Falklands War - May 27th 1982 War Diary of Crew member of HMS Yarmouth

27th May

1042 Action stations

1110 Air yellow

1424 Air red

1429 456 landed ashore

1545 Air yellow

1611 Air red, possible contacts 14 miles - 140°

1620 Air yellow

1653 Air red, two aircraft closing from the East, Piecrust

1656 Air yellow

1658 CAP report engaging two aircraft Mirages, air red

1704 Air yellow

1707 1 CAP shot down and 1 damaged

1713 Pilot ejected over Goose Green

1721 Weapons tight

1933 Aircraft, Aircraft 2 Skyhawk’s

1934 Assessed attacking Brigade HQ, all guns engaging YARMOUTH hit both aircraft, both left trailing smoke

1934 12 bombs dropped at Ajax Bay killing 6 and wounding twenty seven

1936 Assessed attacking Brigade HQ

1937 Assessed to have dropped ‘Parachute’ bombs

1940 Another raid coming in (from Rapiers)

1956 ARROW reports that a Skyhawk splashed, brought down by 40mm fire from FEARLESS and INTREPID aircraft from Grupo 5, pilot Lieutenant Velasco

2005 Air yellow

2013 Aircraft closing fast, Round Table Skyhawk’s 270° gone low, no CAP at present

2015 Aircraft high 5 miles fuze 4.5 high, not CAP

2017 Flash hostile 230° now closing 25 miles

2020 Bootlace 170° Mirage closing from EWO

2022 Assessed hostiles 185° - 10 miles

2029 From ashore two hostiles closing from the West

San Carlos Water2030 Low bogies 220° - 8 miles from ARGONAUT

2032 Bootlace 220° 1 sweep only + 1 sweep 290° from EWO

2033 Low bogies 225°

2045 Air yellow

2048 Air red low bogies 202° from ARROW

2058 Possible Bootlace 060°

2059 Bootlace 155°

2101 Weapons tight

2102 Air yellow

2120 Assume state 1

2126 Assume state 2

San Carlos Water

It's been a funny old day. Went to the other side of the water to SIR LANCELOT to pick up some 7.62 ammo for the LMG’s. SIR LANCELOT still has her bomb in the accommodation we had a look at it and left there was Me, L/S Quate, Sea Beven, A/B Cable. We got half way back to the ship when the weather closed down, couldn't see a thing, nearly hit FEARLESS, then got into a right mess - some rotten bastard dropped bombs on us as a fine state, seaboat full of ammo but no guns, get back to the ship and told to piss off by the OOW as there is an air raid on, not that we had not noticed, oh no!. So we go ashore with the Royal Marines, have a look at the wounded in the Red and Green Life Machine, have big eats then return to the ship after 6 hours. We were well looked after and even a tot (or two) was enjoyed.

The next boat going in shore was to fill sand bags. Just as they reached the beach there was an air raid and the boys were told to jump into a trench for safety which they did without hesitation. Shame it was the SHIT TRENCH, sorry George.