Twenty two ships of the RFA fleet were deployed on Operation Corporate – these ships were: –

RFA Appleleaf – Leaf Class Support Tanker (A79)

Captain G. P. A. MacDougall RFA

RFA Appleleaf was on exercise ‘Springtrain’ at Gibraltar, when she sailed on the 2 April 1982 to begin refuelling duties on the 11 April 1982.  She joined the Task Force on the 14 April  at 25 degrees as a fuelling station for ships heading south, and continued with this task until June, when she swapped with RFA Plumleaf and proceeded to around 40 degrees south.  The ship refuelled many of the ships going and coming from the Falklands during this period, before sailing for the UK on the 25 July.  The ship anchored in Kirkcaldy Bay on the 9 August, before moving to Rosyth Dockyard.

RFA Bayleaf – Leaf Class Support Tanker (A109)

Captain A. E. T. Hunter RFA

Bayleaf was accepted for RFA service on the 25March 1982 and sailed from Devonport for the South Atlantic on her maiden voyage, after conducting a brief FOST work up off Portland.  On the 8 May the ship took on fuel from the STUFT ship ‘Anco Charger’ off Ascension Island and then sailed south with the ‘Bristol’ group.  She began her fuelling duties with the Task Force by refuelling the QE2 and supported the Carriers as and when required.  Bayleaf arrived back in the UK at Devonport on the 31 August 1982.

RFA Blue Rover – Rover Class Small Fleet Tanker (A270)

Captain D. A. Reynolds RFA

Blue Rover was one of the ships on ‘Exercise Springtrain’ and was at Gibraltar in March 1982 when she transferred all of her stores to ships heading south before sailing for the UK, arriving at Portsmouth on the 6 April 1982.  After undergoing conversion to carry AVCAT and re-storing, she sailed for Ascension Island on the 16 April, where she took on more stores before refuelling the LSL group and then heading for South Georgia, arriving there on the 9 May to join HMS Endurance supporting the garrison and to warn other ships approaching the Island of icebergs.  In late May she sailed for the Falklands arriving in San Carlos Water on the 1st June to unload ammunition, she then sailed two days later to take up fuelling duties with the Task Force and the TRALA. The ship then moved to Port Stanley to refuel ships there after the surrender until ordered back to the UK on the 28 June.   The ship arrived back at Portsmouth on the 17 July.

RFA Brambleleaf – Leaf Class Support Tanker (A81)

Captain M. S. J. Farley RFA

Brambleleaf was on patrol in the Persian Gulf during April 1982 and after calling at Mombasa, she was ordered South via the Cape of Good Hope to South Georgia to provide fuel to the ships engaged on Operation Paraquat, during her passage round the Cape she sustained damage in rough weather.   During a pump over to RFA Tidespring on the 23 April, a submarine threat was detected and the ships abandoned the manoeuvre.  The pump over was completed the following day and after completing the pump over, the ship sailed for the UK, arriving at Portland on the 15 May for repairs.  Brambleleaf sailed again for the South Atlantic on the 23 May where she remained on station with the Task Force before returning to Gibraltar on the 16 December 1982.

RFA Engadine – Helicopter Support Ship (K08)

Captain David F. Freeman RFA

The ship sailed from Devonport on the 10 May 1982 after embarking ‘A’ flight of 847 Naval Air Squadron and a maintenance crew from 825 Squadron.  The ship sailed south via Gibraltar and Ascension Island before arriving in the TEZ on the 6 June, she moved to the TRALA the next day and then to San Carlos Water on the 9 June to operate as a helicopter support ship and a refuelling platform for land based helicopters.  Engadine moved round to Port William on the 27 June and remained there until 7 July, when she sailed north after calling briefly at San Carlos to collect 825 Squadron crew and a damaged Helicopter.  The ship passed Ascension Island on the 18 July and arrived at Devonport on the 30 July.  During Operation Corporate the ship received 1,606 deck landings and refuelled 450 helicopters.

