Half a world, and half a lifetime away.
Discussion
28th May
HMS Fearless met and passed the Carrier Battle Group shortly before dawn.
HMS Arrow continued her bombardment, covering 2 Para's advance through Darwin. She returned to San Carlos Water by dawn.
The Battle for Goose Green
02:35. A Company crosses the start line, heading for Burntside House.
Argentines at an OP see them coming, and leave, to warn the main battalion. The Paras assault the house with heavy expenditure of machine gun and anti-tank ammunition, to find the only occupants are four civilians and a dog. The dog lost a tooth.
Quite a sizeable amount of indirect fire starts flying around, 114mm from HMS Arrow, and 105mm from the Argentinians.
03:20 B Company sets off, and almost immediately runs into a machine gun nest. For the next few hours, the company advanced under constant fire, trench by trench.
05:30. A company, continuing unopposed, makes it to Coronation Point, overlooking Darwin, a small settlement about a mile and a half North of Goose Green.
Dawn broke, and an Argentine position that they had missed starts shooting at B company from the rear. D Company is dispatched to deal with it. HMS Arrow suffers a malfunction in its gun.
As light continues to increase, Argentines in their fortifications are able to bring heavy firepower upon the British positions at some range. It takes some 45 minutes for 1st Plt A Company to get back into cover, taking some casualties in the process.
Over at Boca House, B Coy also starts to meet heavy resistance from a position stationed to deal with a possible amphibious assault. The Argentine machineguns outranged the Para's light equipment, and the Para's request for an indirect fire mission was rejected on the grounds that the artillery simply didn't have the rounds. The mortars had totally run out, the warship was gone, and the 105mms were down to last stocks.
Harriers are grounded by fog over the Carriers, but there's no fog on the ground strips. Two Pucaras take off searching for the British artillery.
A defending blowpipe engages, it misses, but forces one Pucara to empty its rocket load into a hillside instead of the guns, the other Pucara turns away.
With plenty of ammo available, the Argentine artillery and mortars fire nearly continuously. When they didn't have specific targets to hit, they just generally plastered up and down the length of the isthmus. Back in C Company, still more or less in reserve, troopers resigned themselves to the situation, and brewed their morning tea under mortar fire.
Battalion TAC (temporary alternate command) had linked up with A company, and was on the front line. Instructed to take a ridge in order to get some good eyes on what lay beyond, to make use of the remaining artillery ammunition, A Company's commander takes some sixteen men with him, including his 2IC, and the battalion adjutant. The attempt fails badly, with the two Captains killed and a corporal.
10:00 In one of the more controversial actions of the war, LtCol H. Jones, officer commanding 2 Para, takes his submachinegun and two soldiers, and charges up a hill to take out a machinegun. He is shot in the back by an interlocking Argentine position. For his valiant charge, he is awarded the Victoria Cross. Some say that his actions galvanised his men and enabled them to subsequently win the battle. Opponents say that his job wasn't to go charging machineguns, he has corporals and privates for that sort of thing, and instead should have been playing 'Battalion Commander', as that’s what he's paid for, instead of being out and about on the front of the front line.
A request was made for a medevac for LtCol Jones, and a Westland Scout was dispatched. It had the misfortune to encounter a Pucara strike somewhere en route. Lts Giminez and Cimbara shot it down with 20mm cannon fire, killing Lt Richard Nunn. Nunn's brother was at that point and time commanding the Marine company in South Georgia, his brother-in-law was the Marine Liason Officer with 2-Para, and was clearing trenches with B Coy.
Gimenez and Cimbara were flying so low that Cimbara's windshield was shattered by mud and rocks flung about by artillery. Gimenez never returned. His aircraft was found four years later, he had flown into Blue Mountain in fog, his family becoming the first Argentinians to come to the Falklands after the war, for his funeral at Goose Green.
Wreckage of Lt Gimenez's Pucara on Blue Mountain.
One of Jones' last acts was to order the support company's machine gun and anti-tank missile teams to support B company. At a range of 1,500m, MILAN anti-tank missiles engage the Argentine positions well outside of their ability to respond. Under instruction from Maj Chris Keeble, now commanding the battalion, D Company then engaged a flanking manoeuvre and assaulted the defending Argentines. Ninety-seven surrendered.
A Coy is ordered to support C Coy in its attack on Darwin. The A Coy Commander, Farrar-Hockley, can only release one platoon, casualties had been too severe to detach more, and still hold Darwin Hill against counter-attack. Darwin is cleared without too much trouble.
The way now clear to Goose Green itself, it now also meant that the way was clear for the Goose Green defences to strike back.
In addition to the heavy machine gun fire, the Paras now also faced the 35mm anti-aircraft cannon pressed into devastating service in a ground role. There were also 20mm cannon at the airfield.
C and D companies make a combined attack on the schoolhouse on the edge of Goose Green, and is met by a brisk defence. Eventually a white flag appears, and 2Lt Jim Barry of D Coy moves forward with two troops to take the surrender. A nearby British machinegun opens fire, thinking that they were covering an assault. Another Argentine position shoots at the British in the open, killing all three. The Paras devastate the schoolhouse with 66mm, 84mm and machinegun fire, setting it ablaze. Nobody got out.
16:00. Two A-4s show up, and just miss D Coy with their bombs.
16:09. Two Pucaras now arrive, attacking with Napalm and rockets, also missing. One Pucara is shot down by Blowpipe, and crashes near a British Engineer section, drenching them with fuel from the ruptured tank, but it doesn't ignite. Lt Cruzado ejected and was captured.
16:15. With the fog cleared from the carriers, Harriers arrive and drop cluster bombs on some of the anti-aircraft artillery positions.
Dusk: A CH-47 and six Hueys land just South of Goose Green, bringing reinforcements.
At this point, Maj Keeble decides that they've done enough for the day, it was time to recharge, and, above all else, re-arm. Keeble's shopping list to Brigade HQ included reinforcements (J Coy, 42 Commando was dispatched), three more 105mm guns, 2000 rounds of 105mm ammunition, the heavy mortars and ammunition for them which had been left behind as they were too heavy to carry on foot, and a counter-battery radar.
He also receives permission to destroy the settlement if it became absolutely necessary. The local population of 112 was interned in the community centre, though they had been treated impeccably by resident garrison, C Coy 25th Regiment.
22:00. BBC World Service announces the capture of Goose Green. This comes as something of a surprise to the Paras who were definitely not in Goose Green, and the Argentinians who hadn't heard anything about a surrender.
HMS Fearless met and passed the Carrier Battle Group shortly before dawn.
HMS Arrow continued her bombardment, covering 2 Para's advance through Darwin. She returned to San Carlos Water by dawn.
The Battle for Goose Green
02:35. A Company crosses the start line, heading for Burntside House.
Argentines at an OP see them coming, and leave, to warn the main battalion. The Paras assault the house with heavy expenditure of machine gun and anti-tank ammunition, to find the only occupants are four civilians and a dog. The dog lost a tooth.
Quite a sizeable amount of indirect fire starts flying around, 114mm from HMS Arrow, and 105mm from the Argentinians.
03:20 B Company sets off, and almost immediately runs into a machine gun nest. For the next few hours, the company advanced under constant fire, trench by trench.
05:30. A company, continuing unopposed, makes it to Coronation Point, overlooking Darwin, a small settlement about a mile and a half North of Goose Green.
Dawn broke, and an Argentine position that they had missed starts shooting at B company from the rear. D Company is dispatched to deal with it. HMS Arrow suffers a malfunction in its gun.
As light continues to increase, Argentines in their fortifications are able to bring heavy firepower upon the British positions at some range. It takes some 45 minutes for 1st Plt A Company to get back into cover, taking some casualties in the process.
Over at Boca House, B Coy also starts to meet heavy resistance from a position stationed to deal with a possible amphibious assault. The Argentine machineguns outranged the Para's light equipment, and the Para's request for an indirect fire mission was rejected on the grounds that the artillery simply didn't have the rounds. The mortars had totally run out, the warship was gone, and the 105mms were down to last stocks.
Harriers are grounded by fog over the Carriers, but there's no fog on the ground strips. Two Pucaras take off searching for the British artillery.
A defending blowpipe engages, it misses, but forces one Pucara to empty its rocket load into a hillside instead of the guns, the other Pucara turns away.
With plenty of ammo available, the Argentine artillery and mortars fire nearly continuously. When they didn't have specific targets to hit, they just generally plastered up and down the length of the isthmus. Back in C Company, still more or less in reserve, troopers resigned themselves to the situation, and brewed their morning tea under mortar fire.
Battalion TAC (temporary alternate command) had linked up with A company, and was on the front line. Instructed to take a ridge in order to get some good eyes on what lay beyond, to make use of the remaining artillery ammunition, A Company's commander takes some sixteen men with him, including his 2IC, and the battalion adjutant. The attempt fails badly, with the two Captains killed and a corporal.
10:00 In one of the more controversial actions of the war, LtCol H. Jones, officer commanding 2 Para, takes his submachinegun and two soldiers, and charges up a hill to take out a machinegun. He is shot in the back by an interlocking Argentine position. For his valiant charge, he is awarded the Victoria Cross. Some say that his actions galvanised his men and enabled them to subsequently win the battle. Opponents say that his job wasn't to go charging machineguns, he has corporals and privates for that sort of thing, and instead should have been playing 'Battalion Commander', as that’s what he's paid for, instead of being out and about on the front of the front line.
VC Citation said:
On 28th May 1982 Lieutenant Colonel Jones was commanding 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment on operations on the Falkland Islands. The Battalion was ordered to attack enemy positions in and around the settlements of Darwin and Goose Green. During the attack against an enemy who was well dug in with mutually supporting positions sited in depth, the Battalion was held up just South of Darwin by a particularly well-prepared and resilient enemy position of at least eleven trenches on an important ridge. A number of casualties were received. In order to read the battle fully and to ensure that the momentum of his attack was not lost, Colonel Jones took forward his reconnaissance party to the foot of a re-entrant which a section of his Battalion had just secured. Despite persistent, heavy and accurate fire the reconnaissance party gained the top of the re-entrant, at approximately the same height as the enemy positions. From here Colonel Jones encouraged the direction of his Battalion mortar fire, in an effort to neutralise the enemy positions. However, these had been well prepared and continued to pour effective fire onto the Battalion advance, which, by now held up for over an hour and under increasingly heavy artillery fire, was in danger of faltering. In his effort to gain a good viewpoint, Colonel Jones was now at the very front of his Battalion. It was clear to him that desperate measures were needed in order to overcome the enemy position and rekindle the attack, and that unless these measures were taken promptly the Battalion would sustain increasing casualties and the attack perhaps even fail. It was time for personal leadership and action. Colonel Jones immediately seized a sub-machine gun, and, calling on those around him and with total disregard for his own safety, charged the nearest enemy position. This action exposed him to fire from a number of trenches. As he charged up a short slope at the enemy position he was seen to fall and roll backward downhill. He immediately picked himself up, and again charged the enemy trench, firing his sub-machine gun and seemingly oblivious to the intense fire directed at him. He was hit by fire from another trench which he outflanked, and fell dying only a few feet from the enemy he had assaulted. A short time later a company of the Battalion attacked the enemy, who quickly surrendered. The display of courage by Colonel Jones had completely undermined their will to fight further.
Thereafter the momentum of the attack was rapidly regained, Darwin and Goose Green were liberated, and the Battalion released the local inhabitants unharmed and forced the surrender of some 1,200 of the enemy.
The achievements of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment at Darwin and Goose Green set the tone for the subsequent land victory on the Falklands. The British achieved such a moral superiority over the enemy in this first battle that, despite the advantages of numbers and selection of battle-ground, the Argentinian troops never thereafter doubted neither the superior fighting qualities of the British troops, nor their own inevitable defeat.
This was an action of the utmost gallantry by a Commanding Officer whose dashing leadership and courage throughout the battle were an inspiration to all about him.
In the meantime, A Company finally started getting the measure of the fight. Machineguns and anti-tank weapons started to finally silence trenches, and a few white flags started appearing.Thereafter the momentum of the attack was rapidly regained, Darwin and Goose Green were liberated, and the Battalion released the local inhabitants unharmed and forced the surrender of some 1,200 of the enemy.
