17 September

Today in Gosport’s Past:-  on 17 September 1982, three ships returned home rather belatedly from the Falklands conflict – aircraft carrier HMS “Invincible” (R05), Class 82 destroyer HMS “Bristol” (D23), and RFA tanker “Olna” (A123). All were given a rapturous welcome, as the accompanying photos show. HMS “Invincible” had been out of port for 166 days – a record for an aircraft carrier. Credits to original photographers.