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{{For|the Great Atlantic Conveyor in [[Oceanography]]|Thermohaline circulation}}
{{short description|British merchant navy ship}}
{{short description|British merchant navy ship}}
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{{For|the Great Atlantic Conveyor in [[Oceanography]]|Thermohaline circulation}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=
|Ship image=Atlantic Conveyor (cropped).jpg
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|Ship caption=''Atlantic Conveyor'' approaching the Falklands. On or about 19 May 1982.
|Ship caption=
}}
}}
{{Infobox ship career
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Hide header=
|Ship country=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|UK|civil}}
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|UK|civil}}
|Ship name=''Atlantic Conveyor''
|Ship name=''Atlantic Conveyor''
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|Ship fate=*struck by two [[Exocet|Exocet missiles]] on 25 May 1982
|Ship fate=*struck by two [[Exocet|Exocet missiles]] on 25 May 1982
* Burnt and subsequently abandoned
* Burnt and subsequently abandoned
* Eventually sank whilst under tow on 28 May 1982<ref>Board of Inquiry into the Loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor</ref>
* Eventually sank whilst under tow on 28 May 1982<ref name="BoI">{{cite book |url=http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/EC14467A-DFAF-4030-BDFB-9E1AAF00205E/0/boi_atlanticconveyorpt1.pdf |title=Board of Inquiry (REPORT): Loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012134301/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/EC14467A-DFAF-4030-BDFB-9E1AAF00205E/0/boi_atlanticconveyorpt1.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2012 |date=21 July 1982 |access-date=28 September 2021 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|Ship status=
|Ship notes=
|Ship notes=
}}
}}
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|Header caption=
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|Ship class= [[Container ship]]
|Ship type= [[Container ship]]
|Ship tonnage=14,946 [[Gross tonnage|GT]]
|Ship tonnage={{GRT|14,946}}
|Ship displacement=
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length= {{convert|695|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship length= {{convert|695|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|92|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|92|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship height=
|Ship draught= 9,1 m<ref name="WS">{{Cite web |date=2008-08-28 |title=SS Atlantic Conveyor [+1982] |url=https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?15281 |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=www.wrecksite.eu |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|Ship draught=
|Ship draft=
|Ship draft=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship propulsion= 4 steam turbines, 2 propellers<ref name="WS" />
|Ship speed={{convert|23|kn}}
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==History==
==History==


''Atlantic Conveyor'' was a 14,950 ton [[RORO|roll-on, roll-off]] [[container ship]] owned by [[Cunard Line|Cunard]]. She was built along with six other container ships, each named ''Atlantic ....'' and sailing under different national flags for different companies.
''Atlantic Conveyor'' was a 14,950 ton [[RORO|roll-on, roll-off]] [[container ship]] owned by [[Cunard Line|Cunard]]. She was built along with six other container ships, each named with the prefix ''Atlantic'', and each sailing under different national flags by different companies for the [[Atlantic Container Line]] consortium.