The achievements of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment at Darwin and Goose Green set the tone for the subsequent land victory on the Falklands. The British achieved such a moral superiority over the enemy in this first battle that, despite the advantages of numbers and selection of battle-ground, the Argentinian troops never thereafter doubted neither the superior fighting qualities of the British troops, nor their own inevitable defeat.
This was an action of the utmost gallantry by a Commanding Officer whose dashing leadership and courage throughout the battle were an inspiration to all about him.
A request was made for a medevac for LtCol Jones, and a Westland Scout was dispatched. It had the misfortune to encounter a Pucara strike somewhere en route. Lts Giminez and Cimbara shot it down with 20mm cannon fire, killing Lt Richard Nunn. Nunn's brother was at that point and time commanding the Marine company in South Georgia, his brother-in-law was the Marine Liason Officer with 2-Para, and was clearing trenches with B Coy.
Gimenez and Cimbara were flying so low that Cimbara's windshield was shattered by mud and rocks flung about by artillery. Gimenez never returned. His aircraft was found four years later, he had flown into Blue Mountain in fog, his family becoming the first Argentinians to come to the Falklands after the war, for his funeral at Goose Green.
Wreckage of Lt Gimenez's Pucara on Blue Mountain.
One of Jones' last acts was to order the support company's machine gun and anti-tank missile teams to support B company. At a range of 1,500m, MILAN anti-tank missiles engage the Argentine positions well outside of their ability to respond. Under instruction from Maj Chris Keeble, now commanding the battalion, D Company then engaged a flanking manoeuvre and assaulted the defending Argentines. Ninety-seven surrendered.
A Coy is ordered to support C Coy in its attack on Darwin. The A Coy Commander, Farrar-Hockley, can only release one platoon, casualties had been too severe to detach more, and still hold Darwin Hill against counter-attack. Darwin is cleared without too much trouble.
The way now clear to Goose Green itself, it now also meant that the way was clear for the Goose Green defences to strike back.
In addition to the heavy machine gun fire, the Paras now also faced the 35mm anti-aircraft cannon pressed into devastating service in a ground role. There were also 20mm cannon at the airfield.
C and D companies make a combined attack on the schoolhouse on the edge of Goose Green, and is met by a brisk defence. Eventually a white flag appears, and 2Lt Jim Barry of D Coy moves forward with two troops to take the surrender. A nearby British machinegun opens fire, thinking that they were covering an assault. Another Argentine position shoots at the British in the open, killing all three. The Paras devastate the schoolhouse with 66mm, 84mm and machinegun fire, setting it ablaze. Nobody got out.
16:00. Two A-4s show up, and just miss D Coy with their bombs.
16:09. Two Pucaras now arrive, attacking with Napalm and rockets, also missing. One Pucara is shot down by Blowpipe, and crashes near a British Engineer section, drenching them with fuel from the ruptured tank, but it doesn't ignite. Lt Cruzado ejected and was captured.
16:15. With the fog cleared from the carriers, Harriers arrive and drop cluster bombs on some of the anti-aircraft artillery positions.
Dusk: A CH-47 and six Hueys land just South of Goose Green, bringing reinforcements.
At this point, Maj Keeble decides that they've done enough for the day, it was time to recharge, and, above all else, re-arm. Keeble's shopping list to Brigade HQ included reinforcements (J Coy, 42 Commando was dispatched), three more 105mm guns, 2000 rounds of 105mm ammunition, the heavy mortars and ammunition for them which had been left behind as they were too heavy to carry on foot, and a counter-battery radar.
He also receives permission to destroy the settlement if it became absolutely necessary. The local population of 112 was interned in the community centre, though they had been treated impeccably by resident garrison, C Coy 25th Regiment.
22:00. BBC World Service announces the capture of Goose Green. This comes as something of a surprise to the Paras who were definitely not in Goose Green, and the Argentinians who hadn't heard anything about a surrender.
98elise said:
hepy said:
98elise said:
Usget said:
shed driver said:
Unfortunately, the two A-4s were so close together that Broadsword's system couldn't quite figure out if it was trying to engage one target or two, decided it wasn't worth what it was being paid to try to figure it out, and switched itself off.
I've heard this story before. I can just imagine the guy who wrote that piece of code hearing the news for the first time and sitting on his sofa thinking ".......oh, f
k it. Yeah, I know exactly why it's done that."The last system I was in charge of before leaving in 1990 could threat assess 100+ targets at once, prioritise, and fire without human intervention.
Edited to add...
From a quick Google, according to Broadswords Warfare Officer seawolf had a lock, but Coventry passed between Broadsword and the targets breaking the lock. A known fault meant seawolf needed to be reset to fire, hence could no longer engage. The aircraft had been tracked from a long way out and should have been an easy kill.
Thats way more believable than it couldn't cope with 2 targets.
Edited by 98elise on Sunday 28th May 08:27
I've got a friend who served on Broadsword, I'll see if he can shed any light on this.
SD.
I wonder whether there being two separate targets, then closing into one, then back into two again was part of the problem? The software falling over in this scenario may be a possibility?
I have absolutely no idea, the hype over SeaWolf at the time said it could shoot shells out of the sky.
SD.
I have absolutely no idea, the hype over SeaWolf at the time said it could shoot shells out of the sky.
SD.
29th May
Organisation of American States condemns Britain's military action and calls on the US to stop helping Britain - only the US, Chile, Columbia and Trinidad & Tobago abstain.
Major Chris Keeble began negotiations with the defenders of Goose Green before dawn.
Argentine forces surrendered at Goose Green, up to 1,400 taken prisoner. Fewer than 700 British troops had taken the position.
The advance on Port Stanley was going to plan.
RFA Sir Percivale returned to San Carlos Water, escorted by HMS Minerva.
Sir Lancelot's bomb was finally dropped over the side.
At 1135 a pair of Argentine aircraft entered San Carlos Water and were engaged by Rapiers.
Argentine Hercules transport aircraft dropped bombs on mv British Wye, 400 miles north of South Georgia. No damage.
HMS Fearless met Antrim, 100 miles from the eastern edge of the TEZ and transferred Major-General Moore, Brigadier Wilson and their staffs. The LPD then headed for the Carrier Battle Group, accompanied by Antrim.
All 67 wounded from 2 PARA survived and are flown to HMHS Uganda.
Pope John Paul II begins long-scheduled visit to Britain.
SD.
Organisation of American States condemns Britain's military action and calls on the US to stop helping Britain - only the US, Chile, Columbia and Trinidad & Tobago abstain.
Major Chris Keeble began negotiations with the defenders of Goose Green before dawn.
Argentine forces surrendered at Goose Green, up to 1,400 taken prisoner. Fewer than 700 British troops had taken the position.
The advance on Port Stanley was going to plan.
RFA Sir Percivale returned to San Carlos Water, escorted by HMS Minerva.
Sir Lancelot's bomb was finally dropped over the side.
At 1135 a pair of Argentine aircraft entered San Carlos Water and were engaged by Rapiers.
Argentine Hercules transport aircraft dropped bombs on mv British Wye, 400 miles north of South Georgia. No damage.
HMS Fearless met Antrim, 100 miles from the eastern edge of the TEZ and transferred Major-General Moore, Brigadier Wilson and their staffs. The LPD then headed for the Carrier Battle Group, accompanied by Antrim.
All 67 wounded from 2 PARA survived and are flown to HMHS Uganda.
Pope John Paul II begins long-scheduled visit to Britain.
SD.
coanda said:
Anymore info on the herc dropping bombs?
This is an excellent thread. I was zero in 1982. My father was in one of the field ambulance TA units. He was stopped from getting on board one of the ships (Sir Galahad or Atlantic Conveyor - I can't remember right now) because of me. He spent the time backfilling at Luggershall and the hospital at Haslar Creek.
The C130 dropped 8 bombs, one of which bounced off the MV British Wye and into the sea,This is an excellent thread. I was zero in 1982. My father was in one of the field ambulance TA units. He was stopped from getting on board one of the ships (Sir Galahad or Atlantic Conveyor - I can't remember right now) because of me. He spent the time backfilling at Luggershall and the hospital at Haslar Creek.
Letter regarding the bombing and how a diplomatic protest was not made.
SD.
30th May
Elk and Tidepool remained in San Carlos Water, unloading ammunition and refuelling the guardships. HMS Penelope was forced to return to the Carrier Battle Group due to mechanical problems.
As Elk and Tidepool/i] left the Sound on their way to rejoin HMS [i]Andromeda, they passed Uganda who was on her way in. The hospital ship was on her way to a new anchorage in Grantham Sound.
During the night of 29th/30th May HMS Arrow fired 100 rounds at targets in the Fox Bay area, while HMS Ambuscade and Glamorgan bombarded targets in the Port Stanley area.
The seas were still heavy but the wind had decreased and visibility had improved. CAP missions were able to begin from before dawn but the first strike mission was not flown off until later in the morning.
HMS Antrim detached from the Battle Group for South Georgia.
The Argentine Navy used the last of its air launched Exocet's that day, fired by Capitain de Corbeta A Francisco. Sadly, there was still a supply of land launched Exocets.
That night, Alacrity headed for the Fitzroy area to provide gunfire support in the Mount Kent area.
RAF Harrier damaged by ground fire during attack on Stanley, ditched at sea, just thirty one mile from HMS Hermes, the pilot was rescued by one of the screening helicopters.
45 Commando take Douglas and 3 Para take Teal Inlet.
42 Commando advance on Mount Kent and Mount Challenger.
General Moore arrives at San Carlos.
Pope John Paul II preaches anti-war message in Coventry Cathedral. Margaret Thatcher and sections of the press are not amused at his perceived political interference. His next stop on his tour was also controversial.
SD.
Elk and Tidepool remained in San Carlos Water, unloading ammunition and refuelling the guardships. HMS Penelope was forced to return to the Carrier Battle Group due to mechanical problems.
As Elk and Tidepool/i] left the Sound on their way to rejoin HMS [i]Andromeda, they passed Uganda who was on her way in. The hospital ship was on her way to a new anchorage in Grantham Sound.
During the night of 29th/30th May HMS Arrow fired 100 rounds at targets in the Fox Bay area, while HMS Ambuscade and Glamorgan bombarded targets in the Port Stanley area.
The seas were still heavy but the wind had decreased and visibility had improved. CAP missions were able to begin from before dawn but the first strike mission was not flown off until later in the morning.
HMS Antrim detached from the Battle Group for South Georgia.
The Argentine Navy used the last of its air launched Exocet's that day, fired by Capitain de Corbeta A Francisco. Sadly, there was still a supply of land launched Exocets.
That night, Alacrity headed for the Fitzroy area to provide gunfire support in the Mount Kent area.
RAF Harrier damaged by ground fire during attack on Stanley, ditched at sea, just thirty one mile from HMS Hermes, the pilot was rescued by one of the screening helicopters.
45 Commando take Douglas and 3 Para take Teal Inlet.
42 Commando advance on Mount Kent and Mount Challenger.
General Moore arrives at San Carlos.
Pope John Paul II preaches anti-war message in Coventry Cathedral. Margaret Thatcher and sections of the press are not amused at his perceived political interference. His next stop on his tour was also controversial.
SD.
31st May
An RAF Vulcan made an attempt to destroy the TPS-43 radar of VCYA2, using Shrike anti-radar missiles. The results of the attack were regarded as 'unquantifiable' by the British Authorities.
Uganda entered Falkland Sound in daylight and proceeded to Grantham Sound to continue embarking wounded from Ajax Bay.
The Bahia Paraisio, now an Argentine hospital ship was now inside the TEZ, Commodore Clapp exercised his right of search. The Lynxes of Arrow and Minerva found no 'contraband' and received a friendly welcome, particularly from the Executive Officer, who had done special training with the Royal Navy.
The assault helicopters were busy throughout the day, taking the head quarters of 3 Cdo up to Teal Inlet and taking supplies to the Marines and Paras on the northern flank.
