HMS Glamorgan and the Falklands War

At 06.37 hrs on this date (12th June) in 1982, the Royal Navy’s County-class guided missile destroyer ‘HMS Glamorgan’ was hit by an MM38 Exocet missile, fired from an improvised shore-based launcher on East Falkland.

HMS Glamorgan was positioned approximately 18 nautical miles offshore, and steaming at 20 knots. The Exocet was picked up on the destroyer’s RADAR, and realising it was an incoming missile, Lt. Cdr. Ian Inskip (C/O) ordered a rapid turn away shortly before impact. This action prevented the Exocet from penetrating Glamorgan’s side, and probably saved the ship; (no other British ship survived being hit by an Exocet during the Falklands Campaign).

Instead, the missile hit the deck coaming on the port side near the stern at an angle; then skidded along the deck before detonating and blowing a 10 ft x 15 ft hole in the hangar deck, and a smaller (4 ft x 5 ft) in the deck below, which started a fire in the galley area. The missile body penetrated the hanger door, causing the ship’s fully fuelled and armed Wessex helicopter to explode and start a severe fire within the hangar. Fourteen of Glamorgan’s crew were killed, but by 10.00 hrs the ship was underway again, with all fires extinguished. The following day, temporary repairs were made at sea, and following the Argentinian surrender on June 14th, more extensive repairs were made in San Carlos Water, before the ship could return to the UK.

HMS Glamorgan arrived at Portsmouth to a hero’s welcome on July 10th after 104 days at sea.

The Battles for Two Sisters and Mount Harriet:

Before the attack, Glamorgan had been operating overnight (11th-12th June) in support of Royal Marine forces atempting to take Argentine positions on Two Sisters Ridge, to the west of Port Stanley, East Falkland. A simultaneous attack took place against Argentine positions on Mount Harriet, to the south of Two Sisters. Both operations were successful, with the positions taken by dawn on June 12th. Three Royal Marines from 45 Commando, and a Sapper (Royal Engineers) were killed during the attack on ‘Two Sisters’, and two Royal Marines from 42 Commando were lost their lives in the attack on ‘Mount Harriet’.

Roll of Honour for May 12th 1982:

HMS Glamorgan crew:

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

Able Seaman David McCann

Marine Engineering Mechanic Terence W. Perkins

Leading Cook Mark A. Sambles

Leading Cook Anthony E. Sillence

Steward John D. Stroud

Lieutenant David H. R. Tinker

Petty Officer Colin P. Vickers

45 Commando, Royal Marines:

Corporal Ian Frank Spencer (26)

Marine Michael John Nowak (23)

Marine Gordon MacPherson (20)

42 Commando Royal Marines:

Corporal Laurence George Watts (27)

Corporal Jeremy Smith (23)

Royal Engineers:

Sapper Christopher Jones (19)

Rest in peace brothers. Resurgam