Post by Administrator on Apr 9, 2022 19:46:55 GMT
The Falklands War: Friday, 9 April 1982 — The Canberra departs from Portsmouth carrying 3 Para and most of 40 and 42 Commandos.
April 9, 1982, was a Good Friday, cold and drizzle Hung over Southampton. The marines and paratroopers were on their way to re-claim the Falkland Islands after the Argentine invasion. Meanwhile in the Falklands, a CIA brief from 9th April states "the Argentines are reportedly lengthening the air strip in Port Stanley to accommodate A-4, MIRAGE, PUCARA, and C-130 aircraft and reinforcing the island with additional troops and air defence equipment".
Canberra, Britain’s second biggest liner, had been requisitioned to carry 3 Commando Brigade to the Falklands – 40, 42 and 45 Commando plus the men of 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (3 Para).
Three days earlier, elements of a battleship “Task Force” had also left Portsmouth.
Leading the way were two aircraft carriers, HMS Hermes (the flagship) and HMS Invincible, the assault ship HMS Fearless, plus other landing ships and their accompanying escorts.
They, in turn, had been preceded by warships which had been carrying out manoeuvres off Gibraltar plus three nuclear-powered submarines.
But Canberra, manned by a volunteer civilian crew of 400, was the key facilitator: she carried 2,400 first wave invasion troops within the warren of decks and cabins that had been hastily converted for troop movement just two days after returning from a world cruise.
Royal British Legion - Paris France.