A Royal Navy “O” Class diesel submarine flying the Skull and Crossbones at the ending of the Falklands War, 1982.
During the Falklands Conflict back in 82, I was part of an 8 man SAS team sent on a mission to attack Argentine aircraft on mainland Argentina. The threat, they were sinking our ships at an alarming rate, and we were in danger at that point of losing the war. This small covert invasion force was the last throw of the dice for those running the war from the UK.
We were aboard a diesel submarine, extremely close to the Argentinian mainland off Patagonia Region’s coastline about to deploy when the Argentinians surrendered on the Falkland Islands.
As we were NOT officially at war with one another, we had to immediately pull back sub surface to save a serious diplomatic incident from happening. Fighting on the Falkland Islands was one thing, a possible skirmish or worse on the mainland post surrender was quiet something else.
Had they waited until the next morning to surrender, we would have been well on our way inside Patagonia…it would have been the smallest invasion in military history.
On returning to the Falkland Islands we spent weeks there post war, in case the Argentinians attempted a return. Whilst there continuing with our training, I wrote a poem with a kind of Naval sea shanty theme, given the time spent with the Royal Navy in training over the years, and at war in and around the Falklands for the last several weeks, including this last mission. After reading it to a couple of mates who loved it, like all written materials, unwanted mapping etc…I burnt it.
It went something like this:
We are off to a place called Patagon I A
To take out the aircraft that are sinking our ships I A
We may well have to fight using our four man drills I A
When we arrive on the lands of Patagon I A
Our enemy is not just the military type people
It’s also the mountainous terrain more jagged than any steeple
The ground is akin to deep pan pizza
It could swallow us all up or just ruin our feetza
The weather is crazy each day
From snow and ice and rain
Followed by a warm sun to melt it away
The howling Antarctic wind is biting
And the land overall is frightening
In that place called Patagon I A
However it’s the most beautiful landscape…it would appear
Yet I won’t get to appreciate it…I fear
As we will lay up in the day to move at night
In order to avoid any fight
In that place called Patagon I A
Bob Shepherd 