The previous night, 17 Argentine troops had occupied Top Malo House farm, located five miles South of Teal Inlet Settlement. On the afternoon of the 31st, a Sea King took nineteen Marines of the Arctic Warfare Cadre and dropped them within a mile of their target. Captain R, Bell and his eighteen NCOs surprised the Argentinians and drive them out to surrender. This was the Marines only daylight engagement of the conflict.
The Argentine Air Force appeared in the Amphibious Operating Area at dusk, but did not approach closer than six miles to San Carlos Water.
HMS Alacrity, Ambuscade and Exeter detached from the Carrier Battle Group, the type 21s to carry out bombardment missions and the type 42 providing the missile trap.
UN Secretary General presented new peace plan.
SD.
An RAF Vulcan made an attempt to destroy the TPS-43 radar of VCYA2, using Shrike anti-radar missiles. The results of the attack were regarded as 'unquantifiable' by the British Authorities.
Uganda entered Falkland Sound in daylight and proceeded to Grantham Sound to continue embarking wounded from Ajax Bay.
The Bahia Paraisio, now an Argentine hospital ship was now inside the TEZ, Commodore Clapp exercised his right of search. The Lynxes of Arrow and Minerva found no 'contraband' and received a friendly welcome, particularly from the Executive Officer, who had done special training with the Royal Navy.
The assault helicopters were busy throughout the day, taking the head quarters of 3 Cdo up to Teal Inlet and taking supplies to the Marines and Paras on the northern flank.
The previous night, 17 Argentine troops had occupied Top Malo House farm, located five miles South of Teal Inlet Settlement. On the afternoon of the 31st, a Sea King took nineteen Marines of the Arctic Warfare Cadre and dropped them within a mile of their target. Captain R, Bell and his eighteen NCOs surprised the Argentinians and drive them out to surrender. This was the Marines only daylight engagement of the conflict.
The Argentine Air Force appeared in the Amphibious Operating Area at dusk, but did not approach closer than six miles to San Carlos Water.
HMS Alacrity, Ambuscade and Exeter detached from the Carrier Battle Group, the type 21s to carry out bombardment missions and the type 42 providing the missile trap.
UN Secretary General presented new peace plan.
SD.
Kermit power said:
Is there any reason why they would've sent in such a top heavy contingent of Marines?
Possibly that time served and then additionally to qualify from the AWC may have meant that the majority of them were already on the promotion ladder. Any ex Bootnecks cast any light on this? I'm sure it made sense when I did the original research in 2007.
SD.
1st June
During the night of 31st May/1st June HMS Alacrity bombarded positions to the west of Port Stanley, between Moody Brook and Two Sisters ridge.
Marines were holding secure positions on Mount Kent and Mount Challenger.
Argentine Air Force long-range reconnaissance aircraft were tracked during the morning. A C-130 engaged on reconnaissance had been picked up by HMS Minerva and was shot down by Lieutenant-Commander Ward of 801 using his sidewinder missiles and 30mm cannon against the Hercules.
The Carrier Battle Group acted as a forward area receipt and despatch unit from its position in the eastern section of the TEZ.
Canberra arrived in the afternoon and remained in company with the Carrier Battle Group until she joined Tidepool, escorted by Broadsword, for the afternoon convoy to the Transport Area.
HMS Penelope met a transport Hercules on the north-east edge of the TEZ. Along with the usual stores, the Hercules dropped a number of Army personnel, including Lieutenant-Colonel D. R. Chaundler, who would be taking command of 2 Para, led by Major Keeble since Lieutenant-Colnel Jones's death.
HMS Avenger bombarded the garrison at Pebble Island once darkness had fallen.
HMS Active, Ambuscade and Exeter parted company with the Carrier Battle Group and headed for the Port Stanley area. The two frigates bombarding the area with Exeter providing a missile trap off the airfield.
SD.
During the night of 31st May/1st June HMS Alacrity bombarded positions to the west of Port Stanley, between Moody Brook and Two Sisters ridge.
Marines were holding secure positions on Mount Kent and Mount Challenger.
Argentine Air Force long-range reconnaissance aircraft were tracked during the morning. A C-130 engaged on reconnaissance had been picked up by HMS Minerva and was shot down by Lieutenant-Commander Ward of 801 using his sidewinder missiles and 30mm cannon against the Hercules.
The Carrier Battle Group acted as a forward area receipt and despatch unit from its position in the eastern section of the TEZ.
Canberra arrived in the afternoon and remained in company with the Carrier Battle Group until she joined Tidepool, escorted by Broadsword, for the afternoon convoy to the Transport Area.
HMS Penelope met a transport Hercules on the north-east edge of the TEZ. Along with the usual stores, the Hercules dropped a number of Army personnel, including Lieutenant-Colonel D. R. Chaundler, who would be taking command of 2 Para, led by Major Keeble since Lieutenant-Colnel Jones's death.
HMS Avenger bombarded the garrison at Pebble Island once darkness had fallen.
HMS Active, Ambuscade and Exeter parted company with the Carrier Battle Group and headed for the Port Stanley area. The two frigates bombarding the area with Exeter providing a missile trap off the airfield.
SD.
2nd June
2 Para reach Bluff Cove.
Argentine military envoys arrive in New York offering to surrender to the UN.
Exeter, Active and Ambuscade withdrew from their positions to be back on the Battle Group's screen before dawn.
HMS Avenger covered inbound and outbound convoys before returning to the Battle Group.
Canberra anchored deep in San Carlos Water, off Ajax Bay before dawn.
The day dawned with fog, which would protect the liner's anchorage from air attack as the two Guards battalions and their stores were offloaded. Unfortunately, the offloading took longer than planned and Canberra had to remain in San Carlos Water overnight.
The northern approach to Port Stanley was by now properly established. The next stage, supplying the new forward area and bringing up reinforcements and supplies was not straightforward. The number of available helicopters had increased with the arrival of Atlantic Causeway but the LSLs had been reduced in carrying capacity due the damage done to Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad.
HMS Active and Ambuscade proceeded inshore for a harassing bombardment but the bad weather prevented visual spotting.
HMS Cardiff was forming the missile trap off Port Stanley where she detected a single C-130 on a resupply flight. Although Cardiff launched a Sea Dart, the aircraft was able to take avoidance action and landed at Port Stanley. When it took off again twenty minutes later, it was treated to a second Sea Dart from Cardiff.
HMS Arrow bombarded Fox Bay and although Argentine anti-aircraft guns engaged her Lynx which was acting as Arrow's spotter, they did not succeed in damaging the helicopter.
'Friendly fire' incident between an SBS patrol and an SAS patrol. An SBS patrol had apparently strayed into the SAS patrol's designated area and were mistaken for Argentine forces. A brief firefight was initiated during which one of the SBS patrol, Sergeant Ian Hunt, was killed.
SD.
2 Para reach Bluff Cove.
Argentine military envoys arrive in New York offering to surrender to the UN.
Exeter, Active and Ambuscade withdrew from their positions to be back on the Battle Group's screen before dawn.
HMS Avenger covered inbound and outbound convoys before returning to the Battle Group.
Canberra anchored deep in San Carlos Water, off Ajax Bay before dawn.
The day dawned with fog, which would protect the liner's anchorage from air attack as the two Guards battalions and their stores were offloaded. Unfortunately, the offloading took longer than planned and Canberra had to remain in San Carlos Water overnight.
The northern approach to Port Stanley was by now properly established. The next stage, supplying the new forward area and bringing up reinforcements and supplies was not straightforward. The number of available helicopters had increased with the arrival of Atlantic Causeway but the LSLs had been reduced in carrying capacity due the damage done to Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad.
HMS Active and Ambuscade proceeded inshore for a harassing bombardment but the bad weather prevented visual spotting.
HMS Cardiff was forming the missile trap off Port Stanley where she detected a single C-130 on a resupply flight. Although Cardiff launched a Sea Dart, the aircraft was able to take avoidance action and landed at Port Stanley. When it took off again twenty minutes later, it was treated to a second Sea Dart from Cardiff.
HMS Arrow bombarded Fox Bay and although Argentine anti-aircraft guns engaged her Lynx which was acting as Arrow's spotter, they did not succeed in damaging the helicopter.
'Friendly fire' incident between an SBS patrol and an SAS patrol. An SBS patrol had apparently strayed into the SAS patrol's designated area and were mistaken for Argentine forces. A brief firefight was initiated during which one of the SBS patrol, Sergeant Ian Hunt, was killed.
SD.
3rd June
It’s a Thursay, my 16th Birthday and Madness is number one with “House of Fun.” Not much fun as O levels were in full swing.
Cardiff and Active rejoined the Carrier Battle Group in the early morning.
Visibility was once again poor and the planned use of Sea Harriers to use baiting tactics in support of another Vulcan anti-radar attack had to be abandoned, leaving the big bomber to attract all the defences' attention. The bad weather prevented any fighter operations by the carriers.
HMS Minerva was despatched to make a visual reconnaissance along the coast using her Lynx to search for land based Exocet launching sites.
The unloading of Canberra was completed.
RFA Sir Percivale completed unloading at Teal Inlet.
Canberra, Stromness and Blue Rover, escorted by HMS Plymouth, sailed from San Carlos Water that evening.
Plymouth moved on to bombard Port Howard garrison.
The first three minesweeping trawlers left South Georgia.
RAF Vulcan bomber diverts to Brazil with refuelling problems after raid on Stanley airfield. This caused a few feathers to be ruffled and an interesting diplomatic discussion as to whether we were actually at war.
Flash telegram from the UK Embassy in Brasillia to the FCO, MOD and to Washington.
A telex regarding the application of US pressure to protect missile technology (Is this the Shrike?)
An interesting discussion around the legalities of whether we are at war.
SD.
It’s a Thursay, my 16th Birthday and Madness is number one with “House of Fun.” Not much fun as O levels were in full swing.
Cardiff and Active rejoined the Carrier Battle Group in the early morning.
Visibility was once again poor and the planned use of Sea Harriers to use baiting tactics in support of another Vulcan anti-radar attack had to be abandoned, leaving the big bomber to attract all the defences' attention. The bad weather prevented any fighter operations by the carriers.
HMS Minerva was despatched to make a visual reconnaissance along the coast using her Lynx to search for land based Exocet launching sites.
The unloading of Canberra was completed.
RFA Sir Percivale completed unloading at Teal Inlet.
Canberra, Stromness and Blue Rover, escorted by HMS Plymouth, sailed from San Carlos Water that evening.
Plymouth moved on to bombard Port Howard garrison.
The first three minesweeping trawlers left South Georgia.
RAF Vulcan bomber diverts to Brazil with refuelling problems after raid on Stanley airfield. This caused a few feathers to be ruffled and an interesting diplomatic discussion as to whether we were actually at war.
Flash telegram from the UK Embassy in Brasillia to the FCO, MOD and to Washington.
A telex regarding the application of US pressure to protect missile technology (Is this the Shrike?)
An interesting discussion around the legalities of whether we are at war.
SD.
4th June
An inbound convoy anchored in San Carlos Water after dawn.
Sir Galahad began her entry into the Salvador narrows in daylight. There was little risk of air attack as low cloud and mist continued to shroud the ships.
The Bahia Paraiso arrived in the Red Cross box and transferred Argentine wounded from Uganda.
The weather limited helicopter activity and only one 105mm gun could be lifted into Bluff Cove.
The Battle Group had suspended bombardments of Port Stanley until the Exocet threat had been examined. Although it was known that the air launched threat was passed, Exocet could also be launched from land-based launchers.
Exeter arrived on her station that evening and flew off her Lynx, carrying a home-made radar reflector, the helicopter flew along the gun-line pretending to be a ship, in the hope of attracting an Exocet. No missile was fired.
SD.
An inbound convoy anchored in San Carlos Water after dawn.
Sir Galahad began her entry into the Salvador narrows in daylight. There was little risk of air attack as low cloud and mist continued to shroud the ships.
The Bahia Paraiso arrived in the Red Cross box and transferred Argentine wounded from Uganda.
The weather limited helicopter activity and only one 105mm gun could be lifted into Bluff Cove.
The Battle Group had suspended bombardments of Port Stanley until the Exocet threat had been examined. Although it was known that the air launched threat was passed, Exocet could also be launched from land-based launchers.
