Falklands War

Lt Gavazzi's A-4 attacking HMS Glasgow - Photo taken from HMS Brilliant's flight deck 12 May 1982

Glasgow was among the five Type 42 destroyers which were part of the task force sent to retake the Falkland Islands after invasion by Argentina on 2 April 1982. Armed with the Sea Dart long range anti-aircraft missile system, Glasgow along with her sister ships, Sheffield and Coventry were among the first ships to arrive in a 200-nautical-mile (370 km; 230 mi) exclusion zone imposed by the British around the islands.^[4]

Glasgow was deployed towards the South Atlantic direct from Gibraltar, where 18 Royal Navy frigates and destroyers were taking part in "Exercise Spring Train". On Friday 2 April 1982, 8 of the frigates and destroyers (Antrim, Arrow, Brilliant, Coventry, Glamorgan, Glasgow, Plymouth and Sheffield) were ordered by CINCFLEET (Commander-in-Chief Fleet) to "store ship" ready to sail south. The stores, fuel and ammunition required for full operational readiness came from a combination of sources, but mostly from the other ships already in Gibraltar at that time. Using a 'buddy ship' replenishment approach, the ships with less suitable sensor and weapon suites went alongside the deploying ships to transfer stores and ammunition, either by hand or using helicopter vertical replenishment (VERTREP). There were also a number of crew exchanges between the ships deploying and ships returning to the UK i.e. juniors under 17.5 years or crew with other compassionate and operational situations.^[5]

Glasgow saw action early in the war when, on 2 May, her Lynx helicopter severely damaged the Argentine naval vessel Alferez Sobral. On 4 May, Glasgow detected an Exocet missile fired at the task force and warned the fleet. However Sheffield failed to receive the warning and was hit, later sinking. Down to two Type 42s (Exeter and Cardiff would not arrive until the end of May), Glasgow and Coventry were left as the long-range defence of the fleet.

HMS Glasgow unexploded bomb exit hole on the port side

HMS Glasgow with HMS Brilliant during Falklands War 1982.

Following the loss of Sheffield, a new air defence tactic was devised to try to maximise the task group's remaining assets; the two remaining Type 42 destroyers paired up with the two Type 22 frigates. The pairs were then deployed much further ahead of the main force in an effort to draw attacking aircraft away from the carrier groups. The idea was that if Sea Dart was unable to neutralise the threat, the short-range Sea Wolf advanced point-defence missile fitted to the frigates could be used. Coventry was paired with Broadsword and Glasgow paired with Brilliant. This combination of ships created a long-range (30 nmi), short-range guided missile capability along with shore bombardment or naval gunfire support (NGS) using the Type 42's 4.5-inch guns (range 12 nmi).

This picketing tactic was effective in drawing Argentine aircraft attacks away from the carrier groups and moderately effective in drawing them away from San Carlos Bay. The pairs would take turns positioning themselves closer to the islands, shelling Argentinean positions and then waiting for the aircraft to come.

On 12 May, Glasgow and the Type 22 frigate Brilliant were on a "42-22" combo around 15 miles south west of Port Stanley. At 11:00 Glasgow was carrying out shore bombardment of Argentinean positions. Then later in the afternoon a wave of four A-4B Skyhawk jets of Grupo 5 attacked. Glasgow's Sea Dart system and 4.5 inch Mk.8 gun both failed, but Brilliant's Sea Wolf shot down 1st Lt Oscar Bustos (C-246) and Lt Jorge Ibarlucea (C-208), whilst Lt Mario Nivoli (C-206) crashed into the sea evading debris. All three pilots died in the action but were posthumously promoted.^[6]

Despite the losses in the first wave, a second wave of Grupo 5 Skyhawks attacked, but Brilliant's Sea Wolf failed and the jets each released three bombs. One bomb from Skyhawk (C-248) piloted by Lt Fausto Gavazzi damaged Glasgow, passing clean through the aft engine room without exploding. It damaged fuel systems and disabled the two Tyne cruising engines. A third wave of aircraft was detected but they did not engage the ships. On his return flight, Lt Gavazzi was shot down by friendly fire over Goose Green and killed. Gavazzi was posthumously promoted to Capitan for his bravery.

Lt Gavazzi's bomb had hit Glasgow 3 feet above the waterline on the starboard side where damage control teams quickly plugged the hole. The exit hole was much more difficult to access behind machinery and closer to the waterline, so the ship was temporarily patched until it could reach calmer waters. The Glasgow was no longer fully operationally effective due to a limited speed of 10 knots and returned to the main group. Glasgow eventually returned home to be repaired in Portsmouth Dockyard. Glasgow then returned to the South Atlantic after the end of the war (August 1982) on routine Atlantic Patrol South.^[4][7][8]

Post-war

Glasgow in 1983

In later years, Glasgow served on a variety of missions including acting as the West Indies Guard Ship (WIGS) in 1987. Glasgow had a major refit in Rosyth during 1988–89 which included major machinery replacements, weapons and sensor upgrades including replacing her dated 30 mm Oerlikons with 20mm Phalanx. While performing sea trials, issues with the new propulsion system and new radar meant she had to keep returning to port. 1990 saw her calling at New York and Toronto. In 1991, the destroyer deployed to the Persian Gulf on ARMILLA Patrol just after the Gulf War. In 1992, the warship was sent to the Mediterranean for the first time as part of the NATO naval force, STANAVFORMED. Glasgow was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping task force from 19 to 29 September 1999. In early 2004, the ship was deployed on the Atlantic Patrol South tasking. Like most Royal Navy Ships, HMS Glasgow maintained a proud and productive relationship with her namesake city of Glasgow; visiting Yorkhill Quay on the River Clyde on several occasions during her commission.^[9]