What follows are extracts taken from the diary I started whilst onboard HMS Yarmouth in Gibraltar when we first heard the Falkland Islands had been invaded. It contains records made at the time, my own notes, notes given to me by various members of the ship's company, newpaper reports, memorabilia and personal photographs of those one hundred and nineteen days.

Over time many of the photographs, unlike the memories, have faded.

For those of you not familiar with the lingo I have provided a short Glossary.

April   |   May   |   June   |   July

APRIL 1982

2nd April HMS Yarmouth is in Gibraltar when we are told The Falkland Islands has been invaded.

3rd & 4th April: Remain alongside in Gibraltar

5th April: YARMOUTH and BROADSWORD sail from Gib on our way to the Far East.

5th April: Both ships are ordered to return to Gib. We arrive at 0300 next morning (6th April).

6th, 7th and 8th April Alongside - replenishing ship with war stores, extra food, ammo; also a medical officer plus extra medical stores.

9th April: Sail for Ascension Island with BROADSWORD.

10th April: Going South.

11th April: RAS with RFA OLMEDA.

12th and 13th April: Going South.

14th April: We do our first 24 hours at action stations which goes very well. We are also over flown by a Bear ‘D’.

15th April: At sea nearing the Ascension Island

16th April: Arrive Ascension Island, join up with HMS HERMES. Other ships at Ascension INVINCIBLE, ALACRITY and OLMEDA. Later in the day SIR TRISTRAM arrives from the West Indies, so starts the first of the vertreps. The end of a very hectic day and as night is drawing on Sam Mills, George Cable and myself go away in the ship's Gemini to ditch the gash - this was good fun until a large set of teeth came up along side, known to one and all as a Nobby Clark (Shark). This was also the last night we would be at anchor for quite some time.

17th April: There is a submarine alarm - all ships are told to sail at once. The submarine is thought to be a Soviet Victor class. This is the last time we see land until 1st May the East

Above: HMS HERMES   Right: SIR TRISTRAM vertreping with two Sea Kings
	Left: HERMES and ALACRITY who are anchored astern of us, our last night at anchor

Falklands: We all close round HERMES and INVINCIBLE to form an A/S screen. All is well; nothing happens.

18th April: At sea going South, PWO ‘A’ ‘U’ and I give the first of our talks on the Argentine forces; we will give three of these over the next two days.

19th April: We do a RAS (L) with OLMEDA and INVINCIBLE.

20th April: All day spent doing exercises

21st April: Once again RAS (L) with OLMEDA.

22nd April: A day of exercises.

23rd April:
2200 One Sea King goes into the sea, we spend all night looking for wreckage and the crewman. All we find is one wheel and some bits and pieces.The wind is quite strong - about force 6 or 7. L/S Quate is the coxswain of the sea boat.

24th April:
0900 We are ordered to give up the search for the missing crewmen - this is our first human loss of the war. During the afternoon we RAS (L) with OLMEDA - it is very rough. L/S Quate, A/B’s Williams, Cable and seaman Seaman and I are on the FX when an extra large wave comes inboard some of us get washed outboard. Our safety lines save us - we are cold and wet but OK.

25th April: We still steam South and hear that some helicopters have attacked the Submarine SANTA FE at South Georgia. A Task Force of ANTRIM, PLYMOUTH, BRILLIANT, ENDURANCE and TIDESPRING.

LEFT: We are bored so the SCR crew make a horse for a mascot. This requires 1 off SCR stool, 2 off gash bags, 18 off 177 paper roll tins, 1 off loo brush, 1 off piece of curtain from the wardroom, 1 off hat from Southend-on-Sea, a few silly sailors and 3 spare hours.

Later that day we learn South George is back in British hands after the landing of 1400 troops.

Above: ANTRIM, PLYMOUTH and BRILLIANT attacking South Georgia

26th - 27th - 28th - and 29th April: We steam South with RESOURCE and OLMEDA and run round them like a good sheep dog.

30th April: RAS Diso, Avcat from OLMEDA, RAS stores from RESOURCE. It takes 5½ hours - 2000 to 0130.

Ships have now joined up to make one Task Group. HERMES, INVINCIBLE, GLAMORGAN, SHEFFIELD, GLASGOW, COVENTRY, ARGONAUT, BROADSWORD, YARMOUTH, ARROW ALACRITY, APPLELEAF, OLMEDA, RESOURCE, ANTRIM, PLYMOUTH, ENDURANCE, BRILLIANT and TIDESPRING (a bit like Spring Train 82).

MAY 1982

1st May
0700-0900 Vulcans bomb Stanley airport.
1040 Action stations
1043 2 Mirage 230° - 95 miles
1044 launched 2 SHAR
1057 CAP
1106 Air Yellow
1135 Exocet released 260° - 100 miles
1142 The Exocet reaches its maximum range without doing any damage to us
1216 Air yellow
1300 270° closing fast enemy
1304 Mix up - friendly helicopters
1308 Air yellow
1325 Super Entendards 245° - 180 miles outward bound
1410 Air red; during this time YARMOUTH and BRILLIANT are to the North of East Falkland doing an ASW whilst ARROW, ALACRITY and GLAMORGAN are to the South of the Islands doing an NGS.
1412 235° - 130 miles
1425 Air yellow
1500 Air red 200° - 200 miles
1543 Splashed one aircraft, two dropped their bombs and scattered
1557 245° - 100 miles
1612 240° - 26 miles
1613 Airborne engagement
1739 275° - 100 miles
1811 Action mortar
1820 Bearing 188° torpedo HE
1832 Mortar fired
1845 Mortar fired
1847 Mortar fired
1915 Periscope sighted
1940 One Mirage ditches
1953 150° - 9 miles patrol boats
1956 Surface red
2008 3 Canberras in the area
2011 Depth charges dropped
2100 Action mortar
2123 Mortar fired
2123 Air yellow
2153 Fall out - our first day at war.

YARMOUTH fired 14 mortar bombs

ARROW has small holes in funnel and upper-works. One man on the Sea Cat system was hit

ALACRITY small holes in upper-works

GLAMORGAN damage by starboard Sea Cat, shot down one Canberra with the Sea Slug

Helos dropped 8 torpedoes, 13 Mk II depth charges

801 squadron - 1 Mirage Flight Lieutenant Barton brings down Lieutenant Peronu of Grupo 8 with a sidewinder

1613 Mirage shot down by Lieutenant Thomas and kills Captain Guerua

1641 Flight Lieutenant Penfold shoots down a Dagger of Grupo 6 and kills Lieutenant Ardilis

1645 Lieutenant Curtis of 801 squadron shoots down a Canberra and kills Lieutenant Gonzales (pilot) and Lieutenant Ibañez

2nd May
We all stay to the East of the Islands
1130 Action stations
1130 Air red
1134 Air yellow
1139 Fallout

RAS aft using the stump mast with RESOURCE. We fire a further 10 mortar bombs

801 squadron brings down a Mirage

HMSM CONQUEROR sinks the cruiser GERERAL BELGRANO

3rd May

4th May
1415 Action stations
1416 Aircraft 270° - 30 miles
1420 200° - 20 miles
1421 200° - 18 miles
1421 SHAR firing missiles
1426 SHEFFIELD hit by possible Exocet
1427 Air red
1428 Told by HERMES to join SHEFFIELD we ring on full ahead. ARROW has been told to join
1431 SHEFFIELD definitely hit by an Exocet
1432 De-arming 456 (our Wasp helicopter)
1435 Surface contact red 155
1437 Zippo 1 flash on the horizon
1437 Fired chaff Delta
1438 From GLAMORGAN 242° missile (Exocet)
1438 Action mortar
1440 from GLAMORGAN 120° hostile
1441 Exocet passed over YARMOUTH
1443 Flash ½ a mile astern of ALACRITY
1443 Flash on the horizon
1444 Hard right fired chaff
1449 2 contacts 240° - 30 miles
1452 Submarine sighted 245° from GLASGOW on surface
1505 456 to SHEFFIELD
1509 SHEFFIELD hit amidships starboard side - considerable damaged
1510 Burgler 240° , CAP from INVINCIBLE
1515 456 from SHEFFIELD with casualty
1517 Yarmouth and ARROW assisting SHEFFIELD
1527 Torpedo 050° from ARROW
1527 Action mortar
1528 Sonar contact
1529 Torpedo 060° from ARROW
1530 Mortar fired
1531 Request air assets am under torpedo attack
1531 Torpedo, mortar fired
1531 Riser 030°
1532 Torpedo 060° mortar fired
1539 Smoke on the horizon green 30
1549 Torpedo mortar fired
1550 Sea king closing torpedo launch area
1550 Torpedo 090° from ARROW mortar fired
1554 Torpedo 200° from Arrow
1554 Torpedo 320°
1600 Mortar fired
1600 Stream unifoxer
1601 Attacker contact green 65
1601 Action mortar
1602 Due to the amount of mortar bombs fired we come down to firing only one bomb at a time.
1602 Cease fire mortar (have fired 24 bombs)
1605 Torpedo 310° from ARROW
1611 Sonar contact 299° - 1000x from ARROW possible submarine
1612 Torpedo green 50
1613 Torpedo 010° from ARROW
1621 Torpedo 180° from ARROW
1642 Air yellow
1645 Torpedo 030°
1646 No HE on 030°
1726 Lines passed to SHEFFIELD
1735 Fire in SHEFFIELD getting out of hand
1735 HE contact 210°
1742 Surface contact red 20
1745 SHEFFIELD abandoning ship lines slipped
1747 Prepare to receive SHEFFIELD’s ships company by helo
1747 We check our ship's side as it is getting very warm
1749 Submarine contact 295° - 9 miles HELO
1800 456 Vetac submarine 240° - 4000x
1806 456 requires 2 more Mk 46 torpedoes
1807 Torpedo 090° coming towards us - seen by 456
1809 Mortar fired
1810 Torpedo from ARROW
1815 Stop to pick up survivors, 6 in number
1822 Survivors picked up
1825 I/C intends ARROW to sink SHEFFIELD by gun fire. YARMOUTH to provide ASW cover
1844 Aircraft 298° - 100 miles (4)
1845 Air red
1901 Air yellow
2020 ARROW and YARMOUTH have received 225 survivors from SHEFFIELD
2017 SHEFFIELD still floating, fire seems to be abating
2141 Fall out

Above: HMS SHEFFIELD on fire - a very sad sight

Later that evening RAS (L)

Total 25 mortar bombs fired, 4 Mk 11 depth charges and 5 Mk 44/46 torpedoes used

5th May: We spend a quite day in the TEZ - we are still all shocked by what we saw yesterday.

