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was delivered by RAF Nimrod on 15 April, and planning and briefings continued apace. Particularly helpful were on the spot accounts of the action in South Georgia from HMS ENDURANCE, and background information provided by my SMEO, Cdr Trotter, who had served with the British Antarctic Survey 10 years previously. As the military plan took shape, HMS PLYMOUTH took stock of the 16 SAS troops we were conveying into battle. The unanimous verdict of my young ship’s company was that they were an impressive bunch of fit and dedicated men, and a first class relationship soon sprang up with them. Troop drills with SBS geminis took place on 17 April in very heavy swell. As the Task Group neared South Georgia, a thoroughly aggressive mood gripped the ship’s company (who by this stage were nearly all attempting to grow beards!), and I was pleased with their response to the introduction of full Defence Watches. Gunnery drills became second nature with Naval Gunfire Support training being monitored by Lt Col K R H Eve RA embarked in ANTRIM, and our own excellent NGLO, Sgt Major Richards. The ship developed a formidable anti-Exocet firing drill which included 4.5 HE, Mortar and 20mm as well as Chaff. The rules of engagement within the 200 mile Maritime Exclusion Zone (MEZ) appeared robust so far as enemy surface craft and submarines were concerned, but the position with regard to the enemy Hercules recce aircraft was less satisfactory, was it a combat aircraft, or not? On 20 April the Task Group closed to 200 NM of South Georgia, the weather was still favourable although sea and air temperatures were falling. The political scene in London, Buenos Aires and Washington via the BBC was of constant concern lest the Task Group be ‘held off’, but at 2040 hrs on the 20th the codeword DANDELION ordering us to proceed with Op PARAQUAT was received, prompting loud cheers throughout the ships. I wished our intelligence was better, for although I had assessed there was some risk from Argentinian submarines, particularly the Guppy Class Santa Fe, which had sailed from Mar Del Plata on 10 April, there was little indication of any confidence level on the positions of these forces at sea.
South Georgia Landings. The first SAS/SBS recce troops from HMS ANTRIM were due to be landed by helicopter on Fortuna Glacier on 21 April, but the weather had deteriorated and it was not until 1400hrs that the party was inserted in a SW gale in fierce driving snow. Meanwhile HMS PLYMOUTH was to provide cover for HMS ENDURANCE off the NE coast for the insertion of SBS recce in Hound Bay overnight 21/22 April. By 1130hrs on 22 April it became clear that the plan for HMS ANTRIM’s SBS to make their way across Fortuna Glacier towards Leith had been over- ambitious, as the overnight storm had reduced tentage to ribbons and there was now an urgent requirement for evacuation. The three Wessex from HMS ANTRIM and RFA TIDESPRING were scrambled, and at 1550hrs I intercepted a message that the two Wessex 5s had crashed in white-out conditions! The whole mission began to look very shaky, for we had
earlier heard on the BBC that the Daily Mail that same day had headlined the forthcoming attacks on South Georgia! Morale was partially restored after news came through of the remarkable rescue by HMS ANTRIM’s Wessex 3 of all 16 on the Glacier, and that there had been no casualties. Fresh insertions of SAS/SBS took place in Stromness and Hound Bays overnight 22/23 April, but further troubles arose when one SBS gemini was blown out to sea from Stromness, but again the Wessex 3 saved the day. Meanwhile HMS PLYMOUTH was supervising the important pumpover of Dieso from RFA BRAMBLELEAF to RFA TIDESPRING 30 miles NE of South Georgia when UA4 detection was made of Argentinian Hercules recce. The ship went to action stations, but regrettably the aircraft remained a respectful 8 miles from me. Excitement increased when HMS ENDURANCE reported submarine HF Ratt transmissions close to the NW, perhaps Santa Fe was in the area? The pumpover was stopped and I ordered the tankers to evade to the south. As a result all ships were ordered clear of the MEZ (except for HMS ENDURANCE, who preferred to hide among the ice to the south), so throughout the night of 23/24 April ships steamed to the north-east. On 24 April the pumpover was safely completed, with RFA BRAMBLEAF then detaching for Ascension.
Attack on South Georgia. On completion of fuelling, HM Ships ANTRIM and PLYMOUTH increased to 24 knots ant turned south again to assist HMS ENDURANCE, who was feeling somewhat naked faced with the prospect of a multi- threat Argentinian attack from submarines, aircraft and possible surface ships. Reinforcement in the shape of HMS BRILLIANT, and in particular her two Lynx helicopters, arrived within the MEZ during the night of 24 April, but a fresh setback was experienced that same night when HMS ENDURANCE had to retrieve her SBS recce from Hound Bay owing to severe icing at the head of Cumberland Bay East preventing progress. As dawn broke on 25 April, HM Ships ANTRIM and PLYMOUTH were still 35 miles off Cumberland Bay heading into a strong south- westerly with low cloud, poor visibility and rain squalls. At 0755hrs HMS PLYMOUTH reported that Spanish could be heard on VHF Ch 16, and at 0855hrs HMS ANTRIM’s Wessex 3 on surface search reported a radar contact off the entrance to Cumberland Bay. At 0900hrs the Wessex reported seeing the Santa Fe on the surface about to dive. All ships closed at full speed and the Santa Fe was attacked over the next hour by a combination of depth charges, a Mk 46 torpedo, GPMG and AS 12s from the Wasps of HM Ships ENDURANCE and PLYMOUTH. Santa Fe was hit by two AS 12s and bolted for Grytviken, where she arrived alongside the BAS jetty at 1100hrs in a sinking condition. The weather lifted as ships reached Cumberland Bay and it was decided to press ahead with a heliborne assault of Grytviken, with H hour at 1445hrs. HMS PLYMOUTH was prepared for NGS at 1138hrs and stood by for calls for fire from the spotter who had flown ashore in HMS ENDURANCE’s Wasp. The first call for fire was accepted
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