Exeter arrived on her station that evening and flew off her Lynx, carrying a home-made radar reflector, the helicopter flew along the gun-line pretending to be a ship, in the hope of attracting an Exocet. No missile was fired.
SD.
5th June
The first CAP of the day was flown off HMS Hermes before dawn and landed at the Port San Carlos strip (which had been christened HMS Sheathbill).
The weather improved, allowing full use to be made of the helicopters in moving equipment and supplies.
42 Commando RM occupy Mount Challenger.
Gazelle helicopter 656 Sqn AAC shot down in 'friendly fire' incident. HMS Cardiff fired a SeaDart at an unidentified aircraft.
Read the belated Board of Inquiry Report.
I've not got time during today to update, will be after 21:00 before I get chance.
SD.
The first CAP of the day was flown off HMS Hermes before dawn and landed at the Port San Carlos strip (which had been christened HMS Sheathbill).
The weather improved, allowing full use to be made of the helicopters in moving equipment and supplies.
42 Commando RM occupy Mount Challenger.
Gazelle helicopter 656 Sqn AAC shot down in 'friendly fire' incident. HMS Cardiff fired a SeaDart at an unidentified aircraft.
Read the belated Board of Inquiry Report.
I've not got time during today to update, will be after 21:00 before I get chance.
SD.
5th June - Supplemental.
On the night of 5 June, the Type 42 destroyer HMS Cardiff took up station on the Bluff Cove Gunline to the east of the islands. Tasked with a dual mission, Cardiff was to provide fire support to the marines of 3 Commando Brigade, and to interdict any Argentine aircraft attempting to fly into Stanley. The destroyer had performed a similar role four nights previously, when she unsuccessfully attempted to shoot down a resupply aircraft as it landed, and again as it took off.
Meanwhile, two pilots, the OC of 205 Signal Squadron, and one of his technicians, Staff Sergeant John Baker took off in XX377 to make a routine delivery of personnel and equipment to a radio rebroadcast station on East Falkland. Griffin was an experienced pilot; the flight to the rebroadcast station was expected to take ten minutes.
At 02:00 local time, Cardiff's operations room detected XX377 on her surface plot radar at a range of 25 nautical miles. The helicopter's identification friend or foe (IFF) system was turned off, so receiving no friendly transmissions and with the contact apparently heading towards Stanley, the operations room crew assumed it to be hostile.
After calculating its speed they believed they were tracking an Argentine fixed-wing aircraft - either a Hercules conducting a resupply mission, or a FMA IA 58 Pucará ground-attack aircraft sent to retaliate for Cardif's shelling. Cardiff fired two of her Sea Dart missiles. 5th Infantry Brigade lost radio contact with the Gazelle, and simultaneously the exploding missile warheads were seen and heard by the rebroadcast station's personnel atop Pleasant Peak. Cardiff's crew were able to see the fireball, but only with the aid of night vision goggles.
The helicopter's loss caused the British to suspect that Argentine forces were still operating in the area, so patrols were mounted by Gurkha soldiers When the Gurkhas came across the personnel manning the Pleasant Peak station there was potential for another friendly fire incident to occur. At first light a proper search was carried out, and the Gazelle's wreckage was found along with the dead aircrew and passengers; 5th Infantry Brigade's first casualties of the war. Immediately there were suspicions that Cardiff had been responsible for the shootdown, and later that evening Rear Admiral "Sandy" Woodward declared a "Weapons Tight" order, forbidding the engagement of any aircraft not positively identified as hostile, for all contacts detected flying over East Falkland at less than 200 knots and under 2000 feet.
The crew's bodies were initially examined by senior medical officer, Surgeon-Captain Richard "Rick" Jolly of the Royal Navy. The helicopter's wreckage was inspected on-site, but the British were unable to determine if it had been destroyed by Cardiff's missiles or by Argentine fire. This uncertainty prompted the decision not to hold a board of inquiry, and XX377 was declared "lost in action". It was surmised that, if the relatives of the deceased were told that the Gazelle might have been lost to friendly fire, it would add to their grief.
After the war, missile fragments found in the wreckage were taken to the British government's aviation research facility at RAE Farnborough for analysis. The scientific tests concluded that the fragments were not from a British Sea Dart missile, despite a Sea Dart casing later being found "several hundred yards" away from the wreckage.
In December 1982 an inquest was held by a Southampton coroner into the death of Lance Corporal Cockton after his body was repatriated to the UK. Based on RAE Farnborough's test results, the Army Air Corps submitted evidence stating that the analysis of the warhead fragments found in the wreckage indicated that the helicopter had been destroyed by a type of anti-aircraft missile "known to have been in the possession of the enemy". The test results were reviewed in November 1985 and determined that there could be "no definitive conclusion as to the exact source of the missile fragments recovered from the crash site".
In June 1986, John Stanley, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, announced in his written answers to the House of Commons: "the [Southampton] coroner has been informed accordingly."
In October 1986, partly due to pressure from Cockton's mother and the politician Tam Dalyell, an official board of inquiry was finally opened. The board took a month to reach the conclusion that XX377 was shot down by Cardiff. Historian Hugh Bicheno remarks: "It took [the] MoD four years and two investigations, the first either incompetent or a deliberate cover-up, even to admit the Gazelle blue-on-blue."
The board's findings were made public by a Freedom of Information Act request in July 2008, although Paragraph 13 of the report was redacted under Section 26 of the act as it "contains operational details of the Royal Navy's activities, which, even with the passage of time since the Falklands campaign, would be of use to potential enemies."
The board of inquiry found that standard operating procedure dictated that the commanders of 5th Infantry Brigade were not required to declare the helicopter's mission to any other authority, as the flight was to occur in brigade airspace on a brigade task. Gazelle XX377 was equipped with an IFF transmitter, but this was turned off. In the opinion of the board, "had IFF been in use there is little doubt that Cardiff would not have engaged the aircraft that night."
At the time, less than half of the land force's helicopters were fitted with IFF transmitters, and those that were had been ordered not to use them because they inhibited the tracking systems of the British ground-based Rapier anti-aircraft missile batteries. A misconception about the Royal Navy's ability to engage air targets over land led to the navy not being informed that the army's helicopters were not using IFF. The board of inquiry concluded that it was this failure to communicate, together with the navy's assumption that all helicopters would be operating IFF, which "had a cumulative effect [and] was a major cause of [the] accident." However, the board recommended that "neither negligence nor blame should be attributed to any individual".
6th June
Scots Guards land at Fitzroy in early morning.
Versailles summit supports British position on the conflict.
Welsh Guards depart San Carlos at night on board Fearless heading for Fitzroy.
SD.
On the night of 5 June, the Type 42 destroyer HMS Cardiff took up station on the Bluff Cove Gunline to the east of the islands. Tasked with a dual mission, Cardiff was to provide fire support to the marines of 3 Commando Brigade, and to interdict any Argentine aircraft attempting to fly into Stanley. The destroyer had performed a similar role four nights previously, when she unsuccessfully attempted to shoot down a resupply aircraft as it landed, and again as it took off.
Meanwhile, two pilots, the OC of 205 Signal Squadron, and one of his technicians, Staff Sergeant John Baker took off in XX377 to make a routine delivery of personnel and equipment to a radio rebroadcast station on East Falkland. Griffin was an experienced pilot; the flight to the rebroadcast station was expected to take ten minutes.
At 02:00 local time, Cardiff's operations room detected XX377 on her surface plot radar at a range of 25 nautical miles. The helicopter's identification friend or foe (IFF) system was turned off, so receiving no friendly transmissions and with the contact apparently heading towards Stanley, the operations room crew assumed it to be hostile.
After calculating its speed they believed they were tracking an Argentine fixed-wing aircraft - either a Hercules conducting a resupply mission, or a FMA IA 58 Pucará ground-attack aircraft sent to retaliate for Cardif's shelling. Cardiff fired two of her Sea Dart missiles. 5th Infantry Brigade lost radio contact with the Gazelle, and simultaneously the exploding missile warheads were seen and heard by the rebroadcast station's personnel atop Pleasant Peak. Cardiff's crew were able to see the fireball, but only with the aid of night vision goggles.
The helicopter's loss caused the British to suspect that Argentine forces were still operating in the area, so patrols were mounted by Gurkha soldiers When the Gurkhas came across the personnel manning the Pleasant Peak station there was potential for another friendly fire incident to occur. At first light a proper search was carried out, and the Gazelle's wreckage was found along with the dead aircrew and passengers; 5th Infantry Brigade's first casualties of the war. Immediately there were suspicions that Cardiff had been responsible for the shootdown, and later that evening Rear Admiral "Sandy" Woodward declared a "Weapons Tight" order, forbidding the engagement of any aircraft not positively identified as hostile, for all contacts detected flying over East Falkland at less than 200 knots and under 2000 feet.
The crew's bodies were initially examined by senior medical officer, Surgeon-Captain Richard "Rick" Jolly of the Royal Navy. The helicopter's wreckage was inspected on-site, but the British were unable to determine if it had been destroyed by Cardiff's missiles or by Argentine fire. This uncertainty prompted the decision not to hold a board of inquiry, and XX377 was declared "lost in action". It was surmised that, if the relatives of the deceased were told that the Gazelle might have been lost to friendly fire, it would add to their grief.
After the war, missile fragments found in the wreckage were taken to the British government's aviation research facility at RAE Farnborough for analysis. The scientific tests concluded that the fragments were not from a British Sea Dart missile, despite a Sea Dart casing later being found "several hundred yards" away from the wreckage.
In December 1982 an inquest was held by a Southampton coroner into the death of Lance Corporal Cockton after his body was repatriated to the UK. Based on RAE Farnborough's test results, the Army Air Corps submitted evidence stating that the analysis of the warhead fragments found in the wreckage indicated that the helicopter had been destroyed by a type of anti-aircraft missile "known to have been in the possession of the enemy". The test results were reviewed in November 1985 and determined that there could be "no definitive conclusion as to the exact source of the missile fragments recovered from the crash site".
In June 1986, John Stanley, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, announced in his written answers to the House of Commons: "the [Southampton] coroner has been informed accordingly."
In October 1986, partly due to pressure from Cockton's mother and the politician Tam Dalyell, an official board of inquiry was finally opened. The board took a month to reach the conclusion that XX377 was shot down by Cardiff. Historian Hugh Bicheno remarks: "It took [the] MoD four years and two investigations, the first either incompetent or a deliberate cover-up, even to admit the Gazelle blue-on-blue."
The board's findings were made public by a Freedom of Information Act request in July 2008, although Paragraph 13 of the report was redacted under Section 26 of the act as it "contains operational details of the Royal Navy's activities, which, even with the passage of time since the Falklands campaign, would be of use to potential enemies."
The board of inquiry found that standard operating procedure dictated that the commanders of 5th Infantry Brigade were not required to declare the helicopter's mission to any other authority, as the flight was to occur in brigade airspace on a brigade task. Gazelle XX377 was equipped with an IFF transmitter, but this was turned off. In the opinion of the board, "had IFF been in use there is little doubt that Cardiff would not have engaged the aircraft that night."
At the time, less than half of the land force's helicopters were fitted with IFF transmitters, and those that were had been ordered not to use them because they inhibited the tracking systems of the British ground-based Rapier anti-aircraft missile batteries. A misconception about the Royal Navy's ability to engage air targets over land led to the navy not being informed that the army's helicopters were not using IFF. The board of inquiry concluded that it was this failure to communicate, together with the navy's assumption that all helicopters would be operating IFF, which "had a cumulative effect [and] was a major cause of [the] accident." However, the board recommended that "neither negligence nor blame should be attributed to any individual".
6th June
Scots Guards land at Fitzroy in early morning.
Versailles summit supports British position on the conflict.
Welsh Guards depart San Carlos at night on board Fearless heading for Fitzroy.
SD.
Edited by shed driver on Tuesday 6th June 12:29
7th June
President Reagan begins visit to Great Britain.
Pope John Paul II arrives in Argentina and declares all wars as "unjust".
UN Secretary General announces peace plan.