6th May
1800 Action stations
1800 Air red
1800 Aircraft 60 miles from COVENTRY (possibly 3)
1802 Now 295° - 120 miles (possibly 5)
1803 Two differnt threats
1818 Air yellow
1818 Air red
1831 Air yellow
1848 Fall out from action stations

In the morning we lose two Harriers due to poor weather conditions; both from 801 squadron - Lieutenant Commander Eyton-Jones and Lieutenant Curtis.

7th May:
1808 Action stations
1809 Threat 310° - 60 miles (possibly 3)
1809 Air red
1810 300° - 45 miles
1813 Air raid gone low possibly A4’s
1817 Mirage 3 - 270°
1822 Possible Entendards 310° - 40 miles
1824 4.5 fired
1826 ARROW over-flown
1826 SHAR launched from INVINCIBLE
1826 Possible A4’s 240°
1827 Fired chaff “C” 270° India band
1829 Possible threat 270° - 50 miles and 200° - 30 miles
1835 Fired chaff “C” 170° India band
1850 Air yellow
1855 Air red Zippo 4
1856 Problem with weapon arcs, chaff “C” 240° India band
1857 4.5 fired
1901 Air yellow
1921 Fall out

Amphibious Group leaves Ascension in the evening FEARLESS, INTREPID, CANBERRA, NORLAND and ALANTIC CONVEYOR

8th May
1054 Action stations
1055 Surface contact GLASGOW engaging with gun
1057 GLASGOW fired Sea Dart
1104 GLAMORGAN 992 out of action returning to the main body
1106 GLASGOW fired chaff
1109 Unknown target 267° - 11 miles
1111 Weapons tight sea harriers
1114 Contacts 250° - 52 miles speed slow
1121 Contacts spurious
1121 Fall out
1527 Action Stations
1530 Threat turning southwards 255° - 112 miles (CAP station 10)
1534 Threat 250° possible C 130
1536 Hostile 240° 100 miles
1609 Air yellow
1611 Continue with RAS
1850 Action stations, 3 contacts over the Islands 305° - 150 miles
1854 Main body under surveillance
1857 Contacts 260° - 90 miles
1858 Threat Air 1, Sub-surface 2 and surface 3, raid 240° - 60 miles tracking 330°
1859 Mirage 280°
1901 Losing UHF
1904 Possible 250° - 50 miles
1906 Sea Cat red 130 an aircraft (Sea King)
1917 Air yellow
2323 Action stations
2332 After damage control party provide 7 or 8 hands on QD
2344 Nobody on SHEFFIELD - boarding party to flight deck, CPO Green I/C - L/S Quate - A/B Biolettie - Sea Winn - L Stw Hubbard - L Air Galager - Sea Evans - RO Hall - Mne Arnold and Mr Hiley from HERMES
2350 We will come along side SHEFFIELD’s port side, boarding party will board. Swell is bigger than first thought
2352 Both engines stopped, 60 revs on
2354 Switched off starboard 3 inch

Jobs given to ships for the 8th and 9th

BROADSWORD into Falkland Islands

ALACRITY Port Stanley NGS

YARMOUTH tow SHEFFIELD

9th May

Above: Starboard side of HMS SHEFFIELD showing the hole made by the Exocet

0045 As YARMOUTH goes astern she pushes the starboard bulkhead of the Ops room in
0105 Tow commenced, we will have no one on board SHEFFIELD
0108 Seaspray radar 050° faint
0110 No restrictions on transfer of personal from SHEFFIELD by helo
0115 Faint active transmission 350°
0119 Sea King closing from 050°
0125 Sea calling but radio silence being kept
0135 Helo transfer will be on FX, surface contact reported by sea king 350° - 35 miles
0153 Tow commences
0208 HE contact closing fast 275°
0211 456 to investigate
0242 Fall out
0330 Transfer of personal completed 456 alert 8
1029 Action stations
1030 Air threat 200° - 80 miles
1036 Assessed aircraft have turned away 120 miles
1040 Air yellow
1050 Fall out

We stay in radio silence all day and only passive sonar; we feel very naked by ourselves with just a dead ship in tow behind us.

1308 Action stations - possible attack on main body

Above: HMS SHEFFIELD under tow by HMS YARMOUTH

1309 C130
1310 COVENTRY away boarding suspect (now known to be the trawler NARWAL)
1511 2 aircraft 275° - 60 miles COVENTRY will take first target
1513 C 130 - 255° outbound
1517 COVENTRY has birds firm on the above, birds away
1518 COVENTRY birds away second target
1519 Threat 285° - 35 miles tracking 060
1520 COVENTRY third birds away
1524 Possible SHAR 285° - 160 miles closing assessed COVENTRY’s birds missed
1528 Incoming 290° - 130 miles
1530 Incoming 290° - 75 miles skytrain C 130
1537 Incoming 300° - 60 miles strength 4
1540 Incoming 320° - 45 miles possible turning West
1543 Threat opening 310° - 60 miles
1546 All other hostile contacts outside 150 miles
1551 COVENTRY Fired birds at maximum range
1551 Air yellow
1557 Fall out
1715 Action stations
1717 Threat 290° - 190 miles from COVENTRY 110 miles from us
1720 Two CAP stations are out at 100 miles from INVINCIBLE in anticipation of raid
1724 Contacts gone low
1732 COVENTRY assessed raid over Stanley
1740 COVENTRY 280° - 140 miles from us opening
1741 Contacts still heading West 180 miles
1744 Contacts 200 miles opening
1751 COVENTRY lost contact 270° - 330 miles
1755 Contact 230° - 60 miles
1759 Friendly dippers returning from NARWHAL
1809 Air yellow
1814 Fall out
1840 Action stations
1845 290° closing fast strength 4 110 miles
1848 270° - 140 miles turning outwards
1850 180 miles opening fast
1852 Air yellow
1851 State 1
1855 Air red
1859 Pair 280°, other pair 260° estimated
1900 1 hostile 8 miles from COVENTRY flying overland Puma helo
1902 COVENTRY birds away at hostile (Puma splashed)
1903 From flags to COVENTRY BZ
1906 COVENTRY another slow moving contact 040° - 10 miles
1906 Air yellow
1912 Fall out

10th May
0530 SHEFFIELD starts to list badly
0710 SHEFFIELD rolls over to starboard and starts to sink. L/S Walker and I slip her - we have had her in tow for 29 hours. Also on the QD are Commander Morton (Captain) Lieutenant Commander Plummer (1st Lieutenant) CPO Larmor, LOEM Wrightson, LOEM Miller, L/S Mudd - and the saddest sight of all is Captain Salt from HMS SHEFFIELD watching his ship go to her final resting place deep beneath the waves. We all have tears in our eyes.

Later in the day ALACRITY sinks the 3,900 ton ISLA de los ESTADOS

Tanker RIO CARCARANIA sinks ? (Enemy transport ship)

BRISTOL group sails the UK-EXETER-CARDIFF-MINERVA-ANDROMEDA-ANTELOPE-ARDENT-AVENGER and BLUE RANGER

11th May: A quite day in the TEZ.
UGANDA joins the force

12th May:
1709 Action stations
1712 Air red
1715 From GLASGOW birds fired
1716 GLASGOW hit. 3 aircraft attack BRILLIANT and GLASGOW. BRILLIANT splashed 2x A4’s with Sea Wolf, third aircraft hit the water, a fourth aircraft is hit by own AA fire, 1 Skyhawk flown by Lieutenant Gavazzi from Grupo 5 is killed, the other pilots were Lieutenant Bustos, Lieutenant Nivoli and Lieutenant Ibarlucea all were killed and all were from Grupo 5.
The pilot who hit GLASGOW Lieutenant Fausto Gavazzi.
1723 Two CAP to BRILLIANT for her to control
1735 Possible dipper ditched
1740 Survivors sighted in the water 16 miles from YARMOUTH, 4 in number
1744 All personal sighted and being picked up
1746 Stand down
1837 Action stations
1839 Threat 270° - 200 miles from GLASGOW
1842 HERMES launches CAP
1846 Two CAPs returning 250°
1851 Raid opening to the West
1853 Weapons tight
1915 Air yellow
1922 Fall out

BRITISH ESK arrives

13th May
Quite day in the TEZ

14th May
BRITISH ESK leaves with SHEFFIELD survivors

15th May
Attacks on Pebble Island, SAS using 846 sea king (3), with GLAMORGAN for NGS.
Destroyed 6 Puccaras Grupo 3
4 Turbo Mentors 4th Naval Attack Squadron
1 Skyvan Coast Guard

16th May
Quite day in the TEZ

800 Squadron attacks the naval transport BUEN SUCESO, the BUEN SUCESO was still in Fox Bay at the surrender.

RIO CARCARANA sunk off Port Stanley by ANTELOPE flight (Sea Skua) this was a tanker.

