The Hitch has postulated that the great lady should be immortalised in more than just bronze.
He is suggesting (as is Guido Fawkes) that one of the type 45 destoyers should be named after her. She was, after all, one of the few PM’s with the rocks to actually use the RN for what it was designed for.
In case you forgot the carnage of 1982, here is a list of the naval casualties. Thanks to naval-history.net for this.
Saturday 1st May
HMS Alacrity - slightly damaged by bomb near misses
HMS Arrow - slightly damaged by cannon fire
HMS Glamorgan - slightly damaged by bomb near misses, all off Stanley by Daggers of FAA Grupo 6.
Tuesday 4th May
HMS SHEFFIELD - mortally damaged south east of Falklands by Exocet missile fired by Super Etendard of CANA 2 Esc. Burnt out and sank in tow on Monday 10th May.
Wednesday 12th May
HMS Glasgow - moderately damaged off Stanley by unexploded bomb (1) dropped by A-4B Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 5. Bomb passed through hull but damage took some days to repair and she shortly returned to UK.
Friday 21st May
HMS Antrim - seriously damaged in Falkland Sound outside San Carlos Water by unexploded bomb (2) dropped by Daggers of FAA Grupo 6. UXB removed but damage took some days to repair.
HMS Broadsword - slightly damaged outside San Carlos Water by cannon fire from Daggers of Grupo 6.
HMS Argonaut - slightly damaged outside San Carlos Water by rockets and cannon fire from Aermacchi MB.339A of CANA 1 Esc, and then seriously damaged by two unexploded bombs (3/4) dropped by A-4B Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 5. Removing the UXB’s and carrying out repairs took a number of days and although declared operational, she soon sailed for the UK.
HMS Brilliant - slightly damaged outside San Carlos Water by cannon fire from Daggers of Grupo 6. (Different attack from “Broadsword”)
HMS ARDENT - badly damaged in Grantham Sound by bombs - hits, UXB’s (5+) and near misses - dropped by Daggers of Grupo 6, then mortally damaged by bombs from A-4Q Skyhawks of CANA 3 Esc off North West Island. Sank the following evening.
Sunday 23rd May
HMS ANTELOPE - damaged in San Carlos Water by two unexploded bombs (6/7) dropped by A-4B Skyhawks of Grupo 5. One of the bombs exploded that evening while being defused and she caught fire and sank next day.
Monday 24th May
RFA Sir Galahad - damaged by unexploded bomb (8) and out of action for some days,
RFA Sir Lancelot - damaged by unexploded bomb (9) and not fully operational for almost three weeks,
RFA Sir Bedivere - slightly damaged by glancing bomb, all in San Carlos Water probably by A-4C Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 4.
Tuesday 25th May
HMS Broadsword - damaged north of Pebble Island by bomb from A-4B Skyhawk of Grupo 5 bouncing up through her stern and out again to land in the sea.
HMS COVENTRY - sunk north of Pebble Island in same attack by three bombs.
ATLANTIC CONVEYOR - mortally damaged north east of Falklands by Exocet missile fired by Super Etendard of CANA 2 Esc. Burnt out and later sank in tow.
Saturday 29th May
British Wye - hit north of South Georgia by bomb dropped by C-130 Hercules of FAA Grupo 1 which bounced into the sea without exploding
Tuesday 8th June
HMS Plymouth - damaged in Falkland Sound off San Carlos Water by four unexploded bombs (10-13) from Daggers of FAA Grupo 6.
RFA SIR GALAHAD - mortally damaged off Fitzroy by bombs from A-4B Skyhawks of Grupo 5 and burnt out. Later in June towed out to sea and sunk as a war grave.
RFA Sir Tristram - badly damaged off Fitzroy in same attack and abandoned, but later returned to UK and repaired.
LCU F4, HMS Fearless - sunk in Choiseul Sound by bomb from A-4B Skyhawk of Grupo 5.
Saturday 12th June
HMS Glamorgan - damaged off Stanley by land-based Exocet missile.
Now that is a proper war!!
