rAF BOMB DISPOSAL FALKLAND ISLANDS 1982

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 At that point HMS Antelope was seen burning following the explosion of a 1000lb bomb during efforts to defuse it. During repeated air attacks that day Bedivere, Galahad and Lancelot were hit and holed by similar weapons. Lancelot receiving the bomb that exited Bediveres fo’c’sle. Both weapons in Galahad and Lancelot were UXB’s. Additionally a further bomb was lodged in the magazine of HMS Argonaut. All ships were visited by an RAF SNCO to provide identification of the pistol, and appropriate Render Safe Procedures (RSPs) were given to the RN Bomb Disposal Team.  On 25th May  the RAF BD Unit was disembarked at Ajax as Bedivere was sailing to rejoin the Task Force. The Team was kept occupied with a number of requests to deal with unexploded ordnance near various units, whilst the whole area was subjected to numerous air attacks, some 36 Air Raid Red warnings given during the week from arrival in San Carlos Sound. 

  The refrigeration plant building at Ajax bay was used as accommodation by Commando Logs Regt and the RAF BD Team, and was the location of the Mobile Surgical Unit nicknamed the “Red and Green Life Machine”. 

Surrounding the area were numerous stock piles of ammunition and fuel awaiting helilift to the front line.

On the 27th May the rear of this complex was bombed by two Skyhawk aircraft who dropped 6 bombs only one of which exploded causing 5 deaths and 26 injured, two of the bombs fell in the sea, one exited the building over the medical operating area and two remained UXB in the building. These were SAMP 400kg with an unknown fuze, and it was assumed were dropped too low for the arming sequence to be completed. After consultation with the SMO Cmdr Rick Jolly, it was decided to take no further action. 

 The RAF BD Team set up blast corridors, shored the ceiling up and completed sandbag blast walls. As a result of the bombing the pre-positioned stocks of fuel and ammunition caught light, the ammunition and pyrotechnics sporadically exploded or initiated throughout the night. A full scale clearance operation was carried out in the morning to clear the remaining UXBs and debris to allow the helilifts to resume. 

 On the 28th May news reached the Unit that the Parachute Regt had captured Goose Green and its airfield. A decision was reached after consultation with Wg Cdr  Traverne, the RAF LO on HMS Fearless, to move to Goose Green to clear the airfield for possible Harrier Operations and to assist in the clearance of the settlement. All equipment, except the vehicles were flown into the settlement by helicopter. RE search teams swept the area for UXOs, which included ammunition stocks, minefields and large quantities of “home brew” napalm in weeping containers both in the settlement and on the airfield. These were moved to the airfield and WO D. Trafford organised demolition. Fuzing units from cluster bomblets were removed , the cluster bomblet attached to the napalm container, and the whole linked with a Det Cord ring main. The ensuing explosion lifted a fireball some 500 feet in the air. 

This is the only surviving Chinook helecopter operating during the conflict.

The others were lost when the Atlantic Conveyor was sunk on its way to deliver spares and ammunition to the British Forces on the Falkland Islands.

 Five Chinook HC.1’s of No. 18 Squadron RAF were also on the ship but were also lost when the ship was hit by an Agentinian Exocet Missile.

The front fuselage of an Argentinian Pucara Aircraft.

 The FMA IA 58 Pucará (Quechua: Fortress) is an Argentine ground-attack and counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft manufactured by the Fábrica Militar de Aviones. It is a low-wing twin-turboprop all-metal monoplane with retractable landing gear, capable of operating from unprepared strips when operationally required. The type saw action during the Falklands War. 

Here we see one of many Argentinian "Bomb Dumps" that required clearing after the Argentinian surrender.

In this photograph, there can be seen a slock of "Tigercat" which is the land based version of the "Seacat" surface to air missile.

The missiles were manufactured by Shorts, Harland and Marconi.

In the UK they were replaced by Rapier.