Past Talks : March 2024

“Operation Corporate” – SBS Veterans and Robert Brooke

A packed Auditorium welcomed Robert Brooke and his two Royal Marine Special Boat Service SNCO speakers. Robert explained that we would hear about SBS operations in the Falkland conflict and said that UK forces were on the ground before hostilities commenced. The Special Forces made a massive and unsung contribution throughout. He introduced the first speaker, Royston, who served in the Royal Marines Special Boat Squadron Royal Marines (SBSRM) from 1971 to 1995, with particular involvement in Maritime Counter Terrorism (MCT) retiring as a Sergeant Major. He subsequently served as a military Adviser to HMG. Royston briefly summarised the military operations against Argentine forces, of which the best known are Operation Sutton, the land operations and Operation Paraquat, the re-taking of South Georgia.

Royston had recently completed Mountain and Arctic Warfare (M&AW) training in Norway when he was ordered to join the nuclear submarine HMSM Conqueror as one of 14 SBS operatives to deploy to the South Atlantic. They took nine tons of stores and endured the 21 days submerged journey to the conflict zone. The CO of the vessel, Commander Chris Wreford-Jones, made the SBS welcome and ensured that they were part of the crew. On arrival, the SBS unit transferred to HMS Antrim, while the Conqueror went on to sink the Argentine cruiser Belgrano. The SBS were next tasked to size the reconnaissance trawler Narwhal, which had been spotted inside the Exclusion Zone. The vessel had been attacked with bombs by Sea Harriers returning from an abortive attack on Stanley, but not sunk. In a textbook MCT operation, the ship was attacked by gunfire from three ASW Sea Kings, while two other Sea kings carried the assault teams. These descended by fast roping and overwhelmed the ship’s company. An Argentine Intelligence Officer was discovered on board, also a quantity of intelligence material. The crew were sent back to HMS Invincible, while the Narwhal was sunk by explosive charges.

The next speaker was Terry, who had served in the SBSRM from 1972 until 1998. He was deployed to the Falklands throughout the conflict and subsequently spent three years as a Dive Team Leader and Bomb Disposal Officer and was awarded the DCM. On leaving the SBS he ran private anti-piracy operations off the west coast of Africa and subsequently with the Sultan of Oman’s Special Force. In 2001 he was recruited into SIS and served for 10 years as an operational officer. He explained how an SBS team was covertly inserted before the amphibious landings to a position on Fanning Head, a promontory that overlooks the entry to San Carlos water. Intelligence had shown that an Argentine force equipped with heavy weapons had been established there and would be a significant threat to the landings. SBS operatives were landed by Wessex helicopter from HMS Antrim. They called on Argentines to surrender but ultimately had to use force to seize the position in confused ground fighting, aided by Naval Gunfire Support (NGS) from Antrim. This action made a substantial contribution to the success of the amphibious landings.

Terry provided some details of Operation Mikado, a daring plan to attack the Argentine air base at Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego. This was the base from where Super Etendard aircraft armed with Exocet missiles had flown to attack and sink HMS Sheffield and the container ship Atlantic Conveyor. A preliminary reconnaissance mission on Río Grande, code-named Operation Plum Duff, was launched from HMS Invincible. In this operation, a small team of Special Force operatives were to be landed by Sea King Mk 4 on the Argentine side of Tierra del Fuego, then march overland to attack the air base and, ideally, disable the aircraft. Because of the long range of the mission, the aircrew were briefed to land their aircraft in Chile and destroy it. The mission was a failure and led to the larger Operation Mikado to be abandoned. A similar mission, involving delivering SBS operatives from HMS Onyx, was also abandoned.

Terry listed Lessons Learnt by Special Forces, including the successful use of Intelligence, the many difficulties over communication, the lack of modern equipment and the absolute need for forces deploying to the area to have received M&AW training. He also commented that the command frequently ignored local knowledge. Nonetheless, the Falklands campaign had been an amazing logistical experience. During question time, Mike Norman, who had been the second in command of HMS Sheffield during the conflict, showed an Argentinian flag that had been seized from the reconnaissance trawler Narwhal.