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approach, having completed one circuit, all four wheels touched down together, he signaled me to approach, the crewman checked that we were fully strapped in and off we went: somewhat different to the previous journey I noted. No complaints though. In all there were only nine Argies there, and their leader was forced to go through an official surrender ceremony. We then proceeded to make a leisurely passage back to Stanley. The War was over. “I have no live rounds or empty cases in my possession
HMS PLYMOUTH AT WAR – 1982
by Captain D. Pentreath DSO RN
We have been extremely privileged to have been given access to operational reports made by Captain David Pentreath DSO RN, who was Commanding Officer of HMS PLYMOUTH during the 1982 Falklands Campaign. Additionally Captain Pentreath has kindly provided an introduction and final paragraph to this piece. The operational reports cover much more than the Ship’s involvement in NGS, and serve as a useful reminder of the wide range of activities preoccupying a warship’s captain in time of war. A certain amount of editing has perforce had to be done due to space limitations, and I hope nothing significant has been lost in this process. If it has, I am entirely responsible and it is I who am answerable to Captain Pentreath!
Introduction. I am very pleased to offer my recollections of two particular occasions when HMS PLYMOUTH undertook Naval Gunfire Support during the 1982 Falklands War. Rather than rely on my memory, I hope you may find that these extracts from my Official Report of Proceedings convey the atmosphere – the excitement, fear, elations and apprehension – experienced by our young ship’s company during HMS PLYMOUTH’s 1982 war service in the South Atlantic, in particular her contribution to the land battle through NGS operations. First comes the passage down to South Georgia, preparing for war which often seemed just as likely to become bogged down in shuttle diplomacy, but which soon led to Margaret Thatcher’s splendid exhortation outside No.10 to “Rejoice, rejoice” at the news of South Georgia’s repossession. Later, during the fierce air war, HMS PLYMOUTH found herself heavily involved during the day in safeguarding the troop ships and the RFA store ships in San Carlos Water, and at night
sir.” Endex! As a footnote to this record of events, during the journey back on the CANBERRA, Brig Thompson RM was chatting to me. We had known each other for a long time. He remarked that one of the most comforting things about the war for him was to hear the steady crump of NGS during the night knowing it was a thorn in the side of the enemy but a major source of confidence to him and his troops. He said NGS was a major factor in the success, used as it was to strike silently and deeply.
in taking the action directly to the outlying Argentinian positions through Naval Gunfire Support.
The re-capture of South Georgia. The Passage CINCFLEET’S signal to proceed south was received at 020540z Apr 82, some two and a half hours before the ship was due to enter Gibraltar for a three week Assisted Maintenance Period, during which wives and sweethearts from UK were expected. By 10 April HMS PLYMOUTH was anchored at Ascension, having been intensively stored from ships which were going north, and in the middle of being intensively trained and exercised in preparation for going to war. The disappointment at the loss of a fantastic West Indies programme was counterbalanced by the exciting news that along with HMS ANTRIM and RFA TIDESPRING, HMS PLYMOUTH was nominated as the advance force to repossess South Georgia. Following vertreps of stores, mail, and the arrival of SAS and SBS at Ascension, HMS PLYMOUTH weighed and proceeded on Easter Sunday. On completion of a lengthy jackstay transfer of spuds and mail, which had followed from Gibraltar in RFA TIDESPRING, we settled down on the long passage to South Georgia, leaving HMS ANTRIM and RFA TIDESPRING to complete the embarkation of M Coy RM and D Sqn SAS. High pressure giving brilliant blue seas and skies dominated the weather pattern as our preparations for war continued. On 13 April the ship replenished food and ammunition from RFA FORT AUSTIN, and ANTRIM rejoined. On 14 April HMS ENDURANCE was given a rousing welcome by all ships as she joined from South Georgia, where her exploits had made exciting news. The operation order for Operation PARAQUAT (the South Georgia operation),
HMS Plymouth
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