Atlantic Causeway
Encyclopedia
The Atlantic Causeway was a container ship
, operated by Cunard
, and one of the merchant vessels requisitioned by the British government to support British forces in the Falklands War
in 1982.
were built by Swan Hunter
as part of Cunard's contribution to Atlantic Container Lines, a European shipping consortium. The Atlantic Causeway was completed in 1969. With the outbreak of the Falklands War the Atlantic Conveyor was requisitioned on 14 April, and the Atlantic Causeway on 4 May to serve as transport and support ships for the Royal Navy
taskforce being sent to retake the Falkland Islands
.
and was taken in hand on 6 May. She was converted to be able to carry and operate helicopters, and was also fitted with a ski jump to enable her to operate Sea Harriers
. A hangar
was fitted to her upper deck, and an improved system for delivering aviation fuel
. She sailed from Devonport on 14 May carrying eight Sea King HAS.2As
of 825 Naval Air Squadron
and twenty Wessex HU.5s
of 847 Naval Air Squadron. She sailed to the Exclusion Zone via Ascension Island
, arriving on 27 May, two days after her sister, Atlantic Conveyor had been hit and burnt out by Exocet
missiles. She then disembarked her aircraft and stores in San Carlos Water
from 30 May, remaining on station with the rest of the British fleet. She took on casualties from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
ships RFA Sir Galahad
and Sir Tristram
after they were hit by Argentinian bombs and abandoned on 8 and 9 June. Around 170 of those transferred were later returned to Britain aboard the tankers
British Trent and British Test. Atlantic Causeway entered Port William
on 17 June to unload further supplies, before leaving to return to Britain on 13 July. She had received around 4,000 helicopter landings and refuelled about 500 aircraft.
, finally being broken up in Taiwan
in 1986. Detailed plans of both the Atlantic Causeway and the Atlantic Conveyor are held by The National Archives.
Container ship
Container ships are cargo ships that carry all of their load in truck-size intermodal containers, in a technique called containerization. They form a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport.-History:...
, operated by Cunard
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
, and one of the merchant vessels requisitioned by the British government to support British forces in the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
in 1982.
Pre-war
The Atlantic Causeway and her sister, Atlantic ConveyorAtlantic Conveyor
The Atlantic Conveyor was a British merchant navy ship, registered in Liverpool, that was requisitioned during the Falklands War and sunk on 25 May 1982 after being hit by two Argentine Exocet missiles, killing 12 sailors...
were built by Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which...
as part of Cunard's contribution to Atlantic Container Lines, a European shipping consortium. The Atlantic Causeway was completed in 1969. With the outbreak of the Falklands War the Atlantic Conveyor was requisitioned on 14 April, and the Atlantic Causeway on 4 May to serve as transport and support ships for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
taskforce being sent to retake the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
.
Falklands War
Atlantic Causeway put into HMNB DevonportHMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
and was taken in hand on 6 May. She was converted to be able to carry and operate helicopters, and was also fitted with a ski jump to enable her to operate Sea Harriers
BAE Sea Harrier
The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval VTOL/STOVL jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft, a development of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became informally known as the "Shar"...
. A hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
was fitted to her upper deck, and an improved system for delivering aviation fuel
Aviation fuel
Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft. It is generally of a higher quality than fuels used in less critical applications, such as heating or road transport, and often contains additives to reduce the risk of icing or explosion due to high temperatures,...
. She sailed from Devonport on 14 May carrying eight Sea King HAS.2As
Westland Sea King
The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
of 825 Naval Air Squadron
825 Naval Air Squadron
825 Naval Air Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier-based squadron formed on 8 October 1934 from the aircraft and personnel of 824 Naval Air Squadron...
and twenty Wessex HU.5s
Westland Wessex
The Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft , initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force...
of 847 Naval Air Squadron. She sailed to the Exclusion Zone via Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
, arriving on 27 May, two days after her sister, Atlantic Conveyor had been hit and burnt out by Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
missiles. She then disembarked her aircraft and stores in San Carlos Water
San Carlos Water
Not to be confused with the San Carlos River.San Carlos Water is a bay/fjord on the west coast of East Falkland, facing onto the Falkland Sound.-Name:...
from 30 May, remaining on station with the rest of the British fleet. She took on casualties from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...
ships RFA Sir Galahad
RFA Sir Galahad (1966)
RFA Sir Galahad was a Round Table class landing ship logistics vessel belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was first managed for the British Army by the British-India Steam Navigation Company, before being transferred in 1970 to the RFA, part of the British fleet, .-Design and...
and Sir Tristram
RFA Sir Tristram (L3505)
RFA Sir Tristram is a Landing Ship Logistics of the Round Table class. She was launched in 1966, and accepted into British Army service in 1967. As with others of her class, she was transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1970...
after they were hit by Argentinian bombs and abandoned on 8 and 9 June. Around 170 of those transferred were later returned to Britain aboard the tankers
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
British Trent and British Test. Atlantic Causeway entered Port William
Port William, Falkland Islands
Port William is a large inlet on the east coast of East Falkland island. A strait called "the Narrows" leads into Stanley Harbour....
on 17 June to unload further supplies, before leaving to return to Britain on 13 July. She had received around 4,000 helicopter landings and refuelled about 500 aircraft.
Postwar
Atlantic Causeway was laid up in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, finally being broken up in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 1986. Detailed plans of both the Atlantic Causeway and the Atlantic Conveyor are held by The National Archives.