Bluff Cove Air Attacks
Encyclopedia
The Bluff Cove Air Attacks occurred 8 June 1982, during the Falklands War
. British troop transport ships were bombed by the Argentine Air Force
(FAA) whilst unloading, with significant damage and casualties.
now had sufficient force to start planning a full scale assault on Port Stanley
.
Advance parties of 2 Para moved forward and occupied Fitzroy
and Bluff Cove
, when it was discovered to be clear of Argentine forces. Units of the Welsh Guards
and Scots Guards
were sent in to support them. After the sinking of the transport Atlantic Conveyor there was only one British troop carrying helicopter available, an RAF CH-47 Chinook
. Therefore, supplies and reinforcements would have to be transported by sea.
s from the 5th Air Brigade, each of them loaded with three 500 lb retarding tail bombs
of Spanish
design. At approximately 14:00 local time the ships RFA Sir Tristram and RFA Sir Galahad
were badly damaged by five A-4Bs of Grupo 5. At 16:50 a second wave, composed by four A-4Bs of Grupo 5 hit a LCU
from HMS Fearless
, ferrying the vehicles of the 5th Brigade's headquarters from Darwin
to Bluff Cove in Choiseul Sound
with the loss of six of her crew. However, the Sea Harrier combat air patrol
was already on scene and responded; three Skyhawks were shot down and their pilots, 1st Lt Danilo Bolzan, Lt Juan Arrarás, and Ensign Alfredo Vazquez, were killed. The fourth aircraft suffered combat damage and lost a large amount of fuel, but returned to the mainland, assisted by a KC-130 tanker. A third wave, by A-4Cs of Grupo 4, arrived minutes later and struck ground targets without visible success. In a separate incident, the frigate HMS Plymouth
endured the sudden attack of six Dagger fighters of the 6th Air Brigade, which struck her with four 1,000-pound bombs. The warship sustained severe damage, although all the bombs were duds.
A total of 56 British servicemen were killed, and 150 wounded. BBC
television cameras recorded images of Royal Navy helicopters hovering in thick smoke to winch survivors from the burning landing ships. These images were seen around the world. However, General Mario Menendez
, commander of Argentine forces on the islands, was told that hundreds of men had been killed. He expected a drop in British morale, and their advance to slacken. Sir Galahad was damaged beyond repair, but her sister ship survived to be re-built post-war.
, who later featured in a BBC documentary showing his treatment for the appalling injuries he received. Weston endured 75 operations in 22 years, after 25% of his skin suffered third degree burns. In a subsequent documentary, filmed in Argentina, he met the pilot who bombed his ship, Captain Carlos Cachón. After a later visit of Cachón and his family to Weston's home in Liverpool
, they have become great friends.
Carlos Cachón was born near Balcarce and raised in Mar del Plata
, where he currently lives. He was awarded the honorific title of "Illustrious Citizen" by the Council
of the city of Mar del Plata on 25 February 2010.
After the war, a memorial for the British soldiers killed in the attack was erected at Fitzroy. On 8 June 2007, Welsh Guards veterans of the Falklands War held a memorial for the Welsh Guards killed on board Sir Galahad.
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...
. British troop transport ships were bombed by the Argentine Air Force
Argentine Air Force
The Argentine Air Force is the national aviation branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic. , it had 14,606 military and 6,854 civilian staff.-History:...
(FAA) whilst unloading, with significant damage and casualties.
Background
By 1 June, British forces on the Falkland Islands were bolstered by the arrival of 5,000 new troops of the 5th Infantry Brigade. Major General Jeremy MooreJeremy Moore
Major General Sir John Jeremy Moore KCB, OBE, MC & Bar was the commander of the British land forces during the Falklands War in 1982. Moore received the surrender of the Argentine forces on the islands.-Military career:...
now had sufficient force to start planning a full scale assault on Port 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...
.
Advance parties of 2 Para moved forward and occupied Fitzroy
Fitzroy, Falkland Islands
Fitzroy is a settlement on East Falkland. It is divided into Fitzroy North and Fitzroy South.It is named after Robert FitzRoy who sailed with Charles Darwin on HMS Beagle, andis on the inlet known as Port Pleasant....
and Bluff Cove
Bluff Cove
Bluff Cove Bluff Cove Bluff Cove (Spanish: Bahia Agradable or Hoya Fitzroy is a sea inlet and settlement on East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands, on its east coast...
, when it was discovered to be clear of Argentine forces. Units of the 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...
and Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
were sent in to support them. After the sinking of the transport Atlantic Conveyor there was only one British troop carrying helicopter available, an RAF CH-47 Chinook
CH-47 Chinook
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...
