HMS SHEFFIELD

[wildcat45]

On this day back in 1982 the Type 42 destroyer HMS SHEFFIELD was hit by an air-launched AM39 Exocet missile.

22 ofher crew died and six or so hours after the missile struck Sheffield's captain Sam Salt gave the order to abandon his burning warship.

As the crew waited to be lifted off the ship they sang "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" from the Monty Python film.

Though I was just a kid, I knew the Shiny Sheff and met some of her crew.

I will be remembering you today Sheffield.

[muckymotor]

This event was massive news here in Sheffield, I remember it like it was yesterday.

[XJSJohn]

Brave lads.

http://www.hms-sheffield.org.uk/ship/d80.php

[Eric Mc]

Lost because of a lack of airborne early warning radar cover.

HMS Sheffield had to go ahead of the main Task Force to act as a radar picket for the fleet - thereby exposing herself terribly to the risk of missile attack. Unfortunately, the risk proved to be real. What the Royal Navy wouldn't have done a for a couple of old Fairey Gannet AEW3s.

[wildcat45]

Indeed - and ARK-R to fly them off.

[Shar2]

I remember crying when I heard the news if the Sheffield being hit. At the age of 16 it made me more determined to join up.

[Mr_B]

Interesting period BBC2 Horizon show on the sinking of Sheffield.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_5-5oV_HzY

[Eric Mc]

Ah... a time when Horizon was a proper "science" programme and not fixated with Global Warming and other "apocalypic" stories.

I actually have this programme on a VHS tape somewhere.

[pies]

Eric Mc said:

.... VHS tape somewhere.

A what

[Nick_F]

Eric Mc said:

Ah... a time when Horizon was a proper "science" programme and not fixated with Global Warming and other "apocalypic" stories.

I actually have this programme on a VHS tape somewhere.

Always made me smile that C4's Equinox trailed itself as 'science beyond the horizon'.

[Eric Mc]

I assume "Equinox" went the way of other sensible programmes on C4 - replaced by more edifying and erudite programmes such as "Big Brother". They also had a science programme called "QED" which got the bullet too.

What a sad siituation we find ourselves in regarding science and technology on mainstream TV.

[Mojocvh]

wildcat45 said:

Indeed - and ARK-R to fly them off.

Yep, and the hierarchy of the RN are committed the same mistakes again.....

[Eric Mc]

Depressing, isn't it. I bet the two new carriers will be cancelled. David Cameron refuses to give any assurance that the programme will continue if (or rather "when") the Conservatives come to power.

[whirligig]

Shar2 said:

I remember crying when I heard the news if the Sheffield being hit. At the age of 16 it made me more determined to join up.

My OH (from Sheffield) was saying the same thing more or less the other day - he joined as a tiff (WE) in Sept 84 and is still in albeit as an Engineering Officer now.

[Shar2]

whirligig said:

Shar2 said:

I remember crying when I heard the news if the Sheffield being hit. At the age of 16 it made me more determined to join up.

My OH (from Sheffield) was saying the same thing more or less the other day - he joined as a tiff (WE) in Sept 84 and is still in albeit as an Engineering Officer now.

What's his name? I joined up as a tiff in Sept '84, (843 entry)