Fearless and her frigates reached her rendezvous before midnight. The Bluff Cove LCUs had not sailed, Fearless was unaware of this and waited until the last possible moment before sailing for San Carlos.
The day dawned bright and clear, allowing the transport helicopters to begin flying at dawn and continue until nightfall.
Hermes withdrew in from the TEZ early in the day to allow her steam turbine machinery to be overhauled.
Argentine photo-reconnaissance Learjet shot down over San Carlos by HMS Exeter.
MV Norland returned to the area to collect the balance of prisoners held in the Ajax Bay compounds.
Sir Galahad embarked troops for Fitzroy Cove.
Alacrity departed for home as her 4.5in gun barrel had exceeded its life. It had fired over 500 shells, the maximum rate of fire was 25 rounds per minute.
Junella, Cordella, Pict and Engadine joined the Battle Group and then joined the RFA Olna, Atlantic Causeway and HMS Ambuscade to sail to the transport area. (The Trawler Pict was a sister ship to FV Gaul which disappeared off Norway in 1974. Rumours abounded that it had been involved in espionage.
Cardiff and Yarmouth headed for the southern gunline.
HMS Arrow supported operations in the north-east corner of East Falkland.
Invincible and Brilliant patrolled to the south of Falkland Sound.
HMS Andromeda waited for an RAF Hercules on the north-eastern edge of the TEZ.
SD.
President Reagan begins visit to Great Britain.
Pope John Paul II arrives in Argentina and declares all wars as "unjust".
UN Secretary General announces peace plan.
Fearless and her frigates reached her rendezvous before midnight. The Bluff Cove LCUs had not sailed, Fearless was unaware of this and waited until the last possible moment before sailing for San Carlos.
The day dawned bright and clear, allowing the transport helicopters to begin flying at dawn and continue until nightfall.
Hermes withdrew in from the TEZ early in the day to allow her steam turbine machinery to be overhauled.
Argentine photo-reconnaissance Learjet shot down over San Carlos by HMS Exeter.
MV Norland returned to the area to collect the balance of prisoners held in the Ajax Bay compounds.
Sir Galahad embarked troops for Fitzroy Cove.
Alacrity departed for home as her 4.5in gun barrel had exceeded its life. It had fired over 500 shells, the maximum rate of fire was 25 rounds per minute.
Junella, Cordella, Pict and Engadine joined the Battle Group and then joined the RFA Olna, Atlantic Causeway and HMS Ambuscade to sail to the transport area. (The Trawler Pict was a sister ship to FV Gaul which disappeared off Norway in 1974. Rumours abounded that it had been involved in espionage.
Cardiff and Yarmouth headed for the southern gunline.
HMS Arrow supported operations in the north-east corner of East Falkland.
Invincible and Brilliant patrolled to the south of Falkland Sound.
HMS Andromeda waited for an RAF Hercules on the north-eastern edge of the TEZ.
SD.
8th June
President Regan becomes first US President to address both Houses of Parliament. Read his speech.
HMS Cardiff and Yarmouth took up the bombardment line to the south-east of Bluff Cove.
HMS Plymouth in Falkland Sound is hit by 4 Argentine bombs but none explode.
Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram are bombed at Fitzroy while the Welsh Guards are waiting to disembark - 51 die including 38 Welsh Guards and 55 are seriously wounded.
PM Margaret Thatcher asked the War cabinet asked not to reveal Fitzroy casualties.
Landing craft Foxtrot-4 sunk with British vehicles aboard.
3 Argentine skyhawks are shot down by sea harriers.
General Moore finalises battle plan for Stanley.
The attack on HMS Plymouth
HMS Plymouth was attacked by five Mirage aircraft. Although she managed to destroy two and damage another two, HMS Plymouth was hit by four bombs and numerous shells. One shell hit her flight deck, detonating a depth charge and starting a fire.
HMS Plymouth burns following the depth charge explosion.
Another bomb entered her funnel and failed to explode, whilst the other two destroyed her anti-submarine mortar but also failed to explode. Five men were injured in the attack and HMS Plymouth was assisted in putting her fires out by HMS Avenger.
HMS Plymouth and Avenger
Aftermath of the fire, seen here in the galley.
Aftermath of the fire.
HMS Plymouth left the Falklands with the County Class Destroyer HMS Glamorgan on June 21st, and returned to Rosyth on July 14th where she underwent full repairs. She had steamed 34,000 miles, fired over nine hundred 4.5 inch shells and destroyed five enemy aircraft.
I'll complete the loss of Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram after work tonight.
SD.
President Regan becomes first US President to address both Houses of Parliament. Read his speech.
HMS Cardiff and Yarmouth took up the bombardment line to the south-east of Bluff Cove.
HMS Plymouth in Falkland Sound is hit by 4 Argentine bombs but none explode.
Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram are bombed at Fitzroy while the Welsh Guards are waiting to disembark - 51 die including 38 Welsh Guards and 55 are seriously wounded.
PM Margaret Thatcher asked the War cabinet asked not to reveal Fitzroy casualties.
Landing craft Foxtrot-4 sunk with British vehicles aboard.
3 Argentine skyhawks are shot down by sea harriers.
General Moore finalises battle plan for Stanley.
The attack on HMS Plymouth
HMS Plymouth was attacked by five Mirage aircraft. Although she managed to destroy two and damage another two, HMS Plymouth was hit by four bombs and numerous shells. One shell hit her flight deck, detonating a depth charge and starting a fire.
HMS Plymouth burns following the depth charge explosion.
Another bomb entered her funnel and failed to explode, whilst the other two destroyed her anti-submarine mortar but also failed to explode. Five men were injured in the attack and HMS Plymouth was assisted in putting her fires out by HMS Avenger.
HMS Plymouth and Avenger
Aftermath of the fire, seen here in the galley.
Aftermath of the fire.
An Injured Sailor from HMS Plymouth said:
copied verbatim from personal diaries.
FALKLANDS PART:: Sailed from Rosyth, March 15th, 1982, to visit the Caribbean and USA, (never got there!!) Falklands invaded by Argentina, April 2nd 1982. “crossed the line” (equator), 8th April on route to South Atlantic. Beer issue is cut to 2 tinnies per day and not usual 3!!!
April-June 7th 1982, This was a time of high adrenalin and constant fighting with limited breaks as HMS Plymouth was at the forefront of most sea fighting activities, including a battle to regain South Georgia, Assisting Troops, SAS, SBS with naval gun support, NGS. After the retake of South Georgia, which seemed quite comfortable, I was given the task of guarding the surrendered scrap metal merchants, including 7-8 Argentine troops,(POW`s) in the dining room with my SMG!! (disgusting aroma)
Days were pretty similar to typical: Action Stations, Action Stations, Air Raid Warning RED, Hit the Deck, Hit the Deck!!! HMS Plymouths 4.5 turrets firing constantly, GPMG`s firing constantly, Chaff firing, Mortars firing occasionally, Sea-Cat missiles and of course the inevitable being bombed, shot at and just waiting for that Exocet to come through the bulkhead!!!(These times were very scary)
Lots happened during these months, as diary shows! (short stories, dits, of everyday life) June 8th 1982 is a day I remember very vividly. This is the day that HMS Plymouth, again, was attacked by several (5-10) aircraft. While out of “the safety” of San Carlos bay, Falklands Sound, Chief Stoker says fuel needs changing, “I think Jan`s down the boiler room, Jack, change the fuel tanks over from number 4 to number 3”, locking the door behind me and on my way to complete this task, little did I know I may not be seeing them again…… …….Air Raid Warning RED, Hit the Deck!!!…… Whilst lying face down directly outside of aft PO' mess, (having just read my now wife's, maily, and praying “please god, not now”, an almighty sound of the ship being hit by a 1000lb bomb.
This turns out to be through the funnel, and the ripping/tearing of the sheet steel metal. Totally panic stricken, “Bob, Bob, we'e been hit, we'e been fkin hit”!!!
My fight……for life! We had been hit alright, one of the 5-10, 1000lb bombs, that were dropped from the attacking aircraft, actually hit our own Depth Charge, on the flight deck, that was awaiting in preparation, to be air lifted by our wasp helicopter, in the event of an enemy submarine being in the vicinity. At this point I awoke from the blast/explosion with a 3 inch aluminium emergency kick out panel door bracket sticking out of my head and the heavy steel door resting on my back, with a very intense smell of smoke and fire burning. While guys were fighting the fire, I remember saying, (as my thoughts were, we will not get back to San Carlos bay without changing the fuel, we`re to low!) “tell Jan I`ve not changed over the fuel tanks, someone tell Jan I`ve not changed over the fuel!!” At this point I was standing up on my own feet being supported by the Canteen-Manager The conversation consisted of “ can we get to the wardroom”, “which ways that”, I said, as I could not see anything with all the bandages over my head/eyes. “We`ll have to go over the top and back down the other hatch” “Just guide me”, I says From managing to get through the smoke and mayhem, I reached the wardroom with Can-Man support, and some true Navy training grit/spirit Whilst laying on the bed, in the wardroom, bandages removed, metal bracket protruding from my blood weeping skull, the Doc, and a surgeon took a closer look and I heard “There`s nothing we can do for him on here”
To this day, I can say “That was the day I thought I had to be dead” ( my own outta body experience ) I crushed the Can-Mans hand in dis-belief. I am now a totally petrified, scared and very frightened young man with no where to run and hide from this nightmare, ( I`m actually in the nightmare, and it doesn`t get any scarier than being in it!! ) I then proceeded to the forward 4.5 turret gun, where a helicopter winched me clear and flew me to a field hospital, as a crew member attempted to keep me awake, which lasted seconds! I awoke at Ajax Bay field hospital, from life saving/critical surgery to remove the 3 inch metal bracket, smashed bone, severely damaged outer brain tissue (membrane), loose hair, and having a face slightly larger than the elephant man!! Unfortunately the injured guy next to me, Ajax bay, was sick all over my right side and there was lots of shouting going on in the background, (bit vague that bit) However, I was then transferred to the hospital ship SS Uganda, intensive care. Tony, broken arm, and Bob, (we`ve been hit), broken arm, came to my bedside and brought me up to speed with what actually happened, Ouch!!! At this point I can only thank the surgeon ( who I now know was Rick Jolly ), for saving my life. I have been fortunate enough to speak with Rick recently, Dec 06, and I was able to say “Thank You” over the telephone, some 24 years later!! Transferred to lower decks, once I was out of the serious/critical zone. I remember speaking to mum and dad on the phone, (first time for a while), and feeling the relief that their son was seriously injured but was OK.
The road to recovery…..maybe??? Being transferred to HMS Herald, as an ambulance ship transporting injured personnel to Montevideo, Uruguay. This was a short journey that seemed to take an eternity, maybe just anxious to get home. On arrival at Montevideo, together with a few others, I was transported to the A&E, for a scan on my head to ensure it was safe to fly back to the UK. Results concluded for a safe journey home. On the “converted to an ambulance” plane home, at a meal time, I was on my top bunk style bed, and below was a soldier who had been shot through his head, ( who I now know as Lt Lawrence, of the “Battle at Tumbledown” experience), and he was bleeding from his head wound into his dinner, at which I pointed out to our flight stewards, and they quickly sorted out the problem. I landed back in the UK, after a long flight, at Brize Norton. We were ushered to our ward and a few hours later visitors were allowed. My mum and ex navy (22 yrs) dad came to my bedside and were very relieved to see their son, as normal as possible. A very emotional experience.
After a day at Brize, I was transferred to Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport. This was a quiet period of monitoring and being nursed while waiting to see a Neurology Specialist at Southampton General. On 28th June, (3 weeks after being blown up), the RN hospital, had a visit from HRH Prince of Wales. At which we shook hands and I showed him the said metal bracket. From his astonished look on his face, and his remark of “that was actually embedded in your head”, I could sense I was very fortunate to even still be here to speak with the Prince. Days passed and I finally got to Southampton Neurology, General Hospital. I spent a number of weeks at Southampton, being operated on to remove loose hair, and smashed bone particles. There was also an opportunity to remove some thigh muscle, from my left leg, and use it to repair the shattered membrane surrounding my brain. However, this was done, and a waiting time of up to 18 months was put in place to allow time for the membrane to repair and give it a good chance to heal and gain enough strength for future ops!!