VALIANT arrived on station.

17th May
1057 Action stations possible air raid two low bogeys 250 miles closing from the West
1101 Air yellow
1114 Fall out
1124 Action stations possible air raid from the West
1126 Handbrake racket - CAP investigating zippo 4 - 240° air red chaff “C” India band 305°
1127 Fired chaff
1132 Two possible contacts 100 miles ahead of CAP
1146 Air yellow CAP found nothing
1152 Fall out

18th May
1033 Action stations
1034 Air red
1046 Air yellow
1051 Fall out

ATLANTIC CONVEYOR arrives plus CANBERRA and the amphibious force

Below: Sketches of ships of the Argentine Navy

ATLANTIC CONVEYOR gives 809 Squadron 4 SHAR’s to HERMES and 6 GR 3’s

INVINCIBLE gets 4 SHAR’s

HERMES gives 4x sea king 5’s to FORT AUSTIN 826 Squadron

19th May
Out to the East of the TEZ getting ready for Friday 21st

BIRMINGHAM group sail UK, SOUTHAMPTON-DIOMEDE-DANAE-BACCHANTE-LOWESTOFT-BRECON and LEDBURY

Royal Navy's ships of the Task Force

20th May
From dawn we start getting into our positions in the screen ready to take the amphibious force into San Carlos, course West, speed 11 knots, spacing between ships 1000 yards.

Whilst on our way West the weather closed down.

21st May
0000 ARDENT into Falkland Sound NGS at Goose Green
0100 Action stations
0123 Sea King dropped 1 depth charge possible submarine reclassified non sub
0148 PLYMOUTH with ELK-CANBERRA-NORLAND, South East of us FEARLESS I/C
0152 EUROPIC FERRY told to break out ammo
0210 FEARLESS and INTREPID pass through the gap
0240 PLYMOUTH group into San Carlos
0240 Defence stations all threats white
0410 Pass into Falkland Sound
0430 ANTRIM air red, action stations
0450 ANTRIM - NGS
0453 Fall out defence stations
0630 Start landings
0840 Sea king dropped 1 depth charge
0930 Joined by ARGOUNAUT and BROADSWORD with LSL’s and EUROPIC FERRY pass through the gap
1206 Air yellow
1230 Cap at 200° - 42 miles 4xSHAR
050 - 42 miles 2xSHAR
Around the force 1x SHAR
1232 Entendard 270°
1232 Enemy tanker hit by ARDENT gun fire
1235 Air red
1247 4.5 inch engage Pucaras at 8 miles
1249 4.5 inch jammed right gun ½ cocked
1254 Cap destroys 2 x A4’s, earlier shot down 2 Puma’s and one Bell helo, at 0815 SHAR shot down a Chinook helo (army) with 30mm cannon fire Flight Lieutenant Hare No 1 Squadron, 1st Puma Flight Lieutenant Hare, 2nd Puma Squadron Leader Pook No 1 Squadron
1315 Contact 258° - 80 miles strength 2
1321 Possible Handbrake 270° supper entendards
1325 Possible raid - CAP intercepting low bogeys 230° closing overland 10 miles
1327 Alarm aircraft Mirages (3)
1335 ANTRIM has unexploded bomb on board, (Captain Moreno)
1337 Sea Cat alarm aircraft red 160° low
1339 Confirmed Mirage dropped load overland
1340 210° hostiles closing fast - low from ANTRIM
1341 Red 090 Mirage lost in cloud
1349 Explosion on land forward of ALACRITY
1355 ANTRIM closing BROADSWORD for protection weapon systems out of action
1358 Hostile 250° - 80 miles
1359 Possible Mirage 142° - 80 miles (4) closing
1403 Hostile 120° - 8 miles from ANTRIM
1425 3 aircraft 50 miles
1435 BROADSWORD hit 8 hurt splinter damage (Major Martinez)
1457 6 aircraft from the West
1503 4.5 inch aircraft
1506 2 mirage tracking left to right
1509 2 Pucaras splashed by CAP. One of the kills went to Lieutenant Ward.

Other aircraft shot down so far
0930 Pucara Grupo 3 Captain Benitz (stinger).
1016 Dagger Grupo 6 Lieutenant Bean shot down by ARGONAUT /PLYMOUTH sea cat.
1210 Pucara Grupo 3 Major Tomba 30mm cannon by Lieutenant Ward.
1304 2 Skyhawks Grupo 4 Lieutenant Lopez and Lieutenant Manzotti (sidewinder) by Lieutenant Commander Blissett and Lieutenant Commander Thomas.
1420 Dagger Grupo 6 Lieutenant Launa (Sidewinder ) by Lieutenant Commander Frederiksen.
1453 3 Daggers Grupo 6 Major Piuma - Captain Donadille - Lieutenant Senn (Sidewinder) 2 to Lieutenant Thomas, 1 to Lieutenant Ward.

1511 2 Skyhawk’s from 3rd Naval Attack Squadron splashed both by Sidewinder Lieutenant Commander Philippi and Lieutenant Márquez, kills to Lieutenant Morell and Flight Lieutenant Leeming
1520 ARGOUNAT splashed 1 Mirage
1541 320° 1½ miles from BROADSWORD person in water
1555 ARDENT attacked by bombs from Mirage
1609 Air yellow
1714 Air red
1717 Unknown 250° - 120 miles
1725 YARMOUTH under attack - we don’t know where from
1727 250° strength, many aircraft 40 miles
1728 Classified Entendards CAP engaging
1732 260° - 18 miles possibly 4 aircraft
1733 4.5 inch aircraft blind Skyhawks
1734 Green 140 alarm aircraft
1735 270° - 6 miles
1735 4.5 cease fire
1735 ARGONAUT hit - 2 unexploded bombs onboard, ARGONAUT fires her Sea Cat and splashes one aircraft. Lieutenant Guillermo Lower Grippa in a Macchi 339. Two Skyhawks dropped 10 bombs, two entered the ship - one in the boiler room , second bomb hit forward below the waterline, passed through a fuel tank and into the Seacat magazine. The two ratings in the Seacat magazine killed instantly. YARMOUTH’s Wasp starts taking off ARGONAUT’s wounded, PLYMOUTH towed ARGONAUT into San Carlos.
1744 Two A 4’s splashed by CAP, ARDENT hit by Captain Robles - Captain Gonzalezs - Lieutenant Bernhardt, 456 fired at.
1747 270° - 40 miles unknown, 4.5 aircraft green 30 ceased firing
1748 BRILLIANT has damage ops-room , splinter damage
1752 Two Mirages splashed by CAP, CO of 801 Squadron and Lieutenant Thomas, they downed a third
1753 290° - 8 miles strength 3 bogies assumed CAP
1756 Hostile 230° - 20 miles opening
1758 4.5 aircraft alarm open fire
1759 Aircraft fly over YARMOUTH towards ARDENT
1800 ARDENT hit a second time, stand by to assist her
1800 1 CAP splashed, from No 1 Squadron a GR 3
1804 4.5 aircraft ships head 3 in number, aircraft which carried out 2nd attack on ARDENT, pilot’s Lieutenant Commander Alberto - Jose Arca, they put three bombs in the same place as the first attack
1808 Bootlace 281
1815 2 at 100 range 40 miles, Bootlace 250°
1816 YARMOUTH under attack aircraft red 30
1817 Pan fire on a machine gun, 315° - 15 miles
1819 Going to assist ARDENT
1820 ARDENT abandoning ship. YARMOUTH going alongside her port side, under attack - fire 4.5 and Seacat
1845 All survivors onboard
1855 Fouled ARDENTS port anchor cable on our starboard screw
1900 Air yellow
1903 Both shafts now clear -a very long 3 minutes; and so we leave yet another sad sight
1910 Casualties stand by to transfer to CANBERRA, some by helo for immediate medical attention. ARDENT has twenty four killed and thirty wounded
1915 1 stretcher casualties to CANBERRA by 456
1922 Air red
1932 Handbrake 310°
1934 Air yellow
1935 Air red
2002 Casualties for transfer flight deck
2011 Air yellow
2039 ARDENT survivors muster on flight deck for transfer by LCVP to CANBERRA.
Saying goodbye to ARDENT survivors is very moving; we put them into the LCVP’s and they leave us, some giving us 3 cheers, some crying with relief and others simply standing silently watching
2024 Fall out. YARMOUTH had been at action stations for 19½ hours

Above: Approaching and alongside the stricken Ardent
Above: Rescue completed the bomb damaged Ardent is abandoned

Above: I have a brother-in-law in the Argentine Navy. He thought these gifts might help. 25th May is the Argentine National Day Below: Pictures from the reverse of the calendar he sent

