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HMS Glamorgan (D19)
Encyclopedia
HMS Glamorgan was a County-class
destroyer
of the Royal Navy
with a displacement of 5,440 tonnes. The ship was built by Vickers-Armstrongs in Newcastle Upon Tyne
and named after the Welsh
county of Glamorgan
. She was launched on 9 July 1964, and was delivered to the Navy two years later. From 1977 to 1979, she was the subject of a major refit, when 'B' turret was replaced by four Exocet
launchers. In the spring and early summer of 1982 Glamorgan was involved in the Falklands War
. In the last days of the war, Argentine navy technicians fired a land-based MM-38 Exocet
missile after the ship strayed too close to shore. The ship was badly damaged, and 13 sailors on board were killed. She was refitted in late 1982. Her last active deployment for the Royal Navy was to the coast of Lebanon
in 1984.
In 1986, she was sold to the Chilean Navy
, and renamed Almirante Latorre. She served for 12 years until late 1998. On 11 April 2005, she sank while under tow to be broken up.
about to take part in exercises; she was immediately diverted to join the main Royal Navy task force, and served as flagship for Admiral Sandy Woodward
during the voyage south until 15 April, when he transferred his flag to HMS Hermes
. Her most useful armament proved to be her remaining twin 4.5 inches (114 mm) guns, which were used primarily to shell enemy positions on shore.
Glamorgan was first in action on the evening and night of 1 May when she joined forces with HMS Arrow
and HMS Alacrity
to bombard Argentine positions around Stanley
. The three British ships soon came under attack by three IAI Dagger jets; two 500 lb bombs fell close alongside Glamorgan, causing minor underwater damage.
Two weeks later on 14 May she was again in action, this time supporting British special forces on Pebble Island
in the west of the Falklands, and for the next two weeks until the end of May she was almost continuously engaged bombarding various shore positions on the east of the islands mainly as part of a plan to distract attention from the landings at San Carlos Water
, but also against the airfield at Stanley and in support of British forces ashore. She also fired a Sea slug missile
at the airstrip.
At the beginning of June, the task force having been reinforced with other ships, Glamorgan was detached to protect shipping in the Towing, Repair and Logistics Area (TRALA), some 200 miles (321.9 km) away from the islands, but as the campaign reached a climax she was recalled in the evening of 11 June to support the Royal Marines
fighting the Battle of Two Sisters
.
At 06:37 the following morning, Saturday 12 June 1982, Glamorgan was attacked with an MM38 Exocet missile which was fired from an improvised shore-based launcher. The launcher was dubbed ITB (Instalación de Tiro Berreta) by the Argentine personnel, which approximately means in Argentine slang
"trashy firing platform". Two MM38 Exocet missiles, their launcher, transporter, and the associated electronics trailer were assembled by the Argentine navy at Puerto Belgrano
and flown by a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to the Falkland Islands. A RASIT
radar supplied by the Argentinian Army tracked Glamorgans movements. The two MM38 Exocet missiles had been removed from the destroyer ARA Seguí
and secured on the launcher. Glamorgan was steaming at about 20 knots (39 km/h) some 18 nautical miles (33 km) off shore. The first attempt to fire a missile failed. A second attempt was successful and a missile was launched, but it failed to find the target. The third attempt was more successful. The incoming Exocet missile was being tracked on both the bridge and operations room radar by the Principal Warfare Officer and Navigation Officer. Before the missile impact, the ship was moving at high speed. After the ship executed a rapid turn away from the missile in the limited time available, a few seconds, the Exocet struck the port side adjacent to the hangar near the stern. The turn had prevented the missile from striking the ship's side perpendicularly and penetrating; instead it hit the deck coaming at an angle, near the port Seacat launcher, skidded on the deck, and exploded. This made a 10ft by 15ft hole in the hangar deck and a 5ft by 4ft hole in the galley area below, where a fire started. The blast travelled forwards and down, and the missile body, still travelling forwards, penetrated the hangar door, causing a fully fuelled and armed Wessex
helicopter to explode and start a severe fire in the hangar. Thirteen crew members were killed and more wounded. The ship was under way again with all fires extinguished by 10:00.
On the following day, repairs were made at sea and, after the Argentinian surrender on 14 June, more extensive repairs were undertaken in the sheltered bay of San Carlos Water
. She sailed for home on 21 June, and re-entered Portsmouth
on 10 July 1982 after 104 days at sea.
, assisting British peace-keeping troops there in 1984.
She was decommissioned by the Royal Navy in 1986, sold to the Chilean Navy
, and renamed Almirante Latorre. In 1996, Sea Cat
was replaced with the Barak SAM
. She served for 12 years until she was decommissioned again in late 1998. On 11 April 2005, she sank while under tow to be broken up.
