ARA Isla de los Estados
Encyclopedia
The ARA Isla de los Estados was a 3,900-ton Argentine supply ship that was sunk by HMS Alacrity
at the small hours of the 11th May 1982, during the Falklands War
, in a surface action north of Swan Islands
, in Falklands Sound. Alacrity engaged Isla de los Estados with 15 rounds of her 4.5-inch gun. The Argentine ship blew up after seven hits ignited her cargo of jet fuel
and ammunitions. Only two of the 24 men aboard survived; 15 crewmembers and seven servicemen ( from all three armed forces plus the coast guard ) were killed or missing.
HMS Alacrity (F174)
HMS Alacrity was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, she was completed with Exocet launchers in "B" position....
at the small hours of the 11th May 1982, during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, in a surface action north of Swan Islands
Swan Islands, Falkland Islands
The Swan Islands are a small group of islands in the middle of Falkland Sound in the Falkland Islands.-Geography and wildlife:The islands are low-lying, and mainly covered in tussac grass, with the birdlife common to most of the Falkland Islands....
, in Falklands Sound. Alacrity engaged Isla de los Estados with 15 rounds of her 4.5-inch gun. The Argentine ship blew up after seven hits ignited her cargo of jet fuel
Jet fuel
Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is clear to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1 which are produced to a standardized international specification...
and ammunitions. Only two of the 24 men aboard survived; 15 crewmembers and seven servicemen ( from all three armed forces plus the coast guard ) were killed or missing.