I can see a real push for both VL Seawolf and Sea Dart, I wonder how many of each missile would fit within the armoured barbet that supported the old upper 5.2" twin turrets?
HMS Anson soldiers on
- Thread starter alspug
- Start date
While the Marines and Para's began to push the front line out and make contact with Argentinian positions , The men in the Anchorage worked even harder to unload the ships and setup defences . HMS Anson was by now no longer carrying out damage control . Yet again the armour had held and the combat capabilities not impeded . The Sea wolf launcher was reloaded . The Sea Dart launchers received a small upgrade and the surface clutter issues got some assistance . Being a trials ship the onboard brains trust was capable of tweaking the system and had reduced the minimum engagement height to 15 metres . It was thought this would enable Exocet intercepts . For a small period of time the raids had stopped . In part this was due to the loss of so many aircraft in one location . Also the Air Force was having trouble doing shipping strikes as most of it's pilots had never been trained on them . The loss of the Naval pilots was a serious issue . This lull in the action was appreciated by the British forces but the Argentinian soldiers on the Falkland islands were far less appreciative . The loss of a C-130 on approach to Stanley was a disaster they could ill afford . This aircraft was a victim of of all weapons a Sea Slug fired by HMS Glamorgan while she was collecting Electronic intel from the SSM batteries of Stanley . HMS Anson finished her task of defending the anchorage and celebrated departing for a cycle of UNREP by firing 11 14 inch shells at a well defended Argentinian position . The first 3 shells sufficed to bring the position under fire then two 4 gun salvo's landed and finished the task . The white flag was hoisted on a tent poll . The position that surrendered had not even been engaged yet and was some 300 metres from the main defensive position . 74 men had surrendered a position originally held by 130 men . The remaining men had been killed by the 14 inch shells . Several Marines upon surveying the position had opined that half their company would have died trying to assault the position . Several km away another hill defended by yet another company of Argentinian conscripts watched and waited for their turn .
With HMS Anson no longer providing fire support it was left to a battery of 105 mm howitzers hauled into position by Chinooks to support the advance . The Scimitar light tanks proved very useful as they fired 30 mm rounds at bunkers from 3 km away . The Scorpions also took part with their HESH rounds proving very effective in the rocky terrain . A leapfrogging advance down the coast towards Stanley made it possible to have Helicopter support from Amphibious landing ships just off shore . These ships had occasionally come into sight and been tracked from shore . This gave good intelligence for the Air Force but still failed to help with the shipping strikes . All of the remaining anti-shipping missiles existed as SSM batteries around Stanley . The last option the Argentinians had was a suggestion to mount the venerable but effective
Mk 13 torpedo on the Pucara aircraft . What truly annoyed the aerial commanders was the fact more then half of the Pucara's where already on the islands and unable to be used . Eventually a massed strike was contemplated with Pucara's launching from Stanley to take part .
This plan came apart as at midnight the airfield came under a barrage of 14 inch shells . No specific point was focused on as the shoot was at 40 degree's elevation and intended as harassment . By dawn the fires and smoke had dissipated and the airfield began to be repaired . The Pucara force was now down 7 aircraft due to splinters and rocks . All could be made operational given time . The Cuban radar operators had been vexed as no target had appeared and yet the guns had done so much damage .
With HMS Anson no longer providing fire support it was left to a battery of 105 mm howitzers hauled into position by Chinooks to support the advance . The Scimitar light tanks proved very useful as they fired 30 mm rounds at bunkers from 3 km away . The Scorpions also took part with their HESH rounds proving very effective in the rocky terrain . A leapfrogging advance down the coast towards Stanley made it possible to have Helicopter support from Amphibious landing ships just off shore . These ships had occasionally come into sight and been tracked from shore . This gave good intelligence for the Air Force but still failed to help with the shipping strikes . All of the remaining anti-shipping missiles existed as SSM batteries around Stanley . The last option the Argentinians had was a suggestion to mount the venerable but effective
Mk 13 torpedo on the Pucara aircraft . What truly annoyed the aerial commanders was the fact more then half of the Pucara's where already on the islands and unable to be used . Eventually a massed strike was contemplated with Pucara's launching from Stanley to take part .
