Half a world, and half a lifetime away.
Discussion
4th April
British submarine Conqueror sails from Faslane;
Argentines occupy Goose Green and Darwin;
Lighthousekeeper and radio ham Reg Silvey makes radio contact with the UK and continues clandestine broadcasts throughout the occupation. Guardian Article about Reg Silvey.
3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment is also called up. Then the problem is in finding a way of getting everyone to where they need to be. Officially, the Royal Navy's two main transports were HMS Fearless, an assault ship (LPD - Landing Platform Dock), and Hermes, designated a helicopter/commando carrier. In practise, they realised very quickly that Hermes would be needed to carry fighters, and even after bringing HMS Intrepid (another LPD) back into commission, they'd need more transport. Enter the Great White Whale, Canberra, at that time cruising the Med with a load of schoolchildren aboard.
She is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.' During the trip home to the UK, they will draw up plans to refit her for a troop-carrying role, to include two helicopter pads.
France and Germany immediately put a block on arms sales to Argentina. Crucially, nobody in the French MoD or Foreign ministry thinks to tell the Aerospatiale engineers already in Argentina to stop working. Without any change of instructions, they continue to make sure that the Exocet missiles and Super Etendard fighters which had already arrived as an early part of the full shipment were functional. In the meantime, France gives the British all its classified specs on the missile to help defeat it.
A little more detail on the diplomacy behind UN Resolution 502 demanding (Not 'calling for', I guess they just don't write them like they used to any more) the immediate withdrawl of all Argentine forces. US, France, Ireland, Japan, Guyana, Zaire, Togo, Uganda and Jordan all voted with Britain, Panama went against.
Russia, China, Spain, Poland all abstained. Obtaining the required ten votes on such short notice is considered one of the UK's greatest examples of post-war diplomacy. Ultimately, Guyana was persuaded as it was a good precedent for Venezuela to pay attention to on the issue of land-grabbing. The UN President , who had been somewhat undermined by this whole thing was from Zaire, so the Zairean vote was sort of personal. France brought Togo into line at the UK's request, Uganda was a last-minute addition, mainly on the grounds of 'Argentinian Aggression.' Jordan had initially declared for Britain, then Amman instructed 'not to vote for any colonialist cause.' A personal telephone call from Maggie to King Hussein made the difference. The Argentine ambassador focused on the Soviets to use their veto, but Soviet policy was not to use the veto on anything not directed specifically at their interests. The wording of the resolution also permitted the British under Article 51, to go to the Falklands 'Guns blazing.'
Article 51
Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.
However, everyone thought it would be resolved before it got to that point.
SD.
British submarine Conqueror sails from Faslane;
Argentines occupy Goose Green and Darwin;
Lighthousekeeper and radio ham Reg Silvey makes radio contact with the UK and continues clandestine broadcasts throughout the occupation. Guardian Article about Reg Silvey.
3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment is also called up. Then the problem is in finding a way of getting everyone to where they need to be. Officially, the Royal Navy's two main transports were HMS Fearless, an assault ship (LPD - Landing Platform Dock), and Hermes, designated a helicopter/commando carrier. In practise, they realised very quickly that Hermes would be needed to carry fighters, and even after bringing HMS Intrepid (another LPD) back into commission, they'd need more transport. Enter the Great White Whale, Canberra, at that time cruising the Med with a load of schoolchildren aboard.
She is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.' During the trip home to the UK, they will draw up plans to refit her for a troop-carrying role, to include two helicopter pads.
France and Germany immediately put a block on arms sales to Argentina. Crucially, nobody in the French MoD or Foreign ministry thinks to tell the Aerospatiale engineers already in Argentina to stop working. Without any change of instructions, they continue to make sure that the Exocet missiles and Super Etendard fighters which had already arrived as an early part of the full shipment were functional. In the meantime, France gives the British all its classified specs on the missile to help defeat it.
A little more detail on the diplomacy behind UN Resolution 502 demanding (Not 'calling for', I guess they just don't write them like they used to any more) the immediate withdrawl of all Argentine forces. US, France, Ireland, Japan, Guyana, Zaire, Togo, Uganda and Jordan all voted with Britain, Panama went against.
Russia, China, Spain, Poland all abstained. Obtaining the required ten votes on such short notice is considered one of the UK's greatest examples of post-war diplomacy. Ultimately, Guyana was persuaded as it was a good precedent for Venezuela to pay attention to on the issue of land-grabbing. The UN President , who had been somewhat undermined by this whole thing was from Zaire, so the Zairean vote was sort of personal. France brought Togo into line at the UK's request, Uganda was a last-minute addition, mainly on the grounds of 'Argentinian Aggression.' Jordan had initially declared for Britain, then Amman instructed 'not to vote for any colonialist cause.' A personal telephone call from Maggie to King Hussein made the difference. The Argentine ambassador focused on the Soviets to use their veto, but Soviet policy was not to use the veto on anything not directed specifically at their interests. The wording of the resolution also permitted the British under Article 51, to go to the Falklands 'Guns blazing.'
Article 51
Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.
However, everyone thought it would be resolved before it got to that point.
SD.
