History Ahoy At Isle Of Wight Armed Forces Day

The only surviving seaworthy craft from the Falklands war will make the short trip across the Solent from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to feature at Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day later this month.

Foxtrot 8 (F8) is best known for her contribution in the South Atlantic, during the 1982 Falklands war.

F8 was one of four vessels of its type carried on board HMS Fearless.

With her sister craft, F8 played a major part in landing Royal Marine and Para-troop contingents on the Falkland Islands at San Carlos Water, later to be known as ‘Bomb Alley’.

These craft helped maintain a continuous flow of stores and support ashore, pausing only for enemy air raids.

Ian Dore, event organiser, said:

“There is nothing glamorous about war and F8 is a reminder of some of the grim experiences of battle.

"Equally though, it reminds us of the courage of those involved. Not just the troops on the craft going ashore on the Islands, but those operating the craft itself.

"F8 is in incredible shape and is literally floating history. A relic from a war that took place, just shy of 8,000 miles away, 42 years ago. It is a craft that is bristling with heritage and is with us at the event.

"History cannot be avoided, and we can and should learn from the past. This really is something special and you’ll be able to engage and get aboard.”

F8 will be based at Ryde Marina alongside a Combat Support Boat from 17 Port and Maritime. A landing raft — known as a Mexiflote — used by the Royal Logistic Corps, will be displayed on Ryde sands.

Mermaid Gin is sponsoring the vessel, just a few months after their team completed the World's Toughest Row, which saw them cross the Atlantic.

The Combat Support Boat is a powerful, versatile craft which has a major role in supporting both bridging and amphibious operations.

It’s a general-purpose working boat that also supports diving and ship-to-shore operations and re-supply support.

Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day takes place in Ryde on Sunday, 30 June and more information is available online.