Along with her sister ship, ''[[Atlantic Causeway]]'', ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was requisitioned by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] at the beginning of the [[Falklands War]] through the [[STUFT]] system (Ships Taken Up From Trade). Due to the short timescales, the decision that the ship was not "a high-value unit", and a controversy over whether arming auxiliaries was legal, ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was not fitted with either an active or a passive defence system.<ref name = "Times">
Along with her sister ship, ''[[Atlantic Causeway]]'', ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was requisitioned by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] at the beginning of the [[Falklands War]] through the [[STUFT]] – Ships Taken Up From Trade – system. Because of the short time available, the decision that the ship was not "a high-value unit", and a controversy over whether arming auxiliaries was legal, ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was not fitted with either an active or a passive defence system.<ref name = "Times">
{{cite news
{{cite news
| last = Evans
| last = Evans
Line 75: Line 74:
One Chinook of B flight [[No. 18 Squadron RAF]] left ''Atlantic Conveyor'' to support operations on Ascension. With the aircraft stored she then set sail for the South Atlantic. On arrival off the Falklands in mid-May, all of the Harriers were off-loaded to the carriers; the GR.3s going to [[HMS Hermes (R12)|HMS ''Hermes'']] while the Sea Harriers were divided amongst the existing squadrons on ''Hermes'' and [[HMS Invincible (R05)|HMS ''Invincible'']]. With the additional aircraft on ''Hermes'' a [[Westland Lynx|Lynx HAS.2]] helicopter was flown and parked on ''Atlantic Conveyor'' on 20 May 1982.
One Chinook of B flight [[No. 18 Squadron RAF]] left ''Atlantic Conveyor'' to support operations on Ascension. With the aircraft stored she then set sail for the South Atlantic. On arrival off the Falklands in mid-May, all of the Harriers were off-loaded to the carriers; the GR.3s going to [[HMS Hermes (R12)|HMS ''Hermes'']] while the Sea Harriers were divided amongst the existing squadrons on ''Hermes'' and [[HMS Invincible (R05)|HMS ''Invincible'']]. With the additional aircraft on ''Hermes'' a [[Westland Lynx|Lynx HAS.2]] helicopter was flown and parked on ''Atlantic Conveyor'' on 20 May 1982.


⚫
On 25 May 1982 (the same day as the loss of [[HMS Coventry (D118)|HMS ''Coventry'']]) ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was hit by two<ref name = "Times"/> AM39 Air Launched Exocet missiles fired by two Argentine Navy [[Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard|Super Étendard]] jet fighters. The mission was led by Corvette Captain [[Roberto Curilovic]] (call sign 'Tito'), flying Super Etendard 0753/3-A-203, and his wingman, Warship Lieutenant Julio Barraza, (call sign 'Leo') flying in 0754/3-A-204<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Exocet.html |title=Argentine Aircraft in the Falklands |publisher=Britains-smallwars.com |access-date=16 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223051413/http://britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Exocet.html |archive-date=23 February 2009 }}</ref>—both from [[2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque]].
⚫
[[File:Atlantic Conveyor .jpg|thumb|250px|''Atlantic Conveyor'' approaching the Falklands. On or about 19 May 1982.]]
⚫
On 25 May 1982 (the same day as the loss of [[HMS Coventry (D118)|HMS ''Coventry'']]) ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was hit by two<ref name = "Times"/> AM39 Air Launched Exocet missiles fired by two Argentine Navy [[Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard|Super Étendard]] jet fighters. The mission was led by Corvette Captain [[Roberto Curilovic]] (call sign 'Tito'), flying Super Etendard 0753/3-A-203, and his wingman, Warship Lieutenant Julio Barraza, (call sign 'Leo') flying in 0754/3-A-204<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Exocet.html |title=Argentine Aircraft in the Falklands |publisher=Britains-smallwars.com |date= |access-date=16 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223051413/http://britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Exocet.html |archive-date=23 February 2009 |df= }}</ref> — both from [[2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque]].