So I am now walking around with a “hole in my head”, which you can see the brain pulsating!! A few months pass and I get married, 08/01/83, and still a hole in my head, taking the precautionary anti-epilepsy pills. Although drafted to HMS Nelson, along came married quarters, Portsmouth. During our stay at married quarters, I received an invite to attend a Garden Party, at Kensington Palace, from HRH Prince and Princess of Wales, in July 83, being held for Falklands injured personnel. Some 15 months pass, post membrane operation, and I am asked to attend Southampton Neurology to continue with a final operation. This operation consisted of Cranioplasty,(polyfilla), filling the gaping hole in my skull. I believe a straight forward operation, and a successful one, maybe!!
What happens next?? I return to HMS Nelson to complete my short spell of RN life. (5yrs+) 2 weeks after leaving the RN, along came my eldest daughter. Having left the Royal Navy, I found it very difficult to settle in work and home life. Some 4 years later came my youngest daughter and I have been happily married for 24 years Some of my interests have included playing football, regularly winning trophies, cups and stuff, golfing to a respectable 18 handicap, and cycling has become my main fitness tool, to which I have just completed, (Sept 06) “Cycle around Isle of Wight”, 65 miles, in aid of Alzheimers Society.
I still attend HMS Plymouth reunions, up until Oct 5th 06, when I went for a routine hospital check up, and was kept in for 4 nights due to an infection on, yep!! you`ve guessed it, my war wound!! (24 yrs later!!) An X-Ray showed signs of an infection in the area of the cranioplasty. Antibiotics were administered intravenously, as a precaution and a CT scan was taken. However, scaring me again, it has turned out to have been a precautionary measure, due to the abnormal clouding of the Cranioplasty surgery!! Spookily enough, my wife was having an operation on Oct 6th 06, so we did manage to share the same ward for our remaining 3 nights. Things you do to be together!! Then my follow-up appointment to see a Neuro surgeon, (first time since 1983) The Surgeon has said he is concerned by the shrinkage of the brain, then he swiftly moved on to the reason why I was visiting him. The CT scan shows actual brain damage, probably caused by the impact of the blast. This has come as a bit of a shock to me as I knew nothing of this. I was only concerned by the possible infection. However, I am sure everthing is OK, as can be, as all my functions, function! My main concern, at this moment in time, is Neuro surgeon says: “ We will have to remove the cranioplasty, that’s been there since 1983 and replace it with a new Titanium Plate, and there is no guarantee that this will not get infected”. I have always maintained a good spirit about my injuries and will continue to do so, but to get cut up again through no fault of my own, I find difficult to understand……hence “the road to recovery……maybe!!!”
She then underwent emergency repairs from the Stena Seaspread before re-joining the fleet. She then provided naval gunfire bombardment during the retaking of the island. After the surrender of Stanley, HMS Plymouth was the first ship to enter Stanley Harbour. FALKLANDS PART:: Sailed from Rosyth, March 15th, 1982, to visit the Caribbean and USA, (never got there!!) Falklands invaded by Argentina, April 2nd 1982. “crossed the line” (equator), 8th April on route to South Atlantic. Beer issue is cut to 2 tinnies per day and not usual 3!!!
April-June 7th 1982, This was a time of high adrenalin and constant fighting with limited breaks as HMS Plymouth was at the forefront of most sea fighting activities, including a battle to regain South Georgia, Assisting Troops, SAS, SBS with naval gun support, NGS. After the retake of South Georgia, which seemed quite comfortable, I was given the task of guarding the surrendered scrap metal merchants, including 7-8 Argentine troops,(POW`s) in the dining room with my SMG!! (disgusting aroma)
Days were pretty similar to typical: Action Stations, Action Stations, Air Raid Warning RED, Hit the Deck, Hit the Deck!!! HMS Plymouths 4.5 turrets firing constantly, GPMG`s firing constantly, Chaff firing, Mortars firing occasionally, Sea-Cat missiles and of course the inevitable being bombed, shot at and just waiting for that Exocet to come through the bulkhead!!!(These times were very scary)
Lots happened during these months, as diary shows! (short stories, dits, of everyday life) June 8th 1982 is a day I remember very vividly. This is the day that HMS Plymouth, again, was attacked by several (5-10) aircraft. While out of “the safety” of San Carlos bay, Falklands Sound, Chief Stoker says fuel needs changing, “I think Jan`s down the boiler room, Jack, change the fuel tanks over from number 4 to number 3”, locking the door behind me and on my way to complete this task, little did I know I may not be seeing them again…… …….Air Raid Warning RED, Hit the Deck!!!…… Whilst lying face down directly outside of aft PO' mess, (having just read my now wife's, maily, and praying “please god, not now”, an almighty sound of the ship being hit by a 1000lb bomb.
This turns out to be through the funnel, and the ripping/tearing of the sheet steel metal. Totally panic stricken, “Bob, Bob, we'e been hit, we'e been f
kin hit”!!! My fight……for life! We had been hit alright, one of the 5-10, 1000lb bombs, that were dropped from the attacking aircraft, actually hit our own Depth Charge, on the flight deck, that was awaiting in preparation, to be air lifted by our wasp helicopter, in the event of an enemy submarine being in the vicinity. At this point I awoke from the blast/explosion with a 3 inch aluminium emergency kick out panel door bracket sticking out of my head and the heavy steel door resting on my back, with a very intense smell of smoke and fire burning. While guys were fighting the fire, I remember saying, (as my thoughts were, we will not get back to San Carlos bay without changing the fuel, we`re to low!) “tell Jan I`ve not changed over the fuel tanks, someone tell Jan I`ve not changed over the fuel!!” At this point I was standing up on my own feet being supported by the Canteen-Manager The conversation consisted of “ can we get to the wardroom”, “which ways that”, I said, as I could not see anything with all the bandages over my head/eyes. “We`ll have to go over the top and back down the other hatch” “Just guide me”, I says From managing to get through the smoke and mayhem, I reached the wardroom with Can-Man support, and some true Navy training grit/spirit Whilst laying on the bed, in the wardroom, bandages removed, metal bracket protruding from my blood weeping skull, the Doc, and a surgeon took a closer look and I heard “There`s nothing we can do for him on here”
To this day, I can say “That was the day I thought I had to be dead” ( my own outta body experience ) I crushed the Can-Mans hand in dis-belief. I am now a totally petrified, scared and very frightened young man with no where to run and hide from this nightmare, ( I`m actually in the nightmare, and it doesn`t get any scarier than being in it!! ) I then proceeded to the forward 4.5 turret gun, where a helicopter winched me clear and flew me to a field hospital, as a crew member attempted to keep me awake, which lasted seconds! I awoke at Ajax Bay field hospital, from life saving/critical surgery to remove the 3 inch metal bracket, smashed bone, severely damaged outer brain tissue (membrane), loose hair, and having a face slightly larger than the elephant man!! Unfortunately the injured guy next to me, Ajax bay, was sick all over my right side and there was lots of shouting going on in the background, (bit vague that bit) However, I was then transferred to the hospital ship SS Uganda, intensive care. Tony, broken arm, and Bob, (we`ve been hit), broken arm, came to my bedside and brought me up to speed with what actually happened, Ouch!!! At this point I can only thank the surgeon ( who I now know was Rick Jolly ), for saving my life. I have been fortunate enough to speak with Rick recently, Dec 06, and I was able to say “Thank You” over the telephone, some 24 years later!! Transferred to lower decks, once I was out of the serious/critical zone. I remember speaking to mum and dad on the phone, (first time for a while), and feeling the relief that their son was seriously injured but was OK.
The road to recovery…..maybe??? Being transferred to HMS Herald, as an ambulance ship transporting injured personnel to Montevideo, Uruguay. This was a short journey that seemed to take an eternity, maybe just anxious to get home. On arrival at Montevideo, together with a few others, I was transported to the A&E, for a scan on my head to ensure it was safe to fly back to the UK. Results concluded for a safe journey home. On the “converted to an ambulance” plane home, at a meal time, I was on my top bunk style bed, and below was a soldier who had been shot through his head, ( who I now know as Lt Lawrence, of the “Battle at Tumbledown” experience), and he was bleeding from his head wound into his dinner, at which I pointed out to our flight stewards, and they quickly sorted out the problem. I landed back in the UK, after a long flight, at Brize Norton. We were ushered to our ward and a few hours later visitors were allowed. My mum and ex navy (22 yrs) dad came to my bedside and were very relieved to see their son, as normal as possible. A very emotional experience.
After a day at Brize, I was transferred to Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport. This was a quiet period of monitoring and being nursed while waiting to see a Neurology Specialist at Southampton General. On 28th June, (3 weeks after being blown up), the RN hospital, had a visit from HRH Prince of Wales. At which we shook hands and I showed him the said metal bracket. From his astonished look on his face, and his remark of “that was actually embedded in your head”, I could sense I was very fortunate to even still be here to speak with the Prince. Days passed and I finally got to Southampton Neurology, General Hospital. I spent a number of weeks at Southampton, being operated on to remove loose hair, and smashed bone particles. There was also an opportunity to remove some thigh muscle, from my left leg, and use it to repair the shattered membrane surrounding my brain. However, this was done, and a waiting time of up to 18 months was put in place to allow time for the membrane to repair and give it a good chance to heal and gain enough strength for future ops!!
So I am now walking around with a “hole in my head”, which you can see the brain pulsating!! A few months pass and I get married, 08/01/83, and still a hole in my head, taking the precautionary anti-epilepsy pills. Although drafted to HMS Nelson, along came married quarters, Portsmouth. During our stay at married quarters, I received an invite to attend a Garden Party, at Kensington Palace, from HRH Prince and Princess of Wales, in July 83, being held for Falklands injured personnel. Some 15 months pass, post membrane operation, and I am asked to attend Southampton Neurology to continue with a final operation. This operation consisted of Cranioplasty,(polyfilla), filling the gaping hole in my skull. I believe a straight forward operation, and a successful one, maybe!!
What happens next?? I return to HMS Nelson to complete my short spell of RN life. (5yrs+) 2 weeks after leaving the RN, along came my eldest daughter. Having left the Royal Navy, I found it very difficult to settle in work and home life. Some 4 years later came my youngest daughter and I have been happily married for 24 years Some of my interests have included playing football, regularly winning trophies, cups and stuff, golfing to a respectable 18 handicap, and cycling has become my main fitness tool, to which I have just completed, (Sept 06) “Cycle around Isle of Wight”, 65 miles, in aid of Alzheimers Society.
I still attend HMS Plymouth reunions, up until Oct 5th 06, when I went for a routine hospital check up, and was kept in for 4 nights due to an infection on, yep!! you`ve guessed it, my war wound!! (24 yrs later!!) An X-Ray showed signs of an infection in the area of the cranioplasty. Antibiotics were administered intravenously, as a precaution and a CT scan was taken. However, scaring me again, it has turned out to have been a precautionary measure, due to the abnormal clouding of the Cranioplasty surgery!! Spookily enough, my wife was having an operation on Oct 6th 06, so we did manage to share the same ward for our remaining 3 nights. Things you do to be together!! Then my follow-up appointment to see a Neuro surgeon, (first time since 1983) The Surgeon has said he is concerned by the shrinkage of the brain, then he swiftly moved on to the reason why I was visiting him. The CT scan shows actual brain damage, probably caused by the impact of the blast. This has come as a bit of a shock to me as I knew nothing of this. I was only concerned by the possible infection. However, I am sure everthing is OK, as can be, as all my functions, function! My main concern, at this moment in time, is Neuro surgeon says: “ We will have to remove the cranioplasty, that’s been there since 1983 and replace it with a new Titanium Plate, and there is no guarantee that this will not get infected”. I have always maintained a good spirit about my injuries and will continue to do so, but to get cut up again through no fault of my own, I find difficult to understand……hence “the road to recovery……maybe!!!”
HMS Plymouth left the Falklands with the County Class Destroyer HMS Glamorgan on June 21st, and returned to Rosyth on July 14th where she underwent full repairs. She had steamed 34,000 miles, fired over nine hundred 4.5 inch shells and destroyed five enemy aircraft.
