The Falklands War by Martin Middlebrook

Author:Martin Middlebrook [ Middlebrook Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781848846364
Publisher: Pen & Sword
Published: 2012-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

May the 25th

In an attempt to help with the intense air battle, Admiral Woodward had posted two of his ships, Coventry and Broadsword, as a ‘42–22 combination missile trap’ in an exposed and vulnerable forward position outside the north end of Falkland Sound to engage Argentinian aircraft approaching and leaving the landing area. The first day on which the combination operated, 22 May, was quiet and the two ships were withdrawn that night. But, in their absence on the 23rd, the landing area was heavily attacked again and Antelope was hit. So, that night, Coventry and Broadsword went back in again, ready for action the following day. All went well on the 24th. The ships did not get the chance to use their missiles but two Sea Harriers of 800 Squadron were vectored on to four Argentinian Daggers approaching from the mainland and shot three of them down. Then came 25 May, Argentina’s National Day, when a major enemy effort was expected. The Argentinians must have realized what these two ships were doing and how exposed they were. The two British captains wondered whether they would be recalled to the carrier group but Woodward told them to stay out for another day; he would move the carrier group nearer so that the Sea Harriers could have more time on patrol. The two captains – Bill Canning in Broadsword and David Hart-Dyke in Coventry – conferred on the radio about their exact dispositions for the coming day. Hart-Dyke asked to move further north, away from the Argentinian radars on East Falkland and into more open sea where his Sea Darts could operate more effectively. Canning wanted to stay closer to the land, where he could maintain better voice communications to the landing area and thus give them more effective early warning of approaching air attacks. The views of both captains were operationally valid but Captain Canning was the senior and his view prevailed. The two ships settled down in a position less than fifteen nautical miles away from the northern coast of West Falkland.

The Argentinians were indeed planning a big day but the early actions were inconclusive for the missile-trap ships. Soon after dawn, a Learjet made a high-level flight over the landing area and photographed the ships in the anchorage. Coventry picked up this plane on its radar, believing it to be one of the Boeing 707s so frequently encountered before. Captain Hart-Dyke describes events.

He was about thirty-five miles away and I ordered two missiles to be launched. But the flash doors up to the launcher were jammed by dried salt. I had to send a sailor out with a bloody great hammer; there was only a small delay, but the Boeing’s surveillance systems must have sniffed us and he was gone.

It was very sad; there was a lot of gloom back at the task force and even at Fleet Headquarters. I had sent one signal and they were expecting a second – ‘Coventry splashed one Boeing’. Instead, I had to send a signal saying – ‘Regret…’ etc.

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