As images of the wreck of Shackleton’s Endurance being discovered are shared around the world, the story of another Endurance resonates, especially given that the 40th anniversary of another conflict approaches. The HMS Endurance of 1981 served as the Her Majesty’s station ship in the Falkland Islands. This Endurance served an amazing career during the Falklands Conflict with Argentina, and her story immediately prewar was clearly illustrated in a Pebble Mill Documentary made the year before of the Falklands War.
The documentary links below shows the perils of Antarctic Exploration even in the early 1980s. Captain Nicholas Barker, who ably led her both in exploration and War, makes an appearance and his competence as an officer is clearly shown. When the Falklands War began, Captain Barker managed to keep his ship hidden from Argentinian forces, communicating via satellite while hiding his bright red vessel amidst ice floes while awaiting reinforcements from the UK.
Endurance’s Royal Marine Detachment, left on South Georgia, managed to shoot down an Argentinian Puma Assault Helicopter, and damage an Argentinian Naval vessel with their anti-tank weaponry before surrendering to the overwhelming force of the Argentinian amphibious assault on South Georgia, where Shackleton’s grave still lies.
Armed with only a pair of 20mm AA guns, small arms, and missiles for her Wasp Helicopters, Barker managed to turn his ship into a combat helicopter platform and photo-spy ship, all while keeping his crew alive without casualties. His plan in the event of confrontation with Argentinian Naval forces was to ram any tanker they had with them in order to inflict maximum damage against the enemy war effort. Endurance herself managed to escape harm from Argentina’s Navy until reinforcements arrived before serving as one of the vessels which managed to help recapture South Georgia. Her Wasp Helicopter assisted in the sinking of the Argentinian Submarine Santa Fe, in Grytvken harbour, South Georgia. She also managed to assist in the recapture of South Thule Island, one of the last actions of the Falklands War.
The final surrender of the war, in the South Sandwich Islands, took place aboard Endurance.
In spite of all this success, Captain Barker was put to pasture postwar, retiring as only a Captain due to his continued opposition to Thatcher’s prewar Defence Minister John Nott’s decision to retire Endurance as a cost saving measure immediately before the War. Barker’s opposition was based on the vast resources of both the Falklands and South Georgia, as the Exclusive Economic Zones of those islands and their importance as staging posts for the British Antarctic territory which are home to vast potential resources, including the possibility of substantial petroleum reserves that have the potential to provide a substantial financial windfall for the government and people of the United Kingdom, and the islanders themselves.
HMS Endurance, Langley South Part 1. Ignore the messed up beginning, that is likely bad VCR Tape. To Deception Island Prewar.
HMS Endurance, Langley South Part 2 To Sir James Ross Island, with a re-enactment by Endurance 1981’s crew of Endurance 1915’s harrowing adventure.
War Stories, Captain Barker Postwar, at his reunion party aboard Endurance, visiting the Falklands, showing the Governor General of the Falklands. Lieutenant Keith Mills, Royal Marines is also there to tell his amazing story. A viewer to this will also get a glimpse of the unique species of Whitehall Office Mole that made the type of decisions which ultimately cost thousands of lives. Lord Shackleton also makes an appearance, he is a direct descendant of Shackleton the Great of the Original Endurance just discovered.
Be sure to check out William Cobb’s Facebook Page Pensacola Aerospace Museum for awesome aviation’s photos and stories.
Photo credit: ©1988 K. Krallis, SV1XV via Wikipedia
You must be logged in to post a comment.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
What are you waiting for? Set your Throttles to Full AB and Join The Aviation Geek Club!
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.
View the Cookie Policy
The Twitter Tweet button and social widgets are services allowing interaction with the Twitter social network provided by Twitter, Inc.
Place of processing: United States – Privacy Policy.
YouTube is a video content visualisation service provided by Google Ireland Limited. This service allows this Website to incorporate content of this kind on its pages.
This widget is set up in a way that ensures that YouTube will not store information and cookies about Users on this Website unless they play the video.
Personal Data collected: Tracker; Universally unique identifier (UUID); Usage Data.
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy.
Gravatar is an image visualisation service provided by Automattic Inc. that allows this Website to incorporate content of this kind on its pages.
Place of processing: United States – Privacy Policy.
Google AdSense is an advertising service provided by Google Ireland Limited. which uses the “Doubleclick” cookie to track the use of this application and the behaviour of the User in relation to the advertisements, products and services offered.
You can disable all the Doubleclick cookies by clicking on: Google Ad Settings.
In order to understand Google’s use of data, please read Google’s partner policy.
Personal information collected: Tracker; Usage Data.
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy – Opt Out.
The Facebook Like button and social widgets are used to interact with the Facebook social network and are provided by Facebook Ireland Ltd.
Personal data that are processed: Tracker; Usage Data.
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy.
Google Fonts is a service used to display font styles operated by Google Ireland Limited and serves to integrate such content into its pages.
Personal Information processed: Usage Data; Tracker
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy.
Google Analytics is a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited (“Google”). Google uses the Personal Data collected to track and examine the use of this Application, compile reports on its activities and share them with other services developed by Google.
Google may use your Personal Data to contextualize and personalize ads in its advertising network.
This Google Analytics integration anonymizes your IP address. The anonymization works by shortening the IP address of the Users within the borders of the member states of the European Union or other countries that are members of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases, the IP address will be sent to Google’s servers and shortened within the United States.
Personal Data collected: Tracker; Usage Data.
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy – Opt Out.