Sea Of Fire: BBC2 2100 1/6/07
 

Tomorrow night, at 2100, BBC2 will be screening a docudrama called Sea of Fire about the sinking by Argentine aircraft of HMS Coventry on 25 May 1982.

The ship losses in the Falklands have been covered in many documentaries, book and internet sites, and have been discussed in many PPRuNe threads. This, however, appears to be an attempt to reconstruct the events which led to her loss, including the attack, damage control attempts and the abandon ship phase, from the point of view of those who were there. I don't think this has been done before.

BBC page

I shall watch with interest. Ch4 covered most of the bases some years back. Sounds like the BBC have discovered that they can make a cheap prog out of stock film and the contents of David Hart-Dyke's excellent book. Land, T42s and Sea Dart systems don't mix, neither do 38 mile pot shots with Sea Dart against a C-130.

Oh Navaleye, you are so out of touch. Sea Dart is an excellent missile, saved the Missouri's ass in 1991. (Although the misslie fired at her would have probably bounced off). Cardiff was successful in 1982. It might have been a pot shot at the C130 but, being illuminated by 909 would almost certainly have concentrated the mind especially when combined with a great stream of s**t and smoke coming at you.

Indeed. Still the ONLY maritime missile system with a confirmed combat ASM kill, although as you say the result of a hit would probably have been a "hands to brooms - upperdeck" pipe...

Not at 38 miles when you can see it coming for the first part of its journey. It stops smoking at 8 miles when the booster drops off. After that its a pretty clean weapon as long as its target is not too low, within its no escape zone and reasonably cooperative.

well it was better than Seaslug (was there ever a better name? "Dave" excluded.) Also I don't think the threat to the "Mighty Mo" could see it coming.

Some sources have suggested that when the Silkworm was splashed by Sea Darts from Gloucester it was heading for the Survey vessel (come command platform for mine clearance) HMS Herald. A hit by the Silkworm (massive missile with massive warhead) would have sunk her with heavy loss of life.

Going back to 1982....

The documentary on C4 was called Going Critical. Surprisingly, after all this time, there is still a section on the C4 website.

Going Critical - HMS COVENTRY

The problem with the Sea Dart system but with the air search radar the T42 had in 1982, particularly with respect to performance against clutter due to the large beamwidth. (I covered this briefly at University - being taught about radar by a lecturer who is ex RN).

Broadsword's computer failure didn't help, and don't forget Broadsword was herself hit, and communication between the two ships broke down, leading to Coventry obscuring Broadsword's Sea Wolf firing arcs.

What the documentary didn't mention, but the books of Sandy Woodward and Sharkey Ward do, is that the Skyhawks were being chased by a pair of Sea Harriers, but the Sea Harriers were called out so they didn't enter the missile engagement zone. If organic AEW had been around, and the Skyhawks has been intercepted early things may have been very different.

Personally, I am interested in this from a damage control and sea survival viewpoint.

Bet it doesn't mention the role of the media, was it really such a good idea telling the world (Argentines included) that the bombs weren't exploding as they were not airborne long enough to arm. The bombs used that day were parachute retarded - coincidence?

As HMS Cardiff proved in the Falklands War when she tragically shot down an AAC Gazelle flying overland, Sea Dart has always had a limited overland capability.

WEBF, Hmm exactly what silkworm splashed by Gloucester are you discussing here? I was onboard within the Shah Alum MDZ that night and i am not sure you have the full story - and even though i was there am not even sure that i do!! It was a very interesting night - especially for the javellin crews that we carried. The Fighting 'G' waas also infamous at that time for its gung ho and extremely unpopular warfare staff. At the time Gloucester was limited in its ability to fire and the first decoys were fired by exeter. Or are you discussing a different incident? :rolleyes:

The Fighting 'G' waas also infamous at that time for its gung ho and extremely unpopular warfare staff.

Correct.

Back to the No1 post...
I thought it was very good, and brought back memories of DC pre and post FI.
As an aside, I spent over a week, last year, endeavouring to get WO 'Trev' Trevarthan (unfortunately no turtle) from MPA to Pebble Island to lay a personal wreath for his oppo’s on the Coventry. Poor weather and u/s aircraft conspired against; but as in ’82, the aim was eventually achieved.

We always briefed SeaDart with a threat range of 38nm based on it's performance envelope - surely it should be on it's last legs outside of that with little chance of a hit?
I read that during Range/Sea Trials a SeaDart took out a 4.5" shell fired from another ship - now that is impressive.
We also considered the RN a bigger threat to us than the Soviets when on DS.
Type 42 (Batch 3) was the best in the inventory and looked the part - also hosted the best cocktail parties with it's massive quarterdeck

I believe that it was Sea Wolf that hit a 4.5 inch shell.

I thought the programme was very good. A few things seemed a bit odd (like the alarm sound) but it did give you an idea of what it must have been like. The personnel interviewed came across well with both dignity and humanity.

One thing the documentry showed that the campaign showed was that reliance on missiles is a poor idea the T42 were fitted with phalanx post war and T22/III have a good combination of systems including goalkeeper. But come T23 on its Seawolf and 2x 30mm. And What apart from aster and 30mm will T45 have.
There is still a place for Guns in the airdefence umberella.

You have to remember that this programme was filmed on a modern warship (T23 I think) and therefore the main broadcast alarm is different. There were many technical errors (such as many of the sailors filmed were OM's - a branch which didn't exist in 1982) but overall I agree with you,I think it was a superb film and just showed how strong leadership and sheer Naval determination can win the day.

BTW, do our modern 25 man liferafts still have pussers blue liners in them?

Vec

According to the credits, the programme was filmed aboard HMS Exeter. Of course these days she has kit that may have been handy in 1982 like Phalanx.

Yes, the Fighting G has had some VERY gung ho warfare types ;-)

No Blue liners any more....................

I have only watched the first 15 mins (on tape) so can't really comment on its entirety, however, from what I did see wasn't bad at all.

Oh and there weren't any red rank badges in sight either.
SJ

Any Splits?:=

Ah, but Phalanx is never servicable long enough to get more than 20 rounds away....

DD...Naughty :=