Description
Object description
British officer served aboard HMS Coventry during Falklands War in South Atlantic, 4/1982-5/1982 including sinking off Falkland Islands, 25/5/1982
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as signals officer aboard HMS Coventry during Falkland War in South Atlantic, 4/1982-5/1982: participation in Exercise Spring Train off Gibraltar prior to move to South Atlantic; receiving signal relating to crisis; reaction to crisis, 2/4/1982; question of ships excluded from Task Force; resupplying of ships heading to South Atlantic; character of Type 42 Destroyer; expectations of war and training; role of ship during wartime; weapons systems on board; formation of Task Force; impressions of Ascension Island, early 4/1982; fuel resupply; degree of knowledge of crisis; gradual build-up of intelligence picture; Admiral Sandy Woodward's visit to ship.
REEL 2 Continues: estimations of Argentinean submarine and air threats; role of Sea Dart Missile; opinion of Captain David Hart Dyke; attitude towards Argentineans; rules of engagement; vastness of South Atlantic; question of feeling part of Task Force; his signals role; watch duties; placing the ship on war footing and securing ship for action; mail; attitude towards potential American help; shortcomings of early warning system; reaction to British air attack on Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, 1/5/1982; opinion of sinking of ARA General Belgrano, 2/5/1982.
REEL 3 Continues: first successful use of Sea Skua Missile by ship's Westland Lynx HAS Mk 1/2 helicopter; reactions to sinking of HMS Sheffield, 4/5/1982; use of Sea Dart Missile against Argentinean Aerospatiale Puma helicopter; use of Type 42-22 combination of ships; reaction to ship losses; opinion of Royal Navy's role in amphibious operations; relations between Royal Navy and British Army; description of Falkland Islands. Recollections of sinking of HMS Coventry off Falkland Islands, South Atlantic, 25/5/1982: significance of 25th May to Argentineans; engaging Argentinean aircraft with Sea Dart Missile; sight of British Aerospace Sea Harrier strikes on Argentinean aircraft; question of moving position.
REEL 4 Continues: going to action stations; Argentinean Air Force Douglas A-4 Skyhawk attacks on ship; damage sustained; launch and inflation of life rafts; abandoning ship and swimming to life raft; use of respirators to bail out life rafts; being picked up by Westland Sea King helicopters; treatment of survivors on board RFA Fort Austin; reaction to transfer to RFA Stromness; ship's casualties; immediate reaction to hits on ship; actions of Captain David Hart Dyke; reaction to sinking of ship; question of after effects of sinking. Reflections on service aboard HMS Coventry during Falklands War in South Atlantic, 4/1982-5/1982: opinion of lessons learnt by Royal Navy during Falklands War; potential effects of 1981 Defence Review; role of Royal Marines; question of performance of British missiles.
REEL 5 Continues: question of development of counter-measures against Exocet Missile; return to GB aboard QE2; reaction to lack of media interest in sinking of HMS Coventry in comparison with HMS Sheffield; reception on arrival in GB, 1982; effects of experiences on his attitudes; role establishing lists of dead and organising compensation claims for survivors.