In May 1982 HMS Arrow along with many other British warships were in Gibraltar, we had just completed a major exercise (operation awkward) which is a mock attack on the ships alongside. After a few good nights out we sailed for home, only to be told that instead of turning right out of the Med and heading for home we turned left. The rumors started flying straight away as to where we were going, but the skipper soon put us right by announcing it on the main broadcast. The Argies had invaded the Falklands he said, where's the Falklands we all said. Some wondered what the Argies were doing invading an Island off Scotland. Three weeks later we were shot at by enemy aircraft on our first day at the Falkland Islands.
On our first day, having just finished Naval gunfire support on Port Stanley airport, we were steaming away in line abreast formation with HMS Glamorgan and HMS Alacrity when 3 aircraft appeared off the coastline we believe there were originally 4 aircraft but the Argies shot one of them down thinking they were British. My mate Ian Britnall was on the aft seacat deck and saw the aircraft approaching, thinking they were friendly (because the Argies had shot one down) he started taking photos of them, thats when they started shooting. Ian caught a piece of schrapnel in his lung and was the first casualty of the Falklands war. He was taken by helo to the Canberra (hospital ship) and made a recovery.
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30mm canon fire causes some damage to a type 21 frigate's superstructure because it is made from aluminium.
The grill you can see is a new one fitted shortly after the attack as the old one had a few holes in it.
This was our first day in the Falklands and the only time we were hit by enemy fire. |
Our next major event was Naval gunfire support on Goose Green, which by all account was very sucessful, the spotter ashore told us the gunfire was very accurate and was a great help to the troops, however we had to stop early due to the gun barrel over heating.
The worst day was whan HMS Sheffield was hit by an Exocet missile, we were tasked to go alongside her to get the survivors off. We were dispatched at full speed with HMS Yarmouth to Sheffields position on the way our sonar picked up submarine contact, but we were assured that there were no subs in the area, however Yarmouth started throwing mortors into the water to be on the safe side. Meanwhile we went alongside the Sheffield and helped fire fighting and getting survivors off. Our main surface radar (which is gyro controlled to keep it level as the ship rolls) was knocked off kilter and rendered useless which was a bit scary as I was the only person left in the ops room as everyone else was helping on the upper deck and with no main radar you can't really see what the hell is going on. Luckily it was soon fixed and we wwere on our way with most of the Sheffield ships company now happily on board drinking all our beer.
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HMS Arrow approaching to go alongside HMS Sheffield after she was hit by an exocet missile.
You can see the gemini (boat) in the water hosing the ships side and entry hole in an attempt to put the fire out.
If you look at the top of Arrow's foremast you will see the main surface radar is still working ok, about 10 minutes later it was at a 90 degree angle after the 2 ship banged together. |
It was very sad to see HMS Antelope on fire the first night we got into San Carlos water, then later watch as her magazine exploded and she broke in half. As if that wasn't bad enough, later that week the Argonaut had a major fire onboard which all but put her out of action.
For some reason the Argies were attacking all the warships, of course this was a big mistake.
Sink a couple of tankers or supply ships and we would have been completely knackered. They did sink the Atlantic conveyor, which was a major blow to us. She was carrying some more badly needed Harrier aircraft.
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A few more holes in the funnel from the same attack.
Very sneakily we covered the holes up with hardboard and masking tape and then painted over with ship side grey to make it look like they had missed.
If you look closely you can see the square where the masking tape had been.
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After the war was over, we sailed back up to the Ascension Islands and I flew home on leave from there, while the ship sailed the rest of the way home. I missed out on the glory of sailing back into Plymouth harbour with all the families waiting on the jetty, but at least I managed to get home a week earlier than the ship.We flew back from Ascension in a Hercules C130, it took 14 hours with a stop in Dakar to re-fuel. We were supposed to land at Brize Norton where all the families were waiting, but we were diverted to RAF Lyneham, where none of the families were waiting.
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Ian Brittnal, the first casualty of the Falklands war was standing at the top of this ladder when we were attacked by 3 skyhawk aircraft.
You can see the schrapnel damage to the right of the ladder, unfortunetly Ian caught a peace in his lung and had to be flow off to the Canberra (luxury cruise liner being used as a hospital ship) |
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