I'll complete the loss of Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram after work tonight.
SD.
8th June Supplemental.
Disaster at Fitzroy
Sir Galahad entered Fitzroy on 8 June just after 0800 hrs local time, to the surprise of some of the Welsh Guards whose understanding was still that they were being taken directly to Bluff Cove. Out of the six landing craft that were in the anchorage the day before, four had returned to HMS Intrepid in order to speed the supply situation at San Carlos, one had gone to Goose Green to fetch 5 Brigade's sorely needed signals vehicles, and only one, named Foxtrot One, was left unloading the ammunition from Sir Tristram. There was also a Mexeflote, a kind of powered pontoon raft which was used for unloading stores to the beach, but both this and Foxtrot One were both nearly fully loaded with ammunition crates. The commanders in charge of unloading the ships at Fitzroy knew that the 350 Welsh Guards had to be off the ship as soon as possible in case of air attack. It was suggested that the Guards could sit on top of the stores on the Mexeflote pontoon and be on shore within the hour.
The Guards Company Commanders were not keen on this as it meant they would have to march 5 miles to Bluff Cove and they were unwilling to weary their men unnecessarily, and all their heavy equipment would have to be left on board, with no guarantee of it being delivered to Bluff Cove in the near future. A compromise was then reached and the landing craft was made available to run the Guards to Bluff Cove, along with local tractors for the heavy equipment and a local 20 foot cutter.
As this was being discussed, an 846 Squadron Sea King was airlifting the Rapier units ashore, which was to take a total of 18 lifts. Foxtrot One came alongside Sir Galahad at noon in order to start embarking the Welsh Guards, but the Commander of the 16 Field Ambulance, the senior ranking officer there, said that the Guards had already had a chance of disembarking and it was vital that the leading echelon of his unit should have priority. Twelve men and nine vehicles of the medical unit were then transported ashore which took another hour to do. On the last trip, the loading ramp of the landing craft was damaged, so the heavy equipment of the Welsh Guards could not be loaded at Sir Galahad's stern doors. Instead it was decided that the equipment would be loaded on to the craft by crane, an incredibly slow process, before the men were taken off the ship. By this time Sir Galahad had been sitting in Fitzroy for 5 hours, largely due to misunderstandings and a lack of communication. Sir Tristram had now been unloaded, but was also still in the harbour. Argentinian observation posts on Mount Harriet had been watching the ships and reporting their presence all that time.
A reaction was inevitable, eventually eight Skyhawks and six Daggers took off from the mainland and headed toward the ripe target. The British forces at San Carlos were warned of the raid, probably by a submarine patrolling off Rio Grande, but again due to the communications difficulties the warning did not reach the Sir Galahad. The stage for tragedy was set.
Three of the Skyhawks and one of the Daggers had to return to base after experiencing technical problems but the rest carried on, going to low level as they approached the islands, the two formations splitting to fly around Lafonia north and south about in order to attack Fitzroy from different directions. The Dagger formation found HMS Plymouth in Falkland Sound however, steaming to carry out a bombardment of Argentine positions on Mount Rosalie, and decided to attack her. Plymouth was hit by three bombs, but again the fusing problems of low level releases meant that none exploded. The impact of the bombs detonated a depth charge and started a fire which caused much superficial damage, injuring four men. One of the Daggers was slightly damaged in the attack. At Fitzroy the five remaining Skyhawks from Grupo 5 de Caza fell upon the anchorage with almost complete surprise, the units ashore had finally received a warning, but there was no way of passing it to the ships. The Royal Marine gunners on the ships managed to engage the aircraft, and one Blowpipe shoulder launched missile was fired, but failed to find a target.Three Skyhawks attacked Sir Galahad and two attacked Sir Tristram. The air defences were ill prepared for this strike; the two Sea Harriers that had formed the Combat Air Patrol to the south were now in pursuit of the Dagger formation and the operational Rapier sites were mainly covering the 5 Brigade Headquarters and the new supply base, not the anchorage. Unfortunately the Rapier site covering the anchorage to the east, the direction from which the Skyhawks attacked, had been damaged in transit and a spare part was just being landed by Sea King as the attack came in. This tragic combination of circumstance was to cause the single largest British loss of life of the campaign.
Two bombs hit Sir Tristram, one passing straight through the ship without exploding, the other exploding in a small compartment killing two Chinese crewmen. Sir Galahad suffered far, far worse. Three bombs hit the ship, one passing through a hatch hitting the tank deck, one hitting the engine room and galley and the last burst in the officer's quarters. The bombs did not explode as the term is commonly understood, they all deflagrated, the casings smashing open on impact, and the contents burning rapidly rather than detonating. The bomb that hit the tank deck caused most of the casualties, for that was where most of the troops were concentrated, along with twenty tons of ammunition and a large amount of petrol, which became an inferno.
Sir Galahad burns.
At least 45 men died on that tank deck, and 150 were injured and burned, many of them very seriously.
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh8c8SgaN5M&t=10s]Video of the attack.[/i]
Immediately helicopters came in and started to take the injured off the ship. Foxtrot One was already alongside, protected by the bulk of Sir Galahad from the explosions and began taking wounded aboard.
Landing the wounded at Fitzroy.
The Mexeflote pontoon also moved in, and some of the survivors got away on it. Although no-one was controlling the rescue, the Sea Kings of 846 and 825 Squadrons, the Wessex from 847 and a Gazelle from 656 Squadrons all co-operated with the surface vessels in perfect harmony. The wounded were taken at first to the Fitzroy landing site, before a shuttle of helicopters started taking them to Ajax Bay and then on to the hospital ship Uganda, who received 159 casualties this day. Captain Philip Roberts was the last man to leave the ship some forty five minutes after the attack, which due to the heat of the inferno, was left to burn itself out. Sir Galahad was towed out to sea later in June and sunk as a war grave. Forty-eight men died in the ship, thirty-two of whom were Welsh Guardsmen.
Read the Board of Inquiry into the losses of RFAs Sir Tristram and Sir Galahad.
Roll of Honour
RFA Sir Galahad
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Marines
Disaster at Fitzroy
Sir Galahad entered Fitzroy on 8 June just after 0800 hrs local time, to the surprise of some of the Welsh Guards whose understanding was still that they were being taken directly to Bluff Cove. Out of the six landing craft that were in the anchorage the day before, four had returned to HMS Intrepid in order to speed the supply situation at San Carlos, one had gone to Goose Green to fetch 5 Brigade's sorely needed signals vehicles, and only one, named Foxtrot One, was left unloading the ammunition from Sir Tristram. There was also a Mexeflote, a kind of powered pontoon raft which was used for unloading stores to the beach, but both this and Foxtrot One were both nearly fully loaded with ammunition crates. The commanders in charge of unloading the ships at Fitzroy knew that the 350 Welsh Guards had to be off the ship as soon as possible in case of air attack. It was suggested that the Guards could sit on top of the stores on the Mexeflote pontoon and be on shore within the hour.
The Guards Company Commanders were not keen on this as it meant they would have to march 5 miles to Bluff Cove and they were unwilling to weary their men unnecessarily, and all their heavy equipment would have to be left on board, with no guarantee of it being delivered to Bluff Cove in the near future. A compromise was then reached and the landing craft was made available to run the Guards to Bluff Cove, along with local tractors for the heavy equipment and a local 20 foot cutter.
As this was being discussed, an 846 Squadron Sea King was airlifting the Rapier units ashore, which was to take a total of 18 lifts. Foxtrot One came alongside Sir Galahad at noon in order to start embarking the Welsh Guards, but the Commander of the 16 Field Ambulance, the senior ranking officer there, said that the Guards had already had a chance of disembarking and it was vital that the leading echelon of his unit should have priority. Twelve men and nine vehicles of the medical unit were then transported ashore which took another hour to do. On the last trip, the loading ramp of the landing craft was damaged, so the heavy equipment of the Welsh Guards could not be loaded at Sir Galahad's stern doors. Instead it was decided that the equipment would be loaded on to the craft by crane, an incredibly slow process, before the men were taken off the ship. By this time Sir Galahad had been sitting in Fitzroy for 5 hours, largely due to misunderstandings and a lack of communication. Sir Tristram had now been unloaded, but was also still in the harbour. Argentinian observation posts on Mount Harriet had been watching the ships and reporting their presence all that time.
A reaction was inevitable, eventually eight Skyhawks and six Daggers took off from the mainland and headed toward the ripe target. The British forces at San Carlos were warned of the raid, probably by a submarine patrolling off Rio Grande, but again due to the communications difficulties the warning did not reach the Sir Galahad. The stage for tragedy was set.
Three of the Skyhawks and one of the Daggers had to return to base after experiencing technical problems but the rest carried on, going to low level as they approached the islands, the two formations splitting to fly around Lafonia north and south about in order to attack Fitzroy from different directions. The Dagger formation found HMS Plymouth in Falkland Sound however, steaming to carry out a bombardment of Argentine positions on Mount Rosalie, and decided to attack her. Plymouth was hit by three bombs, but again the fusing problems of low level releases meant that none exploded. The impact of the bombs detonated a depth charge and started a fire which caused much superficial damage, injuring four men. One of the Daggers was slightly damaged in the attack. At Fitzroy the five remaining Skyhawks from Grupo 5 de Caza fell upon the anchorage with almost complete surprise, the units ashore had finally received a warning, but there was no way of passing it to the ships. The Royal Marine gunners on the ships managed to engage the aircraft, and one Blowpipe shoulder launched missile was fired, but failed to find a target.Three Skyhawks attacked Sir Galahad and two attacked Sir Tristram. The air defences were ill prepared for this strike; the two Sea Harriers that had formed the Combat Air Patrol to the south were now in pursuit of the Dagger formation and the operational Rapier sites were mainly covering the 5 Brigade Headquarters and the new supply base, not the anchorage. Unfortunately the Rapier site covering the anchorage to the east, the direction from which the Skyhawks attacked, had been damaged in transit and a spare part was just being landed by Sea King as the attack came in. This tragic combination of circumstance was to cause the single largest British loss of life of the campaign.
Two bombs hit Sir Tristram, one passing straight through the ship without exploding, the other exploding in a small compartment killing two Chinese crewmen. Sir Galahad suffered far, far worse. Three bombs hit the ship, one passing through a hatch hitting the tank deck, one hitting the engine room and galley and the last burst in the officer's quarters. The bombs did not explode as the term is commonly understood, they all deflagrated, the casings smashing open on impact, and the contents burning rapidly rather than detonating. The bomb that hit the tank deck caused most of the casualties, for that was where most of the troops were concentrated, along with twenty tons of ammunition and a large amount of petrol, which became an inferno.
Sir Galahad burns.
At least 45 men died on that tank deck, and 150 were injured and burned, many of them very seriously.
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh8c8SgaN5M&t=10s]Video of the attack.[/i]
Immediately helicopters came in and started to take the injured off the ship. Foxtrot One was already alongside, protected by the bulk of Sir Galahad from the explosions and began taking wounded aboard.
Landing the wounded at Fitzroy.
The Mexeflote pontoon also moved in, and some of the survivors got away on it. Although no-one was controlling the rescue, the Sea Kings of 846 and 825 Squadrons, the Wessex from 847 and a Gazelle from 656 Squadrons all co-operated with the surface vessels in perfect harmony. The wounded were taken at first to the Fitzroy landing site, before a shuttle of helicopters started taking them to Ajax Bay and then on to the hospital ship Uganda, who received 159 casualties this day. Captain Philip Roberts was the last man to leave the ship some forty five minutes after the attack, which due to the heat of the inferno, was left to burn itself out. Sir Galahad was towed out to sea later in June and sunk as a war grave. Forty-eight men died in the ship, thirty-two of whom were Welsh Guardsmen.
Read the Board of Inquiry into the losses of RFAs Sir Tristram and Sir Galahad.
Roll of Honour
RFA Sir Galahad
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
- Electric Fitter Leung Chau
- 3rd Engineering Officer Christopher F. Hailwood
- 2nd Engineering Officer Paul A. Henry, G.M.