This plan came apart as at midnight the airfield came under a barrage of 14 inch shells . No specific point was focused on as the shoot was at 40 degree's elevation and intended as harassment . By dawn the fires and smoke had dissipated and the airfield began to be repaired . The Pucara force was now down 7 aircraft due to splinters and rocks . All could be made operational given time . The Cuban radar operators had been vexed as no target had appeared and yet the guns had done so much damage .
I expect the world's navies - those with the money for it, anyway - to invest in better armour and some sort of big gun. Like the WWI/II monitors, for instance.
The Shoot against Stanley was not a part of the operational plan it was simply taking advantage of a blind spot in the surface radar coverage of the SSM batteries to fire a moving barrage down the length of the Airfield . No spotting was present and radar could only provide a positional fix for the ship itself relevant to the Airfield . This was all that the fire control needed in order to place 47 14 inch shells aimed at certain geographical locations preselected by presumed enemy strong points . The SA-6 Battery was one of those targets and it had managed to relocate 18 hours earlier when the Cuban Officer in charge realised it was possible for his battery to come under Artillery fire . This move saved his men and equipment as 8 shells landed on and around the previous location of the battery . These shells managed to kill a few Argentinian conscripts who had moved into the Cuban dug positions instead of preparing their own . 18 men dead and another 32 wounded on the airfield in total was in reality getting of lightly . The Vulcan raid had spurred deep trenches dug with the help of explosives when needed had kept casualties down .
For the British the war was although going well fast approaching a critical mass of problems . The first was the logistics of the operation . The RN was stretched past breaking point and needed to win in 2 weeks or pull back to recuperate and rest . The South Atlantic weather was fast approaching the point where combat operations from ships would be marginal and even the Infantry would suffer casualties from exposure . HMS Anson was looking like she had gone 9 rounds with a heavy weight and was literally covered in wounds . Her machinery was still running well and the men buoyed by multiple victories and an inordinate faith in her Armour to keep them safe . The men who worked outside this armour said nothing as they knew all casualties had been men outside of the citadel . After action reports had been typed and addendums of damage and butchers bill added to it . These had been flown to HMS Invincible and then read before being sent to Admiralty by a relay of ships heading to Ascension for more supplies .
On the Diplomatic front the landings by Great Britain and the publicity of liberating our citizens was being pushed hard . The Victory tally of ships and aircraft was looking very good and many had privately asked Argentina if they wanted assistance for a diplomatic solution . Losing most of your Navy and large swaths of your Airforce was hardly a way to win a war . What Argentina was counting on was the onset of Winter . Cuba and Libya had both offered to send war material and mercenaries to operate them . Su-22 ground attack aircraft and Mirage 5 Fighters could be offered . Some Antiradar missiles and AShM could be sent as well . All they had to do was hold on for a few weeks and the influx of Men and material would allow for an aggressive defence and repelling of the British .
With all of this in Mind HMS Anson was soon ordered to close on Stanley and engage the SSM batteries . The Nimrods would offer support in the form of a single Anti-radar mission with Martel missiles sewt for both the Surface radar and the SA-6 system . SAS observers would also hopefully get into position to provide target locations and accuracy of the shooting .
For the British the war was although going well fast approaching a critical mass of problems . The first was the logistics of the operation . The RN was stretched past breaking point and needed to win in 2 weeks or pull back to recuperate and rest . The South Atlantic weather was fast approaching the point where combat operations from ships would be marginal and even the Infantry would suffer casualties from exposure . HMS Anson was looking like she had gone 9 rounds with a heavy weight and was literally covered in wounds . Her machinery was still running well and the men buoyed by multiple victories and an inordinate faith in her Armour to keep them safe . The men who worked outside this armour said nothing as they knew all casualties had been men outside of the citadel . After action reports had been typed and addendums of damage and butchers bill added to it . These had been flown to HMS Invincible and then read before being sent to Admiralty by a relay of ships heading to Ascension for more supplies .
On the Diplomatic front the landings by Great Britain and the publicity of liberating our citizens was being pushed hard . The Victory tally of ships and aircraft was looking very good and many had privately asked Argentina if they wanted assistance for a diplomatic solution . Losing most of your Navy and large swaths of your Airforce was hardly a way to win a war . What Argentina was counting on was the onset of Winter . Cuba and Libya had both offered to send war material and mercenaries to operate them . Su-22 ground attack aircraft and Mirage 5 Fighters could be offered . Some Antiradar missiles and AShM could be sent as well . All they had to do was hold on for a few weeks and the influx of Men and material would allow for an aggressive defence and repelling of the British .
With all of this in Mind HMS Anson was soon ordered to close on Stanley and engage the SSM batteries . The Nimrods would offer support in the form of a single Anti-radar mission with Martel missiles sewt for both the Surface radar and the SA-6 system . SAS observers would also hopefully get into position to provide target locations and accuracy of the shooting .
Nick P
Donor
I don't get what is taking so long. There is practically no Argentine Navy or Air Force, the defences around Port Stanley are shrinking by the day and the defenders are steadily being hit by bombing and naval gunfire. Atlantic Conveyor has not been sunk so there are more Chinooks and Wessex helos to move troops and supplies around the islands so we can advance quicker, the RN have lost fewer ships and we have more forces ashore, we control more of the islands already than in OTL.
Surely by now Menendez and co must be ready to surrender.
Libya is very much in range of the UK - supplying their own forces to the South Atlantic leaves them wide open to action in the Mediterranean - soon they too may have no navy or air force left.
Surely by now Menendez and co must be ready to surrender.
Libya is very much in range of the UK - supplying their own forces to the South Atlantic leaves them wide open to action in the Mediterranean - soon they too may have no navy or air force left.
Action against Libya has a serious potential to escalate. I'm not saying that it shouldn't be taken, but anything against Libya would need to be carefully thought out.
On another note, the ongoing battles show the value of having more than one battleship, since Anson is rather chewed up.
A monitor couldn't have done everything Anson has--gun action, dealing with air attack--Anson is acting as a true BATTLESHIP, not just a floating artillery battery.
Honestly the U.S. should have had a CBG "volunteer" to help the British to counter the Cuban and Libyan "volunteers" by this point and using its numerous contacts in the Argentine government to arrange a coup to overthrow the Junta as its clear the Junta have decided to side with the communist block which considering who the backed the Junta is a terrible idea for them
The Activity on Ascension island was clearly increasing to the USAF personal . The loading of Martel missiles on the Nimrod MR2 aircraft and the preparation of 6 Victor tankers showed yet another long range mission was about to occur . The Nimrod crews had recently been certified for aerial refuelling and the anti-radar missiles had also been a recent addition . unfortunately the tv guided version was not yet cleared for use however the Anti-radar missiles would create the necessary conditions for the liberating of Stanley . The recon by SAS and SBS had identified SA-6 systems and also what appeared to be Roland system's in use . Each of the two Nimrods had two Martel missiles and the seekers on them was configured before takeoff . The SA-6 was the more dangerous and long range system however the Roland would keep the helicopters and Sea Harriers at bay if not engaged . With this in mind both Nimrods carried one SA-6 tuned missile and one Roland tuned weapon . The take-off and trip to Stanley was uneventful and only interrupted by two refuelling's . As the Nimrods came over the radar horizon the AN/TPS-44 radar began to track them as being inbound at 32,000 feet and 780mk/hr . It was expected that the two aircraft would be in range of the SA-6 system before they could drop bombs . As the radar operators watched a pair of contacts climbed up to the inbound aircraft and took up position on either side and ahead . This was interpreted as Sea Harrier escorts . Then came the announcement that the surface search radars of the Cuban P-15 Termit missile battery .
A single contact was detected heading straight for Port Stanley at 20 Knots . The range was 48 km when the order to engage was made . In a very ragged salvo over the space of the next minute 4 P-15 missiles launched and began to head towards the large contact . As they stabilised after launch the on board radar began to search for a target . Unfortunately for the Argentinians and Cubans the P-15,s being used used known radar frequencies and the powerful on board jammers could spoof the signals very effectively .
