
The QE2 in the Falklands War
Troopship to the South Atlantic
The History Press Ltd
Published on 6. March 2025
Book
Hardback
978-1-80399-738-4 (ISBN)
Description
On her launch in 1969, QE2 began a long career as Cunard's luxurious flagship - the last great transatlantic liner from a vanishing era. However, this leisure service was interrupted in 1982 when she was requisitioned by the British government to carry over 3,000 troops to the South Atlantic as part of the Falklands war effort. The voyage itself was an immense task, including refuelling at sea under hazardous weather conditions and navigating by night through a treacherous South Atlantic icefield.
Using interviews and extracts from diaries kept during the voyage by the authors and other crew members, as well as previously unpublished documents, David Humphreys and Commodore Ronald W. Warwick present the captivating and detailed story of QE2 through her time as a troopship. Illustrated with numerous photographs showing the conversion to a troop ship, on-board training exercises and helicopter manoeuvres, this important book is the first to reveal the enormous contribution of the ship to the British war effort, delivering the largest number of troops to the war zone.
Using interviews and extracts from diaries kept during the voyage by the authors and other crew members, as well as previously unpublished documents, David Humphreys and Commodore Ronald W. Warwick present the captivating and detailed story of QE2 through her time as a troopship. Illustrated with numerous photographs showing the conversion to a troop ship, on-board training exercises and helicopter manoeuvres, this important book is the first to reveal the enormous contribution of the ship to the British war effort, delivering the largest number of troops to the war zone.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Stroud
United Kingdom
Illustrations
32 Illustrations, color; 160 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
638 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80399-738-4 (9781803997384)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2025
The History Press Ltd
€20.99
Available for download
Persons
Ronald W. Warwick OBE is a past Master of QE2, having followed in the footsteps of his father, Commodore William E. Warwick, the first Master. He joined the Cunard Line in 1970 and himself became Commodore of the line when he was appointed to command Queen Mary 2 in 2003. David Humphreys served as a senior petty officer on *QE2 *during the voyage to the South Atlantic. He later served as a supply officer with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. After obtaining a PhD in international relations from City University, London, he spent 28 years at the Open University retiring as Professor of Environmental Policy.
Content
Cover
Title
Copyright
Contents
Foreword by Admiral The Rt Hon. the Lord West of Spithead
Introduction
1 The Falkland Islands and South Georgia
2 The Argentinian Invasion
3 Cunard Ships at War
4 QE2 is Requisitioned
5 Conversion to a Troopship
6 The Volunteers
7 5 Infantry Brigade
8 The Voyage South to Freetown
9 Freetown to South Georgia
10 Grytviken, South Georgia Island
11 The Survivors and Their Ships
12 Homeward Bound to Southampton
13 QE2 Arrives Home
14 Military Units Embarked on QE2
15 QE2 Logbook Extract
16 The Cost of the Requisition
17 The Volunteer Crew of QE2
18 Afterword
Notes
Bibliography and Sources
Acknowledgements
The Authors
Picture Sections
Title
Copyright
Contents
Foreword by Admiral The Rt Hon. the Lord West of Spithead
Introduction
1 The Falkland Islands and South Georgia
2 The Argentinian Invasion
3 Cunard Ships at War
4 QE2 is Requisitioned
5 Conversion to a Troopship
6 The Volunteers
7 5 Infantry Brigade
8 The Voyage South to Freetown
9 Freetown to South Georgia
10 Grytviken, South Georgia Island
11 The Survivors and Their Ships
12 Homeward Bound to Southampton
13 QE2 Arrives Home
14 Military Units Embarked on QE2
15 QE2 Logbook Extract
16 The Cost of the Requisition
17 The Volunteer Crew of QE2
18 Afterword
Notes
Bibliography and Sources
Acknowledgements
The Authors
Picture Sections