HMS Anson soldiers on
- Thread starter alspug
- Start date
No need for that great of an expense , just moor her opposite of Warrior and drydock her as needed
That's not exactly accurate...she's moored where all the chemical plant refuse coming down the bayou can have access...
https://www.google.com/maps/place/B...f41845954!8m2!3d29.7562825!4d-95.089709?hl=en
Last edited:
For HMS Anson 21 nm (42,000 yards aprox) was outside of her maximum range with guns . Even with ARA Veinticinco de Mayo at maximum speed when new it would be impossible to outrun HMS Anson . Surrounding ARA Veinticinco de Mayo was her escort . the ships of her escort consisted of both type 42 destroyers and 3 Drummond class frigates . For the South American environment this was a very potent task force . The Exocets could stand off any surface threat and the Type 42's could handle the air environment . Unfortunately the Drummonds did not have the luxury of expecting what was about to occur . From straight ahead of the Carrier group came a vessel sporting some signs of damage and masked behind her some more vessels . This was exactly what the crews of the escorts expected . On board the ARA Veinticinco de Mayo the panic on the bridge was obvious . The wind was to low to launch the A-4Q Skyhawks with bombs . and it was doubtful if they could launch at all . Something big and dangerous had sunk the Belgrano in only a short action . Now the debate was to turn into the wind send the escorts forward and hope for the best or turn and run . Unfortunately the radar showed the behemoth moving at 26 knots while they could in good weather get up to 22 knots .
For the Royal Navy sailors the sudden victory was both a culmination of efforts in training and a vindication of the Royal navy tradition . Suddenly the flags on HMS Anson changed . It was a throwback to a previous era and thrilled the Commanders as it was read . The signal was General Chase . Then over the radio links came instructions for the coming engagement . Each of the Drummond class Frigates was a potential problem due to the Exocets on board . With this in mind the Fire Control no longer focused on the radar return of the Carrier and instead began handing ranges and targets to the Type 21 destroyers . Each destroyer would have a single target . Initial targeting would be with proximity fused shells in the hope that even close misses would do damage . 16 4.5 inch shells where loaded onto the feed drums on the Mk mountings of the Type 21 Frigates . The magazine crews prepared to keep the feed drum loaded . On board HMS Anson both Mk 8 guns had been loaded and ready to fire . If they could reach 16,000 yards the escorts would be able to join in effectively . HMS Broadsword was ordered top hang back 2000 yards off HMS Anson's stern in a location to be hidden from fire . HMS Coventry moved forward alongside the Type 21's and ready to fire .
As the range wound down the crew of HMS Anson began to show signs of stress due to the impending action . This was usually alleviated by jokes and comments about how quick the Argies would be sunk . The two Sea Dart launcher's began to accept missiles and train in all directions . The radar unit was again working properly and with the fault corrected ready to fire . The Sea Harriers began to broadcast their warnings even as they dove at near supersonic speed to intercept the 4 Super Entard that they had by now begun to engage . From under the wing of the first Harrier came a plume of fire as a Aim-9L missile rapidly overtook it's prey . At the last second and as the Harrier Pilot had lined up a second victim the entire flight pulled up hard and activated their radars as they tried to engage the Royal navy . The AIM-9L cut the corner and hit the rearmost aircraft . Even as the pieces of the once beautiful aircraft began their last journey the flight lead detected large numbers of contacts . With the added pressure of the loss of his wingman to what must be a Sea Dart he ordered the flight to launch Exocet's at the closest ships . He reserved the Type 42 that must have killed his wingman for himself . No sooner had he launched when a second missile this time from the second Sea Harrier immolated another Entard . Looking at the trail of smoke rapidly dissipating he realised his mistake . It was too late as he saw an aircraft carry out an impossible manoeuvre . Seemingly it jerked in flight slowed abruptly and changed direction in a manner that defied physics . Even as he was amazed he tried to avoid the incoming fire . It was too late and even as his aircraft was chewed to pieces by 30 mm shells , he smiled as he thought of the fact that his target was as good as dead . As he died he thought of the victory and honour he had won . The Last Super Entard escaped because the Sea Harrier pilots had reached bingo fuel and in the South Atlantic fuel was life .
As for the three Exocets now diving to cruise altitude the second Sea Harrier nosed down picked up speed and reached a point that might be just within the engagement envelope for the AIM-9L . The Missile had a nice hot engine and flew a predicable path . The question was one of distance . Distance to catch up in a tail chase and distance to detonate and cause damage . Several seconds later and the AIM-9L detonated 10 metres to the side of the Exocet , Of all the preformed fragments not one hit the Exocet . What hit it was a piece of the control surface . Like a knife the fragment entered the Exocet and destroyed the control circuitry . According to the Sea Harrier pilots they shot it down . According to the official History it was a faulty missile as it never pulled out of it's descent to cruising altitude . The two remaining Exocets picked out two targets . HMS Anson and HMS Broadsword . HMS Broadsword's Fire control officer wanted to engage both but was overruled . HMS Anson could look after herself .
For the Royal Navy sailors the sudden victory was both a culmination of efforts in training and a vindication of the Royal navy tradition . Suddenly the flags on HMS Anson changed . It was a throwback to a previous era and thrilled the Commanders as it was read . The signal was General Chase . Then over the radio links came instructions for the coming engagement . Each of the Drummond class Frigates was a potential problem due to the Exocets on board . With this in mind the Fire Control no longer focused on the radar return of the Carrier and instead began handing ranges and targets to the Type 21 destroyers . Each destroyer would have a single target . Initial targeting would be with proximity fused shells in the hope that even close misses would do damage . 16 4.5 inch shells where loaded onto the feed drums on the Mk mountings of the Type 21 Frigates . The magazine crews prepared to keep the feed drum loaded . On board HMS Anson both Mk 8 guns had been loaded and ready to fire . If they could reach 16,000 yards the escorts would be able to join in effectively . HMS Broadsword was ordered top hang back 2000 yards off HMS Anson's stern in a location to be hidden from fire . HMS Coventry moved forward alongside the Type 21's and ready to fire .
As the range wound down the crew of HMS Anson began to show signs of stress due to the impending action . This was usually alleviated by jokes and comments about how quick the Argies would be sunk . The two Sea Dart launcher's began to accept missiles and train in all directions . The radar unit was again working properly and with the fault corrected ready to fire . The Sea Harriers began to broadcast their warnings even as they dove at near supersonic speed to intercept the 4 Super Entard that they had by now begun to engage . From under the wing of the first Harrier came a plume of fire as a Aim-9L missile rapidly overtook it's prey . At the last second and as the Harrier Pilot had lined up a second victim the entire flight pulled up hard and activated their radars as they tried to engage the Royal navy . The AIM-9L cut the corner and hit the rearmost aircraft . Even as the pieces of the once beautiful aircraft began their last journey the flight lead detected large numbers of contacts . With the added pressure of the loss of his wingman to what must be a Sea Dart he ordered the flight to launch Exocet's at the closest ships . He reserved the Type 42 that must have killed his wingman for himself . No sooner had he launched when a second missile this time from the second Sea Harrier immolated another Entard . Looking at the trail of smoke rapidly dissipating he realised his mistake . It was too late as he saw an aircraft carry out an impossible manoeuvre . Seemingly it jerked in flight slowed abruptly and changed direction in a manner that defied physics . Even as he was amazed he tried to avoid the incoming fire . It was too late and even as his aircraft was chewed to pieces by 30 mm shells , he smiled as he thought of the fact that his target was as good as dead . As he died he thought of the victory and honour he had won . The Last Super Entard escaped because the Sea Harrier pilots had reached bingo fuel and in the South Atlantic fuel was life .
As for the three Exocets now diving to cruise altitude the second Sea Harrier nosed down picked up speed and reached a point that might be just within the engagement envelope for the AIM-9L . The Missile had a nice hot engine and flew a predicable path . The question was one of distance . Distance to catch up in a tail chase and distance to detonate and cause damage . Several seconds later and the AIM-9L detonated 10 metres to the side of the Exocet , Of all the preformed fragments not one hit the Exocet . What hit it was a piece of the control surface . Like a knife the fragment entered the Exocet and destroyed the control circuitry . According to the Sea Harrier pilots they shot it down . According to the official History it was a faulty missile as it never pulled out of it's descent to cruising altitude . The two remaining Exocets picked out two targets . HMS Anson and HMS Broadsword . HMS Broadsword's Fire control officer wanted to engage both but was overruled . HMS Anson could look after herself .
Also, wonder how many other times a RN ship has sunk another, former RN ship.
Ah we still have a couple of Exocets heading Anson's way, if they hit her aft and slow her down then there might be a stern chase on more even terms!
Just for clarities sake. The Argentinian military in 1982 had many professionals whose courage and fighting spirit was as good as any in the world . The Conscripts had typical conscript reactions to being attacked by people who want to kill them . The Navy and Air Force had no problem trying to do their job . It is inconceivable for the ships to be simply surrendered if any ability to fight back exists . Now for a crippled ship to be captured or a vessel with no weapons left to use , that's a different matter. No matter what TL I am writing I try and remember that courage is not a national characteristic that some countries have and others do not . Unless we are talking Ghurkha's in which case they win end of story lol .
!!!Even as the Commands assigning targets began to filter down to the different ships fire control officers the two inbound Exocets steadied on course and flew towards the expected location of the designated targets . One Argentinian pilot had managed to designate a Drummond class Frigate as his target and due to the panic of the Sea Harrier interception had chosen the northernmost formation his own countryman's ships . ARA Guerrico was the unfortunate target and once again the missile was only detected when too close for ECM to work . The Twin 40 mm Breda mount swivelled and began to spit rounds at the approaching missile . The director was not up to the task and the Exocet plunged into the CIC under the bridge . Detonating and striping the ship of most of it's Officers in one foul swoop . The Bridge was also devastated as the blast travelled up and out . By a stroke of good fortune the Engine and unburnt fuel passed out the other side after impact . To the immense shock of the surrounding ships the ARA Guerrico was seen to stagger sideways unleash her cannon then explode . After the blast cleared it was obvious she was crippled .
The remaining Exocet chose HMS Anson as a target and bored in scant metres above the waves . The Sea Wolf was fully operational and engaged the Exocet with all 6 missiles to no avail . It continued in and exploded against the External armour belt directly below the Sea Wolf launcher . After the detonation a smoke smudge and an expanding pattern of gouges in the armour was all that showed the passage of a modern marvel . HMS Anson had taken two missiles with no reduction to her fighting strength . By now the data from the engagements was considered Classified at the top levels and was being transmitted via Satellite using a single use cypher to ensure regardless of outcome the Royal Navy would make the most of it . With the aerial threat now seemingly over it was with a sense of nervous excitement and anticipation that the command to begin the action was transmitted . By now HMS Anson was radiating at full power on all sets . The reason for this was the desire to make the most of the excellent fire control radar for the 14 inch guns . With a radar range of 28,000 yards and a solid fix on the ARA Granville the command to open fire was given .
At 28,000 yards the range was long and by the time the first shell landed the next would be also in the air . For the Officers and men of ARA Granville the first salvo was nearly their last . 6 14 inch shells came down and landed close enough to pepper the ship with shell fragments . The most critical hit was the shell fragment that went through the deck below the Exocet launcher and neatly cut a single wire disabling the wire required to send firing commands to the Exocet missiles . The next 3 salvo's simply inflicted psychological damage to the sailors who already knew they had no hope . Eventually on salvo 4 a 3 shell salvo landed and placed a single shell through the amidships section above the engine room . One of the massive diesels was rapidly dissasenbled and it's components spread throughout the ship . This cut power and the rapid decrease in forward speed and lack of emission's marked her as mission killed and switch target was ordered .
For the deck crew of ARA de Mayo the sight of an escort being shelled was a significant emotional event . The bombs where rapidly removed and replaced with 2 LAU-10A 4 5 inch Zuni rockets . With this and no external tanks the Aircraft may just manage to launch . They could not land back on deck and would have 3 minutes after launch to engage the enemy even now coming over the horizon and then cruise to Stanley . This was seen as preferable to being helpless . The bombs never got sent back to the magazines in the rush and sat on the edge of the flight deck . After 5 minutes of heroic effort the first A-4Q launched . It came off the catapult 5 kts below flying speed but a rising deck gave enough air space to reach a speed that allowed flight . Even as the pilot celebrated surviving the second pilot launched on a downward cycle and ran out of space and time . Even as he reached for the ejection handles the hungry ocean reached up and swallowed his aircraft .
The remaining Exocet chose HMS Anson as a target and bored in scant metres above the waves . The Sea Wolf was fully operational and engaged the Exocet with all 6 missiles to no avail . It continued in and exploded against the External armour belt directly below the Sea Wolf launcher . After the detonation a smoke smudge and an expanding pattern of gouges in the armour was all that showed the passage of a modern marvel . HMS Anson had taken two missiles with no reduction to her fighting strength . By now the data from the engagements was considered Classified at the top levels and was being transmitted via Satellite using a single use cypher to ensure regardless of outcome the Royal Navy would make the most of it . With the aerial threat now seemingly over it was with a sense of nervous excitement and anticipation that the command to begin the action was transmitted . By now HMS Anson was radiating at full power on all sets . The reason for this was the desire to make the most of the excellent fire control radar for the 14 inch guns . With a radar range of 28,000 yards and a solid fix on the ARA Granville the command to open fire was given .
At 28,000 yards the range was long and by the time the first shell landed the next would be also in the air . For the Officers and men of ARA Granville the first salvo was nearly their last . 6 14 inch shells came down and landed close enough to pepper the ship with shell fragments . The most critical hit was the shell fragment that went through the deck below the Exocet launcher and neatly cut a single wire disabling the wire required to send firing commands to the Exocet missiles . The next 3 salvo's simply inflicted psychological damage to the sailors who already knew they had no hope . Eventually on salvo 4 a 3 shell salvo landed and placed a single shell through the amidships section above the engine room . One of the massive diesels was rapidly dissasenbled and it's components spread throughout the ship . This cut power and the rapid decrease in forward speed and lack of emission's marked her as mission killed and switch target was ordered .
For the deck crew of ARA de Mayo the sight of an escort being shelled was a significant emotional event . The bombs where rapidly removed and replaced with 2 LAU-10A 4 5 inch Zuni rockets . With this and no external tanks the Aircraft may just manage to launch . They could not land back on deck and would have 3 minutes after launch to engage the enemy even now coming over the horizon and then cruise to Stanley . This was seen as preferable to being helpless . The bombs never got sent back to the magazines in the rush and sat on the edge of the flight deck . After 5 minutes of heroic effort the first A-4Q launched . It came off the catapult 5 kts below flying speed but a rising deck gave enough air space to reach a speed that allowed flight . Even as the pilot celebrated surviving the second pilot launched on a downward cycle and ran out of space and time . Even as he reached for the ejection handles the hungry ocean reached up and swallowed his aircraft .