MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Recalling one of the Falklands war major logistic losses

John Brocklehurst, former Chief Officer on the Atlantic Conveyor

The Captain of the cruise ship “Discovery” that visited the capital of the Falkland Islands, Stanley last week was John Brocklehurst. The former Chief Officer on the Atlantic Conveyor making his first visit since the Falkland's War.

Many will no doubt recall that Atlantic Conveyor was lost after being hit by an Exocet missile fired from an Argentine aircraft on May 25, 1982, probably one of the most damaging attacks from the Argentine Air Force. A roll-on roll-off container cargo ship of some 15,000 gross tons, Atlantic Conveyor was bringing much needed military equipment, including twenty-five aircraft to assist in the recovery of the Falklands. The aircraft included eight Sea Harriers, six RAF GR3 Harriers, four Chinooks and seven Wessex helicopters. Other cargo included 3,000 tons of aircraft spares, heavy earth moving machinery and airfield construction equipment, a large quantity of tents for accommodating troops after recovery of the Islands, ammunition and a vast quantity of stores of all descriptions. Fortunately the fourteen Harrier aircraft were flown from the ship, shortly after she arrived off the Islands, together with one Chinook and one Wessex helicopter. The loss of the remaining helicopters on board, when the ship was sunk, resulted in the majority of the troops having to march all the way from Port San Carlos to Stanley, carrying their kit with them. This, in turn, delayed the final recovery of the Islands, together with the surrender of the Argentine forces, by at least one to two weeks. During his visit, Gerald Cheek took Captain Brocklehurst to Cape Pembroke to see the memorial to the Atlantic Conveyor, with which he was extremely impressed. He also visited the Liberation Monument and Memorial Wood. At the Memorial Wood Captain Brocklehurst paid his respects at the trees that were planted in memory of his twelve crew members, who lost their lives when the ship was hit. One of those who died was the Master of Atlantic Conveyor, Captain Ian North. Ironically, Captain North was serving on a merchant ship during the Second World War, which sunk after being torpedoed by a German U-boat, but sadly he did not survive the sinking of the Atlantic Conveyor. (PN).-