Falklands War: D-Day + 1 - Seal Cove

The Battle of Seal Cove was a minor naval battle that took place on on May 22nd 1982. The British frigates HMS Brilliant and HMS Yarmouth were ordered to capture and seize the Argentine coastal supply boat ARA Monsunen (which was actually a British vessel which had been captured during the Argentine invasion). The ARA Monsunen was sailing towards Port Stanley carrying a cargo of 150 fuel drums and 250 flour sacks.

The ARA Monsunen was first spotted by a British Sea Lynx helicopter. Another British helicopter carrying a Special Boat Service (SBS) team then attempted to intercept the Monsunen, but was driven off by gunfire.

HMS Yarmouth then gave chase to the Monsunen, and opened fire using her 114mm deck gun. The Argentine vessel was forced to maneuver in an effort to avoid incoming salvos, but eventually Captain Gopcevich decided that his best course of attack was to beach the boat at nearby Seal Cove.

The Argentine vessel was successfully beached, and her crew abandoned her. The British frigates lost track of the ship, and eventually returned to San Carlos. Her crew returned to the Monsunen the next morning, but the ship's propeller was disabled. However Captain Gopcevich was able to radio for help, and the Argentines then used another captured British trawler, the ARA Forrest, to tow the Monsunen to Port Darwin, and then take the cargo on to Port Stanley.

The only casualties in the action were some serious bruises to one Argentine sailor who fell overboard when the Monsunen was beached. The Monsunen herself was recaptured by the British on May 29th 1982 after the Battle of Goose Green.