The veteran Issue 6

For the next five days we witnessed the air
attacks on the fleet in San Carlos Waters by the
Argentine Air Force which started on 21 May,
the Battle of San Carlos ("Bomb Alley") began
once the Argentine Air Force attacked a
detachment of British ships involved in the
landing in the San Carlos Water.
The Argentine Air Force sank three British
ships (HMS Coventry, a Type 42 destroyer, and
two frigates, HMS Antelope and HMS Ardent).
Argentine Air Force Mirage 5A Dagger Fighter
The bow and stern sections of HMS
Antelope float above the surface in San
Carlos Water after the ship began to
sink on the 24th May 1982 during the
Battle of San Carlos. Two bombs were
dropped on HMS Antelope by
Argintine aircraft, flying at extremely
low level, on 23 May. The bombs which
did not explode , lodged in the engine
roomof the ship. One detonated while it
was being defused. The explosion
ripped through the ship,which later
broke in half and sank.
All of this could be seen from our Gun Position at Head of the Bay House, with the enemy
aircraft flying over the top of the Gun Position to line up for the dropping of the bombs and
missiles. GBNF “Rest in Peace”
A casualty from HMS Sheffield is rushed by
stretcher to sick bay on board HMS Hermes.
HMS Sheffield was hit by an Argentine air
launched Exocet missile on 4th May and sank
the same day. Twenty members of the crew
lost their lives.
Two days previously the British nuclear
powered submarine HMS Conqueror had
torpedoed the Argentine vessel General
Belgrano in which 323 Argentinians died.
Right, 105 Lt Gun position.
By 26 May, the British forces were ready to advance, 45 Commando, 2 PARA and 3
PARA advanced on three axes. The terrain was exceptionally difficult and provided
almost no cover or concealment except thick mists and freezing cold rain, our
Observation Parties were embedded with 2 PARA and provided the enemy positions for
us to engage, the Fire Missions were nonstop, in support of 2 PARA, enabling them to
advance.
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