A Memorial was erected in 2011 in memory of the ship and the lost crew at Hookers Point outside Stanley.
County class destroyer
The County class was a class of guided missile destroyers, the first such vessels built by the Royal Navy. Designed specifically around the Sea Slug anti-aircraft missile system, the primary role of these ships was area air-defence around the aircraft carrier task force in the nuclear-war...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
with a displacement of 5,440 tonnes. The ship was built by Vickers-Armstrongs in Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and named after the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
county of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. She was launched on 9 July 1964, and was delivered to the Navy two years later. From 1977 to 1979, she was the subject of a major refit, when 'B' turret was replaced by four Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
launchers. In the spring and early summer of 1982 Glamorgan was involved in 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 the last days of the war, Argentine navy technicians fired a land-based MM-38 Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
missile after the ship strayed too close to shore. The ship was badly damaged, and 13 sailors on board were killed. She was refitted in late 1982. Her last active deployment for the Royal Navy was to the coast of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1984.
In 1986, she was sold to the Chilean Navy
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
, and renamed Almirante Latorre. She served for 12 years until late 1998. On 11 April 2005, she sank while under tow to be broken up.
Falklands campaign
At the start of the Falklands campaign, on 2 April 1982, Glamorgan was already at sea off GibraltarGibraltar
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...
about to take part in exercises; she was immediately diverted to join the main Royal Navy task force, and served as flagship for Admiral Sandy Woodward
Sandy Woodward
Admiral Sir John Forster "Sandy" Woodward GBE, KCB is a British Admiral who commanded the British Naval Force in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War.-Naval career:...
during the voyage south until 15 April, when he transferred his flag to HMS Hermes
HMS Hermes (R12)
HMS Hermes was a Centaur-class British aircraft carrier, the last of the postwar conventional aircraft carriers commissioned into the Royal Navy.-Construction and modifications:...
. Her most useful armament proved to be her remaining twin 4.5 inches (114 mm) guns, which were used primarily to shell enemy positions on shore.
Glamorgan was first in action on the evening and night of 1 May when she joined forces with HMS Arrow
HMS Arrow (F173)
HMS Arrow 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.-Falklands War service:...
and HMS Alacrity
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....
to bombard Argentine positions around Stanley
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Stanley is the capital and only true cityin the Falkland Islands. It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2006 census, the city had a population of 2,115...
. The three British ships soon came under attack by three IAI Dagger jets; two 500 lb bombs fell close alongside Glamorgan, causing minor underwater damage.
Two weeks later on 14 May she was again in action, this time supporting British special forces on Pebble Island
Pebble Island
Pebble Island is one of the Falkland Islands, lying north of West Falkland.The island stretches about 19 miles from east to west and is about 4.3 miles at its widest point, with a total area of square miles .It has three high points: First Mountain , Middle Mountain and...
in the west of the Falklands, and for the next two weeks until the end of May she was almost continuously engaged bombarding various shore positions on the east of the islands mainly as part of a plan to distract attention from the landings at 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:...
, but also against the airfield at Stanley and in support of British forces ashore. She also fired a Sea slug missile
Sea Slug missile
Sea Slug was a first generation surface-to-air missile designed by Armstrong Whitworth for use by the Royal Navy...
at the airstrip.
At the beginning of June, the task force having been reinforced with other ships, Glamorgan was detached to protect shipping in the Towing, Repair and Logistics Area (TRALA), some 200 miles (321.9 km) away from the islands, but as the campaign reached a climax she was recalled in the evening of 11 June to support the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
fighting the Battle of Two Sisters
Battle of Two Sisters
The Battle of Two Sisters was an engagement of the Falklands War during the British advance towards the capital Stanley that took place from 11 to 12 June 1982.-Composition of forces:...
.
At 06:37 the following morning, Saturday 12 June 1982, Glamorgan was attacked with an MM38 Exocet missile which was fired from an improvised shore-based launcher. The launcher was dubbed ITB (Instalación de Tiro Berreta) by the Argentine personnel, which approximately means in Argentine slang
Lunfardo
Lunfardo is a dialect originated and developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the lower classes in Buenos Aires and the surrounding Gran Buenos Aires, and from there spread to other cities nearby, such as Rosario and Montevideo, cities with similar socio-cultural situations...
