View source for SS Atlantic Conveyor

{{short description|British merchant navy ship}}
{{For|the Great Atlantic Conveyor in [[Oceanography]]|Thermohaline circulation}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Atlantic Conveyor (cropped).jpg
|Ship caption=''Atlantic Conveyor'' approaching the Falklands. On or about 19 May 1982.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|UK|civil}}
|Ship name=''Atlantic Conveyor''
|Ship operator=[[Cunard Line]]
|Ship builder=[[Swan Hunter]], Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
|Ship yard number=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=25 August 1969
|Ship completed= March 1970
|Ship acquired=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship identification= {{IMO Number|6926036}}
|Ship fate=*struck by two [[Exocet|Exocet missiles]] on 25 May 1982
* Burnt and subsequently abandoned
* Eventually sank whilst under tow on 28 May 1982<ref name="BoI">{{cite book |url=http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/EC14467A-DFAF-4030-BDFB-9E1AAF00205E/0/boi_atlanticconveyorpt1.pdf |title=Board of Inquiry (REPORT): Loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012134301/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/EC14467A-DFAF-4030-BDFB-9E1AAF00205E/0/boi_atlanticconveyorpt1.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2012 |date=21 July 1982 |access-date=28 September 2021 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Header caption=
|Ship type= [[Container ship]]
|Ship tonnage={{GRT|14,946}}
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length= {{convert|695|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|92|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught= 9,1 m<ref name="WS">{{Cite web |date=2008-08-28 |title=SS Atlantic Conveyor [+1982] |url=https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?15281 |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=www.wrecksite.eu |language=en-GB}}</ref> 
|Ship draft=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship propulsion= 4 steam turbines, 2 propellers<ref name="WS" />
|Ship speed={{convert|23|kn}}
|Ship capacity=
|Ship crew=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
{{Campaignbox Falklands War}}
'''''Atlantic Conveyor''''' was a British [[Merchant Navy]] container ship, registered in Liverpool, that was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence during the [[Falklands War]]. She was struck on 25 May 1982 by two Argentine air-launched AM39 [[Exocet|Exocet missiles]], killing 12 sailors. The ship sank under tow on 28 May, becoming the first British merchant vessel lost to enemy action since the [[Second World War]].

The wrecksite is designated under the [[Protection of Military Remains Act 1986]].<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080950_en_1 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986] by [[Statutory Instrument|SI]]2008/950, [[Office of Public Sector Information]], [[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]].  Retrieved 17 July 2008.</ref>

== History ==

''Atlantic Conveyor'' was a 14,950 ton [[RORO|roll-on, roll-off]] [[container ship]] owned by [[Cunard Line|Cunard]]. She was built along with six other container ships, each named with the prefix ''Atlantic'', and each sailing under different national flags by different companies for the [[Atlantic Container Line]] consortium.

=== Falklands war ===

Along with her sister ship, ''[[Atlantic Causeway]]'', ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was requisitioned by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] at the beginning of the [[Falklands War]] through the [[STUFT]] (ship taken up from trade) system. Because of the short time available, the decision that the ship was not "a high-value unit", and a controversy over whether arming auxiliaries was legal, ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was not fitted with either an active or a passive defence system.<ref name = "Times">
{{cite news
  | last = Evans
  | first = Michael
  | title = Legal fears left Atlantic Conveyor defenceless
  | work = [[The Times]]
  | date = 11 December 2007
  | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3031542.ece | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
</ref>

The ships were used to carry supplies for the Royal Navy Task Force sent by the British government to retake the [[Falkland Islands]] from [[Argentina|Argentine]] occupation. Sailing for [[Ascension Island]] on 25 April 1982, ''Atlantic Conveyor'' carried a cargo of six [[Westland Wessex|Wessex]] helicopters from [[848 Naval Air Squadron]] and five [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Chinook HC.1s]] from [[No. 18 Squadron RAF]].  At Ascension, she picked up eight [[Fleet Air Arm]] [[BAE Sea Harrier|Sea Harriers]] ([[809 Naval Air Squadron|809 Squadron]]) and six RAF [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier|Harrier GR.3]]s.

One Chinook of B flight [[No. 18 Squadron RAF]] left ''Atlantic Conveyor'' to support operations on Ascension. With the aircraft stored she then set sail for the South Atlantic. On arrival off the Falklands in mid-May, all of the Harriers were off-loaded to the carriers; the GR.3s going to [[HMS Hermes (R12)|HMS ''Hermes'']] while the Sea Harriers were divided amongst the existing squadrons on ''Hermes'' and [[HMS Invincible (R05)|HMS ''Invincible'']]. With the additional aircraft on ''Hermes'' a [[Westland Lynx|Lynx HAS.2]] helicopter was flown and parked on ''Atlantic Conveyor'' on 20 May 1982.

=== Sinking ===
On 25 May 1982 (the same day as the loss of [[HMS Coventry (D118)|HMS ''Coventry'']])  ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was hit by two<ref name = "Times"/> AM39 Air Launched Exocet missiles fired by two Argentine Navy [[Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard|Super Étendard]] jet fighters. The mission was led by Captain [[Roberto Curilovic]] (call sign 'Tito'), flying Super Etendard 0753/3-A-203, and his wingman, Lieutenant Julio Barraza, (call sign 'Leo') flying in 0754/3-A-204<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Exocet.html |title=Argentine Aircraft in the Falklands |publisher=Britains-smallwars.com |access-date=16 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223051413/http://britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Exocet.html |archive-date=23 February 2009 }}</ref> from [[2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque]].

