Brown, Christopher Charles (Oral history)

British officer served as naval gunfire forward observation officer with 148th (Meiktila) Bty, 29th Commando Regt, Royal Artillery during Falklands War, 4/1982-6/1982

REEL 1 Recollections of preparations for Falkland War as officer with 148th (Meiktila) Bty, 29th Commando Regt, Royal Artillery, 1982: role as naval gunfire forward observation officer; reaction to hearing news of Argentine invasion of Falkland Islands, 4/1982; embarkation of naval gunfire teams; question of availability of equipment when on a war footing; morale during voyage to South Atlantic; adjusting to being on a war footing; embarking on board HMS Antrim; opinion of gunfire capabilities of HMS Plymouth; formation of naval group to attack South Georgia; question of previous service in Northern Ireland. Recollections of operations as naval gunfire forward observation officer with 148th (Meiktila) Bty, 29th Commando Regt, Royal Artillery during recapture of South Georgia during Falklands War, 25/4/1982: helicopter attack on Argentinean submarine ARA Sante Fe at Grytviken; role in organising naval fire plan on Argentinean positions during recapture of Grytviken; targets selected; Argentinean surrender; condition of Argentinean prisoners of war; conversation with Argentinean prisoner of war. REEL 2 Continues: lack of defences at Grytviken; character of assault forces. Recollections of operations as naval gunfire forward observation officer with 148th (Meiktila) Bty, 29th Commando Regt, Royal Artillery duing recapture of Falkland Islands 4/1982-6/1982: move to HMS Invincible; contrast between those who had seen action and those who had not on board HMS Invincible; transfer to HMS Alacrity, 1/5/1982; role controlling naval gunfire from HMS Alacrity's Westland Lynx helicopter over Port Stanley, 1/5/1982; engaging Argentinean ships; damage to helicopter during engagement with Argentine Navy ships; return to HMS Alacrity; reaction of crew on board HMS Alacrity to opening fire on Argentine Air Force; background to organisation of Special Air Service raid on Pebble Island, 14/5/1982-15/5/1982; allocation to HMS Glamorgan and execution of raid; success of raid; Argentinean morale. REEL 3 Continues: character of diversionary raid in Darwin/Goose Green area during landings at San Carlos Water; use of naval gunfire support from HMS Ardent; shooting down of Argentinean Pucara aircraft; capture of Mount Kent; use of air support; ambush of Argentinean patrol on Mount Kent; second ambush and arrival of 42 Commando, Royal Marines; memories of jornalist Max Hasting's arrival on Mount Kent; reasons for raid on Mount Rosalie; effect of Argentine Air Force attack on HMS Plymouth; problems of using field artillery on Falklands and importance of naval gunfire; use of naval gunfire parties during attacks on mountains during advance towards Port Stanley; role supporting 45 Commando, Royal Marines during attack on Two Sisters Ridge. REEL 4 Continues: effect of Argentinean exocet attack on HMS Glamorgan; presence of Bob Harns on attacked ships; intelligence gleaned from captured Argentinean maps; character of Argentinean artillery; role supporting 2nd Bn Scots Guards on Mount Tumbledown; accompanying 45 Commando, Royal Marines into Port Stanley area; move into Port Stanley; condition of Argentinean artillery positions; contact with Falkland islanders; Falkland islanders attitude towards Argentineans; treatment of Argentinean prisoners of war; question of media portrayals of Falklands War; relations between media and military; question of usefulness of training in Norway. REEL 5 Continues: attitude to having to fight war; question of whether war was worthwhile.