"trashy firing platform". Two MM38 Exocet missiles, their launcher, transporter, and the associated electronics trailer were assembled by the Argentine navy at Puerto Belgrano
Puerto Belgrano
Base Naval Puerto Belgrano is the largest naval base of the Argentine Navy, situated next to Punta Alta, near Bahía Blanca, about south of Buenos Aires...
and flown by a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to the Falkland Islands. A RASIT
RASIT
RASIT is a ground-surveillance pulse doppler radar developed by Thomson-CSF , and fielded by several militaries. The original version of RASIT had a range of 30 kilometers and could distinguish between personnel, vehicles, and aircraft. RASIT operates in the I band and has a peak power of two...
radar supplied by the Argentinian Army tracked Glamorgans movements. The two MM38 Exocet missiles had been removed from the destroyer ARA Seguí
USS Hank (DD-702)
USS Hank , an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, was named for Lieutenant Commander William Hank.Hank was launched 21 May 1944 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. William Edwin Hank, widow of Lieutenant Commander Hank; and commissioned on 28 August...
and secured on the launcher. Glamorgan was steaming at about 20 knots (39 km/h) some 18 nautical miles (33 km) off shore. The first attempt to fire a missile failed. A second attempt was successful and a missile was launched, but it failed to find the target. The third attempt was more successful. The incoming Exocet missile was being tracked on both the bridge and operations room radar by the Principal Warfare Officer and Navigation Officer. Before the missile impact, the ship was moving at high speed. After the ship executed a rapid turn away from the missile in the limited time available, a few seconds, the Exocet struck the port side adjacent to the hangar near the stern. The turn had prevented the missile from striking the ship's side perpendicularly and penetrating; instead it hit the deck coaming at an angle, near the port Seacat launcher, skidded on the deck, and exploded. This made a 10ft by 15ft hole in the hangar deck and a 5ft by 4ft hole in the galley area below, where a fire started. The blast travelled forwards and down, and the missile body, still travelling forwards, penetrated the hangar door, causing a fully fuelled and armed Wessex
Westland Wessex
The Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft , initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force...
helicopter to explode and start a severe fire in the hangar. Thirteen crew members were killed and more wounded. The ship was under way again with all fires extinguished by 10:00.
On the following day, repairs were made at sea and, after the Argentinian surrender on 14 June, more extensive repairs were undertaken in the sheltered bay of 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:...
. She sailed for home on 21 June, and re-entered Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
on 10 July 1982 after 104 days at sea.
Crew killed in the Falklands War
The following crew members were killed in action during the Falklands War.- Petty Officer Michael J. Adcock
- Cook Brian Easton
- Air Engineering Mechanic Mark Henderson
- Air Engineering Mechanic Brian P. Hinge
- Acting Chief Air Engineering Mechanic David Lee
- Cook Brian J. Malcolm
- Air Engineering Artificer Kelvin I. McCallum
- Marine Engineering Mechanic Terence W. Perkins
- Leading Cook Mark A. Sambles
- Leading Cook Anthony E. Sillence
- Steward John D. Stroud
- Lieutenant David H. R. TinkerDavid TinkerLieutenant David Hugh Russell Tinker was a Royal Navy supply officer, appointed as Captain's Secretary in the county class destroyer . He was killed in action on the 12 June 1982 on the last day of the Falklands War, when Glamorgan was hit by an Exocet missile fired from a lorry by an Argentine...
- Petty Officer Colin P. Vickers
After the Falklands campaign
HMS Glamorgan spent many months in late 1982 being refitted, and was back at sea in 1983. Her last active deployment for the Royal Navy was to the coast of LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, assisting British peace-keeping troops there in 1984.
She was decommissioned by the Royal Navy in 1986, sold to the Chilean Navy
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
, and renamed Almirante Latorre. In 1996, Sea Cat
Sea Cat missile
Sea Cat was a British short-range surface to air missile system intended to replace the ubiquitous Bofors 40 mm gun aboard warships of all sizes. It was the world's first operational shipboard point-defence missile system and was designed so that the Bofors guns could be replaced with minimum...
was replaced with the Barak SAM
Barak SAM
Barak is an Israeli surface-to-air missile designed to be used as a point-defense missile system on warships, defending against aircraft, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs.-Barak I:...
. She served for 12 years until she was decommissioned again in late 1998. On 11 April 2005, she sank while under tow to be broken up.
A Memorial was erected in 2011 in memory of the ship and the lost crew at Hookers Point outside Stanley.
See also
- List of ship launches in 1964
- List of ship commissionings in 1966
- List of ship decommissionings in 1986
- List of ship commissionings in 1986
- List of ship decommissionings in 1998
External links
- Extract about the Exocet attack on Glamorgan from Sandy Woodward's book (see above)
- Falklands timeline for Glamorgan
- Navy news account of Glamorgan in the Falklands (part 1) (part 2)