RFA Fort Austin – Fort Class Fleet Stores Ship (A386)

Commodore S. C. Dunlop, MBE RFA

Whilst part of Exercise ‘Springtrain’ the ship was ordered south from Gibraltar on the 29 March 1982, to replenish HMS Endurance in the South Atlantic.  The ship arrived at Ascension Island on the 6 April, and embarked 3 Lynx helicopters of 815 and 845 Squadron, she sailed on the 9 April and rendezvoused with HMS Endurance on the 12 April and after transferring stores, headed north again the following day transferring her helicopters to other ship in the Task Force on the 17 April, before arriving back at Ascension on the 21 April.  After taking on more stores the ship sailed south again on the 23 April, entering the TEZ on the 3 May to operate as a helicopter maintenance platform.  Sailed into Falklands Sound on the 21 May for the landings and then remained on station until she sailed for the UK on the 7 June, via the TRALA.  Arrived at Devonport on the 28 June.

RFA Fort Grange – Fort Class Fleet Stores Ship (A385)

Captain D. G. M. Averill, CBE  RFA

The ship was in refit when the conflict arose and she completed this one month early, so that she could sail from Devonport on the 14 May, with ‘C’ flight 824 Squadron.  The ship entered the TEZ on the 3 June to rendezvous with the Carrier Battle Group, and then spent the next eight days replenishing 25 vessels.  Fort Grange entered San Carlos Water to resupply ships there, and to provide stores for the beachhead.  During this period the ship was used as a ‘24’ hour refuelling platform by helicopters in the area.  During this period she frequently took on stores from various STUFT ships, so that she could resupply Task Force vessels and units ashore.  During a VERTREP operation to HMS Leeds Castle Fort Grange lost one of her sea king helicopters.  The ship was at Port Stanley on the 17 June and remained on station until she sailed from the TEZ to return home on the 17 September.  Arrived back at Devonport on the 3 October after disembarking her flight to Culdrose.

RFA Olmeda – OL Class Large Fleet Tanker (A124)

Captain G. P. Overbury RFA

Sailed from Devonport on the 5 April, with ‘A’ flight 824 Squadron embarked and joined the Carrier Battle Group the following day.  Arrived at Ascension Island on the 16 April, sailing south on the 18 April, entering the TEZ on the 1 May to take up tanker duties with the Task Force.  The ship detached on the 16 June as part of the Task Group for ‘Operation Keyhole’, the recapture of Southern Thule, and embarked ‘M’ Company 42 Commando at South Georgia for this operation.  On the 21 June she refuelled HMS Yarmouth in position 59 degrees 15 minutes south, the most southerly RAS performed by an RFA.  Olmeda was ordered back to the UK on the 21 June, and arrived back at Devonport on the 12 July, after disembarking her flight.

RFA Olna – OL Class Large Fleet Tanker (A123)

Captain J. A. Bailey RFA

The ship had sailed from Portland with ‘C’ flight 772 Squadron and ‘B’ flight 824 Squadron for exercise ‘Springtrain’.  The ship had transferred her helicopters to RAF North Front at Gibraltar, before sailing to join the Gulf patrol.  The ship was in Mombasa on the 5 April, when she received orders to sail for the UK, arriving at Portland on the 22 April to re-store before sailing for Portsmouth on the 26 April where she embarked ‘B’ flight 848 Squadron, the ship then sailed for the South Atlantic on the 10 May, via Ascension Island.  Entered the TEZ on the 25 May and took up refuelling duties on the 29 May with the Carrier Battle Group, before detaching to enter San Carlos Water on the 7 June.  On the 10 June the ship detached to the TRALA to re-fuel from STUFT ships and then sailed for San Carlos Water on the 13 June.  Olna sailed back to the TRALA again on the 16 June before anchoring at Port William on the 20 June; the ship sailed for San Carlos the following day and then returned to Port William on the 27 June.  On the 30 June the ship sailed out to sea to ride out a storm, before returning to San Carlos Water on the 1 July, then detached to the Carrier Battle Group on the 8 July.

The ship was in San Carlos Water on the 11-12 August, and then sailed for Port William on the 13 August.  Sailed to join the Carrier Battle Group again on the 17 August, then detached to refuel HMS Illustrious on the 21 August some 800 miles north of the Falklands, on the 31 August the ships were joined by HMS Invincible to begin the journey home.  Arrived at Portsmouth on the 17 September after completing 143 RAS serials with 54 ships.

