When the Task Force of the Royal Navy started its southbound voyage, as
the second major act during the Falklands/Malvinas War of 1982, its
commanders assessed the Argentine submarines as the biggest threat. Even
if limited in total size and scope, this threat was so conditioning that
the conclusion was that it had to be neutralized at the earliest
possible moment in time, otherwise no victory would have been
possible.
The British believed that the Argentines would wait for them in the
waters of the war zone with two modern and dangerous German-made
Type-209 submarines, and a modified US-made submarine from the times of
the Second World War. To their good luck, this threat was quickly
reduced to two, because during the first naval combat of the conflict,
the old ARA Santa Fe was knocked out and captured by the Royal Navy at
South Georgia.
Further anti-submarine operations followed on 1 May 1982, when ARA San
Luis attacked Royal Navy warships, and, in turn, was counterattacked,
resulting in scenes reminiscent of those from the movie Das Boot.
Avoiding its pursuers, the boat distanced before re-attacking a few days
later - when multiple factors conspired to prevent it from becoming
successful. Despite systematic pursuit by warships and helicopters of
the Royal Navy, the submarine eventually returned to its home port in
one piece.
Because the other Argentinean Type-209, ARA Salta, was non-operational,
the withdrawal of the ARA San Luis also prompted the withdrawal of all
the major units of the Argentine Navy into shallow waters off the coast
of South America.
Although the undersea battlefield was thus actually empty of Argentine
submarines, elements of the Royal Navy's task force continued detecting
and tracking multiple sonar contacts over the following days and weeks.
Indeed, they ultimately fired no fewer than 31 torpedoes, 49
depth-charges and 21 mortar salvoes at these.
"Go Find Him and Bring Me Back His Hat" is the story of the crews of
22 warships, submarines, anti-submarine-warfare helicopters, and Nimrod
submarine-hunter aircraft, their intensive and advanced training, and
combat experiences - a richly illustrated story that has never been told
before.
