MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
UK approval for Belgrano expedition
The planned expedition to try to locate the wreck of the Argentine cruiser Belgrano sunk in the 1982 Falklands War, prominently reported in Argentina, has made much less impact in Britain where the news is dominated by the prospect of a new war ? with Iraq.
But the general attitude of the public, politicians and the military, is that locating the wreck would be a fascinating maritime and historical mission to which there is no objection. The former Falkland Islands Governor, Sir Rex Hunt, who was also Commander in Chief of British South Atlantic Forces at the time of the invasion, said there was no objection so long as there is respect and reverence for what is an official war grave and historic wreck, as traditionally accepted around the world. This view is widely held in the United Kingdom, with its long maritime tradition and so many of its own warship wrecks scattered around the globe.
The proposal by the expedition's organisers, the National Geographic Society, to mark the wreck, if found, with a plaque honouring more than 300 Argentine sailors who lost their lives is welcomed as an act of respect for the dead. .
Challenging task. It is a hugely challenging and difficult task as the Belgrano is believed to be lying about 4,200 metres (13,780 feet) deep, in international waters 185 kilometres (115 miles) from the Argentine coast. The National Geographic Society will deploy sonar equipment and an unmanned remotely controlled mini-submarine to try to detect the wreck. .
The society plans to film the mission as it did in previous expeditions to the remains of the liner Titanic liner and German warship Bismark. It believes the wreck may be in reasonable condition after 20 years, compared with the Titanic after 90 years. The Argentine navy will assist in the search. The Society asked permission from the Argentine Government and the families of dead crew members and also consulted the British Government and war veterans in advance of the expedition. .
Rival Captains' accounts of sinking. On returning from the sinking, the Belgrano's commander, Captain Hector Bonzo, visibly shaken by the ordeal and loss of life, told me in Buenos Aires in 1982, that the last he saw of his ship going down was the Argentine flag still flying, adding: "It is still flying on the seabed". .
The captain of the submarine Conqueror, which sank the cruiser with two torpedoes, Commander Christopher Wreford-Brown, later told me his version of the attack. Under the Navy's rules of engagement he had no choice but to attack when the opportunity arose. He might otherwise have faced court-martial. He was praised by his commanders for his professional, efficient conduct. .
It is considered doubtful in the United Kingdom that location of the wreck and determination of its position can in any way produce any new facts concerning the controversy surrounding the Belgrano's sinking, involving heavy loss of life when the doomed vessel was outside the military exclusion zone declared by Britain and heading away from the Falklands towards the Argentine mainland. .
But even Argentine naval commanders have conceded it was the right military action to take, if not from the Argentine viewpoint a convincing political decision, coinciding with abortive peace negotiations.
Argentines ignored British warning . The British Government had clearly warned the Argentine Government on April 23rd, nine days before the attack, that Argentine vessels, whether inside or outside the exclusion zone, might be attacked if they were perceived to constitute a threat to the British Task Force. The British commanders were convinced the Argentine fleet was engaged in an aggressive pincer movement led by the aircraft carrier the Veinte y cinco de Mayo in the north and the Belgrano in the south. The aircraft carrier was the prime target and would also have been sunk if detected by British submarines. .
As Argentine reports later indicated, all three of the Argentine fleet's battle groups had previously been advancing at full speed towards the battle areas. .
Coded signal to withdraw. But after the commander of the fleet, Rear Admiral Gaulter Allara had analysed the risk of such an attack, the Commander of the South Atlantic Theatre, Admiral Juan Jose Lombardo, sent this intriguing signal in code: "Withdraw from Luis to Miguel". Translated into military language, this was an order to the Belgrano and her escorts to withdraw to rearward positions in less deep water to avoid the presence of nuclear submarines which cannot easily manoeuvre under these conditions. .
While the British deeply regretted the heavy loss of life -- the biggest single casualty figure in the whole war ? British naval commanders argue that it may well have saved lives overall on both sides because the Argentine Navy withdrew its fleet and never gave battle to the Task Force as it had planned to do.. .
Royal Navy commanders believe the casualties would have been far fewer if the Belgrano had not been such an old ship ? a survivor as a former United States warship in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour ? and if the ship had been kept at battle readiness as she withdrew and her frigate escorts had not fled the scene. .
Harold Briley, (MP) London
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