7 June 1982

RFA Engadine operated in the TRALA (Tug, Repair and Logistics Area)

8 June 1982

RFA Fort Austin arrived at South Georgia

RFA Olna (3) entered San Carlos Water

RFA Sir Galahad (1) bombed at Bluff Cove and set on fire – forty eight of her crew and soldiers were killed

RFA Sir Tristram bombed at Bluff Cove and badly damaged – two of her crew were killed

9 June 1982

RFA Bayleaf (3) entered the TEZ around the Falkland Islands

RFA Engadine acted as a Wessex helicopter support and refuelling base in San Carlos Water

RFA Fort Grange arrived at San Carlos anchorage along with the ferry Nordic Ferry

10 June 1982

RFA Bayleaf (3) arrived in the TRALA (Tug, Repair and Logistics Area)

RFA Blue Rover entered San Carlos Water

11 June 1982

RFA Fort Austin sailed from South Georgia for the U.K.

The crew of RFA Sir Tristram transferred to mv Atlantic Causeway for movement to the STUFF BP Tanker British Trent for passage to Ascension Island for a flight back to the UK

12 June 1982

RFA Blue Rover sailed from San Carlos Water

One of RFA Tidespring’s replacement Wessex helicopters was aboard HMS Glamorgan when the latter was hit by an Exocet missile and the helicopter was lost in the explosion

13 June 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Argonaut

14 June 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with British Dart receiving 2,246 tons of fuel and RASed with the Cable Ship Iris

RFA Sir Percivale berthed in Port Stanley – the first British ship to do so after the Argentine surrender

16 June 1982

RFA Fort Austin RAS’ed with RFA Plumleaf (2) at 22 05S 18.56W receiving 704 tons of fuel and arrived at Ascension Island 2 days after the Argentinean surrender and was one of the first ships to return home after Operation Corporate

RFA Plumleaf (2) was relieved from “motorway tanking” and sailed for Ascension Island

RFA Resource RASed with HMS Hermes

RFA Sir Bedivere became the 2nd ship to enter Port Stanley after RFA Sir Percivale

18 June 1982

RFA Olmeda embarked teams from 42 Commando Royal Marines at South Georgia for Operation Keyhole - the recapture of South Thule in the South Sandwich Islands.

RFA Pearleaf (2) sailed from South Georgia to join the “motorway chain” of tankers

19 June 1982

RFA Olmeda took part in Operation Keyhole - the retaking of the island of South Thule - along with the frigate HMS Yarmouth, the ice patrol vessel HMS Endurance and the rescue tug Salvageman

20 June 1982

RFA Olmeda sailed South Thule with captured Argentine PoW’s aboard

25 June 1982

RFA Sir Galahad (1) was sunk as a war grave of the Falkland Islands by a torpedo from HMS Onyx

27 June 1982

RFA Engadine arrived at Port Stanley

28 June 1982

RFA Blue Rover sailed the Falkland Islands for the UK

RFA Fort Austin arrived back in Devonport on completion of Operation Corporate duties

RFA Olmeda sailed the Falkland Islands for the UK

RFA Resource sailed the Falkland Islands for the UK

RFA Sir Percivale sailed the Falkland Islands for the U.K.

29 June 1982

RFA Stromness sailed the Falkland Islands for the UK

30 June 1982

RFA Sir Geraint sailed the Falkland Islands for the U.K.

1 July 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Rhyl, HMS Diomede and HMS Danae

7 July 1982

RFA Engadine sailed the Falkland Islands for the U.K. via San Carlos Water to embark 825 NAS personnel and a damaged Sea King helicopter, having performed 450 deck fuellings and achieved 1606 deck landings

11 July 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) arrived at Gibraltar

12 July 1982

RFA Olmeda arrived back at Devonport after 96 continuous days at sea, having covered 30,000 miles, had supplied 185 ships with 64,000 tons of FFO, diesel oil and avcat. In turn she had received 58,000 tons of fuel from 10 requisitioned merchant tankers

17 July 1982

RFA Blue Rover arrived back at Portsmouth on completion of Operation Corporate duties

19 July 1982

RFA Resource arrived back at Devonport on completion of Operation Corporate duties

21 July 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Ambuscade

23 July 1982

RFA Sir Geraint arrived back U.K. on completion of Operation Corporate duties

RFA Stromness arrived back UK on completion of Operation Corporate duties

RFA Tidespring arrived back U.K. on completion of Operation Corporate duties.

24 July 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Exeter, HMS Yarmouth and HMS Cardiff

25 July 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) sailed Falkland Islands for home having conducted 125 RAS and pump over evolutions

26 July 1982

RFA Sir Percivale arrived back U.K. on completion of Operation Corporate duties.

RFA Sir Lancelot arrived back at Portsmouth on completion of Operation Corporate duties

29 July 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS RHYL

30 July 1982

RFA Engadine arrived back at Devonport on completion of Operation Corporate duties

31 July 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) RASed with HMS Minerva and HMS Active

2 August 1982

RFA Pearleaf (2) arrived at Gibraltar enroute to the U.K.

9 August 1982

RFA Appleleaf (3) arrived back U.K. on completion of Operation Corporate duties

13 August 1982

RFA Pearleaf (2) arrived back U.K. on completion of Operation Corporate duties

RFA Tidepool was finally handed over to the Chilean Navy on completion of Operation Corporate duties

17 August 1982

RFA Fort Grange sailed the Falkland Islands for the U.K. on completion of Operation Corporate duties

21 August 1982

RFA Olna (3) sailed the Falklands Islands for Portsmouth with the carrier HMS Invincible

26 August 1982

RFA Plumleaf (2) arrived back U.K. on completion of Operation Corporate duties

31 August 1982

RFA Bayleaf (3) arrived back at Devonport on completion of Operation Corporate duties

15 September 1982

RFA Regent arrived back at Rosyth on completion of Operation Corporate duties

17 September 1982

RFA Olna (3) arrived back at Portsmouth on completion of Operation Corporate duties during which she carried out 143 RAS’s

3 October 1982

RFA Fort Grange arrived back U.K. on completion of Operation Corporate duties

24 October 1982

RFA Brambleleaf (3) sailed Falkland Islands for home with the carrier HMS Illustrious and the frigate HMS Amazon

31 October 1982

RFA Sir Bedivere sailed the Falkland Islands for home

16 November 1982

RFA Sir Bedivere arrived back at Marchwood Military Port after Operation Corporate duties with the remains of sixty four Servicemen for burial at home

16 December 1982

RFA Brambleleaf (3) arrived Gibraltar on completion of Operation Corporate duties

16 May 1983

RFA Sir Tristram left Port Stanley, Falkland Islands aboard the heavy lift ship Dan Lifter for passage to the UK and rebuilding

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