For the crew of HMS Anson the decision to be made was either steam head on and trust in her armour or turn and expose missile batteries and defend actively . The worry was that the large hollw charge warhead could in theory penetrate her turrets and knock them out . With this in mind the decision to turn and engage was already made . By the time the P-15's had reached 20 km the Sea Dart system was in the process of launching . 4 Sea Darts headed for the incoming P-15's and at 12 km intercepted them . With 1 P-15 already jammed and no longer on course to hit the fleet the Salvo of Sea Darts flashed into the P-15's and tore one out of the air immediately . By now the P-15's had reached the outer engagement zone of the Sea Wolf and 2 missiles flew at the remaining P-15 . These missed and a further 2 missiles flashed from the launcher and hit the lead missile head on 4 km out . half a km behind this the last P-15 was obscured by the chaff that was once a P-15 . Coming through the radar interference of the impact it steadied up and dove into the side of HMS Anson at 600kt's . With a massive fireball the 454 kg Hollow charge warhead detonated and ripped through the 14 inch armour belt beside the machinery spaces . As the jet of molten metal and expanding gases arrived in the compartment behind the armour it instantly created an overpressure and flash burnt the contents of the compartments . 8 men from a damage control party died instantly to the pressure then had their bodies immolated . Having passed through this compartment the molten metal and gas hit the 1 1/2 inch thick steel that formed the compartment walls . It created a 20 cm wide hole in this and burnt the next compartment as well . With it's energy spent the missile had done it's job . Below decks on HMS Anson the fire was raging in 6 compartments . The two that had been penetrated and those surrounding them that had seen the hatches destroyed through overpressure . The paint in the surrounding compartments was showing signs of the fire's intensity even as sailors wearing fearnaught suits arrived and began to spray water into the compartments on fire . Through a stoke of good luck the pressure had vented up not down and saved HMS Anson from a machinery space fire . Even as the damage control crews sprang into action the Sea Wolf launcher was reloaded and the Captain appraised of the damage . Another 17 men killed and 14 wounded . The P-15 warhead was terrifying in it's effectiveness . Even as smoke rose above and behind the warship her guns elevated and began to sniff the sky . small jerking movements continued then five 14 inch shells tore into the sky in search of the culprit .
HMS Anson's first priority was the P-15 SSM battery . Fortunately none of the battery was mounted on the Soviet mobile vehicles . Instead they had fixed locations . 43 seconds after firing the SSM battery received a reply . 4 large explosions and one gout of dirt occurred around the battery . 34 seconds later a second salvo arrived . 10 minutes later and the radar emissions ceased after a shell hit the fire control radar . This was irrelevant as by now the battery was a smoking mess with interconnected craters on and around each position . From HMS Anson a single Sea King took off and began to close with Stanley . Above them the Nimrod crews had closed to the outer limit of the SA-6 envelope and salvo'd their missiles . One failed to guide and hit the ocean . the other three guided in on the SA-6 radar and the Roland unit . In a stroke of luck the Cuban's had not even realised they had incoming missiles . The 1S91 radar system was missed by 5 metre's by a Martel missile . As it hit the ground it detonated and sent the Crew bunker flying in all directions . 150kg of explosives detonated sending over a ton of rocks flying in all directions . The radar was destroyed and with it the highly trained crews . By a stroke of luck the Roland had ceased trying to track the targets as the crew decided to move abruptly .
A single contact was detected heading straight for Port Stanley at 20 Knots . The range was 48 km when the order to engage was made . In a very ragged salvo over the space of the next minute 4 P-15 missiles launched and began to head towards the large contact . As they stabilised after launch the on board radar began to search for a target . Unfortunately for the Argentinians and Cubans the P-15,s being used used known radar frequencies and the powerful on board jammers could spoof the signals very effectively .
For the crew of HMS Anson the decision to be made was either steam head on and trust in her armour or turn and expose missile batteries and defend actively . The worry was that the large hollw charge warhead could in theory penetrate her turrets and knock them out . With this in mind the decision to turn and engage was already made . By the time the P-15's had reached 20 km the Sea Dart system was in the process of launching . 4 Sea Darts headed for the incoming P-15's and at 12 km intercepted them . With 1 P-15 already jammed and no longer on course to hit the fleet the Salvo of Sea Darts flashed into the P-15's and tore one out of the air immediately . By now the P-15's had reached the outer engagement zone of the Sea Wolf and 2 missiles flew at the remaining P-15 . These missed and a further 2 missiles flashed from the launcher and hit the lead missile head on 4 km out . half a km behind this the last P-15 was obscured by the chaff that was once a P-15 . Coming through the radar interference of the impact it steadied up and dove into the side of HMS Anson at 600kt's . With a massive fireball the 454 kg Hollow charge warhead detonated and ripped through the 14 inch armour belt beside the machinery spaces . As the jet of molten metal and expanding gases arrived in the compartment behind the armour it instantly created an overpressure and flash burnt the contents of the compartments . 8 men from a damage control party died instantly to the pressure then had their bodies immolated . Having passed through this compartment the molten metal and gas hit the 1 1/2 inch thick steel that formed the compartment walls . It created a 20 cm wide hole in this and burnt the next compartment as well . With it's energy spent the missile had done it's job . Below decks on HMS Anson the fire was raging in 6 compartments . The two that had been penetrated and those surrounding them that had seen the hatches destroyed through overpressure . The paint in the surrounding compartments was showing signs of the fire's intensity even as sailors wearing fearnaught suits arrived and began to spray water into the compartments on fire . Through a stoke of good luck the pressure had vented up not down and saved HMS Anson from a machinery space fire . Even as the damage control crews sprang into action the Sea Wolf launcher was reloaded and the Captain appraised of the damage . Another 17 men killed and 14 wounded . The P-15 warhead was terrifying in it's effectiveness . Even as smoke rose above and behind the warship her guns elevated and began to sniff the sky . small jerking movements continued then five 14 inch shells tore into the sky in search of the culprit .
HMS Anson's first priority was the P-15 SSM battery . Fortunately none of the battery was mounted on the Soviet mobile vehicles . Instead they had fixed locations . 43 seconds after firing the SSM battery received a reply . 4 large explosions and one gout of dirt occurred around the battery . 34 seconds later a second salvo arrived . 10 minutes later and the radar emissions ceased after a shell hit the fire control radar . This was irrelevant as by now the battery was a smoking mess with interconnected craters on and around each position . From HMS Anson a single Sea King took off and began to close with Stanley . Above them the Nimrod crews had closed to the outer limit of the SA-6 envelope and salvo'd their missiles . One failed to guide and hit the ocean . the other three guided in on the SA-6 radar and the Roland unit . In a stroke of luck the Cuban's had not even realised they had incoming missiles . The 1S91 radar system was missed by 5 metre's by a Martel missile . As it hit the ground it detonated and sent the Crew bunker flying in all directions . 150kg of explosives detonated sending over a ton of rocks flying in all directions . The radar was destroyed and with it the highly trained crews . By a stroke of luck the Roland had ceased trying to track the targets as the crew decided to move abruptly .
Well the Anson will need a good dockyard visit of at least six months by the time this is all over. Also it seems that the bulk of the RN's losses of personnel are aboard her, which when considering the relatively small loss of life aboard her isn't such a bad thing. Considering her role as the RN's literal damage tank in this conflict I can see why. Also it looks the CIWSes such as Goalkeeper and Phalanx are going to have their development/ deployment in throughout the western navies pushed up as Anson's damage would have been far less severe had she had a couple and ideally 4 CIWSes. The same thing goes for improved ECM/EW as well as things like chaff.
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(this is no pun against this interesting TL!)Surely that should be USS Iowa or one of her sisters?
ps don't mention the A****a class under pain of attracting the attention of an ursine moderator.
those who should not be mentioned were disposed of in the 1960’s....to include the one that was 70% or so complete
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For the next 30 minutes the Gunnery Officer had walked first the 14 inch shells and then the 4.5 inch shells from the mk 8 across the defensive positions of the defenders of Stanley . As the sheeling paused a pair of Sea Harriers came screaming across the water pulled up to 1000 ft and carried out a reconnaissance pass . From several locations a few tracers came up but nothing serious . As they pulled up they turned and dropped the BL-775 they had carried on the locations of this tracer . As they left they radioed confirmation that the base was suppressed . for the next two minutes an unbelievable calm descended on the defenders . The survivors emerged from their slit trenches and dugouts to a scene of devastation . No sooner had they begun to attempt to rebuild the defnces when from over the ocean came the beat of Rotors .
With 4 Gazelles in the lead , two armed with 30 mm Aden cannon and two with Sneb rockets . These where liberally deposited on any sign of resistance . Even as they suppressed the defenders the first of 18 Westland Wessex helicopters landed and dropped 14 Soldiers and several boxes of supplies . The first company to form up formed a defensive position and began to push outwards as more support elements arrived . The initial air landings consisted of Para's well trained to assault defended positions and liberally supported by heavy weapons . The second wave of Wessex helicopters brought in heavier weapons and engineer units . Initially the engineers did not advance but instead created several bunkers suitable for the Mortar Platoon and it's 81 mm L16 mortars . These immediately began to respond to fire requests and in particular took out a 35 mm Anti-aircraft cannon that had opened fire on the Para's . In the middle of the fight for the airfield four Skyhawks came over the horizon and began to drop down in preparation to attack the many ships off shore . The detonation of a Sea Dart on the lead aircraft was a surprise , the reaction of the remaining three Skyhawks was to jettison their bombs and retreat .