22nd May
1035 Action stations
1122 Air yellow
1123 Jamming on AAWK
1124 FPB 30 miles being attacked by CAP 150°
1130 FPB beached
1221 Unknown 290° - 25 miles
1333 Pucaras closing from the East
1325 Possible low bogies 195° - 12 miles
1342 Confirmed CAP
1343 Air yellow
1343 Air red, BRILLIANT under attack
1345 Air yellow
1352 Weapons tight 175°
1713 Two shots fired from the flight deck in error when moving a LMG
1720 Submarine sighted on the surface at Terra Metas Point
1725 Rearm 456
1741 Heads up West
1752 From COVENTRY Moonbase Mirages 3’s
1759 Air red
1802 Mirage in the Sound near BRILLIANT
1805 PLYMOUTH under attack from Mirages
1810 Threat 259° - 100 miles strength 3
1812 Threat 270° - 85 miles strength 6
1816 Threat 260° - 6miles tracking South
1820 Threat 230° - 50 miles tracking East
1824 Good lookout for A4's 190° slow
1828 Another threat 270° - 100 miles
1834 Threat 270° - 80 miles strength 2
1837 Weapons tight
1904 From Coventry launching birds (did not fire)
2001 Air yellow
2009 Flash possible Skyhawk attack from BRILLIANT
2010 Air red closing 100°
2015 1 bomb dropped North of PLYMOUTH
2016 Bogies 180° - 8 miles
2029 Round Table 345° 1 sweep
2036 Air yellow
2045 Air white
2048 Air red
2049 Air white
2100 Fall out

23rd May
0015 Joined up with BRILLIANT going to put SBS on M/V MONSONNEN
0500 MONSONNEN beached, in the area of North arm. BRILLIANT going back to main group, we return to Sky Hawk pass. We have to go through Falkland Sound by ourselves. Daylight comes before we complete journey, I have never seen so many crossed fingers or people doing time-distance problems. In the event we finally get back to San Carlos without any trouble even if we did do 26 knots through the Islands.
1040 Action stations
1107 Air red
1157 Possible low bogies 210° from ARGONAUT
1200 Weapons tight
1201 Unknown 225° - 12 miles
1202 Bootlace 194° mirages closing fast bogies on INTREPID starboard beam identified CAP, boot lace from ARGONAUT 120°
1213 Air yellow
1245 SBS have left the ship
1307 Air red threat North
1310 Low bogies closing 050° - 2 miles from ARGONAUT
1314 Air yellow
1334 CAP has splashed a Puma and chasing another two, Puma (army) shot down by Flight Lieutenant Morgan
1337 Splashed second Puma and an Augusta. Augusta 109 (army) 30mm cannon fire Flight Lieutenant Morgan and Flight Lieutenant Leeming. Third Puma (army) 30mm cannon Flight Lieutenant Morgan.
1411 Fourth Puma (army) 30mm cannon Lieutenant Gedge and Lieutenant Commander Braithwait
1423 Possible unknown 270° - 30 miles spurious
1427 Lynx from ARGONAUT attacked surface contact assessing damage
1455 456 closing weapons tight
1538 Possible air attack
1636 Air red mirages
1639 20mm fired
1640 All guns firing 1 bogie splashed by BROADSWORD, this aircraft knocked off ANTELOPE'S after mast
1642 ANTELOPE reports damage
1658 ANTELOPE reports an unexploded bomb (2000lb) on board. This bomb hit the PO’s mess, killed a steward and wounded two others
1705 ANTELOPE has lost compasses and weapon systems operated by emergency means and she is anchoring at position 26
1706 Fast contacts from 315° - A4s
1708 Round Table 175°
1715 Heads up North
1716 Round Table 030°
1725 225° - 6 miles
1728 possible two bogies splashed by BROADSWORD
1735 Assessed by AAWC possible 3 splashed 1 damaged
1754 Air yellow
1759 Air red - Mirage III racket 270°
1804 310° aircraft engaging - opening North
1809 320° - 18 miles from ARGONAUT bogies closing
1811 170° overland spurious
1813 050°
1815 CAP splashed 1 Mirage a Dagger from Grupo 6 pilot Lieutenant Volponi, Lieutenant Hale got him with a Sidewinder
1820 309° Mirage III strength 2
1827 No CAP at all now bogies 320°
1832 CAP now joining 020° strength 2
1848 Possible hostiles North disregarding
1902 Air yellow
1933 Weapons tight 270°
2052 Assume State 1
2059 Fall out

Note, during the middle and morning ANTRIM left GLAMORGAN arrived. In later days Lieutenant Commander Braithwaite would shoot down a puma at Shag Cove House on West Falkland.

HMS ANTELOPE with main mast broken after being hit by an A4 (Skyhawk). The first bomb hole is just above the waterline under the bridge wing. The aircraft shot down in this attack was An A4 from Grupo 5 pilot Lieutenant Guadagnini and the pilot whose plane hit the mast Lieutenant Filipini.

24th May
1034 Action stations, ship under possible air attack, INTREPID over flown by jet no CAP up
1046 Air yellow
1233 Heads up West air red/yellow
1330 Unidentified contact 150° - 50 miles
1342 Flash racket 260° Mirage, air red
1344 Aircraft 270° - 70 miles from BROADSWORD
1345 5 Skyhawks closing from the West (from army)
1346 Round Table 090°, guns engaging 4 aircraft
1351 180° FEARLESS aircraft CAP
1355 SIR GALAHAD has a bomb on board, attack carried out by Lieutenant Bono
1355 SIR LANCELOT has a bomb on board, attack carried out by Lieutenant Vasquez and Ensign Martinez
1358 Possible hostile 190° - 80 miles
1400 YARMOUTH moves to South of Sound to cover LSL’s
1401 Hostile 270°
1402 Mirage closing fast 290° - 60 miles
1404 C130 70 miles possible tac-die low bogies closing from COVENTRY
1405 low bogies from South from FEARLESS all gun’s engaging
1406 Aircraft going across stern
1408 Sea Cat miss-fire raid closing from South (CAP)
1410 Hostile closing 130° strength 2
1411 Racket mirage - INTREPID aircraft red 45
1414 Skyhawk’s flying up creek from PLYMOUTH, all guns engaging
1415 two enemy splashed by YARMOUTH
1417 Rapier’s claim 5 planes shot down
1418 Unidentified aircraft 010
1420 Heads up South from FEARLESS
1425 SIR GALAHAD may beach herself
1428 3 sand s to relieve 3 RM’s to rearm guns
1432 Land forces report raid closing from the West
1448 Hostile aircraft closing from the South CAP
1449 Low bogies 270° in the Sound disregard
1454 From COVENTRY possible round table 170°
1459 Hostile aircraft 145°
1500 Air yellow, weapons tight
1548 Gun fire heard on hills
1609 Air red
1611 Gun fire heard astern
1615 Air yellow
1920 Stand by to receive SBS
2057 Assume State 1
2103 Fall out

Aircraft brought down 3 Daggers from Grupo 6 Lieutenant Castillo, Major Puga and Captain Diaz, a Skyhawk from Grupo 4 pilot Lieutenant Bono, multi weapons ARGONAUT, FEARLESS, Rapier and Blowpipe

The end of HMS Antelope as she sinks beneath the waves

25th May - Argentine's National Day
The night of 24/25th YARMOUTH to take SBS to Port Salvado, having got there we find there boat engines do not work. Having made as much noise as possible we push off before some one takes a pot shot at us and return to San Carlos.

1045 Action stations
1052 Ship in 1z
1130 Aircraft 010° from ARGONAUT opening spurious
1132 Off India band
1158 Ridged Raider capsized; stop engines - SBS in the water
1209 Gunfire heard astern from shore
1212 Good lookout all round
1224 Air red
1230 Unknown closing from North at 16 miles
1232 Rapiers report possible attack from the North
1234 Classified Skyhawk’s tracking West
1236 1 splashed by COVENTRY Lieutenant Garcia in an A4 of Grupo 4
1239 Contact 060 8 miles tracking North West
1248 Air yellow
1300 CAP 030° - 30 miles
1310 Contact 350° - 60 miles
1335 Air red
1339 135° - 12 miles possible low bogies
1422 Air yellow
1450 Air red
1458 Air yellow
1528 Air red 1 splashed threat 4 raiders, ship bombed no damage, the pilot baled out Lieutenant Lucero of Grupo 4
1530 Aircraft did have refuelling probe, pilot in the water
1553 COVENTRY splashed 1 hostile
1542 One other trailing smoke seen by PLYMOUTH, flash Bootlace 060° Mirage III 40 miles
1544 Possible CAP
1545 Bootlace 060° from BROADSWORD 2 from EWO Bootlace 060° faded
1600 Rapiers will be testing shortly
1619 Flash low bogies 180° - 6 miles (from Rapier site)
1625 Spurious
1640 Air yellow
1657 Landing craft coming alongside to collect SBS
1707 Heads up West
1732 Low bogies 320° air red
1734 Unidentified aircraft 000 from FEARLESS
1735 Assessed as CAP/Dipper
1740 Air yellow
1745 Gunfire heard port side
1747 Square Leg from COVENTRY, Entendards and A4’s
1757 Hostiles 275° - 120 miles
1800 Air red
1810 Threat now 271° - 64 miles
1813 Hostiles assessed to have gone low
1816 Hostile 290° - 38 miles
1818 Possible two raids
1819 CAP engaging on of the raids
1821 Low bogies 302° - 100miles
1824 Low bogies 310° - 100 miles
1825 BROADSWORD under attack by Lieutenant Colonel Zini
1827 COVENTRY has been hit and may capsize - tipping over, COVENTRY took three bombs (1000lb) each COVENTRY had 19 killed, pilot who got COVENTRY Ensign Jorge Nuevo
1829 Could be waves of hostiles
1831 BROADSWORD hit by bomb aft
1835 BROADSWORD 12 miles North of Pebble Island
1837 Low bogies 125° - 6 miles CAP
1839 ARROW has bogies 125° - 11 miles
1842 FEARLESS sending out SAR
1845 Unidentified aircraft 42 miles North
1852 Gunfire heard ashore
1911 COVENTRY position 310° - 33 miles
1945 Unknown closing, friendly CAP
2120 Assume state 1
2130 Fall out

We hear that 2 Super Entendards have carried out an Exocet attack and hit ALANTIC CONVEYOR, Captain North

HMS Coventry's death roll

26th May
1045 Action stations
1222 Air red, Round Table 300°
1228 Threat closing from the North West, from CAP
1234 Round Table 210°
1239 Air yellow
1325 Air red
1332 Weapons tight
1351 Air yellow, weapons tight all round
1411 Air red, flash bogies closing 230° - 30 miles
1414 Bogies could be 8 miles away now low
1421 Air yellow
1612 Heads up West 165° - 5 miles
1625 Possible air raid developing from Stanley, air red
1659 Possible aircraft 300°
1707 Contacts 264° not CAP 40 miles
1709 Now 250° - 20 miles strength 2
1710 Gone low 230° - 9 miles
1711 Teapot 314° Mirages
1714 Another two 213° - 15 miles
1716 Another two 250° - 50 miles closing strength 2
1724 Flash unknown pinnacle 270
1731 Teapot 320° Mirage V classified Blue Fox - CAP
1748 Air yellow
2053 Air white
2107 Assume state 2

27th May
1042 Action stations
1110 Air yellow
1424 Air red
1429 456 landed ashore
1545 Air yellow
1611 Air red, possible contacts 14 miles - 140°
1620 Air yellow
1653 Air red, two aircraft closing from the East, Piecrust
1656 Air yellow
1658 CAP report engaging two aircraft Mirages, air red
1704 Air yellow
1707 1 CAP shot down and 1 damaged
1713 Pilot ejected over Goose Green
1721 Weapons tight
1933 Aircraft, Aircraft 2 Skyhawk’s
1934 Assessed attacking Brigade HQ, all guns engaging YARMOUTH hit both aircraft, both left trailing smoke
1934 12 bombs dropped at Ajax Bay killing 6 and wounding twenty seven
1936 Assessed attacking Brigade HQ
1937 Assessed to have dropped ‘Parachute’ bombs
1940 Another raid coming in (from Rapiers)
1956 ARROW reports that a Skyhawk splashed, brought down by 40mm fire from FEARLESS and INTREPID aircraft from Grupo 5, pilot Lieutenant Velasco
2005 Air yellow
2013 Aircraft closing fast, Round Table Skyhawk’s 270° gone low, no CAP at present
2015 Aircraft high 5 miles fuze 4.5 high, not CAP
2017 Flash hostile 230° now closing 25 miles
2020 Bootlace 170° Mirage closing from EWO
2022 Assessed hostiles 185° - 10 miles
2029 From ashore two hostiles closing from the West
2030 Low bogies 220° - 8 miles from ARGONAUT
2032 Bootlace 220° 1 sweep only + 1 sweep 290° from EWO
2033 Low bogies 225°
2045 Air yellow
2048 Air red low bogies 202° from ARROW
2058 Possible Bootlace 060°
2059 Bootlace 155°
2101 Weapons tight
2102 Air yellow
2120 Assume state 1
2126 Assume state 2

Right: San Carlos Water

It's been a funny old day. Went to the other side of the water to SIR LANCELOT to pick up some 7.62 ammo for the LMG’s. SIR LANCELOT still has her bomb in the accommodation we had a look at it and left there was Me, L/S Quate, Sea Beven, A/B Cable. We got half way back to the ship when the weather closed down, couldn't see a thing, nearly hit FEARLESS, then got into a right mess - some rotten bastard dropped bombs on us as a fine state, seaboat full of ammo but no guns, get back to the ship and told to piss off by the OOW as there is an air raid on, not that we had not noticed, oh no!. So we go ashore with the Royal Marines, have a look at the wounded in the Red and Green Life Machine, have big eats then return to the ship after 6 hours. We were well looked after and even a tot (or two) was enjoyed.

The next boat going in shore was to fill sand bags. Just as they reached the beach there was an air raid and the boys were told to jump into a trench for safety which they did without hesitation. Shame it was the SHIT TRENCH, sorry George.

28th May
1050 Action stations
1244 Air red possible CAP
1300 Air yellow
1303 Weapons tight
1450 Air red
1505 Air yellow
1540 Air red
1552 Air yellow
1602 Air red
1604 Low bogies 300° - 8 miles opening to the West
1610 Low bogies 280° - 5 miles
1616 Air yellow
1833 Air red
1837 Air yellow
1935 Bogies picked up by Piecrust air red
1938 Air yellow
2010 1 Pucara splashed - pilot captured by foxhounds
2100 Air white
2111 Fall out

29th May
0505 Action stations, air red
0517 Ship in 1z
0524 Air yellow
0525 State 1
1045 Action stations
1133 Weapons tight
1340 Union Flag flying high at Goose Green following Argentinean surrender
1445 Orange forces at Jemex Point seen by our helo
1507 2 special forces personel picked up by 456 returning to INTREPID
1520 Air red
1533 Aircraft heard in the Sound
1534 Heads up aircraft in the gap
1535 1 aircraft splashed by Foxhounds a Dagger of Grupo 6 pilot Lieutenant Bernhardt
1537 456 over flown by a Mirage to the North
1636 Air yellow
1653 Air red/yellow
1658 Air yellow
1849 Air red
1851 Low bogies 395° - 3 miles
1915 Air yellow
2111 Fall out

Lieutenant Commander Broadwaters aircraft slipped over the side of INVINCIBLE during a hard turn to starboard, he ejected (Harrier of 801 Squadron).

Other events during the day

1 Scout helicopter shot down by Pucaras, pilot Richard Nunn

The submarine ONYX arrived

One of D’s Subalterns was shot dead when accepting surrender of a position (Jim Barry)

2 Pucaras shot down at Goose Green by 2 Para

I/C at Goose Green Air Vice Commodore Wilson Pedroza + 150 men and 900 troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Italo Pioggi surrendered. 250 dead Argentineans and 1200 prisoners. 2 Para lost 17 killed and 35 wounded.

5 Brigade transferred to CANBERRA and NORLAND from QEII at South Georgia.

Macchi 339 Naval Attack Squadron, pilot Lieutenant Miguel killed, brought down by Blowpipe.

Two other Pucaras from Grupo 3 Brought down, Lieutenant Gruzado and Lieytenant Argañaraz (Blowpipe and small arms).

1 Pucara from Grupo 1 Lieutenant Gimenez killed, crashed into high ground.

30th May
1040 Action stations
1200 GLAMORGAN used Sea Slug in NGS mode on Port Stanley airfield
1511 Air red contacts to the North West Friendly
1512 Air yellow
1625 Air red
1643 Explosion heard ashore (old ammo)
1710 Air yellow
2108 Fall out

1 Harrier lost to AA fire

Group came under Exocet attack, two fired non hit, two A4’s splashed. AVENGER shoots down an Exocet. The 2 A4’s were from Grupo 4 pilots Lieutenant Vasquez and Lieutenant Castill both killed EXETERS Sea Dart.

HMS Yarmouth under attack from Sky Hawks

31st May - my birthday!
0045 Pick up 3 paratroopers from Great Island, we have to use our sea boat when we get to the Island we find the beach is all rocks which knock the bottom out of the boat, still we get it back OK. Early in the forenoon MINERVA is sent to the South to investigate and board a surface contact it turns out to be the Hospital Ship BAHIA PARAISO
1050 Action stations
2013 Air red aircraft high spotted by INTREPID
2024 Alarm aircraft astern
2035 Air yellow
2120 Fall out

What a way to spend a birthday

Night of the 31st Hew Pike of 3 Para secured Estancia House within sight of Mount Kent.

42 Commando (K coy) and SAS troops took Mount Kent. Moody Brook 12 miles to the South West.

JUNE 1982

1st June
0745 Action stations
0817 Possible hostile 170° - 25 miles
0825 Rapiers report 2 x A4’s - 2 x Mirages - 5 x Canberra’s closing
0832 Weapons tight
0834 Air yellow
0851 Fall out
1056 Action stations
1338 Air red hostiles 330° - 60 miles
1345 CAP splashed C 130 by Lieutenant Commander Ward CO of 801 Squadron shot down C 130 using Sidewinder and guns he was 240 miles from the carriers, with the CO was Lieutenant Thomas. The C 130 was from Grupo1 Pilot Captain Krause + six others killed.
1402 Air yellow
1426 Air yellow
1427 CAP investigating hostile to the South
1440 Air yellow
2021 Hostile to the North CAP chasing
2022 Air red
2047 Air yellow
2052 Air red Bootlace 106°
2059 Air Yellow
2100 Fall out

801 SHAR lost to AA fire near Stanley airport the pilot was Flight Lieutenant Mortimer, he was in the water for 8 hours before he was rescued by Lieutenant Commander Keith Dudley of 820 Squadron.

42 Commando flown up to Mount Kent they secured the adjoining ridge line of Mount Challenger.

3 Para held Mount Estancia and Mount Vernet and the SAS Murrell Heights.

2 Para airlifted to Fitzroy 1st lift of 78 of ‘A’ Company, 2nd lift of 78 men of ‘B’ Company in our only Chinook.

2230 We leave San Carlos for the last time (at this time we did not know this). We have been at action stations or closed up for the past 12 days, sleeping at our action station, air attacks on most days, during daylight odd jobs at night; we are the longest Frigate/Destroyer to remain in San Carlos. Oh what joy to leave that terrible place.

