Falklands 25 - The Endurance Story

HMS Endurance - alone in the South Atlantic

HMS Endurance was the Royal Navy's Antarctic patrol vessel from 1967 to 1991. Based at Chatham she maintained Britain's presence around the Falkland Islands and supported the British Antarctic Survey. As the crisis in the South Atlantic unfolded she became the focus of British public attention until the task force arrived.

On the 19th March 1982 workmen hoisted the Argentinean Flag over South Georgia. Endurance was sent from Port Stanley, the Falkland Islands capital, to evict them from the island. Six days later she landed her own small Royal Marine detachment with others from Naval Party 8901, the Falkland Island's garrison on South Georgia. They found themselves facing over 100 Argentinean troops supported by a naval corvette and were forced to surrender.

On the 2nd April Argentinean troops landed on the Falkland Islands quickly overwhelmng the 85 strong detachment of Royal Marines. The same day the Royal Navy ordered destroyers and frigates on exercise off Gibraltar to head south. For two weeks HMS Endurance would be Britain's only naval presence int he South Atlantic.

Hiding in the Ice

HMS Endurance was known affectionately as the "Red Plum" due to her high visibility paint scheme. Fine in time of peace, when she needed to be seen, but not so good in time of war - when camouflage was the order of the day.

The only Royal Navy ship in the South Atlantic at the outbreak of the conflict she became the eyes and ears of the fleet - her survival was essential. Between landing her Royal Marines on South Georgia and the arrival of the Task Force she was forced to hide in the ice flows by day and move only by night.

It was a tense time - one night Endurance passed the Argentinean naval auxiliary ship Bahia Paraiso undetected with less than a mile between them.

Re-taking South Georgia

The first island to be re-taken by British Forces was South Georgina on the 25th April. HMS Endurance, the destroyer HMS Antrim and frigate HMS Plymouth took part in the operation which saw the Argentinean submarine Santa Fe sunk by helicopter action. By evening the White Ensign flew again over South Georgia.

Endurance in Cumberland Bay, South Georgia, after the island had been retaken Courtesy Imperial War Museum FKD 1179

Last Act

Involved in the first actions of the Falkland's Conflict HMS Endurance was also to take part in the last acts as well. On the 20th June Endurance led the frigate HMS Yarmouth, the tanker Olmeda and the tug Salvageman in the final act of the war - the retaking of South Thule, where the Argentineans had setup an illegal weather station. This was a particularly risky operation sailing far south into the ice field as the South Atlantic winter set in. Finally before coming home Endurance returned to South Georgia for the salvage and making safe of the Argentinean submarine Santa Fe.

Homecoming

On 20th August 1992 HMS Endurance returned to Chatham to a hero's welcome. She had been at sea for ten months and was the first and last ship out of the Falklands conflict. An armada of small and large craft accompanied her as she sailed up the Medway whilst 20,000 people gathered on the Strand at Gillingham to see her return.