HMS Sheffield Type 42 Destroyer Faulklands War Watercolour Poster

HMS Sheffield Type 42 Destroyer Faulklands War Watercolour Poster.

Stationed just prior to the Falklands conflict.

HMS Sheffield D80 situated San Carlos Water Guard Ship also Destroyer leader.

HMS Sheffield was the second ship to be named after the city of Sheffield in Yorkshire. She was a type 42 Guided Missile Destroyer. She was laid down by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering at Barrow in Furness on the 15th January 1970 and was launched by Queen Elizabeth 2nd June 1971 and commissioned on the 16th February 1975.

Displacement 4820 tonnes. Armaments x 2 Sea Dart surface-to-air missile launchers connected to a sophisticated computerised weapon system linked to the Sea Dart missile.

The Aircraft carried was a Lynx HAS1 for submarine detection and 2 x Oerilikon 20.0mm machine guns fitted port and starboard for close in work. A quantity of 1 x 4.5 inch guns, MK 8 also integrated with the computerised weapon radar system.

During build an explosion occurred which killed two dockyard workers and damaged a section of the hull which was replaced by a section from an identical ship being manufactured at the time.

HMS Sheffield was a major component of the task force sent to reoccupy the Faulkland Islands. Sadly she was struck with an Exocet air launched missile from a Dassault Breguet Super Etendard aircraft belonging to the Argentine navy. This happened on the 4th May 1982 and after a while she grounded on 10th May 1982. Sadly there were casualties which should always be remembered on both sides.

RAMS Typhoon Code A95

Builder Harry Robb & Co Ltd Leith Launched 14th October 1958 Commissioned 1960 Displacement 800 tonnes full load 1380 tonnes.

RAMS Typhoon Code A95 was one of the first Tugs to arrive at the Faulkland Islands and was involved in towing damaged vessels to safety and many other jobs. She was deemed to be a sound vessel and gained a high reputation during the conflict. She was designed for ocean towing heavy work, she was also certified for fishery protection which she attained during the cold war.

She was a Tug that towed RFA Sir Galahad out to sea to be scuttled after the damage she sustained by air attack.