Following the invasion of the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982, "Islas Malvinas" and her sister ship "Rio Iguazú", sailed from Puerto Nuevo, Buenos Aires, on 6 April, with stops to take on fuel and supplies at Puerto Madryn and Puerto Deseado. The two ships then sailed the to Port Stanley, arriving on 13 April. The next day they were repainted from white to brown and green camouflage colours.