RFA Pearleaf – Leaf Class Support Tanker (A77)

Captain J. A. McCulloch RFA

Departed Portsmouth on the 5 April 1982 loaded with FFO for HMS Hermes, which was the only RN ship to use this fuel.  When the ship arrived off Ascension, she conducted RAS evolutions with Canberra on the 22 April, before sailing south with the LSL group to join the ‘Fearless’ group on the 16 May.  The ship relieved RFA Blue Rover at South Georgia on the 4 June and remained there until moving north on the 18 June to refuel other ships en route to the Falklands.  Pearleaf remained on station until she sailed for home on the 2 August, via Gibraltar, arriving at Devonport on the 13 August 1982.

RFA Plumleaf – Leaf Class Support Tanker (A78)

Captain R. W. M. Wallace RFA

The ship had finished her duties with the ‘Springtrain’ on the 6 April 1982 and was preparing to sail to the Far East with HMS’s Broadsword and Yarmouth, when she was tasked to conduct RAS trials with the STUFT ships ‘Canberra’ and ‘Elk’ on the 10-11 April.  The next day the ship arrived at Portland to load last minute stores before sailing on the 19 April for the South Atlantic.  Plumleaf joined the LSL group on the 11 May, then transferred the majority of her fuel to her sister ship RFA Pearleaf and turned North to rendezvous with MV British Dart and take on a new load of fuel.  After completion of refuelling the ship headed south again to fuel the ‘Bristol’ group, she then took up a position at 40 degrees South as a mobile fuelling station until the early part of June, when she changed places with RFA Appleleaf at 25 degrees South.  In late June she returned to Ascension for two days, before taking up a position off the Canary Islands as a fuelling station for ships passing north and south.  The ships final RAS evolution was with HMS’s Intrepid and Fearless on their way home, before arriving at Gibraltar on the 22 July.  Plumleaf was then based at Gibraltar as a RAS tanker until she returned home on the 26 August at Portsmouth.

RFA Regent – R Class Ammunition Ship (A486)

Captain J. Logan RFA

The ship sailed from Portland on the 19 April 1982 with ‘A’ flight of 848 Squadron embarked, arrived at Ascension Island on the 29 April, sailing again on the 2 May for the South Atlantic.  The ship entered the TEZ on the 12 May to take up replenishment duties.  On the 8 June the ship detached for South Georgia, arriving on the 11 June where she gave her flight to RFA Olmeda for Operation Keyhole.  On completion of the operation, the ships flight returned on the 24 June and Regent then sailed for the TEZ, arriving on the 28 June.  On the 1 July the ship detached to replenish the Carrier Battle Group, then anchored off Port Stanley from the 6 to 13 July, then operated in Berkeley Sound from the 13 July to August.  The ship arrived back in Rosyth on the 15 September 1982 after dropping her flight off on the way.

RFA Resource (2) – R Class Ammunition Ship (A480)

Captain B. A. Seymour RFA

Resource sailed from Rosyth on the 6 April 1982 after embarking ‘A’ flight of 845 Squadron and part of ‘Zulu’ company 45 Commando; she completed storing off Culdrose by VERTREP as she steamed down the channel.  The ship arrived off Ascension Island on the 17 April, sailing the next day to rendezvous with the ‘Canberra’ on the 23 April, around 170 miles north of Port Stanley to transfer stores and ammunition for San Carlos Water.  The ship was then at South Georgia on the 2 June, before operating in the TRALA.  On the 17 June the ship was in Port Stanley until the 26 June, when she sailed for South Georgia again, arriving the next day, from there she sailed north for the UK, arriving at Devonport on the 19 July 1982.

RFA Sir Bedivere – Round Table Class Landing Ship Logistic (L3004)

Captain P. J. M. McCarthy RFA

Sir Bedivere had been on a deployment to the west coast of Canada and was ordered to Marchwood Military Port to load for the South Atlantic, departing on the 29 April 1982 and after calling at Ascension Island, she arrived in the TEZ on the 18 May and then entered San Carlos Water on the 23 May.  The ship briefly rejoined the Carrier Battle Group on the 26 May and was back in San Carlos again on the 2 June to resupply the landings; she remained there until the 15 June when she sailed for Port William, arriving the following day.  Sir Bedivere stayed at Port William until the 26 June, and then undertook general resupply duties around the Falklands.  On the 25 October the ship sailed north with the coffins of 64 of the fallen for reburial in the UK, arriving back at Marchwood on the 16 November 1982.

RFA Sir Galahad – Round Table Class Landing Ship Logistic (L3005)

Captain P. J. G. Roberts RFA

The ship sailed from Devonport on the 6 April 1982 with 3 Gazelle helicopters embarked and arrived at Ascension Island on the 20 April.  The ship sailed from Ascension on the 29 April as part of the Amphibious Group, joining the Task force on the 19 May.  On the 21 May she entered San Carlos Water to take part in the landings and was still there when she came under attack from Argentinean aircraft on the 24 May, the ship was hit by a 500 lb bomb which failed to detonate, this was later removed and the ship then embarked elements of the 1 Battalion Welsh Guards and sailed for Port Pleasant on the 7 June.

On the 8 June the ship again came under air attack from Argentinean aircraft and was hit by two bombs, one of which entered the hatch over the tank deck and exploded, killing many of the Welsh Guardsmen in this space.  The other bomb exploded above the engine room, setting off ammunition and causing extensive fires, 48 soldiers and seamen lost their lives in this tragedy.  The ship was declared a total loss and was towed out to sea and sunk as a War Grave.

RFA Sir Geraint – Round Table Class Landing Ship Logistic (L3027)

Captain D. E. Lawrence RFA

Sailed from Devonport on the 6 April 1982 in company of RFA Sir Galahad, with 3 Gazelle helicopters and part of ‘Z’ company, 45 Commando embarked. The ship arrived at Ascension Island on the 20 April, departing with the rest of the Amphibious Group on the 29 April, joining the Task Force on the 19 May.  Sir Geraint took part in the landings at San Carlos Water on the 21 May, and then undertook re-supply duties.  Left the Falklands in the latter part of June 1982 and arrived back at Marchwood on the 23 July 1982.

RFA Sir Lancelot – Round Table Class Landing Ship Logistic (L3029)

Captain C. A. Purtcher-Wydenbruck RFA

The ship sailed from Marchwood on the 6 April 1982 with 3 Gazelle helicopters and part of HQ Company 45 Commando embarked.  Arrived at Ascension Island on the 20 April, sailing again for the South Atlantic on the 29 April with other ships of the Amphibious Group.  Sir Lancelot joined the main Task Force on the 19 May.  The ship took part in the landings on the 21 May and then carried out re-supply duties.  On the 24 May the ship was hit by a bomb which failed to explode, during an enemy air raid, the bomb caused a fire and damage to the after end of the ship.  The fires were extinguished, the bomb removed and damage was repaired and she continued with her tasking, until further repairs were carried out by Stena Seaspread on the 23 June.  Sailed for the UK on the 26 July, arriving back at Portsmouth on the 18 August 1982.

RFA Sir Percivale – Round Table Class Landing Ship Logistic (L3036)

Captain A. F. Pitt RFA

Sailed from Marchwood on the 5 April 1982 with 3 Gazelle helicopters and part of HQ Company 45 Commando embarked, then anchored overnight in Start Bay to await other LSL’s sailing from Devonport.  Arrived at Ascension on the 20 April, sailing again with the Amphibious Group on the 29 April, joining the main Task Force on the 19 May.  The ship entered San Carlos Water on the 21 May to support the landings at Ajax Bay, then rejoined the Carrier Battle Group on the 25 May and assisted in the search for survivors from Atlantic Conveyor.  On completion of this task the ship sailed back to San Carlos Water, where she embarked 300 POW’s on the 30 May, these were taken off the next day so that Sir Percivale could embark 600 troops for passage to Teal Inlet sailing on the 2 June, she then acted as a refuelling depot, making a number of trips between Teal Inlet and San Carlos.  The ship moved to Port Stanley on the 16 June, entering the port after the surrender to provide accommodation to 45 Commando, she then transported personnel from ‘C’ and ‘M’ flights Commando Brigade Air Squadron from Teal Inlet to Port Stanley on the 23 June, eventually sailing for the UK on the 28 June, arriving at Marchwood on the 23 July.