2315 RAS (L).

San Carlos Water
Fearless, Nordland, Fort Austin, Resource	Blue Rover, Nordland, Baltic Ferry, Fearless, Atlantic Causeway

2nd June
1100 Joined up with the main group, CARDIFF, BRISTOL, EXETER, AMBUSCADE. ALACRITY, ACTIVE, INVINCIBLE, HERMES, BRILLIANT, BROADSWORD, AVENGER, IRIS REGENT, FORT AUSTIN, SIR TRISTRAM, STROMNESS,BLUE ROVER,UGANDA, NORDIC FERRY AND OLMEDA
1545 Start vertrep with REGENT and FORT AUSTIN
1617 Action stations
1624 fired chaff ‘D’ possible Entendards 223°
1641 Air yellow
1724 Action stations Zippo 4 called (missile release) possible raid from the West Handbrake
1725 Air red
1732 Air yellow
1733 State 1
1739 Fall out
1800 Carry on with vertrep then RAS (L) with OLMEDA

Me after 12 days and nights at action stations.
Have not had a good bath and doby which will go down very well with a good nights sleep.

3rd June
We spent all day in the rest and repair area (TRRA) with STENA SEASPREAD, ARGOUNAT, IRISHMAN and SALVAGEMAN.

STENA SEASPREAD	ARGONAUT and STENA SEASPREAD

3rd June

In the TRRA 14 hours stand off to each watch.

Brazil releases our Vulcan.

Seven foot swell running. STENA SEASPREAD sent over their rubber boat - it didn't like our Mediterranean ladder which put a large hole in it.

Left to Right
Dave Pither RM
App Edwards
Ginge Gourley AB
Smegers Seaman Ord
Dave Roe AB
Holly Hollingshead Ord
Me

5th June

RAS Avcat - remain with the main group (BROADSWORD, HERMES, ACTIVE, FORT AUSTIN, OLNA, ANDROMEDA, REGENT, SIR BEDIVERE, INVINCIBLE, BRISTOL FORT GRANGE, BEILLIANT, AMBSCADE, CARDIFF, MINERVA and EXETER)

During the Dogs detach with CARDIFF for NGS

6th June
0303 Hands to emergency stations fire in the boiler room
0305 Fire extinguished
0330 Action stations
0502 4.5 stood to HE fuzed N3 for 080° North target height 600
0509 4.5 fired 10 rounds for effect
0511 4.5 fired 10 rounds for effect
0556 161 rounds expended
0604 Air and surface warnings from CARDIFF red
0605 Possible enemy surface craft 220° 10 miles
0610 The ship has fire control radar locked on to us, knocked it out with 4.5
0617 CARDIFF 3 miles ahead CARDIFF fires star shell formation ‘O’ surface contact now 225° - 7 miles
0620 Course 180°, flood alarm in hull outfit 15
0622 Course 120°
0625 4 surface contacts
0626 Course 230°
0634 No flooding in hull outfit 15
0640 Wasp alert 8
0641 Contacts tracking South 14 knots
0647 Course 265° speed 25 knots
0649 Course 280°
0653 - 4 contacts are our LST’s
0707 Surface white, air yellow
0714 Fall out

187 miles to the main group
BRISTOL, CARDIFF, ACTIVE, AMBUSCADE, OLMEDA, TIDEPOOL, BROADSWORD, HERMES, FORT GRANGE, INVINCIBLE, FORT AUSTIN, REGENT ALACRITY, BRILLIANT ATLANTIC CAUSWAY, SIR BEDIVERE, OLWEN and NORLAND

RAS (L)

7th June

Stay with the main group BRISTOL, CARDIFF, ACTIVE, AMBUSCADE, OLMEDA, TIDEPOOL, BROADSWORD, HERMES, FORT GRANGE, INVINCIBLE, FORT AUSTIN, REGENT ALACRITY, BRILLIANT ATLANTIC CAUSWAY, SIR BEDIVERE, OLWEN, NORLAND,ARROW, ONLA, BLUE ROVER, ENGADINE, MINERVA, NORDIC FERRY, ANDROMEDA, FARNELLA, CORDELLA, and PICT

CARDIFF splashed 1 Canberra out of 4 doing a high level bombing run.

ATLANTIC CAUSWAY, FARNELLA, CORDELLA, and PICT into San Carlos.

No NGS tonight?  Wrong! During the dogs, off we go again for NGS

8th June
0200 Action stations
0213 CARDIFFS gun has a broken breech which will take 3 to 4 hours to repair, YARMOUTH to start firing as soon as possible. CARDIFF will remain off shore and try to effect repairs.
0230 From CARDIFF in view of the importance of tonights firings can YARMOUTH make another 89 rounds available if required - Affirmative
0241 Unknown surface craft 075° - 6 miles
0247 4.5 stand to
0251 - 10 salvos fire for effect (South of Stanley)
0254 10 salvos fire for effect
0257 20 salvos
0300 10 salvos
0303 10 salvos
0305 10 salvos
0309 Radar transmission 060
0312 10 salvos
0316 10 salvos
0319 10 salvos
0326 10 salvos
0329 We take on CARDIFF's targets
0332 Ship under fire from the shore. (Some of us used to stand on the upper deck to watch the fire fight and other happenings - then we had some air burst round us with little bits of metal flying about. Being heroes we all took cover very fast.)
0333 10 salvos
0336 Skyguard 010° - 2 sweeps
0337 Explosion 25 yards port side
0346 10 salvos
0347 Skyguard radar locked on
0407 10 salvos
0409 5 salvos
0412 16 salvos
0415 10 salvos
0426 Fire control radar locked on 043°
0440 NGS completed. 187 rounds fired
0510 Fall out, run back to main group, CARDIFF, BRISTOL, ACTIVE, ARROW, OLMEDA, AMBUSCADE, BROADSWORD, HERMES, RESOURSE, FORT GRANGE, SIR BEDIVERE, TIDESPRING, INVINCIBLE and BRILLIANT
1712 Action stations
1718 YARMOUTH to move further North in sector
1720 Fall out, air yellow
1810 Detach for NGS by ourselves
On the way in we hear that PLYMOUTH has been hit, she was bombed, hit in the mortar handling room, after PO’s mess, a Mk II depth charge blew up on deck 5 hurt. The attacking planes were 5 Mirages, PLYMOUTH hit one with Sea Cat.
0700 SIR GALAHAD and SIR TRISTRAM arrived at Fitzroy
1310 SIR GALAHAD and SIR TRISTRAM attacked by 2 Mirages, 2 Skyhawk’s, 33 Welsh Guards - 7 RN and 11 others killed. 1st attack carried out by Captain Cafaratti, Ensign Codrington, Lieutenant Paredi and Lieutenant Hector Sanches.

LCU Foxtrot 4 was shot up, Colour Sergeant Johnson and five crew killed.

3 Skyhawks shot down, Lieutenant Arraras, Lieutenant Bolzan and Ensign Vazquez.

The 8th of June has been the blackest day of the war for us.

9th June
0150 Action stations
0302 Start NGS ½ mile off shore
1002 16 salvos
0303 16 salvos
0304 16 salvos
0306 3 sweeps Skyguard 068
0310 Air burst our port side
0315 In kelp beds and Exocet area going astern
0316 16 salvos
0320 20 salvos
0322 20 salvos
0324 20 salvos
0326 NGS completed under fire, large burst starboard bow, we have fired 124 rounds, we leave at 26 knots, gun fire still coming from the shore.
0400 Find M/V MONSONNEN adrift and go to her assistance. Sent sea boat over to her with CPO Green, L/S Quate, A/B Cable and RO Hall.
CPO Green and RO Hall board MONSONNEN - met by Lieutenant McLaren (HMS FEARLESS), he told us he had a rope around his propeller and got this when trying to take Foxtrot 4 in tow. Sent sea boat back to YARMOUTH for divers. Divers free the propeller at 0645, we return to the ship MONSONNEN returning to Goose Green, she had 200 Gurkha’s - 7 land rovers - 5 trailers and a JCB on board.During this time YARMOUTH came along side and bashed her port side forward, so she pulled off - there was a very big swell running.
0715 Leave area to join up with main group BRISTOL, CARDIFF, ACTIVE, OLMEDA, RESOURCE, FORT GRANGE, SIE BEDIVERE, BLUE ROVER, TIDESPRING, ARROW, BROADSWORD, HERMES, INVINCIBLE, BRILLIANT and ANDROMEDA
1800 Detach for NGS
1910 Recalled to group - possible air attack, not nice to be by ones self
2000 Detached

10th June
0232 Action stations
0245 I band radar from surface contact 120 M/V MONSENNEN
0247 The ship in 1z
0300 4.5 stood to
0318 2 salvos
0320 10 salvos
0324 6 salvos
0325 hit ammo dump or fuel dump from spotter, large amount of casualties and damaged vehicles
0327 2 salvos
0330 2 salvos
0331 10 salvos
0336 2 salvos
0338 2 salvos
0341 10 salvos
0342 Skyguard steady scan 070°
0344 10 salvos
0347 2 salvos
0349 2 salvos
0351 2 salvos
0358 2 salvos
0402 2 salvos
0407 2 salvos
0408 10 salvos
0412 10 salvos
0425 20 salvos
0426 20 salvos
0432 20 salvos
0434 NGS completed 144 rounds fired
0442 Fired chaff ‘C’ up Exocet range to see if any thing would happen (Nil)
0445 New target ammo dump
0449 10 salvos
0452 10 salvos
0555 10 salvos
0456 NGS completed total rounds for the shoot; 174. We come under gun fire from ashore - shot landed 200 yards astern, asked to provide more NGS which we do.
0500 Surface contact 240° - 18 miles, 456 to investigate
0547 456 airborne
0556 456 friendly the MONSONNEN
0600 Return to the main group ACTIVE, ARROW, BRISTOL, CARDIFF, BROADSWORD, HERMES, OLMEDA, SIR BEDIVERE, RESOURCE, TIDESPRING, ANDROMEDA, INVINCIBLE, BRILLIANT and BLUE ROVER.

