San Carlos LandingsThe choice of where to land the Task Force was difficult. The risk of Argentinean mines was very real. However the Argentinean navy had only had time to place mines around the capital city Stanley, which they believed was the most likely place for the British to attack. Mines were extremely effective at destroying ships. The British were without minesweepers and were aware that the loss of one aircraft carrier or destroyer would leave the Task Force defenceless and it would have to return to Britain. Rear Admiral Woodward, leader of the Navy, was forced to clear a way through San Carlos bay using a boat as bait. This boat completed the journey unscratched and San Carlos was confirmed as the location to attack and create a beach head, which began under cover of darkness on May 21st. Argentine planes spotted amphibious landing vehichles transporting troops in the early hours of the morning. After this point in time, San carlos became known as "bomb alley" because of the sheer number of bombs dropped on the boats during these landings. A moment must be taken to record the bravery of Argentine pilots who repeatedly attacked the Task Force through almost suicidal conditions. Firstly, Argentine planes had to avoid British radar. This forced the pilots to fly for 2 hours to the Falklands from mainland Argentina below 100m above sealevel with nothing more than a stopwatch, compass and map to guide them. |
When they then arrived at San Carlos the pilots had 3 and a half minutes to attack the Task Force, providing they could evade waiting harrier jets and a defensive formation of frigates, battleships and portable surface to air missiles, all protecting the requisitioned boats landing soldiers. Even if all this was achieved and the pilots were able to successfully bomb a ship, the bombs were dropped from too low an altitude to detonate, causing the majority of bombs to unthreateningly roll around ships hulls. Those that did explode detonated so shortly after they had been dropped that the plane and pilot dropping them was vapourised instantly.
The attacks were draining to both sides. The British lost two boats HMS Ardent, HMS Antelope and the supply ship the Atlantic Conveyor. The Argentines attacking lost 22 planes and pilots. The specific attack on the Sir Gallahad and the Sir Tristram occured during a miscommunication between officers and logistics personal. This dispute meant that rather than landing one wave of troops during cover of night, Argentine aircraft spotted the defenceless boats as they made their way to shore after the beach head had been established. Two Argentinean aircraft were able to complete two attacking runs at the helpless boats before they could be intercepted and those on board the boat rescued. 48 men were killed and 115 wounded in this attack. |
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