Both Exocets struck ''Atlantic Conveyor'' on the port quarter of the ship. There are conflicting accounts on whether the warheads exploded after penetrating the ship's hull,<ref>{{cite book
Both Exocets struck ''Atlantic Conveyor'' on the port quarter of the ship. There are conflicting accounts on whether the warheads exploded after penetrating the ship's hull,<ref>{{cite book
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| page = 55
| page = 55
| isbn = 978-1-84176-293-7}}
| isbn = 978-1-84176-293-7}}
</ref> or on impact.<ref name="BoI"/> Witness [[Prince Andrew]] reported that debris caused "splashes in the water about a quarter of a mile away". He said that the incident "was an experience I shall never forget ... horrific".<ref name="gh19831112">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NPs9AAAAIBAJ&pg=4110,2766700|title=Prince Andrew talks of Falklands horror|work=Glasgow Herald|date=14 November 1983|page=2}}</ref> All the survivors were taken to HMS ''Hermes''.
</ref> or on impact.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/EC14467A-DFAF-4030-BDFB-9E1AAF00205E/0/boi_atlanticconveyorpt1.pdf |title=Board of Enquiry (Report) Loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor |access-date=2012-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012134301/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/EC14467A-DFAF-4030-BDFB-9E1AAF00205E/0/boi_atlanticconveyorpt1.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Witness [[Prince Andrew]] reported that debris caused "splashes in the water about a quarter of a mile away".<ref name="gh19831112">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NPs9AAAAIBAJ&pg=4110,2766700|title=Prince Andrew talks of Falklands horror|work=Glasgow Herald|date=14 November 1983|page=2}}</ref> A dangerous task, carried out by [[Westland_Sea_King|Sea King]] helicopters, was to act as decoys, to deflect sea-skimming missiles away from surface ships. This was achieved by hovering close to the ship and as the radar seeker could not resolve targets in [[azimuth]] the ship/helicopter combination appeared as a single target. If the helicopter was not too high the missile guidance system would aim for the centroid of its apparent target and hopefully pass between the two. [[Prince Andrew, Duke of York|Prince Andrew]] at one point flew his helicopter as an Exocet missile decoy.<ref>{{cite web|author=Defence News|title=Flypast brings curtain down on Falklands commemorative events |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/FlypastBringsCurtainDownOnFalklandsCommemorativeEventsvideo.htm | date= June 2007}}</ref> He said that the incident "was an experience I shall never forget ... horrific".{{r|gh19831112}} All the survivors were taken to HMS Hermes.


Due to the presence of both fuel and ammunition that were stored below decks, the incendiary effect of the unburnt propellant from the missiles caused an uncontrollable fire. When the fire had burnt out, the ship was boarded but nothing was recovered. While under tow by the requisitioned tug ''Irishman'', ''Atlantic Conveyor'' sank in the early morning of 28 May 1982. Six [[Westland Wessex]]es, three [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Boeing Chinooks]], and a [[Westland Lynx]] were destroyed by fire;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/F63-Falklands-British_aircraft_lost.htm|title=British Aircraft lost - Falklands War 1982|website=www.naval-history.net}}</ref> only one Chinook, squadron identification code ''[[Bravo November]]'', was saved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/royalairforcech47chinookbravonovember.cfm |title=Royal Air Force CH47 Chinook 'Bravo November' |author=Royal Air Force |year=2010 |website= |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]] |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405224655/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/royalairforcech47chinookbravonovember.cfm |archive-date=5 April 2011 |df=dmy-all |author-link=Royal Air Force }}</ref> The loss of these helicopters meant that British troops had to march on foot across the Falklands to recapture [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]].
Because both fuel and ammunition were stored below decks, the incendiary effect of the unburnt propellant from the missiles caused an uncontrollable fire. When the fire had burnt out, the ship was boarded but nothing was recovered. While under tow by the requisitioned tug ''Irishman'', ''Atlantic Conveyor'' sank in the early morning of 28 May 1982. Six [[Westland Wessex]]es, three [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Boeing Chinooks]], and a [[Westland Lynx]] were destroyed by fire;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/F63-Falklands-British_aircraft_lost.htm|title=British Aircraft lost – Falklands War 1982|website=www.naval-history.net}}</ref> only one Chinook (ZA718 '[[Bravo November]]') and one Westland Wessex, were saved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/royalairforcech47chinookbravonovember.cfm |title=Royal Air Force CH47 Chinook 'Bravo November' |author=Royal Air Force |year=2010 |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]] |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405224655/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/royalairforcech47chinookbravonovember.cfm |archive-date=5 April 2011 |df=dmy-all |author-link=Royal Air Force }}</ref> The loss of these helicopters meant that British troops had to [[Yomp|march on foot across the Falklands]] to recapture [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-20 |title=The Atlantic Conveyor – Think Defence |url=https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/the-atlantic-conveyor/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=www.thinkdefence.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>


Twelve men died in ''Atlantic Conveyor'', including the ship's master, Captain Ian North, who was posthumously awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (UK)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (DSC). The ship was the first British merchant vessel lost at sea to enemy fire since [[World War II]].
Twelve men died in ''Atlantic Conveyor'',<ref name="BoI"/> including the ship's master, Captain [[Ian Harry North]], who was posthumously awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (UK)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (DSC).<ref>{{cite book |last=Brown |first=Paul |title=Abandon Ship: The Real Story of the Sinkings in the Falklands War |year=2021 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781472846426 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a87yDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Abandon+Ship%22+%22Ian+Harry+North%22&pg=PT224 |page=n/a |access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref> The ship was the first British merchant vessel lost at sea to enemy fire since [[World War II]].


The ship's replacement was built on [[Tyneside]].
The ship's replacement was built on [[Tyneside]].

Revision as of 15:40, 28 February 2024

For the Great Atlantic Conveyor in Oceanography, see Thermohaline circulation.

Atlantic Conveyor approaching the Falklands. On or about 19 May 1982.
History
United Kingdom
NameAtlantic Conveyor
OperatorCunard Line
BuilderSwan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Launched25 August 1969
CompletedMarch 1970
IdentificationIMO number: 6926036
Fate
  • struck by two Exocet missiles on 25 May 1982
  • Burnt and subsequently abandoned
  • Eventually sank whilst under tow on 28 May 1982[1]
General characteristics
TypeContainer ship
Tonnage14,946 GRT
Length695 ft (212 m)
Beam92 ft (28 m)
Draught9,1 m[2]
Propulsion4 steam turbines, 2 propellers[2]
Speed23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)

Atlantic Conveyor was a British merchant navy ship, registered in Liverpool, that was requisitioned during the Falklands War.

She was hit on 25 May 1982 by two Argentine air-launched AM39 Exocet missiles, killing 12 sailors. Atlantic Conveyor sank whilst under tow on 28 May 1982.

The wrecksite is designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.[3]

History

Atlantic Conveyor was a 14,950 ton roll-on, roll-off container ship owned by Cunard. She was built along with six other container ships, each named with the prefix Atlantic, and each sailing under different national flags by different companies for the Atlantic Container Line consortium.

Along with her sister ship, Atlantic Causeway, Atlantic Conveyor was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence at the beginning of the Falklands War through the STUFT – Ships Taken Up From Trade – system. Because of the short time available, the decision that the ship was not "a high-value unit", and a controversy over whether arming auxiliaries was legal, Atlantic Conveyor was not fitted with either an active or a passive defence system.[4]

The ships were used to carry supplies for the Royal Navy Task Force sent by the British government to retake the Falkland Islands from Argentine occupation. Sailing for Ascension Island on 25 April 1982, Atlantic Conveyor carried a cargo of six Wessex helicopters from 848 Naval Air Squadron and five RAF Chinook HC.1s from No. 18 Squadron RAF. At Ascension, she picked up eight Fleet Air Arm Sea Harriers (809 Squadron) and six RAF Harrier GR.3 jump jets.

One Chinook of B flight No. 18 Squadron RAF left Atlantic Conveyor to support operations on Ascension. With the aircraft stored she then set sail for the South Atlantic. On arrival off the Falklands in mid-May, all of the Harriers were off-loaded to the carriers; the GR.3s going to HMS Hermes while the Sea Harriers were divided amongst the existing squadrons on Hermes and HMS Invincible. With the additional aircraft on Hermes a Lynx HAS.2 helicopter was flown and parked on Atlantic Conveyor on 20 May 1982.

On 25 May 1982 (the same day as the loss of HMS Coventry) Atlantic Conveyor was hit by two[4] AM39 Air Launched Exocet missiles fired by two Argentine Navy Super Étendard jet fighters. The mission was led by Corvette Captain Roberto Curilovic (call sign 'Tito'), flying Super Etendard 0753/3-A-203, and his wingman, Warship Lieutenant Julio Barraza, (call sign 'Leo') flying in 0754/3-A-204[5]—both from 2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque.

Both Exocets struck Atlantic Conveyor on the port quarter of the ship. There are conflicting accounts on whether the warheads exploded after penetrating the ship's hull,[6] or on impact.[1] Witness Prince Andrew reported that debris caused "splashes in the water about a quarter of a mile away". He said that the incident "was an experience I shall never forget ... horrific".[7] All the survivors were taken to HMS Hermes.

Because both fuel and ammunition were stored below decks, the incendiary effect of the unburnt propellant from the missiles caused an uncontrollable fire. When the fire had burnt out, the ship was boarded but nothing was recovered. While under tow by the requisitioned tug Irishman, Atlantic Conveyor sank in the early morning of 28 May 1982. Six Westland Wessexes, three Boeing Chinooks, and a Westland Lynx were destroyed by fire;[8] only one Chinook (ZA718 'Bravo November') and one Westland Wessex, were saved.[9] The loss of these helicopters meant that British troops had to march on foot across the Falklands to recapture Stanley.[10]

Twelve men died in Atlantic Conveyor,[1] including the ship's master, Captain Ian Harry North, who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).[11] The ship was the first British merchant vessel lost at sea to enemy fire since World War II.

The ship's replacement was built on Tyneside.

Crew

Atlantic Conveyor Memorial, Trinity Gardens, Tower Hill, London.

The vessel carried a Merchant Navy crew of 33. This included 12 officers (master, chief officer, second officer, third officer, radio officer, chief engineer, second engineer, two third engineers, fourth engineer, electrician and purser), 10 petty officers (bosun, four mechanics, two first cooks, second cook and baker, second cook and second steward) and 11 ratings (five seamen, three greasers and three assistant stewards). Of the 12 men killed in the sinking of Atlantic Conveyor six were from the Merchant Navy, three from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and three sailors from the Royal Navy.

As the last resting place of the remains of those who died, the wreck is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

The officers' bar on M/V Atlantic Conveyor, built 1984 in Swan Hunter, Wallsend is named "The North Bar" after Captain Ian North.

Further reading

  • Charles Drought – N. P. 1840 The Loss of the Atlantic Conveyor (2003) ISBN 1-901231-41-0
  • Board of Inquiry into the Loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c Board of Inquiry (REPORT): Loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor (PDF). 21 July 1982. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b "SS Atlantic Conveyor [+1982]". www.wrecksite.eu. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  3. ^ Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 by SI2008/950, Office of Public Sector Information, The National Archives. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  4. ^ a b Evans, Michael (11 December 2007). "Legal fears left Atlantic Conveyor defenceless". The Times. London.
  5. ^ "Argentine Aircraft in the Falklands". Britains-smallwars.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  6. ^ Chant, Christopher (2001). Air War in the Falklands 1982. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-84176-293-7.
  7. ^ "Prince Andrew talks of Falklands horror". Glasgow Herald. 14 November 1983. p. 2.
  8. ^ "British Aircraft lost – Falklands War 1982". www.naval-history.net.
  9. ^ Royal Air Force (2010). "Royal Air Force CH47 Chinook 'Bravo November'". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 5 April 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  10. ^ "The Atlantic Conveyor – Think Defence". www.thinkdefence.co.uk. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  11. ^ Brown, Paul (2021). Abandon Ship: The Real Story of the Sinkings in the Falklands War. Osprey Publishing. p. n/a. ISBN 9781472846426. Retrieved 28 September 2021.

50°40′S 54°28′W / 50.667°S 54.467°W / -50.667; -54.467

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