11th MCM Squadron
Encyclopedia
On April 2, 1982, Argentina
invaded the Falkland Islands
. Intelligence from a submarine
reported the laying of a defensive minefield off the approaches to Port Stanley. Great Britain
had supplied Argentina with modern influence mines, combination magnetic and pressure activated, and had recently actually serviced them for the Argentinian Navy. The Royal Navy's mine warfare
capacity was purely coastal with 425 LT (431.8 t) "Ton"-class minesweeper
s with a range of around 2300 nmi (2,646.8 mi; 4,259.6 km), totally unsuitable for either the distance or the conditions.
A plan existed from the Cold War
years for the sweeping of Soviet minefields in the English Channel
and North Sea
, in the event of needing to reinforce Europe
in time of war with Russia
. It revolved around a number of deep sea trawlers (approx 1450 LT (1,473.3 t)) being earmarked and kept in "readiness" for conversion. Five ships were called to Rosyth
dockyard where in 3 days they were stripped of their fishing equipment, holds emptied of frozen fish, and Extremely Deep Armed Team Sweep (EDATS) equipment fitted. They were hastily commissioned, and crews, mainly from the Rosyth based 1st MCM squadron were assembled, bolstered by technical specialists from elsewhere. The group was designated the 11th MCM Squadron under the command of Lt-Cdr Martyn Holloway, the captain
of HMS Cordella.
The plan was that the Argentinians would have surrendered by the time they got there, and the sweepers would simply clear up the minefields. They were unarmed except for two light machine gun
s on the bridge wings, with a single engine, single screw configuration, only two or three watertight compartments, and were inherently difficult to handle.
After a two-day work-up, where basic drills on operating unfamiliar equipment was carried out with instruction from the merchant crews, who then disembarked, four of the ships sailed on 25 April and followed on next day, to catch them up en route. Drills were practiced with the mainly unfamiliar EDATS in the waters off North Africa
. As the weather warmed, the daily task of locating discarded fish around the ships became more important, the stench often leading to fish that had rolled under equipment before decaying. On 11 May, the squadron anchored off Ascension Island
, and refuelled, although the ships had the capacity to travel the 14000 km (7,559.4 nmi; 14,000 km) to the operational area and return to UK on one tank.
They were then ordered to sail for South Georgia on the 13th, arriving on 25 May. They were used there as utility vessels, transporting stores and men, particularly Gurkhas, Scots and Welsh Guards
between the ships they had made the journey down on, to the generally smaller ships which would take them to the landing, often in appalling conditions of force 10 katabatic winds and driving snow.
They were then ordered on 5 June to sail to the edge of the Total Exclusion Zone
(TEZ) which was in theory outside range of land based aircraft. After the landings, the squadron sailed into and anchored in "bomb alley" in San Carlos Water
on 9 June.
The Argentines had not surrendered and these ships were then used at night to transport Special Forces, Royal Marines and SAS, mainly into West Falkland
, where they were inserted covertly by gemini landing craft. They had to be back inside the Rapier protection of San Carlos or Teal Inlet
by dawn as they were defenceless at sea to air attack. This was a hazardous undertaking, operating in confined and shallow waters with photocopies of hand drawn charts from the 1920s in many cases. On one occasion, HMS Pict was dropping troops at Saunders Island with an onshoreforce 7 and struck a reef just as the geminis were slipped down the rear trawlnet chute. Luckily the ship came off with no more than a large dent in the bottom. On the night of 11 June, HMS Pict was ordered to sweep the entry to Berkeley Sound
and mark a cleared channel for a frigate to enter and shell with NGFS
the mountain Agentinean positions guarding Port Stanley for the final infantry assault. The five ships were utilised massively as general workhorses, often in circumstances where their potential loss was viewed as a good alternative to a major fleet unit.
The Agentine forces surrendered on 14 June, and the ships were ordered to proceed immediately to Port Stanley and clear the immediate approach to harbour. After entering port, there followed several days of uncertainty as to whether or not the mainland would carry on the fight. Minesweeping especially in EDATS leaves a minesweeper extremely vulnerable to air attack. Whilst in harbour, the MCD specialists in the squadron had set up a trisponder network, which allows navigational accuracy to 8 m (8.7 yd) in the Port Stanley approaches. Two Argentinean officers in a very gentlemanly gesture, presented a chart showing the locations that 21 mines were laid in, in two fields with a defined channel between them. The more sophisticated influence mines had apparently been utilised in a defensive pattern off Buenos Aires
, in case of a British attack on the mainland, and very simple contact moored mines were laid in the Falklands.
Finally, on 22 June it was judged safe to commence the clearance operations. Initially using the safer but less sure Oropesa
system, the squadron swept 11 of the mines. Appalling weather—up to force 12 on occasions—seemed to have swept the rest out of position. Then the very accurate EDATS system was used to ensure full clearance. The clearance operation was completed on 5 July. Finally, on 13 July the squadron is released for a return to UK via Gibraltar
, a total distance of 7540 nmi (8,676.9 mi; 13,964.1 km), arriving in mid-August, when the individual ships were returned to their owners.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
invaded the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. Intelligence from a submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
reported the laying of a defensive minefield off the approaches to Port Stanley. Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
had supplied Argentina with modern influence mines, combination magnetic and pressure activated, and had recently actually serviced them for the Argentinian Navy. The Royal Navy's mine warfare
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
capacity was purely coastal with 425 LT (431.8 t) "Ton"-class minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
s with a range of around 2300 nmi (2,646.8 mi; 4,259.6 km), totally unsuitable for either the distance or the conditions.
