Themes

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Vessels the Wasps operated from

• Santa Fe and South Georgia

Santa Fe and South Georgia

At 0910 on the 25 April 1982 Lt Cdr JA Tony Ellerbeck and Lt DAH David Wells took off from HMS Endurance in their Wasp (XS527) for surface search duties. They quickly learned of the attack by Wessex and Lynx helicopters on the Argentinian submarine Santa Fe that had forced it to surface. The Wasp quickly converged on the submarine and launched its air to surface missiles one of which hit the conning tower. The Wasp and other fleet helicopters continued attacking the submarine whilst facing machine guns from ashore until Santa Fe finally limped in to the relative safety of Grytviken harbour.

With the submarine threat removed the landing of troops to retake South Georgia began. Both Endurance flight Wasps provided spotting for the naval bombardment of enemy shore positions. At 1700 the crew of XS527 spotted the white flag of the Argentinians signalling their surrender and the retaking of South Georgia.