Loss of the "Shiny Sheff"
Discussion
39 years ago the Royal Navy lost its first warship in combat since World War Two. (HMS Vestal 26.07.45 near Phuket).
This is how it was announced to us.
Still on patrol are
Petty Officer David R. Briggs, D.S.M.
Catering Assistant Darryl M. Cope
Lieutenant Commander David I. Balfour
Weapons Engineering Artificer Andrew C. Eggington
Sub-Lieutenant Richard C. Emly
Petty Officer Cook Robert Fagan
Cook Neil A. Goodall
Leading Marine Engineering Mechanic Allan J. Knowles
Laundryman Lai Chi Keung
Leading Cook Tony Marshall
Petty Officer Anthony R. Norman
Cook David E. Osborne
Weapons Engineering Artificer Kevin R. F. Sullivan
Cook Andrew C. Swallow
Acting Chief Weapons Mechanic Michael E. G. Till
Weapons Engineering Mechanic Barry J. Wallis
Leading Cook Adrian K. Wellstead
Master-at-Arms Brian Welsh
WEO Lieutenant Commander John S. Woodhead, D.S.C.
Cook Kevin J. Williams
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
SD.
This is how it was announced to us.
Still on patrol are
Petty Officer David R. Briggs, D.S.M.
Catering Assistant Darryl M. Cope
Lieutenant Commander David I. Balfour
Weapons Engineering Artificer Andrew C. Eggington
Sub-Lieutenant Richard C. Emly
Petty Officer Cook Robert Fagan
Cook Neil A. Goodall
Leading Marine Engineering Mechanic Allan J. Knowles
Laundryman Lai Chi Keung
Leading Cook Tony Marshall
Petty Officer Anthony R. Norman
Cook David E. Osborne
Weapons Engineering Artificer Kevin R. F. Sullivan
Cook Andrew C. Swallow
Acting Chief Weapons Mechanic Michael E. G. Till
Weapons Engineering Mechanic Barry J. Wallis
Leading Cook Adrian K. Wellstead
Master-at-Arms Brian Welsh
WEO Lieutenant Commander John S. Woodhead, D.S.C.
Cook Kevin J. Williams
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
SD.
RIP - we will remember them.
Sadly it looks like the catering team suffered a disproportionate number of casualties. Was the galley area hit by the Exocet ?
Edit - just read the Wiki page. Missile hit junior scullery area with devastating effect. In fact the page is an interesting read. Sounds like the ship and senior command were very slow in recognising the threat and Sheffield took little action to defend itself.
Sadly it looks like the catering team suffered a disproportionate number of casualties. Was the galley area hit by the Exocet ?
Edit - just read the Wiki page. Missile hit junior scullery area with devastating effect. In fact the page is an interesting read. Sounds like the ship and senior command were very slow in recognising the threat and Sheffield took little action to defend itself.
Edited by V41LEY on Tuesday 4th May 20:47
The whole thing was a massive wake up call for the RN I believe, which had got somewhat complacent.
As had ship designers.
One thing that struck me watching YouTube vid was the gravitas and clarity of the announcer. He said what was needed and dealt with it head on.
Harsh news but no bluster or waffle. A million miles from what we've been seeing recently.
As had ship designers.
One thing that struck me watching YouTube vid was the gravitas and clarity of the announcer. He said what was needed and dealt with it head on.
Harsh news but no bluster or waffle. A million miles from what we've been seeing recently.
Link to the report on the Missile Strike.
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ane9lOTY5nFrrlPGX5w3OLLvHVim
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... - Details from my Falklands thread posted a few years ago,
SD.
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ane9lOTY5nFrrlPGX5w3OLLvHVim
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... - Details from my Falklands thread posted a few years ago,
SD.
Where the missile hit meant a lot of the Chefs were killed. The report is a good read if you know enough naval language to understand it all.
My second ship was a Type 42 and part of the workup and "on the way" training when heading towards the Middle East was a firefighting and damage control exercise based on the loss of HMS Sheffield.
Being a Young Officer at the time, my emergency stations role was in the Aft FRPP as a Firefighter, and I still remember to this day how much of a nightmare it was, especially physically, to do the repeated re-entries and team reliefs to try and retake the lost compartments on the ship.
I can't imagine how bad it would have been for the real crew when under real battle stress, literally 100% smoke filled ship with zero visibility, heat, damaged decks, casualties to deal with etc etc etc.
Brave men who deserved to be remembered.
Sometimes when I see some of the decision making and fit out on some modern ships and policies, it almost seems as if some of the lessons of the Falklands are being forgotten in the name of budget cutting and "efficiencies" or the believe modern threats and self defence weapons mean it "wont happen". Sure modern ships are less vulnerable than older ones to this kind of attack, but missiles have moved on. If the s
t really hits the fan you need to be able to cope.
My second ship was a Type 42 and part of the workup and "on the way" training when heading towards the Middle East was a firefighting and damage control exercise based on the loss of HMS Sheffield.
Being a Young Officer at the time, my emergency stations role was in the Aft FRPP as a Firefighter, and I still remember to this day how much of a nightmare it was, especially physically, to do the repeated re-entries and team reliefs to try and retake the lost compartments on the ship.
I can't imagine how bad it would have been for the real crew when under real battle stress, literally 100% smoke filled ship with zero visibility, heat, damaged decks, casualties to deal with etc etc etc.
Brave men who deserved to be remembered.
Sometimes when I see some of the decision making and fit out on some modern ships and policies, it almost seems as if some of the lessons of the Falklands are being forgotten in the name of budget cutting and "efficiencies" or the believe modern threats and self defence weapons mean it "wont happen". Sure modern ships are less vulnerable than older ones to this kind of attack, but missiles have moved on. If the s
t really hits the fan you need to be able to cope.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff