May 4, 1982 in the waters of the Falkland Islands the HMS Sheffield D-80 became the first war loss in the
Falkland's War and the first British warship lost in action since World War 2. The Type 42 Guided Missile
Destroyer was launched by Vickers at Barrow in 1971. Sheffield was hit by an Exocet Missile fired from an
Argentine Navy Dassault Super Étendard piloted by Captain Augusto Bedacarratz.

Because of an older type radar and because the missiles were fired from less than six miles away, their launch
had not been detected by the Sheffield and therefore evasive maneuvers were not made. Thus the missile
impacted amidships on the Sheffield killing 20 crewmen. There has been some dispute as to whether the missile
actually detonated or not but, just the impact and fuel onboard the missile was enough to cause massive fires
which could not be controlled. The HMS Arrow F-173 came alongside and removed the crew and the Sheffield continued to burn until she was nothing but a burned out hulk. She was taken in tow but finally scuttled on May 10 due to bad weather.

© 2008 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com

HMS Sheffield D-80 and HMS Arrow F-173.