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.
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
shed driver said:
Maj Keeble
I met Chris Keeble many years later. He was giving a talk on leadership. A very quiet, still man (with a strong religious faith), he nevertheless had a remarkably powerful presence. He held the room in awe. I spent a few hours afterwards with him in the bar. He was inspirational. He was awarded the DSO for his role in Goose Green, at the time it was (I believe) the second highest award for gallantry possible for a Major to earn.
He has modestly said of his DSO: “The victory, however, was H’s. The inspiration of 2 PARA came from him, and my role was merely to act on his behalf in his absence. For that I am the caretaker of an enamelled bit of metal, which I carry on behalf of every man in 2 PARA, especially the junior non-commissioned officers and the soldiers.”
shed driver said:
Muffster said:
I joined the RN in 1992 and been to the FI a number of times over the years. Latterly on the Endurance during a long deployment to the Antarctic in 2007 which was excellent. Sadly the Endurance suffered a catastrophic flood on 16th December 2008 in the Strait of Magellan and when eventually recovered back to the UK was never repaired, deemed too costly. The ship was eventually scrapped last year after rotting away in Portsmouth dockyard for 7 years after the indecent.
Thanks Muffster.I'm sure you have read the BOI report into the incident on Endurance - for those who are interested it can be found here.
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ane9lOTY5nFrrmyR8iWrU_d-EP2L
SD.[/quote
Yes i have read the SI report, i was onboard at the time of the indecent but thankfully I'm not mentioned in the report.
Myself and a colleague were 'volunteered' to be the RN presence onboard the salvage ship on which Endurance was piggybacked back to the UK after the rest of the ships company had flown home.
That was a very long 3 weeks.
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, fk 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.
shed driver said:
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, fk 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.
shed driver said:
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.
Again that seems unlikely. Aircraft and missiles coming from the same direction and close together is exactly what you would expect. A ship getting between you and the target is something I can see being quite disruptive as suddenly the targets would disappear.I have absolutely no idea, the hype over SeaWolf at the time said it could shoot shells out of the sky.
SD.
Seawolf can shoot shells down. They are high, slow and dumb so not a difficult target.
Edited by 98elise on Sunday 28th May 17:34
98elise said:
shed driver said:
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.
Again that seems unlikely. Aircraft and missiles coming from the same direction and close together is exactly what you would expect. A ship getting between you and the target is something I can see being quite disruptive as suddenly the targets would disappear.I have absolutely no idea, the hype over SeaWolf at the time said it could shoot shells out of the sky.
SD.
Seawolf can shoot shells down. They are high, slow and dumb so not a difficult target.
1. the first wave veered towards Broadsword and launched two bombs at her. One missed, the other bounced off the sea and up through the quarter deck to the flight deck where it destroyed her helicopter. Per David Hart-Dyke: "[Broadsword] had had the pair of Skyhawks clearly in her missle sights but the system would not lock on to either of them and actually switched at the critical moment. The system's software had a limitation: it could not decide which target to fire at when two aircraft were flying close together and at the same range."
2. Moments later the second wave arrived heading straight for Coventry. Coventry tried to manoeuvre to bring her Sea Dart to bear, blocking Broadsword's view in the process. It was this attack that did for Coventry, with 3 out of 4 bombs ripping through her.
Brilliant also suffered a Sea Wolf failure at a critical moment on 12 May. Fortunately that time neither Brilliant or Glasgow suffered severe damage. Sea Wolf did take out 2 of 3 attackers (the 3rd crashed into the sea while turning away) in a previous wave.
There was speculation in both cases that
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kermit power said:
Prior to this thread, I suppose I'd thought of probably the Korean war as the last one where our Armed Forces were properly engaged in a fight against a significant opposing force, but clearly not the case.
Just for the sake of clarity, I'm not in any way attempting to belittle the contributions of service personnel deployed in NI, the Gulf Wars, Afghanistan or anywhere else subsequent to WW2 or the casualties incurred there, just differentiating those as being either part of a coalition with overwhelming technological superiority or not a war in the conventional sense. I'd somehow assumed that the Falklands was another conflict in which we had that overwhelming technological superiority, but clearly not the case from reading this.
I remember getting a promotional poster about the Royal Marines from a Navy Day or similar in the late 1980s; it listed the major active operations from every year, the gist being the bootnecks had been in the sJust for the sake of clarity, I'm not in any way attempting to belittle the contributions of service personnel deployed in NI, the Gulf Wars, Afghanistan or anywhere else subsequent to WW2 or the casualties incurred there, just differentiating those as being either part of a coalition with overwhelming technological superiority or not a war in the conventional sense. I'd somehow assumed that the Falklands was another conflict in which we had that overwhelming technological superiority, but clearly not the case from reading this.
t more or less continuously in the period 1945-1988, sweeping up the fall-out from the Balfour Agreement in Palestine, Mau-Mau in Kenya, EOKA in Cyprus, communists in Malaya, Borneo, Korea, nationalists in Aden and Ulster, the canal zone in Egypt and all the other little cold war fights. The subtext being that in the era of 'to be Frank, join the army(and go skiing)', if you actually wanted to do some soldiering you were better off in the Corps.Endurance was 'egg on face' and quite reminiscent of a variety of industrial incidents, poor communication, poor isolation control and inexperience; Piper Alpha was one such with much worse outcomes. Strainer cleaning is or should be a routine task, not that I don't make checks along the way with the telltale and crack the lid off with the nuts loosened but still on the studs.
shed driver said:
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.
coanda said:
shed driver said:
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.
They tried the same thing on a Tanker that was nothing to do with the task force.
http://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/09/world/tanker-att...
I seem to remember the hercules carried bombs on the wing pylons between the inner and outer engines, I've seen pictures on the net of argy hercs armed in that way. also the bombed tanker limped into Rio de Janiro where they found an unexploded bomb in one of the tanks and rather than risk trying to defuse it they towed her out to sea and scuttled her.
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.
shed driver said:
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.
Is there any reason why they would've sent in such a top heavy contingent of Marines?Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff