The Scandal of The French Supplied “exocet” Missiles

 The scandal of the “Exocet missiles” supplied by France.

My series on the 1982 Falklands war continues with the scandal of the French supplied Exocet ant-ship missiles, and the sinking of H.M.S. Sheffield.

The Falklands war between Argentina and Great Britain raged in 1982.  In direct retaliation for the Royal Navy sinking the General Belgrano see;
http://socyberty.com/history/the-sinking-of-the-general-belgrano/
And please see;
http://socyberty.com/history/the-battle-for-goose-green-typifies-the-british-bull-dog-spirit/

Argentina had been planning the invasion of the Falkland Isles for sometime within the preparation period the French made “Exocet” anti-ship missile system was purchased from French arms suppliers.  In 1982 this anti-ship missile was unique in its speed and range of deployment.

The Exocet Ant-ship missile.

The missile could be fired by Warship or by Aircraft or indeed on land.  The British task force was moored around the Falkland coast and was protected to some extent by hills and also Harrier jump jets carried out continuous sweeps over and around the warships of the British Task Force.

The Exocet anti-shipping missile was ordered to be deployed on May 4th 1982, two days after the sinking of the General Belgrano with the loss of over 300 Argentinean sailors.  The Exocet missile was loaded aboard a French made “Super Etendad” jet fighter.

The impact of the Exocet missile slowed down. 

The jet fighter was launched and descended to near sea level, the co-ordinates of the Royal Navy’s Destroyer the “Sheffield” was entered into the Exocet missile’s guidance system.  The Exocet could be launched up to 100 miles from its target!  There was no defence against this sophisticated weapon in 1982.

The Exocet missile locked onto the Type 42 destroyer H.M.S. Sheffield.  The missile struck directly amid-ships and just above the waterline.  20 sailors were killed outright.  The Exocet hit the ships control room wiping out the nerve centre of the ship.  Fires immediately broke out, the fires were so intense the ships very metal began to melt inflicting horrendous burns to over 24 sailors.