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P&O built the ''Canberra'' to serve the Orient Line between the United Kingdom and Australia . However, the arrival of the jet airliner, reduction in emigration to Australia, and wars forcing the closure of the Suez Canal saw the route becoming unprofitable. However a refit in 1974 saw the ''Canberra'' re-classed as a Cruise Liner (''SS Canberra''). After the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982 , which initiated the Falklands War , the Ministry Of Defence requisitioned the ''Canberra'' as use as a troopship. Nicknamed the ''Great White Whale'', the ''Canberra'' proved vital in transporting the Parachute Regiment and Royal Marines to the islands more than 9,000 miles (14,000 km) from the UK. Whilst Queen Elizabeth 2 was held to be too vulnerable to enter the war zone, ''Canberra'' was sent to the heart of the conflict. ''Canberra'' anchored in San Carlos Water on May 23 as part of the landings by British forces to retake the islands. Although her size and white colour made her an unmissable target for the Argentine Air Force , the ''Canberra'', if sunk, would not have been completely submerged in the shallow waters at San Carlos. However, the liner was not badly hit during the landings as the Argentine pilots tended to attack the Royal Navy frigates and destroyers instead of the supply and troop ships. After the war, Argentine pilots claimed they were told not to hit the ''Canberra''. When the war ended, ''Canberra'' was used to repatriate the Argentine Army , before returning to Southampton to a rapturous welcome. After a lengthy refit, ''Canberra'' returned to civilian service as a cruise ship. She was eventually decommissioned and scrapped in 1997 . STATISTICS
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