Editing RFA Sir Galahad (1966)

{{Short description|1966 Round Table class landing ship logistics vessel}}
{{Other ships|RFA Sir Galahad}}
{{coord|-51.841|-58.211|display=title|region:GB_scale:10000}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = RFA Sir Galahad.jpg
| Ship caption = RFA ''Sir Galahad'' in 1979
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United Kingdom
| Ship flag = [[File:British-Royal-Fleet-Auxiliary-Ensign.svg|60px|Royal Fleet Auxiliary ensign.]]
| Ship name = ''Sir Galahad''
| Ship namesake = [[Galahad]]
| Ship owner = 
| Ship operator = 
| Ship registry = 
| Ship route = 
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship awarded = 
| Ship builder = [[Alexander Stephen and Sons]]
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship yard number = 
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = February 1965
| Ship launched = 19 April 1966
| Ship sponsor = 
| Ship christened = 
| Ship completed = 
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 17 December 1966
| Ship recommissioned = 
| Ship decommissioned = 
| Ship maiden voyage = 
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|6615508}}|S
| Ship fate = *Destroyed 8 June 1982, during [[Falklands War]]
*Hull sunk on 21 June as a target and declared a [[war grave]] post-war
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass2|Round Table|landing ship logistics}}
| Ship tonnage = *{{GRT|6390}}
* {{DWT|2215}}
| Ship displacement = * {{cvt|3322|t|LT}} standard
* {{cvt|5765|t|LT}} fully loaded
| Ship length = {{convert|412|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|13|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| Ship depth = 
| Ship hold depth = 
| Ship decks = 
| Ship deck clearance = 
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship ice class = 
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = *2 Mirrlees National ALSSDM10 diesel engines.
*Power: {{convert|9400|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}}
| Ship speed = {{convert|17|kn}}
| Ship range = {{cvt|9200|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship test depth = 
| Ship boats = 
| Ship capacity = 2,443&nbsp;tonnes
| Ship troops = 
| Ship complement = 68 crew, up to 534 passengers
| Ship crew = 
| Ship time to activate = 
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = Two 40 mm [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors]] AA guns.
| Ship armour = 
| Ship aircraft = Up to 20 [[Westland Wessex|Wessex]] helicopters (1973)
| Ship aircraft facilities = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''RFA ''Sir Galahad''''' (L3005) was a {{sclass2|Round Table|landing ship logistics}} vessel belonging to the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] (RFA) of the [[United Kingdom]]. The ship saw service in the [[Falklands War]] of 1982, where she was bombed and set afire at [[Fitzroy, Falkland Islands|Fitzroy]] on 8 June.

==Background==
She was first managed for the [[British Army]] by the [[British-India Steam Navigation Company]], before being transferred in 1970 to the RFA, and was crewed by British officers and Hong Kong Chinese civilian crew.<ref>{{cite book|last=Puddefoot|first=Geoff|title= The Fourth Force: The Untold Story of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Since 1945 |pages=22, 110, 111, 122|year=2010|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|isbn=978-1-848-32043-7}}</ref>

==Design and construction==
''Sir Galahad'' was a 3,322-tonne LSL built by [[Alexander Stephen and Sons|Stephens]] and launched in 1966. She could carry 340 troops or, when necessary, 534 for short periods. Cargo capacity could include 16 [[Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)|light tanks]], 34 mixed vehicles, 122 tonnes of fuel and 31 tonnes of [[ammunition]]. Landing craft could be carried in place of lifeboats, but unloading was mainly handled by three onboard cranes. 

==Operational history==
===1970===
In November and December 1970 ''Sir Galahad'' was involved in [[1970 Bhola cyclone|Operation Burlap]] giving humanitarian assistance to [[East Pakistan]] after a [[cyclone]] caused extensive damage and flooding.<ref>{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=John|title=Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy|year=2009|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|isbn=978-1-848-32043-7}}</ref>

=== Falklands War and loss ===
''Sir Galahad'' was a part of the British task force during the [[Falklands War]], sailing from [[HMNB Devonport]] on 6&nbsp;April 1982, with 350&nbsp;[[Royal Marines]]. The vessel entered [[San Carlos Water]], East Falkland, on 21 May. Three days later, on 24 May, [[Battle of San Carlos (1982)#May 24|''Sir Galahad'' was attacked]] by a formation of strike aircraft –  [[McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk]]s and [[IAI Dagger]]s – of the [[Argentine Air Force]]'s IV ''Brigada Aérea''. A Skyhawk, dropped a British-pattern {{cvt|1000|lb}} bomb that lodged inside the ship, but did not detonate. The ship was also hit by cannon fire from the Daggers.

