Editing Operation Tabarin (section)

===Journey south===
On 12 November 1943 ''Bransfield'' finally sailed from London, joining a small coastal convoy bound for Falmouth.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|p=20}} Problems arose almost immediately and she had to put in to Portsmouth for repairs. She continued on 25 November but proved unseaworthy during a gale on the voyage west. Meanwhile, the ''Marquesa'', on leaving Liverpool wharf, had grounded on a submerged wreck and the Tabarin contingent were ordered to re-join the rest of the expedition.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|p=22}} Forced to abandon the ''Bransfield'', the expedition was trans-shipped to the troop ship ''Highland Monarch'' at [[Avonmouth]] in [[Bristol]] on 8 December. She was taking a relief garrison to the Falkland Islands and sailed on 14 December,{{sfn|Haddelsey|2014|p=39}} calling at [[Gibraltar]] and [[Montevideo]] before reaching [[Port Stanley]] on 26 January.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|pp=27-31}} Waiting for them, to replace ''Bransfield'', was HMS {{RRS|William Scoresby||2}}. Built for whale marking work by the Discovery Investigations, she had been requisitioned by the Royal Navy for mine sweeping duties in the South Atlantic during the war.{{sfn|Wordie|1946|p=373}} She had very limited cargo capacity but the [[Falkland Islands Company]] vessel SS ''Fitzroy'' had also been assigned to the expedition to transport cargo and most of the personnel.{{sfn|Taylor|2017|pp=32–34}} The ''Fitzroy'' had already collected the cargo carried to Montevideo on other vessels.{{sfn|Fuchs|1982|p=24}}