Stayed outside the TEZ all day, RAS (L) (S), vertrep 15 loads to OLMEDA by Sea King, overnight steam with the group.

1700 detached with GLAMORGAN and ARROW to be joined by AVENGER on the gun line

12th June
0000 Action stations, to night is the Army’s big push, GLAMORGAN and us are in place, AVENGER will join us at 0100 ARROW is to the North of Stanley
0037 4.5 stood to
0100 Helo transfer with AVENGER
0118 20 salvos
0127 10 salvos
0130 10 salvos
0135 10 salvos
0138 Hit ammo dump
0155 Troops ready for assault
0201 10 salvos (Not fired)
0232 10 salvos
0233 2 salvos
0234 2 salvos
0236 2 salvos
0237 2 salvos
0237½ 2 salvos
0238 2 salvos
0240 2 salvos, troops reach first objective, prisoners taken, many dead
0241 2 salvos
0242 2 salvos
0243 2 salvos
0250 From shore good shooting by YARMOUTH, enemy ridge on fire, ship has come under fire from guns ashore
0304 10 salvos
0307 10 salvos
0308 10 salvos
0310 Air burst 050°
0344 10 salvos
0351 2 salvos
0355 2 salvos
0406 20 salvos
0409 10 salvos
0412 10 salvos
0435 Radar 270°
0454 20 salvos
0455 AVENGER gun U.S. she has not done much yet except make silly statements about going into the Exocet area. We take over AVENGER’s targets. 2 CAP airborne 10 miles to the South, total rounds fired; 170
0500 Tired - 9½ hours on watch - 20 salvos
0530 54 Commando have taken all there objectives, Paras just about to take theirs
0547 2 salvos
0552 2 salvos
0555 2 salvos
0559 43 salvos
0612 NGS completed 261 rounds fired, it has been a long hard night. GLAMORGAN wants to be bloody minded and take a short cut across the Exocet range. Ted Sykes is talking PWO to PWO advising them against this move, it turns out they want to race back to the main group. The Captain is now advising them against going across the range, our ops room is very quite as we all lisen to the daftness, I don’t think any of us believe what is happening.
0632 Possible Exocet attack, GLAMORGAN hit by missile, she fires a Sea Slug at it and missed
0640 GLAMORGAM hit port side hanger and main galley, us and AVENGER going to help. GLAMORGAN is making 15 knots; all three ships returning to the main group. Admiral has put up extra CAP aircraft for our protection just in case we get bounced by their aircraft.
0641 Me and A/B Campbell put our nets down, L/S Quate and A/B Cable get the sea boat ready.
0645 From GDP Alarm Exocet

I was on the upper deck port side when we fired 3 inch rockets, there were flashing lights bangs and a lot of noise; bits of ash from the rockets were drifting around, then the 4.5 fired chaff ‘C’. The ship turned to starboard which felt as if we were rolling over to port, thought we'd been hit by a missile in the Sea Cat magazine which I was standing on top of. I said to myself "This is it - goodbye world" and I looked at the stars and thought "How long will it take to get up there?" Funny what goes through one's mind, it was all so fast.

GLAMORGAN has 13 killed and 20 wounded.

This need not have happened but for the vanity of one man who could not take advice from an officer junior to him. When we get home he should be tried for murder. The story will come out one day then all will know.

0800 Fall out and return to main group

RAS (L). Tried to RAS (A) - helo pilot would not play

Remain with the group over night

A Wessex 3 attacked Port Stanley and put an AS 12 missile into the police station, the Argentinians shoot at the Wessex and missed but shot one of their own helos down.

3 Para lost 23 killed and 47 wounded

45 Commando lost 4 killed and 8 wounded

42 Commando lost 1 killed and 13 wounded

13th June
0800 Still with the main group EXETER, BRISTOL, AVENGER, RESOURCE, FORT GRANGE, ARROW, BALTIC FERRY, TIDESPRING, INVINCIBLE, BROADSWORD, HERMES, BLUE ROVER, ACTIVE, OLMEDA, AMBUSCADE and BRILLANT
0800 RAS (A)
1655 Action stations multiple Bootlace radar
1658 AVENGER 2 X Mirages 259°
1910 Mirage attacking troops at Stanley; we have 2 CAP up North 22 miles and 36 miles, 1 CAP over Stanley, us and AVENGER at action stations; we are out by ourselves half way between the Islands and the battle group on our way in for NGS
1915 AVENGER slowed down machinery problems
1917 AVENGER has screw problems. YARMOUTH to press on to the West, we increase to 26 knots
1931 Air yellow
1934 AVENGER has requested YARMOUTH to remain in the vicinity for 30 minutes whilst she sends a diver down to examine her port shaft. It is established that AVENGER has lost a blade off her port prop. She has been told to continue to the gun line. On completion of NGS she is to go to San Carlos, back to defence stations

14th June
0103 Dan buoy laid to be used as a navigation mark for the 21’s on the gun line. The Dan is in Berkeley Sound. We are carrying out a mine detection sweep as we are on the edge of the minefield - not often one gets to lay a Dan at 12 knots. There's a lot of star shell - gun fire tracer from small arms fire. The sky is alight with war.
0113 4.5 stood to
0115 Friendly helo
0124 Bootlace 262° - 75 miles, have been told 3 x type 21's will join at 0300
0126 Possible raid of 4 - 20 miles West of San Carlos
0133 Air red
0138 4.5 stood to AA 2 contacts 190° - 17 miles closing
0153 2 salvos
0156 Rapier splash 1 bogie, 1 splashed by CARDIFF, 2 others shove off
0159 20 salvos
0200 Army to move forward; we are to support the Scots Guards
0203 20 salvos
0207 10 salvos
0210 10 salvos
0221 2 salvos
0224 2 salvos
0226 20 salvos
0243 20 salvos
0247 10 salvos
0249 10 salvos
0317 2 salvos, joined by AVENGER, ACTIVE and AMBUSCADE
0320 2 salvos
0322 1 salvo
0324 1 salvo
0327 1 salvo
0329 20 salvos
0332 20 salvos
0333 20 salvos
0335 20 salvos
0347 16 salvos
0414 ACTIVE's gun defective. From the 21’s - "You did a good job with the Dan BZ"
0555 4 salvos
0600 NGS completed, 244 rounds fired
0718 Fall out
Back to the battle group. It's a rough journey - we lose 2 bridge windows and have to ditch some oil drums.

Strange old weather we're having

Battle group HERMES, INVINCIBLE, BRISTOL, BROADSWORD, BRILLIANT, EXETER, ANDROMEDA, AVENGER, ARROW, ACTIVE, AMBUSCADE, PLYMOUTH, FORT GRANGE, BAYLEAF, OLMEDA, TIDESPRING, BLUE ROVER, BALTIC FERRY, CANBERRA and SIR BEDIVERE

1605 detached with PLYMOUTH inward bound for Stanley at 25 knots, we have heard from shore that the Paras are in Stanley and there are a lot of white flags around the area
2345 Action stations

15th June
0031 2 miles to Berkeley Sound
0033 Mine detection sweep
0050 Entering Exocet danger area
0120 Speed 12 knots, PLYMOUTH ahead ½ a mile
0111 Surrender of Port Stanley has been signed
0135 Surrender of East and West Falkland accepted
0255 Helo in the hover red 30 ours or theirs
0333 Told to return to the main group
0452 Fall out

16th June
With the main group
1810 R/V with St EDMUND, CONTENDER BEZANT, and BRILLIANT for mail
2000 Depart with OLMEDA for South Georgia

Right: ST EDMUND - a Cross Channel Ferry pressed into service

17th June
Passage to South Georgia
1830 RAS (L)

18th June
1100 RAS (S) with REGENT
1530 Go into Grytviken for ships company to take photographs - a very impressive sight, we have also seen our first icebergs. ANTRIM is outside Grytviken harbour, ships inside tug YORKSHIREMAN and WHIMPY SEAHORSE
1800 GEESTPORT arrives

19th June
Still going South with OLMEDA, have passed lots of icebergs RAS (L), should R/V with ENDURANCE and SALVAGEMAN at 0400 on the 20th.

20th June
0400 R/V with ENDURANCE and SALVAGEMAN
0830 Start into Southern Thule
0940 Heaving line transfer with SALVAGEMAN
1218 Action stations, 456 lands spotter and Micky Chin
1225 456 is ashore as members of the enemy garrison walk towards it with white flags
1232 OLMEDA launching helos with Royal Marines
1238 Leaving gun line (5 miles South of the Islands) to close Thule
1239 Launching 456 to collect spotter + 1
1243 Party from ENDURANCE land
1253 Island surrenders 10 persons only, 9 Navy and one Air Force. Midshipman I/C of the party
1800 Surrender signed onboard HMS ENDURANCE

A signal from PLYMOUTH to YARMOUTH 20-6-82
From PLYMOUTH to YARMOUTH
The Squadron will be very proud of the HERCULEAN contribution made by you to the success of CORPORATE BZ.