The bomb, which was found to be live, was removed from the ship by members of the navy's Fleet Clearance Diving Team 3 (FCDT3). Having used a crane to remove the bomb from its position in the battery charging room, FCDT3 took the bomb in a Gemini dinghy before disposing of the bomb in waters away from all shipping.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoole |first1=Rob |title=The Forgotten Few of the Falklands |url=https://www.mcdoa.org.uk/The_Forgotten_Few_of_the_Falklands.htm |website=www.mcdoa.org.uk |access-date=23 September 2024 |date=2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| editor-last=Ramsey |editor-first=Gordon |title=The Falklands War: Then and Now |page=253 |date=2009 |isbn=978-1870067713}}</ref>

On 8 June, while preparing to unload soldiers from the [[Welsh Guards]], in Port Pleasant, Fitzroy, together with {{ship|RFA|Sir Tristram}}, ''Sir Galahad'' was [[Bluff Cove air attacks|attacked by three Skyhawks]] from the Argentine ''V Brigada Aérea'', each carrying three US-pattern [[Mark 82 bomb|Mark 82]] {{cvt|500|lb}} bombs, with retarding tails.<ref>Moro, Rubén Oscar (1985). ''La guerra inaudita: historia del conflicto del Atlántico Sur''. Pleamar, p. 462. {{ISBN|9505830432}}. {{in lang|es}}</ref> At approximately 14:00 local time, ''Sir Galahad'' was hit by two or three bombs, which exploded and started fires.<ref>{{citation |title=Task Force Falklands: Goose Green |url=http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/exhibitions/falklands/page5.shtml |work=[[National Army Museum]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719102137/http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/exhibitions/falklands/page5.shtml |archive-date=2009-07-19 }}</ref> The explosions and subsequent fire caused the deaths of 48 crew and soldiers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/1425323/crew-of-rfa-sir-galahad|title=Crew of RFA Sir Galahad Roll of Honour|website=Family Announcements|date=9 January 2009}}</ref>

Following the air attack, the fires quickly began to burn out of control. The main evacuation of the injured and wounded was organised and carried out by the ship's Royal Marine detachment. The Marines organised the launch of life rafts from the bow of the ship, whilst at the same time marshaling helicopters for personnel to be winched clear. Immediate first aid was given to those most seriously wounded and a triage system set up. BBC television cameras recorded images of Royal Navy helicopters hovering in thick smoke to winch survivors from the burning landing ships.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-17474296/falklands-war-disaster-for-british-at-bluff-cove|title=Disaster for British at Bluff Cove|publisher=BBC News|date=23 March 2012}}</ref>

Other units affected included 3&nbsp;Troop—of 20 Field Squadron, 36&nbsp;Engineer Regiment—which was temporarily attached to [[9 Independent Parachute Squadron]] and was being transported on ''Sir Galahad'' to provide engineering support following the landings. Engineers feature prominently in contemporary footage showing two lifeboats landing survivors. Also on board were 16&nbsp;Field Ambulance, who assisted with the treatment and evacuation of the many casualties.

[[Chiu Yiu-Nam]], a seaman on ''Sir Galahad'', was later awarded the [[George Medal]] for rescuing ten men trapped by a fire in the bowels of the ship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9129584/Chiu-Yiu-Nam.html|title=Chiu Yiu Nam obituary|newspaper=Telegraph|date=7 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scmp.com/article/596179/war-within|title=The War Within|newspaper=South China Morning Post|date=10 June 2007}}</ref> The captain, Philip Roberts, was reportedly the last to leave ''Sir Galahad'', and was subsequently awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] for his leadership and courage.<ref name="faith">{{cite news|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/8413813.Falklands_hero_s_courage_under_fire/|title=Falklands hero's courage under fire|newspaper=Bournemouth Echo|date=25 September 2010}}</ref> Royal Marine Sergeant Brian Dolivera was [[mentioned in dispatches]], related to his work on the evacuation.

===After the Falklands War===
[[File:The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel - geograph.org.uk - 1527870.jpg|right|thumb|''Sir Galahad''{{'}}s bell in [[Pangbourne College#Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel|The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel]], Pangbourne, Berks]]
On 21 June, the hulk was towed out to sea by the [[tugboat]] {{ship|RMAS|Typhoon|A95|2}} and sunk by {{HMS|Onyx|S21|6}} using torpedoes; it is now an official [[war grave]], designated as a protected place under the [[Protection of Military Remains Act]].

Guardsman [[Simon Weston]] was among the survivors of the attack on ''Sir Galahad''. He suffered 46%<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.simonweston.com/| title = Simon Weston CBE {{!}} Official Website {{!}} Soldier, Survivor and Inspiration}}</ref> burns and his story has been widely reported in television and newspaper coverage. Ten years after ''Sir Galahad'' was sunk, Weston was awarded the [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]. Other survivors included the [[Intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]] [[consultant]] [[Crispin Black]].<ref>Nick van der Bijl, ''5th Infantry Brigade in the Falklands 1982'' (2003), p. 135</ref>

A [[RFA Sir Galahad (1987)|replacement ship]] entered service in 1988, carrying the same name and [[pennant number]].

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Raymond Blackman, ''Ships of the Royal Navy'' (Macdonald and Jane's, London, 1973)
* [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080950_en_1 SI 2008/0950] Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986
* Geoff Puddefoot, ''No Sea Too Rough'' (Chatham Publishing, London, 2007.)

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131103073644/http://www.rna-10-area.co.uk/files/boi_rfas_tristram_galahad.pdf Board of Inquiry report into the sinking of the ''Sir Galahad'']
* [http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/09/22/wessex-helicopter-goes-from-falklands-hero-to-paintball-prop/#ixzz1Z54oN100Wessex Helicopter goes from Falklands hero to paintball prop]
{{Round Table class landing ship logistics}}
{{Falklands War British ships}}
{{1982 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sir Galahad (1966)}}
[[Category:Round Table-class landing ships logistics|Galahad (L3005)]]<!-- indexed this way since all begin with "Sir" -->
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:1966 ships]]
[[Category:Welsh Guards]]
[[Category:Falklands War naval ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1982]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Falklands War]]
[[Category:Protected wrecks of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Argentine aircraft]]