. Therefore, supplies and reinforcements would have to be transported by sea.
Air strikes
While unloading on 8 June, the British ships were attacked by waves of A-4 SkyhawkA-4 Skyhawk
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...
s from the 5th Air Brigade, each of them loaded with three 500 lb retarding tail bombs
Mark 81 bomb
The Mark 81 250 lb general purpose bomb was the smallest of the Mark 80 series of low-drag general-purpose bombs.-Development & deployment:...
of Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
design. At approximately 14:00 local time the ships RFA Sir Tristram and RFA Sir Galahad
RFA Sir Galahad (1966)
RFA Sir Galahad was a Round Table class landing ship logistics vessel belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was first managed for the British Army by the British-India Steam Navigation Company, before being transferred in 1970 to the RFA, part of the British fleet, .-Design and...
were badly damaged by five A-4Bs of Grupo 5. At 16:50 a second wave, composed by four A-4Bs of Grupo 5 hit a LCU
Landing Craft Utility
The Landing Craft Utility is a type of boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers....
from HMS Fearless
HMS Fearless (L10)
HMS Fearless was a Royal Navy ship which served from 1965 until 2002. One of two from the Landing Platform Dock class she was based in HMNB Portsmouth and saw service around the world over her 37 year life...
, ferrying the vehicles of the 5th Brigade's headquarters from Darwin
Darwin, Falkland Islands
Darwin is a settlement in Lafonia on East Falkland, lying on Choiseul Sound, on the east side of the island's central isthmus, north of Goose Green...
to Bluff Cove in Choiseul Sound
Choiseul Sound
Choiseul Sound is a stretch of sea in the Falkland Islands. It runs parallel to Eagle Passage and is between Lafonia and the north of East Falkland. Lively Island is in its mouth....
with the loss of six of her crew. However, the Sea Harrier combat air patrol
Combat air patrol
Combat air patrol is a type of flying mission for fighter aircraft.A combat air patrol is an aircraft patrol provided over an objective area, over the force protected, over the critical area of a combat zone, or over an air defense area, for the purpose of intercepting and destroying hostile...
was already on scene and responded; three Skyhawks were shot down and their pilots, 1st Lt Danilo Bolzan, Lt Juan Arrarás, and Ensign Alfredo Vazquez, were killed. The fourth aircraft suffered combat damage and lost a large amount of fuel, but returned to the mainland, assisted by a KC-130 tanker. A third wave, by A-4Cs of Grupo 4, arrived minutes later and struck ground targets without visible success. In a separate incident, the frigate HMS Plymouth
HMS Plymouth (F126)
HMS Plymouth is a Rothesay class frigate, which served in the United Kingdom Royal Navy from 1959 to 1988. She was named after the English city of Plymouth...
endured the sudden attack of six Dagger fighters of the 6th Air Brigade, which struck her with four 1,000-pound bombs. The warship sustained severe damage, although all the bombs were duds.
A total of 56 British servicemen were killed, and 150 wounded. BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television cameras recorded images of Royal Navy helicopters hovering in thick smoke to winch survivors from the burning landing ships. These images were seen around the world. However, General Mario Menendez
Mario Menéndez
Mario Benjamin Menéndez was an Argentine governor of the Falkland Islands. He also served in the Argentine Army. He surrendered Argentine forces to Britain during the Falklands War.-Pre-Falklands War:...
, commander of Argentine forces on the islands, was told that hundreds of men had been killed. He expected a drop in British morale, and their advance to slacken. Sir Galahad was damaged beyond repair, but her sister ship survived to be re-built post-war.
Aftermath
Among the wounded was Simon WestonSimon Weston
Simon Weston OBE is a former British Army soldier who became well known throughout the United Kingdom for his recovery and charity work after suffering severe burn injuries during the Falklands War.-Early life:...
, who later featured in a BBC documentary showing his treatment for the appalling injuries he received. Weston endured 75 operations in 22 years, after 25% of his skin suffered third degree burns. In a subsequent documentary, filmed in Argentina, he met the pilot who bombed his ship, Captain Carlos Cachón. After a later visit of Cachón and his family to Weston's home in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, they have become great friends.
Carlos Cachón was born near Balcarce and raised in Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
, where he currently lives. He was awarded the honorific title of "Illustrious Citizen" by the Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
of the city of Mar del Plata on 25 February 2010.
After the war, a memorial for the British soldiers killed in the attack was erected at Fitzroy. On 8 June 2007, Welsh Guards veterans of the Falklands War held a memorial for the Welsh Guards killed on board Sir Galahad.