Enrique,

I will again ask my friend more about the C130 incident, he simply said his ship detected the C130 on radar whilst it was looking for British ships close to the islands…presumably to pass their position to the mainland and initiate an attack by the FAA. Creaking Door also has given you some excellent information.

HMS Cardiff was on the outer screen (defence ring) with HMS Exeter the day the FAA launched their last exocet. HMS Avenger was close to our position in transit to the islands to fire her 4.5″ gun in support of our troops that night. We detected the SuE radar when they first transmitted but never spotted it on radar. At about 19nm we (Cardiff) saw the exocet and other contacts closing fast. Exeter had seen them also and transmitted them on data Link 10; the contacts were heading closer towards Exeter and Avenger than Cardiff. Exeter fired Sea Dart around 15nm (I think) and again 10nm (again, I think) shooting down two A4’s. On Cardiff, our gun crews fired at Exeter’s Sea Darts! out of range for our small arms fire (nervous gun crews). Avenger opened fire with her 4.5″ gun and claims she hit the exocet…I don’t think so. Avenger’s gun crews also saw two A4’s over fly and drop weapons close to the ship. HMS Invincible was at least twenty miles away from us and was not in danger. The attackers had found the picket ships (Cardiff & Exeter) and made their attack…that was what we were there for. Avenger was, by pure chance transiting through our position at the time of the attack.

We had learned our lesson the hard way and fired chaff as soon as we were attacked and I think the exocet flew into the sea. Exeter was very quick to detect and fire her Sea Dart that day. She had better radar than Cardiff and could fire her missiles (due to improved software) 10-15 seconds before Cardiff. I witnessed this event on radar; it all happened very quickly and was tremendously scary but exciting for this 19 year old.

It may also be of interest to you to know that it was HMS Cardiff, not HMS Exeter that shot down Canberra B-108 on the 13 June (Arg time) 14 June (GMT). No other ships involved, just Cardiff who fired one single Sea Dart at a range of 32nm.
In Argentina it is believed that Cardiff and Exeter fired multiple Sea Darts at the FAA formation…not true. I witnessed this engagement also.

I have helped with this Wikipedia article and it is still evolving. I am determined to ensure HMS Cardiff’s service during the Falklands War is recorded accurately…somewhere.

Wikipedia – HMS Cardiff

Regards.

Ken.

C130 shot down by Sea Harrier

Enrique,

A very good friend of mine was serving on HMS Minerva during the Falklands/Malvinas war. It was his ship that vectored Commander ‘Sharkey’ Ward towards the C130 that was conducting a surface search in the area and eventually destroyed. It seems obvious that the C130 was in contact with a radar unit as it immediately descended and headed for Argentina when Ward’s Harrier (plus one other) turned towards them. Who was talking to this C130 and can you tell me anything about this engagement?

As a veteran of the same conflict, I salute you and your brothers-in-arms from Argentina.

Radar Malvinas

Regards.

Ken.
Radar Operator
HMS Cardiff (Type 42 destroyer)
1982

Ken,

Long shot time, but does a SHar Flyboy by the name of Dan Denham ring any bells? Cant remember the Sqn hes in though, but he joined FAA in 94? Bex

If it does, I’ll see if I can find some photos of his early “Service Career” LoL

No Bex, I left in 95…….sorry. Name does ring a bell, was he a chopper jockey initially?

One Hundred Days – Sandy Woodward

I thought it was excellent, a real insight into the thought process of the Task Force commander.

It was particularly good on the war from the viewpoint of the frontline ‘picket’ Type 42 destroyers (Woodward had once been captain of Sheffield) and also particularly good on the reasons and practicalities behind the sinking of Belgrano (Woodward was a submariner by trade).

Just finished it. A very well written and interesting book. I learned a lot of stuff that I had no idea was going on at the time.

The only problem I had was that he was a very ‘familiar’ character to me………hard to explain but all I can say is that some of his more traditional officer qualities were clearly on display here and that sometimes overwhelmed me. Make of that what you will.

In the preface to the second edition he appears to be none too happy with the fact that Major Ewen Southby Tailor, Royal Marines, who he says in his book Reasons in Writing is determined to find fault with his first edition and finds exactly one…………probably talking about earth moving historical stuff. Well, I found a basic error on page 372 (photos) where he describes Commander Christopher Craig’s ship HMS Alacrity as a Type 22 frigate. Alacrity was a Type 21. Petty I know but I can’t help myself!

That apart, a damn good read.

Remembered for sure this year…………….yours aye Sir!

Does anyone know what plans there are to celebrate the anniversary in the Falklands themselves? I heard recently that Typhoon’s will be sent down there soon to relieve the good old hard working Torndao F.3’s of 1435 Flt.

Have a look at this Falklands25 site, it updates fairly regularly:
http://www.falklands25.com/

Thanks TEEJ,

looks in great condition………better than in 1982!:D