RFA Sir Galahad (1966)

Coordinates: 51°50′28″S 58°12′40″W / 51.841°S 58.211°W / -51.841; -58.211

RFA Sir Galahad in 1982
History
United Kingdom
Namesake: Galahad
Builder: Alexander Stephen and Sons
Laid down: February 1965
Launched: 19 April 1966
Commissioned: 17 December 1966
Identification: IMO number: 6615508
Fate:
  • Destroyed 8 June 1982, during Falklands War
  • Hull sunk on 21 June as a target by submarine HMS Onyx
  • Declared war grave post-war
General characteristics
Class and type: Round Table class LSL
Tonnage:
Displacement:
  • 3,322 t standard
  • 5,765 t fully loaded
Length: 412 ft (126 m)
Beam: 60 ft (18 m)
Draught: 13 ft (4.0 m)
Propulsion:
  • 2 Mirrlees National ALSSDM10 diesels.
  • Power: 9,400 bhp (7,010 kW)
Speed: 17 knots (31 km/h)
Range: 9,200 nautical miles (17,040 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Capacity: 2,443 tonnes
Complement: 68 crew, up to 534 passengers
Armament: Two 40 mm Bofors AA guns.
Aircraft carried: Up to 20 Wessex helicopters (1973)

RFA Sir Galahad (L3005) was a Round Table class landing ship logistics (LSL) vessel belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary of the United Kingdom.

The ship saw service in the Falklands War of 1982, where she was bombed and set afire at Fitzroy on 8 June in the worst British setback of the war.

Background

She was first managed for the British Army by the British-India Steam Navigation Company, before being transferred in 1970 to the RFA, and was manned by Hong Kong Chinese civilian crew.[1]

Design and construction

The Sir Galahad was a 3,322-tonne LSL built by Stephens and launched in 1966. She was built to merchant standards, which aided her destruction. She could carry 340 troops or, when necessary, 534 for short periods. Cargo capacity could include 16 light tanks, 34 mixed vehicles, 122 tonnes of fuel and 31 tonnes of ammunition. Landing craft could be carried in place of lifeboats, but unloading was mainly handled by three onboard cranes.

Operational history

1970

In November and December 1970 Sir Galahad was involved in Operation Burlap giving humanitarian assistance to East Pakistan after a cyclone caused extensive damage and flooding.[2]

Falklands War

Sir Galahad was active during the Falklands War, sailing from HMNB Devonport on 6 April with 350 Royal Marines and entering San Carlos Water on 21 May. On 24 May 1982 in San Carlos Water she was attacked by A-4 Skyhawks of the Argentine Air Force's IV Brigada Aérea and was hit by a 1000 pound bomb dropped by Lt. Luis Alberto "Tucu" Cervera's A-4, (which did not detonate) then strafed by Dagger fighter bombers. After removal of the unexploded bomb, she carried out supply runs to Teal Inlet along with RFA Sir Percivale.

On 8 June 1982 while preparing to unload soldiers from the Welsh Guards in Port Pleasant, off Fitzroy, together with RFA Sir Tristram, the Sir Galahad was attacked by three A-4 Skyhawks from Argentine Air Force's V Brigada Aérea, each loaded with three 500 lb retarding tail bombs.[3] At approximately 14:00 local time RFA Sir Galahad was hit by two or three bombs and set alight.[4] A total of 48 soldiers and crewmen were killed in the explosions and subsequent fire.[5]

Her captain, Philip Roberts waited until the last minute to abandon ship and was the last to leave.[6] He was subsequently awarded the DSO for his leadership and courage.[6] Chiu Yiu-Nam, a seaman on RFA Sir Galahad, was awarded the George Medal for rescuing ten men trapped in a fire in the bowels of the ship.[7][8]

BBC television cameras recorded images of Royal Navy helicopters hovering in thick smoke to winch survivors from the burning landing ships.[9] These images were seen around the world.

Other units affected include 3 Troop (of 20 Field Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment) which was temporarily attached to 9 Independent Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers and was being transported on the Galahad to provide engineering support following the landings. Engineers feature prominently in contemporary footage showing two lifeboats landing survivors. Also 16 Field Ambulance (RAMC) were on board and assisted with the treatment and evacuation of the many casualties.

After the Falklands War

Sir Galahad's bell in The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, Pangbourne, Berks

On 21 June, the hulk was towed out to sea by the RMAS Tug Typhoon and sunk by HMS Onyx; it is now an official war grave, designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act.

Guardsman Simon Weston was among the survivors of the attack on Sir Galahad. He suffered 46%[10] burns and his story has been widely reported in television and newspaper coverage. Ten years after Sir Galahad was sunk, Weston was awarded the OBE. Other survivors included the intelligence consultant Crispin Black[11].

A replacement ship entered service in 1988, carrying the same name and pennant number.

Notes

  1. ↑ Puddefoot, Geoff (2010). The Fourth Force: The Untold Story of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Since 1945pp. 22,110,111,122. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-848-32043-7.
  2. ↑ Roberts, John (2009). Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-848-32043-7.
  3. ↑ Moro, Rubén Oscar (1985). La guerra inaudita: historia del conflicto del Atlántico Sur. Pleamar, p. 462. ISBN 9505830432. (in Spanish)
  4. ↑ "Task Force Falklands: Goose Green", National Army Museum, archived from the original on 2009-07-19
  5. ↑ "Crew of RFA Sir Galahad Roll of Honour". Family Announcements. 9 January 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Falklands hero's courage under fire". Bournemouth Echo. 25 September 2010.
  7. ↑ "Chiu Yiu Nam obituary". Telegraph. 7 March 2012.
  8. ↑ "The War Within". South China Morning Post. 10 June 2007.
  9. ↑ "Disaster for British at Bluff Cove". BBC News. 23 March 2012.
  10. ↑ http://www.simonweston.com/
  11. ↑ Nick van der Bijl, 5th Infantry Brigade in the Falklands 1982 (2003), p. 135

References

  • Raymond Blackman, Ships of the Royal Navy (Macdonald and Jane's, London, 1973)
  • SI 2008/0950 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986
  • Geoff Puddefoot, No Sea Too Rough (Chatham Publishing, London, 2007.)
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