HMS Hermes Falklands

QUICK REACTIONS

It started in the early hours of 2 April, when a team of Argentinean commandos stormed Government House, Port Stanley, and hoisted their nations flag. They claimed sovereignty not only over the Falkland Islands themselves, but also the entire Dependency, including a large slice of Antarctica with its untold natural resources. British reaction was swift: planning for Operation Corporate, the campaign to retake the islands; began immediately. Ironically, just the previous year, much of the Royal Navy had been scheduled for downsizing, and among the assets to be disposed of was the carrier HMS Hermes, long since relegated to the role of Commando Carrier. Now, the venerable ship would suddenly assume a new importance, for along with the newly completed Invincible she was the only means the Royal Navy had of providing fixed-wing air cover to the fleet. Even then it was only thanks to the remarkable V/STOL Harrier jump jet, which could take off in a very short space with the aid of a ski jump ramp and could land vertically.
On 5 April Hermes set sail from Portsmouth, the flagship of what was officially known as Task Force 318.1, bound for the South Atlantic.

HERMES GOES TO WAR

The carriers and their flotilla of protective frigates and destroyers plus support ships arrived off the islands on 1 May after a voyage of over 6000 nautical miles (11,100km). They immediately began offensive air operations - the bombing of the airfields at Port Stanley and Goose Green in the first instance - and defensive air patrols. Those activities were to continue until the surrender of the Argentinean forces on 14 June, and from 21 May onwards, when British ground forces landed, they were expanded to include close ground support missions. In all, 20 naval Sea Harriers plus 17 further Sea Harriers and Harrier GR Mk 3s of the RAF, which arrived as reinforcements aboard the hastily converted container ship Atlantic Conveyor, operated from the two carriers. The aircraft were to fly a total of 2376 operational sorties and account for 21 aircraft of the Argentinean Air Force and Naval Air Force for the loss of none of their own in aerial combat. A total of nine Harriers were lost during the conflict. Five (including three RAF Harrier GR Mk 3s) were from Hermes, four failing victim to ground fire, the other to one of its own bombs detonating pre maturely. The other four were from Invincible, two collided, one was lost over the side of the ship and one was shot down by a surface- to-air missile. After the war was over, Hermes was reprieved. Refitted, she was sold to India, which operated her as the Viraat.