Both Exocets struck ''Atlantic Conveyor'' on the port quarter of the ship. There are conflicting accounts on whether the warheads exploded after penetrating the ship's hull,<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Chant
  | first = Christopher
  | title = Air War in the Falklands 1982
  | publisher = Osprey Publishing
  | year = 2001
  | location = Oxford
  | page = 55
  | isbn = 978-1-84176-293-7}}
</ref> or on impact.<ref name="BoI"/> A witness, the former [[Prince Andrew]], reported that debris caused "splashes in the water about a quarter of a mile away". He said that the incident "was an experience I shall never forget ... horrific".<ref name="gh19831112">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NPs9AAAAIBAJ&pg=4110,2766700|title=Prince Andrew talks of Falklands horror|work=Glasgow Herald|date=14 November 1983|page=2}}</ref> All the survivors were taken to HMS ''Hermes''.

Because both fuel and ammunition were stored below decks, the incendiary effect of the unburnt propellant from the missiles caused an uncontrollable fire. When the fire had burnt out, the ship was boarded but nothing was recovered. While under tow by the requisitioned tug ''Irishman'', ''Atlantic Conveyor'' sank in the early morning of 28 May 1982. Six [[Westland Wessex]]es, three [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Boeing Chinooks]], and a [[Westland Lynx]] were destroyed by fire;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/F63-Falklands-British_aircraft_lost.htm|title=British Aircraft lost – Falklands War 1982|website=www.naval-history.net}}</ref> only one Chinook (ZA718 '[[Bravo November]]') and one Westland Wessex, were saved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/royalairforcech47chinookbravonovember.cfm |title=Royal Air Force CH47 Chinook 'Bravo November' |author=Royal Air Force |year=2010 |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]] |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405224655/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/royalairforcech47chinookbravonovember.cfm |archive-date=5 April 2011 |df=dmy-all |author-link=Royal Air Force }}</ref> The loss of these helicopters meant that British troops had to [[Yomp|march on foot across the Falklands]] to recapture [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-20 |title=The Atlantic Conveyor – Think Defence |url=https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/the-atlantic-conveyor/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=www.thinkdefence.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Lost stores ===
* '''Tent accommodation''': Four tented camps, incorporating field kitchens and sanitation facilities, with the capacity to accommodate up to 4,500 personnel<ref name="ThinkDefence1">[https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2023/08/the-atlantic-conveyor/ Think Defence – The Atlantic Conveyor], 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2025.</ref>
* '''Portable fuelling system and storage''': A complete deployable fuel-handling system, comprising six 10-tonne dracones (flexible fuel tanks), together with pumps and hoses for bulk fuel transfer to shore<ref name="ThinkDefence2">[https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2023/08/the-atlantic-conveyor/ Think Defence – The Atlantic Conveyor], 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2025.</ref>
* '''Airfield construction materials''': [[Marston Mat|Airstrip matting]], aluminium surfacing panels, and associated [[civil engineering]] equipment intended for the construction of forward operating airstrips<ref name="Felixstowe">[https://www.felixstowedocker.com/2017/08/the-last-g3-acls-atlantic-conveyor.html Felixstowe Docker – The Last G3 ACLs: Atlantic Conveyor], 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2025.</ref>
* '''General stores and munitions''': [[Cluster munition|Cluster bombs]] for Harrier aircraft, along with a range of other ordnance including grenades, [[MILAN|anti-tank missiles]], small arms ammunition, and logistic stores such as rations, cold-weather clothing, lighting, tools, and [[Desalination|desalination units]]<ref name="Felixstowe" />

==Crew==
[[File:Acmemorial.JPG|thumb|''Atlantic Conveyor'' Memorial, Trinity Gardens, Tower Hill, London.]]
The vessel carried a Merchant Navy crew of 33. This included 12 officers (master, chief officer, second officer, third officer, radio officer, chief engineer, second engineer, two third engineers, fourth engineer, electrician and purser), 10 petty officers (bosun, four mechanics, two first cooks, second cook and baker, second cook and second steward) and 11 ratings (five seamen, three greasers and three assistant stewards). Of the 12 men killed in the sinking of ''Atlantic Conveyor'' six were from the [[Merchant Navy]], three from the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] and three sailors from the [[Royal Navy]].

The [[Master (naval)|ship's master]], Captain [[Ian Harry North]], was posthumously awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (UK)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (DSC).<ref>{{cite book |last=Brown |first=Paul |title=Abandon Ship: The Real Story of the Sinkings in the Falklands War |year=2021 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781472846426 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a87yDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Abandon+Ship%22+%22Ian+Harry+North%22&pg=PT224 |page=n/a |access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

As the last resting place of the remains of those who died, the wreck is designated as a ''protected place'' under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

The officers' bar on M/V ''Atlantic Conveyor'', built 1984 in Swan Hunter, Wallsend is named "The North Bar" after Captain Ian North.

The ship's replacement was built on [[Tyneside]].

==Further reading==
* Charles Drought – ''N. P. 1840 The Loss of the Atlantic Conveyor'' (2003) {{ISBN|1-901231-41-0}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090311051154/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/BoardsOfInquiry/BoardOfInquiryIntoTheLossOfSsAtlanticConveyor.htm Board of Inquiry into the Loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor]

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Cunard ships}}
{{Falklands War British ships}}
{{1982 shipwrecks}}

{{Coord|50|40|S|54|28|W|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atlantic Conveyor, SS}}
[[Category:Container ships]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Falklands War]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1982]]
[[Category:Falklands War naval ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Protected wrecks of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1969 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Swan Hunter]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Argentine aircraft]]
[[Category:Merchant ships sunk by aircraft]]