Samuel Islands

The Samuel Islands are three small islands west of Nilse Hullet, a small, steep-sided cove south-west of Cheapman Bay on the north coast of South Georgia.

Following the South Georgia Survey the islands were named after the whale-catcher Don Samuel, built in 1925, later owned by Larsen's whaling company in Grytviken: the Don Samuel sank in the vicinity of these islands in 1951.

Two named islands of the group are named in honour of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels which took part in the retaking of South Georgia in April 1982, following the Argentine invasion. These are:

• Austin Island, the easternmost island (54°11’10"S, 37°36’14"W), named after RFA Fort Austin, which housed the surgical support team for the operation;
• Tidespring Island, the westernmost and largest of the Samuel Islands (54°11’17"S, 37°37’14"W), named after RFA Tidespring, the refuelling ship.

Location

• Location map: 54°11’19"S, 37°37’15"W

Refernces

• Gazetteer and Map of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands: Samuel Islands