Operation Journeyman
Encyclopedia
Operation Journeyman was a Royal Navy
operation in which a naval taskforce was sent to the Falkland Islands
in November 1977 to prevent an Argentine
invasion.
The operation was ordered by James Callaghan
after fifty Argentine "scientists" landed on Southern Thule
prompting fears of an Argentine invasion of the Falklands. The Argentinians set up a military base on Thule. It is likely the prompt action prevented a more serious attack. The force planned under heavy security was led by the nuclear submarine HMS Dreadnought
and also consisted of two frigates, Alacrity
and Phoebe
, and the auxiliaries Resource and Olwen
as support vessels. The Argentines rapidly became aware of the taskforce's presence but their forces remained on Thule and Callaghan decided against the use of force to evict them.
The foreign secretary at the time David Owen
later claimed that if Margaret Thatcher
's government had taken similarly quick action five years later, the Argentinians would not have invaded in 1982 leading to the Falklands War
.
"All use of force must be governed by the principle of using only the minimum force necessary to achieve the aim." Such force must be used only until it was evident "that the immediate aim is being achieved, and must in no way be retaliatory".
The submarine commander was told: "If you are attacked with [anti-submarine] weapons by [Argentine] forces, you are to surface or withdraw at high speed submerged, whichever will be of least risk to life."
They also set up a 50-mile security zone and any ships entering would be told that they must identify themselves and state their plans. Classified documents relating to Operation Journeyman were released in 2005.
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...
operation in which a naval taskforce was sent to 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...
in November 1977 to prevent an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
invasion.
The operation was ordered by James Callaghan
James Callaghan
Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC , was a British Labour politician, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980...
after fifty Argentine "scientists" landed on Southern Thule
Southern Thule
Southern Thule is a collection of the three southernmost islands in the South Sandwich Islands: Bellingshausen, Cook, and Thule . Southern Thule is British territory, though claimed by Argentina. The island group is barren, windswept, bitterly cold, and uninhabited. It has an extenzive EEZ rich...
prompting fears of an Argentine invasion of the Falklands. The Argentinians set up a military base on Thule. It is likely the prompt action prevented a more serious attack. The force planned under heavy security was led by the nuclear submarine HMS Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought (S101)
The seventh HMS Dreadnought was the United Kingdom's first nuclear-powered submarine, built by Vickers Armstrongs at Barrow-in-Furness. Launched by Queen Elizabeth II on Trafalgar Day 1960 and commissioned into service with the Royal Navy in April 1963, she continued in service until 1980...
and also consisted of two frigates, Alacrity
HMS Alacrity (F174)
HMS Alacrity was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, she was completed with Exocet launchers in "B" position....
and Phoebe
HMS Phoebe (F42)
HMS Phoebe was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy . She was, like the rest of her class, named after a figure of mythology. Built by Vickers on the River Tyne, she was launched on the 19th December 1964 and commissioned on the 15th May 1966.In the year of her commission, Phoebe assisted in...
, and the auxiliaries Resource and Olwen
RFA Olwen (A122)
RFA Olwen was an Ol-class "fast fleet tanker" of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.The lead ship of her class, and launched in 1964 as RFA Olynthus, the second ship to bear this name, she was renamed Olwen in 1967 to avoid confusion with HMS Olympus...
as support vessels. The Argentines rapidly became aware of the taskforce's presence but their forces remained on Thule and Callaghan decided against the use of force to evict them.
The foreign secretary at the time David Owen
David Owen
David Anthony Llewellyn Owen, Baron Owen CH PC FRCP is a British politician.Owen served as British Foreign Secretary from 1977 to 1979, the youngest person in over forty years to hold the post; he co-authored the failed Vance-Owen and Owen-Stoltenberg peace plans offered during the Bosnian War...
later claimed that if Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's government had taken similarly quick action five years later, the Argentinians would not have invaded in 1982 leading to 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...
.
Rules of Engagement
The 1977 rules of engagement were: "Commanding officers and aircraft captains are to respond to any aggression with tactful firmness and are to exhibit a determination to meet any escalation, though not to exceed that already carried out by the enemy."All use of force must be governed by the principle of using only the minimum force necessary to achieve the aim." Such force must be used only until it was evident "that the immediate aim is being achieved, and must in no way be retaliatory".
The submarine commander was told: "If you are attacked with [anti-submarine] weapons by [Argentine] forces, you are to surface or withdraw at high speed submerged, whichever will be of least risk to life."
They also set up a 50-mile security zone and any ships entering would be told that they must identify themselves and state their plans. Classified documents relating to Operation Journeyman were released in 2005.