A plan existed from the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
years for the sweeping of Soviet minefields in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
and North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, in the event of needing to reinforce Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in time of war with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. It revolved around a number of deep sea trawlers (approx 1450 LT (1,473.3 t)) being earmarked and kept in "readiness" for conversion. Five ships were called to Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
dockyard where in 3 days they were stripped of their fishing equipment, holds emptied of frozen fish, and Extremely Deep Armed Team Sweep (EDATS) equipment fitted. They were hastily commissioned, and crews, mainly from the Rosyth based 1st MCM squadron were assembled, bolstered by technical specialists from elsewhere. The group was designated the 11th MCM Squadron under the command of Lt-Cdr Martyn Holloway, the captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
of HMS Cordella.
The plan was that the Argentinians would have surrendered by the time they got there, and the sweepers would simply clear up the minefields. They were unarmed except for two light machine gun
Light machine gun
A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
s on the bridge wings, with a single engine, single screw configuration, only two or three watertight compartments, and were inherently difficult to handle.
After a two-day work-up, where basic drills on operating unfamiliar equipment was carried out with instruction from the merchant crews, who then disembarked, four of the ships sailed on 25 April and followed on next day, to catch them up en route. Drills were practiced with the mainly unfamiliar EDATS in the waters off North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. As the weather warmed, the daily task of locating discarded fish around the ships became more important, the stench often leading to fish that had rolled under equipment before decaying. On 11 May, the squadron anchored off Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
, and refuelled, although the ships had the capacity to travel the 14000 km (7,559.4 nmi; 14,000 km) to the operational area and return to UK on one tank.
They were then ordered to sail for South Georgia on the 13th, arriving on 25 May. They were used there as utility vessels, transporting stores and men, particularly Gurkhas, Scots and Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
between the ships they had made the journey down on, to the generally smaller ships which would take them to the landing, often in appalling conditions of force 10 katabatic winds and driving snow.
They were then ordered on 5 June to sail to the edge of the Total Exclusion Zone
Total Exclusion Zone
The Total Exclusion Zone was an area declared by the United Kingdom 30 April 1982 covering a circle of from the centre of the Falkland Islands...
(TEZ) which was in theory outside range of land based aircraft. After the landings, the squadron sailed into and anchored in "bomb alley" in San Carlos Water
San Carlos Water
Not to be confused with the San Carlos River.San Carlos Water is a bay/fjord on the west coast of East Falkland, facing onto the Falkland Sound.-Name:...
on 9 June.
The Argentines had not surrendered and these ships were then used at night to transport Special Forces, Royal Marines and SAS, mainly into West Falkland
West Falkland
West Falkland is the second largest of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. It is a hilly island, separated from East Falkland by Falkland Sound. Its area is and its coastline is long. Including the adjacent small islands the land area is .-Population:The island has fewer than 200...
, where they were inserted covertly by gemini landing craft. They had to be back inside the Rapier protection of San Carlos or Teal Inlet
Teal Inlet
Teal Inlet is a settlement on East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands, on the south shore of Salvador Water. It is overshadowed by Jack's Mountain...
by dawn as they were defenceless at sea to air attack. This was a hazardous undertaking, operating in confined and shallow waters with photocopies of hand drawn charts from the 1920s in many cases. On one occasion, HMS Pict was dropping troops at Saunders Island with an onshoreforce 7 and struck a reef just as the geminis were slipped down the rear trawlnet chute. Luckily the ship came off with no more than a large dent in the bottom. On the night of 11 June, HMS Pict was ordered to sweep the entry to Berkeley Sound
Berkeley Sound
Berkeley Sound is an inlet, or fjord in the north east of East Falkland in the Falkland Islands. The inlet was the site of the first attempts at colonisation of the islands, at Port Louis, by the French....
and mark a cleared channel for a frigate to enter and shell with NGFS
Naval gunfire support
Naval gunfire support is the use of naval artillery to provide fire support for amphibious assault and other troops operating within their range. NGFS is one of a number of disciplines encompassed by the term Naval Fires...
the mountain Agentinean positions guarding Port Stanley for the final infantry assault. The five ships were utilised massively as general workhorses, often in circumstances where their potential loss was viewed as a good alternative to a major fleet unit.
The Agentine forces surrendered on 14 June, and the ships were ordered to proceed immediately to Port Stanley and clear the immediate approach to harbour. After entering port, there followed several days of uncertainty as to whether or not the mainland would carry on the fight. Minesweeping especially in EDATS leaves a minesweeper extremely vulnerable to air attack. Whilst in harbour, the MCD specialists in the squadron had set up a trisponder network, which allows navigational accuracy to 8 m (8.7 yd) in the Port Stanley approaches. Two Argentinean officers in a very gentlemanly gesture, presented a chart showing the locations that 21 mines were laid in, in two fields with a defined channel between them. The more sophisticated influence mines had apparently been utilised in a defensive pattern off Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, in case of a British attack on the mainland, and very simple contact moored mines were laid in the Falklands.
Finally, on 22 June it was judged safe to commence the clearance operations. Initially using the safer but less sure Oropesa
Oropesa
An Oropesa is a streamlined towed body used in the process of minesweeping. The role of the Oropesa is to keep the towed sweep at a determined depth and position from the sweeping ship....
system, the squadron swept 11 of the mines. Appalling weather—up to force 12 on occasions—seemed to have swept the rest out of position. Then the very accurate EDATS system was used to ensure full clearance. The clearance operation was completed on 5 July. Finally, on 13 July the squadron is released for a return to UK via Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, a total distance of 7540 nmi (8,676.9 mi; 13,964.1 km), arriving in mid-August, when the individual ships were returned to their owners.