- ARA Bahía Buen Suceso
ARA "Bahía Buen Suceso" (B6) was a 5,000-ton fleet transport that served in the
Argentine Navy . It was launched in 1950 and was commissioned in June 1950. She took part of theFalklands War as a logistic ship, intended to ressuply the scattered Argentine garrisons around the islands. Captured by British forces on 15 June after running aground atFox Bay , she sank in deep waters while being used as target practice by theRoyal Navy on21 October 1982 .Falklands war
The ship landed scrap metal workers on
South Georgia on19 March 1982 . She was also involved in theblockade running to theFalkland Islands . She sailed from Stanley towardsFalklands Sound on 29 April, before the first British attack. While heading to the south, on 6 May, the naval transport spotted theschooner Penelope, property of the FIC, at anchor along a pier inSpeedwell Island . The small craft was taken over by an Argentine prize crew the following day. [Contraalmirante Horacio A. Mayorga [1998] : " No Vencidos". Ed. Planeta, Buenos Aires, page 313. ISBN 950-742-976-X es.] While berthed in Fox Bay East onWest Falkland , it was attacked by two BAe Sea Harrier FRS.Mk.1s (XZ500 and ZA191) from HMS "Hermes". Because it was so close to houses the Harriers used their 30 mm ADEN cannons rather thanGeneral-purpose bomb s. They succeeded in damaging the ship's bridge and engine room, and also setting fire to a paint store and workshop nearby. One of the Harriers was hit in the tail by a 7.62 mm caliber bullet while straffing the transport, though the aircraft was able to return to "Hermes" safely. [cite book |last= Morgan|first= David|title= Hostile Skies|origyear=2006|publisher=Phoenix|isbn=-13 978-0-7538-2199-2|pages=pg 142|chapter=Chapter 6|quote=as a hole from a 7.62millimetre rifle bullet was found in his tail]After the attack the ship didn't sail again and remained moored in Fox Bay East. In a storm during the conflict it partially tore loose from its moorings and the bow swung on to the beach. Once the war ended, she was towed to
San Carlos Water by the tug "Irishman" where the cargo of ammunition was unloaded, then on21 October 1982 it was towed out to deep water where it was sunk by a combination of Naval gunfire and fire from Sea Harrier FRS.Mk.1s fromNo. 809 NAS . It was also hit by a torpedo from the submarine HMS "Oynx".References
* "Falklands Air War", Chris Hobson, ISBN 1857801261
External links
* [http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Barracks/4333/ftbbsh01.htm Photos of the ship 1]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Barracks/4333/ftbbsh02.htm Photos of the ship 2]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Barracks/4333/ftbbsh03.htm Photos of the ship 3]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Barracks/4333/ftbbsh04.htm Photos of the ship 4]
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