Re: [HIST??] Culture shock

At 9:42 AM +0100 6/24/02, Bif Smith wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ryan Gill" <rmgill@mindspring.com>
>To: <gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu>
>Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 5:28 AM
>Subject: Re: [HIST??] Culture shock
>
>
>>  Another instance is the Royal Marine detachment that worked over the
>>  Argie frigate that went past their point. They weren't "just a bunch
>>  of infantry..."
>>
>??? What is this instance your refering to? You`ve got me courious now?

Its my understanding that the Royal Marine detachments on South 
Georgia island were deployed on a headland or some similar type of 
jetty. An argentine frigate or DD (passed close enough to the jetty 
that the detachment of 20 or so marines was able to take it under 
fire from smaller arms, heavy weapons and MG fire. The combination of 
rocket, guided missile and MG fire pretty much worked the frigate 
over.

 From http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/South-Georgia.html

Trombetta now realized that there was in fact a very healthy British 
military presence at Grytiken and ordered Alfonso to bring Guerrico 
closer in and  to bombard King Edward Point. The Argentines now knew 
where Mills and his Marines where positioned and opened fire with 
Guerrico's 100 mm semi-automatic gun. But even at maximum depression 
the shells smashed into the scree behind the plateau. Frustrated, 
Alfonso brought Guerrico closer in, broadside to the Royal Marines. 
Mills waited until the frigate was 550 meters from his position, then 
ordered his men to open fire with every weapon they had. A Type A69 
frigate is a very big target and the Guerrico shook under the impact 
of thousands of rounds ripping though her thin structure.

Marine David Combes, who was normally the ships steward on Endurance 
now placed his name in naval history books by firing his Carl Gustav 
84 mm anti tank weapon at the Guerrico.  The Royal Marines watched as 
the 10lb projectile staggered across the waves and then, on it's last 
legs, smashed into Guerrico's hull just above the waterline, sending 
up a column of white water.  They then heard a loud rumble come from 
inside the ship. Below decks Argentine damage control parties 
struggled to stop the flow of water that was now coming though the 
hole.

The explosion killed one Argentine sailor and wounded several others. 
It also destroyed many electrical cables, including the ones used to 
power the 100 mm gun's traverse mechanism making the gun useless at 
this close range. The aft 40 mm was still working until Marines 
Parsons and Chubb cut down the Argentine gun crew with their LMG. 
Alfonso was having a hard time trying to manoeuvre the big ship 
quickly inside the small bay. He knew he had to get out of the bay 
quickly. As the ship came about, Sergeant Major Leach lying on a 
table up stairs in Shackleton House, took his time and fired 15 shots 
into the bridge with his sniper rifle. This caused panic and 
confusion as officers and sailors trying to steer the ship had to 
take cover. With the ship turned,  Alfonso steered the ship out of 
the bay, but she had to run the gauntlet of fire from the Royal 
Marines again before getting out of range. Marine Combes let go 
another 84 mm at the frigate that smashed into the hull below the 
Exocets. The Marines also managed to hit Guerrico at least twice with 
66 mm rockets. Corporal Peters was severely wounded in the arm while 
standing to fire his 66 mm. The rifle shot had come from one of the 
Argentine Marines in the buildings near Shackleton House.

Guerrico finally made her way out of range.  Later an Argentine 
officer counted over 1,000 hits to her structure. The Royal Marines 
had taken on a warship, and won the fight. While

-- 
--
Ryan Gill			  rmgill@mindspring.com
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