Themes

Coming home

Photograph of crowds waiting on the quayside for HMS Fearless to return home

Crowds waiting for HMS Fearless to return home (RNM)

When the Argentinians surrendered much of the Task Force had been on active service for up to ten weeks. Most of the ships needed urgent maintenance. The forces were exhausted and wanted to get home as soon as possible.

Photograph of HMS Hermes arriving back in Portsmouth

HMS Hermes arriving back in Portsmouth (RNM)

Several of the larger ships returned to huge public welcomes. HMS Hermes reached Portsmouth on 21 June. Canberra arrived in Southampton on 11 July carrying many of the troops who had fought to liberate the islands.

Before coming home the British ships returned 1 000s of prisoners of war to Argentina. They had a very different homecoming.

HMS Invincible did not return until 17 September. She had been at sea for 166 days, the longest continuous carrier operation in history, steaming 51,660 miles.