Brian Coole, San Carlos Water, 1982. © Royal Naval Museum

As the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War approaches the first of series of exhibitions in UK museums exploring the conflict opens at The Royal Navy Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Task Force South: The Royal Navy and the Falklands War runs from March 31 2007 until February 29 2008 and marks the Navy’s pivotal role in the war of 1982.

It describes the senior service’s involvement through the stories of some of the 18,000 individuals, from all the naval services, who sailed in the Falklands Task Force of over 100 ships.

Men and women from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Queen Alexandra Royal Navy Nursing Service and the Merchant Navy all played a vital role.

Taff O'Sullivan on HMS Avenger showing gun control panel and mascot. © Royal Naval Museum

On April 2 1982, the day of the invasion, destroyers and frigates exercising off Gibraltar under Rear Admiral 'Sandy' Woodward were ordered south. They were joined by two aircraft carriers, Hermes and Invincible, together with amphibious troop vessels and a slew of merchant ships requisitioned as troop transport.

These were supported by three nuclear submarines, one of which, HMS Conquerer, was to go on to sink the Argentinean cruiser General Belgrano with the loss of more than 320 lives.

The exhibition brings home to visitors the scale of an operation that, although over in 11 weeks, was both ferocious and complex. It was the most intense conflict fought by Britain since the Korean War and by its close 130 British naval personnel had been killed, 257 wounded and six ships lost.

The exhibition brings home this ferocity by focusing on the personal experiences of those who had different roles in the war.

HMS Penelope ready for action. © Royal Naval Museum

Items have been loaned from collections and individuals right across the UK and beyond. One of the most poignant is a cross of nails recovered from the wreck of HMS Coventry, destroyed with the loss of 19 crew on May 25 1982, lent by Coventry Cathedral.

The exhibition also includes artwork, photographs, static displays and even allows visitors to post their own opinions, thoughts and memories on the conflict, which by its close had claimed the lives of 1,000 people.

For the Royal Navy the Falklands War had been a steep learning curve but by its end it had gone some way in re-asserting itself as the world’s leading fighting fleet.

“Without the Royal Navy, the Falklands Campaign could never have happened,” said RN Museum Director, Dr Colin White. “This extraordinary story is a striking reminder to us of just how important the sea is to Britain - today as much as in 1982.”

Matthew Sheldon, Head of the Curatorial Department, with the Cross of Nails recovered from the wreck of HMS Coventry. © Royal Navy Museum

There will be a full programme of events to support the exhibition, including a commemorative dinner and major conference, ‘Falklands 25: the Naval Experience’, on May 18 and 19 2007.

A series of talks by veterans each Wednesday will also take place throughout May at 12.30pm and a ‘Falklands Warships By Water’ Harbour Cruise is being held on Saturday July 7 2007.