The Harriers had already gone to Hermes and Invincible when Atlantic Conveyor was lost. Three of the four embarked Chinooks went down with the ship, leaving only one heavy-lift helicopter available. Royal Marine operations depended on helicopter logistics for moving supplies and supporting dispersed troops across difficult ground. The sinking therefore imposed a persistent mobility and sustainment penalty even though the carrier air groups survived intact.
Notable Point · 1:44:38-1:45:52
Atlantic Conveyor's Chinooks were the critical logistics loss
The detailed follow-up shows why losing three Chinooks mattered more to the land campaign than the mistaken story about Harriers aboard.