RFA Sir Galahad (1966)

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 crewed by British officers and Hong Kong Chinese civilian crew.

Design and construction

Sir Galahad was a 3,322-tonne LSL built by Stephens and launched in 1966. 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.

Falklands War and loss

Main article: Bluff Cove air attacks

Sir Galahad was a part of the British task force during the Falklands War, sailing from HMNB Devonport on 6 April 1982, with 350 Royal Marines. The vessel entered San Carlos Water, East Falkland, on 21 May. Three days later, on 24 May, Sir Galahad was attacked by a formation of strike aircraft – McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawks and IAI Daggers – of the Argentine Air Force's IV Brigada Aérea. A Skyhawk dropped a British-pattern 1000 lb bomb that lodged inside the ship, but did not detonate. The ship was also hit by cannon fire from the Daggers.

The bomb, which was found to be live, was removed from the ship by members of the navy's Fleet Clearance Diving Team 3 (FCDT3). Having used a crane to remove the bomb from its position in the battery charging room, FCDT3 took the bomb in a Gemini dinghy before disposing of the bomb in waters away from all shipping.

On 8 June, while preparing to unload soldiers from the Welsh Guards, in Port Pleasant, Fitzroy, together with , Sir Galahad was attacked by three Skyhawks from the Argentine V Brigada Aérea, each carrying three US-pattern Mark 82 500 lb bombs, with retarding tails. At approximately 14:00 local time, Sir Galahad was hit by two or three bombs, which exploded and started fires. The explosions and subsequent fire caused the deaths of 48 crew and soldiers.

Following the air attack, the fires quickly began to burn out of control. The main evacuation of the injured and wounded was organised and carried out by the ship's Royal Marine detachment. The Marines organised the launch of life rafts from the bow of the ship, whilst at the same time marshaling helicopters for personnel to be winched clear. Immediate first aid was given to those most seriously wounded and a triage system set up. BBC television cameras recorded images of Royal Navy helicopters hovering in thick smoke to winch survivors from the burning landing ships.

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

Chiu Yiu-Nam, a seaman on Sir Galahad, was later awarded the George Medal for rescuing ten men trapped by a fire in the bowels of the ship. The captain, Philip Roberts, was reportedly the last to leave Sir Galahad, and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership and courage. Royal Marine Sergeant Brian Dolivera was mentioned in dispatches, related to his work on the evacuation.

After the Falklands War

On 21 June, the hulk was towed out to sea by the tugboat and sunk by using torpedoes; 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% 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.

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

Notes

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.)

References

1. Puddefoot, Geoff. (2010). "The Fourth Force: The Untold Story of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Since 1945". Seaforth Publishing.
2. Roberts, John. (2009). "Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy". Seaforth Publishing.
3. (2006). "The Forgotten Few of the Falklands".
4. (2009). "The Falklands War: Then and Now".
5. Moro, Rubén Oscar (1985). ''La guerra inaudita: historia del conflicto del Atlántico Sur''. Pleamar, p. 462. {{ISBN. 9505830432. {{in lang. es
6. "Task Force Falklands: Goose Green". [[National Army Museum]].
7. (9 January 2009). "Crew of RFA Sir Galahad Roll of Honour".
8. (23 March 2012). "Disaster for British at Bluff Cove". BBC News.
9. (7 March 2012). "Chiu Yiu Nam obituary". Telegraph.
10. (10 June 2007). "The War Within". South China Morning Post.
11. (25 September 2010). "Falklands hero's courage under fire". Bournemouth Echo.
12. "Dolivera, Brian". London Gazette.
13. "Simon Weston CBE {{!".
14. Nick van der Bijl, ''5th Infantry Brigade in the Falklands 1982'' (2003), p. 135