1982: THE QE2 GOES TO WAR

As the BBC reported:

In 1982 the liner was requisitioned for use by the British Government as a troopship in the Falklands Islands war

It took just nine days to prepare the luxury liner for her tour of duty in the South Atlantic - the lounges were turned into dormitories, helipads were constructed over the swimming pools and she was blacked out to avoid detection.

She was then loaded up with her passengers - thousands of troops made up of Welsh Guards, Scots Guards and a battalion of Gurkas plus a civilian crew, before setting off on her 8,000 mile voyage.

The QE2 returned to Southampton on 11 June 1982 carrying warship survivors.

It was a national event with HM The Queen Mother welcoming her home from the decks of the Royal Yacht Britannia.