5th April
The aircraft carriers HMS Hermes and Invincible leave Portsmouth, loaded up with almost every available aircraft the Fleet Air Arm has to send. A 30-man team from Invincible had spend 20 hours loading a single item of cargo: 180,000 eggs!
The night before, a BBC Radio reporter had made a casual enquiry about morale of an engine rating, receiving the reply "All right, I guess. It all depends on if we get a run ashore tonight. The ship's in a bit of a mess though. Her main boilers were in pieces until four days ago."
HMS Conqueror leaves Faslane, Scotland.
HMS Invincible also carried HRH Prince Andrew, who had just graduated helicopter school. The Royal Australian Navy is informed that their purchase of Invincible to become HMAS Australia is on indefinite hold, as perhaps the British might have a use for her after all. This sounded the death knell to Australian Naval Aviation, as Australia was to be the replacement for HMAS Melbourne.
Carrington resigns and is replaced as Foreign Secretary by Francis Pym; Read the resignation letters.
Junior Foreign Office Ministers Richard Luce and Humphrey Atkins resign.
A sister ship to RFA Tidespring was half-way to Chile, being transferred to that country's navy. They are instructed to turn around and come back.
Secretary of State for Defence John Nott sees his military restructuring plan in complete tatters as a lot of the ships scheduled for deletion suddenly seem rather useful.
750 trucks a day went to Southhampton, carrying cargo. The RAF sends flights to Wideawake Airfield, on Ascension Island, about half-way to the Falklands. It's British territory, leased to the US, which had build a moderately large air base on the island. They carry air traffic controllers, and other related equipment.
SD.
The aircraft carriers HMS Hermes and Invincible leave Portsmouth, loaded up with almost every available aircraft the Fleet Air Arm has to send. A 30-man team from Invincible had spend 20 hours loading a single item of cargo: 180,000 eggs!
The night before, a BBC Radio reporter had made a casual enquiry about morale of an engine rating, receiving the reply "All right, I guess. It all depends on if we get a run ashore tonight. The ship's in a bit of a mess though. Her main boilers were in pieces until four days ago."
HMS Conqueror leaves Faslane, Scotland.
HMS Invincible also carried HRH Prince Andrew, who had just graduated helicopter school. The Royal Australian Navy is informed that their purchase of Invincible to become HMAS Australia is on indefinite hold, as perhaps the British might have a use for her after all. This sounded the death knell to Australian Naval Aviation, as Australia was to be the replacement for HMAS Melbourne.
Carrington resigns and is replaced as Foreign Secretary by Francis Pym; Read the resignation letters.
Junior Foreign Office Ministers Richard Luce and Humphrey Atkins resign.
A sister ship to RFA Tidespring was half-way to Chile, being transferred to that country's navy. They are instructed to turn around and come back.
Secretary of State for Defence John Nott sees his military restructuring plan in complete tatters as a lot of the ships scheduled for deletion suddenly seem rather useful.
750 trucks a day went to Southhampton, carrying cargo. The RAF sends flights to Wideawake Airfield, on Ascension Island, about half-way to the Falklands. It's British territory, leased to the US, which had build a moderately large air base on the island. They carry air traffic controllers, and other related equipment.
SD.
shed driver said:
[Enter the Great White Whale, Canberra, at that time cruising the Med with a load of schoolchildren aboard.
She is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.'
Just a minor query on a excellent threadShe is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.'
Wasn't SS Uganda the ship carrying the patriotic school kids?
IIRC it was being used for educational cruises when requisitioned, a party from my school was due to go but the trip was cancelled and they were never re-arranged
mfmman said:
shed driver said:
[Enter the Great White Whale, Canberra, at that time cruising the Med with a load of schoolchildren aboard.
She is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.'
Just a minor query on a excellent threadShe is one of the STUFT.. Ships Taken Up From Trade, and mandatorily pressed into service as a troopship. Naval architects board her in Gibraltar, as her passengers disembark singing 'Rule Brittania.'
Wasn't SS Uganda the ship carrying the patriotic school kids?
IIRC it was being used for educational cruises when requisitioned, a party from my school was due to go but the trip was cancelled and they were never re-arranged
Canberra called at Gib, then went on to Southampton for refit and to be filled with Paras and Marines
ThunderSpook said:
Thankfully a repeat is now basically impossible.
just curious, why?(and thanks OP - brings back memories of reading newspaper headlines and hoping it was good news not bad, and anger at the French for backing Argentina and supplying Exocets that caused most of the damage, but maybe I was reading too much from the Sun at the time)
Edited by Adam B on Wednesday 5th April 13:27
Very interesting read ! I wasn't around when this happened so it's quite a history lesson reading this.
I was in Patagonia this time last year and they still claim the Malvinas as theirs and we experienced a little hostility in El Calafate and Ushuia when some of the locals realised we were brits!
Here's just a couple of odd signs we noticed there.
I was in Patagonia this time last year and they still claim the Malvinas as theirs and we experienced a little hostility in El Calafate and Ushuia when some of the locals realised we were brits!
Here's just a couple of odd signs we noticed there.
