Larken, Jeremy Edmund Shackleton (Oral history)

British officer commanded HMS Fearless during Falklands War in South Atlantic, 4/1982-6/1982

REEL 1 Recollections of operations commanding HMS Fearless during Falklands War in South Atlantic, 4/1982-6/1982: role as captain of assault ship; receiving news of crisis in South Atlantic, 4/1982; preparations for move to South Atlantic; assessing size of Falkland Islands; equipment loaded on board; number of personnel on board; reaction to Michael Foot's speech supporting direct action; reaction to send off from Portsmouth including the interviewing of servicemens' families by local radio; voyage from GB to Ascension Island; question of just nature of sending Task Force; relations between Royal Navy and Royal Marines; command structure; Admiral Sandy Woodward's style at conferences; relations between Admiral Sandy Woodward and Brigadier Julian Thompson and Commodore Michael Clapp; submarine scares and Soviet surveillance at Ascension Island; rearranging ship's loading. REEL 2 Continues: logistical considerations including use of Ships Taken Up From Trade (STUFT); change in attitude of ship's crew; leaving Ascension Island; importance of not using radar; impressions of sailing in darkness on board silent ship; method of communications with Headquarters, Commander-in-Chief Fleet at Northwood, GB; relations with media; weather conditions during disembarkation of landing craft; loss of helicopters; weather conditions during landings San Carlos Water, 21/5/1982; deception used prior to landings at San Carlos Water; leading landing forces into San Carlos Water, 21/5/1982; positioning of ships to gain protection against air attack; initial Argentine Air Force attack, 21/5/1982. REEL 3 Continues: performance of gunners on board ship; need to avoid friendly fire incidents; benefits of keeping Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); timing of Argentine Air Force attacks; importance of speaking to ship's crew; question of not showing fear; use of 'scare' charges to deter underwater attacks; defence watches; effects of submarine threat; creation of 'air defence bastion'; opinion of Rapier Missile; night-time activities in San Carlos Water; consolidation of bridgehead at San Carlos Water; effect of loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor, 25/5/1982; opinion of fitness of paratroopers and commandos; significance of Battle of Goose Green and question of shortcomings of Argentinean planning; opinion of 5th Infantry Bde; reasons why 5th Infantry Bde was moved by sea; problems moving 1st Bn Scots Guards and 1st Bn Welsh Guards forward to Bluff Cove. REEL 4 Continues: opinion of loss of RFA Sir Galahad and RFA Sir Tristram, Bluff Cove, 8/6/1982; battlefield tour of Goose Green; ship chaplain Peter Hudson's duties with Argentinean prisoners of war at Goose Green; use of helicopters to aid survivors from HMS Coventry, 25/5/1982; loss of landing craft Foxtrot Four, 8/6/1982; dealing with burns cases on board; Argentine Air Force attack on field hospital at Ajax Bay; Douglas A-4 Skyhawk attack on ship and capture of Argentine Air Force pilot; sight of attack on HMS Argonaut, 21/5/1982; sight of shooting down of Argentinean English Electric Canberra aircraft; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Rose and Brian Hanrahan; surrender of Port Stanley, 14/6/1982; accommodating General Mario Menéndez on board ship; Captain Rod Bell's interrogation of General Mario Menéndez; visit to Port Stanley and Goose Green after surrender, 6/1982; behaviour of British troops after surrender; visit to Port Stanley Airfield; thanksgiving service at Port Stanley Cathedral; timing of ship's departure; attitude of crew to end of war. REEL 5 Continues: voyage to GB; story of mutiny of Chinese laundrymen at Ascension Island; reception on arrival at Plymouth and Portsmouth, 7/1982; assessment of performance of assault ship during campaign; visit to Falkland Islands later in military career.