The wresting of control of the airfield took the remainder of the day . By the time night was falling the airfield proper was completely in British control . Occasionally a few 105 mm shells fired by Argentinian artillery would arrive . These would then be answered by HMS Anson . On one occasion as HMS Anson steamed into Port William one of the 155 mm batteries opened fire . after 4 shells landed in the water the location was plotted and both the 4.5 inch and the 14 inch guns replied . This was the last hurrah , only one gun was knocked out but for the Argentinian's it was clear that HMS Anson could not be stopped or defended against . The White flag went up over Stanley and slowly went up over the remaining units on the islands . When they surrendered HMS Anson was low on fuel , looking like she was already half scrapped and running low on 14 inch shells . The Junta in Argentina could not keep the magnitude of the losses from the population and the wailing of widows nation wide sent a shudder through the nation . A soft Coup occurred whereby the Junta left , they simply disappeared overseas . Taking with them as much wealth as they could .
The next day even while HMS Anson was patching her damage the weapons crew was receiving a debrief . This debrief would shape the British Naval policy for the next two decades at least . Word was that Treasury was looking at options to enable the R and D that was now needed to defend against the Soviet Missile threat . The P-15 should have been an easy soft kill with ECM , however HMS Anson was deficient in that regard and did not have sufficient Close in Weapon Systems . What had not been considered at this point was how to reward the Officers and Crew of HMS Anson for the numerous actions they had been involved in . It had however been decided that HMS Anson would be the first ship to arrive in Portsmouth . The scars of war would be displayed proudly .
With 4 Gazelles in the lead , two armed with 30 mm Aden cannon and two with Sneb rockets . These where liberally deposited on any sign of resistance . Even as they suppressed the defenders the first of 18 Westland Wessex helicopters landed and dropped 14 Soldiers and several boxes of supplies . The first company to form up formed a defensive position and began to push outwards as more support elements arrived . The initial air landings consisted of Para's well trained to assault defended positions and liberally supported by heavy weapons . The second wave of Wessex helicopters brought in heavier weapons and engineer units . Initially the engineers did not advance but instead created several bunkers suitable for the Mortar Platoon and it's 81 mm L16 mortars . These immediately began to respond to fire requests and in particular took out a 35 mm Anti-aircraft cannon that had opened fire on the Para's . In the middle of the fight for the airfield four Skyhawks came over the horizon and began to drop down in preparation to attack the many ships off shore . The detonation of a Sea Dart on the lead aircraft was a surprise , the reaction of the remaining three Skyhawks was to jettison their bombs and retreat .
The wresting of control of the airfield took the remainder of the day . By the time night was falling the airfield proper was completely in British control . Occasionally a few 105 mm shells fired by Argentinian artillery would arrive . These would then be answered by HMS Anson . On one occasion as HMS Anson steamed into Port William one of the 155 mm batteries opened fire . after 4 shells landed in the water the location was plotted and both the 4.5 inch and the 14 inch guns replied . This was the last hurrah , only one gun was knocked out but for the Argentinian's it was clear that HMS Anson could not be stopped or defended against . The White flag went up over Stanley and slowly went up over the remaining units on the islands . When they surrendered HMS Anson was low on fuel , looking like she was already half scrapped and running low on 14 inch shells . The Junta in Argentina could not keep the magnitude of the losses from the population and the wailing of widows nation wide sent a shudder through the nation . A soft Coup occurred whereby the Junta left , they simply disappeared overseas . Taking with them as much wealth as they could .
The next day even while HMS Anson was patching her damage the weapons crew was receiving a debrief . This debrief would shape the British Naval policy for the next two decades at least . Word was that Treasury was looking at options to enable the R and D that was now needed to defend against the Soviet Missile threat . The P-15 should have been an easy soft kill with ECM , however HMS Anson was deficient in that regard and did not have sufficient Close in Weapon Systems . What had not been considered at this point was how to reward the Officers and Crew of HMS Anson for the numerous actions they had been involved in . It had however been decided that HMS Anson would be the first ship to arrive in Portsmouth . The scars of war would be displayed proudly .
Bloody good show from Anson.
I wonder what the knockons from this being essentially a Naval Campaign will be?
I wonder what the knockons from this being essentially a Naval Campaign will be?