I would very much like to contribute to this thread. I was 11 in 1982, and for various reasons the war had a big impact on my life. So much so, that in 2005 I spent a week down south, via Ascension.
I told a friend of mine who is in the RN that one image that stuck in my mind was news footage of Argentine APCs rolling down Ross Road, the road that runs along the waterfront in Stanley. Some time later, I ended up walking along Ross Road with him.
If I may, can I share some of my experiences of that time with you?
There follows an excerpt from a book I have written - but not published. It is actually about my 30 year association as a civilian with HMS INVINCIBLE and her sister ships. Inevitably it touches on the Falklands War.
MODS - I hope this is OK. As I say, its an unpublished work, so its not a sales pitch.
Here goes then. If you like it, I'll share some more Falklands relevant parts of the book.
In early 1982 the Falklands War was brewing. I was 11 years old and glued to the TV. Would there be a war?
This period was a complicated one for my family. My Dad was moving jobs and had gone ahead of us to our new home in Tynemouth. For a few months it was a place to visit rather than a place to live. It was during one of those trips that I first saw Illustrious on sea trials. For now though, I lived in the family home in the Lincolnshire market town of Stamford. Sixty or so miles from the sea it had very little to interest a navy mad youngster. There was a factory in town which made marine diesels, but that was about it.
Stamford lies about four miles north of Wittering where there is an RAF base. At the time RAF Wittering was known around the military world as: “The home of the Harrier”. Not only was there a squadron of RAF Harrier GR3 jets based there but it was a hub for training Harrier pilots from the USA, Spain and other nations that had bought Britain’s revolutionary jump jet. Living close by I soon got to know an RAF Harrier GR3 from a US Marine Corps AV8 and I certainly knew a Royal Navy Sea Harrier when I saw one with its distinctive pointed nose, dark grey paint and white belly.
In the days before the Falklands task force set sail there was a marked increase in activity at Wittering. At night I would lie in bed and listen to the distant sound of Harriers at the base. The distinctive whine of their Rolls Royce Pegasus engines at idle, the strange unmistakable sound of the engine being cut, it was a comforting sound to hear from my back bedroom in our Edwardian red brick house. Little did I know how I would grow to love that noise and how with hair stood to attention on the back of my neck and tears in my eyes I would one day savour that sound for a final time when I witnessed the last ever Harrier landing on a British carrier.
The intensified Harrier activity in early 1982 sent Stamford buzzing. A little town which ran on rumour rather than fact, tales went round schools, shops and bars that the Wittering Harriers were going to have a big part to play in the operation to retake the Falklands. You would be told of the man down the road who worked at the base getting late night telephone calls which he couldn’t talk about. You would hear so-and-so had heard this and someone else had said that. Kids at school would try to convince each other that the Wittering jets were going to carry bombs to “nuke” Argentina.
Like many rumours there were facts there, and one fact was that Wittering Harriers would sail with the task force to retake the Falkland Islands.
People don’t tend to rent TV’s these days. Back in 1982 many people did, and it was on April 5th 1982 that we moved out of our home in Stamford to come north to Tynemouth. April 5th was also the day Invincible along with the Royal Navy’s other carrier Hermes set sail for the Falklands. The news had been full of nothing else. On TV, on radio, and in the streets the whole nation was transfixed on events in the South Atlantic and on shipping movements in Portsmouth dockyard.
The departure of the task force from Portsmouth was to be broadcast live to the nation. To 11 year old me it was a day of great excitement, like the 1977 jubilee, the 1981 royal wedding and a world cup final all rolled into one. Surrounded by boxes and packing cases I sat cross-legged in front of the telly. The task force was about to leave, the outside broadcast was in full-swing. Interviews with experts and all the cheering and singing. Millions of TV screens were filled with a sea of union flags, tears and pride. All it needed was Terry Wogan, Noel Edmunds, a performance by Cliff Richard and a flypast by the Red Arrows and it would have been the perfect all-singing, all-dancing British celebration.
Then there was a knock at the door. It was the man from Granada TV rental. He’d come to take the telly away!
He was persuaded not to with a cup of tea and the offer of biscuits. Instead, he joined the group in the living room to watch the task force set sail. I instantly became the expert: “Oh yes, there are a thousand men on that ship.” “No they’re not Harriers they are SEA Harriers.” “Invincible is the flag ship, she’s got all the gear on board, she is so modern, the other ship Hermes is too old to be a flag ship. No definitely Invincible, that’s where the admiral will be.” I had just finished delivering my expert opinion when the BBC commentator said something along the lines of: “The flagship of the group, HMS HERMES will lead the task group. She is the older of the two carriers but because of her size she will be the senior ship.” Shot down in flames, I kept my opinions to myself for a bit.
To me Invincible was the star of the show. Her crew lining her decks, Sea Harriers and Sea King helicopters ranged along her length. So modern, so capable and at the beginning of a record-breaking trip that would see her spend 166 days at sea.
Jonmx said:
Adam B said:
ThunderSpook said:
Thankfully a repeat is now basically impossible.
just curious, why?Edited by Adam B on Wednesday 5th April 13:27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fg5amio4jU[/url]
This video explains why quite well, if you can get past the bloke's voice.
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