Ironically, just months earlier John Nott, the defence secretary, had listed these two carriers, along-with the amphibious assault ships HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid, for withdrawal from the fleet as part of government cost-cutting plans drawn up in the 1981 review. In February 1982, the Australian government had agreed to buy HMS Invincible for £175 million. Now having escaped being sold or sent to the scrapyard, these warships were being prepared for war. The military, in particular the Navy, were quietly furious with Nott and his planned cuts, the fleet was now fighting for its future. On the day the Argentines invaded, the Admiral’s office had sent a warning order to the fleet raising their readiness for operations. Later in the day, after a subdued meeting in Downing Street, Admiral…
