BRITISH SHIP LOSSES & DAMAGE
Plate 1. HMS Sheffield, sunk
Sheffield soon after being hit by an Exocet missile on 4 May 1982. The entry hole for the missile is very obvious. Twenty men died. The photographer’s name is not listed publicly. Image attributed to the Fleet Photographic Unit.
Plate 2. HMS Ardent, sunk
The Type-21 frigate Ardent after being attacked by more than ten Argentine aircraft. Twenty-two men died. She initially remained afloat but soon sank. Photographer not reported, Royal Navy.
Plate 3. HMS Antelope, sunk
Antelope on fire after exploding during the night of 23/24 May, and cracking in half. She had been hit by two UXB bombs and one detonated during defusing attempts. Two men died in the attack and subsequent explosion. Air trapped in the bow and stern caused those sections to float. The photographer was Martin Cleaver.
Plate 4. HMS Antelope, sunk
1st Lt. Luciano Guadagnini's A-4, which delivered a bomb into Antelope, struck the mast, bending it by over 90 degrees. Clearly, the A-4 was flying very low, not giving the fuzes enough time to activate. Guadagnini was then shot down and killed by Sea Wolf from HMS Broadsword. Photograph by Martin Cleaver.
Plate 5. HMS Coventry, sunk
Coventry was hit by three bombs released from A-4 Skyhawks on 25 May 1982. She sank within 30 minutes. Nineteen men were killed. Photograph by Sub Lieutenant Clive Pickering.
Plate 6. MV Atlantic Conveyor, sunk
A very sad photograph of SS Atlantic Conveyor after she was hit by two Exocet missiles (port rear hits) on 25 May 1982. Twelve men died. The missiles caused massive fires. Note that the entire bow blew off when cluster bombs (stacked in the bow) detonated. She initially remained afloat but sank in high seas. The photograph was taken from the tugboat Irishman, likely by Gary Bales.
Plate 7. RFA Sir Galahad, sunk
Hit by multiple bombs delivered by A-4s on 8 June 1982. The attack killed 48, including 32 Welsh Guards, 11 other soldiers, and five civilian crew. She remained afloat but was later sunk by British torpedoes fired from HMS Onyx. Photographer, Martin Cleaver.
Plate 8. HMS Broadsword, damaged
A bomb was propelled towards Broadsword on 25 May 1982 from low altitude by an A-4. It hit her after skipping off the ocean surface and entering through the aft-starboard side of the hull. It then continued upwards through the helipad (Plate 8) and arced into the sea. All holes were quickly patched with steel plates and painted with anti-rust primer, as shown. Photographer not reported. Photo from IWM collection.
Plate 9. HMS Broadsword, damaged
Damage to Broadsword's helipad at the point where the bomb burst through the deck. The bomb also tore off the nose of the Lynx helicopter shown (XZ729). The ship and helicopter were rapidly repaired and put back into operation. The bomb did not explode. Photograph by Lt. Cdr. Rick Jones.
Plate 10. HMS Alacrity, damaged
On 1 May 1982 Argentine Daggers attacked Alacrity, Arrow and Glamorgan with cannon fire and bombs. All bombs missed but the cannons caused damage, as is evident in the photo. Photographer not known. Post on Facebook by Paul McDutch.
Plate 11 RFA Sir Lancelot, damaged
Lancelot in San Carlos Water. I could not find a picture of damage after the bomb hit on 24 May 1982, so here she is in good condition. Image from Wikimedia commons, photographer not listed.
Plate 12. RFA Sir Tristram, damaged
Sir Tristram was damaged on 8 June 1982 but able to float. She was transported to the UK in 1984, repaired and put back into operational service until 2005. She was transported on the MV Dan Lifter. Photograph attributed to Ken Griffiths.
Plate 13. RFA Sir Tristram, damaged
Sir Tristram on Dan lifter viewed from the latter's stern. Tristram's hull was in remarkably good condition but the superstructure was badly damaged. Photograph attributed to Jim Ramseys.
Plate 14. RFA Sir Tristram, damaged
A bomb passed through the hull close to the waterline (port side), as shown. Photograph attributed to Ken Griffiths.
Plate 15. RFA Sir Tristram, damaged
In dry dock after the war. The bomb entry hole is top left. The exit hole is under the stern. The bomb didn't explode. Photograph attributed to Ken Griffiths.
Plate 16. HMS Glasgow, damaged
The exit hole of a UXB on the port side of HMS Glasgow. Bombs delivered by an A-4 on 12 May 1982. The exit hole is on the waterline but was quickly patched. The bomb damaged the gas turbine engine, requiring withdrawal from the war zone. The photograph has multiple credits, which include Nobby Clarke and Dave Oddy.
Plate 18. HMS Pymouth, damaged
Plymouth was attacked on 8 June 1982 by Daggers. Multiple bombs struck her but none exploded. She was back in operation within 24-hours. Photographer not reported.
Plate 17. HMS Glamorgan, damaged
On 12 June 1982, an Exocet missile approached Glamorgan from the rear and skidded along the deck. It exploded next to the port side-opening hanger. The image shows the hole in the deck and the damage to the hanger, where the helicopter was destroyed (left). Fourteen men died. Photographer not reported.
Plate 19. HMS Argonaut, damaged
On 21 May Argonaut was first hit by cannon and missile fire from an MB 339 jet (damaging her radar and Seacat). She was later attacked by A-4s. The unexploded bomb (UXB) shown here landed in the boiler room. This was one of two UXBs inside her hull. Two men were killed. The photographer is not reported but the image was obtained from a post on Navy Net by Ninja Stoker - worth a read.
Plate 20. HMS Brilliant, damaged
Brilliant was hit by 30mm cannon shells from Daggers on 21 May 1982. Very accurate shooting. Photograph taken close to the UK on 13 July 1982. The Sea Wolf and Exocet launchers are clearly displayed. Photographer not reported. From 'Travels in a Campervan'.
Plate 21. HMS Antrim, damaged
30mm cannon shell damage from Daggers on 21 May 1982. Note the Wessex helicopter in its hanger and the Seacat launcher. Photographer, Steve Churchill.
Plate 22. HMS Antrim, damaged
Amazing photograph of the UXB that came to rest in Antrim's toilet on 21 May 1982. The bomb passed very close to the Sea Slug missile hall. Had it detonated, the missiles would have exploded and the ship would have been very seriously damaged. Photographer Steve Churchill.