- 3rd Engineering Officer Andrew J. Morris
- Butcher Sung Yuk Pai
- Lance Corporal Anthony Burke
- Lance Sergeant Jim R. Carlyle
- Guardsman Ian A. Dale
- Guardsman Michael J. Dunphy
- Guardsman Peter Edwards
- Sergeant Clifford Elley
- Guardsman Mark Gibby
- Guardsman Glenn C. Grace
- Guardsman Paul Green
- Guardsman Gareth M. Griffiths
- Guardsman Denis N. Hughes
- Guardsman Gareth Hughes
- Guardsman Brian Jasper
- Guardsman Anthony Keeble
- Lance Sergeant Kevin Keoghane
- Guardsman Michael J. Marks
- Guardsman Christopher Mordecai
- Lance Corporal Stephen J. Newbury
- Guardsman Gareth D. Nicholson
- Guardsman Colin C. Parsons
- Guardsman Eirwyn J. Phillips
- Guardsman Gareth W. Poole
- Guardsman Nigel A. Rowberry
- Lance Corporal Philip A. Sweet
- Guardsman Glyn K. Thomas
- Lance Corporal Nicholas D. M. Thomas
- Guardsman Raymond G. Thomas
- Guardsman Andrew Walker
- Lance Corporal Christopher F. Ward
- Guardsman James F. Weaver
- Sergeant Malcolm Wigley
- Guardsman David R. Williams
- Lance Corporal Barry C. Bullers
- Private Albert M. Connett
- Private Michael L. Jones
- Private Richard W. Middlewick
- Lance Corporal Ian R. Farrell
- Major Roger Nutbeem
- Private Ken Preston
- Corporal Andrew G. McIlvenny
- Sapper Wayne D. Tarbard
- Craftsman Mark W. Rollins
- Lance Corporal Anthony R. Streatfield
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
- Seaman Yeung Shi Cam
- Bosun Yu Sik Chee
Royal Marines
- Marine Robert D. Griffin
- Colour Sergeant Brian R. Johnson, QGM
- Sergeant Ronald J. Rotherham
- Marine Anthony J. Rundle
- Marine Engineering Arfificer Alexander S. James
- Leading Marine Engineering Mechanician David Miller
9th June
HMS Yarmouth bombarded the Moody Brook area and went to the aid of the Monsunnen as she withdrew from the area. Monsunnen, a transport ship belonging to the Falkland Islands Company had a rope wrapped around its propeller and needed the divers from Yarmouth to help to free it.
Unloading at San Carlos went undisturbed but for two air raid warnings.
The unwounded survivors of the two Welsh Guards companies were flown back to San Carlos.
The casualties from the Sir Galahad had received first aid, but the many serious burns cases needed the specialist attention of the Uganda's burns unit.
HMS Yarmouth headed for the gunline off Port Pleasant that night.
SD.
HMS Yarmouth bombarded the Moody Brook area and went to the aid of the Monsunnen as she withdrew from the area. Monsunnen, a transport ship belonging to the Falkland Islands Company had a rope wrapped around its propeller and needed the divers from Yarmouth to help to free it.
Unloading at San Carlos went undisturbed but for two air raid warnings.
The unwounded survivors of the two Welsh Guards companies were flown back to San Carlos.
The casualties from the Sir Galahad had received first aid, but the many serious burns cases needed the specialist attention of the Uganda's burns unit.
HMS Yarmouth headed for the gunline off Port Pleasant that night.
SD.
10th June
The day dawned bright and clear, allowing the build-up of stores and ammunition.
Falklands Appeal launched under patronage of Lord Shackleton.
HMS Yarmouth's bombardment pounded Two Sisters, Mounts Harriet and William, Sapper Hill and Moody Brook.
HMS Invincible - screened by HMS Andromeda - made a trip to the west to fly off two Sea Kings to the San Carlos Settlement helicopter-base.
Sir Geraint off-loaded at Teal.
The Argentine Army and Air Force launched a joint dawn strike in an attempt to reduce the volume of British artillery fire.
Forty-four CAP sorties were flown by the two carriers' Sea Harriers during the day.
Blue Rover and Ambuscade began passage from the Battle Group to San Carlos Water. HMS Avenger would spend the night lurking off Fox Bay to catch the Bahia Buen Suceso.
HMS Active and Arrow went inshore to the southern gunline.
Peru sends 10 mirage jets to Argentina to replenish losses.
SD.
The day dawned bright and clear, allowing the build-up of stores and ammunition.
Falklands Appeal launched under patronage of Lord Shackleton.
HMS Yarmouth's bombardment pounded Two Sisters, Mounts Harriet and William, Sapper Hill and Moody Brook.
HMS Invincible - screened by HMS Andromeda - made a trip to the west to fly off two Sea Kings to the San Carlos Settlement helicopter-base.
Sir Geraint off-loaded at Teal.
The Argentine Army and Air Force launched a joint dawn strike in an attempt to reduce the volume of British artillery fire.
Forty-four CAP sorties were flown by the two carriers' Sea Harriers during the day.
Blue Rover and Ambuscade began passage from the Battle Group to San Carlos Water. HMS Avenger would spend the night lurking off Fox Bay to catch the Bahia Buen Suceso.
HMS Active and Arrow went inshore to the southern gunline.
Peru sends 10 mirage jets to Argentina to replenish losses.
SD.
11th June
Battle for Stanley begins on Mount Longdon, Mount Harriet and Two Sisters - 23 paras and 50 Argentines die.
Sergeant Ian McKay of 3 Para is killed on Mount Longdon and subsequently awarded Victoria Cross.
Pope John Paul II visits Argentina and denounces all wars as 'unjust'.
HMS Cordella and Pict swept Berkley Sound. Pict's acoustic sweep gear failed and Lt-Cdr D G Garwood turned on the trawler's auxiliary machinery and made a noisy sweep of the lane. Lt-Cdr Garwood was awarded a Mention in Despatches for his sacrificial run.
Sea Harriers from 800 Sqn lofted a number of 1,000lb bombs at Port Stanley airfield.
Port Stanley police station came under attack after being identified as being used by the Argentine military staff as headquarters. An 848 Sqn Wessex 5, supported by an 845 Sqn Wessex 'gun-ship', fired two AS.12 missiles at the building. The first went astray, crashing into the water 200 yards from the hospital ship Bahia Paraiso - resulting in the Argentine authorities making a formal complaint - the second entered the upper storey of the police station causing heavy casualties among the Argentine military command's Intelligence Section.
QE2 arrived in Southampton carrying 700 survivors from sinkings of HMS Ships Coventry, Ardent and Antelope. She was greeted by a gun salute fired from HMS Lowestoft and honoured by the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The day was spent preparing for the assault on the first line of the Argentine defences.
Uganda and Hecla entered Grantham Sound to embark casualties and left before sunset.
Glamorgan joined the Battle Group in the early afternoon. She Yarmouth and Arrow headed for the gunlines for the night's bombardments.
RAF Harriers dropped cluster bombs on the Argentine positions on Two Sisters, Mount Harriet, Mount Longdon, Mount Tumbledown and Moody Brook barracks.
SD.
Battle for Stanley begins on Mount Longdon, Mount Harriet and Two Sisters - 23 paras and 50 Argentines die.
Sergeant Ian McKay of 3 Para is killed on Mount Longdon and subsequently awarded Victoria Cross.
VC Citation. said:
During the night of 11th/12th June 1982, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment mounted a silent night attack on an enemy battalion position on Mount Longdon, an important objective in the battle for Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Sergeant McKay was platoon sergeant of 4 Platoon, B Company, which, after the initial objective had been secured, was ordered to clear the Northern side of the long East/West ridge feature, held by the enemy in depth, with strong, mutually-supporting positions. By now the enemy were fully alert, and resisting fiercely. As 4 Platoon's advance continued it came under increasingly heavy fire from a number of well-sited enemy machine gun positions on the ridge, and received casualties. Realising that no further advance was possible the Platoon Commander ordered the Platoon to move from its exposed position to seek shelter among the rocks of the ridge itself. Here it met up with part of 5 Platoon.
The enemy fire was still both heavy and accurate, and the position of the platoons was becoming increasingly hazardous. Taking Sergeant McKay, a Corporal and a few others, and covered by supporting machine gun fire, the Platoon Commander moved forward to reconnoitre the enemy positions but was hit by a bullet in the leg, and command devolved upon Sergeant McKay.
It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to falter and increasing casualties to ensue. Sergeant McKay decided to convert this reconnaissance into an attack in order to eliminate the enemy positions. He was in no doubt of the strength and deployment of the enemy as he undertook this attack. He issued orders, and taking three men with him, broke cover and charged the enemy position.
The assault was met by a hail of fire. The Corporal was seriously wounded, a Private killed and another wounded. Despite these losses Sergeant McKay, with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to charge the enemy position alone. On reaching it he despatched the enemy with grenades, thereby relieving the position of beleaguered 4 and 5 Platoons, who were now able to redeploy with relative safety. Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory, his body falling on the bunker.
Without doubt Sergeant McKay's action retrieved a most dangerous situation and was instrumental in ensuring the success of the attack. His was a coolly calculated act, the dangers of which must have been all too apparent to him beforehand. Undeterred he performed with outstanding selflessness, perseverance and courage.
With a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him.
3 Islanders killed during British naval bombardment of Stanley.The enemy fire was still both heavy and accurate, and the position of the platoons was becoming increasingly hazardous. Taking Sergeant McKay, a Corporal and a few others, and covered by supporting machine gun fire, the Platoon Commander moved forward to reconnoitre the enemy positions but was hit by a bullet in the leg, and command devolved upon Sergeant McKay.
It was clear that instant action was needed if the advance was not to falter and increasing casualties to ensue. Sergeant McKay decided to convert this reconnaissance into an attack in order to eliminate the enemy positions. He was in no doubt of the strength and deployment of the enemy as he undertook this attack. He issued orders, and taking three men with him, broke cover and charged the enemy position.
The assault was met by a hail of fire. The Corporal was seriously wounded, a Private killed and another wounded. Despite these losses Sergeant McKay, with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to charge the enemy position alone. On reaching it he despatched the enemy with grenades, thereby relieving the position of beleaguered 4 and 5 Platoons, who were now able to redeploy with relative safety. Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory, his body falling on the bunker.
Without doubt Sergeant McKay's action retrieved a most dangerous situation and was instrumental in ensuring the success of the attack. His was a coolly calculated act, the dangers of which must have been all too apparent to him beforehand. Undeterred he performed with outstanding selflessness, perseverance and courage.
With a complete disregard for his own safety, he displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, and was an inspiration to all those around him.
Pope John Paul II visits Argentina and denounces all wars as 'unjust'.
HMS Cordella and Pict swept Berkley Sound. Pict's acoustic sweep gear failed and Lt-Cdr D G Garwood turned on the trawler's auxiliary machinery and made a noisy sweep of the lane. Lt-Cdr Garwood was awarded a Mention in Despatches for his sacrificial run.
Sea Harriers from 800 Sqn lofted a number of 1,000lb bombs at Port Stanley airfield.
Port Stanley police station came under attack after being identified as being used by the Argentine military staff as headquarters. An 848 Sqn Wessex 5, supported by an 845 Sqn Wessex 'gun-ship', fired two AS.12 missiles at the building. The first went astray, crashing into the water 200 yards from the hospital ship Bahia Paraiso - resulting in the Argentine authorities making a formal complaint - the second entered the upper storey of the police station causing heavy casualties among the Argentine military command's Intelligence Section.
QE2 arrived in Southampton carrying 700 survivors from sinkings of HMS Ships Coventry, Ardent and Antelope. She was greeted by a gun salute fired from HMS Lowestoft and honoured by the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The day was spent preparing for the assault on the first line of the Argentine defences.
Uganda and Hecla entered Grantham Sound to embark casualties and left before sunset.
Glamorgan joined the Battle Group in the early afternoon. She Yarmouth and Arrow headed for the gunlines for the night's bombardments.
RAF Harriers dropped cluster bombs on the Argentine positions on Two Sisters, Mount Harriet, Mount Longdon, Mount Tumbledown and Moody Brook barracks.
SD.
Edited by shed driver on Sunday 11th June 10:41
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