21st June
1400 Sail Southern Thule for South Georgia with OLMEDA

Southern Thule
What a fine looking fellow!	HMS Yarmouth

22nd June
Passage to South Georgia with OLMEDA, RAS (L)

23rd June
1000 Arrive South Georgia
1200 Transfer POW’s from OLMEDA to YARMOUTH
1300 Sail for Stanley

South Georgia

Lots of these around

24th June
On our own first time for many weeks, passage to Stanley with POW’s

25th June
0400 Joined up with BROADSWORD, HERMES, EXETER, AMBUSCADE, ACTIVE, BAYLEAF, TIDESPRING, TIDEPOOL and EBURMA
1200 Made our way into Port William to land POW’s

I had a quick look ashore and got some photos

26th June
With the main group HERMES, BROADSWORD, ACTIVE, AMBUSCADE, EXETER, TIDEPOOL, BAYLEAF, ANCO CHARGER and SHELL EBURNY

RAS (L)

During the long first went to air yellow argies launched one C 130+ A4’s and Entendards, night flying we still live under the threat of an air attack which will no doubt come sooner or later

27th June
With the main group, same as the 26
1800 Casex A6 with COURAGEOUS

28th June
0000 Casex A6
0200 Ships same as 26 + ANTRIM
2030 Casex A2 with COURAGEOUS

29th June
With the main group HERMES, BROADSWORD, ACTIVE, EXETER, TIDESPRING, TIDEPOOL, BAYLEAF, SHELL EBURNA and ANTRIM

ANTRIM leaves for the UK

30th June
With the main group EXETER, ACTIVE, TIDEPOOL, FORT GRANGE, SHELL EBURNA, BAYLEAF, TIDESPRING, BROADSWORD and HERMES

FOF 1 to all ships 317.8

From Rear Admiral WOODWARD. As I haul my South Atlantic flag down, I reflect, sadly on the brave lives lost and good ships gone in the short time of our trial.
I thank wholeheartedly each and every one of you for your gallant support, through determination and fierce perseverance under bloody conditions.
Let us all be grateful that Argentina doesn't breed bulldogs and as we return severally to enjoy the blessings of our land, resolve that those left behind for ever shall not be forgot.

July 1982

1st July

EXETER to San Carlos
Main group CARDIFF, PENELOPE, BRISTOL, ACTIVE, BROADSWORD, HERMES, TIDESPRING, TIDEPOOL, FORT GRANGE, BAYLEAF and SHELL EBURNA

0200 Sent to stand by BRITISH ENTERPRIZE III, she has no main engines wait all day for the tug TYPHOON who arrives at 2000
2115 Detach to rejoin the main group

2nd July
0530 Casex A6
In the afternoon BROADSWORD, HERMES, and ANDROMEDA into Falklands this will be the first land HERMES has seen for 86 days, then BROADSWORD and HERMES will leave for the UK
2100 Casex A6 then RAS (L)

2-7-82 From BROADSWORD to YARMOUTH

Sorry not to be completing the round trip in your company but you have the distinction of being the last of the originals to remain on the job.
We have admired your charmed life despite being invariably in the thick of the fray. BON VOYAGE and a happy homecoming when your time comes round.

3rd July
0000-0600 Casex A6
Main group INVINCIBLE back after 3 weeks RandR, CARDIFF, BRISTOL, AMBUSCADE, BAYLEAF, BRAMBLELEAF, SHELL EBURNA, REGENT and AVERLONA STAR

4th July
Main group BRISTOL, INVINCIBLE, ANDROMEDA, CARDIFF, MINERVA, REGENT, TIDEPOOL and SHELL EBURNA

5th July
Main group INVINCIBLE, ANDROMEDA, BRISTOL, MINERVA, TIDEPOOL, REGENT, IRIS, and SHELL EBURNA

6th July
Main group CARDIFF, ANDROMEDA, BRISTOL, MINERVA, TIDEPOOL, REGENT , IRIS, and SHELL EBURNA

7th July
0000-0600 Group joined by SOUTHAMPTON, BIRMINGHAM, APOLLO, BACCHANTE, old group CARDIF, EXETER, FORT GRANGE, TIDEPOOL, BAYLEAF

APOLLO sticks to us like glue we do not want to loose her as she is our relief; we hand over ready for the off on the 8th July

8th July
Main group as yesterday

We are told that will steam pass before leaving, we can’t wait for 1500 the time to depart, we will be the last in line.

Goodbye to the Task Group

1500 EXETER, CARDIFF and YARMOUTH steam pass INVINCIBLE and ANDROMEDA as we leaving for home.
INVINCIBLE and ANDROMEDA clear lower deck to give us a cheer as INVINCIBLE came past us every one was clapping and cheering us whilst she was blowing her sirens for us. ANDROMEDA crew were throwing spuds and other articles at us -a good send off to help on the long journey home.

From INVINCIBLE to YARMOUTH

We know what you have done, safe journey home to a good welcome.

1600 Fall out from Defence stations - the first time since 17th April a total of 99 days

CARDIFF and EXETER have been sent home with us to make sure we get back OK.

9th July
With EXETER and CARDIFF on passage home, we are getting back to normal.

10th July

RAS (L) with APPLELEAF

11th July
½ way to Ascension Island, the first Sunday routine since 18th April passed DANAE and DIOMEDE on their way South

From C in C Fleet to YARMOUTH

As the last of the original Springtrain group to set off for the UK, I wish you to know how impressed I have been by your endeavours. You have contributed much to the success of Operation Corporate. Well done and have a happy run home.

12th July
On passage
0815-1130 As 1077 task books, otherwise a quiet day

13th July
Passage home
0815-1100 AS 1077
1400 RAS (L) with BRITISH TAMAR a BP tanker. EXETER RAS with BRITISH ESK  - on completion all five ships got into position for a photo.

BRITISH TAMAR from YARMOUTH

14th July
Passage home.

15th July
Passage home
EXETER is doing Leading Seaman and Petty Offices boards today
Stop for Hands to bath

16th July
The mail arrives by RAF Sea King
Over flown by a Bear
A Chinook arrives with stores for EXETER
1700 Fly pass by 2 Lynx and our WASP
1800 Anchor Ascension Island

Ascension Island	USS Potomac

1000 RAS (L) alongside ALVEGEA, and land sports teams
During the Dogs we land our advance leave party who will fly home on the 18th July
2200 Sail Ascension Island with EXETER and CARDIFF

ALVEGEA

18th July
Passage home
1030 A Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance on the flight deck
1100 Bar-B-Q on the flight deck, steake, chicken legs, sausages, chops, jacket spuds, salad and free beer.
1630 Hands to bath

19th July
New working hours 0800-1200
1400 Crossing the Line, and to finish the day off we all had a go with 4.5, GPMG’s, LMG’s, 3 inch and 2 inch rockets for old times sake

20th July
Passage home, normal working day it also rained all day. Ship at 0800 200 miles from Freetown. 2600 miles to go doing about 384 miles per day

21st July
0830 RAS (L) with PEARLEAF
1230 Salad lunch on the flight deck - nice!
1330 Rig stalls for afternoon race meeting, each mess to provide a stall
1400 First race
1630 Prize given by the Jimmy (John Plummer), won £2-00 on the last race. The money made will go to Children’s Ward at Edinburgh Hospital; we made £243 and £34 from last night's film which was shown on the flight deck, same again tonight.

22nd July
Passage home
1400 It’s-A-Knockout on the upper deck
1900 Passed Italian trawler ASPRA her position

23rd July
Passage home, weather has changed for the worst, like being in the middle of winter. At 0800 we were 1642 miles from Rosyth and 140 miles from the Canaries.

24th July
Passage home, our last day with EXETER and CARDIFF
1550 RAS (L) with PLUMLEAF
1730 Depart from EXETER and CARDIFF, EXETER first - they heaved, fired and threw toilet rolls, eggs and water at us, then we had to pass CARDIFF who did the same. We ring on 28 knots.

From Captain D5 (HMS EXETER) to YARMOUTH

It has been a pleasure to have been in company with an unscathed hero of the original Corporate pack.
We watched your success with great admiration and would like to add our congratulation to the many to come your way.
Good Luck.

And so we leave them behind as we head for Portland to land the Flight and fuel ship.

L to R: Joe-Skinny, Fergus, Ginge, George, me and Mick	L to R: Dave Roe, George Cable, me "What's this then?"

Only one quarterdeck like this!

25th and 26th July
28 knot passage to Portland, on the 26th we were over flown by a Dutch Atlantic which stayed with us for about 30 minutes

27th July
0630 Arrive at Portland
0830 FOST arrives on board
0900 Sail from Portland for Scotland
0905 456 flyis to RNAS, leaving Portland pass HMS LIVERPOOL, 28 knot passage through the channel

Portland

Rosythe, here we come        

The Homecoming
HMS Stubbington	Welcome from a dockyard tug
RAF Wessex and Fleet Tender Gwendoline	Tug Cairn
Forth Road Bridge - closed due to the weight of people	Forth Railway Bridge - three trains stopped so passengers could watch the homecoming
15 gun salute to Flag Officer Scotland	Booted and suited, ready for home
Just a few people waiting to welcome us!	Gangway coming in
F101, Yarmouth, The Crazy Y arrives safely home without loss
	Chops

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