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''Atlantic Conveyor'' was a British merchant navy ship, registered in Liverpool, that was requisitioned during the Falklands War. She was hit on 25 May 1982 by two Argentine air-launched AM39 Exocet missiles, killing 12 sailors. ''Atlantic Conveyor'' sank whilst under tow on 28 May 1982. The wrecksite is designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.〔(Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 ) by SI2008/950, Office of Public Sector Information, The National Archives. Retrieved 17 July 2008.〕 ==History== ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was a 14,950 ton roll-on, roll-off container ship owned by Cunard. She was built along with six other container ships, each named ''Atlantic'' and sailing under different national flags for different companies. Along with her sister ship, ''Atlantic Causeway'', ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence at the beginning of the Falklands War through the STUFT system (Ships Taken Up From Trade). Due to the short timescales, the decision that the ship was not "a high-value unit" and a controversy over whether arming auxiliaries was legal, ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was not fitted with either an active or a passive defence system.〔 〕 The ships were used to carry supplies for the Royal Navy Task Force sent by the British government to retake the Falkland Islands from Argentine occupation. Sailing for Ascension Island on 25 April 1982, ''Atlantic Conveyor'' carried a cargo of six Wessex helicopters from 848 Naval Air Squadron and five RAF Chinook HC.1s from No. 18 Squadron RAF. At Ascension, she picked up eight Fleet Air Arm Sea Harriers (809 Squadron) and six RAF Harrier GR.3 jump jets. One Chinook of B flight No. 18 Squadron RAF left the Atlantic Conveyor to support operations on Ascension. With the aircraft stored she then set sail for the South Atlantic. On arrival off the Falklands in mid-May, all of the Harriers were off-loaded to the carriers; the GR.3s going to HMS ''Hermes'' while the Sea Harriers were divided amongst the existing squadrons on ''Hermes'' and HMS ''Invincible''. With the additional aircraft on Hermes a Lynx HAS.2 helicopter was flown and parked on the Atlantic Conveyor on 20 May 1982. On 25 May 1982 (the same day as the loss of HMS ''Coventry'') ''Atlantic Conveyor'' was hit by two〔 AM39 Air Launched Exocet missiles fired by two Argentine Navy Super Étendard jet fighters. The mission was led by Corvette Captain Roberto Curilovic, (call sign 'Tito') flying Super Etendard 0753/3-A-203, and his wingman, Warship Lieutenant Julio Barraza, (call sign 'Leo') flying in 0754/3-A-204. Both Exocets struck ''Atlantic Conveyor'' on the port quarter of the ship. There are conflicting accounts on whether the warheads exploded after penetrating the ship's hull,〔 〕 or on impact.〔http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/EC14467A-DFAF-4030-BDFB-9E1AAF00205E/0/boi_atlanticconveyorpt1.pdf〕 Due to the presence of both fuel and ammunition that were stored belowdecks, the incendiary effect of the unburnt propellant from the missiles caused an uncontrollable fire. When the fire had burnt out, the ship was boarded but nothing was recovered. While under tow by the requisitioned tug ''Irishman'', ''Atlantic Conveyor'' sank in the early morning of 28 May 1982. All the helicopters but one Chinook, squadron identification code ''Bravo November'', were destroyed in the fire. The loss of these helicopters meant that British troops had to march across the Falklands to recapture Stanley. Twelve men died in ''Atlantic Conveyor'', including the ship's master, Captain Ian North, who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). The ship was the first British merchant vessel lost at sea to enemy fire since World War II. The ship's replacement was built on Tyneside. Piloting a Sea King helicopter of 820 Naval Air Squadron, Prince Andrew (then second in line to the throne) was first to lift off survivors.〔(【引用サイトリンク】last=Taylor )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「SS Atlantic Conveyor」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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