The QE2 in the Falklands War

On her launch in 1969, Queen Elizabeth 2 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and extracts from diaries kept during the voyage by the authors and other crew members, as well as previously unpublished documents, David Humphreys and Commodore Ronald W. Warwick present the captivating and detailed story of QE2 through her time as a troopship.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.

About the Authors

Commodore Ronald W. Warwick OBE is a past Master of QE2, having followed in the footsteps of his father, Commodore William E. Warwick, the ship’s first Master. He joined the Cunard Line in 1970 and later 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.