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Sunk Falklands ship safety 'poor' | Sunk Falklands ship safety 'poor' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield at the height of the Falklands War has said crew were poorly trained and equipment was inadequate. | |
The ship sank on 4 May 1982 with the loss of 20 men after being hit by an Argentine missile fired from a plane. | The ship sank on 4 May 1982 with the loss of 20 men after being hit by an Argentine missile fired from a plane. |
Details of the inquiry into the sinking have emerged in previously classified documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. | Details of the inquiry into the sinking have emerged in previously classified documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. |
They found firefighting was poorly co-ordinated and pumps were "abysmal". | They found firefighting was poorly co-ordinated and pumps were "abysmal". |
The Ministry of Defence Board Inquiry report concluded that submarines had always been thought to be the biggest threat to HMS Sheffield, not an air attack. | |
It also said that had the right reactions taken place in quick succession, it could have been possible to intercept the airborne missile before it struck the ship. | |
Despite the criticisms though, there was no case for any courts martial, it said. | |
Some details have been removed from the document, including what appear to be names of crew who did not perform adequately. | Some details have been removed from the document, including what appear to be names of crew who did not perform adequately. |
Further documents including the captain's report are due to be released before the end of the year. | |
The 4,100-ton destroyer was the first of four Royal Navy ships sunk during the Falklands War. | The 4,100-ton destroyer was the first of four Royal Navy ships sunk during the Falklands War. |
It caught fire when a French-made Exocet missile penetrated deep into the control room. | |
The blaze caused a poisonous smoke and most of the crew abandoned ship. |