ARGENTINE SHIP LOSSES
& DAMAGE
Plate 1. ARA General Belgrano, sunk
Famous photograph of ARA General Belgrano sinking after being hit by two torpedoes from HMS Conqueror. Photograph taken by Lieutenant Martín Sgut from a life raft. Note that the entire bow of the ship has been blown off by Conqueror's second torpedo. Sgut's photographs were stolen by members of the media and only after a court case did his name become known.
Plate 2. ARA General Belgrano, sunk
Photograph of Belgrano's remaining bow, taken by Lieutenant Martín Sgut. The men at the bow are thought to be Captain Héctor Bonzo and Petty Officer Ramón Barrionuevo. They were amongst the last off. Reputedly, the latter persuaded the former not to go down with his ship.
Plate 3. ARA Santa Fe, sunk
Santa Fe in South Georgia, revealing the damage to her sail, caused by helicopter attacks on 25 April 1982. She was later sunk in deep water. Photographed by Sgt Ronald Hudson, United Kingdom Land Forces photographer.
Plate 4. Santa Fe under tow, sunk
Santa Fe being towed into deep water to be sunk. The tugs are Salvageman and Irishman. A Wasp helicopter leads the procession. Photographed in Cumberland Bay, South Georgia. Photographed by Billy Bath on HMS Brilliant.
Plate 5. Isla de los Estados, sunk
She was destroyed in a massive explosion when 4.5-inch gunfire from HMS Alacrity caused her internal ammunition and fuel to explode on 11 May 1982. Twenty two of 24 crew were killed. Photographer not reported.
Plate 6. ARA Bahía Buen Suceso, sunk
Seriously damaged by Sea Harriers (16 May 1982) and captured. She was later sunk as target practice (21 Oct 1982). Photographer not reported.
Plate 7. Rio Carcaraña, sunk
This elegant transport ship was damaged by British Sea Harriers in Port King on 16 May 1982, and then sunk by Sea Skua missiles fired from a Lynx helicopter, 23 May. Photographer not reported.
Plate 8. Rio Carcaraña, sunk
Rio Carcaraña on fire after a Sea Harrier attack on 16 May 1982. She was attacked by accident by an Argentine A-4 on 21 May and finally sunk on 23 May. Likely photographed from a Sea Harrier.
Plate 9. ARA Narwal, sunk
Sunk on 10 May 1982 after attack by Sea Harriers and a raid by the SBS. Explosives were planted by the SBS, sinking the then unmanned ship at night. The RN Sea Kings are removing crew and SBS troops. Photographer not reported.
Plate 10. ARA Alférez Sobral, damaged
Her bridge was damaged by Sea Skua missiles fired by Lynx helicopters from HMS Glasgow and HMS Coventry (3 May 1982). Photo taken in Puerto Deseado (5 May) by José Garimaldi.
Plate 11. PNA Río Iguazú, damaged
The patrol vessel was struck by 30mm cannons from a Sea Harrier on 22 May 1982. It was later further damaged by Sea Skua missiles (fired from a Lynx) on 13 June. Photographer not reported.
Plate 12. ARA Guerrico, damaged
Disabled in the fight for South Georgia, 3 April 1982. The patched hole near the waterline was caused by an 84mm Carl Gustaf anti-tank projectile fired by the Royal Marines. From other rockets and guns, damage also occurred to electrical cables, the Exocet launchers, the 40mm gun, the main gun turret and the power system. The photographer is not reported publicly.
Plate 13. ELMA Formosa, damaged (friendly fire)
On 1 May 1982, Captain Carballo attacked Formosa in his A-4, thinking it was British. He dropped a bomb on the ship, which bounced off into the sea. He dropped another two, which exploded in the sea. The fourth (a UXB) came to rest inside the ship (shown). Carballo then strafed the ship with cannons. Remarkably, the ship made it back to Argentina. The photographer is not reported.
Plate 14. ARA Hipólito Bouchard (D-26), damaged
Hipólito Bouchard in a sorry state in 1992, just prior to scrapping. She was struck by HMS Conqueror's first torpedo but it didn't detonate. She suffered from hull fractures but was otherwise operational. Photograph credited to the Fundación Histarmar (Historia y Arqueología Marítima).