RFA Sir Tristram – Round Table Class Landing Ship Logistic (L3505)

Captain G. R. Green RFA

The ship was in Belize at the start of the conflict and sailed from there on the 2 April 1982, joining the Amphibious Group at Ascension Island on the 20 April, she sailed on the 29 June with 3 Scout helicopters embarked.  She joined the main Task Force on the 19 May and took part in the landings at San Carlos on the 21 May.  Sir Tristram landed the Scots Guards at Fitzroy on the 2 June, and then moved the Welsh Guards round to Fitzroy, whilst unloading on the 8 June she was struck by two bombs during an air raid.  Both bombs did not explode, but the ships suffered damage and small fires which badly damaged the bridge and after accommodation and was abandoned.  After some repairs the ship was towed round to Port Stanley by ‘RMAS Typhoon’ for use as an accommodation ship alongside the jetty.  During May 1983 the ship was loaded onto the heavy lift ship ‘Dan Lifter’ for return to the UK, where she arrived at the Tees on the 13 June 1983, after repair and refit she re-entered RFA service on the 9 October 1985.

RFA Stromness – Ness Class Fleet Replenishment Ship (A344)

Captain J. B. Dickinson RFA

Stromness was in the process of de-storing, prior to being laid up when she was ordered to restore and sail for the South Atlantic, she left Portsmouth on the 7 April 1982 with part of ‘Zulu’ Company 45 Commando embarked, as well as 2,500 tons of equipment, arriving at Ascension Island on the 20 April, sailing with the ‘Fearless’ Group on the 8 May to join the LSL’s at the edge of the TEZ.  Stromness was the first RFA vessel to enter Falklands Sound on the 21 May to support the landings.  The ship stayed in San Carlos Water for six days, before sailing to South Georgia with survivors from HMS Coventry who were being transferred to QE2, the survivors were swapped for 400 troops ammunition and Rapier Missiles  from Lycaon’, she then sailed for return to San Carlos Water in the early part of June to unload.  Operated in the TRALA from 5 to 14 June, before returning to South Georgia to re-store from ‘Saxonia’ before sailing for Port William, where she arrived on the 25 June.

Departed for the UK in late June with 45 Commando embarked for passage to Ascension, arriving at Portsmouth on the 19 July 1982.

RFA Tidepool – Tide Class Fast Fleet Tanker (A76)

Captain J. W. Gaffrey RFA

Tidepool had already been sold to the Chilean Navy when the conflict erupted and was in a port in Northern Chile, when the UK Government asked to loan her back.  The ship transited the Panama Canal and then called at Curacao to re-store, before sailing to Ascension Island arriving on the 27 April 1982, where she embarked ‘E’ flight of 845 Squadron which had been transferred from HMS Intrepid.  Sailed south on the 5 May and joined the ‘Fearless’ Group on the 11 May and then the LSL group on the 16 May on the edge of the TEZ.  The ship entered the TEZ on the 18 May and had a minor collision with HMS Ambuscade on the 22 may whilst RASing.  The ship detached to San Carlos Water on the 2 June and then sailed for the TRALA, where she stayed from the 8 to the 13 June.  The ship remained on station until August 1982, when she was handed back to the Chilean Navy after the ship had transited the Magellan Straits.

RFA Tidespring – Tide Class Fast Fleet Tanker (A75)

Captain S. Redmond RFA

The ship was part of ‘Exercise Springtrain’ and was in Gibraltar when the Falklands were invaded, she was ordered to sail for the South Atlantic on the 2 April 1982, five days later she was ordered to South Georgia to support ‘Operation Paraquat’, the re-taking of the island.  Arrived at Ascension Island on the 10 April to embark ‘C’ flight 845 Squadron before sailing on the 12 April with the ‘Antrim’ group.  The group rendezvoused with HMS Endurance on the 14 April and were off South Georgia on the 21 April.  On the 22 April the ship lost both of her Wessex helicopters in appalling weather, whilst attempting to extract SAS troops from Fortuna Glacier.  On the 23 April she attempted a pumpover with RFA Brambleleaf, but because of a submarine threat the pumpover was abandoned, but completed the next day.  After the surrender of the Argentineans at South Georgia, Tidespring took on board the POW’s for passage to Ascension Island, arriving on the 12 May.

After disembarking the POW’s and embarking two new helicopters, the ship sailed again for the South Atlantic on the 16 May 1982, entering the TEZ on the 27 May to replenish ships of the Task Force.  On the 3 July the helicopters were transferred to HMS Hermes and Tidespring sailed for home, arriving at Portsmouth on the 22 July, where she had to anchor at Spithead until the following day.