HMS AMBUSCADE FALKLANDS CONFLICT DIARY 1982
contributed by Dave Rowlands
| 9th
April 1982 |
Leave Devonport with a large amount of ammunition for Gibraltar |
| 3rd
May |
Depart Gibraltar for Ascension Island |
| 9th
May |
Cross the Equator into the southern hemisphere |
| 10th
May |
Start Defence Watches (50% of ship's company on duty at any one time) |
| 11th
May |
Arrive at Ascention Island anchorage |
| 13th
May |
Depart Ascension Island in Company with HMS Antelope |
| 16th
May |
r/v with tanker British Esk but unable to refuel because she developed a problem with her rig after refueling Antelope. Forced to hang around whilst the fault is resolved. Antelope proceeds alone. That is the last time we saw her afloat |
| 17th
May |
Finally refuel at 13:00 and head south |
| 21st
May |
Arrive with the task force |
| 23rd
May |
Slight collision with RFA Tidepool when she manoevered into us as we prepared to refuel |
| 24th
May |
Went to Action Stations at 02:30 for a suspected torpedo attack |
| 25th
May |
Stationed in our usual early warning picket on the outside edge of the taskforce and was involved in the exocet attack that hit and sunk MV Atlantic Conveyor Link to citation |
| 30th
May |
First Naval Gunfire Support (NGS) mission. Fired 58 rounds in the area of Port stanley Airfield |
| 7th
June |
NGS mission with HMS Arrow (104 rounds fired) |
| 9th
June |
To repair tug for engine repair |
| 14th
June |
NGS mission (228 rounds fired) in company with HMS Active (220 rounds fired), HMS Avenger (100 rounds fired) and HMS Yarmouth (100 rounds fired) |
| 15th
June |
Argentina forces surrender |
| 3rd
July |
Fall out from Defence watches after 52 days |
| 4th
July |
Embark Scots Guards at Port stanley and sail for South Georgia |
| 7th
July |
Arrive at Grytviken, South Georgia. disembark Scots Guards and Embark M Company 42 Commando. 25 of whom are billited in the Seamans mess (73 in a space designed for 48). Sail at 14:00, and for the first time since 9th april, set course to north and home. |
| 15th
July |
Arrive at Assension Island and disembark 42 Commando |
| 17th
July |
Cross the Equator |
| 18th
July |
Divert to Senegal, West Africa to disembark 2 crew mwmbers (One with appendicitis and another with a family issue) |
| 23rd
July |
22:30 anchor in Plymouth Sound |
| 24th
July |
Finally tie up alongside in Devenport to a fantastic welcome. |
